Manhattan Declaration

I just heard about a development that I will probably give some serious thought to over the next few days, in an effort to try to digest. It is called the Manhattan Declaration. There was a group of 150 religious leaders from many Christian backgrounds that issued the Declaration on November 20, 2009. Their intention is to call people of faith to stand against the secular agenda in our country. I have not read all 4700 words yet, but below is an excerpt I extracted from a news story by Tom Strode and Michael Foust.

"[W]e will not comply with any edict that purports to compel our institutions to participate in abortions, embryo-destructive research, assisted suicide and euthanasia, or any other anti-life act," the statement says, "nor will we bend to any rule purporting to force us to bless immoral sexual partnerships, treat them as marriages or the equivalent, or refrain from proclaiming the truth, as we know it, about morality and immorality and marriage and the family. We will fully and ungrudgingly render to Caesar what is Caesar's. But under no circumstances will we render to Caesar what is God's."

To read the document, you can go to ManhattanDeclaration.org

Can It Really Be So Long?

I began going to church when I was five. I went to VBS at the invitation of Arta Jackson, a widowed neighbor lady. I loved it and I loved my teacher. I continued to go with Mrs. Jackson, every Sunday. Sometime later my Sunday school teacher came to our house to meet my mom. Soon Mom, my sister and brother started going to services, too. Mom was baptized when I was in third grade. When I was in the sixth grade, 12 years old, I decided I needed to be baptized for the remission of my sins.

When I told Mom of decision, she told me I had to tell Dad as well. I was afraid to tell him, because he was not a Christian, and was not very supportive of my mom in her faith. But when I did tell Dad I was surprised at his response. He told me I needed to be very sure that’s what I wanted to do, but that if I became a Christian I should be the best Christian I knew how to be. Maybe I should not have been so surprised, because that was his philosophy about everything.

At any rate, I remember Mom then calling the preacher to come talk to me about what I needed to know, to assure that I was indeed ready to make the step. Hank Tankersley brought Oral Farris, an elder in the congregation, with him. My mom put us her bedroom so we would have some privacy. The men sat on the foot of the bed. I was sitting on the floor with my back against Mom’s dresser. They asked me questions, and found that I was serious and that I knew about Jesus and His sacrifice for my sins. The following Sunday night, Hank Tankersley baptized me into Jesus for the forgiveness of my sins.

It was November, 1960!

Do Not Argue With the Alarm Clock!

Procrastination is an insidious evil. It creeps into our lives and grasps us before we even suspect we are in the wrong. Awareness and a willingness to act ought to become a part of the fiber of our character.

There are times when you should not make quick judgments, when you should be judicious in your actions. But the sooner you act to avoid temptation, the better. Dallying over a decision and rationalizing over a situation puts your final verdict in jeopardy, because the scales tend to tip to the side of the half truths.

When the alarm clock goes off in the morning, don't argue with it, get up. You are the one who made the decision last night what time to arise today.

Make a stand, act decisively. You will begin to like yourself better. Don't put off till later what you can do now. Something important may come up later! And if not you can rest when you are through, without the task still in front of you.

Proverbs 6:9-11 "How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? When wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep. So Shall thy poverty come..."

As a Man Thinketh in His Heart...

What a man (or woman) thinks of himself is very important, because it determines his behavior. We all live our lives according to the mental image we have of ourselves. Therefore, it is essential that we have a clear picture of self, with as few distortions as possible.

We are not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought (Romans 12:3). But as children of God we must not think too lowly of ourselves either. A positive self image is not just a noisy display of conceit. It is the quiet peace and contentment in realizing your personal significance as a unique creation of God.


It is respect for self, an inner feeling of worth. When you have this awareness, down deep inside, you are glad you are you. You are designed by God for a special relationship with him and with those who come into your life.


Self image is the key to the way you present yourself.


Proverbs 23:7 "For as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he."

Reflections on Contentment

Sometime back I read a blog on Happiness and its relationship to money. I would like to affirm the idea that contentment is in reality a state of mind over which individuals should have at least some measure of control. We should determine that we will not let anyone else dictate the way respond to any situation, no matter how distasteful. Like the Apostle Paul, we should strive to be content in whatever state we find ourselves.

That being said, there are some things that I find it much easier to be content in doing! I enjoy being with my family for a meal, especially if afterwards we can play a game together. I like listening to an acapella choral group or a little child's prayer. I love a pitcher's duel, or an overtime basketball game. I like warm weather and warm smiles. I like to pick up pecans in the fall, and I like writing short, reflective articles about things that bring me joy!

I am sure you have some favorite activities as well, how about sharing them? I would enjoy that too.

Philippians 4:11 "for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content."

Mistaken Identity!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A few days ago I received a small package in the mail with a return address to someone that I did not know. When I opened it, it took a few moments for me to realize what was going on. The package included a note, apparently handwritten by young man, three baseball cards in a plastic case and a pen. I recognized the cards, being a collector myself and because, coincidentally, the player and I share the same name.

When I read the letter, I realized that the boy had somehow found my address at the church and had come to the conclusion that the ballplayer had hung up his cleats and become a minister. The boy asked that I sign each of the cards and return them to him in the enclosed self-addressed and stamped envelope. I got a big kick out of the mistake, and so did some of the members here when I showed them the letter and the cards. My grandkids especially had a big laugh. Of course I would not sign the cards, as I am not the ex-ballplayer. At least not the professional ballplayer on the cards.

But I had met the young man on the cards a few years ago, after having seen him play in the Astrodome in Houston. When I showed him my business card he had a laugh. We visited for a few minutes and I told him that I knew there would be some baseball cards coming out in the new year, and I hoped he would be willing to sign some for me. He told me how to get hold of him, and when the cards came out, I sent a few to him, which he returned autographed.

I happened to have an extra one of those still in my collection, so I posted a note back to my young petitioner explaining the situation and included one of my autographed cards, along with his three cards that remained unsigned. I hope he was satisfied, because I really enjoyed that exchange.

