Shepherd Stealers

My wife and I will be traveling this weekend. It won’t be a long trip. Going back and forth to Jacksonville. Our son will be playing basketball, and it will be the first time this season we will get to watch him. His team is ranked in the top five in the nation.

I know, it sounds like a typical dad’s pride completely out of control, but this is a rather unique situation. Corey was in a catastrophic accident more than a decade ago. He suffered a spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed from the waist down.

He plays basketball for the Shepherd Stealers, a team based out of the Shepherd Center in Atlanta, one of the most reputable rehabilitation centers in the nation for spinal cord injuries, head trauma, and stroke care. Corey was flown there from Charleston, South Carolina a couple of weeks after his accident, and has lived just a few miles from the Center since his discharge.

When I watch the Stealers play, I admit that I do so with mixed emotions. There is a measure of sadness, because I watched that same boy running and jumping up the court when he played high school basketball. I also watched him play soccer, the sport in which he excelled. I sometimes wonder why. And I wonder what if.

But I also get into the games, cheering for Corey and his team, griping about the referees, and hoping that they will come away with the win. I am just a bit competitive.

The fact is that life throws us curveballs. It does not go the way we would always like. God does not answer every prayer in the manner we wish He would. But don’t be fooled. He does answer prayer. And He never forgets us. I need to be reminded, and you probably do, too, that God’s love is never in doubt. He settled it on the cross. We trust Him because we know He loves us.

Sliding Toward a Collision

Our recent snow got me to thinking. I grew up in north Georgia, so I saw snow a few times. But it would snow, everything was cancelled for two days, it melted, and we went back to life as normal.

But in 1991 my family moved to Indiana, and we lived “up north” until 2005. So, I spent my fair share of time driving in bad weather, shoveling snow, and trying to get around in the wintertime. For the most part we did okay.

I will never forget the first time I felt completely out of control. I had been to the grocery store, and was still in the parking lot. I was going 5 mph as I approached the main road. I applied my brakes, and realized I was simply sliding toward the road. No matter how hard I pushed on the pedal, I was not stopping. The brakes were doing their job. The tires were not turning. But I was sliding and gliding toward an inevitable encounter with the car stopped in front of me. Not going fast. Just not stopping. Completely out of control.

How often does your life feel like that? Perhaps you have recently lost a loved one. Or you may have been given that diagnosis no one wants to receive. You may have too much month left at the end of the money. A child is rebelling. A spouse has decided to call it quits. And there is nothing you can do about it. It’s out of your control

What do you do? Well, the only thing I know to do is to ask God for help. In Psalm 18 David wrote, “In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears.” David trusted the Lord. That’s all he had, but that was enough.

And the Lord is enough for us, too. Again, life may not go as we desire. But God has not forgotten. He has not forsaken. He will help you. You can trust Him. On that day in Indiana I was fortunate that my car somehow stopped before colliding with the one in front of me. But I am certain of this. Even had it not, the Lord was with me. He always is.

Puzzles and Life

Forrest Gump famously said, “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get.” And he was right. We don’t know the future. We simply take things as they come our way.

I would also say that life is sometimes like a puzzle. My wife is really into putting puzzles together. Two Christmases ago I gave her a puzzle table that is currently set up in our upstairs room with a partially assembled 1000-piece puzzle. How she has the patience for that is beyond me.

I know how she goes about the process. First you find all of the edge pieces, and you build the border. Then you fill in the middle. To seek to do a puzzle any other way would probably lead to frustration and failure.

Sometimes life feels like putting together a puzzle from the middle out. That is especially true if you are not seeking to follow the Lord. His Word, His commands, His direction, is the border around life. Once that is intact we are better able to fill in the rest of the pieces. But if that border is missing, life can get off the rails quickly.

So many people are convinced that following the Lord is a chore. They believe that He wants to take away our fun. He wants to make us subservient and remove joy from our lives. But in Psalm 119:35 we read, “Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it.” The psalmist claims to “delight” in obeying the Lord.

I’ve heard it said that the center of God’s will is the safest place to be. I’m not sure that is correct. It is not always safe to obey the Lord. But I am sure of this. The center of God’s will is the best place to be. I pray that you will find that place, and that you will delight in obeying the Lord, no matter where He leads.

