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. 

Growing Our Ministry

            This coming weekend is a big one for our church family.  Just to give you some background, I became the pastor at Shellman Bluff Baptist the first Sunday of December of 2019.  Of course, we know that the pandemic hit us just a couple of months later, and that church in general was turned upside down.

            The good news is that we began to recover strongly very quickly. On the first Sunday of January 2021 we returned to having small group Bible studies (we call this Sunday School) and worship. Since that time we have experienced God’s blessings in so many ways. Keep in mind, I am the first full-time pastor who has lived directly in the area in a long time.  So, when the church called me, it took a great step of faith. 

            Well, in recent days we have built a new social hall from the ground up, and paid for it.  And we have continued to grow.  So, last year it was decided that we would begin the process of searching for a full-time associate pastor to come alongside and help me.  This coming weekend we have a man coming in view of a call.  If the church votes in favor of his coming, he should be with us by the middle of April.  When you consider where we were in the early months of 2021 to where we are today, it is mind-boggling

            I have had a lot of time to ponder what is happening in our church.  I am reminded often that it is God who has blessed us.  People are moving into this part of the county from all over the country.  And many are finding their way to our church. 

            To see what is happening is exciting and humbling. And as I get older I realize my days of leadership will one day draw to an end. I want to be able to say with Paul, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” In other words, I want to finish well. That would be a good prayer for all of us. Let’s finish well to the glory of God. 

Don’t be Late!

            Do you remember that extra hour of sleep you got back in the Fall when you changed your clock? Well, guess what. They’re going to take it away this Saturday night. Yes, you will need to move your clocks forward one hour before going to bed on Saturday, or you will be late for church on Sunday.

            I used to joke and say that anyone who showed up at church on that morning as we were wrapping things up would have to take the preacher and his wife to lunch.  I never held anyone to that.  I do know that, historically, this Sunday in the year is often one of the lowest attendance days for churches. Folks do forget, and then realize the next morning that they are running late. Or, folks just don’t operate well on short rest, and they don’t get up in time for church that day.

            I’m just going to say this out loud. I hate changing the clocks back and forth. I lived in Indiana for almost seven years in the 1990’s, and back in the day we did not change our clocks. During the winter our time was the same as New York’s, and in the summer we matched Chicago.  And I liked it.

            I’ve heard there has been much conversation and debate in Congress about moving to one standardized time and doing away with Daylight Savings Time. But for whatever reason they don’t do it. I don’t care which way they go. Just let me set my clock one time and forget about it.  It took me decades to remember to fall back and spring forward.

            I think there are probably lots of lessons to learn here. Perhaps the most important one for me is that I need to be more patient, and not worry about those things I can’t control. If my blood pressure is impacted by this, then I have a problem.

            Paul wrote, “Be anxious for nothing.” That’s great advice, but often hard to do. The only way not to be anxious is fully to trust in the Lord. We need to remember that He is greater than any of our problems.  He can be trusted. We don’t need to worry. 

            I hope you get to church on time this Sunday. If not, you can choose the restaurant. 

Take Respite

            Last week I told you about “my room.”  It’s actually a second den, or living room, if you will, but it’s not as large as our true family room.  It really is my room. Tina let me paint it the color I wanted, and I have largely decorated it myself.  The rug on the floor is a baseball diamond. Yeah, she’s pretty lenient.

            By the way, she has her own room, too. It’s her music room.  Her piano, cello, and ukulele are all there, along with a closet filled with music books.  Have I told you she is a retired music teacher?

            Well, back to my room.  I have a pennant from the 2021 World Series won by the Braves, along with a Coke bottle from the 1996 Olympics that were held in Atlanta.  I also have the small trophy that my mother received in 1954 when her team won the only state championship in the history of Dacula High girls’ basketball.  True story. And my dad, my sister, my nephew, my niece and I all played basketball for the Dacula Falcons. 

            But there’s one thing that is on my shelf that I hope people recognize is a joke.  I admit that I am an introvert, and I do go to bed somewhat early, but I really am not this bad.  The plaque says, “Welcome to our home. Please leave by 9 p.m.” Again, I’m joking. Sort of. 