Dad's Peach Enchilada Recipe

I do not know where Dad got this recipe, but it produces some really yummy desserts. Let me know when you try it!

2 8 oz tubes of crescent rols
2 sticks of butter
4 firm peaches peeled and quartered (frozen peaches will work)
1 1/4 c sugar (subsitute Splenda if desired)
1 tsp cinnamon
1 12 oz can of Mountain Dew

Melt butter, add sugar & cinnamon
unroll crescents and add peach quarters
Roll from large end to small
Place in 12x10x2" pan
Pour butter mixture over them
Pour Mountain Dew on top
Bake @ 350 for 45 minutes

Eat and enjoy!

Back to the Virtual World!!!!!!!!!

It is time to get back to blogging, isn’t it horrible when real life gets in the way of virtual reality? I had four speaking engagements in different places last week. This week has been spent in celebrating my dad’s 82nd birthday as well as my 61st.

We had a steak at his favorite restaurant, then went back to his place to eat his latest delicacy, peach enchiladas. They are a marvel.

Two days later I took the boys to ride a fast roller coaster at the Kemah Boardwalk, the Bullet. It was fun and my grandsons thought I was cool. They didn’t realize I was just trying to deny my age. Afterwards we went to a Golden Corral for supper.

Evacuate or Else!!!!!

I just heard an announcement that the State of Texas will implement a new law effective September 1. It provides authority to arrest any citizen who refuses a mandatory evactuation notice, such as the ones issued last fall when Hurricane Ike was about to hit our area.

There are always some people who ignore the warnings, at their own peril. There are still some bodies missing from the storm surge Ike brought. The proponents of the law point to the dangers to rescue people in the midst of the storms when the stragglers change their minds. No doubt there is a danger. And perhaps arrest might save lives of those so foolish as to stay in the face of danger.

Still I wonder about such a law. What do you thinK?

Thinking About Francesca!!!

One the second day of our recent mission trip my partner and I came up on a woman who was sitting in the shade of a guava tree, washing clothes by hand in a bucket. Her daughter was sitting on a rock, a few yards away, also in the shade. I introduced myself and told the ladies that I was there to share a message of hope from the Bible. The older woman gave me an answer that was designed to dismiss me, but I responded with a smile and sat down in the shade, between them. I introduced my partner, a 17 year old girl I have known since she came into the world.

I found out the lady, Francesca, is about my age, maybe a few months older. We hit it off well and had a very interesting discussion. When I prepared to leave, an hour or so later, I asked what she was thinking. She told me she found the things I said very interesting. She attended two nights of our crusade or revival meeting, and I went by her home again early in the second week for another discussion.

On our last day in the village, Salisbury, Dominica, I went by to bid Francesca farewell and to see if she had any questions. She was not home, her daughter told us she had gone into the capitol city to sit with her brother who had fallen ill; she had been gone all day. I left by regards and best wishes for both Francesca and her brother.

I was surprised to see Francesca at the service on our last night. After it was over, I asked if I could walk her home and leave a final word with her. It was only a couple of hundred yards to her home, so it did not take long for the walk or the message. When I bid her farewell, she said, “I will be praying that the Lord will add a year of health to both you and I, so that when you come back next year, I will be able to call you my brother.” I told her I was touched. She said, “I am glad.”

I too will be praying!

Colorful Characters Abound!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

'I was asked to review Malcolm R. Campbell’s “Jock Stewart and the Missing Sea of Fire” before publication.”

Readers who enjoy hard-bitten, wisecracking characters will surely fall in love with Jock Stewart, the main character in the new Malcolm Campbell novel, Jock Stewart and the Missing Sea of Fire. The story of the book revolves around the disappearance of the race horse, Sea of Fire, but it features a wagon load of human “horsing around” by the many colorful characters Campbell created, including Coral Snake Smith, Parker House, a preacher named Cotton Mouth and the Krispy Kreme eating police chief Kruller.

While reading the story and gathering the clues, that frequently came to light as Stewart dialogued with his own intuition, readers may find themselves having great fun picking up the puns, word plays and hilarious cloaked references to cultural and historical items. Jock Stewart is an old time newspaperman, whose “blunt force sarcasm” keeps him in hot water with his bosses, co-workers and the police. But if not for his pressing the issue, the mystery would definitely not have been resolved.

Stewart, Malcolm Campbell’s self-acknowledged alter ego, is also the author’s vehicle to decry the effects of the digital age on the craft of writing and the elegance of language. I found the book entertaining, and it might even become profitable, if I can get permission from the author to use the sermon outline he provided in chapter 13!

God's Newest Letter!!!!!!!!!!!!

One day God decided he wanted to write a letter to all his children that were misbehaving and mistreating one another. He wanted to let them know they were jeopardizing their eternal home in heaven. So he asked one of his angels to go to earth and make a list of all those who needed to get the warning letter.

The angel was gone for a long time, and when he returned he was in very bad shape, bloodied and bruised and broken wings. He reported that the list was so long that perhaps it would be better to send a letter to those who were obedient and striving to love their neighbors. God agreed.

So he sent another angel to collect the names of those who should receive that letter. The angel was only gone for a short time and came back in good condition. He presented the list to God. God took it and wrote the letter, and do you know what it said?

Make a Joyful Noise!!!!!!!!!!!!

Singing is commanded in Scripture as a part of our worship, but it should be so much more than a duty-bound voicing of words. The Bible reveals many reasons why we should want to lift our voices in song.

We should sing of the strength and power of our God. We should sing of the victory that is possible through Him. We should sing songs of exaltation and songs of thanksgiving for our blessings, most especially the blessing of salvation. Our songs should pour forth from an overflow of the joy we have in the love of our Father.


While singing is to be "unto the Lord", it is also for our consecration and edification. As we sing, we draw nearer to God, as well as to one another. Understanding is to be a part of our singing, so let us be sure we are telling the truth when we sing words like, "Jesus Is All The World To Me."


