The Coming New Year

I AM THE NEW YEAR; I am unused, unspotted, without blemish. I stretch before you three hundred and sixty-five days long. I will present each day in its turn, a new leaf in the book of life for you to place upon it your imprint. Each hour of every day, I will give you sixty minutes that have never known the use of man. Blank and pure it remains for you to fill them with sixty jeweled seconds of love, hope, endeavor, patience and trust in God. I am coming – but once past, I can never be recalled. Make me your best ever!


If the same excuses that people use for not attending worship are applied to other important areas of life, it’s easy to see how inconsistent our logic can be. For example, 10 reasons not to take a bath: * I was forced to bathe as a child. * People who make soap are only after your money. * I bathe on special occasions like Christmas and Easter. * People who take baths are hypocrites – they think they are cleaner than everyone else. * I would bathe, but there are so many different kinds of soap, and I can’t decide which one is best. * I used to bathe, but it got boring so I stopped. * The bathroom is never warm enough in the winter or cool enough in the summer. * I’ll start bathing when I get older and dirtier. * I just don’t have the time to bathe. * None of my friends take baths or shower regularly.


Author Louis L’Amour once wrote a short story about a man caught stealing a book from a library. The attendant noticed that the man was acting strangely while looking at the books. He would take books from the shelf and run his hands over them before putting them back. When he took down a copy of Shakespeare’s “King Lear,” he ran his hands over the leather cover and then put the book in his coat and ran from the library. The attendant chased and caught him. When asked for the book, the man gave the reason for his act. He said he loved books and libraries but could not read. He liked the feel of the book so he took it. Imagine, having such a love for books and not being able to read! Unfortunately for our thief, his love of books did not enrich him. Neither did it enable him to enjoy the adventure of reading what he obviously cherished so much.


[2 Timothy 2:15] Isn’t it possible that we might do the same thing with God’s book? That we might have a love for it that goes no further than our friend who was unable to read? How often do we see Bibles displayed prominently in homes and other places and know that they are not ever opened, much less read. And like Louis L’Amour’s subject gained no real, lasting benefit from the books he could not read, so the unopened, unread Bible gives no benefit to those who only own or display it. If we are to truly benefit from the wisdom of God, then we should seek it from His revelation to us, the Bible. If we are to be the people of God, then we should know what that means. And the source of that information is in the Scripture. In the end, being unable to read even though you might want to and being able to read but not doing so is the same. Jesus once challenged his followers with “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord’, and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46). To follow Jesus means to abide by his teaching both to learn and to imitate. This is the essence of what it means to be a disciple. At the end of the Sermon on the Mount, (Matthew 7:24ff) Jesus told a parable of two builders. It began with “...everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice…” It seems that just naming the name of Jesus and following our own consciences is not sufficient to be truly obedient. We must be guided by His teaching. “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” Hindsight is 2020 and there is no excuse this year for ignorance of God.

The Giver

God is a giver. Better yet, God is the giver. And when God gives, He goes all out. He doesn’t give a little of what He’s able to. He doesn’t give only some of what He’s willing to. No, when God decides to give, He goes big, because He is the giver. From the beginning of life to eternal life, God is the giver. In 1 Timothy 6:13, Paul refers to God as the one who “gives life to all things.” He could and can, because He’s the giver. Romans 6:23 declares that God has made available the free gift of eternal life. He did and has, because He is the giver. Since the universe was spoken into existence, no one has given more than God. And when the world comes to an end, no one will have given more than God; For God gives generously, graciously, mercifully, abundantly, compassionately, completely, consistently, and willingly. Because God is the giver, He can and does shower us with “every good and perfect gift” (James 1:17). Because God is the giver, He can and does supply every need of ours (Philippians 4:19). And, in order to meet the world’s greatest need - the need for a savior - the giver gave not just a piece, not a portion, not a section, not a sliver of the greatest gift ever given, but He gave all of His Son (John 3:16). He went big, because He is the giver. In Hebrews 10:12, Christ is referred to as the “single sacrifice for sins.” God didn’t just give His Son, He sacrificed His Son. A sacrifice, by nature, is not an easy thing to give. And yet God, being the giver, went all out and gave all to us and for us. As we contemplate, plan, and commit to how much we’re going to give back in 2020, let us consider what we’ve generously been given by God, the giver.


[Romans 8:31-32] This is the time of the year when our thoughts are centered on those who influence our lives the most and we are willing to sacrifice monetarily to express our love for them with a unique gift for each one. Jesus is unique. In fact, the phrase “only begotten Son” in the NKJV’s translation of John 3:16 could arguably be rendered “only Son” (ESV), meaning that Jesus was God’s unique Son. Yes, those who are Christians are sons and daughters of God, but Jesus is special. There’s no one else like Him. Jesus was both God and man. He was both king and servant. He was both a lion and a lamb. He was both the high priest and the sacrifice. No other religion has someone like Jesus. According to one fanciful but insightful story, a man became lost in his travels and wandered into a bed of quicksand. Confucius saw the man’s predicament and said, “It is evident that men should stay out of places such as this. “Next, Buddha observed the situation and said, "Let that man’s plight be a lesson to the rest of the world.” Then, Muhammad came by and said to the sinking man, “Alas, it is the will of God.” Finally, Jesus appeared. “Take my hand, brother,” He said, “and I will save you.” Indeed, of all the world’s religions that have ever existed, Christianity stands alone in having a loving Savior. Christianity is unique because of Jesus. Jesus’ uniqueness makes His church unique. He is the founder and foundation of a special assembly (Matthew 16:16-18; 1 Corinthians 3:11). Nowhere else will you find a body of people who serve a founder who gave His very life to take away the sin of the world (John 1:29; Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 John 2:2). No other group of people could say that their founder left heaven itself, came to earth, lived as a man, served mankind, suffered and died for mankind, before returning to His rightful place in heaven (Philippians 2:5-11). The church belongs to Jesus. The church worships Jesus. The church preaches Jesus. Indeed, the church’s identity is found in Jesus, and it is He who makes the church so distinctive.

The Life-Saving Gift

“The Gift That Saved a Life” by Larry Kramer; Washington Post, December 24, 1977: David Schafer, 29, the overnight shift as a policeman in Bettendorf, Iowa. The story of why he will be around to celebrate Christmas tomorrow begins last June. Schafer's wife, Terri, decided she was going to buy her husband a practical Christmas gift. So she drove to "Fifth Avenue Uniforms" in nearby Moline, Ill., to pick up a bulletproof vest. She saw the vest she wanted - a 3-pound number with a blue cloth lining. "But frankly," she said, "with four children, I just didn't have the $127.50 cash to pay out.” I asked Janie Dennhardt (the salesgirl) if she would hold it for me and I could pay $20 a month or so on layaway and pick up the vest right before Christmas. She didn't hesitate for a second. She just said, 'Take it with you now; you never know what might happen between now and Christmas.'" David Schafer started wearing the vest right away. The new lightweight Kevlar vest was developed with a $1.5 million grant from the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration. On October 1, Schafer was responding to a robbery call at a drug store in Bettendorf. He saw the suspect's car and walked over to it, "...with my gun still in the holster and ordered the man to get out of the car." Schafer recalls, "He opened the door and was about half way out when he suddenly pointed a .45 at me and fired dead center in my stomach from about three feet away." Schafer drew his revolver and fired six shots - all missing the suspect - and blacked out. He said he didn't remember shooting at the suspect. Another officer with Schafer shot and killed the suspect. "They took me to St. Luke's Hospital in an ambulance and found there was a bruise the size of a baseball on my stomach," Schafer said. "They kept me in intensive care for 24 hours, but there was no internal damage." On the day of the shooting another policeman went to the door of the Schafer home to break the news of the shooting to Terri Schafer. When she saw the grave look on the officer's face, she feared the worst. She was soon relieved. "It really makes you think." said David Schafer. "There's no question but that if I wasn't wearing the vest Terri and the kids would be having Christmas dinner without me." And there were other happy side effects: The entire Bettendorf 30 man police force got their own Christmas presents from the department - bulletproof vests. Terri Schafer was reimbursed for her purchase, and a Christmas gift of her own - a new car from her husband. Janie Dennhardt, the salesperson whose generosity saved the life of a policeman, had her own view. "It was really the only decent thing to do - let them have the vest right away. We deal with police officers all the time and we trust them. We knew they'd pay for it. There was no sense in making him wait to Christmas to wear a vest that might save his life."