Snow Storm ENZO

Well, that was fun, wasn’t it? I’m talking about winter storm Enzo. Ice and snow everywhere. Power outages. Five consecutive nights of temperatures in the twenties. And barely above freezing in the daytime. I’ve talked to a lot of people down here, and I have yet to hear one say, “I hope that happens again next week.” Rather, what I have heard more often has been, “I didn’t move here for this.”

Having lived where winter is a thing (Indiana and Michigan from 1991-2005), I have to tell you this. I would have been perfectly happy never to see another snowflake in my life. I have no intention to take a vacation where snow is likely. And I certainly do not want to live where shoveling snow is a regular requirement. No, I’m just not a fan.

And yet…My son and his family lost power for more than a day. They spent one night, and the better part of two days with us. And I watched the girls romp and play in the winter wonderland that surrounded my house and property. We built a snowman. And before it was over they had Papa pulling them around on a TV tray using the golf cart. And lo, and behold, Papa ended up on the tray behind the cart and had a good time after all.

The truth is that there is beauty and goodness all around us, even in the midst of the storms of life. Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, “In everything give thanks.” Notice he did not say to give thanks for everything. He said in everything. In the midst of our storms and trials we can give thanks, because we know that God is good. He has our best interest in mind. He loves us.

I’ll be completely honest with you. I will be quite satisfied if it never snows again. But if it does, I’ll probably find myself pulling those girls around, making memories, and laughing until my stomach hurts. And I will give thanks to God for the blessings He gives to us all.

“I Know Who Holds Tomorrow”

I’ve heard it said that life is like a toilet paper roll. The closer you get to the end, the faster it seems to go. I can attest to that. I remember impatiently awaiting my sixteenth birthday, already owning my first car, but unable to drive it alone until I passed that milestone and got my driver’s license.

But thirty came soon after that, and fifty, sixty, and sixty-five have zoomed by like traffic around I-285 in Atlanta. And if you are not familiar with I-285, simply give thanks to God and don’t worry about it.

It’s funny. When I turned fifty someone said something to me about being middle-aged. I’m not trying to be morbid, but fifty is not middle-aged for most folks. In fact, we make a big deal about someone living to 100. No, 35-40 is more in the middle-age category. Sorry if that bursts your bubble.

So, what is my point. It’s actually quite simple. Psalm 90:12 says, “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” The psalmist’s point seems to be to make the most of each day. Each day is a gift, and we are not promised tomorrow.

Last year I preached the funeral of two close friends. One was a 45-year-old pastor who died suddenly of a heart attack. We had been friends and prayer partners for more than a decade. Being twenty years older, I had thought he would preach my funeral. The other was a deacon, golf partner, and close friend from a previous church. Just a little older than I am, he suffered several years from a rare form of cancer. The last time I saw him he weighed less than a hundred pounds. In both cases I grieved deeply. And I was forced to consider my own mortality.

“Man knows not his time,” the preacher wrote in Ecclesiastes. And more and more I realize that is true. As has often been said, “I don’t know what tomorrow holds, but I know who holds tomorrow.” And He is true and faithful. He can be trusted. He is good. I pray that you will learn to trust Him more.

The Book

Another year is underway, and I have again undertaken the task of reading through the Bible in this time. I did this the first time in 1976. My pastor challenged our entire church to read through the entire Bible, and gave us a reading plan that would allow us to accomplish that feat. I was a sixteen-year-old junior in high school when I started, and was a senior, seventeen years old when I completed it. It was a life changing experience for me.

I had read “Bible stories” my entire life. I could recite the books of the Bible in order. I had memorized several verses. But I had never read the entire book. I didn’t really understand how the story flowed. It was hard at times (Leviticus and Chronicles are a slow read for a teenage boy). But I persevered. And again, it changed my life.

Only four months after completing my reading through the Bible I answered the call into ministry. God used my time in His word to make clear that He was calling me to be a pastor, something I have now been doing for more than 42 years. And He gave me a desire to learn more about the Bible so that I could teach it to others.

I went on to college, and to seminary (two times) after that. And I have bought book after book with the intent to help me have a better understanding of what the Bible truly says. I hate to say it, but there is an appalling ignorance of the Bible, even in the church. And it’s not just that some people believe that the epistles were the wives of the apostles.

