I guess it was at least 3 years ago that I decided the most foolish thing I could do was to argue with anyone about any issue on Facebook. Maybe I decided that because I am not one who likes controversy. Maybe it was because I noticed that the angrier those who opposed me got with me, the angrier I got with them. The result, every time, was that I did not change my opponents view, nor did they change my view. I decided that just as I had the right to my opinions, those who disagreed with me had the right to their opinions.
Let’s face it, our country is in a mess of gigantic proportions! Anyone who knows anything knew what kind of mess we were in before the latest school shooting. We knew it before the tragic killing in Virginia that precipitated the protesting concerning the display of Confederate statues. We knew it before the protest by football players against law enforcement officials, and before any of the other controversies which viciously divides the aisle in our nation's capital. The problem is not statues, it is not flags or anthems, nor is it assault rifles. The problem is not even the few mental cases that have carried out those horrible mass shootings.
The problem lies with our so called leaders who are controlled by their selfish agendas, by their hatred and anger, their arrogance, and their unwillingness to work in a civil manner with the opposition. The problem is the media that slants the news so that their political and social views are promoted. The problem is with the fake news sites which post those sensational, outrageous editions of the news so as to upset, frighten, and anger those who believe everything and anything they read. The problem is with the thousands, perhaps millions of people on social media sites who have nothing better to do with their time than argue with others about their political party, about their religion, about the latest controversy, or about whatever their soapbox view happens to be. The problem is that people are greedy and too self absorbed to care about the needs or feelings of others. The problem, and I’m sure there are many more, basically is that people had rather be right, than to be a legitimate, positive part of the solution.
I am saddened by what has happened to our nation and our world. America is in a mess of gigantic proportions. What is written and shared on social media, on Facebook, is not going to solve our problems. I wonder how many billions of hours have been wasted on Facebook by all the good intentioned people around the world? God has numbered our days, and actually our minutes. I must ask Him to forgive me for the precious moments I’ve wasted. Those who are followers of Christ can and should be a positive voice in the world and encourage others to do the same. We have two other choices. We can do nothing, or we can attack in anger disregarding our Lord’s command to love our enemies. What we do and how we do it is up to us. What will our choice be?
Tuesday, February 27, 2018
Blessed With Much Wealth
Wealth is measured in various ways: Money, land, and possessions, or influence, education, and power, or wisdom, talent, and skill. Wealth is something that belongs to us, and something we cherish. We fight to keep our wealth, and if we lose it we mourn. Everyone has wealth. The greatest wealth any of us have is something that we can give away, yet never run out of. In fact, the more of it that we give away, the more we have. Friendship! Friends are a God given source of our greatest wealth.
We have many types of friends. There are old friends. We’ve known them all of our lives. We have work friends, church friends, recreational friends, and friends we seldom see, yet, they are such good friends when we do see them we carry on as though we’ve never been apart. There are friends that we don’t even like all that much. We have fair weather friends, maybe some friends whom we don’t speak to anymore. Of course there are those friends who have hurt us, and friends we have hurt. Some friends stand beside us no matter what disagreements we’ve had. What about those friends who have come along at exactly the right time to help us. Those we’ve never seen before and will never see again? Perhaps those “angels unaware friends”.
There are new friends, young friends, friends of friends, and friends for a season. On and on through life’s cycle we make friends, people with whom we share the joys, the celebrations, the heartaches, anxieties and fears, times of waiting, and periods of sorrow. And we have friends who we will never see again, at least in this world. For them we mourn. We are indeed people of great wealth if we have friends. Friends, gifts from God, who make this tough earthly journey more bearable and much more pleasant.