[Ephesians 6:10-18] In our, “...stand against the devil’s schemes” we must protect our spirit from the rulers; the authorities; the powers of this dark world; from the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. “...take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish the flaming arrows of the evil one.” God is my shield (Proverbs 30:5). “What Christ Is To Me?” - The Shield from every dart; The Balm for every smart; The Sharer of each load; Companion on the road. The Door into the fold; The Anchor that will hold; The Shepherd of the sheep; The Guardian of my sleep. The Friend with Whom I talk; The Way by which I walk; The Light to show the way; The Strength for every day. The Source of my delight; The Song to cheer the night; The Thought that fills my mind; The Best of all to find–is Jesus. No greater gift has any person ever received than the Son of God, who stood as a shield, taking on sin and defeating death, for my eternal well-being.

Point Of No Return

There are large signs buoyed on the Niagara River upstream of the great Niagara Falls that read “POINT OF NO RETURN”. The signs are there to warn all boats in the area that no matter how strong their vessel is, no matter how skilled of a captain is in charge, and no matter how powerful an engine and rudder it has... the river is in control from this point on. There comes a point that even the best attempts of the vessel to make it to the river’s shore or to get out of the main current is in vain because the river is simply too powerful to conquer 750,000 gallons of water per second rushing over the 170 foot drop of the falls ahead. It is recorded that many good people with good intentions have been swept over the falls simply because they didn’t think far enough ahead. Sin has some of the same characteristics as the falls. A lot of good people with good intentions have been swept into the abyss of spiritual death simply because they didn’t think far enough ahead. James 1:14-15 reads: “...but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then after desire is conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” It’s interesting to note that our temptations aren’t sin, and our desires aren’t sin either as long as we don’t dwell on them. James clearly writes that we do not sin until our desire has conceived. Sin comes when we act on our desire and then our sin brings forth spiritual death. There is a fine line between desire and sin that we must be aware of. That line is the “POINT OF NO RETURN”.


The USS Thresher was a nuclear submarine that was designed to go to great depths due to its superior strength. The steel bulkheads were built to withstand great pressure from tons of sea water. But, on April 9, 1963, it went too deep during routine deep-diving tests, and was subsequently crushed into little pieces like a plastic model, whose wreckage was spread over an area of many miles. The pressure was just too great for the ship to handle. Yet, astonishingly, there are fish that live even deeper in the sea than the mighty submarine was able to go. How do they survive? From a scientific standpoint, they have ‘pressure’ on the inside equal to the water pressure on the outside. How will a Christian survive the outside pressures of life with all of its trials and temptations? By having equal ‘pressure,’ or equal force, on the inside. God is the only one who can provide that as we allow His Spirit and His will to transform our lives, from the inside out! 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” In this passage, we see God exerting His influence in a way that cancels out worldly pressure.


[Psalm 8:4] “...what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?” When we take an honest look at ourselves, it is not difficult to identify with the Psalmist’s question. Weakness is a discouraging reality of our human nature. We are all aware of our own shortcomings, but what is particularly frustrating, is that the stronger we become in faith, the more aware we become as well. Therefore we find ourselves closer to Christ than ever before, but feeling farther away (Romans 7:14-25). There is a brighter understanding that comes with maturity. It causes us to realize how wonderful God’s salvation is! As we grow in our appreciation of the depths of His awesome love, we begin to understand, in a way like never before, what it means to sing, “Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me.” Praise be to God that He loves sinners like you and me and sent his Son to rescue mankind from hell (John 3:16-17).

Are You Ready, Today?

There are two days in every week about which we should not worry, which should be kept free from fear and apprehension. One day is yesterday, with its mistakes and cares, its faults and blunders, its aches and pains – yesterday has passed forever beyond our control. We cannot undo a single act we performed; we cannot erase a single word we said. Yesterday is gone. The other day we should not worry about is tomorrow with its possible adversaries and burdens. Tomorrow is always beyond our immediate control. Tomorrow’s sun will rise either in splendor or behind a mask of clouds, but it will rise (unless the Lord returns first). Until it does we have no stake in tomorrow for it is yet unborn. That leaves only one day, today, and any person can fight the battles of just one day. Let us do our best this day to live with and love one another, one day at a time.


When Abraham Lincoln was shot and killed in Ford’s Theater April 14th, 1865, he had no idea that night would be his last. Lincoln loved the theater and it was his common diversion for his stressful job. So he probably didn’t think much about what he carried in his pocket that night, but maybe we should. In the personal effects found on Abraham Lincoln that night: a small handkerchief, a pocketknife, a watch fob, glasses (one repaired with cotton string), a Confederate five-dollar bill, and a wallet with only some worn-out newspaper clippings in it. Most of the items were common enough but I want you to notice the newspaper clippings. One began, “Abe Lincoln is one of the greatest statesmen of all time.” The clippings were, even at the time of his death, so well-worn they were almost unreadable. They mostly extolled his presidency. Lincoln was probably the most vilified president in history by the media. In the midst of a Civil war, criticism was lobbed his way by enemy and ally alike. Those articles must have been a personal comfort he always carried with him to reminded him that some supported his efforts. “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:11). It doesn’t matter if it’s the man in the highest office or the man in the lowest job; everyone wants to feel someone cares for them. Many people feel under-appreciated, unloved and ignored. The greatest gift we can give them isn’t an item but a sense of appreciation. You matter. You are important. Your work is not in vain. A kind word is something a person can always carry with them no matter where they go.


[Matthew 24:36-39]  While on a South Pole expedition, British explorer Sir Earnest Shackleton left a few men on Elephant Island, promising that he would return. Later, when he tried to go back, huge icebergs blocked the way. But suddenly, as if by chance, an avenue opened in the ice and Shackleton was able to get through. His men, ready and waiting, quickly scrambled aboard. No sooner had the ship cleared the island harbor, the ice once again crushed together behind them. Contemplating their narrow escape, the explorer said to his men, “It was fortunate you were all packed and ready to go.” They replied, “We never gave up hope. Whenever the sea was clear of ice, we rolled up our sleeping bags and reminded each other, ‘He may come today.’” In like manner, we do not know when the Lord shall return, only the Father knows (Matthew 24:36); but we had better be ready. The Lord may return today, tomorrow, next week, next year, or 1,000 years from now. The Lord has given us no date, only that His return will be like a thief in the night, without warning. Jesus said, “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come” (Matthew 24:42-51). If the Lord were to come today, would you be ready? Is your love for Him packed and waiting, ready to go, today?

Giving Thanks

Did you know that our English words “think” and “thank” come from the same root? I believe that brings forth an important concept. Our thankfulness is based upon our “think” fullness. In other words, we can always give thanks if we just give it some thought. That’s what David seems to be doing in the 103rd Psalm. He begins by saying “Bless the LORD” (v.1). That phrase in the Hebrew means to express gratitude. He then states, “And forget not all His benefits” (v.2). David then goes on to list a few “benefits” of knowing the Lord, like forgiveness and healing (v.3), protection and blessings in life (v.4), food and revival of spirit (v.5) – on and on he goes. As David thought upon the benefits that God gives, his response was to thank Him. We should be no different. No matter what circumstances the world puts in our life, we can always thank God – if we’ll just take some time to think on Him! Think on what He has done and has promised to do. So give it a try – think and you will thank! Count your blessings instead of your crosses. Count your gains instead of your losses. Count your joys instead of your woes. Count your friends instead of your foes. Count your smiles instead of your tears. Count your courage instead of your fears. Count your full years instead of your lean. Count your kind deeds instead of your mean. Count your health instead of your wealth. Count on God instead of yourself. A thankful heart doubles our blessings, causing us to enjoy them twice – when we receive them and when we remember them.


[Ephesians 5:20] We have so much for which to be thankful! Every single day our Almighty God blesses us with numerous good things. Because have been blessed, we have a responsibility to our Lord to show Him gratitude. In fact, Jesus actually expects us to say “thanks” when He blesses (Luke 17:17). With this in mind, let us consider the fact that there is a proper way to say “thanks.” Thankfulness involves… “Thoughtfulness” - We need to give some real time and consideration to the various ways in which we’ve been blessed. We must not take things for granted! Such is like the swine that eats the apples that have fallen to the ground without ever looking up to the tree from which they fell. Think about how richly you’ve been blessed. Be thoughtful and thankful. (James 1:17; Psalm 100). “Happiness” - We can be happy with what we have—what we do-all because we know, love, trust and obey the Almighty God! Happy is that people whose God is the Lord (Psalm 144:15). “Appreciation” - When you tell someone, “I appreciate you,” you are telling them, “I highly value you.” What value do you give your life? Your family? Your church family? (Colossians 2:6-7; 3:15). “Notification” - If you are thankful…tell someone! Make it known! Don’t keep it to yourself. Make it clear to the person that blessed your life that you know that said blessing came from them. Paul made a habit of telling people he was thankful for them and for what they had done on his behalf (Philippians 1:3; 4:10; Philemon 4; Romans 16:3-4). “Kindness” - Simple kindness shown to others is a demonstration that you are thankful for the things/people that have found their way into your life. Remember the example of David in 2 Samuel 9:1. “Sacrifice” - The Macedonians were so thankful for their spiritual blessings they were willing to sacrifice physically and financially (2 Corinthians 8:1-5). Our God asks that we live each day as though we are thankful for His mercy. (Romans 12:1-2). “Thanks be unto God for His indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15). God wants us to be a thankful people and we really ought to make every day a day of thanksgiving. “...in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

Are We Too Busy?