            The truth is that home is where we go to rest, to relax, and to recharge.  We all need a home where we can do that. I am aware that there are homes where this does not happen.  I am so glad that I have a place where I can get away from life, if only for a short time.

            But can I simply remind you of this one truth? My true home is not in Shellman Bluff. According to Paul, I am a citizen of heaven.  I’ve not yet been to my true home. But one day I will be welcomed there. I’ve made my reservations.  I’m going home. I hope that you have done the same. I hope to see you at home one day. 

Spend it Wisely

            As I write these words I am sitting alone in the back room of my home. My wife refers to this room as my man cave.  I have my big easy chair, a nice TV that my son bought me, and on the walls I have all kinds of sports memorabilia.  There is a wood cutting of Sapelo Hammock Golf Course.  Plaques that commemorate holes in one.  A drawing of the layout of Augusta National. And behind me there is the big fish.  It’s actually a replica of the largest bass I’ve ever caught. 

            I share this room with a nine-year-old beagle mix, and a sixteen-year-old Pomeranian.  They stay pretty quiet most of the time. But there was the day when the possum came up on our back deck and helped itself to the remaining food in their bowls. That caused quite the ruckus.  And I must tell you this. I had never seen a possum move so fast, or climb a fence, until I opened the door and told him to scram. 

            But back to my story. I am sitting alone because my wife has been away at a Vacation Bible School training session.  She left yesterday. She should be home later tonight.

            As I sit here alone, I have had much time for thinking. I’ve done some reading.  I’ve tried to get interested in a basketball game between Michigan and Michigan State.  And I’ve spent time practicing reading and speaking Spanish.  I hope to take a mission trip to South America later this year, and I would like to be able to converse at least a bit with the new friends I will meet.

            And then I decided to write for the paper.  I have actually accomplished a good deal this evening by myself. I have tried to use my time wisely. Listen, we all need “down time.”  But I know that I can easily waste hours on my phone or watching mindless TV.  I want to do better.

            Paul spoke to us about, “redeeming the time.” You only get so much, and you don’t know how much it will be.  Use it wisely. Use it to make yourself better, to help someone else, and above all else, to glorify God. 

God’s Love for Us

            This Saturday is Valentine’s Day. Gentlemen, if you have a wife or a girlfriend, consider this your gentle reminder.  SATURDAY! NOT NEXT WEEK! THREE DAYS FROM NOW! Sorry for yelling, but the truth is that most men have selective hearing. But I digress.

            Valentine’s Day is a time set apart to celebrate love. Yes, I am aware that it is the epitome of a “Hallmark Holiday.” The people who benefit the most are the candy and card makers and shops. But I also know this. Those years when I have remembered, and have presented my wife with something nice, it has made her day. 

            One year I gave her a nice necklace. She showed that thing off to so many of her friends and the husbands all quit speaking to me.  They made it clear that I had ruined the day for all of them. 

            I haven’t always hit the mark on this day. I’ve completely forgotten it more than once. But I try to remember, and at least to do something to celebrate the day, even if it is simply cooking dinner myself. I actually grill a pretty decent steak. 

            I do know this for sure. Valentine’s Day is a day to consider love, not just for each other, but for the love God offers to us. The most memorized verse in the Bible declares, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

            I wonder how many of us understand the power and the scope of God’s love for us. He gave His Son! What a tremendous sacrifice! I pray that we will see and comprehend all that He has done for us, and that we will in turn love Him and love others in the way that He has called us to love. “We love, because He first loved us.” Without His love we could not love. But because He loves, we can love, too.

Keeping His Promise

            A friend said to me recently, “If it doesn’t warm up soon, I’m moving south.”  I didn’t have the heart to tell him he was already there. Obviously he was teasing. But let me tell you something. It has been cold.  And I’ve lived in the upper Midwest for 14 years.  Doesn’t matter. It’s been cold.

            I’ve spent several afternoons covering lemon and orange trees with sheets and tarps.  And the next morning is spent taking them down.  And I wonder if it will be worth it.  The truth is that I won’t know until late spring, or perhaps even summer.  And it could be later than that. You do the work, but you don’t know if the effort will pay off.

