Where Does the Time Go?

            Well, I passed another milestone this past week.  Birthday number 67.  I still remember the day I got my first driver’s license. I remember the first points I scored in a varsity basketball game (it was at Social Circle in case you are interested).  I remember the first time I voted. I remember the first date with the girl who shares my name. I remember the day I gave her the ring, the day we married, and what my car looked like after the scoundrels decorated it that day.

            And it all seems like it happened yesterday. But here I am, 46 years married, 44 years as a pastor, grandfather of three beautiful girls, and I am offered the senior discount everywhere I go.  Medicare pays my doctor bills, and the social security check is in the mail (Well, that’s merely a saying. We know it’s direct deposit).

            Where did the time go?  I have a friend who told me that every malady he had was a result of eating his own birthday cake.  I can relate.  I’m not embarrassed to age. I gladly moved to the senior tees at the golf course. I think I’ve earned that right.  But it is sobering to know that I am now the same age my mom was when she passed away.  And the truth is that we never know how much longer we have in this world.

            The Bible declares, “Man knows not his days.” It also says, “It is appointed unto man once to die, and after that the judgment.”  Again, quite sobering thoughts.  What can I possibly say to the God of all creation when I stand before Him in eternity?  The only answer I have is this one. Jesus. I have trusted in Him, and He has promised to give me His righteousness as my own.  I’m so glad that I made that decision 58 years ago.  It was the best choice I’ve ever made.  He has not let me down.  He is my Savior, My Lord, and my friend.  I’ll be glad to introduce you to Him sometime.

Too Often Dissatisfied

            You probably already know this, but if not allow me to tell you. It’s hot!  And I mean hot!  In recent days I’ve played golf, cut grass, picked in my garden, and I’ve tried to walk or ride my bike.  There are simply certain times of the day when it is not wise to be outside for long periods of time. The danger of heat stroke is real, and it increases as we age.

            I want you to understand this though. I am not complaining.  When I moved back south from Michigan in 2005 I made a promise to God. I would not complain about the heat.  I will take July and August in south Georgia over winter in Michigan every day of the week, and twice on Sunday.

            One year in Indiana we had sixteen consecutive days when the high temperature never exceeded 0 Fahrenheit. And that is not a typo.  I mean 0.  We were told not to walk to the mailbox without gloves and a facemask. 

            We discuss the weather a lot, but there is really nothing that we can do about it. We have to live with what we get. I know there are folks who would disagree with me. They prefer the cold to the hot.  I remember as a teenager, when it was my day to pitch in a baseball game, the hotter it was the better I pitched.  My fastball seemed to be quicker and have more hop, and my curve ball broke more sharply when it was the hottest.

            When I think about the weather, both the heat and the cold, it is so easy to fall into a trap of complaining.  We are prone to want what we want when we want it. Don’t let it rain on the day that I have planned a fishing trip.  Please let there be snow when my family goes on the winter trip. 

            I have tried to learn what Paul talked about in his letter to the Philippians. I want to be content, no matter my circumstances. I want to learn to be satisfied with whatever God gives to me. It’s not easy to do sometimes. But God is in control, and He can be trusted. I pray that you will trust Him to do what is best for you in all that you do, starting today.

The True Source of My Hope

            I got my first Social Security deposit last month. After fifty plus years of paying into the system, I finally reached the age I can receive full benefits and still keep my job without penalty.  I chose not to wait until age 70.  After all, who knows how long the system is going to last.  Some say it will be gone early next decade. I would not want to the be the president who has to announce that Social Security benefits are no more.  So much for reelection, huh?

            Many people in our country are totally dependent on Social Security for their income. They worked jobs that did not have pension plans, or for whatever reason did not make any other arrangements for retirement.

            I am grateful to a man named James from a church in south Louisiana. Back in 1982 I became his pastor, and my wife and I went to lunch with James and his wife after church one Sunday. As we sat in their dining room enjoying a wonderful feast, James told me that the church was opening an account for me with what was then called The Annuity Board of the Southern Baptist Convention.  It is now called Guidestone Financial Services, but I am still making contributions to that account today, almost 44 years later. When I do retire that money will be the main source of our income, with Social Security providing a little extra.

