“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.

Change Your Destiny

Last week I briefly mentioned the law of gravity.  This law simply tells us, “What goes up must come down.”  I’ve believed in the law of gravity ever since I learned it in elementary school science. And then I moved to Shellman Bluff and started playing golf at Sapelo Hammock Golf Course.  And more than once I have watched balls fly into trees on that course and never come down.  I’m not kidding. They get caught up in the Spanish Moss and do not fall to the ground.  For the uniformed, that means a one stroke penalty with a dropped ball.  Like I said. I used to believe gravity was always true.

            Recently I was shown a video of a young lady (sorry, but it was a woman) who said, and I quote, “I believe we would be just as well off if Isaac Newton had never invented gravity.  After all, do we really need gravity? I believe we could live without it.”

            Your first response is likely to laugh. But then you stop. When you think about it with care you realize that this person is eligible to vote, likely drives on the street, and may even have a child one day.  And you wonder to yourself, “Are we all doomed?”

            The truth is that all of us have said or done something that we are very grateful was not recorded and posted to social media.  I shudder to think that every deed I’ve done or every word I’ve said would be available for anyone to see or read.

            But then I stop and remember this. God sees and hears and knows it all.  He does not need a phone camera, doesn’t have to look on Facebook, and He still knows all that I say and do. And He loves me anyway.  How grateful I am for the marvelous and wonderful love of God.  Without it I would be doomed. With it I have hope for all eternity. I hope that you know the precious love of God. It will change your life. It will change your destiny.

Famous Biblical Quotes?

It’s funny the things that people believe.  I am often amazed, amused, and alarmed at what some people believe the Bible teaches.  For instance, “God helps those who help themselves.”  Not found in the Bible. Not a biblical concept.  In fact, the Bible teaches the exact opposite. God helps those who realize that they are helpless, and that they need a Savior. 

            I’ve heard many other statements attributed to the Bible. “Cleanliness is next to godliness.”  “Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.”  And then there is my all-time favorite. “Let your conscience be your guide.”

            I know many people who quote Jiminy Crickets’ line to say that they will listen to their conscience and follow their heart. Yes, that’s correct. That quote does not come from the Bible, but from the lips of Jiminy Crickets.  A fun story, but not a source of true theology.

            In fact, this line is far removed from what the Bible says.  Consider the words from Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?”  Do you get that?  The prophet says that we cannot trust our hearts. Our hearts will lead us astray. Our consciences can be seared to the point that we will justify all kinds of behavior.

            We are living in a time when a philosophy known as “relativism” has taken center stage in so many lives. You confront that philosophy when you hear someone say, “Well, that may be true for you, but it’s not true for me.”  No. The fact is if something is true, it is true.

            We believe that in science.  The law of gravity is always true.  Other laws of physics always apply. But the fact is that God’s moral laws do not change either.  Don’t let your conscience be your guide. It will lead you astray. Rather, let God’s Word guide you. It will always take you where you need to go.

Homecoming

This past Sunday our church celebrated Homecoming.  I know that not all churches do that, so I’ll try to explain.  Homecoming is an annual event filled with worship and fellowship.  We sang for a longer period in the worship service, and then we had a pitch-in dinner immediately following worship.  We sent invitations to members who have moved away and also made a concerted effort to invite folks to join us for the day. 

            For our church this year marked our 79th anniversary. Since 1946 folks have been gathering here on the bluff for worship and fellowship.  What a privilege to follow in the footsteps of those who have gone before us.

            There are two negative tendencies that can hamper a church if they are not careful. The first is to live in the past. Only think about the glory days gone by, and long for their return. The truth is that time goes on, and we will never recapture the glory of those days.

            But the other tendency is to forget the past, and think that we have built the church to where it is on our own.  That is simply false. The book of Hebrews reminds us that we are surrounded by a host of witnesses.  There have been faithful men and women who have gone before us and paved the way for any successes that we may be enjoying.

I have had the privilege of meeting one of the former pastors at Shellman Bluff, my direct predecessor, Harry Coursey and an earlier Pastor, Dempsey Golden. I am thankful for Brother Harry’s friendship. Most of the others who have preached there have passed on to their reward. But they all had a part in preparing the church for the good things that God is doing in our midst today.

            I encourage you not to live in the past.  But don’t forget it either. God has used the past to prepare us for the next steps. And if the Lord tarries, He will use our ministry to help the next generation.  I pray that we will be like Paul and, “fight the good fight, finish the course, and keep the faith.”

“Rest for Your Soul:

As I write this morning, I am sitting on the balcony of the second floor of the Chatuge Lodge in Hiawassee, Georgia.  The sun is coming up over the Chatuge Lake which is the border between North Carolina and Georgia.  It is a beautiful sight.  In the distance I see several docks, and I have been listening as boats have been leaving the nearby marina all morning.

            It took us more than six hours to drive up here yesterday.  It will be a similar drive on Saturday when we return home.  Have I mentioned that I don’t enjoy driving nearly as much as I once did?  No, the drive yesterday was tiresome, and I’m certain it will be the same at the end of the week.

            And yet, the view alone is worth it. Later today we will visit an orchard, we plan to do some hiking, I am certain that I will play at least one round of mountain golf, and I might even have the opportunity to throw a line in the water to see if there are any hungry bass lurking around.  We’re don’t have a specific agenda.  It is our intention to rest and relax.

