A Proven Fact

 A Proven Fact

If you are like me you forget where you put stuff. Christmas is one of those times when i can’t remember what I did with things I need to decorate our Christmas tree. This year it was the ornament hooks. I looked in places where they should have been, but they weren’t there. I gave up looking. I went several places to buy some, but all the of those places were out. Therefore I ordered some from Amazon. They were delivered, and I immediately started working to finish decorating our four foot Christmas  tree. You won’t believe what happened the next day. I found the box full of  those ornamental hooks I had been trying to find.

The lesson: 

If you really want to find what you lost go out and buy a replacement, and in a few days when you are not looking for it you will find it.

The Word

 The Word

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. John 1:1-2

Talking about the Word—who is the Word, anyway? We are told that the Word was with God, but we are also told that the Word was God. How can that be? What else are we told about the Word? It was through the Word that everything was made, everything that was made was made by the Word. The Word was life, and the life was the light of man. We are still talking about the Word who was with God, yet he is God, who made everything. The Word is life and the word is the light who shines in darkness, in the darkness of evil, but the darkness has not and will not ever overcome the light, the Word. Who is the Word? The Word is Jesus!

Can you imagine anyone being able to understand who the little baby born in Bethlehem was? Did Mary really know what the birth of her baby would mean to the world of lost sinners, or at least really understand? The shepherds knew something great had happened, but were they able to grasp just how great the birth of that little boy was? The angel had come to Joseph and told him what had happened to Mary, how she had become pregnant and that he should take her as his wife and name the baby Jesus. Did he know that Jesus was the Word, the Messiah, the life and the light of the world who would save us from our sin?  Did anyone understand the impact that that little baby would have on the world? The mystery was beginning to be revealed that night when that little baby was born., 

This is the Gospel, the message of Christmas.

Whit Hair, White Soul

Years ago I went to the Party Store to get some white dye hair spray for my grandson. He needed it to color his hair for the villainous character he was portraying on Halloween night.  I took the can of dye to the check out, and as seriously as I could ask, questioned the young lady behind the counter, "Do you think this spray will make my hair white?" I wish I had a picture of the expression on her face. She didn't say yes or no; she simply began smiling, and rang up my purchase. I don't think she knew how to respond, but a blonde standing behind me shouted, "Your hair is already white!" Really!

Yes, I guess my hair is white. Yet, when I look at myself in the mirror I see a mixture of white and dark brown hair. I am convinced that the aging process has not progressed as it may appear to others. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. 

Of course, I'm just kidding. Everything about me indicates that I am aging. My hair is white. I do have wrinkles. I am getting slower. I know that in a few more years, if I live long enough, I will really look old because I will be old. There is no use trying to fool anybody. The lady behind me at the checkout was able to see right through my pretension. 

Jesus was able to see right through those who pretended to be something they were not. In Matthew 23 he exposed the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. In his lengthy discourse he said to them, "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean." 

We can't fool Jesus. He sees all of the dirt and filth inside of us. We can cover up our sins with a can of spray. Jesus wants to make us clean. Only he can make do that. King David cried out to God, "Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." We can try to whitewash ourselves to fool others, but we can't fool Jesus. Jesus will take away our dark sin, and make us whiter than snow, even whiter than my hair.

The Art of Striking Out

During his major league career Babe Ruth hit 714 home runs, but he struck out 1,330 times. Ruth is known as one of the greatest hitters of all time despite having struck out 1,330 times. The “Babe” knew something about baseball that made him one of the best. I think that is what led him to say, “Never let the fear of striking out get in your way.” This is something that coaches and dad’s and mom’s need to teach their sons and daughters when they begin learning how to play baseball or softball. Striking out is a disappointing reality of the game. Everyone will swing and miss that ball three times and then take a seat on the bench. While sitting on that bench the player should grasp something just as important as any of the fielding or batting fundamentals he will ever learn. There is an art to striking out and if learned it will help a player be much better at his game. 

How to strike out is a lesson that all of us need to learn even if we don’t play baseball. You and I are going to strike out in life. We are going to make mistakes. We made mistakes when we were in school. We didn’t make a hundred on every test. We make mistakes raising our children, and we make mistakes in our marriages, at our work, in our relationships, and in our spiritual lives. We have found ourselves sitting on the bench wondering what happened. 