            The truth is that I have increased my contributions greatly over the years as I have planned for the future.  I am grateful that James and Evans Creek Baptist Church got me started, and I am also thankful that I have taken care to stay with this.  Looking out for the future is really important.

            But I must tell you this.  My retirement income will never be the source of hope for my life. It will provide for our needs, and will help to keep us from becoming dependent on others. But the source of my hope and my future is the Lord Jesus Christ. I placed my first deposit with Him when I trusted Him for salvation as a nine-year-old boy. And since that day He has been my hope and my future. He can be your hope and future, too. I pray that you will find Him and serve Him.

Saying “No” Out of Love

            Can I tell you about my granddaughters?  How many of you would be interrupting me right now to tell me about your own? But here’s the thing. This is my column, and you can’t interrupt me, so here goes.

            My wife and I have two sons.  They were both adopted when they were toddlers. Neither one was a baby when they came into our homes. Our two oldest granddaughters were also older when they came into our lives. Long story.  If I meet you on the street and you’re interested, I’ll be glad to tell you about them both. To summarize, one was five and the other was 14.

            But then there is the little one. Her birthday is this coming Sunday. She will be four.  She is the only baby my wife and I have ever held in infancy who was truly our own.  For that reason, she is quite special.  Hear me clearly. We treat the three girls equally. Not identically, but equally. 

            But back to the baby.  Her name is Mary Violet. We sometimes call her MV. But the nickname that has stuck the most is Mee Vee.  Yep, if you ask her what her name is she will most likely say, “I’m Mee Vee.” 

            As you can imagine, Mee Vee is on the verge of being spoiled, and not just by her grandparents. Those two big sisters love her and dote on her, too.  She often acts as if she rules the roost, and we allow her to think so at times. But we also have to tell her no from time to time.  We do so for her own good. We do so because we love her.

            There are things in all of our lives that do not meet the expectations that God has for us.  The fact that He sometimes tells us no, or seek to have us change our ways, is not an indication that He does not love us. He settled that He loves us at the cross. But because of His love, and because He wants the best for us, God has a plan. It is in our interest to follow that plan. I pray that you will discover and then endeavor to do what God wants you to do. Your life will be more fulfilling as you do.

Living up to Our Founding Documents

This weekend marks the 250th anniversary of the United States of America.  That’s quite a milestone. It was between my junior and senior years in high school, 1976, that we celebrated the Bicentennial of our great country. Ironically, that is the case for my oldest granddaughter during this observance.

            It’s interesting. The fact that I spoke of our great country has become a point of contention and controversy.  There are those who point to the many flaws of our land, and indeed we are far from a perfect people.  But I do believe that the United States of America is indeed the greatest nation on earth.

            Perhaps my greatest reason for thinking this way is that our founding documents lay out a beautiful plan for living as free people. It is true that we have not always lived up to those documents. But when we do, they offer us an ideal to which we should aspire. No, we have not always lived up to these ideals. But there are people from all over the world who would love to be a part of this country.

            I think of Christianity in much the same way as I do our citizenship in the USA.  We, too, have our founding documents, the 66 books that make up the Bible. If we truly lived up to the ideals that are espoused in God’s Word, what a difference we could make in this world. But the truth is that not one Christian person has ever fully lived up to the teachings of the Bible. We are all sinners who fall short of perfection.

            Still, God loves us and works in our lives, and for that we are grateful. He forgives us and helps us to grow to become more like Jesus every day. I am so glad for the Bible and what it teaches. I want to follow its teachings more each day. And I am also glad for the Constitution and Bill of Rights. I pray that we seek to live out the ideals expressed in those pages as well.

            Happy Birthday, America. And may God truly bless us as we celebrate these last 250 years as a nation.