A man walked into a doctor’s office early one morning. He expected there would be a long wait, so he came prepared with a book to read. After a long time of reading, a nurse approached him and tapped him on the shoulder saying, “Sir, it’s 5:00; we are closing now.” Dropping his book to his lap he exclaimed, “What? I’ve been here since 8:30 this morning and my name has yet to be called!” The nurse asked, “What is your name?” He told her his name; she checked the log and responded, “Sir, we called your name five times and you never answered.” The man was so busy reading that he didn’t pay attention to listening for his name to be called. I wonder sometimes if we haven’t become so busy in our family life, our academic life, our occupation, our recreational life and even our church life that we fail to hear the true calling of God, Christ and the Holy Spirit in our life. Are we so busy that we may fail to anticipate the one true event that makes everything else worthwhile? Christ is coming again! Are you prepared and ready? Or, have you prepared to depart this world in an untimely manner? Do you look forward to meeting the creator? Do you pray about it? I suggest to you that most of us don’t think enough about it. We busy our lives with life to the point that we pay little if any attention to the One who can make a greater life at His coming. “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on your guard! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come” (Mark 13:32-37).


[John 17:16] “They are not of the world, even as I am not of it” Each week we go many places and do many things. This is normal and natural. Christians are in the world and participation in the world cannot be avoided. There is work to do; groceries to buy; ball games to play and friends to visit. The world is very powerful however. Its influence can be overwhelmingly strong. Could it be that the world sometimes overwhelms our thinking and our faith? Our Lord prayed to the Father for his disciples. He was concerned that while his disciples continued to live in the world they must not become part of the world. “I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified” (John 17:14-19). We, as Christians in the world, must have an emotional separation from the world. We must be able to critically examine our environment and know what is sinful and what is righteous. We may still be in the world but we don’t have to be part of the world. The Lord prayed that we be kept from the evil one. We must do our part to stay away from the evil one. We must not allow the world to become the dominating factor in our life. Instead, the Word of God must be the principle factor; we must be sanctified in the Word of Truth. We have been left in the world to change the world, not be changed again by the world. John reminds us how hard emotional separation from the world is. “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world – the cravings of sinful man, the lust of the eyes and the boasting of what he has and does- comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever” (1 John 2:15-17). Satan will use any and every part of the world to entice, deceive and lure man away from God and his Word.

Veterans Of Good And Evil

I’m a fan of the Star Wars movies. At the end of the first Star Wars movie that debuted in 1977 (Episode IV for those in the know), we find the forces of good launching a desperate attack on the immense and seemingly impregnable enemy stronghold. Despite all of their weapons and defenses, there is a weakness. To exploit this weakness and destroy the enemy's mighty battle station, all the forces of good have to do is navigate a fighter ship through a narrow trench and shoot a torpedo down an exhaust port that is about six feet wide. Sounds easy enough, right? The forces of good carry out their attack as planned. As they enter the trench to approach their goal (the exhaust port), they discover it is protected by enemy gun towers that are mounted all along the trench, and they realize that enemy fighter ships are closing in to attack. It doesn't sound as easy anymore, does it? However, despite the opposition and the odds, the forces of good press on, and it is during this sequence that we witness a very noteworthy scene. Three pilots are making their attack run. One is a veteran; the other two have less experience. As they approach their target, the three find themselves being shot at from the front by the fortress' guns and from behind by the enemy ships. As the less experienced pilots give in to fear and doubt, the veteran pilot calmly utters: “Stay on target...”


We live in a broken world and the writers of science-fiction duly note that when the time comes we will find ourselves living in a broken universe. As long as there are people involved, there too, good and evil will exist. The battle between the two will never end so long as mankind continues to recognize the difference between right and wrong in our relationships with one another. This conflict extends from the home to the school, to the workplace, in governments and on the battlefield. There are veterans of all sorts who have served proudly to defeat and contain evil and a lot of them find themselves broken physically and spiritually. Thank, honor and encourage a battle-weary veteran today.


[John 3:16-21] It happens more often than your think. A car gets hit from behind by another car. No one is hurt, and the damage to the rear bumper appears minimal. The insurance company instructs the owner to take the car in for a closer inspection and repair estimate. During the inspection, they discovered that the damage is more extensive than first thought. Then an insurance letter arrives a few days later that begins, “Your vehicle listed below is a total loss.” It goes on to explain the reasons that they chose not to repair the vehicle. The very next day, a tow truck shows up at the house and hauls the car away. A total loss. There’s not much that’s complicated in that phrase. It all came down to one decision—the cost to fix what was broken was more than the price they were willing to pay, so it was cheaper to declare it a total loss. God could have easily looked at our lives and said, “The cost to fix what’s broken is not worth the price I’ll have to pay.” It wasn’t just a dent or a scratch caused by our sin, but a complete separation between man and his Creator; a severing of our relationship that required, not money, but the blood of his perfect Son to repair. What if our Father had decided we weren’t worth it? What if our Savior had been unwilling to pay with his own blood? What if we were simply beyond repair? When Jesus wanted to communicate the value of one sinner to the Father, he told, not one parable, but three—the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the prodigal son. Each parable drives home the same message, “Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:10). One sinner, at extraordinary cost, and God says, “It’s worth it.” Our Savior says, “I’ll pay.” The redeemed say, “Praise God.”

Who Sets The Standard?

Well, here we go again with the argument of “...what will define ‘standard time’ across the nation and around the word in the future?” Give me daylight. I can’t work in the dark!


When Dick Fosbury was a sixteen-year-old high school student in Medford, Oregon, he wanted to be good at the high jump, a popular track and field event. Only one problem – Fosbury couldn’t jump over the five-foot bar; the basic qualifying height for most high school jumpers of his day. Fosbury was too tall to execute the “straddle” method, a technique that required the jumper to go over the bar face first while bring each leg over the bar individually. There was no rule regarding how a jumper could clear the bar; but he must initiate the jump by lifting off the ground with one foot only. Fosbury began experimenting with all sorts of techniques, finally perfecting a method that sent him over the bar backwards, bending his torso over the bar and then arching his legs in the shape of a rainbow so that his body would curl over the bar. The success of the technique was dramatic. He was the NCAA National Champion in the high jump in 1968. He then went on to win the Olympic Gold Medal in Mexico City that same year, clearing a height of seven feet, four inches. His technique, popularly known as the “Fosbury Flop” is the only method used by high jumpers today. Dick Fosbury found a way to meet the standard. At first, the standard seemed impossible. But he didn’t give up. He didn’t try to lower the standard so that he could achieve it. He simply used his talents to reach his goal.


[Isaiah 5:20-21] “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and clever in their own sight.” It seems since the beginning of time that people who turn from God are confused about the question of God’s standard for his created mankind. Man isn’t wise enough, and at times, honest enough, to discern between right and wrong or good and evil. Jeremiah wrote, “Lord, I know that people’s lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps” (Jeremiah 10:23). For all of his flaws, even Solomon knew he lacked the techniques and methods it would take to be the leader expected of him. Solomon petitioned God, “Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?” (2 Chronicles 1:10). Back to our scriptures from Isaiah; we are seeing in our society today where folks are defining true goodness as evil. Why? Because the moral standards of God contradict their lifestyles. Because God’s righteousness lived in the lives of some people convicts and “pricks” those who won’t submit to it. So, they redefine what is the true morality or standard. If one can have society accept that baby-killing (abortion); same-sex marriage (homosexuality); welfare and social programs (handouts for many who won’t work), etc. is fine, then morality has been redefined. When we turn from God, we will have chaos. Look at what atheism and evolution have done to our last several generations. It led to apathy and outright rebellion against God. It led to devaluation of human life (since we came from monkeys)! It led to many people questioning the Bible as the true word of God and thus, writing a new standard of humanistic morality. This has been going on for a long time, the rewriting of God’s word or morals. How do we combat this? Pray. Read God’s word and live by it. Let others see it in you. Let them see you living by the one standard, faithfully. Show them the benefits of everyone living by God’s standard. Try to show them the inconsistency and woeful methods found in man’s morality. That’s really all we can do and all that God expects.

Are You Taking The Easy Way?