When we are on the bench after striking out we need to remember what Babe Ruth said, “Never let striking out get in the way.” Never sit on that bench feeling sorry for yourself. Don’t get angry and blame someone else for your mistake. Don't sit there whining or think about giving up. Remember you are still in the game. God didn’t make you so that you could  ride the bench all of your life. God is forgiving. He has a great plan for you.  If you are a Christian he wants you to know that you are more than a conqueror. In other words God wants you to know that you are a winner even though you have struck out many, many times. 

I found the plaque you see in the picture below many years ago. Whenever we have moved to a new house I hang these frames featuring some of my favorite baseball cards on my den wall and place the Babe’s wise words above them. These are old baseball cards of players from the 1950’s and 1960’s. Many of these players were very good hitters—Yogi Berra, Ted Williams, Orlando Cepeda, and others that aren’t in the pictur , like Willie Mays and Stan Musial. I have about 75 player cards under this plaque. Every single one of them struck out many times. What do you think they did when they went back to the bench and sat down?

The Beat of the Heart

In his mother’s womb his heart began to beat. At six weeks into his life evidence of that tiny heart was detected, and two weeks later his mother listened to hear that rapid thump, thump, thump as if he were shouting, “Hello mommy, I’m here!” A vast system of blood vessels, arteries, veins, and capillaries had begun to develop in his little body until like a raging river life giving blood flowed it’s journey’s course of an amazing 60,000 miles. 

O Lord how wonderful is this your creation! A masterpiece, one of a kind, your precious work is the life you have made! A life in which is found two hearts, one physical, the other spiritual. One heart will cease to beat and will die, the other can live for eternity. In the redeemed spiritual heart, where Christ lives, the heartbeat of Jesus will be heard as his life giving blood flows freely. The power of his blood makes pure this repentant heart. Through his Savior God created a clean heart and renewed his spirit when it went astray. 

Silently that new life began without notice to fulfill the marvelous plan of the Father. Only God knew the eternal purpose for which that tiny heart, nestled securely in his mother’s womb, was made. A life, this sacred blessing from the Creator, ordained to serve and live to bring glory to his maker must be given every chance to carry out the purpose for which he was created. May we praise God for we were fearfully and wonderfully made. We know full well that your works are wonderful. Psalm 139

Heed the Warning

There were two waiting rooms in my eye doctor’s office.  In both of those rooms there was a TV with a sign that read "Do Not Touch!". I understand that they didn’t want people changing the channels, but why didn’t  they have signs that read "Please Don't Change the Channel"? That Do Not Touch sign just made me want to touch those TVs. I heard other patients say the same thing. It is our nature to want to touch what we are told not to touch.

That has always been man's problem. God put a Do Not Touch, Do Not Taste sign, in a sense, on a tree in the Garden of Eden. God blessed Adam with many trees. "And out of the ground the Lord God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil." Genesis 2:9 The trees in the garden were beautiful, and pleasing to the eye. The fruit was good to eat and very delicious. It wasn't like Adam and Eve were desperate to eat from that one tree. The problem happened when Satan came along and began telling them how much better their lives would be if they did eat the fruit that God had forbidden them to eat. 

We know what happened. Adam and Eve ignored God’s warning and ate the fruit. Because they disobeyed God, man's relationship with Him was greatly damaged. Adam, Eve and every person after them were sentenced to a life of pain, suffering, sorrow and death. Even the perfect world that God had created was cursed and thorns and weeds covered the land. Instead of a life of comfort, man experiences great discomfort. His labor became hard and he worked by the sweat of his brow. The worst punishment—man was condemned to die, all because he did not obey the sign. 

The Bible is composed of 66 books that tell how man got himself in such a perilous state, and then how God’s grace would provide him with a way to be saved. Adam and Eve really blew it, but because of God's loving grace we all have hope. There is another sign that God has shown us. This sign says, “Believe In My son.”  If we heed the message on that Sign we will enjoy life as God intended us to live. That Sign is Jesus. Jesus came to take away our sin and to give us the kind of life God meant for us in the first place. We can choose eternal life or we can ignore God’s promise and suffer the consequence of sin which brings eternal death. Jesus came because we could not keep our hands off of the Do Not Touch sign. It is by the “touch” of our loving Savior that we are free from the penalty of touching that Do Not Touch sign..

