I’ll Take the Narrow Road
Well, it’s less than two months until Christmas. Already in many stores the decorations are in place. And if not, they will certainly be up after Saturday. We used to wait until the day after Thanksgiving. Now it is the first day of November. Sometimes I think we have jumped the gun.
On the other hand, I sing in our church choir. We have been practicing Christmas music since the first week of September. We do so every year. On December 13 we will have a special day of music in our church as the choir sings what is called a Cantata. It’s a program of eight songs with Scripture and the story of Jesus’ birth narrated between songs. It’s a lot of fun for those of us singing, and if I do say so myself, we’re not half bad thanks to our great leader, Terry Barnard.
Still, it’s feels funny to be singing Christmas music for four months. We only practice an hour a week, so we aren’t like the Hallmark Channel that shows Christmas movies all year round. But we are definitely singing those eight arrangements over and over until Terry is satisfied that we are prepared to sing. And it’s actually a lot of fun.
Sometimes we do things that seem to be out of place. Singing Christmas songs in September is only one of them. Taking a stand for Jesus when all of neighbors and family and friends are on the other side of the issue can be another time. I’ve had my share of times when someone I loved simply shook their head and said, “I don’t know why you are drawing the line here. Everyone else is with us.” And I have watched sadly as they have walked away from me.
Jesus told us that we would often be in the minority. He said that the road to life was narrow, while the road to destruction was wide. The implication is that the road to destruction needs more room because more folks would take it. Robert Frost once wrote, “I took the road less traveled, and that made all the difference in the world.”
I would invite you to take narrow road, the one less traveled, if you will. Jesus invites us to follow Him. There will be times when it is lonely to do so. But you have this promise to trust. The Lord will be with you. He will never forsake you.
Adopted Children of God
Earlier this month my son turned 42. Hard to believe. I remember the day we brought him home. He said, “I’m going to call you daddy.” Now don’t start to question my truthfulness or my sanity. He really did. You see, my wife and I were first his foster parents, and later we adopted him. He was two-years-old when we first met him. As we were driving home he asked, “Are you going to be my daddy? I’m going to call you daddy.”
In that moment I could not understand why my windshield wipers weren’t working properly. They weren’t clearing the water so that I could see. Because it was not raining. I was weeping tears of joy.
You see, for almost four years prior to this day we had been hoping to have a baby. We could not understand what was wrong. I wrote an article that was published in a magazine called, Home Life, that the editors entitled, “We Mourn Every Month.” And indeed, we did mourn every month.
But on that morning we received a call from the Department of Family Services in our county. We went to their office, and within a couple of hours we were on our way home. We were so unprepared. The previous week we had completed all of the required training, and then we were told, “It will be at least six months, and probably more than a year before we place a child in your home.” Right. It was five days.
On the way home we stopped at, “Toys-R-Us.” Remember them? We bought a Big Wheel and a plastic baseball and bat. And we went home. Perhaps the only other day to compare with that one was the day when his daughter was born. Both occasions were joyful beyond measure.
The Bible declares that God has adopted us as His children. At least that is true for those who have trusted in His Son. “He has given us the spirit of adoption whereby we cry, ‘Abba, Father,’” Paul wrote. I pray that you have experienced that wonderful moment where you know that you are a child of God.
You know…not many folks can claim that their son talked to them on the day they first drove him home. Of course, he was not a child prodigy. But he was quite special to me. Still is today. Happy birthday, Son.
Faith Revealed
A couple of weeks ago my wife and I spent a week on the edge of The Great Smokie Mountains in North Carolina. We both grew up in North Georgia, and we have always enjoyed the hills and the valleys of the area. My family often took vacations in the mountains of Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina, and Tina and I spent our honeymoon in Gatlinburg. The mountains are one of our favorite places to visit.
While we were there we saw the beginnings of the changing colors of the leaves. Probably this week to the end of October would be the absolute best time, but we were blessed to see some of the beauty of the Fall.
I’ve said this often, both in this column, as well as is in weekly sermons. Not only that, but simply in general conversations I have said the same thing. I cannot understand how a person can view the beauty of nature all around us and claim to believe that there is no God. It is incomprehensible to me to think that this universe came to be by accident.
