This morning I read about a man in Flint Michigan who has been jailed because he owes $530,000 in child support for 14 children he fathered by 13 women.-Prosecutors say he's giving fathers a bad name.
I read the particulars of the incident and pondered on it.
The man's name is Thomas Frazier and he may hold the unenviable title of biggest deadbeat dad.
"This guy gives fathers a bad name," said Genesee County Friend of the Court Jack Battles.
Frazier says he's not sure all of the children are his, but he hasn't paid any support claims for that he owns. He says he's the victim because he faces about $3,000 a month in child support payments
In October of 2008, Friend of the Court officials said Frazier gave them a false Social Security number and tried to convince investigators he was someone else.
He remained under the radar until late last month when he got pulled over in Iowa for a broken taillight on his Mercedes Benz.
Frazier says he "messed up" and wants to take care of his mistakes, but hopes the Friend of the Court will knock down his bill to a more manageable $200,000 and set him free.
What is the responsibility of a father? Is it to simply father as many children as possible then leave the children to fend for themselves? A man with one child usally finds that it takes most of his time, talent and energy to provide true nurture. A man with more than one child doesn't have a life of his own anymore, he belongs to them.
Generally, children require more than just a child support check. They require a father's time, counsel, love and resources. Child support only considers the money part; and a very small part at that.
What caught the headlines for Mr. Frazier is the fact that he owes $530,000 in child support for 14 children that grows at the rate of $3,000 a month. What's not in the news is the time, counsel and love that he also owes.
Most of the children he has never seen,or spoken to, let alone provided for.
In rearing my three sons I found it necessary to be present in every aspect of their lives as a father: School PTA, Scouts, music lesson, plays, church, and recreation. It meant teaching them to type, use a computer (computers were new then), write a fluid sentence, handle money, and to be sexually responsible. Even doing all of that I fell short in many areas.
Fatherhood is a tough job.
Fathers who neglect their children provoke them in later years to hate them and to disrespect the name of image. That is not what God intended.
Ephesians 6:4 put it this way, "And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."
It's bad enough that some fathers must be forced by courts to support their children. It's even worse, when even then they do shierk their responsibilities.
They give millions of good fathers a bad name and they lose favor with our heavenly father who never misses a day supporting us.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Early morning people
I arose this morning at 3:30 a.m. It's Sunday morning.
I'm a morning person. I do my best thinking, planning, meditation and study early in the morning. In the evenings my batteries run down. I need about four hours sleep and I'm fully charged; so I arise early.
It's not unusual for my Facebook posts, commentaries, blogs, emails and Twitter links to be posted at 4:00 a.m. in the morning because that's one of the times each day that I block out to read an respond to the prior day's mesages. Following that I have a self imposed 90 minutes of prayer and bible study in the morning and another at the close of the day (Three hours a day).
I'm at my best early in the morning. No coffeee or energy boosters; I'm rolling at full steam between 3:30 and 4:00 a.m. By 9 a.m. my day is really rolling. By noon I'm in high gear. After p.m. I'm still rolling but attend to mostly housekeeping functions, no new ideas, fresh writing, or studying complicated ideas. By 8 p.m. I begin a slow shut down. Around 9 p.m. my final 90 minutes of of reading, prayer and bible study begins. Usually by 11ish it's lights out for me.
Traditional Black preachers end their sermons with "but, Early Sunday morning he arose from the grave." The emphasis is on "Early." For over 200 years black folks have been getting excitied when we hear "Early Sunday morning!"
Early on the morning of the resurrection Christ arose from the dead.
It seems that Jesus was an early morning person too, at least on that Sunday morning.
While the world was still asleep, He arose early to complete salvation. Even to day long before we think about our problems, he's up Early, at full steam.
Some will ask does God ever sleep?
The answer is in Psalm 121, "He that keepeth Israel neither slumbers or sleeps."
I woke up early this morning, but my Lord was alread on the job!
I'm a morning person. I do my best thinking, planning, meditation and study early in the morning. In the evenings my batteries run down. I need about four hours sleep and I'm fully charged; so I arise early.
It's not unusual for my Facebook posts, commentaries, blogs, emails and Twitter links to be posted at 4:00 a.m. in the morning because that's one of the times each day that I block out to read an respond to the prior day's mesages. Following that I have a self imposed 90 minutes of prayer and bible study in the morning and another at the close of the day (Three hours a day).
I'm at my best early in the morning. No coffeee or energy boosters; I'm rolling at full steam between 3:30 and 4:00 a.m. By 9 a.m. my day is really rolling. By noon I'm in high gear. After p.m. I'm still rolling but attend to mostly housekeeping functions, no new ideas, fresh writing, or studying complicated ideas. By 8 p.m. I begin a slow shut down. Around 9 p.m. my final 90 minutes of of reading, prayer and bible study begins. Usually by 11ish it's lights out for me.
Traditional Black preachers end their sermons with "but, Early Sunday morning he arose from the grave." The emphasis is on "Early." For over 200 years black folks have been getting excitied when we hear "Early Sunday morning!"
Early on the morning of the resurrection Christ arose from the dead.
It seems that Jesus was an early morning person too, at least on that Sunday morning.
While the world was still asleep, He arose early to complete salvation. Even to day long before we think about our problems, he's up Early, at full steam.
Some will ask does God ever sleep?
The answer is in Psalm 121, "He that keepeth Israel neither slumbers or sleeps."
I woke up early this morning, but my Lord was alread on the job!
Wednesday, April 08, 2009
We still need mom and pop.
Vermont has become the 4th State to legalize same-sex marriage. Vermont's actions follows that of Iowa by only a few days. It seems to be a growing trend.
Without being overly judgmental, I fail to see the ultimate point of the clamor for the title "marriage" as opposed to civil union.
A civil union is an arrangement between two parties that is recognized in a court of law. It allows for parties to designate whom they wish to care for them, receive benefits of their benevolence and any other rights they want to extend to each other under the civil law.
In America, persons have the right to associate themselves with whomever they choose and to enter into contractual arrangements at their pleasure, even if that arrangement angers their neighbors or the their neighbor's God.
Marriage on the other hand goes beyond a mere civil union. It's purpose is procreation; which is impossible in same-sex civil unions. A marriage produces a child that has a mother and a father. A civil union, at best, can adopt a child that will either have two mothers or two fathers.
I can accept civil unions for those who choose that route; I draw the line, however, when it comes to moving one step further and calling such unions marriages.
I just keep hearing the words of Genesis 1:28 "And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth."
God ordained marriages as the means of replenishing the earth. Civil unions are ordained by man, for his own satisfaction, but without a godly sanction or procreative purpose.
It appears that God has charged his creation to be fruitful and multiply, among humans marriage is the instrument.
It may acceptable to have civilized unions, but I think we still need mom and pop.
Without being overly judgmental, I fail to see the ultimate point of the clamor for the title "marriage" as opposed to civil union.
A civil union is an arrangement between two parties that is recognized in a court of law. It allows for parties to designate whom they wish to care for them, receive benefits of their benevolence and any other rights they want to extend to each other under the civil law.
In America, persons have the right to associate themselves with whomever they choose and to enter into contractual arrangements at their pleasure, even if that arrangement angers their neighbors or the their neighbor's God.
Marriage on the other hand goes beyond a mere civil union. It's purpose is procreation; which is impossible in same-sex civil unions. A marriage produces a child that has a mother and a father. A civil union, at best, can adopt a child that will either have two mothers or two fathers.
I can accept civil unions for those who choose that route; I draw the line, however, when it comes to moving one step further and calling such unions marriages.
I just keep hearing the words of Genesis 1:28 "And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth."
God ordained marriages as the means of replenishing the earth. Civil unions are ordained by man, for his own satisfaction, but without a godly sanction or procreative purpose.
It appears that God has charged his creation to be fruitful and multiply, among humans marriage is the instrument.
It may acceptable to have civilized unions, but I think we still need mom and pop.
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
Taking in the Flowers
An April freeze in Louisiana is unusual; but that's what we had last night.
The weather forecast predicted temperatures of approximately 31 degrees and the news was filled with accounts of farmers trying to protect their crops from the cold weather.
In the middle of the report was an item that made reference to the Salvation Army suspending its rules to allow repeat persons to get shelter in light of the expected cold.
My wife began a scramble to take in her pot plants that sit outside. At first she was preparing to cover them with plastic, but the newscaster said, "Don't cover your flowers with plastic," so she brought them inside.
Flowers, crops and homeless people isn't that a strange mix.
What was interesting about the newscast is that most of the report had to do with protecting flowers and crops; there was just a blurb about helping people.
In an ideal world, helping people would have been the main concern and crops and flowers last.
We should be concerned about the poor and the homeless for therein is our blessing.
There is a passage in the bible that has these words, "For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in." (Matthew 25:35)
Save the crops, bring in the flowers, but let's be sure to save the "least of these first."
The weather forecast predicted temperatures of approximately 31 degrees and the news was filled with accounts of farmers trying to protect their crops from the cold weather.
In the middle of the report was an item that made reference to the Salvation Army suspending its rules to allow repeat persons to get shelter in light of the expected cold.
My wife began a scramble to take in her pot plants that sit outside. At first she was preparing to cover them with plastic, but the newscaster said, "Don't cover your flowers with plastic," so she brought them inside.
Flowers, crops and homeless people isn't that a strange mix.
What was interesting about the newscast is that most of the report had to do with protecting flowers and crops; there was just a blurb about helping people.
In an ideal world, helping people would have been the main concern and crops and flowers last.
We should be concerned about the poor and the homeless for therein is our blessing.
There is a passage in the bible that has these words, "For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in." (Matthew 25:35)
Save the crops, bring in the flowers, but let's be sure to save the "least of these first."
Sunday, January 13, 2008
I was stingy!
Stingy! That's what we call a person who has something but will not share. There was a time when I was very stingy, tight, and miserly.
I remember when I was really stingy. I wouldn't share anything with anybody. In fact, inwardly I gloated about my own success at achieving and responded to others in a very condescending way.
I have a sneaky suspicion that others shared my childhood responses:
"You can't have any of my chips."
"You want some cookies? Buy you some, just like I did!"
"Get your own!"
Ironically, while I would not share and told many, "I ain't giving you nothing;" I was quick to say, "Gimme some."
As I got older I learned that God blesses those who share with others. I watched neighbors share food, clothing and anything they had with others. I also noticed that although they were poor they always seemed to have plenty; enough to share.