By the way, I always touched both of those TVs.

Judging of the Brethren

 Judging of the Brethren

That large bowl of mashed potatoes had been placed right between us by our mother. As always my brother and I each wanted to be first to get a helping of those creamy spuds. Our daddy told us to bow our heads as he offered thanks. But that day neither Mike nor I were thinking about the lunch time blessing. I didn’t trust my fat little brother when he was within arms reach of the mashed potatoes. Daddy was still praying, but I could wait no longer. I opened my eyes, glanced over at Mike and that little goofball already had his hand on the mashed potato spoon. Realizing how irreverent that was I yelled,”Get your hands off that spoon you little cheat!” I’m not sure exactly what I said, but it was something to try to get Mike in trouble.

I thought Mike’s transgression needed immediate attention. A hand on the mashed potato spoon during prayer was not only a sin, but it was far from being appropriate when people are getting ready to eat. For some reason my dad did not think that my outburst was a proper way of handling the situation especially while he was praying. Not much was said about Mike’s chubby fingers grasping the serving spoon. I had not convinced daddy that I had saved my little brother from God’s wrath. Actually I had been  more interested in my daddy’s wrath for my brother.

Both of us were punished. I have forgotten what daddy did to us, but my punishment was much worse than Mike’s. I do remember though, that neither of us got any mashed potatoes that day. 

Sometimes that incident comes to mind when I read what Jesus taught in Matthew 7:1-5. This Scripture has to do with judging other people. The words of Jesus: “Do not judge, or you too will be judged…Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. I will let the word of God speak for itself.

I do think if church members would do as Jesus says about judging others there would be enough lumber lying around outside  to build a large addition onto  the church building.

The Only Answer

 We can always find hope from the word of God. I haven’t seen so much fear and confusion in our nation since 9/11. We found peace during that awful time and drew closer to God.  Our nation became more united because we came together in prayer. Churches were filled for several weeks after 9/11. There were more people praying after that horrible day than had prayed in decades. We found peace and comfort durning those weeks that followed. 

Now we are facing a threat to our nation that may be worse than 9/11. Our enemy comes from within our nation. Powerful people are set on destroying the moral fiber of the land we love. They call the good bad and and the most godless life styles. They want to silence those of us who proclaim the Jesus is the only hope for mankind. Unfortunately many of our government leaders are championing this movement. But ultimately they will fail because God always overcomes those whose perverted goal is to destroy all that is sacred. 

God is faithful to answer the prayers of his children. We must be diligent to pray for a change in the direction our nation is going. But Christians must also be United. We must be obedient children, stand together and hold our ground against the spiritual forces of evil. Only God can can give us the victory.

Old Folks Prayer

There is a possibility that some day we will have to depend on others to take care of us. Some of us may end up in a nursing home. We might need around the clock care. If that happens we don’t know how we will be treated. I’ve heard some awful stories about how old folks have been treated in health care facilities. Here is a prayer I wrote concerning this subject:

Old Folks Prayer

Thank you Lord for reminding me of the state of my affliction and the reality of my limitations, for in my weakness you make me strong. I humbly bow in your presence for you are God Almighty. You control of my coming in and my going out. You have planned my beginning and my end. You have given me all I own, and have made me for this time and this place for know what is best for me. 

I have no reason to boast in anything except Jesus and him crucified. When I come into your presence I most graciously accept my place of servitude. As the beneficiary of your complete forgiveness I harbor no regrets and I praise you that I am clothed in the righteousness of Jesus. I am free from the bondage of sin because of the sacrifice of my Savior. I thank you for your redemptive plan. 

Because I am your child I will try to remain useful to you regardless of my age, health, or any unfortunate circumstances that might define my life as I move closer to my  final day on earth. May I be encouraging and positive, not becoming distracted by the life changes that I may not understand?  Lord I pray that I can stay mentally alert, and that I might maintain a countenance that reflects the love of Christ. I want to be kind and to be surrounded by people who are kind to me and those I love. 