Colossians 3:16 "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as you teach and admonish one another in all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God."

Actions Speak Louder Than Words!!!!!!

Actions speak louder than words. That adage is old but it is still true. What you do communicates your character much more vividly than what you say.

Are you one of those who claims to wear the name Christian, but who never shows it in your life? Do the pople you work with ever suspect your belief? Do the people in your neighborhood or at the local market realize that you are religious-minded? If Christianity were a crime, would there be enough evidence to convict you?


If the answer to these questions is no, you may be like the tree frog who carries a sign that says, "I am red." The fact he is green is not altered by his statement. Being a Christian is more than saying it, it is LIVING it. After all, the best sermon is a sermon in shoes!


Matthew 5:16 "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven"

Peeper, by Paul Chandler

Through a mutual virtual friend, I was introduced to the author, Paul Chandler. He was kind enough to offer to send me a copy of his new book, Peeper, if I would promise to post a review of the novel. I readily agreed.

I am so glad I did, because I loved Peeper. I was engaged by the story from page one and found myself wondering how this suspense thriller would end right up to the climax on page 234! The book is well crafted and moves a good pace. The characters are developed in such a way as to have the reader pulling for them to succeed or fail, depending on their role in the story.

The premise of the book is that a man who can “peep” into anyone’s thoughts of any with whom he had an encounter. He had been using his skills to make a lot of money from corporate raiders. When an unexpected consequence takes place, Andrew, the peeper, has to deal with his conscience and goes to great lengths to make restitution, even jeopardizing himself and his future.

The kind of conflicts that Andrew faces are not unique to him, we all have to wrestle with decisions and responsibilities that come with opportunities that present themselves. We have to decide what kind of citizens we will be. His dilemma helps us crystallize our own standards.

If you love a good page turner, I suggest you obtain a copy of Peeper, by Paul Chandler, published by iUniverse, inc. I can’t read your mind; but I don’t believe you will be sorry.

Daily Devotional Time

The battle to remain faithful to God is difficult. Satan wants to utterly destroy each one of us, and his schemes are extremely crafty. The only way to gain strength and competency for the fight is in personal devotional time each day. A disciple is a learning follower, thus Bible study is imperative.

Scripture reading should be incorporated into our daily routine to allow God's word to equip us for all good works. Fervent prayer is also needed in our daily quiet time. There's nothing we cannot accomplish through diligent, faithful prayer.

Personal devotional time in the form of Bible study and prayer will strengthen our relationship with God and allow us to be victorious in our struggles with Prince of Darkness.

2 Timothy 2:15 "Study to show thyself approved of the God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

Dream Vacation for Our Family

My wife and two grandsons and I just returned from a vacation we have been anticipating for a year and a half. We live in South Texas, so it was long drive to Orlando, Florida. We spent six days taking in all the attractions of Disney World, concluding in Star Wars weekend at the Hollywood Studios park. It was a thrill for the 8 & 9 year olds to participate in the Jedi Training Academy and do battle against the villian Darth Maul.

The reason we chose to drive was that we wanted to use the money we would have spent on airline tickets toward the price of a cruise to the Bahamas. So when we left Disney, we went to Port Canaveral to catch the Carnival Sensation. You should have seen me para-sailing off Freeport! We got home today, thrilled by the great time and the great memories.

25 Years and Counting!

We had a big reception this afternoon to celebrate the 25th wedding anniversary of my dad and my step-mother. My mom passed away 26 years ago, having been married to Dad for 36 years. Melba, my step-mom, had outlived 2 husbands. A few months ago, as their 25th approached, she remarked that in all she had now been married about 60 years and never had a 25th anniversary.

My brothers and sisters and our mates made plans to give them a party to remember, but we did not want to make it a surprise party, we wanted them to anticipate the day.

We rented a civic center in the county seat of the county in which Dad and Melba live. We decorated in an understated way, with the highlight being flowers from Dad’s garden. The food was nice, but not fancy. We had a very nice multimedia presentation that was produced by one of the grandchildren that was very poignant. The guests came from as far away as Michigan and New Mexico, which was very pleasing to Dad and Melba. They had a very good time. In fact, they almost always have a good time. I do not think I know anyone that is more happy in their marriage than these two. They have had a really good run!

Twenty-five years ago I had the privilege of leading Dad and Melba in their vows. Today, Dad wore the same suit he wore on that day. I did not!

Caught in the Act!

When I was in seventh grade, I learned a life-changing lesson. In those days we left our gym clothes in a basket in the locker room all week. We took them home each Friday for washing. One Friday, for some reason, I forgot to pick up my gym clothes. When I got home my mom asked where my gym clothes were. We only lived three blocks or so from the gym, I could easily have gone back and gotten them and been home with no real impact on my weekend.

But for some reason I told my mom that I had gone by the gym and my clothes were gone. I told her someone must have stolen them. I was not in the habit of lying to my folks, but that one seemed to work. I did not have to go back to school that afternoon, problem over.

I was the oldest of 4 and dad worked hard to provide for us. We lived from paycheck to paycheck, so the next day when he took me to town to replace my gym clothes and tennis shoes, I knew it was not an expected expense. I felt really bad, but I did not own up to the lie.

I was a good student and it was not uncommon for me to be called to the office to get some recognition or opportunity. The principal was a good friend of ours, and an elder in the church where we went to worship. So when I was called to the office on Monday morning, I was not prepared for what was awaiting me. My mom and dad were sitting in Mr. Rasco's office! I swallowed hard and entered. I had to come clean and answer for my lie. I determined that day I never wanted to have that feeling again.

Honesty is the best policy!

Happy Days, The Stage Show!!!

My nine-year-old grandson and I went to see the touring stage production of Happy Days this afternoon in Houston at the Hobby Center. The play is based on the popular television series and is produced by Garry Marshall, the producer of the tv show.