We live in a beautiful part of the world ourselves. I’ve never been a huge fan of poetry, but I recall one particular poet from my Old English Class at Shorter College. Sydney Lanier wrote a poem entitled, “The Marshes of Glynn.” While we are north of Glynn County, we enjoy the beauty of our own marshes. Two lines in his poem have stamped themselves on my memory.
He wrote, “And belief overmasters doubt, and I know that I know…” Yes, we all have moments of doubt. But as we see the handiwork of God, faith wins out. The more recent slogan is, “Faith over Fear.” And it is true. And later in the poem we read, “I build me a nest on the greatness of God,” “I will fly in the greatness of God,” and “I will heartily lay me ahold on the greatness of God.” He uses the phrase, “greatness of God,” at least four times in a short space.
Mr. Lanier understood this truth. Our lives depend upon the greatness of God. I pray for you that faith will overmaster doubt, and I pray that you will find your peace in the greatness of God.
Learning Takes Practice
“Hablas Espanol?” For those who have taken basic Spanish in high school, you know that I have asked, “Do you speak Spanish?” Many years ago I took Spanish for two years in high school. And then, in college, I took two more years to fulfill the requirement of four semesters of a foreign language. The fact is that for years I have been able to understand small bits of the language, and I can recognize many words when written. But to carry on a conversation in Spanish? That wasn’t going to happen.
Recently I have taken a completely different approach to learning the language. I am going to Bolivia on a mission trip in November, and I would like to be able to have a very basic conversation with those whom I encounter on the trip. Of course I want to be able to read a menu and street signs. But I want to be able to speak with another person. That is what matters most.
So, I am taking what is called “an immersion class” in Spanish. At least six days a week (for several weeks now) I spend 30 minutes listening to, and responding to, an oral conversation in Spanish. Sometimes I get the answers right. At other times I find myself struggling to remember the right word, or word form. But the bottom line is that I am learning a bit of Spanish. I still have several weeks before the trip, and I continue to learn more each day. I am really excited about the possibilities.
The truth is that we learn to pray in the same way that I am learning to speak Spanish. You can read about prayer. You can listen to sermons about prayer. But the best way to learn to pray is simple. Pray. Talk to God. And then stop and listen to Him. In all likelihood, if you have not prayed in a while, your first attempts at prayer will likely be a struggle. But every day you pray, you learn a bit more how to pray.
So, let me encourage you in this task. You might not need to learn Spanish. But if you are a child of God, you need to speak to Him daily. “Pray without ceasing,” was Paul’s admonition to us. I encourage you to do just that.
Directed Paths
Well, fall started last week, and I am trying to enjoy it to its fullest. Tina and I are in a cabin in North Carolina. We hope to enjoy the beginning of the fall colors as we ride around the area. And I do hope that the weather will allow for at least one round of mountain golf.
I have always enjoyed the mountains. When we were younger, Tina and I had thought that we might eventually retire in north Georgia. The Lord has a way of changing our plans. In fact, I’ve heard it said, “Man plans, and God laughs.” Solomon wrote in Proverbs 16:9, “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”
So, does that mean that one should never plan? Should we simply go merrily along, knowing that God will take us to where He wants us? I do not think that is the right way to live. In fact, James wrote, “You ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.’” He was not saying that any and all planning is wrong. It is simply that we are to submit to the Lord’s direction, and then to follow Him.
Through the years Tina and I have sought to follow the Lord. He led us to school and our first church in south Louisiana, only a year or so after we married. We made our way back to Georgia, but then spent 14 years in the upper Midwest. We returned to Georgia in 2005, and have found what we hope to be our final home in Shellman Bluff.
It’s funny. I would have thought I would have retired by the age of 67 from fulltime ministry. And I would have thought that retirement would have been in the mountains of North Georgia. And I would have thought a whole bunch of other things that have not turned out the way I would have thought.
And through it all, God has been good. He has directed our paths, just as He has promised. And we have sought to trust in Him with our whole hearts, not leaning on our own understanding. And as I said, He has directed our paths. What a mighty God we serve!
The Lord’s Building
Our church is hosting a Blood Drive today, sponsored by the American Red Cross. We do this every other month. Glory Worship Center in Darien does the same thing each of the other six months. This provides the opportunity for the residents of McIntosh County to donate blood in both the north and sound ends of the county when it is most convenient.