By the time I became a college student my opinion of sharing had reversed. I learned to share my time, talent and resources with others. I also noticed, that just as my friendly neighbors who shared were blessed, that I too was being blessed in the same way.
I've never had much, but always had enough to share.
So, a good way to be blessed is to share time for good causes; be a volunteer, help someone in need. Loan your talent to ventures that are worthy. Give of your finances to build great works. The blessing comes from sharing not from being stingy.
2 Corinthians 9:8 says when we share God gives us grace abundantly, "that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work."
In other words, if we share, God will see to it that we don't run out and will always have more than we need.
I remember when I was really stingy. I wouldn't share anything with anybody. In fact, inwardly I gloated about my own success at achieving and responded to others in a very condescending way.
I have a sneaky suspicion that others shared my childhood responses:
"You can't have any of my chips."
"You want some cookies? Buy you some, just like I did!"
"Get your own!"
Ironically, while I would not share and told many, "I ain't giving you nothing;" I was quick to say, "Gimme some."
As I got older I learned that God blesses those who share with others. I watched neighbors share food, clothing and anything they had with others. I also noticed that although they were poor they always seemed to have plenty; enough to share.
By the time I became a college student my opinion of sharing had reversed. I learned to share my time, talent and resources with others. I also noticed, that just as my friendly neighbors who shared were blessed, that I too was being blessed in the same way.
I've never had much, but always had enough to share.
So, a good way to be blessed is to share time for good causes; be a volunteer, help someone in need. Loan your talent to ventures that are worthy. Give of your finances to build great works. The blessing comes from sharing not from being stingy.
2 Corinthians 9:8 says when we share God gives us grace abundantly, "that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work."
In other words, if we share, God will see to it that we don't run out and will always have more than we need.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
May the force be with you
I'm a sci-fi fan so I've seen all of the Star Wars movies (and Star Trek too). I saw all four on the first day they were released.
One of the most memorable phrases of the Star Wars triology is, "May the force be with you."
In George Lucas' four Star Wars films the power of good is represented by the "Force." The power of evil is the "Dark Side."
The phrase "May the Force be with you" is often told to Luke Skywalker as he went out to fight.
The force was never really defined clearly in the series. It was an energy presence which existed within each person. This energy force guides, protects, empowers and emboldens those who follow its dictates.
The force has a dark side and a light side. The dark side is evil and sinister. The light side is the epitome of moral correction. The dark and the light side compete for the heart and soul of characters in Lucas' films, most of the times the light side wins, but not without giving up a few life essentials.
As each character departs and begins a new adventure, especially Luke Skywalker, each was told by the Jet Eye warrior, "May the force be with you."
Real life is not a movie but life does have a light side and a dark side.
Also in real life we are guided by the presence or absence of the force, except that the force is the actual presence of God.
Daily, God (the force) speaks to us. We call it our conscience or our first mind. When we ignore that voice, we later say, "I should have listened to my first mind."
God's spirit must go where we go; everyday.
Philippians 4:9 says, "The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you." Philippians 4:9
As we rise to challenge each new day, let's be guided by the things God has taught us and shown "and the God of peace will be with you."
One of the most memorable phrases of the Star Wars triology is, "May the force be with you."
In George Lucas' four Star Wars films the power of good is represented by the "Force." The power of evil is the "Dark Side."
The phrase "May the Force be with you" is often told to Luke Skywalker as he went out to fight.
The force was never really defined clearly in the series. It was an energy presence which existed within each person. This energy force guides, protects, empowers and emboldens those who follow its dictates.
The force has a dark side and a light side. The dark side is evil and sinister. The light side is the epitome of moral correction. The dark and the light side compete for the heart and soul of characters in Lucas' films, most of the times the light side wins, but not without giving up a few life essentials.
As each character departs and begins a new adventure, especially Luke Skywalker, each was told by the Jet Eye warrior, "May the force be with you."
Real life is not a movie but life does have a light side and a dark side.
Also in real life we are guided by the presence or absence of the force, except that the force is the actual presence of God.
Daily, God (the force) speaks to us. We call it our conscience or our first mind. When we ignore that voice, we later say, "I should have listened to my first mind."
God's spirit must go where we go; everyday.
Philippians 4:9 says, "The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you." Philippians 4:9
As we rise to challenge each new day, let's be guided by the things God has taught us and shown "and the God of peace will be with you."
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
I Don't Feel Like It!
There are times when I just don't feel like it.
It's those days when you say, "I'm not feeling that."
Work. School. Finances. Dealing with other people.
Baby/Mama - Baby/Daddy drama.
Issues.
"I'm not feeling that."
I wonder if I'm by myself.
I guess there are times even the best of us get dispirited. We know we should go but we stay. We know we should speak but we remain silent. We know we should act, but we take no action. Usually we don't "feel like it" in times of distress, strain or worry. Such circumstances rob us of our enthusiasm and spirit and even at our best we can only offer lackluster appearances.
I have learned that one of the times to be cautious is when I "don't feel like it." Sometimes opportunities come when we don't feel like it and we miss them. A job is offered but we don't feel like going to apply. A chance for success may be missed if it comes when we "don't feel like it."
Issues can stress you out so much that you just don't feel like it. When that happens you don't sing, smile, laugh or find any interest in anything. You want to do absolutely nothing because you don't feel like it. Those are the days that the devil slipped in during the night and stole your joy. We were not on guard and we woke up the next morning "not feeling it" -without knowing why.
When you are not feeling it that's when we read Psalm 51:12, "Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit."
If you don't feel like it today, remember one day Christ carried a cross for you. I'm sure that day he wasn't feeling it either; but he did it anyway.
After thinking about that and reflecting on that verse then I usually push myself out of bed and start "feeling" the joy of meeting the challenges of the new day.
With a fresh infusion of inspiration from on high, the devil is defeated and I start "feeling it" again..big time.
It's those days when you say, "I'm not feeling that."
Work. School. Finances. Dealing with other people.
Baby/Mama - Baby/Daddy drama.
Issues.
"I'm not feeling that."
I wonder if I'm by myself.
I guess there are times even the best of us get dispirited. We know we should go but we stay. We know we should speak but we remain silent. We know we should act, but we take no action. Usually we don't "feel like it" in times of distress, strain or worry. Such circumstances rob us of our enthusiasm and spirit and even at our best we can only offer lackluster appearances.
I have learned that one of the times to be cautious is when I "don't feel like it." Sometimes opportunities come when we don't feel like it and we miss them. A job is offered but we don't feel like going to apply. A chance for success may be missed if it comes when we "don't feel like it."
Issues can stress you out so much that you just don't feel like it. When that happens you don't sing, smile, laugh or find any interest in anything. You want to do absolutely nothing because you don't feel like it. Those are the days that the devil slipped in during the night and stole your joy. We were not on guard and we woke up the next morning "not feeling it" -without knowing why.
When you are not feeling it that's when we read Psalm 51:12, "Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit."
If you don't feel like it today, remember one day Christ carried a cross for you. I'm sure that day he wasn't feeling it either; but he did it anyway.
After thinking about that and reflecting on that verse then I usually push myself out of bed and start "feeling" the joy of meeting the challenges of the new day.
With a fresh infusion of inspiration from on high, the devil is defeated and I start "feeling it" again..big time.
Saturday, January 05, 2008
I don't like scary movies anymore
Scary movies are funny, but life can give you a scare.
When I was a child (back when dinosaurs roamed the land) I watched Godzilla, The Creature from the Black Lagoon, and Dracula. Frankenstein and Dracula were my monsters of choice.
I took a girl to the movie and pretended not to be afraid. I waited for her to grab my arm to show my bravado, but always closed my eyes just before the moment a character was sliced up, chopped up or bitten. I'd opened my eyes and asked, "What happened?"
There are so many scary movies today that those who like them can have their pick: Chuckie the little doll that kills people now has a bride. Monsters get married you know, first there was Frankenstein, then the Bride of Frankenstein. Then there is the Mummy, King Kong and many versions of the Wolfman.
Does Jason ever die? It amuses me how Jason, the star of the Halloween movies, is brought back to life in each new film.
There are always vampires from the old fashion Dracula to the modern Blade played by Wesley Snipes. There are even funny, lovable, if not ugly monsters like Shrek and his foul mouthed donkey friend.
Many youth like scary movies. They like to see the blood from the Texas chain saw splashing against the wall. They like to scream or watch the girls scream.
As we mature and face reality, we realize that death is not funny, humorous or exciting. There is no humor in tragedy.
Life gives us a wake up call, "If you shoot your boyfriend, kill your wife, or commit suicide you don't come back in the next movie."
A recent gallop poll shows that today fewer youth actually believe in: astrology, ESP, witchcraft, ghosts, Big Foot, The Lockness Monster and ghosts. That's what makes the movies attractive; no one really believes they are true.
The same poll revealed that as youth mature they increasingly believe in angels. The more of life they experience, reality soaks in and deep down they start searching for God; they want an angel to help them and protect them when they face the scary things in life.
A bible verse in Number 20:16 says, "And when we cried unto the Lord he heard our voice and sent an angel.."
Life can get scary and it's certainly not funny. The prospect of AIDS, addiction, cancer, suicide, accidental death, and a plethora of other scary things is sobering.
It is good to know that we can turn to God and he will send an angel to correct us and protect us when we face the scary things of life.
When I was a child (back when dinosaurs roamed the land) I watched Godzilla, The Creature from the Black Lagoon, and Dracula. Frankenstein and Dracula were my monsters of choice.
I took a girl to the movie and pretended not to be afraid. I waited for her to grab my arm to show my bravado, but always closed my eyes just before the moment a character was sliced up, chopped up or bitten. I'd opened my eyes and asked, "What happened?"
There are so many scary movies today that those who like them can have their pick: Chuckie the little doll that kills people now has a bride. Monsters get married you know, first there was Frankenstein, then the Bride of Frankenstein. Then there is the Mummy, King Kong and many versions of the Wolfman.
Does Jason ever die? It amuses me how Jason, the star of the Halloween movies, is brought back to life in each new film.
There are always vampires from the old fashion Dracula to the modern Blade played by Wesley Snipes. There are even funny, lovable, if not ugly monsters like Shrek and his foul mouthed donkey friend.
Many youth like scary movies. They like to see the blood from the Texas chain saw splashing against the wall. They like to scream or watch the girls scream.
As we mature and face reality, we realize that death is not funny, humorous or exciting. There is no humor in tragedy.
Life gives us a wake up call, "If you shoot your boyfriend, kill your wife, or commit suicide you don't come back in the next movie."