Have no Fear

            I’ve never counted myself, and I don’t plan to do so now. But I have read it in enough places, and by trusted people, that I believe it to be true. “Fear not,” or “Do not be afraid,” is found in the Bible 366 times.  That would be one time for every day of the year, even on Leap Year.  Again, I haven’t counted. But I believe it. I mean, wouldn’t that be just like God?

            Why does the Lord have to remind us not to be afraid? Well, the most obvious answer is that there are things in our world that are fearful.  Certainly death itself is one of those things. Words like cancer stir up fear. Even words like inflation and economic upheaval cause us to be afraid. 

            Some good things frighten us. The birth of a baby. Starting a new job. Moving to a new home. These are all reasons to rejoice, and yet they cause fear. Fear of the unknown. Fear of failure. Fear of simply not knowing what to do.

            So, how does one “not fear?”  I think of a handful of times when those words appear in the Bible. In the book of Luke the angel appeared to Mary and then to the shepherds, and the first words he said were, “Fear not.” And my first thought is, “Well, that’s too late.” The sight of an angel would have been frightening, to say the least. 

            Here’s the thing. God knows you better than you know yourself. He created you. He knows what is best for you. When you choose to follow Him there is no need to fear. That does not mean that life will be easy.

            In his most famous poem King David wrote, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.”  David admits that the journey is challenging. Evil is surely there. But we need not fear it. Why? The next line says, “For you are with me.” And that is enough.

            I can give you 1000 reasons to be afraid. I can only give you one not to be afraid.

But that one trumps all the others. “For you are with me.” God is with you. You need not be afraid. God is with you. You can trust Him.  Life is scary. God is bigger than life.

            “Fear not!”

Honoring our Fathers

            Father’s Day is coming this Sunday.  It is also the weekend for the U.S. Open golf tournament to be played at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York. If you are not aware, Southampton is on Long Island.  I will probably spend a fair amount of time watching the golf these next four days.  If they do what they usually do, the rough will be ankle high or deeper, the greens will be slick, and the golfers will complain about how hard the course is. And hackers like me will grin as the greatest golfers in the world are humbled in the manner that I am every time I play.

            But back to Father’s Day.  For the last five years this has been a bittersweet day for me. I am grateful that my family will make a big deal over me.  I have the best daughter-in-law in the world, and along with my three granddaughters they will do things right for my son and for me.

            But I will probably get to myself for a few moments at some time in the day just to remember my dad who is no longer with us.  Even as I write these words a couple of weeks in advance, I have to stop and wipe my eyes.  Every time I think of Dad I am filled with joy and sorrow. The sorrow is simple. I can’t talk to him anymore. I can’t call and ask for advice.  I can’t talk to him about the Braves or about Georgia Tech football and baseball. And I miss him sorely.

            Still, there is great joy. My dad was a man of God. A blue-collar worker with a high school education, he was determined that his oldest son would go to college and make something of himself.  I think there was a mixture of pride and concern when I announced that God had called me to be a pastor.  He said to me on that day, “I would never have chosen this route for you, but I will support you in every way I can.” And he was faithful to his word. 

            I am grateful that God created the family for us.  I pray for the dads and granddads reading these words.  May God bless you and use you to be a blessing to your loved ones. And may you be faithful to love them with the love that only God can give. Happy Father’s Day!

Where is the Justice?

             I am exhausted, and it’s only Wednesday.  I know that we may feel this way at any time. But I am writing these words, not because I am tired on this day, but I know that on the day it is published I will be quite tired.

            You see, our church is having Vacation Bible School from June 8-12. This is an event I anticipate every year. I love to be around the boys and girls as we teach them and love on them through this week. But I must admit this. I am also grateful when Friday night arrives.  It’s a good tired. But it is a real tired. VBS wears me out.

            In some ways, VBS in our church is just like life.  Life itself is both exciting and exhausting, all at the same time.  We have those moments in life that we wish would last forever. Graduation day. Wedding day. The day the first baby, or even better, grandbaby is born.  Do you remember how you felt on those days?

