Heroes

Recently I read biographies of two preachers. David Ring is an evangelist who was born with cerebral palsy. He lost his mother and father before he finished school.  He was clearly disadvantaged. But God has used him in powerful ways. I’ve heard him preach. He challenges his listeners who make excuses with his classic line. “I have cerebral palsy. What’s your problem?’

            The other book was about Erwin Lutzer, long-time pastor of Moody Church in Chicago. He was born to a poor farming family in Canada. His parents were of German descent, immigrants from the Ukraine. They were married for 77 years before his father died at age 106. 

Among other biographies on my shelf are those about Charles Colson, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, C.S. Lewis, Ronald Reagan, Christopher Reeves, and Billy Graham.  And then there is Pete Maravich. 

            I idolized Pistol Pete.  In high school, I wore my hair like his, cut the elastic out of my socks so they would droop around my shoes, and tried to play the game with flair.  More than once I sent behind the back passes to my teammates, some of which  landed in the laps of cheerleaders or fans in the first row.  I tried to avoid eye contact with the coach when that happened.

            In reading about Maravich I learned something that I did not know.  He was miserable throughout most of his pro career. He did not enjoy basketball.  He did not enjoy the money or the fame.  He became addicted to alcohol and drugs. 

            Later in life he came to faith in Jesus Christ, and his life was changed.  Until that time, he had no real hope for the future.  Think about it.  I was jealous of someone who really did not have as good a life as I did.  I know that the treasures of this world do not suffice.  There is a God-shaped hole within each of us, and we are never satisfied until it is filled with God. 

            We can learn from the lives of others. But we need to be careful to remember that all of our heroes are fallen. There is only one who has lived a perfect life, and we are called to worship and serve Him. His name is Jesus. I pray that you know Him. 

Stability

 As I sit here at my desk, the radio plays softly in the background. Actually, I listen to the radio online through my tablet.  Can you imagine if I had spoken those words to my grandparents?  In their day “online” was where clothes were hung to dry.  You “did your lessons” by writing on a tablet (it was paper, just in case you didn’t get that). 

            I am overwhelmed by the changes that have taken place in my lifetime, especially in the area of electronics.  I remember the joy when we got our first color television.  I’ve been through long-play albums, eight-track tapes, cassettes, compact discs, and I-pods.

            I have more luxuries and features in my car than we used to have in our homes.  My phone is a more powerful computer than the first one I ever saw at Shorter College in Rome, Georgia. The “computer room” was indeed a room filled with one computer.

            The whole situation is dizzying.  Life moves so fast, and is so complex, that one could give up.  I know that I feel the need for some kind of stability.

I am grateful for my wife of 41 years. Knowing that I can count on her, that I can trust her, means more than I can express. I am thankful to be the pastor of Shellman Bluff Baptist. The love they give has been such a joy.

But the one constant that means the most to me is that God is with me. When everything around me is in flux, I remember this. According to Scripture he is, “the same yesterday, today, and forever.” That simply means that He is faithful. We can count on Him.

In Exodus 3, God revealed His name to Moses. “I am who I am” My Hebrew professor said that phrase could be translated, “I will continue to be what I have always been.” Another reminder of the trustworthy nature of God.

I know that the world is changing at warp speed, and there is nothing I can do to stop that. But I know that there is one constant in whom I can trust and rest. That gives me peace and hope, both for today, and for the future.

She's Gone

She’s gone.  Hall and Oates sang a song by that name in the 70’s but I have something else in mind. My mother-in-law passed away last week at the age of 96. She had lived with us for the last 7 ½ years.  Her mother had actually lived to the age of 101, so her longevity was not surprising to us.

            I am aware that “mother-in-law” jokes are a dime a dozen.  I have none to tell.  Chris and I got along very well. In fact, we shared a couple of inside jokes that we didn’t share with her daughters. 

            Life is so difficult to understand.  My mother died at the age of 67. So Chris had almost 30 more years on this earth.  Why is that the case? We simply do not know. The writer of Ecclesiastes wrote, “Man knows not his days,” a simple reminder that we do not know the length of our own lives. It is not in our hands to know the how or the timing of our death.

            So, what do we do?  In Psalm 90:12 we read, “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” In other words, live each day so as to honor the Lord and to seek to know Him better.