James A. Garfield, the 20th President of the United States, took office on March 4, 1881. On his first Sunday in Washington following his inauguration, a member of the Cabinet insisted that a meeting must be called to discuss a matter that purportedly threatened a national crisis. The President refused, stating that he was already committed to another appointment. The Cabinet member insisted, telling the President that the national matter was of grave importance and that he should break his prior engagement. Still, Mr. Garfield refused to do so. Obviously appalled, the Cabinet member remarked, “I would be interested to know with whom you have an engagement so important that it cannot be broken.” Mr. Garfield replied, “I will be as frank as you are. My engagement is with the Lord, to meet Him at His house, at His table, at 10 o’clock tomorrow morning, and I shall be there.” What an example! May we, too, be so dedicated to the worship of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, that we shall not forget we have a standing “prior engagement” every Sunday morning. Oh, to witness such attitudes in our Capital today.


[Matthew 7:13-14] I want to share with you an old newspaper article entitled “The Easy and The Hard” by Beverly Heirich. She started her article by saying, “When my husband and I were raising our five children, we taught them everything we knew. Now we know that wasn’t much.” She went on to say, “If we could do it over, here are some critical facts about human nature that I would start teaching them before they were old enough to brush their teeth without help.” Here are just some of the things she listed that she wished she had taught her children: * Bad is easy; Good is hard * Losing is easy; Winning is hard * Talking is easy; Listening is hard * Giving advise is easy; Taking advise is hard * Lying is easy; Truth is hard * Holding a grudge is easy; Forgiving is hard * Watching TV is easy; Reading is hard * Stop is easy; Go is hard * Dirty is easy; Clean is hard * Spending is easy; Saving is hard * Doubt is easy; Faith is hard * Criticizing is easy; Taking criticism is hard * Pride is easy; Humility is hard * Borrowing is easy; Paying back is hard * Arguing is easy; Negotiation is hard * Stupid is easy; Smart is hard * Cowardice is easy; Bravery is hard * Messy is easy; Neat is hard * An “F” is easy; An “A” is hard * Sarcasm is easy; Sincerity is hard * Growing weeds is easy; Growing flowers is hard * Having friends is easy; Being a friend is hard * Following is easy; Leading is hard * “Can’t do” is easy; “Can do” is hard. Certainly these are also very Biblical concepts. As we think about a variety of subjects addressed in the book of Proverbs, we see some similar reminders. For example, the book of Proverbs reminds us that it is easy to get a hand-out but it is hard to work (Proverbs 20:4). Also we learn from the book that it’s easy to follow, but it’s hard to lead (Proverbs 12:24), and that it’s easy to dream but hard to achieve a dream (Proverbs 13:4; 10:4). The book of Proverbs also reminds us that it is easy to make excuses but hard to make due (Proverbs 26:13), and that it is easy to spend but it hard to save (Proverbs 21:5). The greatest example of this truth, I believe, is from the lips of Jesus. He said, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life and only a few find it.” As I think about the article and apply it to God’s words, I can’t help but ask myself, “Am I taking the easy way?” Mrs. Heirich ended her article with a noteworthy thought, “Easy is its own reward. Hard is much, much finer.” “As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming when no one can work” (John 9:4). It’s getting dark.

Grace Produces Change

He has wild hair, wears a T-shirt with holes in it, jeans and no shoes. This was literally his wardrobe for his entire four years of college. He is a brilliant young man, kind of profound and very, very intelligent. He became a Christian while attending college. Across the street from the campus is a very conservative church congregation. They wanted to develop a ministry to the students, but were not quite sure how to go about it. Hearing about this, one Sunday Bill decides to go there. He walks in with no shoes, in faded jeans, his T-shirt and wild hair. The service has already started as Bill starts down the aisle looking for a seat. The church building is completely full and he can’t find a seat. By now people are really looking a bit uncomfortable, but no one says anything. Bill gets closer and closer to the front of the auditorium where he still finds nowhere to sit, so he just cross-legged squats down right on the carpet of the aisle. By now, people are really uptight and the tension in the air is thick. About this time the minister sees an elder is slowly making his way toward Bill. This elder has silver-gray hair, and wearing a three-piece suit. He is a godly man, very elegant, very dignified, and courtly. He walks with a cane and as he starts walking towards this boy, everyone is thinking to themselves that no one can blame him for what he’s about to do. Honestly, how can one expect a man of his stature to understand some college kid sitting on the floor? It takes what seems forever for the man to reach the boy. The building is utterly silent except for the clicking of the man’s cane. All eyes are focused on him. The minister stands silent at the pulpit awaiting the finale of what the elder has to do. Surprised, everyone sees the elder drop his cane on the floor. With great difficulty, he lowers himself and sits down next to Bill and worships with him so he won’t be alone. Everyone chokes up with emotion. After the minister regains control, he says, “What I’m prepared for, and about to preach, you will probably never remember word for word. What you have just witnessed, you will never forget.” Be careful how you live. You may be the only Bible some people will ever read.


[James 2:1-13] John Vaughan writes about a spring day prior to the Civil War. A boy named Jim was looking for work and stopped at Mr. Worthy Taylor’s prosperous Ohio farm. The farmer gave Jim a job cutting stove wood, bringing in the cows and generally making himself useful. The boy ate in the kitchen and slept in the hayloft. During the summer, Jim fell in love with Mr. Taylor’s daughter. However, the father refused to give his daughter in marriage, saying that Jim had no money, no name and very poor prospects. Jim put his belongings into an old carpetbag and disappeared. Taylor could not see it, but this boy was going to amount to something after all. Thirty years later the farmer pulled down his old barn to make way for a new one. On one of the rafters just above the hayloft, he found that Jim had carved his full name into the wood – James A Garfield. He was then President of the United States. The Lord looks beyond what we are to what we can become by His grace. God turned a timid Gideon into a mighty judge. He transformed a powerful persecutor into the apostle Paul. He changed rash, impulsive Peter into his spokesman at Pentecost. A sculpture can turn marble into a masterpiece. An artist can change a canvas into a creation. A carpenter can transform trees, steel and rocks into a building. However, only Jesus Christ can make a saint out of a sinner. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old is gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17). Pray God grants wisdom and grace on all those who are seeking public office in 2020, for the sake of all Americans and the preservation of the Constitution.

The Green Sustainable Life

The vice president of a company died. Early the next morning an ambitious junior officer came to speak with the president, “It certainly is sad about our company’s loss.  I’m sure you feel that everything should keep going. I don’t want to seem presumptuous, but I would like to talk to you about me taking his place.” Without hesitation he replied, “That’s fine with me if you can work it out with the funeral director.”


Go Green! Help the environment! This is the only world we have – Take care of it! People are so conscious of clean air, clean water and clean homes, but what about clean lives? The earth is not our permanent home. We are just visiting as strangers and pilgrims (Hebrews 11:13). Even so, these days it seems that more people are concerned with chlorofluorocarbons than the church of our Lord. Earth Day takes precedence over Sunday, pine trees over praying knees, critters over Christ, and dead water over living water. Yes, this is our Father’s world (Psalm 24:1) and we ought to take care of it. However, we have something else which belongs to our Father that is far more important than any dog or frog – an eternal soul (Ezekiel 18:4). It is from the earth in which we have been made. It is where we live, eat, and where our bodies will return at death (Ecclesiastes 12:7). We are earthly people with earthly minds. We do not pretend to comprehend the nature of the heavenly, but we are all “...longing for a better country – a heavenly one” (Hebrews 11:16).Yet, that heavenly country sometimes seems so far away. Some speak of heaven as a deluded dream or a fanciful fairy tale. We might even catch ourselves wondering what it would be like “if we were there”. Jesus said heaven is real and prepared for those who trust in Him (John 14:1-3). Jesus is the Word of God (John 1:1, 14) and the word is truth (John 17:17). Do you believe Jesus? Peter told us of “...an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade – kept in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:4).


[2 Timothy 2:22-26] Heaven is green. It has always been green and will be green long after the earth is gone because nothing defiled or polluted will ever be there. Pollution comes from sin. The green life is one that abstains from the pollutions of an earthly world (Acts 15:20; 2 Peter 2:20), in order to enter the heavenly world. That is the difference between the earthly man and the heavenly man. Earthly-minded individuals focus on what they have done for themselves, but heavenly-minded individuals focus on what God has done for them (Matthew 7:7-11; James 1:17). While in the body we live amidst the crooked, perverse and profane – Satan’s sinful agents who detect and destroy. It is a tragic reminder of the first earthly man and woman enticed to sin in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2, 3). Christians are mere earthly “Adams” dressed in the blood of Christ (Galatians 3:27; Revelation 1:5) with the living hope of bearing Christ’s heavenly image. The apostle Paul explained it by saying, “The first man (Adam) was of the dust of the earth, the second man (Jesus) from heaven. As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and is the man from heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven (1 Corinthians 15:47-49). Thus, our earthly nature will not continue. We all have a dying earthly side and a living spiritual side. The earthly physical body will not be everlasting (2 Peter 3:10). However, the spirit is eternal (Matthew 25:46). Knowing this, what is really more important – a green earth with its days numbered and will not continue or a “green” spirit that will live forever. Are you focused on the earthly or the heavenly? Go Green! Clean up your life! You can’t work it out with the funeral director.