We have many types of friends. There are old friends. We’ve known them all of our lives. We have work friends, church friends, recreational friends, and friends we seldom see, yet, they are such good friends when we do see them we carry on as though we’ve never been apart. There are friends that we don’t even like all that much. We have fair weather friends, maybe some friends whom we don’t speak to anymore. Of course there are those friends who have hurt us, and friends we have hurt. Some friends stand beside us no matter what disagreements we’ve had. What about those friends who have come along at exactly the right time to help us. Those we’ve never seen before and will never see again? Perhaps those “angels unaware friends”.
There are new friends, young friends, friends of friends, and friends for a season. On and on through life’s cycle we make friends, people with whom we share the joys, the celebrations, the heartaches, anxieties and fears, times of waiting, and periods of sorrow. And we have friends who we will never see again, at least in this world. For them we mourn. We are indeed people of great wealth if we have friends. Friends, gifts from God, who make this tough earthly journey more bearable and much more pleasant.
Monday, February 26, 2018
Unlawful Sexual Relations
The Bible was given so that mankind would know who God is. In the scriptures men and women see how they can know God personally, and how they can receive salvation. The words from the Bible seem to indicate that God was serious about the laws and decrees he gave to us. In the book of Leviticus chapter 18, which not many read, God told Moses to give his people instructions about the sexual acts that he considered unlawful. In other words God was saying, “Don’t ever do these things.” These were laws God expected the people to obey.
The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘I am the Lord your God. You must obey my laws and be careful to follow my decrees. I am the Lord your God. Keep my decrees and laws, for the person who obeys them will live by them. I am the Lord.
“‘No one is to approach any close relative to have sexual relations. I am the Lord.
“‘Do not dishonor your father by having sexual relations with your mother. She is your mother; do not have relations with her.
“‘Do not have sexual relations with your father’s wife; that would dishonor your father.
“‘Do not have sexual relations with your sister…”
“‘Do not have sexual relations with your son’s daughter or your daughter’s daughter; that would dishonor you.
“‘Do not have sexual relations with the daughter of your father’s wife, born to your father; she is your sister.
“‘Do not have sexual relations with your father’s sister; she is your father’s close relative.
“‘Do not have sexual relations with your mother’s sister, because she is your mother’s close relative.
“‘Do not dishonor your father’s brother by approaching his wife to have sexual relations; she is your aunt.
“‘Do not have sexual relations with your daughter-in-law. She is your son’s wife; do not have relations with her.
“‘Do not have sexual relations with your brother’s wife; that would dishonor your brother.
“‘Do not take your wife’s sister as a rival wife and have sexual relations with her while your wife is living.
“‘Do not have sexual relations with your neighbor’s wife and defile yourself with her.
“‘Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable.
Some of the sexual don’ts in this list are considered against the laws of society. If a person is found guilty of committing them they will suffer harsh penalties. In some societies the guilty would be put to death. I find it interesting, however, that in most places one or two of these biblical no no’s are condoned, even celebrated. For some, it is believed that even Jesus honors such behavior. Did God change his mind? Was he just kidding when he told Moses which ones were detestable? Did God really mean it when he said, “This is dishonorable, this will defile you?” I think just about everybody is repulsed when they hear a grandfather has had sexual relations with his granddaughter, or a family member has had sexual relations, consensual or not, with a close member of their family.
So are we left to decide which of these are unlawful and which are not? Apparently a great part of our world thinks we are. There are many ways in which we sin. Everyone makes decisions every day about what they will do, what they will not do, how they will live their life. But the key to making any decision should be based on this, “I am the Lord your God. You must obey my laws and be careful to follow my decrees. I am the Lord your God. Keep my decrees and laws, for the person who obeys them will live by them. I am the Lord,” the words God spoke to Moses. Personally. I believe that God meant what he said. I don't think he has changed his mind.
The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘I am the Lord your God. You must obey my laws and be careful to follow my decrees. I am the Lord your God. Keep my decrees and laws, for the person who obeys them will live by them. I am the Lord.
“‘No one is to approach any close relative to have sexual relations. I am the Lord.
“‘Do not dishonor your father by having sexual relations with your mother. She is your mother; do not have relations with her.