            As a Christian I have hope for the future beyond this world. I believe that Jesus was raised from the dead, and because He was, all who trust in Him will do the same.  I believe that I will see Chris again one day, along with my own mom.  My faith is based on the truth of Jesus’ resurrection and the promises of God.

            Do you have that same hope? I pray that you do.  The resurrection is the greatest hope of the believer.  God is going to finish the work He started in you. You can count on it.

"Choose You This Day"

Moving day is quickly approaching for the Butlers.  We began construction of our new home last summer, and the finishing touches are being applied.  This is the first time that we have overseen the work of building a new home in this way.

            We previously built a home in a subdivision in Bryan County, but on that occasion the contractor owned the lot, and the general design of the house was similar to all of the other homes. We were allowed to pick siding and brick color, carpet color, countertops, and a few other things. But others made many of those decisions..

            For our new home we bought the lot, had it cleared, and then we had the plans drawn. Since then we have chosen everything from cabinet and door styles, to paint colors, and even the color and the design of the drawer pulls.  Sink styles, faucets, ceiling fans, light fixtures, and I could go on for some time. I finally got to the point where I said to my wife, “You choose. I just don’t care.”

            And I promise you this.  I will not walk into the home and say to her, “I really don’t like the design on that cabinet knob.” Seriously.  I will not do it.

There are some choices that we each need to make. We cannot leave them up to others.  We might ask for assistance and advice. But in the end, you must do the choosing, because you alone must live with the consequences.

            Near the end of his book, as he challenged the people whom he had led for several years, Joshua said, “Choose you this day whom you will serve.” He then offered several choices for his hearers, but declared boldly and proudly, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

            Years ago I made that same choice, and I must tell you this. The Lord has never let me down.  I challenge you to think seriously about whom you will serve. You have many choices, but you will serve someone or something.  Why not serve the Lord? He loves you and has your best interest in mind.  I assure you of this.  I’m going to serve Him for as long as He allows.

Remember . . .

            I would like to apologize to both of my readers (I hope that is a joke) for my absence from these pages last week.  Seems that I managed to forget that the time had come to write another article.  And so the job simply was not done.

You know, we are all prone to forgetfulness from time to time. Sometimes that is not such a big deal.  I am disappointed in myself that I skipped a week of sharing with you, but the world will not come to an end as a result. 

Other things need to be remembered or there could be dire consequences.  I still find the following hard to believe. If I open the back door of my truck before getting in and cranking it, when I park it has a feature where a bell dings and the dashboard flashes a message to me to check the back seat for “important objects.”  Oh, like my granddaughter. As if I would forget she is riding with me.  Except, based on this message it would seem that has happened before…with tragic results.

            The word “remember” is used in a fascinating way in the Bible. Almost always it means, “remember, not just in recalling, but by doing something.” Several times in his book Nehemiah prayed, “Remember me.” He was asking that God act in such a way as to help him. 

            And in Ecclesiastes Solomon offered us this advice. “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth.”  Again, that means more than to admit that God exists. It means to place your life in His hands and to trust in Him.

            Finally, Jesus, at the Last Supper, told His disciples, “Do this in remembrance of me.”  The fact is that we need to remember the Lord, and seek to follow Him. When we do, we can trust Him to remember us, no matter the circumstances.

            Now, if I could just find my keys. 

A Big Deal

You may not have heard, but there is a little football game being played this coming Sunday.  They call it the Super Bowl, and this will be the 55th rendition of the game.

            I’m writing in advance, so I am not sure who is playing.  My prediction would be Green Bay and Kansas City, but so would almost everyone else’s since they are the two number one seeds.

            But I’m not writing about football.  It’s funny. The game winner will be declared “The World Champion of Football” for 2021. 

            And yet, the football game is only one aspect of the day.  The pregame show will start early in the morning.  Even in the midst of a pandemic, there will be “Super Bowl Parties” in too many places. Many parties will have two separate rooms with one TV showing the game, and another TV showing almost anything else.  And there will be lots of food!

            Then there is the halftime show.  It’s often a bigger deal than the game.  Unfortunately, the halftime show has featured wardrobe malfunctions and “dancing routines” in recent years that ought to embarrass us. Yes, I’m old, but I’m also right.

