Saturday, December 26, 2015

It's Time To Turn The Page

Well, my list of things to get accomplished before the end of the year seems to be growing, not getting smaller as the days are counting down in 2015. Last week, short as it was, I did get most everything in the office communicating with the new computer with its new operating system. There were a few hair-pulling hours of, “Why won’t this work?” along with hours of downloading and installing updates to get printers and the like to work right. I must be mellowing a little because through all the frustrations of last week I never threw anything or broke anything. I sort of feel real proud of myself even though I wanted to scream a few times. I think I’ve got most all the wrinkles ironed out and the new computer looks to be ready for work in the coming new year. Most years, many of us are looking forward to turning the page and starting a new chapter in life. My years are certainly flying by and the chapters are adding up, yet I’m happy to be as healthy as I am and busy in life as I am. I pray your new chapter in life is full of happiness, prosperity and good health. Get right with the Lord if your conscience is guiding you that way. Remember, it’s an election year. Get out and vote!

There’s a lot of traveling this time of year. A six-year-old boy announced in school that his grandmother was coming for a visit. When asked where his grandmother lived he replied, “She lives at the airport. When we want her to come for a visit we just go and get her. Then when we’re done having her visit we take her back to the airport.”

Ninety-five-year-old Mary found that shopping for Christmas had become too difficult, so she decided to send checks to everyone instead. On each card that would accompany the check she wrote, “Buy your own gift” and made sure she mailed them early. Only after the Christmas season was well over did she get around to clearing the clutter from her desk. Under a stack of papers she was horrified to discover all the gift checks which she evidently had forgotten to enclose with her cards of good will.

[Luke 6:38] Now that the gift giving season is over and time has come to figure out how to pay for it all, may I suggest seven gifts that don’t cost a cent and can be given all year long? 1. The Gift of Listening. But you must really listen. No interrupting, no daydreaming, no planning your response. Just listen. 2. The Gift of Affection. Be generous with appropriate hugs, kisses, pats on the back and hand-holds. Let these small actions demonstrate the love you have for family and friends. 3. The Gift of Laughter. Clip cartoons. Share articles and funny stories. Your gift will say, “I love to laugh with you.” 4. The Gift of Written Notes. It can be a simple, “Thanks for the Help” note or a full sonnet. A brief hand-written note may be remembered for a lifetime, and may even change a life. 5. The Gift of Compliment. A simple and sincere, “you look great in red;” or, “you did a super job,” or, “that was a wonderful meal” can make someone’s day. 6. The Gift of Favor. Every day go out of your way to do something kind. 7. The Gift of a Cheerful Disposition. The easiest way to feel good is to extend a kind word to someone. Really, it’s not that hard to say, “Hello” or “Thank-You”. I’m not so good at a lot of this, but what a way to get the new year started and grow in our Christian maturity. “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Happy New Year, Y’all

Saturday, December 19, 2015

My Hero That Night


I walked into my office last Friday morning and it looked like a train wreck. For two days before I had been earnestly working on setting up a new computer and needless to say, not everything was cooperating. The operating systems are different between my old and new computers, which has a tendency to create conflict while trying to move data from one to the other. It feels like pushing a truck with four flat tires up a hill. It can become totally frustrating at times and when I can’t figure out the problem then it’s time to spend an hour on the phone with a program tech to get their product up and running again. The best part about that process today is the fact that one can turn the control of the computer over to the tech to allow them to do their magic in short order. The mouse arrow is scooting all over the screen and windows are flipping open and closed at break-neck speed - wham, bam - it’s working again. I thanked the young lady for her help and wish I could kiss her for bailing me out. Then I sat back and sighed with relief, another upgrade is installed; now to learn how to use it. Why go through all the trouble when the old computer is working just fine you ask? Updates have come to a halt because the processor in my antique tower is too slow for the newer operating systems and any upgrades for most programs. Technology has once again advanced to the point where I must catch up, or wave bye-bye to the world of 1’s & 2’s.

This year social media is full of the thought that Christ needs to be put back into Christmas. Here are some thoughts as to why Jesus is better than Santa. Santa lives at the North Pole > Jesus is everywhere. Santa comes by once a year > Jesus is an ever present help. Santa fills our stockings with goodies > Jesus supplies all our needs. Santa comes down our chimney uninvited > Jesus stands at the door and knocks, waiting to enter your heart. You have to wait in line to see Santa > Jesus is as close as the mention of his name. Santa lets you sit on his lap > Jesus lets you rest in his arms. Santa doesn’t even know your name > Jesus knew your name before you were born. He even knows how many hairs are on your head. Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly > Jesus has a heart full of love and compassion. All Santa can offer is Ho-Ho-Ho > Jesus offers Health, Help and Hope. Santa says, “You better not cry…” > Jesus says, “Cast all your cares on me and I will give you rest.” Santa’s little helpers make toys > Jesus makes life anew; mends wounded hearts; repairs broken homes; and builds mansions. Santa gives you a chuckle > Jesus gives you joy! – That is your strength. While Santa puts gifts under your tree > Jesus became our gift, and died on the tree.

[Luke 2: 1-7] It’s obvious there is really no comparison between Santa and Jesus. We need to remember WHO Christmas is all about. We need to put Christ back into Christmas; Jesus is still the reason for the season. Joseph was a righteous man (Matthew 1:19) so trusted in God, but I can’t help thinking he must have felt like he had been thrown under the bus when he escorted Mary into that stinky animal corral the night of Jesus’ birth. Pregnant and ready to deliver, poor Mary probably couldn’t travel very fast and by the time they arrived in Bethlehem, any reservation Joseph had made for their stay was long given away to other travelers – there was no room. Joseph is my hero of the night, trusting in God and making do with what he had to work with. In awe, he witnessed God at work. I pray to do the same one day, in heaven above.