“‘Do not have sexual relations with your father’s wife; that would dishonor your father.
“‘Do not have sexual relations with your sister…”
“‘Do not have sexual relations with your son’s daughter or your daughter’s daughter; that would dishonor you.
“‘Do not have sexual relations with the daughter of your father’s wife, born to your father; she is your sister.
“‘Do not have sexual relations with your father’s sister; she is your father’s close relative.
“‘Do not have sexual relations with your mother’s sister, because she is your mother’s close relative.
“‘Do not dishonor your father’s brother by approaching his wife to have sexual relations; she is your aunt.
“‘Do not have sexual relations with your daughter-in-law. She is your son’s wife; do not have relations with her.
“‘Do not have sexual relations with your brother’s wife; that would dishonor your brother.
“‘Do not take your wife’s sister as a rival wife and have sexual relations with her while your wife is living.
“‘Do not have sexual relations with your neighbor’s wife and defile yourself with her.
“‘Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable.
Some of the sexual don’ts in this list are considered against the laws of society. If a person is found guilty of committing them they will suffer harsh penalties. In some societies the guilty would be put to death. I find it interesting, however, that in most places one or two of these biblical no no’s are condoned, even celebrated. For some, it is believed that even Jesus honors such behavior. Did God change his mind? Was he just kidding when he told Moses which ones were detestable? Did God really mean it when he said, “This is dishonorable, this will defile you?” I think just about everybody is repulsed when they hear a grandfather has had sexual relations with his granddaughter, or a family member has had sexual relations, consensual or not, with a close member of their family.
So are we left to decide which of these are unlawful and which are not? Apparently a great part of our world thinks we are. There are many ways in which we sin. Everyone makes decisions every day about what they will do, what they will not do, how they will live their life. But the key to making any decision should be based on this, “I am the Lord your God. You must obey my laws and be careful to follow my decrees. I am the Lord your God. Keep my decrees and laws, for the person who obeys them will live by them. I am the Lord,” the words God spoke to Moses. Personally. I believe that God meant what he said. I don't think he has changed his mind.
Sunday, February 25, 2018
This Is Jesus
When he went to the temple as a young boy the teachers asked him, “Son, how old are you?
On my mother’s side I’m twelve years old, but on my Father’s side I am older than my mother and just as old as my Father.
On his mother’s side he got thirsty, but on his Father’s side he created the oceans, the lakes, the brooks and the springs. He said, “I am the living water, if you are thirsty come to me and drink.”
On his mother’s side he got hungry, but on his Father’s side he fed five thousand. He said, “I am the bread of life.”
On his mother’s side he lived in poverty and was homeless. On his Father’s side he created the universe and owns the cattle on a thousand hills.
On his mother’s side with a broken heart he wept at Lazarus’ tomb, but on his Father’s side he said, “Lazarus come forth!”
And Lazarus came out of that grave.
Adrian Rogers
That is Jesus.
On my mother’s side I’m twelve years old, but on my Father’s side I am older than my mother and just as old as my Father.
On his mother’s side he got thirsty, but on his Father’s side he created the oceans, the lakes, the brooks and the springs. He said, “I am the living water, if you are thirsty come to me and drink.”
On his mother’s side he got hungry, but on his Father’s side he fed five thousand. He said, “I am the bread of life.”
On his mother’s side he lived in poverty and was homeless. On his Father’s side he created the universe and owns the cattle on a thousand hills.
On his mother’s side with a broken heart he wept at Lazarus’ tomb, but on his Father’s side he said, “Lazarus come forth!”
And Lazarus came out of that grave.
Adrian Rogers
That is Jesus.