            I was seven-years old when the first Super Bowl was played in January of 1967. Ironically, Green Bay beat Kansas City that day.  And hardly anyone was there. Very few watched it on television. It wasn’t a big deal.

            Today it is almost a national holiday.  And as I said earlier, the football game is almost an afterthought. 

            Sometimes that’s how we live, too. The most important things, those which should be our greatest priorities, are afterthoughts. I’m thinking of how we treat the Lord. He is often forgotten and neglected.  Some even deny His very existence.

            How we need to make the Lord the center of our lives and our homes! When we put Him first, all other aspects of living make better sense.  He is with us to help us.  But when we push Him into the background, life is much more difficult to understand.  It just doesn’t make sense.

            I want to encourage you to put God first in your life.  When you do that you will find peace and hope that will last.  He will make life make sense.  It will be the best thing you ever do. 

The Last Resort. . . Not!

Last week I wrote about prayer, and I would like to continue in that vein today.  I have to tell this story on my Dad.  A couple of years ago he had to go to the hospital for a few days.  He lived just outside of Atlanta, and my sister lived nearby, so he called her first.  It was 1:30 in the morning, and he was struggling to breathe.

            Pam told him she was coming immediately, but it would take her at least 30 minutes to get ready and get to him, and then another 20 minutes to get to the emergency room. She encouraged him to call 9-1-1.  Dad’s response to her was, “Well, I really hate to bother them.”

            You should have heard her telling the story. She reminded him that they do get paid, and this was the kind of thing they did, and that it probably would not be a bother to them, and then she exclaimed, “Call 9-1-1!”  I may not have told you, but my sister is a lot like her mother.  Dad called for help.

            Don’t we sometimes treat God the same way?  Actually, I often see people do this in other ways, too.  A couple calls their pastor for counseling, but not until they both have lawyers.  Someone asks for assistance in paying a bill, but now the power has been disconnected.  We do not ask for help until the situation is desperate.  And we do the same thing in prayer. We wait until the things are completely out of control before we decide to pray.

            Again, last week I quoted just two verses. Jesus said, “Men ought always to pray,” and Paul wrote, “Pray without ceasing.”  These two statements remind us that prayer is not something to do on occasion, but should be a constant part of the Christian life.  Jesus also said that the church (it was actually the temple at the time) should be a house of prayer for all people.

            I pray that we will learn to pray.  There is nothing more important than we can do.  Prayer is not a last resort. It is an essential part of the Christian life.

Default Mode

Here’s a story I once heard about a church and its pastor. The pastor went to the deacons, rather discouraged by things that were happening in the church.  He said to them, “We really need to pray about this.”  One deacon spoke up and replied, “Pastor, has it really gotten that bad?”

            Perhaps you smiled, or even laughed out loud. And then you thought about it a bit more carefully.  Is that the only time we pray? Does it really have to get “that bad” before we pray?  Shouldn’t prayer be a first resort? 

            Jesus said, “Men ought always to pray.”  Paul wrote, “Pray without ceasing.” But for some reason, we often wait to pray until things are so bad that we have no other option.  And I think I know the reason.

            We really think we can handle life.  Pride is the problem.  We don’t want to bother God with our minor problems. After all, He is quite busy.  We will call on Him when it really gets to the point that we have no place else to turn. But in the meantime, we can handle the small stuff.

            But the Bible would tell us, and I think our experiences will confirm, that we need the Lord at every turn of life.  Prayer should never be a last resort. It should be the first thing we do every day. It should be our “default mode.”  It should come far more natural to us.

            I pray that you and I will be more faithful in prayer.  I pray that we will storm the gates of heaven with our praises and our petitions.  God is listening.  And He is speaking.  Let us call on Him, and then let us listen for Him.  Let us be known as people of prayer. 

Our Sovereign

You know what I miss?  After all, it’s been more than a week now. I miss all of the political ads we have enjoyed over the last month. I’m so glad that we had this runoff in Georgia so that they did not end in November. These ads have been the one thing keeping me glued to my television.  I’m learning new techniques for insulting others who do not agree with me, something that can always come in handy, right?