A recent gallop poll shows that today fewer youth actually believe in: astrology, ESP, witchcraft, ghosts, Big Foot, The Lockness Monster and ghosts. That's what makes the movies attractive; no one really believes they are true.
The same poll revealed that as youth mature they increasingly believe in angels. The more of life they experience, reality soaks in and deep down they start searching for God; they want an angel to help them and protect them when they face the scary things in life.
A bible verse in Number 20:16 says, "And when we cried unto the Lord he heard our voice and sent an angel.."
Life can get scary and it's certainly not funny. The prospect of AIDS, addiction, cancer, suicide, accidental death, and a plethora of other scary things is sobering.
It is good to know that we can turn to God and he will send an angel to correct us and protect us when we face the scary things of life.
Friday, January 04, 2008
You won't like me when I'm angry
What do you do when you get angry?
At work, school, home or in relationships it is easy to become angry.
Sometimes folks can get on your last nerve. Everyone gets angry: preachers, teachers, leaders, spouses, boyfriends, girlfriends, siblings; everyone you know has been angry at one time or another.
Some have been angry with each other for years.
Charles Swindol in his book "Three steps forward and two steps back" says there are phases of anger that begin with irritation. The next are: wrath, fury, and rage.
When we get to rage we become the Incredible Hulk. That's when we tear things up, hit, shoot and kill. The Hulk always says, "Don't make me angry, you won't like me when I'm angry."
I get angry sometimes. I can feel myself moving up the scale: irritation, wrath...then I have to do something stop before I become the Hulk. (I have been the Hulk a few times, what about you?)
No one likes that side of us; we are out of control when we get to the point of rage. There is nothing wrong with anger. Even Jesus became angry and ran the money changers out of the temple. The trick is to keep it under control.
First, we should never let anyone know the buttons they can push to send us into a rage. They'll push them for the fun of it.
Second, take Thomas Jefferson's advice, when angry count to 10 before you respond. If you are really angry count to 50 or 100. Slow yourself down.
Third, never go to bed angry with your spouse, friend, teacher, employer, etc.
The Hulk never counts to 10, becomes destructive in a rage and regrets it later. So do we.
There is a bible passage in Ephesians 4:26-27 that says, "Be angry but do not sin.Do not let the sun go down on your anger and do not give the devil an opportunity."
That means that it's OK to be upset about wrong things you see or injustices but not to the point that you go into a rage; and never to the point that you begin to hate.
Dealing with anger is a life-long struggle.
Nobody likes us when we become the Hulk.
In fact, we don't even like ourselves.
At work, school, home or in relationships it is easy to become angry.
Sometimes folks can get on your last nerve. Everyone gets angry: preachers, teachers, leaders, spouses, boyfriends, girlfriends, siblings; everyone you know has been angry at one time or another.
Some have been angry with each other for years.
Charles Swindol in his book "Three steps forward and two steps back" says there are phases of anger that begin with irritation. The next are: wrath, fury, and rage.
When we get to rage we become the Incredible Hulk. That's when we tear things up, hit, shoot and kill. The Hulk always says, "Don't make me angry, you won't like me when I'm angry."
I get angry sometimes. I can feel myself moving up the scale: irritation, wrath...then I have to do something stop before I become the Hulk. (I have been the Hulk a few times, what about you?)
No one likes that side of us; we are out of control when we get to the point of rage. There is nothing wrong with anger. Even Jesus became angry and ran the money changers out of the temple. The trick is to keep it under control.
First, we should never let anyone know the buttons they can push to send us into a rage. They'll push them for the fun of it.
Second, take Thomas Jefferson's advice, when angry count to 10 before you respond. If you are really angry count to 50 or 100. Slow yourself down.
Third, never go to bed angry with your spouse, friend, teacher, employer, etc.
The Hulk never counts to 10, becomes destructive in a rage and regrets it later. So do we.
There is a bible passage in Ephesians 4:26-27 that says, "Be angry but do not sin.Do not let the sun go down on your anger and do not give the devil an opportunity."
That means that it's OK to be upset about wrong things you see or injustices but not to the point that you go into a rage; and never to the point that you begin to hate.
Dealing with anger is a life-long struggle.
Nobody likes us when we become the Hulk.
In fact, we don't even like ourselves.
Thursday, January 03, 2008
X-Rated Life Movies
Have you ever watched an X-Rated movie?
The X-Ray movies are generally considered ponographic because they appeal to the prurient interests of the viewer and exhibit little or no artistic value.
They are hard-core, raw, and go beyond the boundaries of decency. Yet, most of us have taken a peek at least once.
Some are still peeking.
If our lives were rated in heaven, I wonder what the rating would be?
X-Unsaved sinner who sins, loves it and plans to continue.
R-Church members who feel they are old enough to sample the world. They sin a little, feel bad, then come back to church.
PG-Youth who believe in God but are fascinated by and attracted to the sinful life.
G-the Godly person who chooses to live for God, without peeking, pandering or having any interest in the life of sin.
What rating describes you right now. I never never made it to X but I can remember being "PG" and "R." What about you?
Some say the godly life is no fun; is that true? What I've discovered is that the godly don't need to get drunk, use drugs, engage in illicit sex or wild parties to have a great time.
The godly enjoy their families, lead successful lives, love their spouses, enjoy sports, art, music, and recreation. They fly airplanes, play basketball and are romantic, too.
In fact, the truly godly are having so much fun leading G-Rated lives that they have no interest in peeking, sneaking or venturing into the world of those who can't have fun unless everything around them appeals to their prurient interest.
The godly life is a blast.
The bible says in Psalm 1, "Psalms 1:1-2 (TLB) "Oh, the joys of those who do not follow evil men’s advice, who do not hang around with sinners, scoffing at the things of God. But they delight in doing everything God wants them to, and day and night are always meditating on his laws and thinking about ways to follow him more closely."
Sounds pretty good to me, especially since only lives rated "G-godly" are blessed by God.
The X-Ray movies are generally considered ponographic because they appeal to the prurient interests of the viewer and exhibit little or no artistic value.
They are hard-core, raw, and go beyond the boundaries of decency. Yet, most of us have taken a peek at least once.
Some are still peeking.
If our lives were rated in heaven, I wonder what the rating would be?
X-Unsaved sinner who sins, loves it and plans to continue.
R-Church members who feel they are old enough to sample the world. They sin a little, feel bad, then come back to church.
PG-Youth who believe in God but are fascinated by and attracted to the sinful life.
G-the Godly person who chooses to live for God, without peeking, pandering or having any interest in the life of sin.
What rating describes you right now. I never never made it to X but I can remember being "PG" and "R." What about you?
Some say the godly life is no fun; is that true? What I've discovered is that the godly don't need to get drunk, use drugs, engage in illicit sex or wild parties to have a great time.
The godly enjoy their families, lead successful lives, love their spouses, enjoy sports, art, music, and recreation. They fly airplanes, play basketball and are romantic, too.
In fact, the truly godly are having so much fun leading G-Rated lives that they have no interest in peeking, sneaking or venturing into the world of those who can't have fun unless everything around them appeals to their prurient interest.
The godly life is a blast.
The bible says in Psalm 1, "Psalms 1:1-2 (TLB) "Oh, the joys of those who do not follow evil men’s advice, who do not hang around with sinners, scoffing at the things of God. But they delight in doing everything God wants them to, and day and night are always meditating on his laws and thinking about ways to follow him more closely."
Sounds pretty good to me, especially since only lives rated "G-godly" are blessed by God.
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Try God's Way this year
Did you fail last year? Did you give up? Try it again, but do it a different way.
There are two ways to approach life goals. One is the way popularized by a song written by the late Frank Sinatra called "My Way."
In that song Sinatra boasts that he lived his life, "My Way."
He is not alone. There are many who are trying the "my way" approach: living, loving and dying according to their own rules. To do it "my way" is to do it alone without any divine assistance. It is also a formula for unhappiness and often failure.
That's what happened to many people last year.
Some used or sold drugs or became addicted to something or someone.
Some lived so wild that they slipped way off course.
Some never got started; they proscratinated
Some nearly died.
Things work out a little better on the Godside of life. That's when you decide to do it "God's way." The difference is that God's way gets us godly support and favor for our efforts because what we do is according to his plan. It also points us away from destructive activity and points us to things that build us up.
When we do it God's way we may fall down..but we picks us up and we try again.
The bible says in Proverbs 14:12 "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death."
Many saw their dreams die last year. They did it their way.
When we do it God's way we may fall down..but we picks us up and we try again.
This year, try God's way.
There are two ways to approach life goals. One is the way popularized by a song written by the late Frank Sinatra called "My Way."
In that song Sinatra boasts that he lived his life, "My Way."
He is not alone. There are many who are trying the "my way" approach: living, loving and dying according to their own rules. To do it "my way" is to do it alone without any divine assistance. It is also a formula for unhappiness and often failure.
That's what happened to many people last year.
Some used or sold drugs or became addicted to something or someone.
Some lived so wild that they slipped way off course.
Some never got started; they proscratinated
Some nearly died.
Things work out a little better on the Godside of life. That's when you decide to do it "God's way." The difference is that God's way gets us godly support and favor for our efforts because what we do is according to his plan. It also points us away from destructive activity and points us to things that build us up.
When we do it God's way we may fall down..but we picks us up and we try again.
The bible says in Proverbs 14:12 "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death."
Many saw their dreams die last year. They did it their way.
When we do it God's way we may fall down..but we picks us up and we try again.
This year, try God's way.
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Appreciate the little things this year
Don't underestimate the power of the little things.
We are moving at a quick pace; in fact it is so quick that we often look for the big picture and overlook the the small things.
When we think about it, it's the little things that bring us the most lasting pleasure.
That may explain why sometimes a child gets a big present but instead of playing with the present he plays with the box and pops the little plastic bubbles in the packaging.
We look for the big superstar experiences and relationships and overlook the fact that only a few of them stay married or even have the pleasure of doing the little things, such as sitting on a porch and watching the cars go by without a frenzy of photographers.
Howard Thurman once wrote that "Little things make big differences."
A little thank you is big when someone feels unappreciated.
A little kindness can soften an angry response.
A little time can bring more lasting please than a lot of gifts without the giver. Little things can make the difference.
That applies to our relationship with God, too.
There is a bible verse in Numbers 16:9 that says, "Seemeth it but a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD.."
Time to pray, worship and think about God in this world of MySpace, Facebook, cell phones and the internet, may seem like a little thing, but it goes a long ways with God.