Thank you for the wonderful life you have given me. Father, before long you will take me to heaven where a new life I will begin. If this happens tomorrow that will be fine with me. Your plan is perfect, so may your will be done not only in my life, but in all the earth just as your will is done in heaven, now and forever. Amen

Big Egos

 “As I was driving down Beach Blvd., I saw a building that said, "Self Storage," and I thought, "I wonder if my ego could possibly fit in just one unit.”  Jacob Kintz

Usually those whose egos are so large that they would not fit in the Superdom. History has recorded the tragic lives of such people. They were self centered. They were angry and unfortunately, some of them were very powerful. Because these men and women became more and more powerful the world suffered greatly due to their selfish, misguided actions. They were able to deceive people into following them. They lied by making promises they could not keep. Whenever someone disagreed with them their response was to get rid of them. They were a bit like the Queen of Hearts character in Alice in WonderLand. Her favorite line was, "Off with their heads." A good leader cannot lead this way. Those who do, lead their followers to places they do not want to go. 

We must be very careful that we do not choose to follow someone who will manipulate us to make decisions we will regret. Egotistical, self centered, impulsive leaders will bring about a destructive outcome.  We might lose our livelihood, our hopes, our dreams and maybe our freedom, in a sense our heads, if we follow these people, and they may not be those we thought they would be.

Something to think about given the direction our nation seems to be headed.

Grandma and Pa Go To the Movies

 Grandma and Pa Go To The Movies

Grandma asked Pa if he would take her to a movie that afternoon. It was a matinee and would begin at three. Pa had just settled down in his recliner for his after lunch nap.  He was totally against going to a movie. The two of them hadn’t been to a movie for a few years, and he didn’t want to go to another one. Pa said, “I’m sorry but I don't feel like going, maybe another time.”

His sweet wife replied, “I understand. Another time then.” She turned and went back into the kitchen. Pa settled back in his recliner, closed his eyes and tried to go to sleep. But unlike most afternoons he just couldn’t doze off. He couldn’t get that blasted movie out of his mind. Actually he felt a bit guilty. He knew that his wife really wanted to see that movie. There was really no reason that he couldn’t take her to the movie. There wasn’t much time to make it  to the theater. Pa got up and went to the kitchen. “I've decided to give in and take you to see that show, but we need to hurry.” 

They got ready and drove to the theater which was only four miles away. When  they walked up to the window there was no one to take their money. Pa and Grandma walked inside, and they were told they had to get their tickets at a machine. “Slide your credit card in the slot and follow the instructions,” an usher told them. Pa said, “You’ve got to be kidding me! You get over here and help us get our tickets. We’ve never done this before.” The teenage girl looked at him like he was some kind of ax murderer and rushed over to do what he had told her to do. It took a while to get the tickets because Pa wasn’t sure where he wanted to sit. There weren't many choices left since the previews had already begun, and most of the seats had been taken. 

With tickets in hand Grandma and Pa made their way to the auditorium where their movie was being shown. The previews were still going, the theater lights were off, and they had to find their seats in the dark. Pa wasn’t hearing well, he didn’t see well without at least some light so turned on his phone light. Grandma was trying to find their row. She knew their seats would be in the middle of the row, but even she couldn’t make out the letters on the aisle seats. She thought she had figured out which row was Row B. She asked the lady sitting in the first seat if that was Row B. The lady told her it wasn’t. So the search continued. Pa, not being able to hear or see was getting upset. He was fussing. His voice was louder than he realized, but he really didn’t care. He just wanted to find their seats and sit down. 

Finally, Grandma went back to the same row and asked again, “Are you sure this is not Row B?” The lady in the second seat said, “Yes, this is Row B.” So Pa and grandma made their way down Row B and sat down in their seats. When Pa passed by the two ladies at the end of Row B he said, “I’m never taking this woman to another movie.” Grandma was embarrassed because she knew that everyone in the theater had heard what Pa had said. 

In case you haven’t figured this out, Pa  and Grandma are Sherri and me. By the way, I exaggerated a little. I wasn’t nearly as bad as you might think. The teenage usher was very sweet and helped us with the ticketed without me ordering her to help us. I behaved myself pretty well. We went to see “Jesus Revolution” a month ago.

When It’s a hard To Pray

 Sometimes it is difficult to pray. One problem is that we have too many things going on in our lives and we get distracted. We begin praying and if you are like me you start thinking of something you need to do. You may be distracted by some problem you are having to deal with. Sometimes I doze off when I am praying. There are many things that cause us to become distracted when we are trying to pray. 