            I do hope you can recognize sarcasm when you see it.  In case you don’t get it, no I am not crazy.  I’ve actually grown so tired of the political ads that I almost yearned for another personal injury lawyer ad.

            Actually, as I write the ads are still there. I’m writing in advance, so I do not know the results of the election yet.  But there are certain things that I do know.

            First, I know that God is sovereign (a fancy theological word that means He is in charge). I also know that God loves me. And I know that God wants the best for me, as well as for all of His children.

            Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.”  I must point out a couple of things this verse says.

            It does not say that everything will work out in the end for everyone, so there is no reason for anyone to worry. No, this verse is specifically about those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. In other words, it is intended to speak about God’s children, those who have trusted in Him.

            I want to remind you of these two truths. If you are a child of God, He has you, no matter the results of an election. You can trust Him.

But if you do not know Him, you need to trust Him. He offers salvation and forgiveness and life to all who will come to Him.  I pray you will do that today. 

Press On

Well, 2020 is officially in the rearview mirror.  I know there are those who are ready to put all of their troubles behind them and move forward with a better 2021.  But can we truly expect life to get better with a simple turning of the calendar page?  Is it really that simple?

            I have my doubts.  The Covid-19 virus is still with us, and in fact we are being told that hospitalizations are still going up. In Atlanta they have recently converted a portion of the World Congress Center into a makeshift hospital to assist with overcrowding.

            So how do we move forward? How do we go on with life? Do we stop living altogether? Or do we plow forward as if nothing is wrong?

            Paul wrote a passage to the Philippians that speaks to our situation. In fact, preachers have been using this text at the beginning of the year for decades and longer.  Philippians 3:13-14 says, “Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

            Paul speaks of three actions here. He says to forget what lies behind. That does not mean that we neglect history, but that we do not rest on our laurels.  Then he says strain forward to what lies ahead, the picture of a runner leaning forward as she sprints to the finish line.

            Finally, we are to press on toward the goal.  This pictures for us a long-distance race more than a sprint.  We are to keep going when it is hard, when there is pain, and when giving up seems to be the easier route. 

            We have persevered through 2020.  Let’s put it behind us now, and let us move forward in the way that the Lord is calling us. He has a prize for us.  It is worth every effort we can give.  Keep going.  The journey is hard. But the destination is enough.

            Happy New Year!

Happy New Year Or Don't Waste 2020

We are two days away from starting the New Year, and I think I can speak for all of us when I say, “Good riddance, 2020!”  Can I get a witness? 

This has been one of the hardest years that we have experienced.  Limited crowds.  Social distancing. No NCAA basketball tournament!  I mean, the humanity of it all! I get it.

There are things far more important than basketball that have been taken from us. Weddings have been postponed.  Funerals have been kept private. And church services have become virtual. 

Just consider this. Would you have ever thought about putting on a mask and walking into your bank? It’s comical to consider.  I actually pull a mask over my face every time I walk into the bank to get money!

Again, 2020 has been tough. So many things to which we had grown accustomed have been taken away.  And we desperately want things to get back to normal.  Several questions come to my mind

.First, what is normal?  And as we think of normal, do we really want to get back to that? And what if normal never returns?  The very thought of that last one sends shivers up my spine. I liked normal. Normal was comfortable. 

But then there is this question, which likely trumps all others. What is God trying to teach us from this? The fact is that there may be different answers to that question for each of us.  But I hope that we can see that we need to search for that answer. 

A good friend of mine has told me more than once that he doesn’t want to “waste his cancer.”  And in that same vein, I pray that we will not “waste 2020.”  God has been speaking to us all along. Have we been listening? There is a lesson to learn.  Don’t give up until you learn it. 

By the way, I think it is just fine to pray that 2021 will bring better things.But still I say it one more time. Don’t waste 2020.  Happy New Year! 

God's Plan

Yesterday was my anniversary. Oh, it was my wife’s, too. We were married forty-one years ago at the First Baptist Church of Chamblee, Georgia, three days before Christmas. We enjoyed a white Christmas as it snowed Christmas Eve night in Gatlinburg, Tennessee while on our honeymoon. 

Actually 1979 was quite a year for us. We had our first date in late January, we were engaged in May, and married in December of the same year. What you call a whirlwind engagement. Some said it would never last; yet here we are.

