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!