            Some people think of the Christian life in that same manner. Or at least what they perceive as the Christian life. You do the best you can, you try to be good to others and do the right thing, and then, at the end of life you will find out if it was worth the work. One day eventually you will know.

            I am convinced that we can do better than that. The Bible is so clear on this issue. There are many precious promises from God. “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Not might be saved. Not could be saved. Will be saved.

            The Bible offers us a certainty when it comes to the promises of God. He has never failed to keep a promise, and He will not fail us in that day. We have been called to repent (change our hearts and minds to agree with God), and to trust the Lord. This is more than simply believing that He exists. It is putting one’s full trust in Him.

            But when you do that, you can be sure that God will keep His Word. Indeed, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” You can put that in the bank.

“But God”

This is the fourth column I have written for the Darien News so far this year. In addition, I have written bulletin material for our church several times.  I’ve even typed a letter or two. And just to show that I am truly a dinosaur, I have written a couple of checks.  And I am proud to say that, thus far at least, I have not written 2025 instead of 2026 even one time. 

            You may not be impressed. But I think that is quite the accomplishment. I have been writing and typing  2025 for 12 months now.  It’s just a reflex by now. A habit. It’s hard to change old habits.  It’s hard to change our ways.

            Those last two statements are true. It is not easy to change things that you have been doing, whether for a year, or for a lifetime.  From time to time someone will say to me, “I just can’t help it. That’s who I am.” And usually that is an excuse for doing the same old same old that they have done for years. Losing their temper. Saying inappropriate words. 

            We are reminded all the time that change is hard. But there is something we need to see in the Bible. Many times we see these two words together, and while they are quite short words, they make all the difference in the world. “But God…” When you read, “But God,” you should be reminded that you don’t have to stay the same. He can change you when you can’t change yourself. 

            I pray that you will have “But God” experiences in your life, that you will see that He can change you, and that you will become the person He is calling you to be. 

Learning to Love

This past weekend we went to the North Carolina mountains with our son, daughter-in-law, and three granddaughters.  It was labelled a ski trip, but the fact is that one of the girls learned to snowboard, some of us went tubing, and others relaxed at the spa and in the hot tub. There wasn’t a chance in the world that I was getting on snow skis.  Just wouldn’t be prudent.

            Our family spent fourteen years in the upper Midwest where I served as pastor of churches in Indiana and Michigan.  At one point after moving back south I made the statement that if I never saw another snowflake I would be satisfied. And I will say this. I do not want to live where it snows again.  When it gets below 50 degrees my first instinct is to go inside and turn on the gas logs.

            But I looked forward to this trip, and I am grateful I that was able to go.  The most important part of the trip was spending time with family.  Tina and I raised two boys, and now we have three granddaughters. Talk about having to learn life over again. Everything I knew as a father has had to adjust to girls. But there can be no escaping this fact. I love those three girls with my whole heart.  I would do anything I could to protect them.  They mean the world to me.

            The Bible is pretty clear on this issue. The only reason I even understand what it means to love is that God loved me first.  Jesus made it very clear that God loves His children far more completely that we love ours. His is a perfect love. He gave His unique Son, Jesus, so that we might know Him in a personal way. 

            I’m so glad that gave me my family.  I learn much about Him and His ways as I interact with all of them.  He truly is good to us. I pray that you will know Him and love Him, too.

Change, Yet the Same

Recently my wife and I hosted our annual Christmas party. She is a great cook, and she lays out quite a spread. I cut the grass, lay down new pine straw, put up the tree, and generally try to stay out of the way.  We’ve been doing this for several decades now wherever we have lived.  It’s just one way to say thank you to our church family, and to express our love for them.

            We have had several new church members over the last year, and a good number of those folks came.  One task that I have is to give a tour of our home.  As you walk through our home, as you would expect, we have several photographs hanging. In a very prominent place in our bedroom there is a picture of Tina and me that was taken in the Summer of 1979, just a few months prior to our wedding.  You should hear the comments.