I’ve heard people quote John Wesley (cleanliness is next to godliness) and claim it is in the Bible. I’ve even heard someone quote Jiminy Crickets (Let your conscience be your guide) and say it is in the Bible. Not so. I’ve also heard people say, “The Bible contains the Word of God,” when it is actually true that, “The Bible is the Word of God.”

The Bible itself says that God’s Word is rich and powerful, often acting like a sword that cuts deeply in order to bring healing. The Bible contains the answers to our most significant questions. Are you as familiar with your Bible as you should be? Let me encourage you to read it alone, study it with others, and to, “Hide its word in your heart.” You’ll be glad you did.

“God is Great, God is Good”

“God is great. God is good…” So begins the little blessing prayer that I was taught as a little boy. It continues, “Let us thank Him for our food. By His hand we all are fed. Thank you, God, for daily bread. Amen.”

There was a time, when as a young boy and I was hungry, that I could say that little prayer so fast you would have great difficulty understanding one word of it. I’m not proud of that, but it was the case. Like so many other things, this prayer was a good thing for me when I was young. It taught me some basics in prayer. But it is not enough. I needed to grow and mature in my prayer life, and I certainly needed not simply to repeat words without thinking about them.

The fact is, even as an adult, I did not realize the full significance of this prayer until I took the time to study it with care. “God is great. God is good.” At first, these two phrases seem to say the same thing. They are merely repetition in order to emphasize the fact. But, as the football commentator sometimes says, “Not so fast, my friend.”

“God is great, God is good,” actually points out two separate things. That God is great means that He is magnificent and powerful and strong. He is the creator and sustainer of all that is. That God is good means that He is loving and kind and wants the best for us. Yes, God is both great and good, and that is good news for us all.

The greatness of God means that He is able to help us. The goodness of God means that He is willing to help us. And I am without words to contemplate the reality of both of these statements. I pray that you will celebrate with me the greatness and the goodness of our God.

He is the Reason

It is the day after Christmas. In so many ways an anti-climatic day. All of the presents have been opened. Some may already be broken, while others have been put away to be forgotten. My mother was notorious for this. By noon on December 26, there would be no evidence in her house, save the leftovers in the refrigerator, that Christmas had ever happened. The tree and the decorations were boxed and put away in the garage or attic. The gifts were put where they would be stored permanently. And the radio was back to playing “regular music.”

It does seem as if the day comes and goes, and is quickly forgotten. Now listen, I am not saying that we ought to celebrate into January. I have to tell you that I think, “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” is the most obnoxious song I’ve ever heard. I can’t change the station fast enough, much to the consternation of my wife, anytime it comes on.

But I don’t want us to box up Jesus and put Him away as quickly as we box up the trees and the lights and the candles. In fact, I don’t want us to box Him up at all. I want us to remember that Jesus is not only the reason for the season at Christmas. He is the reason that we have life and peace and joy. He is the reason we have salvation. He is the reason that life is worthwhile. He is the reason that we can life forever.

I am so grateful that I met this Jesus as a nine-year-old boy. And I am thankful that He is still with me. He has been faithful. He has been good. I pray that I will remain faithful and will “finish well” this life He has given to me.

Debt Free!

This past Sunday was a very special one for our church family. First, let me set the stage for you. In the Spring of 2021, we formed a committee to investigate the possibility of building a new social hall and kitchen for our church. In November of 2022 that committee brought a proposal to our church to proceed with the construction of a 6000 square foot building that would provide us a place to eat, fellowship, worship, and learn. The church voted overwhelmingly to accept this motion.

On Sunday, January 8, 2023, we had a “Groundbreaking Ceremony” at the completion of morning worship. We simply threw some dirt around, took pictures, and began to dream about what might be. Later that week the work began.

On Sunday, January 7, 2024, exactly 52 weeks, 364 days later, we held a “Dedication Service” to celebrate the completion of the new building. We had actually eaten breakfast there the previous Sunday, but on that day we gathered in a circle around the new social hall, and we sang and prayed prayers of thanksgiving for what God had allowed to take place in our church.

Now, here is the part that I still have trouble believing. Keep this in mind. I’ve been a pastor for 42 years, five of them at Shellman Bluff. I’ve only been a part of one other building program, and that was in 1984 in south Louisiana when I was still a seminary student. I’ve helped three churches pay off debt. But this is only the second building program from scratch. Keep in mind the dates above.