While we talk to God about the big things..don't underestimate the little things.
We are moving at a quick pace; in fact it is so quick that we often look for the big picture and overlook the the small things.
When we think about it, it's the little things that bring us the most lasting pleasure.
That may explain why sometimes a child gets a big present but instead of playing with the present he plays with the box and pops the little plastic bubbles in the packaging.
We look for the big superstar experiences and relationships and overlook the fact that only a few of them stay married or even have the pleasure of doing the little things, such as sitting on a porch and watching the cars go by without a frenzy of photographers.
Howard Thurman once wrote that "Little things make big differences."
A little thank you is big when someone feels unappreciated.
A little kindness can soften an angry response.
A little time can bring more lasting please than a lot of gifts without the giver. Little things can make the difference.
That applies to our relationship with God, too.
There is a bible verse in Numbers 16:9 that says, "Seemeth it but a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD.."
Time to pray, worship and think about God in this world of MySpace, Facebook, cell phones and the internet, may seem like a little thing, but it goes a long ways with God.
While we talk to God about the big things..don't underestimate the little things.
Monday, April 02, 2007
Crucifixion on Friday?
When I began preaching in 1969, for many years I closed my sermons
with something like..
"One Friday, they nailed him to an old rugged cross!"
or
"One Friday he died for all my sins!"
I had the whoop and everything. I really pushed it hard.
"Does anybody know about Friday?"
"One Friday!"
"ooooh Friday!"
I took a seminary class and learned that I had been wrong about Friday. The instructor painstakingly showed us that despite the old tradition that Christ was not crucified on Friday, but Wednesday.
That really upset me because it meant I had been teaching and preaching the wrong information for about three years. I was so troubled because in my zeal I did not seek knowledge and mislead hundreds of people in the process.
The key to understanding the error is Matthew 12:40. Jesus said he would remain in the grave for three days AND three nights (72 hours).
I tried all of the fancy explanations the old preachers gave me to make sundown Friday to early morning Sunday three days and three nights but none of them would work.
Have you heard the explanations? "They had a different calendar or they
counted days differently or it was not literally three days."
As I studied, I realized my professor was right. I had to change my message to fit the truth I found.
If you are interested in this topic there is a website that gives the same information my professor gave me.
As I learned better I changed. It's worth a look.
http://members.aol.com/member888/goodfriday.htm
with something like..
"One Friday, they nailed him to an old rugged cross!"
or
"One Friday he died for all my sins!"
I had the whoop and everything. I really pushed it hard.
"Does anybody know about Friday?"
"One Friday!"
"ooooh Friday!"
I took a seminary class and learned that I had been wrong about Friday. The instructor painstakingly showed us that despite the old tradition that Christ was not crucified on Friday, but Wednesday.
That really upset me because it meant I had been teaching and preaching the wrong information for about three years. I was so troubled because in my zeal I did not seek knowledge and mislead hundreds of people in the process.
The key to understanding the error is Matthew 12:40. Jesus said he would remain in the grave for three days AND three nights (72 hours).
I tried all of the fancy explanations the old preachers gave me to make sundown Friday to early morning Sunday three days and three nights but none of them would work.
Have you heard the explanations? "They had a different calendar or they
counted days differently or it was not literally three days."
As I studied, I realized my professor was right. I had to change my message to fit the truth I found.
If you are interested in this topic there is a website that gives the same information my professor gave me.
As I learned better I changed. It's worth a look.
http://members.aol.com/member888/goodfriday.htm
Saturday, December 02, 2006
Grandpa on the Web
I have a myspace page! I found that the young hang out on the web.
They hang out mostly on wesites called "myspace.com" "Tagged.com" and a few more.
This year I decided to be a 57 year old youngster and hang out with
the youth of America on myspace.
On myspace you see a side of people that you never knew including
their music, fantasies, fears and ideas of fun.
I found it a great way to minister as well.
I also have tagged.com page. It's strickly for the young at heart.
If you choose to open a myspace page, you must keep an open mind.
You will learn a lot about today's young people and get the pleasant
opportunity to minister to many in a private way.
I learned more about the youth of my church on myspace than I ever
learned in person.
I'm 57, hanging out with the youth.
However, I found out that many of them enjoy their myspace grandpa.
For many, I am the father figure they never had.
You can set up a page for yourself. You'll be surprised to know how
many of your friends have a page too.
If you are curious, he's the link to my page:
http://myspace.com/rooseveltwright
Love Ya
Grandpa on web
Roosevelt Wright, Jr.
They hang out mostly on wesites called "myspace.com" "Tagged.com" and a few more.
This year I decided to be a 57 year old youngster and hang out with
the youth of America on myspace.
On myspace you see a side of people that you never knew including
their music, fantasies, fears and ideas of fun.
I found it a great way to minister as well.
I also have tagged.com page. It's strickly for the young at heart.
If you choose to open a myspace page, you must keep an open mind.
You will learn a lot about today's young people and get the pleasant
opportunity to minister to many in a private way.
I learned more about the youth of my church on myspace than I ever
learned in person.
I'm 57, hanging out with the youth.
However, I found out that many of them enjoy their myspace grandpa.
For many, I am the father figure they never had.
You can set up a page for yourself. You'll be surprised to know how
many of your friends have a page too.
If you are curious, he's the link to my page:
http://myspace.com/rooseveltwright
Love Ya
Grandpa on web
Roosevelt Wright, Jr.
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Three Door Cadillac
Have you ever prayed for something and did not receive it?
How did you feel?
When I was nine years old I heard the minister at Tabernacle say that if we asked God for something and believed it, we would receive it.
I took him at his word. That night I prayed for a long Cadillac with three doors like I saw President Eisenhower step out of on television. I went to bed comfortably believing, without a doubt, that my prayer request would be answered. The next day I anxiously ran to the front door looking for the Cadillac. It wasn't there.
Had the preacher lied? I was confused.
When I questioned him later, he reminded me that I heard what I wanted to hear. I didn't hear the part about my request being in the "will of God." The car was "my will" but it was not "God's will." -I didn't hear that part.
There are many adults today who do not hear that part either. We pray for many things that may not be according to God's will and get frustrated when we don't receive them.
He promised to give us anything we ask for that will help us to accomplish his will for our lives.
Anything.
Owning a Cadillac limo at nine years old certainly was not in his will for me. It works the same way with other requests too. I prayed for pizza for breakfast, that didn't happen. I prayed not to get a whipping for acting up at school, that didn't happen. I prayed to be rich and famous, that didn't happen either.
One day I prayed for a good wife and a successful ministry.
That happened.
It was according to his will.
How did you feel?
When I was nine years old I heard the minister at Tabernacle say that if we asked God for something and believed it, we would receive it.
I took him at his word. That night I prayed for a long Cadillac with three doors like I saw President Eisenhower step out of on television. I went to bed comfortably believing, without a doubt, that my prayer request would be answered. The next day I anxiously ran to the front door looking for the Cadillac. It wasn't there.
Had the preacher lied? I was confused.
When I questioned him later, he reminded me that I heard what I wanted to hear. I didn't hear the part about my request being in the "will of God." The car was "my will" but it was not "God's will." -I didn't hear that part.
There are many adults today who do not hear that part either. We pray for many things that may not be according to God's will and get frustrated when we don't receive them.
He promised to give us anything we ask for that will help us to accomplish his will for our lives.
Anything.
Owning a Cadillac limo at nine years old certainly was not in his will for me. It works the same way with other requests too. I prayed for pizza for breakfast, that didn't happen. I prayed not to get a whipping for acting up at school, that didn't happen. I prayed to be rich and famous, that didn't happen either.
One day I prayed for a good wife and a successful ministry.
That happened.
It was according to his will.
Friday, October 27, 2006
Just Plain Roosevelt
I received a letter addressed to "Dr." Roosevelt Wright, Jr. recently. I was amused.
For several years my name was listed among the faculty of the National Baptist Congress of Christian Education as "Dr." I wasn't amused, I was embarassed. Although I have college degrees, what's the point in wearing them on my sleeve?
A seminary in Philadephia wanted to confer a life time "doctorate" upon me, and I politely thanked them but refused.
Why?
When I began in the ministry as a 19 year old, I vainly sought to impress others with titles.
I put a "Rev" in from of my name. After college I put my degree notations after my name.
Then I saw the wisdom of being just plain Roosevelt, without all of the titles and self describing adjectives.
Now after 37 years of ministry and 30 years pastoring the same church, I'm still just plain "Roosevelt."
Whether I'm in front of large audiences, rubbing shoulders with the big wheels, rapping with the youth, or serving food to the homeless, I'm very comfortable being just plain "Roosevelt"-Servant.
That's the only title that will count before God anyway.
For several years my name was listed among the faculty of the National Baptist Congress of Christian Education as "Dr." I wasn't amused, I was embarassed. Although I have college degrees, what's the point in wearing them on my sleeve?
A seminary in Philadephia wanted to confer a life time "doctorate" upon me, and I politely thanked them but refused.
Why?
When I began in the ministry as a 19 year old, I vainly sought to impress others with titles.
I put a "Rev" in from of my name. After college I put my degree notations after my name.
Then I saw the wisdom of being just plain Roosevelt, without all of the titles and self describing adjectives.
Now after 37 years of ministry and 30 years pastoring the same church, I'm still just plain "Roosevelt."
Whether I'm in front of large audiences, rubbing shoulders with the big wheels, rapping with the youth, or serving food to the homeless, I'm very comfortable being just plain "Roosevelt"-Servant.
That's the only title that will count before God anyway.
Sunday, August 13, 2006
Are We Still Niggas?
I see many of my young friends still refer to themselves as “Niggas.” They say, “My Nigga” and “Good Nigga” “Still my Nigga.” That’s sad.
I’m aware that the hip hop culture now says that “Nigga” is a term of endearment and affection. So when a person says, “What’s up my Nigga?” It means he is down with the hip hop culture. In the hip hop world even whites call each other “Niggas.” In the world of hip hop it carries no negative meanings at all; in fact it’s just the opposite.
However, the label Nigga or Nigger is not viewed that way by the rest of the world. It is still a stereotype of a poor ignorant person who can’t read, can't spell, is lazy and performs poorly everywhere except in bed, on the basketball court and the football field.
The Hip Hop culture has helped this generation to internalize a self degrading and negative label. The slave master called us that but he could never get us to believe it and wear it as a badge of pride; especially outside of our racial circles.