The Jury Is Still Out!

A defendant was on trial for murder in Oklahoma. There was strong evidence indicating guilt, but there was no corpse. In the defense’s closing statement, the lawyer, knowing that his client would probably be convicted, resorted to a trick. “Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I have a surprise for you all,” the lawyer said as he looked at his watch. “Within one minute, the person presumed dead in this case will walk into this courtroom.” Then he looked toward the courtroom door. The jurors, somewhat stunned, looked on eagerly. A minute passed. Nothing happened. The silence was broken when the lawyer said, “Actually, I made up the previous statement. But you all looked on with anticipation. I, therefore, put it to you that there is reasonable doubt in this case as to whether anyone was killed and insist that you return a verdict of not guilty.” The jury, clearly confused, retired to deliberate. A few minutes later, the jury returned and gave a verdict of guilty. “But how?” inquired the lawyer. “You must have had some doubt; I saw all of you stare at the door with anticipation!” Replied the jury foreman, “Oh, we all looked with anticipation ...But your client didn’t! He knew no one was coming.”


[Romans 4:4-7] Having been convicted of murdering Botham Jean, the last thing Amber Guyger probably expected to hear at her sentencing were the words “I forgive you” from a member of the victim’s family. After reading a statement which expressed forgiveness, Jean’s brother Brandt asked the judge for permission to give Guyger a hug. The dramatic scene was recorded on video and shared throughout the world via television and internet. “I wasn’t going to say this in front of my family or anyone, but I don’t even want you to go to jail,” Brandt said. “I want the best for you, because I know that’s what Botham would want … and the best would be to give your life to Christ. I love you as a person, and I don’t wish anything bad on you.” In an era of sensationalism, exaggeration, and drama, this genuine act of selflessness and forgiveness cut through all of the political turmoil, and for one shining moment the focus was on what Christ can do in a person’s life. All of this because a Christian, even from the depths of despair, was able to forgive a person who seriously wronged them. We don’t know what domino effect this act of forgiveness will have. The judge reacted to the scene by going to her chambers and returning with a Bible, giving it to Guyger. Will Guyger turn to the Lord? That’s something that remains to be seen. But the example Brandt Jean leaves should change and encourage us all. For a moment the world was able to see true Christian forgiveness.


Christians often express a desire to have an impact on this world. Simple forgiveness will do, and it will send shockwaves throughout the world. Within popular culture today we find many who are seeking religion without rules, relationships without responsibility and life without the true presence of a changing faith. While this may constitute normalcy I shudder at the thought of how this apathetic attitude can weaken the influence of the Lord’s church. While many religious groups struggle to find broad acceptance, we must not give place to mimicking the religious fads of our day. The “jury” of this world is still out! Greater than any fads, we must possess a life altering faith that will distinguish us from the rest of the world. “By faith” (Hebrews 11), we will never find broad acceptance, because the jury we wish to compel consists of individuals who are sincerely seeking the Truth. At this moment we are gathered as clients in the courtroom of life. The jury looks on. Will our faith be so influential that we might convince them we are truly looking and longing for our Savior? After deliberations, will our verdict be read – “Not guilty”?

A Place Where They Care

Sam Rayburn was a Democratic politician who served as the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives for 17 years, and is regarded by many as the most effective Speaker of the House in American history. Allow me to share with you some of his more memorable statements: “Do not wait for extraordinary circumstances to do good action; try to use ordinary situations.” * “No one has a finer command of language than the person who keeps his mouth shut.” * “You’ll never get mixed up if you simply tell the truth. Then you don’t have to remember what you have said, and you never forget what you said.” When Harry Truman was thrust into the Presidency at the death of FDR, Sam Rayburn gave him some fatherly advice. “From here on out, you’re going to have lots of people around you. They’ll try to put a wall around you and cut you off from any ideas but theirs. They’ll tell you what a great man you are, Harry. But you and I both know you ain’t.” ...As they drove home, the father grumbled about the long sermon; the teenage daughter complained about the dull announcements; the mother gripped about the song leader selecting songs she didn’t know. The 7 year-old son said, “I thought it was pretty good, considering we all got in for a dollar.” When one stumbles out of the church building fuming about the shoddy service, they had better examine them self. The service probably had its weak spots – but surely the whole service wasn’t bad. When you go to worship to receive a blessing, you’re likely to receive it. When you go to worship to be a blessing to others, you’re likely to achieve it. But you’re bound to leave empty if you enter with a critical attitude. You expect the song leader to miss the pitch. You expect a shallow sermon. Neither of those guys is on your “favorite people” list anyway. You decided before they ever started, being truthful about it, you weren’t going to like “the performance.” And that’s part of the problem – you view it as a performance. You came as a spectator, not a participant. You’re to be pitied if you receive nothing. You keep going because you’re duty bound, but you go as a critic, not as a worshipper or an encourager. In that frame of mind there’s no way you can praise God or build up others.


[Romans 12:15] When Sam Rayburn discovered he was quite ill, he announced to the House of Representatives he was going home for medical tests. Some wondered why he didn’t stay in Washington where there were excellent medical facilities. He supplied the answer when he told Congressman Jim Wright, “Bonham, Texas is a place where people know it when you are sick, and where they care when you die.” I like that last statement because it’s true of the church. We live in a world where people often don’t care what happens to others around them. Everyone is too interested in getting what they want to even notice what is going on in the lives of others. But the church is a place where people “rejoice with those who rejoice, and mourn with those who mourn.” It’s a place “where people know it when you’re sick, and where they care when you die.” God knew that we needed a place like that – a group of people who share the same commitment to God that we have, a place where we will be loved unconditionally; a place where we can find a shoulder to lean on and arms to comfort us in times of trial. I hope that each and every one of you has a church family that serves that purpose in your life. “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:23-25). That day looms for all of us.

Broad-mindedness: The Enemy Within

A dog walked into the telegram office one day. He took out a blank form and wrote on it: “Woof. Woof. Woof. Woof. Woof. Woof. Woof. Woof. Woof.” Then he handed it to the clerk. The clerk examined the paper, and then said to the dog, “You know there are only nine words here? You could send another ‘Woof’ for the same price.” The dog replied, “But that would make no sense at all!” I’ve got to tell you, there’s a whole lot of ‘Woofing’ going on in our country that doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. Political correctness has the whole world under surrender to bullying anti-bullies who threaten the very well-being of those trying to expose all the bullying going on. Woof. Woof. Woof!


Edward Gibbon, author of The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, has attributed the fall of the Empire to: * The rapid increase of divorce; the undermining of the dignity and sanctity of the home, which is the basis of human society. * Higher and higher taxes and the spending of public monies for free bread and circuses for the populace. * The mad craze for pleasure; sports becoming every year more exciting and more brutal. * The building of gigantic armaments when the real enemy was within, the decadence of the people. * The decay of religion – faith fading into mere form, losing touch with life and becoming impotent to warn and guide the people. Let’s compare these things to what is breaking down our society today. If we want to label these five problems categorically we might say: * The breakdown of the traditional family. * The unwillingness of able-bodies to enter the workplace. * Entertainment seen as a basic need rather than recreation. * Defending against enemies on foreign soil rather than the enemy within. * God and the Bible for consumerism rather than individuals for the God and the Bible.


[Proverbs 14:34] “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people.” The preacher is sometimes accused of being “narrow-minded” because he insists upon the Christian living in obedience to Christ. All of life is narrow, and success is to be found only by passing through the narrow gate and down the straight way. There is no room for broad-mindedness in the chemical Laboratory. Water is composed of two parts hydrogen and one part oxygen. The slightest deviation from that formula is forbidden. There is no room for broad-mindedness in music. There can be only eight notes in an octave. The skilled director will not permit his first violin to play even so much as one half a note off the written note, chord, or key. There is no room for broad-mindedness in the mathematics classroom. Neither geometry, calculus, or trigonometry allows any variation from accuracy, even for old time’s sake. The solution of the problem is either right or wrong – no tolerance there. There is no room for broad-mindedness on the athletic field. The game is played according to the rules with no favors shown for charity’s sake. There is no room for broad-mindedness in the garage. The mechanic says that the piston rings must fit the cylinder walls within one, one-thousandth of an inch. Even between friends there cannot be any variation if the engine is to run properly. Now, then, shall we expect that broad-mindedness should rule the realms of Christianity and morals? Remember, it was Jesus himself who said: “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Matthew 7”13-14). The real enemy lies within. Satan is still active. He is doing his work to make a nation built upon faith in God reject the very principles of its foundation. Each heart must undergo a serious self-examination if we are going to make a turn-around before it’s too late.