If you were a fan of the series, you would probably like the production because all the old characters are brought to life again. The Cunningham family, Fonzie, Ralph and Potsie, Arnold, Chachi, and even Pinkie Tuscadero and the Malachi Brothers all have roles in the story. The plot has Arnold’s, the hang out for the gang, facing the possibility of being bought and torn down to make a parking lot.

Everyone pitches in and comes to the rescue. In the process Richie and Lori Beth get engaged and Fonzie and Pinkie make a commitment to each other.

Paul Williams did the new music for the show, but the theme song for the television series was woven into the entire production, including the big finale. The actors were more than adequate. The best, in my opinion, were John Massey who played Howard Cunningham, Chris Fore who played Chachi Arcola, and Joey Sorge, who played The Fonz. He had a lot of the movements and mannerisms of Henry Winkler, who immortalized the character on tv. But my favorite performer today was Matt Walker, who played two parts, the Leopard Club Member Leonard Gates and the younger Malachi Brother. The latter role drew the most laughs and the biggest applause at the end of the play. He was really terrific.

The More You Get...

Material goods and physical possessions are THE focal point of human thought. Our carnal minds tend to see only the superficial. Men are measured by their physical abilities and success is judged by material assets. There is seldom a day that passes without us wishing we had this or that, usually in abundance. We even misunderstand those things we count as necessities.

The Lord has promised to provide for our needs, even more than He does for the birds of the air and the flowers of the field Matthew (6:26-33). Our priority needs to be seeking God and His righteousness. But even here, we will respond to the physical. Too often our prayers are filled with words of thanks for things. "Thank You for our home, our food, our clothing, and all the many blessings You have given us."

These are good words, as are the words, "Thank You, most of all for Jesus, who died on the cross for us." But are we seeing the true picture? Are we improperly regarding the gifts of Him, who loves us, and failing to properly recognize the Love of Him Who Gives?

Lord, may we not be guilty of placing more value and esteem on the gifts than on the Giver!

Celebrating 42 Years Together!

My wife and I recently celebrated our 42nd anniversary. We have done some very special things to celebrate special anniversaries in the past, cruises twice, a weekend in New York City to see Beauty and the Beast on Broadway, to mention a few.

Forty two is not a number we usually associate with a special anniversary, but it seemed special to me, but I had trouble thinking of the appropriate gift. I finally decided on creating a card to tell her how much I appreciate some trait or characteristic of her, one each day for six weeks.

I used the Print Artist software on my computer, and created the card I wanted, and then only changed the wording on each day’s card. I did not tell her of my plan, but on the fifth day of receiving a card, she quietly asked, “How long do you plan to keep this up?” I told her “42 days.” She did not say anything in reply.

On about the tenth day, she said, “You know, I am really looking forward to going to the mailbox each day.” I just smiled.

We are nearing the end of the experiment; I will complete it early next week. But I think this gift will be remembered as long as some of the more exotic measures we have used in our previous celebrations.

(first posted at qassia)

BAAAA!!!!!

I was just reminded of a story about my dad that I laugh about every time I think about it. Dad went to school in a very small community; the population was 303, according to the sign at the city limits. And it was in the early 1940’s.

One of Dad’s teachers presented the idea that nurture is more important that nature in the development of men. She told the students that if a baby was raised by sheep that it would eat grass, walk on all fours, and bleat. My dad did not believe that. He believed that at some point a human child would stand upright and use his hands to an advantage. The teacher and he had an argument. My dad would not concede on the matter.

When the time for testing on the subject a few days later, there was only one question on the test. It was “What would be the outcome if a human were raised by sheep?” Dad wrote the answer she wanted to see on his paper. But when he handed in his paper, he looked the teacher in the eye and said, “Baa!”

After Mom Died!

When Mom died, Dad wandered around aimlessly--figuratively speaking. My brothers and sister all did all we could to include him in what we were doing. I remember the Friday after Thanksgiving, in my front yard, he and I were watching the girls play. Mom had been gone for 3 months. I made some remark about wishing I knew what to do to help him feel better. His reply, "Ralph, you can not be my buddy. You are my son and you are exactly what I want in a son. But you cannot replace what I had with Betty!"

I was caught off guard, and though I did not want to admit it, I knew it was true. I was thinking like a 35 year old who wanted to protect and defend. It was that day I realized that there is a different perspective in every relationship. It was that day that made it acceptable in my mind when, a few months later, Dad said he and Melba were going to get married. It was that day that made me seriously consider what I would really do if my precious wife were to precede in death.

I can not imagine making the adjustments of a new mate. But I hate to be alone. I would be as lost and aimless as my dad was if I had no companion to help me see things clearly and support me in the endeavors of life. I would not settle for just any wife, but I am relatively sure I would want to find a friend with whom to spend the last of my life.

I have a younger sister who was not happy that Dad was remarrying. She felt he was being unfaithful to Mom. The day before the wedding, she came to my house to tell me she had just come from meeting with Dad. She had told him that she did not want him to get married. He had said, “Yes you do, because you want me to be happy and this is going to make me happy.”

She said a few more things in anger and left to come to my house. She asked me what else she could have said. I told her she had already said too much. Dad has now been married again for nearly 25 years and we all love Melba, including my sister. We are all very glad Dad has a partner to share his life and fill his heart.

Unfair To An Angel!!

I spent Monday visiting a friend of mine in a detention center run by a corporation, in conjunction with the Department of Homeland Security. His name is Angel, and I met him through an outreach program in our congregation that we call, Friend Speak. In the program we use simple texts from Scripture to help folks that want to improve their English speaking capabilities.

I met Angel seven or eight years ago. He is from La Paz, Bolivia. He was already fairly proficient in his English, so most of what I help him with was diction and working on his accent. We became close enough friends that he spent holidays in our home. And one night a couple of years ago when he awaked very ill in the middle of the night, he knocked on my door and asked me to take into the emergency room, which I did.