Saturday, February 24, 2018
Those Forbidden Wants
To want something may be the first response of the human being. The moment a baby is born it cries. Is that crying because of pain, fear or is it because of some need or desire; something he wanted? Wants can certainly get a person in trouble if they are something he shouldn’t have. Wants aren’t necessarily bad if they are truly something we need and should have. But wants that a people have for something that doesn’t belong to them are not good. In the Bible those kinds of wants are called sin if we proceed to take them. A child wants another child’s toy. Someone wants another’s money. A student wants his classmates answer when taking an exam. A man wants another man’s wife, or a woman wants a friend’s husband. To act by taking these things away from the rightful owner is sin.
My first memory of wanting and taking something that I was told I couldn’t have was when I was 41/2 years old right after my baby brother was born. His baby bed was in my parent’s bedroom. Attached to the head of the bed was a little mobile with little dangly things hanging down for him to watch. That was not what I wanted. I wanted the suction cup which had been stuck on the headboard to hold the mobile in place. I was amazed at how you could pull it off and stick it back on, and I wanted to play with it. When my mom was first attaching it she let me stick it on and take it off a few times and then she said, “That’s enough! Don’t bother it any more! This is for Michael.”
I don’t exactly remember my reasoning, but I think it went something like this. “I didn’t want or ask for this kid in the first place. He’s not playing with it. All he does is sleep, and drool all over himself. He’s not even looking at it. So what’s the harm if I play with it?” I waited for the perfect opportunity to satisfy my greatest desire, the thing which would give me what I wanted most, and make me happy.
My mother was in the kitchen, probably cooking supper. Quietly, I sneaked into the bedroom, pushed a chair up beside the baby bed, and climbed up so that I could get to the greatest, toy in the world. I reached through the railing, grabbed that suction cup and yanked it off. Down came those dangly things right on top of Michael. He began screaming! He gave me up, and mom came running in yelling, “JohnPaul, what have you done?” I only had seconds to stick that suction cup onto something. Quickly I tried to think of the best place to stick it, and being the genius that I was I chose the closest available place. I stuck it over my eye. At that moment my mother entered the room, and she was not happy.
Put yourself in my place. If you were only four and a half, had a suction cup stuck to your eye, and your angry mother is glaring at you what would you do? I know, you would run, and that is exactly what I did. My mother was right behind me yelling for me not to run. Running with a pointy object stuck to your eye was not a good thing. But I solved that problem. When in panic mode all wise reasoning tends to fail us. I grabbed the wooden peg on which the suction cup was held, and I pulled with all my might. There was that noise, like when pressure is released from an object, and then there was terrible pain. Do you know what it feels like to almost have your eyeball sucked out of its socket? I do, and it is not pleasant.
My eye looked horrible. I was taken to the doctor, and he said I would be fine. That suctioned eyeball was very red for a few days and just about the whole side of my face was black, purple with a tint of yellow for a while, and after a couple of days the blurriness went away. I wish I could say that I learned my lesson about violating the law of wants, and desires, but I didn’t. In fact over the years I have gotten in worse trouble than almost losing an eye, because I went after those forbidden wants.
My first memory of wanting and taking something that I was told I couldn’t have was when I was 41/2 years old right after my baby brother was born. His baby bed was in my parent’s bedroom. Attached to the head of the bed was a little mobile with little dangly things hanging down for him to watch. That was not what I wanted. I wanted the suction cup which had been stuck on the headboard to hold the mobile in place. I was amazed at how you could pull it off and stick it back on, and I wanted to play with it. When my mom was first attaching it she let me stick it on and take it off a few times and then she said, “That’s enough! Don’t bother it any more! This is for Michael.”
I don’t exactly remember my reasoning, but I think it went something like this. “I didn’t want or ask for this kid in the first place. He’s not playing with it. All he does is sleep, and drool all over himself. He’s not even looking at it. So what’s the harm if I play with it?” I waited for the perfect opportunity to satisfy my greatest desire, the thing which would give me what I wanted most, and make me happy.