Greatness Is In God's Word

A preacher told of hiring a carpenter to restore an old farm house. On the first day when the carpenter was to report for work, he was an hour late. His tardiness, he said, was because he found that his electric saw was not working, and in addition, he had found a flat tire on his old truck. Nevertheless, he put in a full day’s work. When finished; he got in his aged truck and turned the key in the ignition only to find that the stubborn vehicle refused to start. Seeing the problem, the preacher offered to take the carpenter home and the tradesman got in the preacher’s car. They engaged in friendly conversation on the way and soon arrived at the man’s home. Before exiting the car, the carpenter invited the preacher in to meet his family. They both got out and started toward the front entrance. As they walked by a tree in the yard, the carpenter stopped for a second and touched the tips of several branches of the tree without comment. Entering the home, the smiling carpenter kissed his wife and hugged his two small children who had joyfully wrapped them-selves about his legs. It was obvious that the family was close and quite happy. After visiting awhile, the preacher made his way to his car with the carpenter accompanying him. As they passed by the tree again, the preacher said that he had noticed the tradesman had touched several branches of the tree with both hands when they had passed by earlier. “Why did you do that?” asked the curious preacher. “Oh,” said the carpenter, “that’s my trouble tree. I know can’t help having trouble but I try to keep trouble out of my house as much as I can. When I come home each day, I touch the branches of the tree and symbolically leave my troubles on the tree. In the morning, I pick them up again. But, strangely, it always seems that when I am ready to deal with my troubles in the morning, I don’t seem to have as many as I had the evening before.”


[Proverbs 14:34] “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people.”  While campaigning for office, our now President Donald Trump used the campaign slogan, “Make America Great Again.” As President, he has implemented many of his ideas and proposed policies to make America great again and whether it’s acceptable or not, all the numbers and surveys say the country is definitely stronger, secularly, than it was three years ago, but we are becoming spiritually bankrupt. America will never be great again until our spirits are once again filled with Godly righteous living. Allow me to share with you what will make America great again. 1) A deeper knowledge of God’s word [Hosea 4:6; Revelation 1:3]. 2) Godly homes [Psalm 127:1; Genesis 1:27-28; 2:18ff; Hebrews 13:4; Ephesians 5:22ff]. 3) Love and unity [Mark 3:24; Acts 10:34-35; 17:26; John 13:34-35; 17:21ff]. 4) A stronger work ethic [2 Thessalonians 3:10; Genesis 2:8-15; Nehemiah 4:6; Romans 12:11]. 5) A servant mentality [Philippians 2:3-8; Galatians 5:13; John 13:12-17; Romans 12:9-21]. 6) Less materialistic and more spiritualistic [1 Timothy 6:10; Matthew 6:33; Colossians 3:2; Ecclesiastes 12:13]. 7) Arm citizens with the sword of the spirit [Ephesians 6:17; Hebrews 4:12; James 1:21; Romans 1:16]. I implore you to look at these Scriptures and ponder on them as to the changes they would bring about in your life, and the changes that would come about if we all implemented God’s teaching into our lives. Just look and listen to the world and you will discover “...our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12). Start by planting a trouble tree in your heart. His name is Jesus. Give Him you troubles each night and you’ll start with fewer troubles each new day.

The Mystery of Gathering

The Old Farmer’s Almanac, founded in 1792, (internet home page August 23, 2019) says that Grandparents Day is celebrated on the first Sunday after Labor Day. Marian McQuade hoped to establish a national day that would honor grandparents, and in 1970 she began a campaign to do so. McQuade raised awareness about senior citizens throughout the 1970’s. In 1978, President Jimmy Carter declared the first Sunday after Labor Day to be National Grandparents Day. Each year, the (current) president issues a proclamation to keep the tradition going. Grandparents Day has both an official flower and song. The official flower is the forget-me-not, and the song is Johnny Prill’s “A Song for Grandma and Grandpa.” Both were chosen by the National Grandparents Day Council. Why isn't “Grandparents” personalized like Father’s and Mother’s Day?


I remember my grandparents as being God fearing, loving, and neighborly, industrious and good cooks. Being many miles apart, holiday gatherings were split between the grand homes, as to the digression of our parents, but it mattered not which we graced, we grandchildren were loved and cherished every minute. It didn’t matter the gathering point for me personally, because I always gained some sort of insight to life from my grandparents no one else seemed to possess. Grandparents are always thinking of their grandchildren – take a minute and let your grandparents know you’re thinking of them.


Godly grandparents are an uncommon commodity. They share the one thing that each new generation needs - advice learned through experience. When it comes to advice needed, godly grandparents need to remind their own children about the importance of raising up their child in the footsteps of Jesus. Children are desperate for good guidance.


The phenomenon is called “shikadamari” in Japanese. A loose translation would be, “deer gathering spot.” A large population of free-roaming deer live in and around the Japanese city of Nara, spending most of their time in the city park. Every summer evening at around 6:30, over 600 deer gather in the same spot for the same amount of time. The deer quietly come together, sit down for about an hour, then stand back up and disperse to different parts of the park. While onlookers are impressed by the display of consistency of the gathering of the deer, nobody has been able to explain the purpose (Zora News, August 20, 2019). It appears all God’s creatures thrive on community.


[Colossians 3:12-15] Someone outside of the Lord’s church might see Christians coming together on a regular basis at the same times, and for the same lengths of time, yet not understand the purpose for those gatherings. Members of the body of Christ understand that assembling together on a regular basis to worship God and learn more of His Word is not only commanded in Scripture, but is also vital for spiritual growth and survival. According to Hebrews 10:24-25, Christians are to come together on a regular basis in order to stir up love and good works and to encourage one another. Those things aren’t possible to accomplish if brothers and sisters in Christ don’t gather together on a regular basis. Colossians 3:16 instructs Christians to teach and admonish one another. That can’t happen if Christians don’t gather together on a regular basis. Acts 20:7 gives us the example of Christians gathering consistently on the first day of the week in order to break bread together. In Acts 15:30-31, we read about the congregation in Antioch coming together to listen to the reading of a letter written to them by the apostles, elders of Jerusalem. The Christians who heard the letter rejoiced because of the encouragement it brought. The consistent and regular gathering of Christians is no mystery at all. Peace.

The Executive In Overalls

As a youngster, Labor Day was always September 1^st no matter what day it fell on. It was the last summer holiday and marked the beginning of the school year which fell on the next business day. It is also my elder brother’s born-on-date, which I suppose gave a more memorable meaning of “labor day” to our mother. Our maternal grandparents always took my brother to the New York State Fair for his birthday. Unless it fell on the weekend it was one of those holiday’s that most people still went to work – my grandmother called such holidays back then a “busman’s holiday” because the city busses ran a weekend schedule; no mail delivery; government was halted; but the garbage collectors were on the job. Whatever! Labor Day got caught up in the three-day weekend mergence many years back and now falls on the first Monday of September. Get to work!


When I think of labor I have a soft spot for the independent entrepreneur business owner, mainly because I’ve been there and done that. Knowing even when they take a day off or devote most of the day to family affairs, they’re still on the job in mind and soul. They’re always on the look-out for opportunities of improvement or advancement for the business, and constantly strategizing their next move, and planning out the next day’s work. Then I think of the farmer and rancher. An article by Bud Lee, former county director and farm adviser for the University of California put it this way: What is a farmer? (rancher) Farmers (ranchers) are found in fields – planting up, seeding down, rotating from, planting to, fertilizing with, spraying for and harvesting if. Wives help them, little boys follow them, city relatives visit them, salesman detain them, meals wait for them, weather can delay them, but nothing can stop them. A farmer (rancher) is a paradox. He is an overalled executive with his office in his home. He is a scientist who uses fertilizer attachments, a purchasing agent in an old straw hat, a personnel director with grease under his fingernails, a dietician with a passion for fresh fruits and vegetables, a production expert faced with surplus, and a manager battling a price-cost squeeze. He manages more capital than most of the businessmen in town. He likes sunshine, good food, county fairs, dinner at noon, auctions, his neighbors, his shirt collar unbuttoned and above all, an above average rainfall. He is not much for droughts, ditches, freeways, weeds, the eight-hour day, dusty roads, insects, diseases, freezing weather or helping around the house. Nobody else gets much satisfaction out of modern plumbing, good weather, automatic furnaces, electric blankets, and homemade ice cream. Nobody else has in his pockets at one time – a three-bladed knife, a checkbook, a billfold, a pair of pliers, and a combination memo book and general farm guide. A farmer (rancher) is both Faith and Fatalist. He must have faith to meet the challenges of his capacities amid the ever-present possibility that an act of God (a late spring, an early frost, flood, drought) can bring his business to a sudden halt. You can reduce his acreage but you can’t diminish his optimism. Might as well put up with him. He is your friend, competitor, your customer, your source of food and fiber. He is your countryman – a denim-dressed, business-wise statesman of stature. And when he comes in at noon having spent the energy of his hopes and dreams, he can be recharged with the magic words – “The market’s up!” (There was a day we all labored with such faith and optimism.)