            When I held my precious granddaughter in my arms the first time I have to admit that the tears flowed. There was such joy. But there was also a bit of fear for her. The world into which she was born is messed up. In fact, we are living in a time when the words of the prophet Isaiah could not be more appropriate.
            Isaiah 5:20 says, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!”  Do you see that happening around you today? Some in the media, some politicians, and perhaps one of your friends or relatives actually rejoice when bad things happen.  And they lament when the good is done. It’s just not right.

            And yet, in this world, we know it will continue to take place. And we long for more. We pray that God will bring true justice to our world. There is an inner longing for such, and it was placed there by the Lord Himself.

            I pray that you will rejoice in the good, cry over the evil, and seek the Lord’s justice in all that you do.  And I encourage you to trust Him. He will make things right in His time. 

Is Your Life in Order?

            Anyone who knows anything about me knows that I love baseball. I played in the first T-Ball league in metro Atlanta when I was six years old. It was 1966, the year the Braves moved from Milwaukee to Atlanta.  I’ve been a fan since. I played through high school, umpired for several years, and had the privilege of coaching both of my sons.

            If you have not been paying attention, it has been a good year for baseball in the state of Georgia so far. The Braves have the best record in the major leagues, and Georgia Tech and Georgia are ranked second and third in the nation. Both are hosting regional tournaments, and have won their first games.  By the time you read this we will know if they have advanced to the next round of the NCAA tournament.

            But there have also been some sad moments this year, especially for Braves’ fans.  Former owner, Ted Turner, former manager, Bobby Cox, and former third baseman, Bob Horner all died last month. Turner and Cox were in their eighties, and had been sick in recent years. Horner was only 68 years old. As I approach my 67th birthday I am sobered by that thought.

            I never met any of these men. They would not have known anything about me. But I still was moved to hear of their deaths. In some manner each one touched my life.

            As I think about death I am reminded of several things. The Bible is clear on this issue. “It is appointed unto man once to die…” It also says, “Man knows not his time…” I know it might sound morbid, but this is the truth. The death rate for living is 100%.  Death is our greatest enemy, and we all must face it.

            The question before us is simple. Am I ready to die? Some folks are diagnosed with a fatal disease and have time to prepare. Others lose their lives without warning to an accident or a sudden medical incident.  But again the fact is that we all die.

            I did not write these words to scare you. But I hope that you will take the time to ponder your own life.  This world is not all that there is.  God has made us for more. He has made a way for us to live eternally with Him. Again I ask you. Are you ready?

“The Price of Life Everlasting”

            “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”  These are the words of Jesus found in John 15:13.  Jesus Himself would prove His love for us by going to the cross and dying in our place. That is the greatest display of love in all of human history, and for that we give thanks.

            Earlier this week we celebrated Memorial Day. Throughout the history of our nation, men and women have paid the ultimate price so that we might enjoy the freedoms we have in this country. Even today we have military personnel in harm’s way. Each enlisted person knew that the day might come that they would be confronted with this possibility. 

            As we consider Memorial Day, I imagine every person reading this can think of someone, a friend, an acquaintance, or a relative, who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country. It is a sobering thought to realize the price that has been paid on our behalf. I am forever grateful for all of those who have served. I am particularly humbled by the thought that many gave their lives for our freedoms.

            I am even more humbled by the truth that Jesus did that for me.  He was completely free and innocent of sin. He never even had an untoward thought, much less did something that violated the will of His Father. And yet, the Bible says, “He who knew no sin became sin for us.” And He died in our place. 

            I hope that you took the time on Monday to remember those who gave their lives for our country. I pray even more that you will remember daily the One who gave His life for you that you might have life everlasting. 