Angel has been trying to obtain asylum in the United States, ever since he arrived here more than 19 years ago. His lawyer only sought the path of asylum even though there are two or three other options that were available. Some people who apply for multiple paths find one works better than the other for them. I do not know all the details of the process, but I do know that a few months ago Angel was told that he had been denied asylum. His lawyer told him that there was an appeal that he could make, and Angel believed that the appeal had been initiated. But last week INS officials came to his workplace and took him into custody. They denied to let him even make a phone call to his lawyer before he was arrested and taken to the detention center.

His lawyer came to the place that Angel was being held and asked him for $2200 that would be used for a bond to allow him out of jail, pending his appeal. But early the next morning he was taken to the Bolivian consulate and was told that there was no appeal filed on his behalf. Apparently the lawyer was only trying to secure $2200 before Angel was taken back to Bolivia.

There is a very thin hope that an appeal can be filed and Angel allowed to stay in this country. But it is more likely that he will return to La Paz within the next day or two. He has a positive attitude, though he is saddened at the prospect of having to leave. He says he believes God has a plan and he wants to accept it like a man of faith.

God go with you Angel.

(first published on qassia)

Fears

Fear is an interesting topic and I expect to read some very interesting posts this week. I believe almost all of us have fears in one measure or another, and are probably better off because we have those fears. A healthy fear of falling keeps us from taking dangerous steps. The healthy fear of pain helps us to decide wisely to avoid circumstances that are likely to bring pain for no beneficial reason. And a healthy fear of eternal damnation causes us to seek salvation.

I suppose it is those inordinate fears that many will write about this week. An inordinate fear of flying, an inordinate fear of the dark, an inordinate fear of spiders or snakes, any fear that causes us to be paralyzed and incapable of functioning properly can rob us of joy, comfort, & productive living.

I suppose the fear that holds me back most in some circumstances is also the fear that motivates me to give my utmost effort in other circumstances. It may be two fears, though I think they are so interrelated that I count them as one; the fear failure and the fear disappointing those I care about. There have been many times in my life that I thought I wanted to try something; to experience something. But because of the fear of not being able to accomplish it or that I would somehow be disappointing, I didn't even try. Those were more prevalent when I was younger than they are now, but I wonder if they will return in force as I get older. The few regrets I have in life relate in some ways to the fears.

On the other hand, some of the greatest joys and satisfactions of life have come because I worked so hard to avoid failure or to avoid disappointing someone and was thus able to accomplish or to achieve, sometimes even beyond my own expectations. The fact is I have had several times when I did fail and disappointment, but I can't remember ever regretting having given something my best.

(first posted a qassia)

Tough Times

In the economic climate we are now experiencing it seems to me that having clean credit is must. With money being so tight, if you have a bad credit report it will be very difficult to obtain loans for important purchases necessary.

For those who have been caught in a crunch, you may wonder if it is possible to repair credit reports in a relatively short period time. If so you will be pleased to learn it can take as little a ten minutes on an easy to use web site to fix credit to enable you to acquire that mortgage or car loan that you are seeking, even in difficult times.

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Almost True!

“Whatever is only almost true is quite false, and among the most dangerous of errors because being so near the truth, it is more likely to lead astray.”
Henry Ward Beecher

I used the quote above at the end of my sermon on Sunday night, and had a request about it, so I decided to use it as the basis of the article this week. Beecher’s point is obviously accurate. If we someone uses elements of truth in making an assertion or proclaiming a position, it is much more likely to be accepted. The little step away from the whole truth is not really a big deal; we can still see the truth from where we now stand.

There are at least two dangers from that kind of thinking. One is that the place we are now standing is not level and leaves us in jeopardy of slipping or stumbling further from the security of truth. Perhaps more to the point but less easily seen is that when you leave the truth, you are standing on a lie. We see it as a rationalization, or socially desirable, or expedient. But the fact is that the ends never justify improper means in God’s eyes.


Untruth permeates our society these days, and most of it has an element of truth in it. That is why our politicians are so mistrusted these days. That is why the world’s view of the church is so negative these days. Christians have not stood solidly on the truth of God’s Word. They have given messages and used means that are rationalizations, or that are thought to be expedient.

Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, and no one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6) So, folks, when Christians take a step away from the Truth, they have stepped away from Jesus!

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Josh Turner at the Houston Rodeo

Last Saturday I got a call from a friend who offered me tickets to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. The rodeo is a big deal around here, both as a charitable organization and as a provider of entertainment at a very reasonable price. The rodeo runs a full three weeks. Each performance of the rodeo has a nationally popular music act as well as the top professional cowboys. This is the 77th year for the Livestock Show and Rodeo in Houston and they have contributed $250 million to fund youth programs and scholarships. Over the years they have had some terrific acts on stage, including Elvis.

The star performer Saturday was Josh Turner. I am not a big country music fan, but I was impressed with his show. Turner has a very deep voice and his fans really went wild when he hit the low notes. I liked that fact that his songs were all upbeat instead of the “crying in your beer” type lyrics.
I was impressed with his three numbers that pointed to a relationship with God. He sang, “Me & God”, “The Long Black Train”, which I believe are his songs. But my favorite seems to be someone else’s’ song that he sings, “That's Just The Way He Was Raised.” That one gave me goose bumps.

No Malls for Me!

I have never enjoyed shopping at the malls or department stores. So I have truly appreciated the opportunity to avoid those places by doing my shopping online. As a minister, we are expected at all the baby showers, so we can find unique baby gifts for lower prices than at specialty shops in our area.

And of course Christmas and birthday shopping for the grandkids is much simpler online than fighting the crowds and finding something that has not been picked over. I like to get gifts that will last a long time, even though the kids prefer toys & games. One of my favorite things to give is books, especially titles that I loved as a kid. Fortunately my grandkids have a love of books, too!