I started donating blood my freshman year in college. My dad had always given at his work, and when I saw the bloodmobile that day, I just knew that it was something I wanted to do. That would have been in the fall of 1977, so I have been giving for almost 50 years. Having lived and donated in four states, I have lost count of the number of times I have given. Red Cross recently notified me that I am over five gallons by their records.
I don’t share that with you to put the spotlight on me. The truth is that this is one of the easiest things I ever get to do for others. And it’s one of the easiest things that our church gets to do for its community.
When we built our new Family Life Center and Social Hall we made the commitment that we would not cling to the building and keep it to ourselves. The Blood Drives are simply one way that we can help our community. We have allowed the building to be used by the Chamber of Commerce and other civic organizations as well. We are convinced that the building does not belong to us. It is the Lord’s.
The church should be the one organization in the world that does not exist for itself. We belong to God, and we have been called to serve Him and to bless the neighborhoods where we exist. It is my prayer that Shellman Bluff Baptist will be a blessing to Shellman Bluff and the surrounding areas. And I pray the same for every church in our county. May we serve the Lord by serving and loving others.
The Handiwork of God
I told you two weeks ago that Tina and I recently returned from vacation. The day that we flew home from Minneapolis, it was 68 degrees when we boarded our plane. Three hours later we stepped off of the plane in Savannah and were greeted by 98. It almost took my breath away.
This country has a variety of sights to see, but it also has a tremendous variety in weather patterns. One year when we lived in metropolitan Detroit, it snowed in mid- October. There were shaded portions in our yard where we did not see the green grass again until April. There was also one summer when our home air conditioning unit did not operate even one time. The whole house fan kept us comfortable the entire time.
We can’t even imagine life without A/C here, can we? The truth is that our ancestors somehow lived in these parts without it. I find that amazing. Last month there was one week where I went outside, rolled the trash and recycle cans to the street, and had to change my shirt upon reentering the house.
Again, as I view the variety in the weather, I see the hand of God at work. I know that there are some who don’t view it that way. But there is simply so much evidence for God’s existence and His power in the world in which we live. Paul told the Roman church that what can be known about God is plain, because God has shown it to us. The evidence is clear. There is a Creator. And He is also the sustainer of the world.
The most amazing thing about God is that He loves us. John 3:16 is true. He loves us so much (or in such a manner) that He gave His one and only Son for us. I pray that you know Him, and that you will serve Him as He gives you opportunity. You were made by Him and for Him. Serve Him today.
Remembrance and Religion
It was twenty-five years ago this week that life changed. Do you remember when you could go all the way to the departure gate of the airport to say goodbye to someone leaving town? Do you remember going to a ball game or a national park without having to walk through a metal detector?
This year September 11 falls on Friday. In 2001, on that fateful Tuesday morning, I was sitting in a restaurant in metro Detroit, eating breakfast with a group of fellow pastors. The owner of the place came running to the back room where we gathered and urged us to pray. “They are attacking us,” he exclaimed. Confused and concerned, we all gathered around his13-inch black and white TV to watch.
I remember that schools released early that day, all after school activities were cancelled, and we continued to watch the coverage through the week. I was scheduled to go on a mission trip to Siberia to lead a pastor’s conference ten days later. It, too, was cancelled.
On Friday of that week we were encouraged to gather for worship and prayer, and on that Sunday we had the largest attendance we had for that year, exceeding both Easter and Mother’s Day. We were a desperate people, searching for answers. Many turned to the Lord…briefly.
The fact is that within a month church attendance had returned to normal, and very few radical changes were made in the spiritual life of our nation.
It has been said through the years that there are no atheists in foxholes. Many people reach out to the Lord in times of trouble and crisis. But in everyday life we keep going alone. There are many people who believe in God, but live as “practical atheists.” By that I mean that their lives reflect no dependence on Him, nor commitment to Him.
Again, the truth is simple. If there is a God, then He is deserving of our worship and service. In the Old Testament, Joshua challenged his people with these words. “Choose this day whom you will serve.” And Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters.” We’re all serving someone. Whom are you serving?