            Still, I have to tell you this.  December 22 is a terrible time for a pastor to have an anniversary. I’m usually pretty busy during this time of year. We’ve never been able to take an anniversary trip. I’m not asking for sympathy, just stating the facts.  We cannot get away three days before Christmas for anything. 

Still, if you asked me publicly or privately, my answer would be the same. Yes, I would do it all over again. No regrets. 

Tina and I have been privileged to serve the Lord in churches in south Louisiana, suburban Atlanta, east central Indiana, metropolitan Detroit, and southeast coastal Georgia. We have met many interesting and wonderful people. And God has allowed us to see Him at work in many circumstances and settings.

            Your story is different from mine, but let me assure you of something. God has plans for you.  He has a place for you to serve Him now.  And He will bless that service as you are obedient to Him.

            During this Christmas season let me encourage you to say yes to the Lord. That will lead to the best Christmas you have ever had.  Merry Christmas. And, happy anniversary, sweetheart.  Love you. 

The Gifts of Christmas

Let me tell you something about myself.  I am just a big kid wrapped up in an adult body. I know that is shocking to you.  After all, I am a pastor.  I am supposed to be serious all the time.  No play time. No joking.  Just focus on what matters. 

I’m sorry, but that’s just not me.  One of my favorite aspects to being the father of two sons was that I could buy them Christmas gifts that I had always wanted.  And then I could play with those toys, all the time making it look like I was being a good father spending time with my sons.  (By the way, they know it. They probably knew it back then).

            Though my boys are now grown men, I still like to play. I golf and fish.  I also plan to hang a mini basketball goal in the attic of my home when it is built.  And then there is Christmas.

            I love Christmas.  I love the songs, the decorations, the parties, the food, and the gifts. I love to receive gifts. I love to give gifts.  Again I will say it. I love Christmas.

            And here is the thing I love the most about Christmas.  All of the above list pale in comparison to this one thing.  I love the fact that God stepped into our world, became one of us, and lived with us. I love that we can now know Him in a personal manner because of what He did for us. 

            Each year I read this little book to the boys and girls of our church entitled, “The Sounds of Christmas.”  The final line says, “Christmas, the birthday of Jesus. The happiest time of the year.”  That’s what I love most about Christmas.  I hope you will celebrate and enjoy with me this happiest time of the year. I trust you will have a Merry Christmas.

Doing in the Impossible

As I write these words, I am sitting with my dad.  It’s been more than two years since he was diagnosed with cancer.  We were told he had six months to live eighteen months ago.  And yet he is still going.  I didn’t say going strong, because that’s not the case. He requires great care and much attention.

            Dad has lived with my sister and her husband for almost two years now.  They have provided wonderful care for him, and at a great sacrifice.  I try to come up and relieve them as often as I can, but I’m five hours away, so my trips have to be planned.

            Caring for an ailing parent is quite the challenge.  Roles are reversed in ways that we couldn’t have imagined.  It’s often difficult for both sides. 

            I have asked a lot of questions over the last couple of years. Why is this happening? What lessons is God teaching us through this? How long will it last?  What should I be doing differently?

            Here’s the thing. I don’t have the answers to these questions. That last one especially haunts me. My sister and brother-in-law are making great sacrifices for Dad.  I want to be there for him, and I want to help him. But I have obligations as well, both at church and with my family. My church family has been so obliging, and for that I am grateful.  Still, I want to do what I have been called to do as pastor.

            Do you ever find yourself in an impossible situation?  What are you to do?  I have come to this conclusion. You do what you can.  And you trust the Lord.  Is that easy? No, not always. But He has called us to be faithful. We leave the results to Him, knowing that He loves us.

            Whatever you may be facing, remember this. The Lord is with you. He has not forsaken you. You can trust in Him.

Christmas is Still Coming

By now you may have your tree up.  Perhaps you were able to do much of your shopping over the weekend. Or you may have gone online on Cyber Monday. No matter where you are in your preparations, the facts are simple. Christmas is on the way, and it will be here faster than you expect.

            Chances are that Christmas will be different this year. I know that we are not having parties and dinners at the church this year.  And even our family gatherings will be smaller. 