The Hip Hop culture has succeeded in doing what the Klan and racists couldn’t do for 300 years. It has convinced our young that it’s a good thing to be a “Nigga.” Many of our youth have accepted the lie.
The late James Baldwin once said, "You can only be destroyed by believing that you really are what the white world calls a nigger.”
When we start believing it and accepting it, we are conquered.
There is a verse in the bible in Romans 8:37 that talks about God’s people overcoming the negatives, having conquered them through his power. The words are, “in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”
To see another generation dive into a pool of negative spit and swim in it means that this generation has not become conquerors; it has been conquered.
If the present trend continues, when Jesus returns to begin the rest of eternity he will probably be greeted affectionately by millions of young believers, who will shout with one voice, “What’s up my Nigga?”
I wonder how he will respond?
I’m aware that the hip hop culture now says that “Nigga” is a term of endearment and affection. So when a person says, “What’s up my Nigga?” It means he is down with the hip hop culture. In the hip hop world even whites call each other “Niggas.” In the world of hip hop it carries no negative meanings at all; in fact it’s just the opposite.
However, the label Nigga or Nigger is not viewed that way by the rest of the world. It is still a stereotype of a poor ignorant person who can’t read, can't spell, is lazy and performs poorly everywhere except in bed, on the basketball court and the football field.
The Hip Hop culture has helped this generation to internalize a self degrading and negative label. The slave master called us that but he could never get us to believe it and wear it as a badge of pride; especially outside of our racial circles.
The Hip Hop culture has succeeded in doing what the Klan and racists couldn’t do for 300 years. It has convinced our young that it’s a good thing to be a “Nigga.” Many of our youth have accepted the lie.
The late James Baldwin once said, "You can only be destroyed by believing that you really are what the white world calls a nigger.”
When we start believing it and accepting it, we are conquered.
There is a verse in the bible in Romans 8:37 that talks about God’s people overcoming the negatives, having conquered them through his power. The words are, “in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”
To see another generation dive into a pool of negative spit and swim in it means that this generation has not become conquerors; it has been conquered.
If the present trend continues, when Jesus returns to begin the rest of eternity he will probably be greeted affectionately by millions of young believers, who will shout with one voice, “What’s up my Nigga?”
I wonder how he will respond?
Saturday, August 12, 2006
Who is the Pilot?
I saw a funny commercial today. It was the one where the man goes up in a helicopter only to find that the pilot is still on the ground. He asks the man who is sitting in the cockpit, "You are not the pilot?" and the man answered, "No, but I did spend a night at the Holiday Inn Express."
I rolled over laughing. He actually got in a helicopter and left the real pilot on the ground! Ha Ha Ha! Hee! Hee He!
What's not so funny is that often we often jump into life and leave the pilot on the ground. We do whatever pleases us at the moment and take off with the pilot on the ground screaming at us, warning us!
Sometimes we crash. There have been many near misses.
Who has been your pilot? Your mother? Grandma? Father? Spouse? Have you taken off in your own direction and left them screaming?
Is the person or thing driving your life now ....competent?
And there is God. Often we want to let him drive, but we don't want to go in that direction.. not now. So we take another path.
There is a verse in the pilot's manual (Bible) in Proverbs 3:6. It says, "In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."
That's the bible's way of saying..."Don't leave the pilot on the ground!"
I rolled over laughing. He actually got in a helicopter and left the real pilot on the ground! Ha Ha Ha! Hee! Hee He!
What's not so funny is that often we often jump into life and leave the pilot on the ground. We do whatever pleases us at the moment and take off with the pilot on the ground screaming at us, warning us!
Sometimes we crash. There have been many near misses.
Who has been your pilot? Your mother? Grandma? Father? Spouse? Have you taken off in your own direction and left them screaming?
Is the person or thing driving your life now ....competent?
And there is God. Often we want to let him drive, but we don't want to go in that direction.. not now. So we take another path.
There is a verse in the pilot's manual (Bible) in Proverbs 3:6. It says, "In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."
That's the bible's way of saying..."Don't leave the pilot on the ground!"
Friday, August 11, 2006
What's In The Cup?
What's in the cup?
A young member of my congregation sent me a photo in which he's holding a cup. It can hardly be seen in the picture, but it is there. I viewed other pictures available and kept coming back to the photo with the little cup.
What's in the cup? It struck my curiosity. So I sent him a private email and inquired. He responded by asking me a question, "What does it look like?" He never said what was in the cup.
It could very well be water. But then it could be gin. It could be Sprit but then it could be Vodka, too.
What's in the cup?
Sometimes the most innocent things can give the wrong impressions to others. Maybe we should be more careful about appearances. It's possible to do an innocent thing in a way that is perceived as devilish.
Our first thought is that those who get the wrong impression have a problem, not us. But somewhere deep down, something we were taught in Sunday School keeps coming up. We are responsible for the image that we project to others. We can control that.
The least we can do is to avoid things that we know will give the wrong impression.
There is a bible verse in 1 Thessalonians 5:22 that says, "Avoid the appearance of evil." It means that what we do may actually be innocent but if we give them impression to others that it is not, evil communications often result.
What's in the cup?
I guess it's like Vegas.
What's in the cup stays in the cup!
A young member of my congregation sent me a photo in which he's holding a cup. It can hardly be seen in the picture, but it is there. I viewed other pictures available and kept coming back to the photo with the little cup.
What's in the cup? It struck my curiosity. So I sent him a private email and inquired. He responded by asking me a question, "What does it look like?" He never said what was in the cup.
It could very well be water. But then it could be gin. It could be Sprit but then it could be Vodka, too.
What's in the cup?
Sometimes the most innocent things can give the wrong impressions to others. Maybe we should be more careful about appearances. It's possible to do an innocent thing in a way that is perceived as devilish.
Our first thought is that those who get the wrong impression have a problem, not us. But somewhere deep down, something we were taught in Sunday School keeps coming up. We are responsible for the image that we project to others. We can control that.
The least we can do is to avoid things that we know will give the wrong impression.
There is a bible verse in 1 Thessalonians 5:22 that says, "Avoid the appearance of evil." It means that what we do may actually be innocent but if we give them impression to others that it is not, evil communications often result.
What's in the cup?
I guess it's like Vegas.
What's in the cup stays in the cup!
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Time to Move On
A time for everything!
Those were the words given tonight by a minister who pastored a church for 46 years.
He is about 90 years old, his voice is strong, he has a young wife, and is in excellent shape. However, he said there is a time for everything. He is retiring, he said, to move on with his life, which he says is just getting started at 90.
We gain much if we learn learn to do things in the right season season. There is a time for the wildness of the adolsecent life, when we do stupid things and take reckless chances with wild irresponsible living.
There is also a time to grow up and take responsibility for our lives.
We can't be grown and children too. The two don't happen at the same time.
There is a verse in Ecclesiastes 3:1 which indicates that there is a time for everything under the sun. Everything has its season. If we are not careful we may try to stay in one season too long forcing the seasons to run into each other. Then life becomes a blur.
The elderly minister recognized his season and plans to move on.
I wonder if there is a lesson we can all learn from that.
It may be time for us to stop holding on to our childhood season and grow up.
Then we can move on.
Those were the words given tonight by a minister who pastored a church for 46 years.
He is about 90 years old, his voice is strong, he has a young wife, and is in excellent shape. However, he said there is a time for everything. He is retiring, he said, to move on with his life, which he says is just getting started at 90.
We gain much if we learn learn to do things in the right season season. There is a time for the wildness of the adolsecent life, when we do stupid things and take reckless chances with wild irresponsible living.
There is also a time to grow up and take responsibility for our lives.
We can't be grown and children too. The two don't happen at the same time.
There is a verse in Ecclesiastes 3:1 which indicates that there is a time for everything under the sun. Everything has its season. If we are not careful we may try to stay in one season too long forcing the seasons to run into each other. Then life becomes a blur.
The elderly minister recognized his season and plans to move on.
I wonder if there is a lesson we can all learn from that.
It may be time for us to stop holding on to our childhood season and grow up.
Then we can move on.
My S.E.X. Education
A young friend of mine sent me a message with a link to S.E.X.
I was curious, because I it appeared to be a salacious invitation. So I contacted the youth for an explanation. I received an education. It was a S.E.X. Education.
The post was a reference to Lyfe Jenning's song, S.E.X.. I searched down the video and then searched down the lyrics to make sure I caught each word. The video warned young girls to protect their innocence because once it is lost it can never be regained.
It also warned them of male predators who want relations and not relationships. It had a very strong postive message of abstainence.
The title caught my attention. Maybe that was the whole idea. It was a warning to all girls to be careful.
The bible gives the same warning in 1 Peter 5:8, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." There are many predators in the world waiting destroy the innocence of young girls --and boys. Wow!
Whether Lyfe says it or the Bible says it, the message is just as clear; when many talk of love and affection they really have their eye on another direction and it's not respect it's just S.E.X.
I thank my friend for the the S.E.X education. I thought the post about S.E.X. was about sex. It was more. It was about respect.
Just goes to show that everything is not what it seems.
I was curious, because I it appeared to be a salacious invitation. So I contacted the youth for an explanation. I received an education. It was a S.E.X. Education.
The post was a reference to Lyfe Jenning's song, S.E.X.. I searched down the video and then searched down the lyrics to make sure I caught each word. The video warned young girls to protect their innocence because once it is lost it can never be regained.
It also warned them of male predators who want relations and not relationships. It had a very strong postive message of abstainence.
The title caught my attention. Maybe that was the whole idea. It was a warning to all girls to be careful.
The bible gives the same warning in 1 Peter 5:8, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." There are many predators in the world waiting destroy the innocence of young girls --and boys. Wow!
Whether Lyfe says it or the Bible says it, the message is just as clear; when many talk of love and affection they really have their eye on another direction and it's not respect it's just S.E.X.
I thank my friend for the the S.E.X education. I thought the post about S.E.X. was about sex. It was more. It was about respect.
Just goes to show that everything is not what it seems.
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
I Reserved My Space
I began a Myspace page a few days ago. At 57, I'm probably one of the oldest members of the Myspace crowd.
It's interesting to watch the way the young view themselves. I just I can hang!
Myspace reserves a small space for me in the infinite realms of cyberspace. In this space I can say a few words, post a few pictures and share them all with friends.
Yet, according to the promise of God, there is a place being prepared for those who live according to his will. This space is more expansive than myspace. In fact space will not be limited at all. There will be plenty of space.
In fact my space there will be bigger. I don't know how big, but the master has said that there will be many mansions or spaces in the father's new creation. It could be in one place or on different planets. I don't know. I just know that I will have myspace and many friends too.