This past Sunday, January 5, 2025, exactly 52 weeks, 364 days after the Dedication Service, we burned the mortgage note on the building. It’s completely paid off! Almost $1.6 million dollars in labor, materials, equipment and furnishings, and we don’t owe another penny.

What a testimony to the greatness of God, and the faithfulness of His people. I am overwhelmed by it all. I am privileged to serve this wonderful group of people that gathers at Shellman Bluff each week. And I am humbled by the fact that they allow me to be a part of their lives. I am truly blessed. I pray that you will see the greatness of God and the faithfulness of His people wherever you live and serve. That is truly a blessing.

Second Chances

Well, Happy New Year. Yes, when I typed this in order to send it to the editor, I indeed had to go back and correct the date. I typed 2024 out of habit. And I will probably do the same thing on checks and letters more than once in the next few weeks.

Why do we celebrate the new year? In many ways it would seem to be an artificial holiday. And yet, it represents the possibility of a new start. It offers us the opportunity to get things right. Many folks begin the year with resolutions. The intent is to do things differently, and to get better results. Yes, the new year offers us the chance to do things better. It is, in many ways, a second chance.

I am so glad that we have a God who offers us a second chance. He has done so for so many throughout human history. Moses killed a man, went into exile, but returned to lead the Hebrew children out of slavery. Jonah ran from God and his calling, but God rescued him from the belly of the fish to take His message of love to the Ninevites. And Peter denied Jesus three times, and yet he was restored and preached the first Christian sermon on the Day of Pentecost.

And God has done the same thing for so many of us. I have been given second chances on more than one occasion. God has allowed me to fail, forgiven me, and then given me the opportunity to continue to serve Him. Without such grace there would be no hope. But there is grace. There is hope. And it is all because of the goodness and faithfulness of the Lord.

“Born to Die”

“Only seven more sleeps.” That’s how we would describe it to our boys when they were much younger. Only seven more sleeps until Christmas Day. We had a calendar that had pockets for each day of the month, and a little mouse that we would move each morning to show the boys how close it was until the special day. I remember one year my youngest got up early and moved the mouse several days forward. He truly thought that moving that mouse would make it so. Christmas would come early.

Well, we all know it does not work that way. For those of us who are older, the days, weeks, months, and even years, seem to fly by on the wind. I mean, this Sunday my wife and I will have been married 45 years. It just does not seem possible, and yet the man I see in the mirror is clearly, shall we say, much more distinguished, than the man in the picture taken on that day in 1979.

But for children, the days seem to creep slowly forward. There is nothing worse than having to be patient. Finishing the semester of school, and even then having to wait several more days. Oh, will it ever get here!

Think of that first Christmas. Mary and Joseph have travelled from Nazareth to Bethlehem. They were alone and afraid, probably hoping they could get back to their hometown before the baby was born. But God had other plans. Jesus was born in Bethlehem, placed in an animal’s feeding trough, and the world would never be the same.

Jesus’ birth was unlike any other. First, he was conceived in a miraculous manner. Then His birth was announced by angels, attended by shepherds, and considered a threat by the Roman king. But of course, His life and death were also unlike any other. He was perfectly sinless. And He died in our place.

In the midst of the celebrations of Jesus’ birth, let us not forget this important truth. He was born to die. His purpose was to offer us forgiveness and salvation. And for that we give thanks and praise. God is so good. Christmas is certainly one proof of this.

Christmas Music

Later this week my family will travel to Savannah for, “A Christmas Tradition,” at the old Savannah Theatre downtown. It is labeled as the oldest continually operating theater in the United States, and I have to tell you that the folks who run the show do a wonderful job.

Tina and I have attended concerts and shows at the Fox Theater in Atlanta, as well as the Fox Theater in Detroit. We have gone to Christmas shows in Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Greenville and Columbia, South Carolina. We have yet to find one we have enjoyed more than the one in Savannah.

I love the music of Christmas. In fact, I still sing in the choir at our church. Our cantata will be this Sunday morning. My radios, both in my car and in my office, are set for the sounds of the season. I love the sacred Christmas music. Solid favorites like, “Silent Night”, “Away in a Manger”, “O Come All Ye Faithful”, and “O, Holy Night”. But I also want to hear Nat King Cole sing “The Christmas Song”. You simply can’t celebrate the season without it.