            I just have to tell you that I don’t like it.  There is nothing quite like a potluck dinner at a Baptist church.  I’m sure it’s true in other churches as well, but I can testify to the fact that Baptist ladies are fantastic cooks.  Homecomings, Christmas dinners, Thanksgiving, and just regular fellowships probably account for at least twenty extra pounds I carry everywhere I go. And I am missing those events.

            I simply want to remind you of this. I’ve heard some people say that Thanksgiving and Christmas have had to be cancelled this year. There is no truth to this rumor.  Yes, we may have to skip some events. We may not gather as often or in as large a group.

            But we can give thanks at any time. And there is nothing stopping us from celebrating the birth of Jesus.  Perhaps a simpler Christmas can be a good thing. Spend a little less money, but spend a little more time thinking about the true reason for the season.

            The birth of Jesus. That is why we celebrate Christmas.  No matter what is happening around us, we can do that.  Keep that in mind as we move closer to Christmas Day.

Happy Thanksgiving

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day.  It is my favorite holiday of the season.  After tomorrow we will begin to decorate for Christmas, but we have held off until now.  We do all we can to make this a special day.

            We will have family with us.  It will be a small gathering, and we will make sure those present have not been sick. But we will certainly enjoy our time together as we eat too much, watch parades and football, and spend time both laughing and crying at all we have experienced this year.

            How do you give thanks in the midst of a pandemic?  I am reminded that Paul said to the Thessalonian Christians, “In everything give thanks, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Notice he did not say, “For everything,” but, “in everything.” There is a subtle difference between the two.

            Paul was a man who gave thanks, and experienced joy, even as he suffered in so many ways.  He wrote the book of Philippians from prison, and yet spoke of joy and rejoicing and thanksgiving throughout.  Near the end of that book he wrote, “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.” 

            Have you learned to be content, no matter what? In so many ways that is the epitome of gratitude.  We realize that God is good, and that He has shown us His love. And we give Him thanks, even when life is not going according to plan. We understand that we don’t understand all of the whys for our circumstances. But we understand that God still loves us, and He is watching over us, and so we give thanks to Him in every situation.

            Tomorrow I will likely lead in prayer over dinner. I will be extra careful to give thanks.  I know that God is trustworthy. He is faithful.  And He is with us in all that we do.  I pray that I will live in a manner that expresses my gratitude at all times. I pray the same for you.

            Happy Thanksgiving. 

Choices

My wife and I are building a house. I may have mentioned that before. We are nearing the end of the project, and it is getting hectic. In recent days we have chosen cabinets and countertops, and next on the list is bathroom tiles. We still need to choose interior door styles and paint colors, and probably several more things that I don’t remember right now.

            Can I just say this out loud? At this point in time, I really don’t care what color the walls are painted, as long as it’s not bright pink with purple polka dots.  I have shared my opinion on several items in the house, but have left many of the decisions to my wife.  She has good taste, and I trust her to make good choices. And, quite frankly, some of it doesn’t matter to me. 

            There are times and places when we all allow others to choose on our behalf.  And there is nothing wrong with that. But then there are things that I cannot pawn off on others. I have to be the responsible one. I have to choose, and then I have to live with the choices I have made.

            How do you make such choices? I’m not talking about paint colors here. I’m talking about life impacting choices that we all face. What processes do we use to make such decisions?

            The first thing I must do is to trust in the Lord. He is good and He is faithful.  He will not let me down. Then I need to seek His wisdom.  The book of Proverbs promises that God will give us wisdom if we ask for it. We need wisdom from above for so many things.

            Finally, we need to come to the point where we make the decision.  We cannot be wishy-washy.  A choice must be made.

            As we trust the Lord, seek His wisdom, and then make decisions, I believe the Lord will care for His children.  He will protect us from bad choices, and He will guide us where He wants us to go.  Are you trusting the Lord for those daily decisions? He wants the best for you.  He will not lead you astray.  You can count on Him.

"Lord, Give Me Patience. . ."

Are you tired yet of 2020?  Doesn’t it seem as if it has lasted 30-40 months now?  I know for a fact that I am just over it.  Life needs to get back to normal.

When I think of this year I don’t know whether to laugh or to cry.  You are certainly aware of the pandemic, and all of the inconveniences we are facing because of it.  Wearing masks, social distancing, events cancelled, and still we are not sure what will happen next.