So for now, I'll tinker with this space; but it's not myspace.
My space is being prepared.
That will be crump.
I can hang.
It's interesting to watch the way the young view themselves. I just I can hang!
Myspace reserves a small space for me in the infinite realms of cyberspace. In this space I can say a few words, post a few pictures and share them all with friends.
Yet, according to the promise of God, there is a place being prepared for those who live according to his will. This space is more expansive than myspace. In fact space will not be limited at all. There will be plenty of space.
In fact my space there will be bigger. I don't know how big, but the master has said that there will be many mansions or spaces in the father's new creation. It could be in one place or on different planets. I don't know. I just know that I will have myspace and many friends too.
So for now, I'll tinker with this space; but it's not myspace.
My space is being prepared.
That will be crump.
I can hang.
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
She Looks Great
I attended the funeral of my uncle, Lonnie Crawford, last week. He was the second uncle to pass in a two week period.
In attendance was my aunt, Saphine Thompson, from California. She flew back to Louisiana for both funerals.
To be 77 years old, she looks great. She and my mother look similar. Had she lived, she would have probably been as well preserved as Aunt Saphine.
There were about 50 people at the funeral, nearly all family members. Aunt Saphine, now the matriarch of the family, stood out.
I told her I want to sit down and pick her brain about family history. She told me to hurry up because she wasn't getting any younger.
She could have fooled me. She'll probably outlive us all.
At 77, I hope to have her presence, stamina, health and optimism. By that time she'll be 97 and and will still be clucking along and looking good!
It's amazing how beautiful a life can be when it's in God's hands.
In attendance was my aunt, Saphine Thompson, from California. She flew back to Louisiana for both funerals.
To be 77 years old, she looks great. She and my mother look similar. Had she lived, she would have probably been as well preserved as Aunt Saphine.
There were about 50 people at the funeral, nearly all family members. Aunt Saphine, now the matriarch of the family, stood out.
I told her I want to sit down and pick her brain about family history. She told me to hurry up because she wasn't getting any younger.
She could have fooled me. She'll probably outlive us all.
At 77, I hope to have her presence, stamina, health and optimism. By that time she'll be 97 and and will still be clucking along and looking good!
It's amazing how beautiful a life can be when it's in God's hands.
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
More than Enough
The computer in my office has been upgraded. The technicians say that I now have a server that has four huge disk drives that operate at the same time. Should one stop working, another will automatically kick in. It holds an awesome amount of data.
I only have four of the drives running. It can handle up to 16 drives, all running at the same time. If something happens to one, the other automatically kicks in. Wow!
That's more than enough. I'll never use it all. But it's available.
The grace of God is the same way. It is more than we will ever need. In our short lifetime we will never be able to consume all of the love, mercy and blessings God can provide.
It's like that computer in my office. The only reason I won't have more is that I don't install the disks and use them.
Right now, I have more computer space than I can use.
God's grace is not just "sufficient"; it's more than enough.
I'll think about that today.
I only have four of the drives running. It can handle up to 16 drives, all running at the same time. If something happens to one, the other automatically kicks in. Wow!
That's more than enough. I'll never use it all. But it's available.
The grace of God is the same way. It is more than we will ever need. In our short lifetime we will never be able to consume all of the love, mercy and blessings God can provide.
It's like that computer in my office. The only reason I won't have more is that I don't install the disks and use them.
Right now, I have more computer space than I can use.
God's grace is not just "sufficient"; it's more than enough.
I'll think about that today.
Monday, March 20, 2006
Flash Backs
During Worship yesterday we showed flashback slides of "The Way We Were" while the choir sang a variety of selections emphasizing that we have "Come a long way."
The snapshots brought smiles and laughter as we saw younger versions of ourselves and our friends in the congregation. Everyone has changed. Even those who were older agreed that time did most of them a favor.
Included in the photos was a shot of my wife Joslyn at age 23. Then there was a picture of me at 22. I was wearing Sansabelt, highwater pants, Nylon socks, and a Banlon Turtleneck. I thought I was it..then. Size 28 waist. Slim and Trim.
Well, 35 years later I'm a size 38, but spiritually I think I'm still slim and trim.
Snapshots give us a way to measure how we have matured over the years.
Flashbacks have a way allowing us to see how God has blessed us and worked with us over the years.
The good news is that even the snapshots I take today, will look funny a few years from now, because God is not through with me yet.
I thought I was "it" at age 22. However, when God gets through with me..that's going to be a great snapshot. That will be "it."
The snapshots brought smiles and laughter as we saw younger versions of ourselves and our friends in the congregation. Everyone has changed. Even those who were older agreed that time did most of them a favor.
Included in the photos was a shot of my wife Joslyn at age 23. Then there was a picture of me at 22. I was wearing Sansabelt, highwater pants, Nylon socks, and a Banlon Turtleneck. I thought I was it..then. Size 28 waist. Slim and Trim.
Well, 35 years later I'm a size 38, but spiritually I think I'm still slim and trim.
Snapshots give us a way to measure how we have matured over the years.
Flashbacks have a way allowing us to see how God has blessed us and worked with us over the years.
The good news is that even the snapshots I take today, will look funny a few years from now, because God is not through with me yet.
I thought I was "it" at age 22. However, when God gets through with me..that's going to be a great snapshot. That will be "it."
Friday, March 17, 2006
Whose Hand Is In The Puppet?
I watched our church puppet team practice last night. The group of high spirited youth made the inanimate puppets come to life. With their hands inside their mouths and rods working their hands, the puppets danced and moved at the will of the puppeteers.
I noticed at one point in the practice that the puppeteers changed places. It was interesting to see how the same puppet, in a another hand, acted differently. It was the hand inside the puppet and not the puppet itself that controlled its actions.
There is a hand that guides us too. We can tell when that hand changes from God's hands to Satan's hand. Like the puppet, we are often guided by the hand that directs us. Our job is to stayed prayed up so that we are always guided by God's hand.
The puppet is not real. It can't detect when its operators have changed. We can.
I will be sensitive to the hand that is guiding me because it's that hand that will determine where I go, what I say, and what I do today.
I noticed at one point in the practice that the puppeteers changed places. It was interesting to see how the same puppet, in a another hand, acted differently. It was the hand inside the puppet and not the puppet itself that controlled its actions.
There is a hand that guides us too. We can tell when that hand changes from God's hands to Satan's hand. Like the puppet, we are often guided by the hand that directs us. Our job is to stayed prayed up so that we are always guided by God's hand.
The puppet is not real. It can't detect when its operators have changed. We can.
I will be sensitive to the hand that is guiding me because it's that hand that will determine where I go, what I say, and what I do today.
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Help, I Have No Sewerage!
"Does your church help people with no sewerage?"
That was the question I was asked Monday from a desperate caller who explained that she was a poor mother on a fixed income whose sewerage has backed up. She said she had no way of paying to have it done.
As I was on the phone trying to help this woman I could not escape the irony of the moment. As I worked to help her, the Roto Rooter truck was parked at my house because my sewerage was backed up too.
There were towels all over the floor. Carpet had been stripped. Washing machine water flooded the house and was bubbling from the floor.
When Joslyn and I walked on the carpet, it was like walking on a wet sponge!
When the plumber left, the Roto Rooter man told me about 40 feet of drainage line needs replacing. When everybody finished: The carpenter who replaced my bathroom tiles and woodwork, the plumber and the Roto Rooter man, we needed $2,000.
I felt like the lady who called me. I need a number to call.
Then I remembered a song, "Jesus is on the mainline, tell him what you want!"
Hello Jesus, do you folks in heaven help people with $2,000 sewerage bills?
We have sewerage now.
Anyone need the number we called?
That was the question I was asked Monday from a desperate caller who explained that she was a poor mother on a fixed income whose sewerage has backed up. She said she had no way of paying to have it done.
As I was on the phone trying to help this woman I could not escape the irony of the moment. As I worked to help her, the Roto Rooter truck was parked at my house because my sewerage was backed up too.
There were towels all over the floor. Carpet had been stripped. Washing machine water flooded the house and was bubbling from the floor.
When Joslyn and I walked on the carpet, it was like walking on a wet sponge!
When the plumber left, the Roto Rooter man told me about 40 feet of drainage line needs replacing. When everybody finished: The carpenter who replaced my bathroom tiles and woodwork, the plumber and the Roto Rooter man, we needed $2,000.
I felt like the lady who called me. I need a number to call.
Then I remembered a song, "Jesus is on the mainline, tell him what you want!"
Hello Jesus, do you folks in heaven help people with $2,000 sewerage bills?
We have sewerage now.
Anyone need the number we called?
Monday, March 13, 2006
Look At Jesus
I attended the 60th birthday party of Sister Mildred James on Saturday March 11th. It was sponsored by her eight children and grandchildren.
When I looked around the room, I saw all of her children and grandchildren. There were almost 100 people present to celebrate her birthday.
I am humbled to know that I have had the honor of being pastor to all of her children and grandchildren. I have seen the family at its high moments, struggling and also in its sorrow. I have married its children and buried its dead.
Saturday night was one of those high days for Sister James.
Staring around the room, I saw all of the happy faces and listened to the testimonials and expressions of love. Powerpoint photos of smiling family members and fun times danced across the screen. It was inspiring.
Sister James was happy. She looked like a woman of 40. She glowed.
She is known in our congregation for a saying she normally says whenever someone is blessed, "Look at Jesus."
When I saw a hundred happy family members and friends, all healthy, reasonably happy and all saved, her little motto had a great significance.
I shared her sentiment.
Look at Jesus!
When I looked around the room, I saw all of her children and grandchildren. There were almost 100 people present to celebrate her birthday.
I am humbled to know that I have had the honor of being pastor to all of her children and grandchildren. I have seen the family at its high moments, struggling and also in its sorrow. I have married its children and buried its dead.
Saturday night was one of those high days for Sister James.
Staring around the room, I saw all of the happy faces and listened to the testimonials and expressions of love. Powerpoint photos of smiling family members and fun times danced across the screen. It was inspiring.
Sister James was happy. She looked like a woman of 40. She glowed.
She is known in our congregation for a saying she normally says whenever someone is blessed, "Look at Jesus."
When I saw a hundred happy family members and friends, all healthy, reasonably happy and all saved, her little motto had a great significance.
I shared her sentiment.
Look at Jesus!