Music is a special language that God has given us. Music appeals to the soul, to the heart, to the emotions. When I lived in the upper Midwest it would do my heart good to hear Ray Charles croon, “Georgia on My Mind”. And my wife knows that there is to be no conversation in the car whenever Dan Fogelberg starts to sing, “Leader of the Band”. Perhaps the most fitting lyric ever sung describes my life when it comes to my dad. “My life has been a poor attempt to imitate the man…”

But Christmas music is so often the best of all. We joyfully sing of Santa and reindeer and snowflakes (despite never seeing any of that in these parts), and then we hear of the quiet town of Bethlehem, the angels singing of the birth of a baby, and the great joy of the season. And we are glad. Content even.

I pray that this Christmas season will be a blessing to you. I pray that the music will bring hope and joy to your heart. And may you seek to follow the One came that you might have life, and have it more abundantly.

“Soon it will be Christmas Day”

“City sidewalks, busy sidewalks, dressed in holiday style. In the air there’s a feeling of Christmas…” So begins one of my favorite Christmas songs. Though I don’t live in a city, I enjoy the melody and the lyrics, especially as the song concludes, “Soon it will be Christmas Day.”

And that is indeed the case. Yes, we are still three weeks away, but the time for parties and decorating and shopping and cooking is quickly passing us by. Before you know it you will be turning the calendar to the New Year, and wondering where the time has gone.

I have said it before, but it remains true. When it comes to Christmas, I am just a big kid. I enjoy the lights and the songs, the smells and the foods. There is very little about Christmas that does not get me excited.

My wife and I raised two boys. I did so enjoy shopping for them when they were younger. No matter how old you are, buying toys you wished you could have had (or perhaps you did have) remains a blast. Today we have three granddaughters, ranging in age from two to sixteen. Hot Wheels cars are just not the answer for those girls. I have to depend on my wife for assistance as we make our purchases.

All of our gift-giving is simply a reminder of the greatest gift ever given. God, looking down on the need of those whom He created, saw that we needed a Savior. We needed someone to take our place and pay for our sin. And so, He sent us His Son. I don’t understand that kind of love. But oh, how I am grateful for it. “He became flesh and dwelt in our midst.” That is the greatest gift from the greatest God. And for that we give thanks.

Thanksgiving

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day. I may have mentioned this before, but Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Oh, don’t get me wrong. I love Christmas. The decorations, the music, the gifts. And most of all, The Gift, God’s Son, my Savior, Jesus. But there is something about Thanksgiving that is simple and pure. So far commercialism and materialism have not taken over this day.

Thanksgiving is one day set apart to give thanks. And let us be clear. It is not about giving thanks to your friends, your parents, your children, or your neighbors. No, it is about giving thanks to God.

When we consider all that God has done for us, how we ought to give thanks for His goodness. I know that not everything goes the way we would like it to go. Consider this. I had surgery the last week of September, and it took me most of October to recover. It was not an easy experience. And about the time I started feeling myself, my wife and I were struck by a stomach virus that turned us inside out. Again, it was not an enjoyable time, and it took more than a week to recover from that.

You see, God has not promised us an easy life. In fact, quite the contrary. He has said that we will face trials and tribulations. But He has also promised this. He will not leave us nor forsake us…ever. He can be trusted, because He is both good and great. And so, give Him thanks. Thank you, Lord, for your grace and your mercy.

Lemons and Growing

A couple of years ago I wrote about a little lemon tree in my front yard. It was two-years old, and yet only about 20 inches tall. In spite of that, it produced seven lemons. I called it my little Charlie Brown lemon tree.

Two winters ago the tree got bit by the freeze we had. I really thought it was dead. I didn’t think it would survive. But through Spring and Summer of 2023 leaves began to appear. A handful of blooms sprouted, but following the advice of a friend, I pinched them off. And the tree began to grow.

Fast-forward to 2024. The tree is almost four feet tall. The limbs spread out as wide as it is tall. And it is filled with lemons. I know there are more than 60 on it. And they are huge. Some of the largest lemons I have ever seen. I have propped the tree up with tomato stakes and string so that the limbs don’t collapse on the weight of the lemons.