And just to make the year more exciting, my wife and I are building a house.  My dad, who was given six months to live nineteen months ago, remains under hospice care in north Georgia. And my mother-in-law, who lives with us, has been in and out of the hospital and a rehabilitation center in recent weeks. 

Oh, we had one son to marry, and my wife retired from teaching, and we sold a house, and I’m in my first year in my new job, and we became grandparents, and the list just keeps going. 

Have you ever been on a ride at the theme park, realized you didn’t want to be there, and then it stopped while you were at the top and hanging upside down? Yeah, 2020 has been like that all year long.

You know, several of the things that have happened are good things. But they all cause stress.  And I admit I don’t always handle stress as I should. The Bible tells us in many places that we need to learn patience.  We are never “given” patience. It must be learned.

I’m figuring that by the end of this pandemic we all should be the most patient people in history, right? 

Two verses of Scripture stand out in my mind, reminding me of what I need more than anything. In John 15 Jesus said, “Without me you can do nothing.” In Philippians 4 Paul wrote, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”  I need to remember those two truths now more than ever. Perhaps you do, too.  We can do nothing alone. But with Christ, all things are possible.

Our Sovereign

By the time you read this the election will be over (with the likely exception of a runoff for one senate seat).  Altogether now; and breathe.  No more robocalls, popup adds on Facebook, or unwanted texts. Oh, wait. There is still that runoff. So, never mind.

            Everything we have read in recent weeks has reminded us that this is the most important election in American history.  In some cases we have been told that end of the world is coming if certain candidates do not win.  People have threatened to move to Canada. 

            Here’s the thing.  I believe in this strange political process called democracy.  You can rest assured that I voted, and I encourage others to vote.  I have strong feelings about what is best for our nation. I continue to believe we live in the greatest nation in the world, and I want it to thrive.

            But I am reminded of this truth.  My hope is not in the ballot box. My hope is the Lord Jesus Christ.  No matter who is/was elected president, senator, or to any local position, I must remember this.  No elected official can meet all of my needs.  No elected official can save me.

            But on the cross, some 2000 years ago, Jesus gave His life that I might have life.  He is my only hope. And He is enough.

            I do not mean to downplay the importance of elections. They matter, and each of us should do our part to participate. But let us always remember this. We must not put our ultimate trust in human leaders. They, like us, are imperfect sinners.

            I want to say this one more time. Our hope is not in the ballot box. It is in the Lord.  I pray that you will trust Him to meet your every need. He will not let you down.

Change and Truth You Can Believe

Our church is meeting for worship, twice on Sundays, and then on Wednesday evenings now.  At 9 a.m. on Sundays we worship, asking that everyone present wear a mask at all times. Then at 10:30 we again meet, asking that you wear your mask until seated.  We follow that same format on Wednesdays at 6 p.m.  We seek to maintain, “social distancing” at all services. 

            That is a phrase that was foreign to our ears just nine months ago. “Social distancing.”  Who ever thought of such a thing? 

            And what about putting a mask over your face just before you walk in the bank?  Could you have imagined that in a million years?  We laugh, but that’s just to keep from crying.

            I have a book on my shelf entitled, Truth is Stranger Than It Used to Be.  Ain’t that the truth!  Can I be completely honest with you? I want life to be back like it used to be. I want the old normal back.

            But here is a disturbing truth. I don’t think life will ever be that way again.  I think it is quite possible that we will be wearing masks every flu season.  I think that handshakes and hugs, though not fully eliminated, will be much less prevalent as we go forward.  There will be other changes as well.

            Change is inevitable in life. But change is hard.  Change can be bad. But it can be good.  There are aspects of technology that I despise. I have joked that I prefer a laptop computer to a desktop because I get better distance on the laptop when I’m mad. 

            But there are parts of technology that are wonderful. In the midst of this pandemic we have been able to stay in touch, and even to worship together online.  In previous generations this would not have been possible.

            The fact is that God has provided for us in so many ways.  We need to trust Him. He has not abandoned us. He is always there.  Have you experienced His presence? Pick up your Bible and read it. Take time to pray. And get together with other believers to worship, even if you do it on Facebook Live.  You will be reminded of God’s promise to you. “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”