When that happens with me I feel guilty. I know that prayer is essential. We must spend time with the Lord. He wants us to talk to him and he wants to tell us many things that will guide us to be actively serving him. Psalm 73:26 tells us, “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heartand my portion forever.” God knows that we are going to fail sometimes in our Christian walk and he wants us to be strong, but our strength comes from the Lord. Therefore being strong in the Lord must be an important desire of our hearts. Psalm 73:25 gives us focus about this, “Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.” 

Our main focus must be on God. Then our concerns of the things of the world will fall in the right place in our hearts. The desires our our hearts will be on heavenly things rather than the things of the world which distract us. 

When you pray ask God to help you to focus on Him as you try to pray. 

Psalm 37: 4 gives us encouragement concerning the direction that our hearts must take, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” If we ask the Holy Spirit will help us to overcome distractions. But be patient, we are still going to have times that we will lose our focus.

Fighting In The Church

 Fighting Should Be In The Ring, Not In The Church

One of the most tragic things that can happen in the local church is the church split. I don’t care how much members say that they are praying for unity in the church, no matter how much they try to prove themselves right by quoting scripture, and no matter how holy and righteous they try to appear to be, unless they act in humility, strive to bring peace, showing love for their brothers, and sisters, treating everyone with respect and love, they are falling way short of being the person they want others to think they are. 

Those in the church who are caught up in a church war are forgetting that the church is the bride of Christ. They are forgetting that they are children of God. They are forgetting that they are children of the King, and that they are citizens of the Kingdom of God. They are forgetting that they are brothers and sisters in that kingdom and are commanded by Jesus to love one another unconditionally. I am very sad that men and women whom I love and respect, people I have known to be leaders of the church where Sherri and I belong, people on both sides of the conflict are involved in a terrible fight. This is happening for the second time in a little over three years. I don’t care who is wrong or right, anyone who draws the sword and tries to hurt a brother or a sister is caught up in sin. They are hurting each other. Sherri and I have tried to stay out of this fight, but it seems that if we stand for what we believe we are considered enemies by those who don’t agree with us and that makes us sad. 

Call me a Pollyanna, but I don’t know why Christians cannot settle their disagreements in a peaceful manner. I guess that’s two much to ask. One thing that I always told the churches where I pastored was that Satan comes to church every Sunday, and that he wants to destroy the witness of the members. He wants to destroy the church and ruin lives. That is exactly what he is doing in our church. We have already had people to get upset and abandon the body instead of staying to do what they can to keep Satan from winning. Many of you know that I’ve bragged about our wonderful choir. When our Worship leader left at the first of the year we had several people to leave the choir, some because they didn’t like our pastor. Last Sunday we had thirty something in the choir which is far less that we had before our worship leader left. When Sherri and I joined the choir 7 years ago we had 80 in the choir. Once again Satan has won another battle. 

What our church is going through is particularly hard for Sherri and me. Years ago we were in the position that our pastor and his family are going through now. It was the worst time of our married lives. And yes, it absolutely ruined my life, but after several years I did recover. Right or wrong a pastor should never have to endure this kind of treatment from people who claim to be children of God. When I was going through that horrible experience I dreaded going to church on Sunday morning because I knew that someone would threaten me, and sometimes Sherri, in a way that would tear our hearts out, and I would then have to stand behind the pulpit and try to preach. My heart breaks for what Satan is doing to our church. 

I don’t know what is going to happen, but regardless of how this goes, there will be scars left on the hearts of many, and they will remain until they leave this world to meet Jesus face to face. The members of our church need to heed the word of Jesus to Peter on the night that the mob came to arrest the Lord, “Peter, put away your sword.” Now who can argue with that?

Beauty Is Only Skin Deep

 Outward Beauty Is Skin Deep, Inward Beauty Lives Deep In The Heart

Let's say that Jesus shows up at your church one Sunday, as does  several other visitors. Do you think you could tell which one Jesus is? He would not resemble any of those handsome white men in the Sunday School pictures. The Bible teaches that he was not handsome. His physical appearance would be much different than we could ever imagine, but that doesn’t matter. All the things that people do to look young and beautiful are not all that important. The Scriptures speak of the relationship that Christians should have with Jesus. To grow in Him we must be more and more like Him. Christ likeness is one way the Scripture speaks of becoming more like Jesus. So if Jesus doesn’t look like a handsome white Jesus, what does He look like today? 