I’m so looking forward to a lemon icebox pie. We’ve already used a couple in low country boils. And my wife is squeezing lemon juice into her tea.

I’ve never lived anywhere that lemon trees would grow. I grew up on a small farm that had twenty plus apple trees, and two pear trees. And I’ve always been around vegetable gardens. My dad always had a garden, and he taught me all that I know.

Watching stuff grow fascinates me. Lemon trees. Tomato plants. Two-year old granddaughter. And followers of Jesus Christ. In the same way that my lemon tree has grown, God wants His children to grow in their faith. In Ephesians Paul talked about maturing in every way. We grow in our knowledge of Christ, as well as our ability to follow His teachings. I pray that you will grow in your faith and knowledge of Christ. And maybe enjoy a piece of lemon pie.

Our Only Hope

My wife and I have just returned from the annual meeting of the Georgia Baptist Convention. Our church is a part of this convention, and each year I try to attend the annual meeting if I can. There are several reasons. First, we do business that is important. We have missionaries and ministries around our state which we support with our giving, and on occasion with our personal work.

Second, there are many opportunities to worship at this meeting. We sing, and several preachers will speak to us. It’s good for a preacher to hear other preachers on occasion. Quite frankly, it does a body good.

Third, there is always an area for “displays.” Different schools and ministries set up booths to show what they are doing, and how we might become a part of that. I will visit the booths of all three of my alma maters just to see what is happening these days. It doesn’t hurt that all of the displays have bowls filled with candy. I’m always up for a Hershey’s Kiss.

But the real reason I go to the convention is simple. I have the opportunity to visit with friends I don’t see throughout the year. Some were classmates in school. Some are fellow pastors, but we now live several miles apart. We often eat lunch together. It is a good time to catch up.

This year there will be a measure of sadness. One of my best friends in the ministry will not be there. He passed away from a massive heart attack earlier this year. The father of five, he was in his forties. I hope Tina and I will see his widow and their children there. But I’m not sure.

My sadness at losing my friend is tempered by this one truth. I believe in the resurrection. I believe Jesus was raised from the dead, and I believe that everyone of His children will be raised as well. That’s my only hope. Paul wrote, “If in this life only we have hope we are the most pitiable of all.” But then he wrote, “But indeed Christ has been raised from the dead.” In a world filled with sin and sorrow, that is our hope. It is our only hope. I hope that is your hope as well.

Election Results

Shh! Do you hear that? It’s the sound of silence. It’s peace and quiet. No more political ads. No more phone calls and texts. The election is over. We can get back to normal. Except…

Now the handwringing begins. It’s the end of democracy as we know it! I’m sure you’ve heard that by now. And keep in mind, I’m writing this five days prior to election day. We don’t know the results. But depending on which candidate wins, and which news channel you are watching, we are doomed forever, or our nation has been saved.

I want to be clear on this issue. I do believe that elections matter. I do believe in exercising my right to vote, and I will be even more clear. I have strong opinions and thoughts on political issues.

But hear me out. If you believe that the future of the world could be saved or destroyed by what took place yesterday, I think two things are true. One, your opinion of the power of the presidency of the USA is too elevated. And two, and even more importantly, your understanding of the power of the Kingdom of God is not high enough.

Again, I am not saying that political issues do not matter at all. But my understanding of the nature of God reminds me of this. He has endured the abysmal reigns of kings and dictators in other places in the world. And He has outlived every good and every bad president this nation has had. And He is still the Sovereign Lord of the universe.

In other words, our hope is not in the ballot box. Our hope is in God. No matter who was elected yesterday to serve our nation for the next four years, God remains on His throne, and He still cares for His children. He can be trusted. He is good. I hope that you will hang your hat on that.

Day By Day

I am grateful for the opportunity to address you each week in our local paper.  I never really know exactly how many people are reading, but I am encouraged occasionally as someone tells me they have enjoyed a column.

            I enjoy writing.  Of course, I’m not sure I would have said that in my college or graduate school days. It seemed as if a paper was due every other week, and in fact that was often the case. And even now, writing for a deadline can be a challenge. Sometimes I forget, and I get a friendly email reminder from the publisher, “Columns?”  Quite succinct and to the point.  And sometimes I sit at my desk and ponder, seeking inspiration from above.