God’s Beautiful World
My wife and I recently went on vacation. We flew to Minneapolis, and from there drove through parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois. Along the way we saw both cities and rural scenes, with the latter filled with corn fields and dairies. We saw our beloved Braves play . And we ate the local cuisine (the Friday fish fry in Wisconsin is the real deal!).
As I mentioned last month, this brings the number of states we have visited to 40. Only ten to go (Hawaii, Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Utah, North Dakota, and South Dakota). We have hopes to visit all of these.
As we have traveled, we have learned what so many of you already knew. This country is filled with beautiful places and wonderful people. Even walking the streets of downtown Minneapolis over and over we were met with smiling faces and greetings from complete strangers.
And the sights we have seen! Over the years we have visited New England and its Fall splendor. We have walked Carlsbad Cavern. We have waded in the Atlantic Ocean in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Boston Harbor and Long Island. And as of this last trip we have seen the mighty Mississippi River in Minneapolis, St. Louis, and New Orleans.
I can say that we are impressed with the handiwork of God. “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof…” wrote the psalmist centuries ago. He also wrote, “The heavens declare the glory of God…” Without a doubt, I believe it.
When I look around where I live, right here in Shellman Bluff, I am amazed at the beauty of this world. I have the privilege of walking and riding around Sapelo Hammock Golf Course once or twice a week, and I see the hand of God. I stand on the dock in Cooper’s Point, and I see the same. We live in a beautiful part of the world.
As I consider all that I have seen and enjoyed, my heart is full, and I wish to give thanks. I pray that you will see what God has made, and you will give thanks as well. He truly is good. To Him be the glory.
Taking the Blame Willingly
I usually write my columns a month at a time. That way I am not under the gun every week. If there is a significant event that takes place in the interim, I might submit a substitute column addressing that situation. But not always.
So, with that said, the day before I wrote this column the Atlanta Braves were beaten 14-3 in a game that was not much fun to watch. Even after that game they were in first place, but it was a bad one.
One player took the brunt of the punishment in that game. In the only game in which he has pitched this season, he gave up ten hits, three homeruns, five walks, and eleven runs, while only getting seven outs. That’s right, twenty-two batters, and he got seven outs. Ouch! Social media was not kind to him or to the Braves’ manager that next day.
I have a couple of observations concerning that game. First, for all of the critics, this young man was good enough to get to the major leagues. He had a bad day, for sure. But none of those critics were good enough to get that far. Second, I just wanted to go and hug him. I hope his mom or dad called him that night to say they loved him.
My final observation is that he was left in that game to, “take one for the team.” He was having a terrible outing. But the Braves had played several close games, including two extra-inning games, in the days prior, and their bullpen was severely taxed. They needed someone to “eat innings,” that is simply to get them through that game. This young man did that for them. It wasn’t pretty. But it was important for the team. He didn’t help them win that night. But he may have helped for the next few games.
Have you ever had to “take one for the team?” Perhaps a co-worker, “threw you under the bus,” as they say, and you decided not to argue. You took the blame, though it may have belonged elsewhere. Or, you have covered up for others and their shortcomings. I wonder if there is ever a time when we are more like Jesus than when we do such things.
It’s not fun to take one for the team, or to be thrown under the bus. But when you do these things in the right spirit, I believe that Jesus is pleased. I’m not going to lie for you. It will never be fun to take the blame when it rightfully belongs to another (and there are limits to this). But I pray that you will be willing to serve others, even when it costs you. That’s what Jesus did for you.
Are You Content?
My wife and I are on vacation this week. We are on a quest to visit all 50 states in the union. By the end of this trip we will have made 40. All of the remaining ten are in the upper western portion of our nation, along with Alaska and Hawaii. Our nation is a beautiful place. I enjoy travel abroad as well, but I really want to complete this journey.
I have another travel goal as well. I am blessed to be married to a lady who loves me and is willing to put up with my hobbies. I want to see a baseball game in every Major League park. On the trip we are making this week, we will see the Braves play in Minneapolis, Milwaukee, and Chicago. That will bring my total to fifteen of the thirty teams.
What kind of goals do you have in life? When I was younger I was certain that I wanted to be a major league baseball player…a pitcher to be exact. Well, I did pitch in high school. Wasn’t bad. But I went undrafted, and no one signed me as a free agent. From time to time I will watch a game and think, I could have done that poorly. But it never happened.