            “Who are those young people?” “Who is the skinny guy there?” “How did you manage to get her to say, ‘Yes?’”  Yeah, I really appreciate that last one.  One person even said, “You have the exact same haircut…just a different color.”  And I can’t argue

            It is amazing how much we change, and yet how much we remain the same in life. Yes, our looks evolve over the years. A gray hair here, and wrinkle there.  We don’t walk with the same spring in our steps.  Perhaps the heart or the lungs or the digestive system don’t work quite as well.  But in so many ways we are still the same person.  I trust that we are growing. But I am still God’s child, and He is still working in my life.

            I pray that He is working in your life, too.  I am convinced of this. God is not through with you or me until that day that we meet Him face to face. He has plans and work for us to do. I pray that you will find that place, and that you will be faithful to walk with Him wherever He leads you. 

Plans

By now it is probably too late to wish you a Happy New Year. And I actually did that last week. But here’s a question for you. Not trying to make you mad. But have you broken any (or all) of your New Year’s resolutions yet?  Yeah, how long does it take? 

            I’m not one to make a formal list of resolutions for the new year. But I do, at this time every year, take just a bit of time to think about what I would like to accomplish in the days to come.  I try to have goals and plans to better myself. I have ideas that I would like to see our church accomplish. 

            For some people January 1 is just another day, or perhaps a day to watch football and parades.  For me it is a time to consider what comes next.  My long-range plans don’t extend as far as they once did. And there are things I once did that no longer make the list. Still, it is a good time to think about what comes next.

            The truth is that we don’t know all that 2026 will hold.  Six years ago I was barely a month into my new ministry at Shellman Bluff Baptist.  I was completely unaware that the world was about to change.  In just a few weeks we had been introduced to online worship, drive-in worship, “social distancing,” and many other new concepts we would just as soon forget.  We made it through, and our church is much stronger today.  But who knew? Again, we don’t know the future.

            As James told us in his short letter, we need to say that we will do something, “if it is the Lord’s will.” We can make plans, but those plans may have to change.  Only God knows the future. And He holds it in His hand, just as He holds us. We can trust Him. 

            I pray that you will do just that. Trust the Lord for today, tomorrow, next week, and all eternity. He is trustworthy.  He will never forsake you. You can count on Him.

2026?!

  Now, listen carefully. Be honest.  Does it not boggle your mind that as of midnight tonight it will be 2026?  Don’t act like I’m the only one.  It is simply astounding to consider that we have reached the year, 2026!

            As someone who grew up watching the Jetsons, may I share with you a few of my disappointments?  I would certainly have thought by now that the flying car would have been a thing. I know that we have the smart cars that drive on their own. And AI (artificial intelligence for those not paying attention) is truly changing lives.  But I would have expected the robot maid, and the kitchen that George and Jane utilized should be in every home by now, right?

            The truth is that the advancements made in technology, medicine, travel, agriculture, and so many other areas of our daily lives have been overwhelming.  My grandparents didn’t get an indoor bathroom until 1969. And then it was only a closet converted to a half-bathroom. Neither of them ever stepped foot on an airplane.  PaPa refused to believe that the moon-landing actually took place.

            Today our homes have multiple bathrooms with features that we could not imagine ten years ago. The continued advancements keep coming, and they make our lives both more complicated and simpler at the same time.  I’m dating myself, but sometimes I want to scream, “Calgon, take me away!”

            What keeps us grounded in this day and age when everything changes so quickly? I would simply say that the One who is able to help us is the One who created us, sustains us, and is ever with us. God in heaven alone can give peace in the eye of the storm. Paul called it, “the peace that passes all understanding” in the letter he wrote the Philippians. 

            I pray that you will have that peace as we enter this next year. We don’t know what 2026 will bring. But we can know the One who does, and we can trust Him for everything that we need. I pray that you will do just that.

            Happy New Year!

Bittersweet Christmas, Joyful Easter

Merry Christmas! I know that tomorrow is the Big Day, but this will be my last opportunity to offer my greetings to you.  It has truly been a busy season for me, but that is nothing different. Churches are going and blowing in December.  There are parties and dinners and musical specials. Tonight we will celebrate Communion at our church.