My mother was in the kitchen, probably cooking supper. Quietly, I sneaked into the bedroom, pushed a chair up beside the baby bed, and climbed up so that I could get to the greatest, toy in the world. I reached through the railing, grabbed that suction cup and yanked it off. Down came those dangly things right on top of Michael. He began screaming! He gave me up, and mom came running in yelling, “JohnPaul, what have you done?” I only had seconds to stick that suction cup onto something. Quickly I tried to think of the best place to stick it, and being the genius that I was I chose the closest available place. I stuck it over my eye. At that moment my mother entered the room, and she was not happy.
Put yourself in my place. If you were only four and a half, had a suction cup stuck to your eye, and your angry mother is glaring at you what would you do? I know, you would run, and that is exactly what I did. My mother was right behind me yelling for me not to run. Running with a pointy object stuck to your eye was not a good thing. But I solved that problem. When in panic mode all wise reasoning tends to fail us. I grabbed the wooden peg on which the suction cup was held, and I pulled with all my might. There was that noise, like when pressure is released from an object, and then there was terrible pain. Do you know what it feels like to almost have your eyeball sucked out of its socket? I do, and it is not pleasant.
My eye looked horrible. I was taken to the doctor, and he said I would be fine. That suctioned eyeball was very red for a few days and just about the whole side of my face was black, purple with a tint of yellow for a while, and after a couple of days the blurriness went away. I wish I could say that I learned my lesson about violating the law of wants, and desires, but I didn’t. In fact over the years I have gotten in worse trouble than almost losing an eye, because I went after those forbidden wants.
Friday, February 23, 2018
Those Slimy, Sneaky Scoundrels
He is everywhere! He sneaks around quietly right before our eyes, yet, we don’t hear him. This common intruder has caused confusion, and wreaked havoc on the pages of written word throughout the world for ages. This inconspicuous villain is called Silent Letter. Because of Silent Letter students have struggled as they try to put letters together to create words. They have agonized over the weekly spelling quiz, composing a simple essay, and writing that summer camp letter to send home to mom and dad. Silent Letter, probably the culprit for countless emotional breakdowns!
Silent letter has many disguises. He appears not just as one letter, but many. Rules have appeared in English books, like wanted posters on the post office bulletin board, to help identify this enemy of word construction, but often the rules leave us even more confused. For instance, consider Silent H. He is not heard when he comes after W. We see him there in words like “when”, and “what”, but he is really not there when we think he should be pronounced. We see him in the word “whether” and because he is not pronounce poor “whether” is very often misspelled.
Silent H appears incognito in yet another form. He is silent when he is seen at the beginning of many words. “Hour” is pronounced “our” which is another word altogether. “Honest”, and “honour” are weighted down by that unnecessary Silent H. I don’t think he is honorable or honest. But Silent H makes himself even more difficult to detect because he hides behind an exception. We hear him loud and clear when he begins the words “hill”, “history” and “happy”. He shouts at us, teasing us, questioning us, “Can you hear me now?” Just when we think we may have captured Silent H he runs and partners with C, G and R. He holds hands with them standing on their right. “Choir”, “chorus”, “aghast”, and “rhythm” provide sanctuary for Silent H and our spelling woes continue.
When Silent H joins forces with G as in GH and they follow a vowel more serious problems arise. There they are, that G and H, but who would even think about including them in words like “thought”, “drought”, and even your sweet “daughter”? The unsuspecting novice would not use them in situations like this unless he was spelling “doghouse” or “bighead” which are actually two words put together. What about that dastardly duo when they flaunt themselves in words such as “rough”, “laugh” and “cough”? I don’t know how they get away with this , but they sound like F in those words!
Silent H is an “honorary” dude. I have written “enough” about him. I could “design” a “sign” about Silent G, or Silent E but for now I will not “write” anything about them. I am tempted to tell you about Silent D. I may do that on “Wednesday”. Silent B is interesting, but I “doubt” if you want to hear about this “subtle” scoundrel. And finally I “guess” I will “guard” against getting into Silent U’s background. I’m too exhausted to deal with this army of Silent offenders any longer. How did we ever learn to spell anything?