“Work, as if for the Lord”

            Last month our church hosted the worship service for the Blessing of the Fleet. I was the speaker.  At first I wasn’t sure what I would say. I had never preached a sermon for such an event. And then it came to me.  Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever  you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” 

            I want to share a quick summary of this message, because I believe it is applicable to all of us. The first phrase Paul writes is, “Whatever you do…” This is a reminder that we are to discover our own calling. Mine is to preach. I have no doubt about that in my mind. But I would argue strongly that the call to be a pastor or missionary is not the only call God gives. He calls some to teach, some to do business, some to work on cars, and some to fish. God gives each of us talents and gifts, and He wants us to find our own calling. There are no unimportant jobs in the kingdom of God. If you find your calling, life will have meaning.  “Whatever you do…”

            The second phrase is, “do heartily.” That means to do the best you can. Do an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay. Don’t be lazy. Don’t cut corners. Give it your best effort. I believe that is God’s calling. If you cut grass, trim the edges, rake the clippings, and make the yard as pretty as you can. Give it your all. “Do heartily.”

            The final phrase is, “as for the Lord, not for men.” Here’s a question for you. Who is your boss? You might offer me a name. Perhaps you are self-employed, so you work for yourself…or your customers. I would argue that, ultimately, you work for the Lord. He is your ultimate supervisor. Do you work as if for the Lord?

            That finishes the verse, but the sentence goes through v. 24. “…knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord.” What a great way to summarize it. You are serving the Lord. The Lord will reward you.  I pray that you will discover the truth to this great lesson. “Whatever you do, work heartily as for the Lord…” God bless. 

“Don’t Squander Your Gift”

            This past Sunday was Mother’s Day.  We celebrated both my wife and my daughter-in-law as a family.  Lots of food, lots of laughter, a few gifts, and an occasional tear.  My mom has been gone now for 21 years.  I no longer think specifically about her every day. But when I think of her, I miss her so much.

            Mom was an athlete. She played basketball in high school on a state championship team.  She remained competitive her entire life. There was a tradition of playing “Rook” when her side of the family gathered.  Some of her brothers and sisters could be vicious.  And oh, how I loved to watch them play.  Accusations of incompetence, along with questions about cheating were loudly thrown around.  And they laughed until they cried, both after winning and losing. There was never any money involved. Just the joy of beating your siblings.

            Mom played different games with her grandchildren. She allowed them to win during the preschool years. By the time a child was in first grade, you better strap on your chinstrap.  I heard her declare, “Suck it up, buttercup,” to all five of those grandchildren, followed by the heartiest laughter you’ve ever heard.  It was time to grow up.

            But she was also quite tender-hearted. She kept nursery in her church for almost 30 years. There were close to 600 people at her funeral, and almost 400 were under the age of 30, those whom “Mrs. Shelby” had held in her arms during church services. 

            Proverbs 31 describes what many have called, “The Ideal Woman,” and I suppose many women have become frustrated trying to live up to her standards, while many men have held out for the perfect Proverbs 31 woman. The truth is, there is probably not a woman to have ever lived who could be that ideal. But here’s the point. You don’t have to be.

            God has called you to be who He created you to be. Artist. Athlete. Cook. CEO. We all have different gifts. Use yours. God gave them to you. Use them for His glory. When you do, you will have fulfilled your calling.  And that will be enough.

“Ours is not to reason why…”

            The fires that have been burning south of us have been devastating.  In many ways, the damage done by such fires, or hurricanes, or blizzards, is unfathomable unless you see it with your own eyes.  I’ve never lived in a place where fire has been so destructive.

            But I’ve survived hurricanes (in both South Louisiana and Coastal Georgia), as well as a blizzard in Michigan.  Again, until you see it, you just can’t comprehend it.

            I remember taking a canoe ride following Hurricane Alisha near New Orleans more than four decades ago. We were in a neighborhood, and my paddle hit something a couple of feet under the water. I couldn’t determine what it was. My friend in the front of the boat said he was pretty sure it was the top of a neighbor’s chain link fence.  Again, until you actually see it…

            We wonder at times, how can this be? Why does a good God who loves us allow for such devastation? Why do we suffer in this world? Well, the truth is that we do not know all of the answers to such questions. I will say this. It is certainly the result of living in a fallen world. Sin is what caused such tragedies to enter our lives. That does not mean that a specific sin caused this specific act. But we do suffer as a result of sin, both our own and that of others.