            In addition to church activities, my wife and I always take in a show or two. This year we saw (and heard) the Vienna Light Orchestra in Jacksonville, and made our annual trip to the Savannah Theatre for their Christmas Tradition. We have a granddaughter who has a December birthday, and our anniversary was Monday.  So, we keep on the go most of the month.

            Back in the day we travelled. We lived in Indiana and Michigan from 1991 to 2005, so we spent many a day on I-75 headed to and from family.  Was it hard? Sure. But was it worth it? I wouldn’t have had it any other way. The precious memories with my parents will stay with me for the rest of my life.

            I do remember that first Christmas without Mom.  She passed away in April of 2005.  My family moved from Michigan to Pembroke in July, so Thanksgiving and Christmas were the first two events without her. A friend let us use his house on Hilton Head for Thanksgiving. It was good to be away from Mom’s kitchen.

            But Christmas was at Dad’s home. My wife and sister worked away in Mom’s kitchen without her voice giving instructions on what to do next.  We enjoyed plenty of laughter and good food. But we also shed a few tears.

            The holidays are like that. We enjoy so much of it. But there are memories that are bittersweet.  There’s an empty chair. There is a voice missing.

            Can I just tell you what it is that gives me the most hope during the Christmas season? It is the reality of Easter. It is the resurrection. Jesus walked out of the grave alive. And because He is alive, we will one day be raised ourselves. He has promised that, and He is good at keeping His promises.

            I pray that you will have a joyful Christmas Day. And I pray that you know the joy of Easter. Merry Christmas!

Patience and God’s Way

“Eight more sleeps.” That’s the way that we would explain it to our boys when they were growing up. “Eight more sleeps” and Christmas will be here.  And to help them visualize it we had a calendar with a little mouse that we moved into the next pocket every morning.  They could “see” that we were getting closer.

            Of course, our youngest tried, on at least one occasion, to move the mouse an extra place or two.  I suppose he thought that he could make Christmas arrive more quickly if the mouse arrived on the 25th a few days early. We had to explain to him that it did not work that way. He had to learn to be patient, and to wait for the big day.

            There are several lessons to learn from that story. Certainly, we all need to learn patience.  Too often we are like the boy who prayed, “God, I need patience, and I need it now!”  Again, it doesn’t work that way. Often patience is learned only through hard lessons that we really don’t want to experience.

But there’s a second lesson there.  It is this. You cannot “move the goalposts” in order for the field goal to be good.  Here’s what I mean.  So many times in our world we want to change the words that God has spoken to fit our own preferences.  But God’s Word is what it has always been.  It was true when He spoke it, and it remains true today.  We are not at liberty to pick and choose, cafeteria style, what rules we will follow.

            And here’s the thing about that. The One who created us knows what is right for us. He has not given rules that are arbitrary. He is not trying to steal our fun. He wants the very best for you.  I pray that you will find satisfaction and joy in hearing and doing what God is calling you to do.  He truly has our best in mind.

Promises and Vows

Later this month my wife and I will celebrate our 46th wedding anniversary. Yep. We were married on December 22, 1979.  She was already teaching school. I was in the middle of my junior year in college.  It was a crazy time.  Shorter College, at that time, was the only college in Georgia that operated on the semester system, rather than quarters. I had a final exam on Friday morning, December 21.  Then I drove from Rome to Dacula (my hometown), and turned around and went to Chamblee for the rehearsal and dinner.  To say I was distracted would be an understatement.

            Well, fast-forward these many years, and we have come to a conclusion. It was crazy for a pastor to get married during the Christmas season. We have never taken an anniversary trip. We usually go to a show and out to dinner. But the entire month of December is packed with church events.  Add to that one granddaughter’s birthday.  While the song says, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year,” I can attest that it is also, “the most hectic time of the year.” 

            And we wouldn’t have it any other way.  God has blessed us in more ways that we could ever have imagined.  And the events of Christmas always remind us of that young couple who only knew one thing. We loved each other, and we were committed to each other.  And we have both sought to keep the vows we took on that day.

            During the Christmas season, many promises are made. “I’ll be good if I get that gift.” “I’ll be there for Christmas dinner.”  “You can count on me.” And some of those promises are indeed kept. But there can also be heartache and pain during this time of year.  I won’t elaborate. You know what I mean.