Saturday afternoon a couple from church came to visit Sherri and me. They brought the meal that we had that night. Their names are Glenda and Sonny. They sat and talked to me despite the fact that I wasn’t able to understand a lot of what they were saying because of my temporary deafness. Sherri wasn’t home until later. I really enjoyed their visit because I haven’t talked face to face with anyone except Sherri and my doctors for a little more that five weeks. It  meant so much to me that they brought us dinner, and kept me company. Glenda and Sonny cared about Sherri and me very much. 

Helen is a lady in our Sunday School class. She is in her 90’s and is more active in our church than most members. Helen has been emailing me to check to see how I am doing since my bout with COVID began. I know that she really cares about Sherri and me. She has been praying for me throughout my illness. Each time Helen will end her message with a sentence something like this, “You and Sherri are precious to Jesus and to me.”  Helen. 

Susan and Perry are in our small group which has met at our house on Tuesday nights for over two years. Perry has had some respiratory problems.  Susan has researched extensively and has learned exactly what it takes to help Perry get through the times when he is struggling. Susan brought everything she could think of that would help me with my bronchitis. She and Perry have helped us many times because they care about us. 

What does Jesus look like? 

Well Jesus looks like Sonny, Glenda, Helen, Susan and Perry. Christ likeness is not about our outward appearance. Christ likeness has  everything to do with our spiritual appearance. We as Christians should  want to be like Jesus. We should want to act like him, and we know how Jesus acts. We know when we are not acting like him, at least I do. I don’t like myself when I’m acting ugly.  Jesus never ever acted ugly toward anyone, neither should we.. 

In the three examples I mentioned there was one word I used to describe each person. That word was care. Jesus cares for each of us. He loves and cares so much that he died for us. You and I don’t have to die for any one, but we are expected to lovingly care for every person. Jesus cares because of his love for mankind. We care because we love Jesus and want to be like him.

Priceless Gifts

The Christmas of 2017 Brady got everyone in our family a gift , except me. Brady is my grandson. He realized on the afternoon of Christmas Eve that he had forgotten to get me a Christmas present. He asked his dad if he could have his credit card so he could get some gas and go to Target to get me a gift That request was denied . So he asked his mother the same thing. She agreed to let him have her card if he would also get her some Cheese that she needed to make something for our Christmas Eve snacks.

Brady got his gas and went to Target. He got the  Cheese, and a gift for me. When he was ready to pay he couldn't find the credit card. He had enough money to buy  the cheese, but not enough for my gift. He called his dad, and told him what had happened. Later that night Brady did find the credit card, but not before Clay had canceled the card. So I got no Christmas gift from Brady, except that he did tell me that he had given me a good Christmas story I could write about. I guess that is one way of looking at it. He was right, I do have a funny story to share. His gift that year was one of the best.

But there is another side to this story. Earlier in the week Brady had bought his grandmother, Sasha, a Christmas gift. Our grandchildren call Sherri, Sasha. Brady went to a nice lady's shop in Wake Forest where he bought gifts for Sherri and another lady. The Christmas present he picked out for Sherri was a cute little necklace. After Brady had decided on the other gift he was ready to pay. The lady at the register told Brady what he owed, about forty dollars I think. He reached into his backpack and pulled out a large jar full of change which he had been saving for two years. Then he poured out all of those pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters onto the counter. His payment was graciously accepted, but I’ve often wondered what that lady must have thought. 

Brady actually gave me two wonderful gifts on that Christmas. Neither of them were wrapped and placed under the tree. The gifts of 2017 are firmly etched in my mind, and they still bring me some laughs and much joy. I think that a Christmas gift doesn't have to be wrapped in a beautiful package with pretty bows and glitter. We know the greatest Gift ever given was wrapped in swaddling clothes and placed in a manger. This everlasting Gift received by faith, given in love and paid for with a great price brings us joy and peace. The beautiful story of Jesus’ birth is the greatest story ever told because it tells of the great love our Heavenly Father has for us.