            We may never understand the reasons for such things in this life. But we can determine how we will respond.  The many kindnesses we see, the generosity we experience, and the love that is shown in the midst of trouble is such a blessing. I have seen God’s love from others more often while going through trials that at any other time. And for that I am grateful.

            And I am certain of this. For the child of God, such troubles will not last for eternity. Jesus said, “In the word you have tribulation. But be of good cheer. I have overcome the world.” I’m counting on that promise to be true. I pray you will do the same.

“Faithful to Us Always”

            All my life I have been competitive. I have played different sports. My first organized attempt was T-ball at the age of six.  Over the years, whether in an organized league, or just with friends I have played baseball, basketball, football, soccer, volleyball,  “walley-ball” (that’s volleyball on a handball court), ping-pong, pool, bowling and golf. 

In most of those sports I have been at least somewhat competitive. Football and bowling were the exceptions. Six feet, two inches tall and 150 pounds, and the coach told me he was going to put weight on me and make me a lineman. That was laughable. And I can’t seem to hit the head pin in bowling more than two or three times a game. Can’t make the ball curve at all.  I remember the first time I played where the score was kept electronically for everyone in the place to see.  Decided it was not for me.

I’ve reached the age where my only real competitive outlet is golf.  I love to play.  And I can be decent.  I’ve made three holes in one over 40 plus years.  Not long ago I shot a 76, my personal best at Sapelo Hammock. The very next week I shot a 97.  How can that happen?  I’ve told people that the most consistent aspect of my golf game is my lack of consistency. 

The truth is that is okay. I play well enough to enjoy the game, but I have no dreams of giving up my day job to join the senior tour.  I just want to get some exercise, some fresh air and occasionally break 80. 

I think my lack of consistency on the golf course sometimes mirrors my lack of consistency in living for the Lord.  I understand Paul’s frustration when he writes in Romans 7, “I do the very thing I wish not to do…” Sometimes I simply fail to do what I know the Lord has led me to do.  I don’t want to fail. But in my humanity I am unable perfectly to obey. The good news is this. God forgives. And He helps us the next time.  I am encouraged by Paul’s words to Titus. “Even when we are faithless, He is faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.” 

“Using our Spiritual Gifts”

            This coming Sunday will be a big day at Shellman Bluff Baptist Church.  We will welcome our first ever associate pastor, Steven Jacobs, and his family to our church.  Pastor Steven will have responsibilities over our youth and children’s programs, as well as our men’s ministry and the old “line 13,” other duties as assigned. 

            As I mentioned earlier, he will be the first ever full-time associate pastor to serve at Shellman Bluff Baptist.  I am truly excited to be able to share the work.  I believe that we are following the instructions Paul gave in 2 Timothy 2:2, “And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”  Paul made it clear that Timothy was not to do all of the work. He was to train others to serve, and then give them the responsibility and the opportunity.

            One of the greatest tragedies in many churches today is that the pastor is expected to do almost all of the work of ministry. Sometimes the pastor himself has this mentality, unwilling to share the responsibility, perhaps thinking he is the only one qualified for the work. At other times, the members of the church allow the pastor to do the work simply thinking, “Well, that’s why we pay him.”

            Paul also wrote to the Ephesian church that the pastor’s job was, “to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,” (Ephesians 4:12).  This verse is found in the midst of one of the lists of the spiritual gifts. Paul’s point was clear. God has gifted all of His children, and we all are to use our gifts to build the church.  God doesn’t need us. But He has still chosen to use us for His glory.

            I pray that you will find your place in your church (if you don’t have one you need one), and that you will utilize the gifts God gave you to help your church accomplish its mission.  It will be a blessing to your church and your pastor. It will also be a blessing to you.