Silent letter has many disguises. He appears not just as one letter, but many. Rules have appeared in English books, like wanted posters on the post office bulletin board, to help identify this enemy of word construction, but often the rules leave us even more confused. For instance, consider Silent H. He is not heard when he comes after W. We see him there in words like “when”, and “what”, but he is really not there when we think he should be pronounced. We see him in the word “whether” and because he is not pronounce poor “whether” is very often misspelled.
Silent H appears incognito in yet another form. He is silent when he is seen at the beginning of many words. “Hour” is pronounced “our” which is another word altogether. “Honest”, and “honour” are weighted down by that unnecessary Silent H. I don’t think he is honorable or honest. But Silent H makes himself even more difficult to detect because he hides behind an exception. We hear him loud and clear when he begins the words “hill”, “history” and “happy”. He shouts at us, teasing us, questioning us, “Can you hear me now?” Just when we think we may have captured Silent H he runs and partners with C, G and R. He holds hands with them standing on their right. “Choir”, “chorus”, “aghast”, and “rhythm” provide sanctuary for Silent H and our spelling woes continue.
When Silent H joins forces with G as in GH and they follow a vowel more serious problems arise. There they are, that G and H, but who would even think about including them in words like “thought”, “drought”, and even your sweet “daughter”? The unsuspecting novice would not use them in situations like this unless he was spelling “doghouse” or “bighead” which are actually two words put together. What about that dastardly duo when they flaunt themselves in words such as “rough”, “laugh” and “cough”? I don’t know how they get away with this , but they sound like F in those words!
Silent H is an “honorary” dude. I have written “enough” about him. I could “design” a “sign” about Silent G, or Silent E but for now I will not “write” anything about them. I am tempted to tell you about Silent D. I may do that on “Wednesday”. Silent B is interesting, but I “doubt” if you want to hear about this “subtle” scoundrel. And finally I “guess” I will “guard” against getting into Silent U’s background. I’m too exhausted to deal with this army of Silent offenders any longer. How did we ever learn to spell anything?
Wednesday, February 21, 2018
Funny How God Works
God impacted and changed many lives through the ministry of Reverend Billy Graham. Much has been said about how he ministered to presidents, world leaders, and dignitaries. However, as important as it was for those people to receive Dr. Graham’s counsel, the Gospel message that he brought to the millions of people all over the world will no doubt highlight his legacy. God powerfully used Billy Graham to bring the masses to Jesus. I am sure that lives continue to be changed today because of the sermons he preached even as far back as the 1950’s.
Here is an example to bear this out. When I was 5 years old and Mike, my brother, was a baby our mother was about ready to leave my dad. He spent most of his time with his buddies at the VFW every night playing cards and drinking. My mother was a strong Christian lady, and she loved my dad with all of her heart. But she was fed up with his behavior. One night she got a ride to the VFW and with Mike on her hip, and me holding her hand, she marched into that establishment, and told my dad that he would take us home right then, or she was leaving him. Daddy was a smart guy. He got up from the table and followed mom out to the car. As far as I know he never went back.
Daddy was not a Christian, and he never went to church. We had a neat pastor who loved Jesus and loved to tell people about him. His name was Kenneth Houchin. Brother Houchin made friends with daddy and talked him into riding a bus with other members of the church to Louisville to hear Rev. Graham preach at a crusade that was being held there. That night my dad was touched by what he heard and saw. The message, the singing, and no doubt the response of thousands of people who went down and accepted Jesus as Savior touched my dad’s heart. He did not make a decision that night, but soon after he returned home Bro. Houchin came to see my dad. He said, “Victor we need to talk.” Daddy went with him, and after Bro. Houchin explained how he could ask Jesus to save him my dad was ready. There was no doubt what he needed to do, and that afternoon my dad was saved. His life was changed. Victor Brady became a different man that afternoon.