            But most of the time I just write about life.  It’s funny how every day occurrences have so much to teach us about God and faith.  But that’s just it.  It’s not the great things that we do that change the world. It’s everyday life. 

            There is an Old Testament story about a man who was quite sick.  He learned of a prophet who could heal, and traveled to him. The prophet did not bother to come and see the sick man. He simply sent word, “Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan River and you will be well.”

            This offended the man Naaman.  In the first place, he was a man of position, and for the prophet not to come to him was upsetting. And then the Jordan River was not the nicest or cleanest of rivers.  “How dare he!” was all he could think.

            But some of his servants spoke with Naaman. “What if the prophet had told you to do some great thing? Would you have done it? Why don’t you try his way?” And that’s what Naaman did. He went to the Jordan, followed the instructions, and he was healed.

            I am afraid that many people are waiting for their “big opportunity.” What great thing will God have me to do?  And sometimes the Lord simply calls us to walk with Him day by day in the everyday affairs of life.  What about you? What is God calling you to do? The best way to find out is simply to take the next step of faith, whatever that may be.

Share

We are getting closer and closer to the holiday season.  In fact, there are hints of it all around us.  Many retail establishments already have some decorations in place.  It seems that they start earlier and earlier every year. And the reason is pretty simple. If we start shopping this early, we are likely to spend more than if we wait until Black Friday or later.

            I am a kid at heart when it comes to holiday celebrations. I am quick to get out the decorations, and for the most part I think the more the merrier. I have drawn the line at getting on a roof since my 60th birthday, but beyond that I am all in.

            And the music? I love it. In fact, our choir has been practicing for its music cantata since the second Sunday in September.  It takes a minute to get a group of non-professionals ready, so we start that early. And I don’t mind. By the day after Thanksgiving I will have my car radio set to one of the stations that plays only Christmas music, and I will sing along to every one of them.

            But I am aware that the holiday season can be a challenge. Perhaps this is the first one without that special someone.  Or, it just may be another time when the divisions in your family cannot be mended.  Or, there could be any other number of reasons, but the fact is that holidays are a burden for some.

            I want to bring you two measures of encouragement. First, Paul told us to, “Bear one another’s burdens.” Would you look around this year and see if there is someone you can encourage during this time? Perhaps you could set another place at the table.  Maybe you could purchase one more gift or write one more card. But be aware. Pay attention. Spread the love.

            Second, if the time is hard, don’t look within for strength. Look up. God really does love you, and He wants the best for you.  He has promised, “If you seek me, you will find me.”  I’ve found that a promise to be true. The Lord is with us.  He will help us. He can be trusted.

Adopted into the Family

I’m getting old. You want to know how I know this? My oldest son turns 40 today.  I remember turning 40. My mom called and asked me how it felt to be 40.  Feeling a bit snarky I replied, “Well, how does it feel to have a child who is 40?”  She let it slide, but today I am repentant of that smart-aleck remark.  What goes around comes around.

            I was not present 40 years ago when my son was born. Neither was my wife.  You see, we adopted him when he was two.  I remember that day like it was yesterday.  It was a Wednesday morning.  We were called by the social worker and told, “We have a blond-headed two-year-old boy looking for a home. Are you interested?”

            It didn’t take long to answer that question.  By three o’clock in the afternoon, following a brief stop at “Toy R Us,” we were home.  He had a Big Wheel and a ball and bat, and we were having a blast.  The years since that time have flown.  He is now a girl dad. Who would have thought it?

            The Bible says that God has adopted us, at least those who have placed their faith in Him.  Paul wrote, “He has given us the spirit of adoption, whereby we call Him, Abba, Father.”  God did not have to do that. He did not need us. We needed Him, and He has made a way for us to be a part of His family. What a blessing that is!

            My sons were an answer to prayer for my wife and me. And we were an answer to their needs, even if they were too young to pray for us.  My oldest, the one with the birthday, called me Daddy on the ride home that day.  What a moment that was! 

            And God thinks of me as His son.  I can’t get over that. He chose me. He loves me.  And I know that He loves you. I pray that you will experience the thrill of being adopted into the family of God.  There is nothing like it.