“Law Abiding Christian”

            Happy Tax Day!  Have you completed and submitted your 2025 return yet? Unless you have filed for an extension, today is the day to send the forms (and a check if you owe) to your friendly Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service.  Oh boy. Thanks for the reminder, huh?

            What is it they say? Death and taxes are the only two things that are certain. I have to admit that I did not know that quote came from Benjamin Franklin until I was writing this column.  He wrote a lot of stuff. Quite the character.

            Still, the idea of taxes can get you down. We have income tax, sales tax, property tax, ad valorem tax, and I won’t finish the list. But you can be certain of this. If you have it, sooner than later someone will try and put a tax on it. 

            In the New Testament the tax collectors were considered to be some of the vilest and hated of people.  Bystanders could not understand why Jesus would stop and speak to Zacchaeus. Others were amazed that He would call Matthew to be His disciple. The fact is that the Lord loved all people, and He has charged us to do the same. Notice, though, that He did not leave them as He found them. They were called to change, and they did.

            Well, that still leaves us with the idea of taxes.  I must admit that I do not enjoy writing a check to the government. I don’t like the added costs to my car, my clothes, or my dinner out with my wife. And yet, Jesus reminded us that we are to, “Give to Caesar what belongs to him, and to God what belongs to Him.”

            God is our first priority. But we are to be faithful to do what is right when it comes to our civic duty as well. That may mean paying taxes, serving on a jury, voting, or running for public office. Here’s the thing. As in all other areas of life, “Do whatever you do to the glory of God.”  That is your calling.

“A Mother’s Love for me…and Him”

            Yesterday marked twenty years since she has been gone.  My Mom breathed her last just after 7 a.m. on Thursday, April 7, 2006, only three days after her 67th birthday. I was sitting on the side of the bed holding her hand when it happened.  It was just the two of us.  It was a moment both precious and devastating. 

            As I ponder this memory, one of the more jolting things to consider is that I will be 67 in July.  I am quite healthy. I anticipate that I have many more years on this earth, barring an accident or something else unforeseen.  Still, to realize this is sobering.

            Mom was a remarkable lady. She grew up poor. The daughter of an alcoholic, she was the ninth of ten children. Her dad died when she was only 13. She was the only one of her siblings to graduate high school. She played high school basketball, winning one state championship, and runner up another year. She was all-state, and only scored two points in her career.  She was a guard in the days of three on three. If you know, you know.

            Mom taught preschoolers in Sunday School for more than 40 years, sang in the choir, worked in the school cafeteria, and drove a school bus. She was a wonderful cook. She taught my wife how to make REAL homemade banana pudding…the kind where you cook the pudding on the stove, and bake it with a meringue. No other banana pudding is worthy of the name.

            Mom was a strong disciplinarian. I once ran from her and climbed a tree in order to escape a spanking. Next thing I knew she was on the limb beside me, having broken off a smaller limb on the way up to use on my legs.  I never did that again.

            Most of all, my Mom was a lady who loved Jesus, and helped to instill that same love for Him into both my sister and me.  She was very much a Proverbs 31 woman. And I miss her.  My deepest desire is to be the man that my Mom and Dad trained me to be. They set a marvelous example for their children and grandchildren to follow. May God grant that same wisdom and commitment from me.

“Holy Week”

            We find ourselves in the midst of Holy Week. This is the week that we remember the “passion” of Jesus, the week when He completed His teaching to His disciples, when He ate His last meal with them prior to His death, when He was arrested and tried, and finally when He was taken to Calvary and crucified.  “Good Friday” (quite the interesting name, right?) is the final act of this week. Saturday was cold, dark and filled with sorrow.

            I fear that sometimes, in our rush to get to Easter (after all, this was the most joyous occasion on earth) that we forget, or neglect, the days leading up to it.  Don’t get me wrong. On Sunday I want to sing with all my heart, “He lives, He lives,” and “Because He lives I can face tomorrow,” and, “Up from the grave He arose.”  Those songs remind us that Jesus is alive, and that because He is alive, we can live forever.