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Color My Childhood

This post is the result of a tag by a blogging friend on another site. The challenge is to Color My Childhood. If you have not been tagged and have read this far, consider yourself tagged.
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Blue: Always my favorite color, maybe it had something to do with my first baseball uniform being blue. I was on the Dodgers for my three years of Little League, so our colors were royal blue and white. I loved putting that thing on!

Green: My dad has the greenest thumb of anyone I have ever seen! We always had a garden, as did all the neighbors, but Dad could out produce any of them. And it did not matter what he tried, it always grew. He still gardens now, and he is 81. For the past few years, in the winter he has planted carrots along the walkway from his house to the mailbox. The tops make a very bright border. A couple of weeks ago he harvested them and took a big batch to the MHMR facility in his neighborhood. He brought me about 2 bushels worth, which I have shared with those close to me. And you should see his yard when the day lilies burst into bloom.

Gray: My dad’s dad had very hairy arms, and all I ever knew them to be was gray. I think of him often now as the hair on my hands have begun to turn that color.

Brown: This brings to mind the rich deep brown that the leather of my ball glove became when I oiled it up each spring. I remember being so excited when my dad brought it home. I was eight and it replace the “little kid” glove I had had. It was an Eddie Mathews model Spalding brand. I used it all the way through high school and the first year of college. ( And just in case you think I misspelled the Hall of Famer’s name, it only has one t in it!)

Yellow: When I got to choose the color of my own bedroom (we had just expanded the house so I did not have to share with my little brothers any more), I painted it a bright yellow. I kept it that way for several years. I changed to Periwinkle blue when I was in high school, but I liked the yellow better.

Black: The only suit I had was black, because it could be used for any occasion. When I would outgrow one, it would be replaced with another black one. I still have a black suit, but I prefer other colors most of the time.

Red: In 4th grade I got my first new bicycle. It was a Schwinn, 26”. I was the envy of the neighborhood!

Orange: In my childhood, one of the best things we got in our stockings at Christmas time was oranges. I still love oranges and I don’t have to wait till Christmas to have the treat!

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Too old to Spring Forward!

This setting the clock forward an hour in the spring time usually has not bothered me, so that makes me think that the reason I don't like it this year is that I am getting old. This weekend I was the speaker at a men's retreat at a camp about three hours drive north of here. I spoke once Friday night and three times on Saturday. I got home last night in time to set the clocks forward. This morning I went to the office at 6:15, as I usually do on Sunday. I taught a Bible class, preached, then conducted a class for our 4th through the 6th graders. My wife and I do this program every third year for 12 weeks. We eat lunch then work and play together till 2:30. I have a meeting with our elders a 4 then preached again at 6. I got home a few minutes before 8. I am tired.

I think I am too old to "Spring forward."

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Any John Wayne Fans Here? (100/10 Writing Challenge)

Do you like a good writing challenge? This one calls for the post to be exactly 100 words, but the words must be from only 10 letters of the alphabet. Here is my entry:
When I was in Junior High, I watched Western movies most weekends. John Wayne was a favorite in any role he would play. Any film with Wayne would work for me. He was a hero of huge proportions, whipping lawbreakers and making peace with Indians when war was a major possibility. In my judgment, John Wayne was wonderful performer, and he was a major presence in my world. He was a proud American who projected justice as well as making life fun for audiences around the world! I hope his many films play forever!

Anyone here a John Wayne fan?

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Providence

This week's topic for the Myspace GBE group is, "Why am I here?" here is my entry:

The short answer to this week's topic is found in the book of Acts, chapter 17 verse 26. I'm here because this is where God put me and when he thought I should be here. When faced with a life-and-death dilemma, Queen Esther was admonished by her cousin Mordecai, "and who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" (Esther 4:14). In the last chapter of the book of Genesis, Joseph, who had been sold by his brothers into slavery in Egypt, had risen to the second most powerful position in that land. His brothers were afraid of reprisal, but Joseph assured them, "as for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive."

The providence of God is an interesting topic, but one that is very hard to see at any given moment. It is much easier to recognize in the rearview mirror. For example, as a young man I hopped from job to job in the first 10 years of our marriage. The only thing I was consistent in was coaching teenagers in baseball. When I decided to go back to school to get my degree so I could coach at the high school level, I thought my destiny was set. I intended to go to night school where we lived, but through a series of events and a couple of hard decisions, we ended up moving to a college town three hours away.

During my time in school I made good grades and was very active in the church where we worshiped, teaching teen Bible classes. There was a lot of growth in the group through that period of time. As I was approaching graduation and fielding job offers to coach, the elders of the congregation came and offered me a position as youth minister. I accepted it and begin my work in the ministry.

To make the story short enough for one blog, I prayed that God would use me in whatever way he chose. The next thing we knew we were living in Dallas, though we hated the big city. But while we were there we became first foster and then adoptive parents who are youngest daughter, Bethany.

As our older girls neared their teens we began praying that we would find a congregation in South Texas in a small town that had lots of kids for her girls mix with and ultimately date. Within six months we were in a small town in South Texas. We had a good ministry there for quite a few years, but we believe one reason we were there was to find Mike, who's now my son-in-law.

After nine years there, I was approached about the job that I now hold, though I was not looking for a new job. There were lots of changes in my life after I accepted this job, but I could never figure out why I was here. But in recent years have come to believe that the predominant reason I am here, by choice, was because the congregation has been supporting my daughter in a mission field for more than 16 years. Not many places would send a young single woman overseas, but our congregation did with very little reservation. So I have come to believe that being HERE is not about me, or even really about my daughters, or Mike, but about Him.

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The Jester, by James Patterson

Listening to audio books in the car while commuting is a good way to break the monotony and expand the mind. One enjoyable author is James Patterson, who generally writes suspense thrillers based in the modern-day. But a really enjoyable title by Patterson, The Jester, takes the reader/listener back to the 11th century.