Saturday, December 12, 2015

Then God Will Make It Grow

Last week I was making a list of all the things that I need to get done by the end of the year and came to the conclusion, I’m about two weeks behind in my office work, of where I normally am this time of year. In retrospect, the past two months I can see I have not been redeeming my time as well as I normally do. It probably has something to do with all my unexpected doctor visits and surgery, which came at just the wrong time of the year. My mental focus has been skewed a bit, but I think I’ve got it back on track for a big 2015 finish. I’ll have to hustle though with the holidays falling on Friday’s, normally my busiest day of the week. I even get to start the week with a four hour deficit due to my surgical follow-up appointment clean on the other side of the big city first thing Monday morning. I know the Lord will work it all out for the good.
Imagine there is a bank which will credit your account each morning with $86,400, carries over no balance from day to day, that allows you to keep no cash balance, and every evening cancels whatever part of the amount you had failed to use during the day. What would you do? Draw out every cent, of course! Well, everyone has such a bank. Its name is time. Every morning, it credits you with 86,400 seconds. Every night it writes off, as lost, whatever of this you have failed to invest to good purpose. It carries over no balance. It allows no overdraft. Each day it opens a new account for you. Each night it burns the records of the day. If you fail to use the day's deposits, the loss is yours. There is no going back. There is no drawing against the tomorrow. You must live in the present on today's deposits. Invest it so as to get from it the utmost in health, happiness and success! The clock is running. Make the most of today.

To realize the value of ONE YEAR, ask a student who failed a grade. To realize the value of ONE MONTH, ask a mother who gave birth to a premature baby. To realize the value of ONE WEEK, ask the editor of a weekly newspaper. To realize the value of ONE HOUR, ask the lovers who are waiting to meet. To realize the value of ONE MINUTE, ask a person who missed the train. To realize the value of ONE SECOND, ask a person who just avoided an accident. To realize the value of ONE MILLISECOND, ask the person who won a silver medal in the Olympics. Treasure every moment that you have! And treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time. And remember, time waits for no one. Yesterday is history; Tomorrow is a mystery; Today is a gift - It's called the present.

[1 Peter 4; Hebrews 5:1-6:12] Today my bride and I have been together thirty years. For any marriage to last there has to be the growth of understanding and strict adhesion to the rules of engagement. “…Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and produces a good crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned…” Marriage is not a 50/50 compromise, but a 100% commitment. It takes some of us guys a lifetime to learn and understand that, but most of us try real hard. Marriage is service to one another and the family. To survive as a Christian, one must be committed to the Lord more than anything else (Luke 14:25-33). Both marriages must be watered with the practicing of God’s truth and love, learning all we can about one another and God will make it grow (1 Corinthians 3;1-9).

Saturday, December 05, 2015

There's Chaos Without Christ


I appreciate all the phone calls, emails and snail-mail cards concerning my health and my recent surgeries. I did spend a couple of hours on the table last Tuesday having two surgeries performed. Neither one of them bother me a bit, I slept right through the whole thing. Myself, my wife and a friend for a chauffeur, started the day at three in the morning to be on the other side of the big city by 5 a.m. Surgery was promised for 7:30 and the last thing I remember was sailing down a cool hallway headed for the theatre at 7:40. I guess I can call it a good day when I can check out of the hospital and find myself traveling down the highway, half way home, and it’s only noon. I just love it when a plan comes together. And at this point I will step out and give God all the glory for a well planned, executed, successful day, of which I spent the rest of, kicked back in my easy-chair, nodding off, while thanking God for my preserving my voice and granting me more time to teach the Gospel, and maybe save some souls. I bow in awe of answered prayer, especially when I recognize and see God working in my life, matching me up with the right people as the need arises. God is good; all the time!

A German soldier was wounded in battle, as many were, during WWII. He was ordered to go to the military hospital for treatment. When he arrived at the large and imposing building he saw two doors, one marked “For the Slightly Wounded” and the other marked “For the Seriously Wounded”. He entered through the first door and found himself walking down a long hallway. At the end of it were two more doors, one marked “For Officers” and the other “For Non-Officers”. He entered through the latter and found himself walking down another long hall. At the end of it were two more doors, one marked “For Party Members” and the other “For non-Party Members”. He took the second door, and when he opened it he found himself out on the street. When the soldier returned to his squad the commanding officer asked him, “How did you get a long at the hospital?” “Well sir” he replied, “to tell you the truth, the people there didn’t do a thing for me, but you ought to see the tremendous organization they have!”

[Revelation 3:1-6] “…I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. …He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says…” This scripture is directed to the church in Sardis and I feel it’s time to share it with not only the church of today, but, the home, our public school systems, our governments, and especially the President, the Congress and the Justices of the United States of America. An article titled, “God Isn’t Fixing This” appeared December 3, 2015, on the front page of the New York Daily News, inferred that God has no power over the evils of the world randomly attacking innocent men, women and children. More-over, that all the prayers in the world will do no good to bring this chaos to an end. There is chaos because our country and our leaders are without Christ (Colossians 1:16-17) “…He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” Only the laws of God can harness and regulate peaceful living. This election year needs to reap God fearing Representatives praying for guidance, daily.