            But, let us remember that the week leading up the resurrection were days of sorrow and pain.  And I am speaking of more than the physical pain of the cross. If you have ever seen Mel Gibson’s, The Passion of the Christ you have a better understanding of the torture of the method of execution known as crucifixion.

            But I would say to you that the pain of carrying our sin was the greatest pain that Jesus faced. God “made Him who knew no sin to be sin.”  And Jesus took on His shoulders the sins of the world, dying as if He were the worst sinner ever to live, when in fact, He had never sinned. 

            I hope and trust that you will remember this great sacrifice made on your behalf.  Know that Jesus died for you, in your place, to make a way for you to know peace.  Please, go to church Sunday and celebrate the risen Savior. But take a few moments prior to that morning and remember the great mercy and grace the Lord offers to us all. 

“Under Construction”

This coming Sunday is Palm Sunday, named such to remember when Jesus marched into the city and the people cut palm branches and made a “red carpet” of sorts so that the Lord could enter in majesty. The tragedy is that only a few days later He was arrested, placed on trial, found guilty, and put up for execution.  Good Friday, as it is called, was the same week as Palm Sunday.

            There is such irony in this fact.  James speaks of something similar in his short letter near the end of the New Testament when he writes, “Out of the same mouth comes blessing and cursing. My brothers, it ought not to be so.”

            Here is what James is saying, and what we saw in the closeness of Palm Sunday and Good Friday. Our lives are often filled with contradictions.  Some people refuse to attend church because they claim that churches are filled with hypocrites.

            My response to that is to say, “Yes. What’s your point?” The church is filled with people, and people are sinful, and that includes you and me.  As hard as we may try, we simply don’t get it right all the time.  We say things and do things that we know we should not say and do. We feel bad about it, and we try to change.

            Here’s the thing about that.  We can’t change in our own power. But I am reminded that Jesus said, “Greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world.” In other words, the Holy Spirit can help us to change.

            Mrs. Ruth Graham once said that her life was like many of the roads in her native North Carolina. It was, “Under Construction,” and only to be completed when she passed from this life to the next. What a great description!

            And it is true for you and for me. Yes, we do sometimes contradict what we believe with what we do. But we are in the process of becoming more like Jesus every day.  I hope that is true for you. And I hope you will remember the words to the song.

            “He’s still working on me to make me what I ought to be…how loving and patient He must be. He’s still working on me.”

The Most Important Book

            Over the years I have bought, read, and shelved thousands of books.  I don’t have any idea how much money I have spent on books. Quite frankly, more than I have spent on golf and fishing combined would be my estimate.  My wife has reminded me that libraries will allow you to borrow books, and my response is always that they expect you to return them. 

            My mother instilled a love for reading in me when she took me to the library every week when I was in elementary school. And to continue to learn and remain fresh in my ministry, I have felt it necessary to buy and read more books.

            But, in recent years I have come to realize that I will never again read many of these books. And so I have started the process of purging my library. I gave several hundred to the Guido Bible Institute in Metter back when I was teaching there. And I have allowed a number of younger pastors to come and take some as well.

            I do have some built-in shelves at the house where I plan to keep a number of my commentaries and other books that I will want to have in retirement. But it is my hope that I can give many of them away prior to that.

            The problem is that many younger pastors don’t buy books anymore. It is not that they do not read. Rather, they purchase entire libraries that they install on their computers. Or, they buy books for their Kindles.  Evidently it is more economical and takes up far less space than my physical books. 

            For me, nothing can replace an actual book in my hand. Something I can mark in, make notes in the margin, and underline.  That’s just one more piece of evidence that I am, in some ways, a dinosaur. Yes, I still read both a daily and weekly newspaper from cover to cover too. And I like it that way.

            Books matter. Continued learning matters. But it is THE book, that is the Bible, that matters the most. As I read the many books on my shelf, I also read the Bible in its entirety every year. Been doing so since 1976.  And it seems I learn something new on a regular basis. God’s Word still speaks. I pray that you will read it and hear what it says.