            I’ve known a few folks in my lifetime who would never take a vacation.  “You have to work,” was the mantra. And don’t get me wrong. I know that work is necessary. God intends for us to work. But God also gave us a marvelous example when He rested on the seventh day.

            Please know this. God was not tired. He did not need to rest. But He did so to remind us that we would need to rest. You need rest for your body. You need rest for your soul. That is another reason that worship is so important. When we worship we find rest for our souls.

            I hope that you will take advantage of the opportunity to worship this coming Sunday. Find a church and join with them as they sing, pray, read the Scripture and meet with God and each other.  You will be glad that you did.

The Blame Game

Regular season baseball comes to an end this weekend.  The playoffs begin next Tuesday. For the first time since 2017 my favorite team, the Atlanta Braves, will not be in the postseason.  To read the comments of so-called Braves’ fans online you would think that this team is the worst team in the history of professional sports.  Never mind that the Colorado Rockies are probably not going to win 50 games this year. Three NFL teams have gone winless. And the Philadelphia 76ers once won only 9 of 82 games in a season. 

            The truth is that Braves fans have been spoiled through the last 35 years.  They have been in the playoffs 24 times, the World Series six times, and they have won it all twice.  When you consider that, prior to that, they had been in the playoffs five times in their previous history (including when in Boston and Milwaukee), and had won the World Series only two times, they have been on a remarkable streak.

            And this year’s team has plenty of reasons for their demise, the major one being injuries.  All of their starting pitchers, without exception, have spent considerable time on the injured list.  When all six of your starters have missed more than 50 games each, it is going to be hard to win.

            Still, most of the players and coaches would say that they don’t want to talk about excuses. They hold themselves accountable. They are dissatisfied with the season, and they certainly hope to do better next year.

            Do you make excuses for your failures to obey the Lord? Do you blame others? If you will remember, Adam blamed Eve, and Eve blamed the serpent for their sin.  And we tend to do the same.  The truth is that the Lord has said to us, “If we will confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

            God wants us to be accountable. He wants us to confess our need for Him. He stands ready to forgive. Don’t blame others when you fall. Admit your need, and trust in the Lord. His grace is enough. 

Keep Praying

Our church has a prayer list. It is published weekly, and there are copies made available at the church. It is also sent electronically to anyone who asks to receive our emails and is mailed to a handful of folks who “don’t do computers.” 

            Our prayer list has several categories. There is a column for our “Church Family” and another for “Family and Friends.”  These two columns change frequently. There are still others that are labeled, “On-Going” and “Cancer Concerns.” These will often remain the same for weeks at a time as we keep the names of these folks in our minds.  Finally, there is a column for, “Other Concerns.” 

            I know many of our church members keep the latest copy of the prayer list in their Bibles for the entire week. They refer to them daily as they read the Bible and pray.  I am so grateful for their faithfulness to do so.

            The Bible reminds us, “Pray without ceasing.” Does this mean that we are to quit our jobs, never turn on the TV, quit doing anything else and pray all day every day?  No. God clearly intends for us to work, to spend time with family and to do other things. We go shopping, we rest and relax, we visit with friends. 

            To “pray without ceasing” means that we seek to be in a constant state of friendship with God. It means that we can call on Him at any moment. And it means that we never quit praying. We never give up on God.

            When you don’t feel like praying, pray anyway. When it seems your prayers are not being heard, pray anyway. When praying gets harder and harder, pray anyway. 

            Jesus modeled this kind of praying for us in the Garden of Gethsemane.  How He longed for the cup of death to pass by, and yet He declared, “Nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done,” and then He obeyed His Father. 

            I pray that you will keep praying. I don’t know what you are facing, but God is bigger still than anything in your life. He loves you and is listening. The Bible says that He “inclines His ear toward us.” What a source of comfort to know that God hears my prayers!  Keep praying. He is listening. 

Walk and Don’t Fall

In my younger days I was quite trim. In fact, my mother would buy me slim pants and have to take them up just a bit. Even when I reached high school, I could not gain weight.  I would consume more than 3000 calories a day, but I would burn them off at basketball or baseball practice. The day I graduated from high school I stood six feet, two and a quarter (don’t forget the ¼) inches, and I weighed in at just under 150 pounds.  In the words of Barney Fife, I was wiry.

            I wouldn’t be considered obese today, but 150 pounds is way in the rearview mirror.  I love to eat, and the truth is there is no telling how much I might weigh if I did not exercise.  I ride a bike, I have a rowing machine that I use occasionally, I lift light weights, and I walk.  Notice I did not say that I run. If you see me running, please call for help. I’m in some kind of trouble.

            But I walk frequently. I walk my dogs. I walk the neighborhood alone. And I walk the golf course when it is under 90 degrees.  I’ve always taken walking for granted. Just put one foot in front of the other. Keep moving.  But as I age, I have to be a bit more careful. Recently on the golf course I tripped over a root.  Have you ever taken 30 feet and 10 seconds actually to fall? I tried to stay upright. But I stumbled and tripped and flung my arms around before I finally simply went to the ground. Only thing I hurt was my pride. 

            But I am aware that falling is one of the most dangerous things that can happen to us as we age. We need to be careful as we walk.

            The Christian life is often compared to a walk.  Paul wrote to the Ephesians, “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise, making the best of the time, because the days are evil.”  That is advice we need to follow. No one ever plans to fall, either physically or spiritually.  But when we do not take care, it can happen to quickly. 

            I urge you to look carefully how you walk. Keep your eyes on Jesus and follow Him.  He is our only hope.