Monday, January 02, 2006
They Gave Me A Car
Apparently the men of Tabernacle didn't like the fact that the pastor drove a 1985 Honda CRX around town, so they did something about it.
I bought the little car for my son back in the 1980's. He went to the Marines, returned and decided it was too small for him. He moved up and purchased a new car leaving the little Honda.
I wasn't about to waste a fully paid automobile. For $2,000 I put a new engine in it, had the body work retouched and amused myself driving all over town in the little car that's about the size of a Volkswagon. I could drive a month on a few gallons of gas. In two years, there was never a repair needed.
However, the men decided that the pastor deserved something better.
For Christmas, they presented me with the keys to a Ford Taurus. They made sure I knew that it was paid for and had a tank of gas.
I drove away in the Taurus, giving God and the men of Tabernacle a great thanks.
I didn't ask for the car, but I certainly received it in the spirit in which it was given.
What about the Honda? It still runs. It is paid for and insured. It reminds me never to get too high and to keep the common touch.
The Taurus is a sign of God's favor.
I'll keep them both.
I bought the little car for my son back in the 1980's. He went to the Marines, returned and decided it was too small for him. He moved up and purchased a new car leaving the little Honda.
I wasn't about to waste a fully paid automobile. For $2,000 I put a new engine in it, had the body work retouched and amused myself driving all over town in the little car that's about the size of a Volkswagon. I could drive a month on a few gallons of gas. In two years, there was never a repair needed.
However, the men decided that the pastor deserved something better.
For Christmas, they presented me with the keys to a Ford Taurus. They made sure I knew that it was paid for and had a tank of gas.
I drove away in the Taurus, giving God and the men of Tabernacle a great thanks.
I didn't ask for the car, but I certainly received it in the spirit in which it was given.
What about the Honda? It still runs. It is paid for and insured. It reminds me never to get too high and to keep the common touch.
The Taurus is a sign of God's favor.
I'll keep them both.
Monday, November 28, 2005
Camping in the Woods
Last week I spent five days at camp with about 50 members of our church Boy Scout troop. I've been doing it for over 30 years.
At 56, it's getting harder. However, my wife Joslyn makes it easier, in fact camping was almost luxurious.
We bought a giant tent, a portable queen size bed, air mattress, blankets, comforters, outdoor heaters, night lights, a table for my computer (I have to do three hours of study daily even in the woods) and many of the comforts of home.
With the exception that we couldn't make a quick walk to the bathroom, it was "home" for five days.
It reminded me of the first years of our marriage 31 years ago. We lived in a shotgun house with only a bed, a refrigerator and a kitchen table. When Joslyn finished decorating and arranging, the sofaless, chairless, shotgun house appeared to be our artistic desire rather than a reflection of our poverty.
The bible says he who finds a wife, finds a "good thing."
I hope I have been as good for her as she has been for me.
At 56, it's getting harder. However, my wife Joslyn makes it easier, in fact camping was almost luxurious.
We bought a giant tent, a portable queen size bed, air mattress, blankets, comforters, outdoor heaters, night lights, a table for my computer (I have to do three hours of study daily even in the woods) and many of the comforts of home.
With the exception that we couldn't make a quick walk to the bathroom, it was "home" for five days.
It reminded me of the first years of our marriage 31 years ago. We lived in a shotgun house with only a bed, a refrigerator and a kitchen table. When Joslyn finished decorating and arranging, the sofaless, chairless, shotgun house appeared to be our artistic desire rather than a reflection of our poverty.
The bible says he who finds a wife, finds a "good thing."
I hope I have been as good for her as she has been for me.
Saturday, November 05, 2005
More Than A Dinner
Joslyn and I went to dinner last night, but not alone.
Our congregation hosted a dinner for 70 evacuees of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita at Sophia's Restuarant.
Sophia's is plush Soul Food restuarant in Monroe. It's a greasy spoon without the grease.
The idea was to share a fellowship with evacuees in a setting that was not condescending or patronizing with men and women who have seen their share of misery.
Pastor Joe Adair of the Second Macedonia Baptist Chuch of Elizabeth New Jersey joined us. He brought financial gifts from the seniors of his church and the City of Elizabeth Fire Department.
As the dinner ended we distributed boxes of blankets, sheets, cleaning supplies and checks to evacuees. We intend to partner with them throughout the year to help them in many small ways.
I don't usually enjoy public dinners, banquets and formal affairs. I enjoyed this one.
I felt I was among friends although I really knew only a little about each guest and they probably knew even less about me.
Jesus was often criticized because he chose not to frequent the banquets of the rich and the affluent. His tendency to be seen frequently outside of the respectable social circles, while not completely ignoring others, was a major cause of friction in his ministry.
He seemed most comfortable where those around him needed or appreciated his prescence.
Last night Joslyn and I felt we were among those who appreciated our prescence.
I felt so comfortable...I ate some of my chicken with my fingers!
It was a memorable moment.
Our congregation hosted a dinner for 70 evacuees of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita at Sophia's Restuarant.
Sophia's is plush Soul Food restuarant in Monroe. It's a greasy spoon without the grease.
The idea was to share a fellowship with evacuees in a setting that was not condescending or patronizing with men and women who have seen their share of misery.
Pastor Joe Adair of the Second Macedonia Baptist Chuch of Elizabeth New Jersey joined us. He brought financial gifts from the seniors of his church and the City of Elizabeth Fire Department.
As the dinner ended we distributed boxes of blankets, sheets, cleaning supplies and checks to evacuees. We intend to partner with them throughout the year to help them in many small ways.
I don't usually enjoy public dinners, banquets and formal affairs. I enjoyed this one.
I felt I was among friends although I really knew only a little about each guest and they probably knew even less about me.
Jesus was often criticized because he chose not to frequent the banquets of the rich and the affluent. His tendency to be seen frequently outside of the respectable social circles, while not completely ignoring others, was a major cause of friction in his ministry.
He seemed most comfortable where those around him needed or appreciated his prescence.
Last night Joslyn and I felt we were among those who appreciated our prescence.
I felt so comfortable...I ate some of my chicken with my fingers!
It was a memorable moment.
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
Changing Glasses
I had my glasses changed this week. I'm 60/20 on distances it seems.
I'm becoming more dependent upon them as time passes. Since I'm a heavy reader and frequent computer user, I really put them to work.
I have bifocals. My wife, Josh, has tri-focals. Neither of us can see clearly without them.
There are many things I still can't see about life, even though I've changed my glasses. There are people, events, and circumstances that I can't seem to see clearly. I don't have 20/20 vision yet, when it comes to spiritual things.
The Word says, "Now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face..."
To see God's plan clearly, I'll have to change glasses and get spiritual 20/20 vision.
I'm becoming more dependent upon them as time passes. Since I'm a heavy reader and frequent computer user, I really put them to work.
I have bifocals. My wife, Josh, has tri-focals. Neither of us can see clearly without them.
There are many things I still can't see about life, even though I've changed my glasses. There are people, events, and circumstances that I can't seem to see clearly. I don't have 20/20 vision yet, when it comes to spiritual things.
The Word says, "Now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face..."
To see God's plan clearly, I'll have to change glasses and get spiritual 20/20 vision.
Saturday, October 08, 2005
No Drawers on My Desk
I have three offices. One at the church complex. One at my business and another at home. All three have desks.
I like my desks organized, but I don't like drawers. Drawers make it easy for me to stuff important but non-essential things out of sight. Once out of sight, they are usually out of consideration. So, I usually have desks with very few drawers or no drawers at all.
This week I cleared desktops. A matter is removed from my desktop when it is handled. Then it is filed away, otherwise it stays on the desk, in a neat stack of other items that must be completed.
With three desks, it took me some time to clear them all: Church, business and personal matters. However, since there were no drawers, I had no choice but to deal with them sooner or later.
Paul preached before Felix and Drusila about temperance, judgment and righteousness. (Acts 24:25) He laid it on their desk, but they put off their decision until a "A more convenient season." They never got around to dealing with the matters that Paul presented.
They must have had drawers on their desks.
I like my desks organized, but I don't like drawers. Drawers make it easy for me to stuff important but non-essential things out of sight. Once out of sight, they are usually out of consideration. So, I usually have desks with very few drawers or no drawers at all.
This week I cleared desktops. A matter is removed from my desktop when it is handled. Then it is filed away, otherwise it stays on the desk, in a neat stack of other items that must be completed.
With three desks, it took me some time to clear them all: Church, business and personal matters. However, since there were no drawers, I had no choice but to deal with them sooner or later.
Paul preached before Felix and Drusila about temperance, judgment and righteousness. (Acts 24:25) He laid it on their desk, but they put off their decision until a "A more convenient season." They never got around to dealing with the matters that Paul presented.
They must have had drawers on their desks.
Thursday, October 06, 2005
She Won't Do Shirts
The owner of the local laundry was pleasantly amused to learn why I spend so much money for the laundry of my shirts.
The fact that I have more than 30 shirts a month cleaned, starched and pressed was a curious plus for her business. This week a casual comment in passing, required an explanation.
When I married Joslyn 31 years ago she told me that she would go anywhere with me, do anything with me and support me in almost anything I did. However, there was a warning, "I don't do shirts."
With a few emergency exceptions, she's kept both promises.
Busy pastors use many shirts. Sometimes I have time to press them. Sometimes I don't. Hence, the laundry loves to see me walk in the door.
The Word of God says, it's better not to make a vow than to make a vow and break it. My wife has kept all of her vows to me. I hope she feels I'm doing the same.
There's one vow she keeps for sure...
Except for unusual circumstances, she won't do shirts.
The fact that I have more than 30 shirts a month cleaned, starched and pressed was a curious plus for her business. This week a casual comment in passing, required an explanation.
When I married Joslyn 31 years ago she told me that she would go anywhere with me, do anything with me and support me in almost anything I did. However, there was a warning, "I don't do shirts."
With a few emergency exceptions, she's kept both promises.
Busy pastors use many shirts. Sometimes I have time to press them. Sometimes I don't. Hence, the laundry loves to see me walk in the door.
The Word of God says, it's better not to make a vow than to make a vow and break it. My wife has kept all of her vows to me. I hope she feels I'm doing the same.
There's one vow she keeps for sure...
Except for unusual circumstances, she won't do shirts.
Saturday, October 01, 2005
Frustrated
Our church has been working to get Hurricane Katrina evacuees out of shelters into homes or back home. My wife, Joslyn, has been an energy dynamo in this area, taking one family by the hand and sifting through the paper, politics, propaganda and pushing to get them a house, utilities, financial assistance and a job.