            But let me remind you of this. Christmas means that God keeps His promises.  Jesus was, and is, the fulfillment of God’s greatest promise.  And He is the guarantee that God will always keep His word. Are you trusting in Him this year? He will not forsake you. He will not forget you.  Indeed, you can count on Him.

“The Word Became Flesh”

By now the decorations are up, perhaps some (if not all) of the gifts have been purchased, wrapped, and are under the trees, the music of the season is on the radio and in the stores, and you are finally beginning to get into the mood. Three weeks from tomorrow it will be Christmas Day.  And many will gather again with family and friends for parties and dinners and other celebrations.

            In the next three weeks my wife and I will go to a concert in Jacksonville, the Christmas show at the Savannah Theatre, a couple of Sunday School class parties, and we will host an Open House for our church family and neighbors. And of course we will spend Christmas Day with family. We will eat great food and exchange gifts.  And we will be filled with joy.

            I know that you get this reminder from preachers and others every year, but it bears repeating. Please don’t get so caught up in the hustle and bustle of Christmas that you forget its true meaning.  Don’t become so tense and agitated by all that you have to do that the joy of the season passes you by. 

            The temptation is certainly there.  This time of year can become overwhelming. And it is even more difficult when this is the first Christmas season without a special loved one.  It can be hard.

            But the point of Christmas is simple. God, because of His great love for us, became one of us (“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us”).  He lived a perfect sinless life, and then gave that life as a sacrifice for our sins that we might live with Him forever. That kind of love is difficult to fathom. But oh how grateful I am for that love.

            I pray that you will find true joy this Christmas. Celebrate the goodness and the grace of the Lord. Worship Him. Love Him. Serve Him. Jesus truly is the reason for the season. 

Thanksgiving

It’s Thanksgiving! Tomorrow is the day we celebrate and give thanks for all that God has done. I once read in an actual school textbook that we celebrate Thanksgiving as a reminder of the time the Pilgrims threw a party to give thanks to the Native Americans who had shown them great hospitality.

            Now, let me be clear on this issue. There were Native Americans who were kind and helpful to the new settlers on this continent. But the Pilgrims gave thanks to the Lord for His providence and care over their lives. They left the old country to come here in pursuit of religious liberties. They lost many of their kin and their friends along the way. When they paused to give thanks it was to the Lord who had sustained them in their journey.

            I look forward to gathering with my family tomorrow.  We are expecting both sons, our daughter-in-law, and three granddaughters to join us for dinner.  We will laugh and tell stories. We will watch parades and football on TV.  We will almost certainly (weather permitting) go outside to walk or ride bikes. And we will eat. My goodness will we eat.

            You may not be aware, but I hit the jackpot for cooks when I married. That was not the reason I fell in love with her, but it is certainly a bonus. I will fry the turkey, but Tina will cook the dressing, the sweet potato souffle, the green beans, the mashed potatoes and gravy. And then there will be the desserts. I will say no more.

            While we will do all of these things as a family, there will also be a time when we stop and give thanks. God has been good to us. He has walked with my wife and me as we were unable to have children, and placed two sons in our lives through adoption. He spared one of those sons through an accident that should have taken his life. He has given us a wonderful daughter through marriage, and three of the most precious girls who call us Papa and Gramma. And we are thankful.

            The Bible says, “Give thanks in everything, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”  I don’t know what is going on in your life. It may be hard time right now. But I want you to remember that the Lord is with you. He has not forsaken you. He is watching over you. You can trust Him for that. And then, you can give thanks.  I pray you will do just that. 

“The Fool Says . . .”

I know that I have mentioned in this column before that the Fall season is my favorite time of year.  There are so many reasons.  College football is in full swing. College and high school basketball is about to start. It’s prime fishing season in our part of the world. And it is also a wonderful time to be out on the golf course.  Not too hot, not too cold. As Goldilocks would say, “It’s just right.”