So, I have been quite content to be a pastor for almost 44 years. I have preached and taught and led meetings and performed weddings and officiated at funerals and visited in hospitals and nursing homes and a host of other things that pertain to the job. And it’s interesting. It’s not just at church that people see me as a pastor. On the golf course a lot of my friends simply refer to me as, “Preacher.” And I gladly answer.
Preaching is the most obvious thing I do. It is the most public thing I do. And so, the name applies. “Preacher.” Say it out loud and I will at the very least turn my head. I am more than likely to answer.
Again, what are your goals in life? Who are you? Who do you want to be? Paul wrote, “I have learned to be content in all circumstances.” That’s a hard thing to do. There are some circumstances that make me cringe. And yet, there may be times when God places me (or you) in places you would rather not be. Can you be content there? Can you be satisfied to please God, even when it is hard.
God has not promised His children an easy life. But He has promised to be with us. “I will never leave you nor forsake you,” He has declared, and He always keeps His promises. Will you trust Him to do that for you?
The Power of Encouragement
Last month my wife and I traveled to north Georgia, Lake Lanier specifically, to spend time at my sister’s home. On Saturday of that week all of our children and grandchildren came together for a low country boil. Of course, McIntosh County shrimp were the highlight of the meal. Everyone is insistent that I bring fresh shrimp for this annual feast, and I am more than happy to oblige.
We had a great time. There were four adults from our generation, our five adult children and four spouses, and then our combined eleven grands. The oldest of all of our grandchildren is my 17-year-old granddaughter. The youngest one, hers, has turned two since our gathering.
Pam and Stan have a pontoon boat and a jet ski, and they have a dock on an inlet of the Lake. To say that much gas was used, and several hours of time were put on those two watercraft would be an understatement. Kids were pulled on tubes, perhaps with the boat driver intentionally making it hard to stay afloat. We told stories, played games, laughed and even cried a bit as we talked about Mom and Dad, or Pa Pa and Granny as the younger generation called them.
When I left to return home I hugged my sister and thanked her for making the effort to plan this and to get us together. Then I said to her, “Mom would be proud.” I don’t think I have seen her light up like that in a long time. I didn’t say it in order to elicit that look. I genuinely meant it. But I was very glad to see that it meant something to her.
The Bible encourages us to encourage one another. We are to bear one another’s burdens. We are to help others live out the Christian life. As a pastor, part of my responsibilities would be to help and encourage others. But I am convinced that is the job of every believer.
So, here is my question and my challenge for you today. Who have you encouraged today? And if no one, who will you encourage tomorrow? Be an encouragement to someone today. It will actually be an encouragement to you if you will.
“Follow Me”
Have you ever felt a sense of inadequacy? Have you not lived up to your own expectations, much less those of others? I think that most of us have felt something of this nature at some point in our lives.
I recently purchased and read a book entitled, 25 Books Every Christian Should Read. Now, you have to understand this about me. I am without any doubt a “bibliophile.” That means, for the uninitiated, a lover of books. If you walk into my office you will quickly see that. I have well more than a thousand books on my shelves there, and have a few more hundred at home. And over the last ten years I have given away more than 2000 books.
I would say that, over my 44 years as a pastor, and then my 49 years since I first entered college, that I have probably read more than 5000 books. I enjoy reading. But then I bought this book. Again, notice the title: “books every Christian should read.” There is an oughtness to that, indicating that if you haven’t read them all then there is something wrong with you. Your Christian life of study is not complete. In fact, it is inadequate.
I have read five of the twenty-five books mentioned. Read that again. Five out of twenty-five. Seriously. I thought I was pretty well-read. Only 20 percent. That’s not good.
Here’s the problem with that kind of thinking. I should not be seeking to live up to the standards of others. That is legalism, by definition. Rather, I should be seeking to follow Jesus, and His standards. That is true faith.
Jesus said on more than one occasion to many people, “Follow me.” And that should be our one and only goal. Follow Jesus. That by itself is a big task. Not one of us will do it perfectly. But I pray that you will make that your goal in life. Follow Jesus. He will lead you to life. Every other path is a dead-end road.
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!