This Could Be My Last Christmas

Every Christmas Eve, after my dad died at age 54, my mom, who would turn 106 today if she were still living, would say to me, my brother, our wives and our children, “This may be my last Christmas.” She never got over my dad’s death. She missed him so much, I think, especially at Christmas. We didn’t like when she said that she might not be with us again at Christmas. To hear that just before we were going to unwrap our gifts was certainly not the time to make such a morbid statement. Mon was only 56 years old when she started that nonsense. 

After a few years Mike and I began making fun of her when she would make this annual Christmas statement. “Where are you going?” Which one of us can have your car (and we would argue about that)? Make sure your will is up to date? Be sure to tell daddy we said hello!” We responded with whatever non sympathetic statement came to mind. She would get tickled, we all had a good laugh and then began opening our presents. Mike and I always argued about which one of us got the best present from her. Of course mom would fuse at us telling us to stop, that the gifts were the same. One year she gave each of us a framed picture of herself. Boy did we have fun with that! We knew mom enjoyed our shenanigans. She was a funny lady, and I miss my her.very much. By the way, our mother celebrated 31 more Christmases with us before she died at age 87.

As we age, at least for Sherri and me, time changes  so many things about our family Christmases. This year, only my North Carolina daughter, her husband and Holly, our granddaughter were with us to celebrate Christmas. We had a great time, but I missed being with other members of our family. But rather than bemoaning the fact that Christmas family gatherings are not as they used to be you and I should rejoice in the way Christmas was, is and will always be until Jesus comes again. Even if we are alone we can celebrate the birth of Jesus. He is Emanuel; He is with us. He is alive, and He has saved you and me from our sins. Here is the good part, one day we will celebrate with Jesus in heaven, forever, and ever and forever more! Amen!

Yesterday might have been my last Christmas on earth,  and it might have been your last Christmas. That’s something to think about, especially if you have never accepted Jesus as your Savior and Lord. He loves you, and He wants to save you.

Where God Lives

Many gifts were given and received during Christmas. The response given by those receiving those gifts was some form of gratitude—a hug, a kiss and of course a bunch of “thank yous”.

It is good to let others know how much we appreciate their kindness toward us. Don’t you love it when someone lets you know that they have been blessed by you . You love being around people like that, don’t you

Who has given you the biggest, most wonderful, and the best gift you have ever been given? Did you say God? I hope you did because that is the right answer. How should we respond when God has given us something? How can we adequately say thank you to God? How can we be sure God hears us when we do say, “Thank you God.” Where is God anyway? You may think this is a dumb question, but the Bible tell us where God lives. We don’t have to look too far to find God. If we lift our voices to God in thanksgiving and praise we can be sure to know his presence. 

Psalm 22:3 says, “God inhabits the praises of his people.” God lives in the praises of those who praise him. If you are praising Him, he lives at your address.  We know God is everywhere. There is no place you and I can go that God is not already there. We honor God when we ask him to help us in various ways. But it really pleases God when we praise him and thank him.  That is where his habitation is. God loves to be with his children. He likes to hear us when we thank him, and when we tell him that we love him. God is very pleased when we worship him as our Lord, our King, our Savior and our Father. 

If we belong to God we should remember to praise him and thank him throughout the day. It will make a big difference in our walk through this life.

Son of a Butcher

 For many years Sherri has cooked Christmas brunch for our family. This year only my daughter, Susan, Clay our son-in-law and Holly, our granddaughter, were at the brunch table. We were enjoying the food and our conversations when, and I’m not sure how, the topic moved to fried chicken. As the conversation continued I mentioned that my mother fried chicken for our family every week, and that it was about the best fried chicken I had ever eaten. Then I mentioned that mom taught Sherri how to fry chicken. Sherri spoke up, “I would buy a whole chicken and John Paul would cut it up…” Holly, our granddaughter interrupted wanting to know what it meant that Pa cut up a chicken.. 

Sherri explained that cutting up a chicken meant that I took a sharp butcher knife and cut the different pieces of the chicken such as the legs, the wings, the breasts, the thighs and the pulley bone (that really confused Holly). Holly wanted to know how I knew how to  cut up a chicken. Sherri said, “Pa was a son of a butcher”…there was a pause and suddenly laughter broke out. It took a while for Sherri’s remark to sink in. Then I said, “Well, I’ve never been called a son of a butcher before, especially by my wife. I don’t think we ever finished the discussion about frying chickens.