Billy Graham and Kenneth Houchin were men of God who were able to lead my dad to Jesus. Now both of them and my dad are in heaven, but because they were obedient to God lives continue to be changed today. One or I guess two examples happen to be my brother and me. Very often when a dad is not a Christian and does not go to Church their sons follow in their footsteps. I have described Mike as being a renegade in high school, but he had been saved, and he did go to church. Although I was not as bad as Mike I did have my problems. Sherri and I finished college, got married, acquired jobs teaching school, and I also coached basketball and baseball. My life was consumed by sports. My focus was not on God. In 1972 our dad got very sick and in just a few days he died. His death was a life changer for Mike and me. We were both devastated.
Not long after daddy’s death Mike made a big turn around. In a year or so he felt God calling him into the ministry. Soon after that he got married, and he and his wife, Lisa, accepted a pastorate in Bowling Green Kentucky where Mike was also a student at Western Kentucky University. Mike continues to pastor where he has been for the past 26 years.
In 1973 my home church voted to make me a deacon. I can’t explain it, nobody mentioned it to me, but I knew as the church was voting at the end of the Sunday morning service that I would be selected as deacon. I was not surprised when that afternoon the pastor knocked on our door to tell Sherri and me what I had expected. I had been chosen to be a deacon. A year later I knew that God wanted me to go into the ministry, but the problem was I didn’t want to do it. I didn’t think I could. I didn’t like to speak in public. After a few months of fighting it, I gave in to God and accepted the call to preach.
After both Mike and I had become preachers and pastors, our mother told us that our dad had prayed every day that God would call us into the preaching ministry. I’m sure God did with us what he created us to do, but I also believe that he put it in my dad’s heart that preaching was what the two of us should do with our lives. I wonder sometimes if Mike and I would have stayed in church and would have ever become pastors if our dad had not listened to Brother Houchin, and had not heard Dr. Graham preach that night. We might have ended up at the VFW playing cards and drinking beer.
In 1950-something a young evangelist from North Carolina preached a sermon in Louisville, Kentucky, and an old farm boy who had two little sons heard it. There was a young pastor who befriended that rough farm boy, took him to hear that evangelist, and later told him how he could know Jesus as his Savior. Those two little boys became preachers, have preached many sermons, have been blessed to minister to no telling how many people and baptized a good number of them since the early 1970’s. Five men connected by a movement, a ministry to tell people about Jesus. That’s the way God planned to redeem the lost and dying. This same story, I am sure, has been repeated thousands of times all around the world.
This morning my daughter, Susan, got to school. One of her students was leaving. Susan asked her where she was going. The little fifth grade girl told her that her mother was coming to get her. “What’s wrong?” Susan asked. “I don’t know! The last time this happened my grandfather had died”, the little girl answered. Susan told her that it probably wasn’t anything bad. Later in the morning Susan learned the the little girl's great grandfather had passed away. Her great grandfather is Dr. Billy Graham, and her grandmother is Ann Graham Lotz. It was Ann’s husband and the little girl's grandfather who tragically drowned last year. Susan has also taught Dr. Graham's other two great granddaughters who attend her school. Susan has shared the story about my dad with these young girls. Small world, isn’t it?
Here is an example to bear this out. When I was 5 years old and Mike, my brother, was a baby our mother was about ready to leave my dad. He spent most of his time with his buddies at the VFW every night playing cards and drinking. My mother was a strong Christian lady, and she loved my dad with all of her heart. But she was fed up with his behavior. One night she got a ride to the VFW and with Mike on her hip, and me holding her hand, she marched into that establishment, and told my dad that he would take us home right then, or she was leaving him. Daddy was a smart guy. He got up from the table and followed mom out to the car. As far as I know he never went back.