A small-town innkeeper in France is persuaded by rhetoric from a priest leading an army on a crusade to the Holy Lands to enlist. On his journeys he unknowingly becomes the possessor of a very valuable relic, which he takes back to France. The story depicts the struggles the innkeeper faces because of the greed of Lords in the land that are seeking that relic. His courage and his wit lead him to overcome great persecution and to rise to a place of freedom and prosperity.

Those who like action and a graphic description of battles and struggles will find this book satisfies their preferences. Those who like historical fiction and human drama will also be satisfied. The book uses language that some would consider vile, so you would not want to play this book in the presence of young children.

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Fund Raising Online!

With the economy in such different straits it is going to be tougher for those trying to do good deeds to raise funds to get those good deeds done. For instance, our church teen mission trip budget for this summer is half what it was just last year.

When that was announced, the teens began to scramble for ways to raise the money they will need to make the trip. Since most of them have pages on the social network sites on the Internet, they can arrange with Shop2Fund to assist their fundraising efforts. Then their contacts on those sites can go to their favorite online shopping sites to make purchases they need. Commissions that are raised are paid to the user’s paypal account, at a ratio of 80% for the user and 20% for shop2Fund. Signing up is easy!

Here is hoping that this will allow our group to get a good work done this summer.

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Do Hard Things--A Book Review

(First published at Qassia)

Do Hard Things is a book written by teenaged twin brothers Alex and Brett Harris. It is about their rebellion against the low expectations that are placed on teens by our culture. They were unsatisfied to think of their adolescence as a vacation from responsibility until they reached adulthood and out of their own experiences there has grown a “Rebelution” among young people around the world, but especially here in the U.S.A.
At 16, after some years of speech and debate competition, the boys began to research some of the great things that had been done by young people. They were inspired to undertake some hard things themselves, as well as to inspire others of their generation to Do Hard Things.

They established a website, TheRebelution.com, which drew interest from many young people, rebelutionaries, who were convicted that they were wasting a lot of time and energy. The book tells of the experiences of not only the Harris twins, but of many of those with whom they have come in contact.

The book is inspirational. Every teen should be given a copy and challenged to a new vision for themselves and their future world!

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The New Letter From God!

One day God decided he wanted to write a letter to all his children that were misbehaving and mistreating one another. He wanted to let them know they were jeopardizing their eternal home in heaven. So he asked one of his angels to go to earth and make a list of all those who needed to get the warning letter.

The angel was gone for a long time, and when he returned he was in very bad shape, bloodied and bruised and broken wings. He reported that the list was so long that perhaps it would be better to send a letter to those who were obedient and striving to love their neighbors. God agreed.

So he sent another angel to collect the names of those who should receive that letter. The angel was only gone for a short time and came back in good condition. He presented the list to God. God took it and wrote the letter, and do you know what it said?

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Who or What Inspires You?

There are lots of whats and whos that inspire me. To name a few:

Great Music inspires me. I have no musical talent whatsoever. (I once had a fella tell me, “not only can you not lead a song, you couldn’t knock it down and drag it!”). But hearing music inspires me and lifts me up. I could name a thousand examples, “How Great Thou Art”, the theme music from The Magnificent Seven, Unchained Melody, The Day the Music Died, Danny Boy, even Jesus Loves Me when sung by a little one.

Great books inspire me. Some of the most cherished would include, Hinds Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard, The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom, The Marriage Builder by Larry Crabb, This Present Darkness by Frank Peretti, and on and on.

Great Effort inspires me. I love to watch great athletes, but only when they are pouring themselves out to excel. Maybe that is why I love and support Special Olympics.

Great conviction inspires me. I started to call that courage, but sometimes we think that the courageous are not afraid, but what inspires me is the one who will stand for his or her conviction in even when it seems to bring them into the lion’s den.

Creativeness inspires me. I love it when someone has a bright idea that makes everyone’s life better or more content.

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Where Would You Live If?

Did you ever fantasize about how you would spend the money if you inherited a fortune or won the lottery? Usually a fancy home is part of that fantasy for me. So when I found the website for Sovereign Buckhead in Atlanta, I found one of the places I would spend my windfall!

Sovereign’s Buckhead condos offer the exclusivity of being one of only 82 residents, all on floors 28 and above. There are no more than five residences on each floor, and the floor plans are determined by the position of the homes. The views are magnificent and the amenities that are indeed the things of which dreams are made!
My verbal descriptions can hardly do justice to the glamor of the castles in the sky. But you can check it out and see for yourself.

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Good vs. Evil

Over on Myspace, a group exercise for blogging this week, the topic is Good vs. Evil. Here is my entry.

I assume that almost everyone thinks of themselves as good people, that they do more good than bad things. Most of us can rationalize away the things in us that we condemn or disapprove of in others. And most of us have an idea of what evil is, Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer & Adolf Hitler are representations! Two of those were mentioned in Tammy’s post. But we are not evil; at least, I am not!

However, if you read the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Roman Christians, you will find that in fact that there is none, good, no, not one. All have sinned and fallen short of God (chapter 3). The prophet Isaiah says that our sin separates us from God, that he turns his face from us because of the repulsive things we do. James tells us that if we are guilty of breaking one law, we are guilty of all. Because of his holiness God can have nothing to do with sin. But he is also merciful and has paid the price for our atonement. And there is no sinner so heinous that his or her sin cannot be removed by the gift of Jesus Christ.

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Child Safety

I read recently about a little boy who was killed when he pulled the big screen television in his home down on top of himself. I always cringe at such stories, knowing the heartache the parents must feel and guilt that some cheap child safety product was not in place to protect their innocent little one.

More than likely they had taken steps to baby proof their home and just had failed to think that the toddler could ever pull the tv over. They no doubt had installed outlet covers, baby gates and cabinet locks, but their baby is gone and the grief will always remain.