[James 5:7-8] “Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.”

A Good Crop To Die On

I‘ve gotten to the age where the obituary line-up is becoming more age related and a personal magnifier of the inevitable reminder that mortality dwells within all of us. During a discussion with a friend the other day, he thirty years my elder, we concluded getting out of bed in the morning with the purpose of achieving something every day helps to keep one’s self off the honor role for awhile longer. When looking for something to write this week I came across a related story concerning Mother Nature. It seems a farmer and his friend, a city slicker, were walking around the farm – just kind of doing nothing. As the friend looked around, he was fascinated by an old gnarled apple tree. It had some limbs broken off, and lying on the ground, and obviously in its last stage of life before dying, but there it stood loaded with apples. “How could a feeble old tree like that have so many apples on it?” asked the friend. The farmer explained it this way: “Yes, it’s too bad the old tree is dying, but Mother Nature likes to have one good crop to die on.”


A crop to die on! Surely there must be a fable in this that teaches some great lesson. The most beautiful colors of nature are at the end of the year. Many times in the fall, as a youngster, I’ve walked among the beautiful colors of the maple, oak and elm trees. Are there more beautiful colors than those at the end of the day? If you live in flatland country it is a special privilege in viewing sunsets. There are evenings in South Texas when sunsets are spectacular. Colors are constantly changing in the blue sky when clouds are hues of crimson and gold. Even after the sun is out of sight its rays illuminate the clouds and streak the sky for long beautiful moments. The spirit of man was created to desire and feast upon such beauty. One cannot help but to be silent and drink in God.


[Proverbs 3] I suppose the moral of this story concern the end of our life. Our present culture puts a premium on youth, but we do well to remember that our culture is a creation of man, while nature is the creation of God. Very often the most creative, fruitful and valuable era of a person’s life is during the last twenty years. It is during this period that we have enough time to reflect and to think deeply. It should be a great time of rejoicing in that which is full grown. It is right for a young person to be clever and quick. Yet, it is the privilege of an older person to be wise and kind. Robert Browning was right when he said, “Grow old along with me! The best is yet to be...” Old age is no time for the Christian to stop working and serving (Colossians 1:24-29). Old age can be a time one makes their mark on the world. Some begin a literary career and impact the world with their works. Some discover the artist within them and impact the world with their works. Others turn their full attention to the Gospel of Christ and bring souls to salvation impacting lives and perhaps even the world, for we never know how far-reaching the works of evangelism extend. “...the mob attacked the house of Jason, and sought to bring them (Paul and Silas) out to the people. But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too” (Acts 17:5-6 NKJ).Christians have in their grasp the power to change the world, it is the Gospel of Christ, and we can make a difference in our world if we will just share the message with others. It is my prayer that we may bear the best fruits for the Lord in the autumn of our life. Before the beautiful sunset and our final journey home, may the Lord give us a “good crop to die on.” Amen and God Bless.

Out of Control

In 1894, the Baltimore Orioles came to Boston to play a baseball game. Boston had one of the finest stadiums ever built in the 19th century. During the game, a fight broke out between two players at third base. The fight became a "brouhaha" as both teams left their dugouts to join in the brawl. Fans for both sides starting fighting, too. According to legend*, one Baltimore fan got so hot under the collar that he set fire to the beloved stadium which burned to the ground and spread to the surrounding town. In the end, nearly 2000 people were left homeless. What really happened was, a Boston player slid into third base and the Orioles’ third baseman kicked him in the face. The umpire broke up the ensuing brawl before it could get started. Meanwhile, the Orioles’ right-fielder noticed a small fire under the outfield bleachers, probably started by a carelessly tossed cigarette, setting the trash under the bleachers on fire. He attempted to stomp out the fire to no avail when a gust of wind fanned the flames into a roaring destructive flame. What was thought to be an uprising of the fans over what had just happened on third base was in reality the bleachers emptying out onto the field to get away from the heat rising up from the fire under the bleachers. The teams emptied their dugouts to help evacuate the stadium and get to their locker rooms to salvage their clothing and equipment – there was no fight between fans or team players at all. That’s how rumors and untruths get started and innocent folks get the blamed. It is true, the fire was very destructive, not only to the baseball stadium, but to more than 12 acres and 200 buildings surrounding the stadium.


I wish to inject my two-cents-worth about “red-flag” legislation and the dangers we will all face if it becomes law. States that now support red flag laws are displaying great injustices against their citizens. Under these types of laws, unsubstantiated evidence can be brought before a judge, without your knowledge, that you are out of touch with your emotions and because you have a gun in your house you are probably dangerous. That judge, convinced you “might” become a danger with your gun, will issue a warrant, again without your knowledge, to raid your home at 5 a.m. with a full SWAT team, dragging your family out into the street in your nightclothes, then go completely through your house confiscating every “weapon” in your possession. And if you resist, you are arrested with proof that you are out of control. This is already happening in America. Red flag laws are designed to take away your guns and your right of free speech. By the way – your accuser will never be known – they are anonymous informers. It could be an ex-wife, ex-employee, your child’s teacher, your neighbor - even a family member. Speak out against the government, the school district, your elected officials, the law or even discipline your child and you could be a candidate for a “red-flag” thrown your way.


[Ephesians 4:29-32] Getting angry happens to all of us, but only a few of the 300 million souls living in this country feel the use of a gun is the problem solver. Ungodly anger can destroy friendships, jobs, neighborhoods and even whole cities. So, let’s limit or anger to those things that make God angry (1 Kings 11:9-10; 2 Kings 17:14-20). Let’s endeavor to put away all other causes of anger and strive to live peaceful lives (Ephesians 4:25-32). Legalizing every whimsical desire of our citizens – ungodly “pride,” marijuana, abortion – infant, mentally challenged and elderly euthanasia - “assisted suicide,” and the like, all the while outlawing the belief in God and destroying capitalism, are the seeds of a God-less society that produce fruits of uncontrollable anger because it lacks moral love.

It Is What It Is

One of the wisest phrases to ever come along says: “It is what it is; and It ain’t what it ain’t.” Simple, basic and to the point. In other words, whatever exists, whatever is true, and whatever has happened, well – is. At the same time, whatever does not exist, whatever is not true, and whatever has not happened is – not. Society, culture, and human thinking are ever shifting in our ways of determining that which is true from that which is false. Philosophy professors at our “Ivy League” universities teach that reality is subjective. You are who you say you are. Truth is what you perceive and want it to be and no one has the right to impose their truth on you. Suddenly, with this way of thinking, also comes the questioning of foundations America has always stood on, like God and family. At one time, in this great nation, every person belonged to a family and nearly every family belonged to God. Perhaps the most significant shift we, as Christians, have noticed has happened right in our own back yards. Satan has gotten the world to believe that anything and everything should be tolerated. The only thing that is not tolerated is intolerance. We see examples such as students who are no longer allowed to lead public prayers in schools or at sporting events. Christian social clubs have a very hard time getting permission to assemble on university campuses, even though other faiths openly assemble with the university’s support. A lot of legal cases are pending.


[Psalm 14:1-3] “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good. The Lord looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. All have turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.” There seems to be two types of atheists in America today. The first is the intellectual who believes there is no God; period. The second is the practical atheist who says he believes in God but behaves like there isn’t one. You know the second group. They are the one’s who ignore the Bible’s plain teachings about morality, the plan of salvation, how we should conduct our worship to God, or even the command to attend worship every Lord’s day. God doesn’t mince words. To both these groups he says “fool!” Many will say that their God is too loving to condemn others or too loving to create a place of torment, like hell. This way of thinking is just not right and certainly not scriptural. There is no doubt, “God is love” (1 John 4:8). But, do you also believe that God is a consuming fire and a jealous God? You should, because that’s written in Hebrews 12:29 and Exodus 20:5. When the Bible uses the word “fool,” it’s nothing to be laughed at or joked about. It’s no trifling matter to be called “a fool” by God. God is real! He has given us several promises through His Son, Jesus Christ. Among them is the promise that He’s coming back to take the obedient believers to Heaven. What a wonderful promise ...but the fool will not be able to claim this promise. Out of love, we warn people with this message from Jesus so long ago: “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded of you...’” (Luke 12:20a). The fact is, it really doesn’t matter how the world wants to define truth, manipulate Christianity, and define God. That doesn’t change the fact that “what it is; it is and what it ain’t; it ain’t.” Paul wrote to Timothy, “Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses” (1 Timothy 6:3-16). God bless your faith.