Daddy was not a Christian, and he never went to church. We had a neat pastor who loved Jesus and loved to tell people about him. His name was Kenneth Houchin. Brother Houchin made friends with daddy and talked him into riding a bus with other members of the church to Louisville to hear Rev. Graham preach at a crusade that was being held there. That night my dad was touched by what he heard and saw. The message, the singing, and no doubt the response of thousands of people who went down and accepted Jesus as Savior touched my dad’s heart. He did not make a decision that night, but soon after he returned home Bro. Houchin came to see my dad. He said, “Victor we need to talk.” Daddy went with him, and after Bro. Houchin explained how he could ask Jesus to save him my dad was ready. There was no doubt what he needed to do, and that afternoon my dad was saved. His life was changed. Victor Brady became a different man that afternoon.
Billy Graham and Kenneth Houchin were men of God who were able to lead my dad to Jesus. Now both of them and my dad are in heaven, but because they were obedient to God lives continue to be changed today. One or I guess two examples happen to be my brother and me. Very often when a dad is not a Christian and does not go to Church their sons follow in their footsteps. I have described Mike as being a renegade in high school, but he had been saved, and he did go to church. Although I was not as bad as Mike I did have my problems. Sherri and I finished college, got married, acquired jobs teaching school, and I also coached basketball and baseball. My life was consumed by sports. My focus was not on God. In 1972 our dad got very sick and in just a few days he died. His death was a life changer for Mike and me. We were both devastated.
Not long after daddy’s death Mike made a big turn around. In a year or so he felt God calling him into the ministry. Soon after that he got married, and he and his wife, Lisa, accepted a pastorate in Bowling Green Kentucky where Mike was also a student at Western Kentucky University. Mike continues to pastor where he has been for the past 26 years.
In 1973 my home church voted to make me a deacon. I can’t explain it, nobody mentioned it to me, but I knew as the church was voting at the end of the Sunday morning service that I would be selected as deacon. I was not surprised when that afternoon the pastor knocked on our door to tell Sherri and me what I had expected. I had been chosen to be a deacon. A year later I knew that God wanted me to go into the ministry, but the problem was I didn’t want to do it. I didn’t think I could. I didn’t like to speak in public. After a few months of fighting it, I gave in to God and accepted the call to preach.
After both Mike and I had become preachers and pastors, our mother told us that our dad had prayed every day that God would call us into the preaching ministry. I’m sure God did with us what he created us to do, but I also believe that he put it in my dad’s heart that preaching was what the two of us should do with our lives. I wonder sometimes if Mike and I would have stayed in church and would have ever become pastors if our dad had not listened to Brother Houchin, and had not heard Dr. Graham preach that night. We might have ended up at the VFW playing cards and drinking beer.
In 1950-something a young evangelist from North Carolina preached a sermon in Louisville, Kentucky, and an old farm boy who had two little sons heard it. There was a young pastor who befriended that rough farm boy, took him to hear that evangelist, and later told him how he could know Jesus as his Savior. Those two little boys became preachers, have preached many sermons, have been blessed to minister to no telling how many people and baptized a good number of them since the early 1970’s. Five men connected by a movement, a ministry to tell people about Jesus. That’s the way God planned to redeem the lost and dying. This same story, I am sure, has been repeated thousands of times all around the world.
This morning my daughter, Susan, got to school. One of her students was leaving. Susan asked her where she was going. The little fifth grade girl told her that her mother was coming to get her. “What’s wrong?” Susan asked. “I don’t know! The last time this happened my grandfather had died”, the little girl answered. Susan told her that it probably wasn’t anything bad. Later in the morning Susan learned the the little girl's great grandfather had passed away. Her great grandfather is Dr. Billy Graham, and her grandmother is Ann Graham Lotz. It was Ann’s husband and the little girl's grandfather who tragically drowned last year. Susan has also taught Dr. Graham's other two great granddaughters who attend her school. Susan has shared the story about my dad with these young girls. Small world, isn’t it?
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