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Granny Thoughts

Tomorrow I will be conducting the funeral for Marceliene Burns, who has been my mother-in-law for the past 42 years.
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When it became apparent that Granny was not going to survive the latest ordeal, I wondered what I would say at the memorial service. Then I became afraid that perhaps I wouldn’t be the one asked to say anything. So I’m grateful that you have allowed me these few moments & I hope that I can represent Granny and each of you well. I decided on two points from Scripture that I wanted to make today. One of them is Matthew 10:42.

"And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward."

If I’ve ever known a cup of cold water Christian, it was Marceliene Burns. She never set out to do some grand project or to make a big name for herself, but she always did the little things that needed to be done, or even that didn’t need to be done but that she wanted to do for someone, that fulfill the scripture so perfectly. I want to read to you some of the memories that I received from the family members over the last couple days that demonstrate what I’m trying to say about Granny.

When I sat down to jot some thoughts that I wanted to remember today, I remembered our first meeting in 1966. Over Christmas break I went to visit the girl I had met at college. I thought about hating her spaghetti sauce, but eating two plates anyway. And I recalled the phone call we made on our way to my parents’ home from our elopement. We decided to let Marcie know what we had done.

Of course I recalled her infectious laugh. I was easy to identify her in a crowd by that laugh. She even pulled a joke on my first born, her first grandchild two nighta before she passed away, despite being very weak. (The best mother-in-law joke I ever heard, Granny told me)

In the past eight or nine years, Granny had been able to get all of us together once a month for a Bible study at her house. It would be hard to overstate how important those family gatherings to study the Bible were to Granny. She wanted more than anything else for all of us to know the Bible and love the God of the Bible, to surrender our lives to God so that we will be able to spend eternity with her in heaven. Her husband, Chuck would sit and listen and hardly ever comment. Then came the day Chuck called and asked me to baptize him. (Days don't get much better than that one.)

And that's where the other passage that I wanted to share with you came to my mind. It's from Luke 15, the story of the prodigal son. Both Granny and I could identify with that young man. In her early days, Granny made some decisions that were not in keeping with what she knew to be right, as did I. in my younger days. And we both came to understand how open armed our God is to receive us home when we repent. It was her gratitude for God's mercy and love that motivated her to be the great Christian lady she's been over the last several decades. And she knew it was never too late to respond to that loving God while you still have breath. It wasn't too late for Chuck in his 70s, and it's not too late for you today.

For several years after she retired, Granny spent much of her tie volunteering for the Host program, a reading/mentor program in the local middle school. There are no doubt thousands of other things that I could say today about the little ways that Granny touched our lives and influenced us for good. Maybe that's why President Bush 41 recognized her as one of his Thousand Points of Light.

When my kids were little, she took them to the Star Wars movies, and lately her younger son, Alan, and Granny had movie nights each week in these last months. Granny loved movies, the last one we got to see with her was Wall-E. She really enjoyed that outing, and no doubt it will make Wall-E be one of my favorite movies for a long time.

Like all of you, I received countless cups of cold water from the hand of Marceliene Burns. Maybe that's why last week in the hospital I realized what I wanted to say today about her, about how I would depict her, because the very last thing I got to do Marcie Burns, my favorite mother-in-law, was to give her a cup of cold water before I left the hospital.

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One Really Tough Week!

We have had better weeks! Last Saturday I got a call that a friend and fellow Christian had passed away. Then on Sunday morning we got word that another of our members had lost his battle with illness. Tuesday morning I received another call to announce that one of our shut-in members had passed away after several year of deteriorating health. I have prepared had three funerals this week.

Add to that information that on Monday afternoon that the doctors told my wife’s mother that they cannot do anything more to overcome a series of health problems for her. Her body is failing from leukemia, renal failure, pneumonia and a bladder infection. This afternoon she was moved to hospice care, where she will be made comfortable as she finishes her journey.

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Reviewing our Purchasing Decisons!

There are several factors that are going to cause a modification of our financial decisions in the near future. Of course, one of the chief reasons for the changes is the declining economy. Wise folks everywhere are tightening their belts. For my wife and I there is also the situation that she retired just before the first of the year, so our income is down by a significant amount. We will be looking for every edge we can find to gain some benefit.

One is that we will be shopping online to find the best deals possible. We will certainly be taking advantage of free online coupons to help cut the costs of things we by from reputable merchants.

Savings.com lists a wide range of well-recognized merchandisers and service providers for whom they provide promo codes and opportunities to save money. You can get Ice.com coupons to save on jewelry, or Kohl’s.com to save on items sold by the department store chain. You cane even get free shipping coupons for your purchases on many of the sites!

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Beware of #5!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There probably will never be a movie about it, but it was the kind of game that a young man will reflect on for a lifetime. Last Friday I went to watch my 16-year-old grandson play in a sub varsity basketball game. His team plays very hard, but they have not won many games. The first half of the game was hard to get excited about, because our team couldn't seem to find the basket with a shot. At the intermission they were trailing 29 to 16.

But the second half is a completely different story. The boys came out with the same high intensity on defense, but now they began to make some shots. One of the boys on our team got hit with an elbow just above his left eye and it began to bleed. He had to come off and get some treatment. To keep the bandage in place, his head was wrapped in a medical tape that made it look like he was wearing a sweat band. But his wound didn't keep him out of the game or cause him to be bashful. He and my grandson are the primary ball handlers for the team, so it was important for him to be on the court. In the third quarter shots began to fall for everyone, including my grandson who hit three three-pointers in that frame. Our team held the visitors to only six points in the quarter, and the score at the end of three quarters was 35-34.

The game was intense in the fourth quarter, but our defense was up to the task again and only allowed nine points in the quarter. In the midst of the battle, I was thrilled, and afterwards found out my grandson had heard and was also thrilled, to hear the opposing coach shot several times in the frame, "Beware of number 5, beware of number 5!" He didn't want number 5 to get any good looks at the basket because he was really on fire. Number 5 ended up leading scorer in the game with 25 points and his team won 55-44. Of course you know who wore number 5 for our team, don't you?

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