My daddy was a butcher. When he began running our country grocery he decided that he needed to learn that trade. Daddy went up to Toledo Ohio where his older brother taught him the art of butchering. Daddy was a very good butcher and he wanted my brother and me to learn the basics of butchering so that we could help in the meat department. So he taught us enough that we could do some of the easier jobs. So I guess Sherri was right, I am a son of a butcher. Now there’s nothing wrong with that, is there? 

Not only were my brother and I the sons of a butcher, we were also the sons of a farmer, the sons of a good man and the sons of a Christian. Our daddy was a child of God, and a son of God the Father. My brother and I followed in the footsteps of our daddy. Both of us have daughters and they can say, “We are daughters of teachers, and daughters of preachers”, but more importantly they are able to say, “We are daughters of the Heavenly Father.” I wish and pray that every child would be able to say some day, “I am a son, a daughter of the Heavenly Father.”

My Father’s World

 "This is My Father's World" is one of my favorite hymns. It was penned by Maltbie Davenport Babcock, a minister from upper New York. He loved nature and would often go for walks in the beautiful countryside. He would tell his wife before going on walks that “he was going out to see the Father’s world.” I’m sure these walks inspired him to write this lovely song. 

Some of my favorite lines Mr. Babcock wrote, ring true of how I feel when I am in the heart of nature all by myself. Even when I was a young boy I enjoyed going to the woods and sitting by our pond at the back of our farm. I think I was happiest in those places. I could relate so well to these lines, “…to my listening ears…I rest in my thoughts of rocks and trees,” I had never seen the ocean so it was our old pond with frogs, turtles and salamanders instead of the sea. The song speaks of “the birds their carols raise”. I loved to listen to the birds sing and still do. I enjoyed watching the squirrels play as well as other wild animals and I was awed by many other treasures that became a wonder to this young boy growing up on a farm. 

The end of the second verse and the third verse speak to all us living now in this terrible frightening world. ”Let me (All of us) ne’er forget though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet.” Now that I am an old man I understand what God was teaching me way back then as I spent my time in the lap of nature. I know that God was speaking to me and somehow assuring me that he loved me, and that he would take care of me. That verse says, “In the rustling grass, I hear Him pass, He speaks to me everywhere.” 

God is not nature. He created nature for us to enjoy and also that we would know He is almighty God and that we need not be sad or afraid because, “The Lord is King”

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More Blessed to Give Than Receive

When my granddaughter Holly, was 4 years old her mother took her and our grandson Brady to Dollar Tree so each of them could buy a gift for Sherri and a gift for me.  Holly was really excited about getting me a gift.  She chose something that she thought I would like, and she couldn’t wait until Christmas Eve to give me that special gift.  Finally it was Christmas Eve, all of our family was together, and it was time for us to open our presents.  All of the gifts were handed out. The children opened their gifts first. Then the rest of us took turns opening our gifts, the oldest to the youngest. 

But Holly couldn’t wait any longer.  She put her gifts aside to watch Pa open her gift to him. She came over to me with my present that she had picked out and handed it to me.  There was the biggest smile on her face you’ve ever seen.  She was so excited that Pa was going to open her gift.  She stood there, those big eyes fixed on me in anticipation of my response to what was in her gift to me. .  Her eyes got bigger and bigger as I torn open the wrapping paper.  When the  last bit of paper was removed and I opened the box I saw a huge pair of one dollar plastic safety goggles..  I said, “Holly, this is just what I need!  These goggles are fantastic!  Thank you so much!.”  

Her response was priceless.  She began jumping up and down, clapping her hands and that precious smile could have lit up the room.  I put those goggles on and the rest of the family laughed uncontrollably.  I picked Holly up and gave her a big hug.  That little four year old girl showed all of us what it means to have a giving heart.  She epitomized what Christmas means.  It is more blessed to give than to receive.  

Thinking back on that night I see God bringing to us the most precious Gift and placing it in our hands.  He says, “Here, this Gift is for you. Will you receive it?”  He steps back and with a look of anticipation waits to see if we will truly receive that blessed Gift.  He watches to see what our response will be.  Hopefully we say, “Thank you God, this is just what I need.  This Gift is all I need.  It is fantastic”. When we respond in this way it pleases God and He smiles.  His smile lights up our world forever.  God is the Giver of many gifts, but no gift is as wonderful as the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ.