Pay Attention
I continue to be fascinated by the advances in technology. From HD televisions to cell phones to tablets to computers, the power and ability of these devices continues to grow. In many ways they dominate our lives.
I am grateful to have a computer. Mine is only a few months old, and I can carry it in my book satchel. Yet it has the ability to store more documents than any other computer I have ever had.
Computers can help us in so many ways. We can look up information in a flash. We can communicate with people on the other side of the planet. We can pay bills and sell stuff as well. They can be a blessing.
But as I already mentioned, they can dominate our lives. How many times have I seen families eating together in restaurants, but they are not talking with each other? All of them are texting someone else on their phones. They are together, but they are not together.
Many years ago, the preacher who did pre-marital counseling with my then fiancé and me taught us an invaluable lesson. We were sitting in his living room, talking about our upcoming marriage. His phone rang. But Brother Smith continued to talk to us. The phone rang again, and Tina and I looked at it and then at each other. We wondered when he would answer it. By the time it rang the third and fourth times you could tell that the two of us were a bit tense. And that’s when the lesson took place.
Brother Smith looked at us and said, “You know what I have learned? When that thing rings, if you just sit still and stay quiet it will eventually stop.” In that moment he told us, “Right now I am with you, and you are more important. Whoever is calling will call back if it matters. But now you are my priority.”
I have not always lived by that lesson. But I know I should. When you are with your family or friends give them your attention. When you are in worship or prayer, concentrate on the Lord. Have priorities and live by them. You’ll be glad you did.
Whiny Season
Spring has sprung in south Georgia. My gray truck has turned yellowish green. My eyes are scratchy. I’m not sneezing non-stop, but that is probably because of preventive allergy medications I take. Last Friday we experienced three seasons in one day. Oh, and from the tone of this paragraph, whiny season is in full swing, don’t you think?
Why is it that our first response is often to complain? Yes, the pollen is difficult, but that means that the trees and flowers will soon be in beautiful full bloom. Not only that, but soon we will be able to plant our vegetable gardens to enjoy. And even more, rarely does a day go by at this time of year that we cannot get out and walk, sit in a swing, or take a ride on a bike, or in a boat.
What I’m trying to say is simple. We are blessed. We are blessed to live in one of the most beautiful and serene places on the planet. Last night (from the day I am writing) I sat in the river house of my neighborhood, and was able to watch the sun set over the marsh. The brightest orange and red sat directly over the horizon. I was awestruck.
I’ve lived in several climates in my lifetime. I’ve enjoyed the beauty of new fallen snow in Indiana and Michigan. I’ve observed the fall colors in the foothills of north Georgia. And now I’m privileged to experience coastal southeast Georgia and all of its beauty. And I am truly blessed.
The psalmist wrote, “Great are the works of the Lord…full of splendor and majesty is His work,” (Psalm 111:3). And it is true. God’s wonderful creation is a blessing to us all.
But let me remind you of this. The pinnacle of God’s creation was the making of mankind. Human beings (that’s you and me) are precious in His sight. He loves us, and He longs to have fellowship with us. I pray that you will know and experience the love of God in your life today.
Justice and Goodness
I have a very large extended family. Dad was the eighth of nine, and Mom was the ninth of ten children. On both sides those brothers and sisters obeyed the biblical command to, “be fruitful and multiply.” I have 52 first cousins.
It is sobering to note that three of us graduated together in the class of 1977. Scott and Carol have passed away. There were only 59 total students in that class. I know that at least ten of them are gone.
I realize I’m past sixty. I get the senior discount today without asking. But it still takes your breath away when you think of lives taken too soon.
Something within us cries out at the injustice of an infant facing heart surgery, or a toddler dealing with cancer. It bothers us, and we cry out to God. Some have given up on Him because of such tragedies. Often the first reason many give for atheism is the existence of evil and suffering.
Two things stand out to me. The first is simple, but often overlooked. If there is no God, that is if there is no standard, then the very existence of good and evil is called into question. In other words, if there is no God, then death is neither good nor bad. It just is. If we are nothing more than a cosmic accident, then pain and suffering simply do not matter.
Clearly I disagree with that line of thinking. So that leads to my next thought. There has to be something more than what we see and experience in this world. As a Christian I point to this placed called Heaven. I do believe it is real. I long for it to be real. There has to be a greater purpose in life. I’m counting on it.
This brief article will likely not have the power to change the mind of the committed atheist. But I hope that it will encourage if you sometimes have doubts and questions. The very idea of good and evil cries out for the existence of God. He is the standard by which we measure good. And He can be trusted, even in the midst of suffering, to care for His children. I hope you have trusted in Him. He is faithful, no matter what you are facing.
A Servant
When is the last time you received an actual letter? Do you remember those? When I was in college my mother wrote me faithfully every week. Her letters meant the world to me. I looked forward to finding one every time I went to the mailbox. What I would give today to receive a letter from Mom!
Much of the Apostle Paul’s life consisted of writing letters to churches and friends. In Romans 1 he introduced himself to a church where he had never been. He was planning a visit, and so wanted to share some things about himself.
Paul referred to himself as a “servant,” a word that could also be translated “slave.” That is a politically charged word. It is impossible for many of us properly to understand the full meaning. But there are those who estimate that up to 90% of the population of Rome was enslaved. So, Paul was writing to people who understood the term.
Keep this in mind. Paul was a Roman citizen, though he never been to Rome. But he called himself a slave of Christ Jesus. In doing so he was saying that he was fully committed and submitted to Jesus. He was completely at the disposal of His Savior. He would do whatever he believed Jesus wanted him to do.
May I confess something to you? On more than one occasion I have willfully and intentionally done something or said something that I knew Jesus would not approve. I call myself a Christian, but too often I choose to do my own thing.
Our culture encourages that sort of behavior. We live in a day when “doing your own thing” is a sign that you have arrived. But again, that is not such a modern attitude. The very last verse in the book of Judges says, “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”
God has called us to obey Him. James tells us that we prove our faith by the things that we do and say. It is true that we are saved by grace alone through faith alone. But we are called to submit to the Lord’s will. It is my prayer that you and I will be more faithful in doing just that.
Fruit
Over the Christmas season we had quite the cold snap. It stayed colder longer than anytime I remember since I moved back to south Georgia. For several days, late each afternoon my wife and I went out and put sheets and blankets and tarps over many of our trees and plants. We laid blankets around the roots of our citrus trees. And then each morning, once it warmed up, we would go and take those coverings down so that the sun could do its thing.
Here we are, more than a month later, and I have to tell you something. I do not know if our efforts were successful. We have two orange trees, one lemon and one lime tree. Most of the leaves have turned brown and fallen off each tree. But there seems to be green, and flexibility, in at least some of the branches. I remain hopeful. But until spring I guess I will not know if they are going to survive, much less thrive.
Two quick lessons occur to me as I ponder my trees. One, outward appearance does not always tell the whole story. The old phrase says, “You can’t tell a book by its cover.” God said to Samuel, “Man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart.” My trees might still be alive. But at this point I just can’t tell.
Lesson number 2 is this. I will truly only know if the trees are healthy when, and if, they produce fruit. Jesus said, “You will know them by their fruit.” He was speaking of us. A godly person is known by the godly things she/he does.
You may find it funny, but I prayed about my trees. I truly hope they will all survive and produce fruit in the days to come. But more than that, I pray that God will allow me to thrive and produce the fruit of righteousness in my life. And I pray the same for you.
Under Construction
I have a wonderful setup in my office at church. I have two desks, one of which faces the door, and the one with my computer, screen and keyboard facing the window. So as I write, whether preparing a sermon or this column, I can peer over my monitor and see the property our church owns across the street.
Today I have been watching masonry workers lay blocks for the new building we have just started. Last week I watched as they poured the footings. Soon I will see the slab poured, walls erected, and the roof installed. It is our hope that, before the end of 2023, we will be able to cook, and then sit down to eat, a meal in our new building. In the meantime, I am enjoying watching the process.
In the same way that a building is slowing constructed, people should be growing and progressing to become what God created them to be. In this life I will never fully arrive at that status. But I should be growing more like Christ every day.
Ruth Bell Graham, the wife of Billy Graham, once said she wished she could wear a sign around her neck that said, “Please be patient. Under construction.” And she instructed Billy, and their children, to put the phrase, “Construction completed,” on her tombstone.
I like that. It just makes sense. We read in 2 Peter 1:5-7, “For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection and brotherly affection with love.” He understood that adding these character traits to our lives made us more like the Lord.
Just as I anticipate the completion of our new social hall and kitchen, I pray that my life is being constructed in a way that honors the Lord. Today, it is very clear that work on the building has just begun. But every day it looks more like a building. May our lives look more like Christ every day, as we continue the construction process!
"Grow in Grace and Knowledge"
Today is my wife’s birthday. I’m not going to tell you which one. Because it is Wednesday we will probably not go out for dinner tonight. We have obligations at the church. But some time this weekend we will celebrate with family, and hope that the next year we will continue to enjoy God’s blessings.
This past year was a special one for our family. Our newest grandbaby was born in July. Now six months old, she has us wrapped around her tiny finger. We get to keep her most Wednesdays and Fridays, and often see her at church and dinner on Sundays. It is amazing to watch the growth, both in size and in abilities.
I’m not telling you anything you don’t know. You’ve seen this with your own children and grandchildren. But it truly is mind-boggling to watch the progress as it is being made.
I am convinced that God wants to see this same kind of growth and progress in our spiritual lives. He wants you to be more faithful this year than you were last year. He wants you to “grow in your faith.”
There are several things that you can do to help in this process. You can read your Bible and pray every day. You can be involved in your church, not just attending, but in service, using your gifts to bless others. You can minister to people. You can seek to build your life following Jesus as closely as possible.
Not one of us does this perfectly, and in this world, none will. But you can become more Christ-like each day. You can grow in your spiritual life. It will not come automatically. It will take effort. But it can be done.
My prayer for you this year is that you will grow in your faith. I pray that this time next year you will be closer to the Lord than you are today. If you do that you will be blessed, as will those around you.
“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.” 2 Peter 3:18.
Deny Yourself
A couple of months ago I was startled when the dental hygienist said to me, “Whoa, that’s high! I’m not sure we are going to clean your teeth today.” She had just taken my blood pressure. As best I remember, this was the first time I had ever had blood pressure taken at the dentist, and I certainly didn’t realize they might postpone a cleaning if it was too high. The fact is, I had never had high blood pressure in my life.
Fortunately, they were able to do my cleaning and examination that day, but I was left to consider why the numbers were so high. Over the next week or so I checked my numbers daily. They were not as high as that day at the dentist, but the numbers were still running higher than normal, so I realized that something had to be done.
Since the first week of November, I have been taking a couple of supplements that claim to help with this issue. I have reduced my intake of diet sodas from more than I am willing to admit, to just one each day. I am drinking more water. And I have been much more careful with what I eat, especially when it comes to sweets and caffeine.
The morning I am writing this my pressure read 128/82. Now that was encouraging. I just hated the thought that I would deny myself things that I enjoy (cake and pie come to mind), to no avail.
Jesus said to us, “If anyone wants to follow me, you must deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me.” He also said that the way to gain life is to lose it for His sake. What seems strange to some is the truth. We gain the most when we give ourselves, first to the Lord, and then to others.
I pray that you will learn the secret of giving and losing for the sake of receiving and winning. God has promised to bless when we give of ourselves. He can be trusted. He will keep His word.
Bulldozers and Buildings
As I sit in my office this morning, I am watching a bulldozer scrape the ground and load dirt in a dump truck. They are beginning the process of leveling the ground on our church property so that we can pour the foundation for our new Family Life Center. It is an exciting thing to watch.
Now mind you, I’m not as fascinated today as I was as a little boy watching the work of a bulldozer. When I was younger I had several Tonka trucks and tractors that I drove all over our backyard, moving dirt from here to there as I imagined building skyscrapers and mansions of every sort. Given how much dirt was washed down the drain after my baths, I don’t know how any was left in the yard.
No, the process of moving dirt is not the exciting part for me. But I am truly excited about the next phase at our church. We hope that, by the end of this year, we will be able to sit down as a church family to eat, all gathered in one room. We look forward to the well-stocked kitchen, and the outdoor cooking area that will be attached. This is the culmination to a dream that many in our church have had for some time.
And we are grateful to the Lord.
It is true that we have dreamed and planned for this building. We have also given, and will continue to give until the work is completed. But we are aware that all that we have, and will have, is a gift from the Lord.
In our world of plenty (and even with a struggling stock market, most of us have enough), we are prone to think of all that we have accomplished. How we need to remember that it is all a gift. “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.” All that we have comes from the Lord. Remember to give thanks. God is truly good.
Habits
The New Year is less than a week old. Have you already broken your resolutions? I have never been one to sit down and right out any resolutions, but I do like to take time in this season to assess life and seek to make needed changes.
I would like to offer to you some possible habits to develop this year that I believe will help change your life for the better.
These thoughts are based on the first half of 2 Peter 3:18 where the apostle wrote, “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” Practice these four habits this year and you will do just that.
The first habit is simple. Pray more consistently. Jesus prayed. That alone is reason for you and me to be more faithful to pray. We often find ourselves so busy that we do not pray as we should. Let me encourage you to be more consistent in your prayer life.
Second, study more regularly. I am talking about study of the Bible here. Too many followers of Christ do not know much about the Bible. It is our source book for any and all information that we need about Jesus and living for Him. Make it a habit to read and study some every day.
Third, worship more passionately. I have two things in mind here. The first is to be in worship every time that you can. You need the church, and the church needs you. And then, when there, be a part of what is happening. Sing, pray, listen, learn…and worship.
The fourth habit to develop this year is to give more generously. Sure, as a pastor I would encourage you to give to your church. But there are other charities and individuals who need your help. Giving generously is a distinctive Christian characteristic. Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” The older I get, the more I realize that to be true.
This list of habits could have been 20 pages long, but I have a word limit. Still I believe that you can grow to be more like Jesus as you pray, study, worship, and give. I pray that 2023 will be a blessed year for you.
Walking Daily
This is my final column for the year. It’s the last edition of the paper for the year. Why do we celebrate such milestones? We have parties for New Years, birthdays, anniversaries, retirements, and many other events. Why? What is the point?
The fact is that life is made up of daily steps that take us to the next steps that take us to the next steps. The only way to live is to take each step, knowing that another is coming. You go forward by putting one foot in front of the other.
In the Bible, and especially in the New Testament, Christian living is often compared to walking. “We walk by faith.” “Let us walk properly…” “We ought to walk in such a manner…” Each of these phrases come from the writings of Paul, and they express that living is a matter of walking, making daily progress, and moving forward in the way God has called us.
We take walking for granted, do we not? Six years ago at this time I was recovering from knee replacement surgery. It took several months, and much therapy, before I could walk in the right way without thinking about it. I no longer take it for granted.
John wrote, “If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” To walk in the light is to choose to live in a way that avoids darkness (a metaphor for sinful living). When we live in that way it makes an impact in our relationships with others, and shows that God has truly forgiven us.
We have those times when we wonder how we are going to make it another day, another hour, even a minute. Making it through 2023 seems more daunting than we can consider. But the way to make it this coming year is really simple. One step at a time.
I pray that during this coming year you will walk daily with the Lord. Start each day by praying a reading a portion of the Bible. And then watch for those moments when you can help others. God has called us to live in harmony with him and others. Love the Lord. Love your neighbor. Probably the best resolutions any of us can make for 2023!
Happy Anniversary!
Do you remember what you were doing 43 years ago today? Well I do. At 9 a.m. that morning I walked into a classroom at Shorter College to take my final exam in “Old English Literature.”
I have to admit a couple of things. First, this was definitely not my favorite subject. “Whan that aprille with his shoures soote?” Yeah. That line is from the prologue to Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. Not my cup of tea.
But it was even worse on this day. A final examination on December 21 is bad enough alone. But my wedding rehearsal was at 6 p.m. that very same evening. To say that I did poorly on that test would be an understatement. When I returned to classes following Christmas break I learned that I managed a B- for the class thanks to the mercy of Dr. Wingard. As she later said to me, “I thought you were a bit stressed that morning.”
What an understatement! Tina and I have had more than one laugh about what we did to family and friends during the Christmas season of 1979. Who gets married on December 22? And if things weren’t bad enough, my grandmother was in intensive care in the hospital. She actually passed the day we returned from our honeymoon.
Well, tomorrow we celebrate our 43rd anniversary. There were those who said it wouldn’t last. We are quite different, coming from dissimilar backgrounds. She’s a musician. I’m a jock. She’s from the city. I grew up in the country. I could go on, but you get the picture.
What we have had in common, more than anything else, is an abiding faith in Christ and in each other. We believe that God brought us together, and we made a commitment both to Him and to each other on that dreary winter day 43 years ago.
We have discovered that the Lord walks with His children and helps them along the way, through both tragedy and triumph. And we are determined to continue the journey of walking with Him wherever He leads.
That’s why Jesus came…to save us and lead us to become who He created us to be. Merry Christmas to all of you. And to Tina – Happy Anniversary. I’d do it all over again.
Jesus Is Coming
By now your tree has been up for a while. There may be a handful of gifts under it. And if there are children at your home the question has been asked more than once. How many more days?
When our boys were younger we had a calendar where we moved a mouse every morning to countdown the days to Christmas morning. Very often one boy would run down the stairs and move Mr. Mouse even before visiting the bathroom. Then the other one would move him again when we went down for breakfast.
I discovered this one year as I realized Christmas was still a week away, but Mr. Mouse was only three slots from the big day. You don’t want to see the face of a little boy as you move that mouse backwards and have to explain that he will just have to wait. Waiting is hard.
I remember the excitement of waiting for Christmas. One year I was hoping to get a mini-bike. I was pretty sure that box under the tree was the right size for a helmet. But I had to wait…and wait…and wait. I didn’t know if I could do it.
I still love Christmas, and I look forward to it more than most adults. But there is something else that I await with anxious anticipation today, far more than ever before. The Bible reports the first coming of Jesus. The full account is found in the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. But then it promises the second coming of Jesus. You can find those promises from the beginning to the end.
The Bible goes so far as to predict that some will scoff at the idea, making fun of those who believe. But Jesus said. “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself that where I am there you may be also.”
There is one thing that you can know for sure. Jesus never lied. Some of His promises have been delayed. But He has never lied, and we can trust Him. He has always been faithful. If He said He would come again, you can count on it. He will come again.
Between now and the 25th someone is almost certain to ask you, “Are you ready for Christmas?” But I have an even more important question for you. Are you ready for Jesus to come back? I pray that you are.
"God Became Flesh"
“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.” You can almost hear the echo from your childhood when playing hide-and-seek. “Ready or not, here I come.” And indeed, Christmas will be here in just a little under three weeks.
Christmas is such an integral part of the Christian faith. The teaching is that God stepped into His world in a brand new way. “God became flesh and dwelt among us.” And that changes everything.
Consider all the things that God did, or could have done, to reach us. He could have sent messengers. Indeed He did send the prophets. He could have written us messages. And that is what the Old Testament is. He could have created a world that reflects His glory, and again He did just that.
But at the right time, and in the right way, God did even more. He came to earth and lived a perfect sinless life so that we might know that it could be done. But then He did more. He walked up that lonely hill to the cross and died in our place. He bore our sins when we could carry them no longer.
The message of Christmas is a wonderful message. God entered our world as had never been done before. But the message of Christmas must always be coupled with that of Easter. Let us always remember this truth. Baby Jesus was born in Bethlehem for this very purpose; to die in our place for the forgiveness of sin.
As you celebrate the baby in the manger, remember to worship the Savior on the cross. And always recognize that the cross was not the final word. No, Jesus is alive! And because He is alive, we too can live. To God be the glory.
God Became Flesh
The calendar turns to December tomorrow. Black Friday, and Cyber Monday are behind us. Some of you may have completed your Christmas shopping by now. My Dad used to do all of his shopping in the same place…the local bank. $100 bills were a perfect fit for all of his grandchildren.
We do lots of things to prepare for Christmas. Decorations are put up. Gifts are bought. Shows are attended. No Christmas is complete until I have attended “A Christmas Tradition” at the Savannah Theatre downtown, and the Christmas cantata from our church choir. Those two musical events, outside of the gathering of family, are highlights for me.
I am so grateful for the reason that we celebrate at this time of year. God broke into our world in a way that was unique, and is quite difficult for us to grasp. “God became flesh, and dwelt among us,” is the way that John described it.
The teachings of the New Testament are radical, and yet clear. Jesus is God in the flesh, and yet He is also fully human. In order to save us He had to be greater than we are. Thus He is truly God. And in order to take our place and receive the punishment for our sin, He had to be one of us. In His great power and love, God made Him both.
I cannot fully explain the incarnation (God becoming flesh). I cannot fully explain the concept of the Trinity. And yet, by faith, I accept these wondrous concepts. And I know that the God of all the universe is also the One who was born in a stable, placed in a manger, and who then lived a sinless and perfect life.
And I realize that this perfect God-Man was born for one purpose. He came to die for our sins. As you celebrate the reality and the joy of Christmas, remember both the grief of Good Friday, and the glory of Resurrection Sunday. Jesus was born for us. “Glory to God in the highest.”
Thanks Giving
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. I am reminded of the story in Luke 17 where Jesus healed ten men who were lepers. There is no way to overemphasize the tragedy that was leprosy in the first century. Not only was one’s health taken away. They most often lost family, friends, homes, and jobs. They were quarantined to live with others in the same condition. And as they watched those whose disease was advanced beyond their own, they saw what they could expect next in their own lives. It was a horrible way to exist.
Luke tells us that these men saw Jesus and cried out to Him for mercy. Jesus instructed them to go to the priests, an act that would take faith on their part. And as they obeyed His command they were instantly and miraculously healed.
You cannot imagine the joy that must have filled the hearts of all ten men. They would be able to hug their children, kiss their wives, return to their jobs, and live life normally. Naturally they were excited and made their way quickly and collectively to see the priests. They had to be declared clean before they could do any of that.
But then it hit one of the men. “I have to say thanks.” And so he returned to Jesus, fell on his face at the Lord’s feet, and offered gratitude. Jesus was disappointed, but I doubt He was surprised. Why did only one return? Where were the other nine?
Why is it so difficult for us to be thankful? Perhaps we think we have earned, and that we deserve, the good things that we have. Maybe we are just forgetful. Whatever the case, I pray that we will learn to be thankful, and not just one day a year. Let’s live thankful lives. God has been good. Give thanks to Him.
I Will Trust
As a pastor I hear a variety of questions, but some come more frequently than others. One question is fairly common, though it comes with many twists. “Why did God make (and you fill in the blank)?” Recently I am hearing quite often, “Why did God make mosquitoes?”
My answer is very simple. I don’t know. In fact, I have thought the same thing more than once. I’ve been fishing, playing golf, and doing yard work when I have been surrounded by those things, sometimes wondering if I might need to hold onto a tree so as not to be carried away. Ok, I exaggerate.
But here’s the deal. There are things that God does (and has done) that I simply do not understand. And yet I trust Him. Why? Because He has proven Himself to be faithful, time after time after time. And not just to me! He has proven faithful to all generations. God is good, and He acts on our behalf. We can trust Him because He has always been true to Himself.
Lauren Daigle, a Christian singer, says it beautifully in the refrain of one of her songs. Speaking to the Lord she says, “When you don’t move the mountains I’m needing you to move; when you don’t part the waters I wish I could walk through; when you don’t give me answers as I cry out to you; I will trust, I will trust, I will trust in you.” Notice she repeats those words three times. Do you suppose it is because she needs that three-fold reminder for herself?
There are those times when we don’t have the answers, and we don’t see hope. And still we trust, because we know that God is good. He loves and He wants the best for us. So we trust, even when it might not make sense to some.
The psalmist wrote, “Why are you cast down, O my soul…Hope in God…my salvation and my God,” (Psalm 42:11). No matter the circumstances you are facing, the Lord is with you. You can trust in Him.
Be Diligent. Give Thanks.
Are you enjoying it yet? I’m talking about Christmas music and decorations. You’ve heard it and seen it, right?
You need to know something about me. There is not a 63-year-old man in the world who enjoys Christmas more than I do. I will help put up the trees (yes, plural), hang wreaths, and put up my manger scene in the front yard.
And on Friday, November 25 my radio station will be set to Christmas music for the next month.
But….and this is big. I plan to wait until the day after Thanksgiving. As much as I love Christmas, Thanksgiving remains my favorite holiday. First of all, there is the food. I do love me some fried turkey, and my wife makes a mean pan of dressing. And then there are the desserts. Tina makes a derby pie, which is a combination of pecan and chocolate in the same pie. Just wow.
Clearly my appetite can cloud my judgment. But the thing about the fourth Thursday in Thanksgiving that sets it apart is that we all take the time to give thanks to the One who made us and sustains us. God has been so good to us all. He is worthy of our praise, of our service, and of our gratitude.
I know that many get their Black Friday shopping started late on Thanksgiving Day. But please allow me to encourage you in this way. Don’t jump the gun. Don’t forget to give thanks. God is good. He deserves our thanks. In fact, Paul wrote, “In everything give thanks, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” So be careful. Be diligent. Give thanks.
Faithful and True
We have, earlier this week, turned the page on another month in the calendar. We are only 60 days away from the year, 2023. Depending on your perspective, this year has flown by, or it has slowly crept along. I know this. I find it difficult to comprehend that another year is just around the corner.
I was born in 1959. I lived almost half of the 20th century. I suppose it is possible that I could live for half of the 21st century, but I would have to beat several odds to do so. I am not trying to be morbid. It is simply that I would be 91 years-old were that to happen. I’ve had one aunt on my mom’s side, and one uncle on my dad’s side to do that.
So, as I consider all of these thoughts, I return to this idea that I saw as the title of a book written by a gentleman who had just retired. “Finishing Well.” The premise of the book was simple. This man had been a pastor for more than 40 years (I relate to that, having just passed my 40th anniversary as a pastor last month). He was planning to serve as interim pastor, or supply preacher in the days to come, but he knew that other things would occupy his day to day living.
But throughout the book he returned to this idea. He wanted to finish well. Again, that thought resonates with me. I have lived for 63 years, have been a Christian for 54 years, was called to ministry 46 years ago, and have been a pastor for the last 40 years. To this point I have sought to be faithful and true to the Lord. I have been far from perfect. But the Lord has been gracious, and I have been privileged to serve Him in many ways and many places.
Still, I am discomfited by this thought. One foolish decision could wipe out 40 years of faithful service. I will continue to pray that the Lord will help me to finish well. I pray the same for you.
Have You Finished Your Christmas Shopping Yet Or Are You Giving Thanks?
Halloween is next week. And beginning the day after that, the Christmas rush is on. Oh, I know it’s too early. We ought to wait until the first week of December. But we have to get ahead and stay ahead of the crowd. So off we go.
I recall a conversation I had with my mother one July years ago. “I finished my Christmas shopping today,” she happily declared. “You did what?” I asked. She repeated, “I finished my Christmas shopping today.”
Keep in mind that she had her husband (my dad), two children and their spouses, and five grandchildren for whom to shop. And she was done. No worries about Black Friday. She had found the deals, and had even wrapped her gifts and placed them in a closet.
Meekly I said, “But you didn’t even ask me what I wanted.” She quickly replied, “You’ll like it.” I’m still not sure if that was a promise or a threat. But I didn’t argue. She was so proud of herself.
I like to do my Christmas shopping early myself. But by early I mean the first week or so in December. I do not fight the crowds the day after Thanksgiving. But I am not going to be in the mall on Christmas Eve either.
Well, there is a point to my tale. What are we supposed to do between now and the first of December? Every store you enter for the next two months will have its Christmas displays out front. It won’t be long before the Yuletide music is playing. I know many will complain.
But here is my plan. No whining. No griping. No! Until December I am going to allow every Christmas decoration I see be a reminder to me to give thanks. You see, I love Christmas, but I think that Thanksgiving is a holiday that ought to characterize the true follower of Jesus. Paul wrote, “In everything give thanks.” And I want to be that kind of believer.
Sometimes life is hard. Sometimes I hurt. But through it all I have learned that God is good, and He has done good things for me. And so I will give thanks. It may be brief prayer, “Thank you, God.” Or it may be a catalogue of His good actions, “Count Your Many Blessings.”
But no matter the case, I’m going to give thanks. It’s always good for the soul. Could I encourage you to do the same?