Getting Ready For School

The start of a new school year is right around the corner. If you don’t know this, it’s only because you have no children at home anymore, or you seriously need to get out of the house and go for a walk through the local retail outlets. The must-have school supply circus has been going on for weeks already. Before long it will be like the last minute Christmas rush with shoppers disappointed that all the good stuff is already gone. It seems every teacher, in every class, in every school, demands a specific accumulation of articles to survive their course of learning. I don’t remember, even with our own children, having to submit and supply so much to comply with the wishes of our educators. Next!

Just like any other organization, schools need God’s wisdom to reach full potential. If you are a student who is a Christian, consider some of these ways you can use your influence to B.U.I.L.D. your school this year. * Break Out of Cliques. It is easy to get attached to a certain group of people due to common interests. However, as Christians we need to be a blessing to all people (Galatians 6:10). God doesn’t show partiality (Romans 2:11), and we need to have contact with those in need in order to be effective servants of God. * Uplift the Discouraged. When you see someone who is down, don’t join in with others making fun of them. Instead, be like Barnabas and be an encourager (Acts 4:36). Use every opportunity to show God’s love for the downtrodden. * Inspire with God’s Word. While God’s word may not be taught in your school, that doesn’t stop you from spreading the wisdom of the Bible in your daily life. Invite your friends to church services. Have a personal study with them. Engage in discussion about spiritual matters. All of these things will help point people to God. * Lead by Example. The apostle Paul said, “Follow me as I follow Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). Conduct yourself during your school hours in such a way that people can see the influence of Christ in your life. * Discover Ways to Help. Don’t just wait for opportunities to do good works, but actively look for them. As Jesus went about doing good (Acts 10:38), so should we. That’s what Christians are created for (Ephesians 2:10). * This year, you can be an active force for good. Use the tips to B.U.I.L.D. up your school! Prayer develops strength and courage.

[John 14:12-14] “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” Wait! Greater works than what Jesus did while He was here on this earth? There’s no doubt that the King of Kings was the servant of servants. He lived servitude: washing feet, touching a leper, raising the dead, multiplying food, curing the sick, teaching the lost, loving the unloved. And then He endured all He did before hanging on a cross for all of us. He is the peak of what a servant should be about. And yet, He tells us that if we believe in Him not only would we be doing the works that He did but we would do greater works than these. How? Again, we limit our perspective. We have to open it up by submitting, trusting, and obeying to let God do incredible things through us. After all, His thoughts are not our thoughts and His ways are not our ways. Let God drive the car of your life and stop grabbing for the wheel. If He can provide eternal life for sinners through His Son’s death, then there’s nothing He won’t do for and through you. What great works will He do through you if you’re willing to serve? My prayers are with you students. God’s Love!

Someday

It’s an absolute shame and a total sham of representation the American public is receiving, and pathetically accepting without logic, from our federal, state and local governments. The business that our representatives have been elected and hired for is being greatly ignored while they are going about sticking their noses in everybody else’s business. I want to know why my tax dollars are being misappropriated and used for things I disapprove of. And what is the U.S. Congress doing about those who are trying to overthrow my country and destroy our God-gifted Constitution and my civil rights? Me thinks I doth not protest enough! We can allow this elephant-size can to be kicked down the road just so long, but eventually it’s going to have to be dealt with; someday.

[Proverbs 27:1] A couple of boys learned a valuable lesson one day at the hand of an old country store grocer. They asked the grocer for some free candy. He said, “Come back tomorrow and I will give you some.” The next day came and rushing into the store the boys asked for the promised candy. The grocer smiled and said, “I told you I would give it to you TOMORROW!” Even as children, the boys understood that tomorrow would never come. “I’ll do it later; I’ll do it when I get around to it; I’ll do it tomorrow!” Will tomorrow ever come? We keep putting things off as if we have the promise of tomorrow. We don’t! Solomon wrote, “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.” The fancy word for tomorrow is, “procrastination.” To procrastinate is, “to put off doing something until a future time.” Procrastination is unproductive to our lives, frustrating to those in our lives and dangerous to all of our souls. * Mary Todd Lincoln compared procrastination to an evil genius who whispers, “Tarry ‘til a more convenient season.” * Edward Young said, “Procrastination is the thief of time.” * Wayne Gretzky said, “Procrastination is one of the most common and deadliest of diseases and its toll on success and happiness is heavy.” * Christopher Parker said, “Procrastination is like a credit card: it’s a lot of fun until you get the bill.” * Jimmy Lyons said, “Tomorrow is the only day in the year that appeals to a lazy man.” * Edward Young also said, “Tomorrow is the day that idlers work, and fools reform.” * Think what procrastination does to our productivity. Thomas W. Bonham says, “Never do today what can be put off till tomorrow.” * Mark Twain said, “Never put off until tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow.” * H.G. Bohn said, “One of these days is none of these days.” * There is an old Scottish proverb that says, “What may be done at any time will be done at no time.” * Mignon McLaughlin said, “Don’t fool yourself that important things can be put off till tomorrow; they can be put off forever, or not at all.” * Think what procrastination does to our perspective. Olin Miller said, “If you want to make an easy job seem mighty hard, just keep putting it off.” * George Claude Lorimer said, “Putting off an easy thing makes it hard. Putting off a hard thing makes it impossible.” * Charles Kingsley said, “Every duty that is bidden to wait returns with seven fresh duties at its back.” * William James said, “Nothing is so fatiguing as the eternal hanging on of an uncompleted task.” * The best way to get something done is to begin! Benjamin Franklin was right when he said, “You may delay, but time will not.” * Solomon exhorted, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom” (Ecclesiastes 9:10). Dare I remind you? “Someday, is not a day of the week.”

While I Still Can

Bumper stickers (bumper “snickers”) say or advertise anything you can imagine. It’s not unusual to come to a traffic light and stop right behind a car plastered with all manner of stick-on slogans designed to reveal the views of the driver. And, one cannot help but to read them, just like the ridiculous tabloid headings staring you in the face while standing in the check-out line in the grocery store. I saw one not long ago that was particularly memorable. Against the background of symbols of religions around the world, the bumper sticker read, “How Dare You Presume I’m A Christian!” Just think, the Son of God died on a cross for that driver, who, with abysmal ingratitude, acts like he would be offended were anyone make an assumption that he were a follower of Jesus. Christianity really is offensive to some. Not only are they unwilling to obey the gospel, but they actually cringe at the thought of anyone thinking that they would have anything to do with Jesus. Their “enlightened” mindset has no need for a Savior and they don’t mind letting it be known. Jesus himself said, “...men will hate you because of me...” (Mark 13:12-13). Being hated by those who claim, “Christian’s are intolerant” makes no sense.

[1 Corinthians 1:18-25] “Political correctness” has cast a pall of liberal-inspired censorship upon us, which has begun to be translated into “hate-speech” laws. The assent of national moral sense has paralleled its opposition to God, Jesus Christ and the Bible. God-lovers love the souls of God-haters, but despise the things they say and do. If they had it their way, and they are slowly acquiring it, it will soon be a crime to preach and practice certain parts of the gospel of Christ. This nation, founded to a great degree by Bible-believers seeking refuge from religious persecution, is now rapidly becoming the source of such persecution. What irony! Therefore, while I still can, I will continue to proclaim: * Jehovah God is the creator of the universe and is the only true and living God. There is no other rational explanation for the origin of all things except it came from an omniscient, omnipotent, eternal Being. * The Bible to be the Word of God, revealed by Him to inspired men, by which we learn of His nature and of our own. It provides a record of our origin, our purpose for being, and our destiny. It alone is the infallible, objective standard of righteous behavior and true religion. * Jesus Christ as the Son of God, the one and only Savior of mankind to whom men must submit to be saved from eternal ruin. His disciples win converts by persuasion, never by force. Before Him all will some day stand in judgment. * Abortion to be murder. It mercilessly, cruelly kills the most innocent and defenseless among us. “Thou shall not kill” was God’s law long before He inscribed those words on a stone tablet. The judges and lawyers who legalized this crime, along with the medical personnel who perform it, have the blood of 50 million plus innocents on their hands. * Homosexuality to be wickedness. God so calls it that, as well as “abomination,” “vile passions,” “unnatural,” “unseemly,” “unrighteousness,” and going after “strange flesh.” Its impenitent practitioners will not be in heaven. * Islam to be a non-peaceful, false religion. It is in truth a religio-political system that thrives on “conversion” and “conformity” by force. Peaceful Muslims are simply those who are not true to the Koran. Islam despises “freedom of religion” and its whole point of being in this country is to destroy the Bible, Christianity and capitalism. George Orwell said, “In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” Warning! You need to educate yourself as to what is happening in the world to your self-governing rights, now! PRAY!