            There is beauty all around us as well.  Yes, I know that most of the trees and plants bud and bloom in the Spring. But even as the grass grows dormant, the leaves on the trees are bursting with color. I will admit that the fall colors are more prominent in the mountains than on the coast, but still there are trees with reds and yellows and oranges even here.

            As I consider the beaty of a sunset or sunrise over the marsh I am amazed again at the wonder and the majesty of God.  It boggles my mind that there are those who remain convinced that this universe is a cosmic accident with no intelligent design behind it. I’ve even heard avowed atheists say, “Yes, our universe appears to have been designed, but we know that not to be the case.”

Can I just say it? That is stubbornness to the core. But it is exactly what the apostle Paul wrote about in Romans 1. He tells us that there is more than enough evidence for the reality of God, but that people choose to ignore it.  And most of the time they choose to ignore it for one reason. They don’t want to answer to a higher power. So they simply deny His existence.

            Here’s the thing. You can ignore, and even deny, that God is. But the Bible says, “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’”  Can’t be much more blunt than that.  But it is true. God is, and one day we will stand before Him. I pray that you will be ready for that day.

Inclusive and Exclusive

We are right in the middle of the “pumpkin spice” season.  I saw a sign locally that read, “Limited Time Only: Pumpkin Spice Insurance.” That’s pretty clever.  After all, it is all the rage.

            I have to admit to you that I agree with my Dad on this issue. He once said to me, “I think I might like pumpkin flavored stuff if it just didn’t taste like pumpkin.”  I remember the look on his face at a family reunion years ago when he thought he had a slice of sweet potato pie only to discover that it was actually pumpkin.  The one bite was his only bite. Yeah. Me, too.

            But it’s pretty clear that a lot of folks disagree with me. Pumpkin spiced flavoring wouldn’t be all over the place if someone wasn’t eating or drinking it.  So, to each his own.  You can have mine. What tastes good is merely an opinion.

            Unfortunately, many people want to take their religious beliefs on the basis of what “tastes good” to them.  “I’ll have a little of this, and a little of that, and when I blend them it will fit me just perfectly.”  That works at the local buffet. But not in matters of faith.

            I know it doesn’t fit the narrative of our day, but Jesus was clear on this issue. “I am the way, the truth, and the life,” He declared. “No one comes to the Father except by me.” And there are those who are highly offended by those words. I understand.  It is a difficult saying for many to accept.

            The Christian faith is highly inclusive, in that it is offered to all. But it is exclusive in that it teaches that Jesus is the truth, and that we must come to God through Him.  I’m going to continue to proclaim this biblical truth, and I pray that many will come to accept it.  Jesus is the answer for the world today.

Thankfulness List

You probably don’t want to hear this, but I must offer you a warning. By the end of the week you will hear Christmas music, and there will be decorations all over the place. I know it’s too early!  Don’t shoot the messenger. I’m just trying to prepare you.  I don’t want you to be shocked.

            I’m going to tell you a secret. I love the holidays.  I’m just big kid when it comes to the parties, the celebrations, and yes, the decorations and music. But I wish to get all that started on the day after Thanksgiving.  While some are out early seeking Black Friday deals, I will utilize that day to put up our tree with Nat King Cole singing in the background. I will not buy my first gift, no matter the temptation, until after that.

            So, why am I telling you this the last week of October?  I want to start a revolution.  I want us to spend the next four weeks giving thanks.  I know that we will celebrate that day with turkey and parades and football.  But I don’t want to wait that long.  I want to make November the most thankful month of the year.

            So here is what I propose. Every day for the next four weeks, before your feet hit the floor, give thanks. You are alive and breathing!  You have a new day!  You have a reason for thankfulness!

            And then, all through the day, whenever anything good comes to mind, offer a prayer of thanksgiving, and then do one more thing.  Write down your reason for thankfulness.  See how long the list grows. 

            I have an idea.  I think, if we take this seriously and really follow through, that we may need multiple pieces of paper to keep track.  At the end of this time I am going to tally the total on my paper.  How many reasons will I have to give thanks?  I’m not sure. But I’m betting on this.  If I take the time to remember and record all of my blessings, my complaints list will shrink accordingly.

            Paul wrote, “In everything give thanks, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”  Let’s do just that starting now.