She's one of several in the congregation who have re-routed their time to help stranded families return to normal life.
We're both frustrated today. One family absorbed a week's work. Joslyn and the church committee quickly worked to get finances for the family, take the mother to view an available housing unit, get deposits paid and to weave the family through the back door of the process that involved long waiting lines.
Mission accomplished. With keys in her hand and utilities on, the last step was to bring a small army of church women to the house to turn it into a house where a home could thrive.
Today, a group of church women were set to help, mop, sweep and help the family move into a three bedroom unit.
Yesterday, after all of the hard work, with new washer, dryer, stove and refrigerator on the the grounds, the mother decided she didn't like the house. She refused our efforts and won't move in.
Boom! Crash!
A weeks work went down the tubes. We were both so frustrated at the money and time lost, we went home, ate ice creame and watched T.V.
So what now?
We'll look at the next name on the list and start all over again.
We were not promised that our efforts would always be rewarded everytime by grateful recipients. There will be times, as we do God's work, that the only thank you will come from God.
As we work on the next family...
We'll keep a half gallon of ice cream ready.
She's one of several in the congregation who have re-routed their time to help stranded families return to normal life.
We're both frustrated today. One family absorbed a week's work. Joslyn and the church committee quickly worked to get finances for the family, take the mother to view an available housing unit, get deposits paid and to weave the family through the back door of the process that involved long waiting lines.
Mission accomplished. With keys in her hand and utilities on, the last step was to bring a small army of church women to the house to turn it into a house where a home could thrive.
Today, a group of church women were set to help, mop, sweep and help the family move into a three bedroom unit.
Yesterday, after all of the hard work, with new washer, dryer, stove and refrigerator on the the grounds, the mother decided she didn't like the house. She refused our efforts and won't move in.
Boom! Crash!
A weeks work went down the tubes. We were both so frustrated at the money and time lost, we went home, ate ice creame and watched T.V.
So what now?
We'll look at the next name on the list and start all over again.
We were not promised that our efforts would always be rewarded everytime by grateful recipients. There will be times, as we do God's work, that the only thank you will come from God.
As we work on the next family...
We'll keep a half gallon of ice cream ready.
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
Picking Up
For nearly a month we have wrestled with the impact of Hurricane Katrina and Rita. Most of the time, we have watched on television, night and day. For Joslyn and I Hurricane watching has become a ritual.
When Hurricane Rita moved through Texas and South Louisiana, we started to feel some of the winds in Monroe. Over the weekend power was out in most of South Monroe because power lines were toppled by falling trees, bent to the extremes by the wind. For many, power still has not be restored three days later.
We heard the whistling of the wind and the crackling of tree limbs around us. A giant Oak tree behind our home cracked like a toothpick as it crashed into two houses behind our home. The tree poked holes in the roofs and stuck its limbs all the way to their floors. Electrical wires snapped and dangled into the streets.
All night we heard limbs falling from the tall Pine and Oak trees in our yard. Because their branches stretch over our home like great fans in the summer, we anticipate the worse in storms. Their potontial is devastating in strong winds. We fully expected one of those trees to plunge through our house as well.
By Sunday morning, most of the neighborhoods looked devastated. Tree branches, downed electric lines, and debris were everywhere. Amazingly, we still had electric power but no cable connection. When we arrived for worship, our congregation was was miniscule. Most had been battling the storm in the dark all night.
A family of 35 from Lake Charles worshipped with us. They spent the weekend cramped in a local beauty shop. Another family of 20, also fleeing Hurricane Rita shared with us as well. The sermon God gave me addressed the moment, "Life Is Not Fair, But God is Good."
We fed our guests after the worship and returned to our homes to pick up after the storm.
All we had was just the risidual winds of the storm, and we were dislocated. Those who were actually in the storm endured more.
As we drove home the sun began shining brightly in the sky. The clouds seem to break away and allow the reassuring sun rays to make a bold entrance. It was a striking contrast to the broken community we passed as we drove.
The sun was a welcomed sight.
It reminded me that "After the storm, the SON will shine."
God is still good.
When Hurricane Rita moved through Texas and South Louisiana, we started to feel some of the winds in Monroe. Over the weekend power was out in most of South Monroe because power lines were toppled by falling trees, bent to the extremes by the wind. For many, power still has not be restored three days later.
We heard the whistling of the wind and the crackling of tree limbs around us. A giant Oak tree behind our home cracked like a toothpick as it crashed into two houses behind our home. The tree poked holes in the roofs and stuck its limbs all the way to their floors. Electrical wires snapped and dangled into the streets.
All night we heard limbs falling from the tall Pine and Oak trees in our yard. Because their branches stretch over our home like great fans in the summer, we anticipate the worse in storms. Their potontial is devastating in strong winds. We fully expected one of those trees to plunge through our house as well.
By Sunday morning, most of the neighborhoods looked devastated. Tree branches, downed electric lines, and debris were everywhere. Amazingly, we still had electric power but no cable connection. When we arrived for worship, our congregation was was miniscule. Most had been battling the storm in the dark all night.
A family of 35 from Lake Charles worshipped with us. They spent the weekend cramped in a local beauty shop. Another family of 20, also fleeing Hurricane Rita shared with us as well. The sermon God gave me addressed the moment, "Life Is Not Fair, But God is Good."
We fed our guests after the worship and returned to our homes to pick up after the storm.
All we had was just the risidual winds of the storm, and we were dislocated. Those who were actually in the storm endured more.
As we drove home the sun began shining brightly in the sky. The clouds seem to break away and allow the reassuring sun rays to make a bold entrance. It was a striking contrast to the broken community we passed as we drove.
The sun was a welcomed sight.
It reminded me that "After the storm, the SON will shine."
God is still good.
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
We All Have Our Inner Tubes
Last night a Hurricane Katrina evacuee gave a testimony. We were meeting concerning our response to the diaster. The evacuee told how her son was stranded in New Orleans on a roof top with water rising all around him.
Just when he thought he would drown, he sent up a final prayer. Suddendly an inner tube floated by and he grabbed it and floated to safety when he was picked up by a helicopter.
That innertube saved his life.
We all have our innertube situations. I have certainly had mine.
Sometimes the Lord answers my prayers in grand ways. Then sometimes he does it in small simple ways..
...like floating inner tubes our way!
Just when he thought he would drown, he sent up a final prayer. Suddendly an inner tube floated by and he grabbed it and floated to safety when he was picked up by a helicopter.
That innertube saved his life.
We all have our innertube situations. I have certainly had mine.
Sometimes the Lord answers my prayers in grand ways. Then sometimes he does it in small simple ways..
...like floating inner tubes our way!
Friday, September 16, 2005
Soles Repaired free of charge
My favorite shoe repair shop closed. 
I scanned the phone book to discover that there is only one remaining shoe repair shop in our city. One place left that repairs holes in soles.
I have a few pairs of shoes that I have been wearing for years. Each time the soles or heels wear out, I take them to the shoe shop for new half soles and heels. The shoes are just like new at a third of the cost of new ones.
\That's been my habit most of my adult life. Repair good shoes, don't throw them away.
Apparently, my method is not fashionable anymore. Folks are not getting their soles repaired; they are throwing away old shoes and buying new ones. Resultingly, shoe shops are going out of business. (They don't seem to repair anything: marriages, relationships, friendships; they just throw them away and get new ones.)
I pace, so my favorite pair of black loafers often have holes in the soles.
The other day I felt rocks on my socks as I walked. That's when I knew I needed sole repair.
I found the last shoe shop in town. The repairman looked lonely, glad to see a customer. She said I can pick up my repaired shoes Monday; they'll be like new.
There are times when I feel like there is a hole in my soul, just like my shoes. I can feel the rocks of this world making things uncomfortable.
I'm glad that God hasn't gone out of business. He's still in the business of reviving worn-out souls and making them just like new. He's not in the Yellow Pages, but he is in the Book.
My shoes will cost me about $25 Monday, but I'll have new soles.
When God revives me, though, there is no bill.
Jesus paid it all.
Sunday, September 11, 2005
Ravels, New Shirts & Cufflinks
When I returned home from the National Baptist Convention yesterday, I returned with 10 new shirts. They are multi-colored with my last name embroidered on the left collar. More importantly, they have cufflinks.
A few Sundays ago, my old white shirt that I've been wearing, with other old ones for about six years, had a ravel dangling from the sleeve. I didn't see it, but everyone else did, including thousands who watched as I preached on television.
After the service no one remembered what I talked about; only the ravel that floated through the air, clinging to my shirt sleeve everytime I moved my left hand.
Joslyn said that's the end of it. No more ravels. She said I am to get new shirts and cufflinks. Fancy shirts and cufflinks are low on my priority list. I'd rather cut the ravel off the shirt and keep wearing it; but Joslyn says the public will fault her for my ravel, saying "Why does she let him go out like that."
Now I have new shirts and some fancy cufflinks.
I'm not a flashy person. They look good, but they are not "me."
Since they won't ravel soon Joslyn will be pleased.
I have a few ravels in my life that keep showing too. Sometimes I embarass myself and can't focus on what I should be doing because I keep looking at my ravels. Fortunately, God looks at the inside and not the outside.
What does Joslyn think about that?
She says it's true that God sees the inside, but "black folks are not God they only see the ravels"...keep wearing cufflinks!
A few Sundays ago, my old white shirt that I've been wearing, with other old ones for about six years, had a ravel dangling from the sleeve. I didn't see it, but everyone else did, including thousands who watched as I preached on television.
After the service no one remembered what I talked about; only the ravel that floated through the air, clinging to my shirt sleeve everytime I moved my left hand.
Joslyn said that's the end of it. No more ravels. She said I am to get new shirts and cufflinks. Fancy shirts and cufflinks are low on my priority list. I'd rather cut the ravel off the shirt and keep wearing it; but Joslyn says the public will fault her for my ravel, saying "Why does she let him go out like that."
Now I have new shirts and some fancy cufflinks.
I'm not a flashy person. They look good, but they are not "me."
Since they won't ravel soon Joslyn will be pleased.
I have a few ravels in my life that keep showing too. Sometimes I embarass myself and can't focus on what I should be doing because I keep looking at my ravels. Fortunately, God looks at the inside and not the outside.
What does Joslyn think about that?
She says it's true that God sees the inside, but "black folks are not God they only see the ravels"...keep wearing cufflinks!
Thursday, September 08, 2005
Ah Atlanta-Reborn
Joslyn and I are attending the National Baptist Convention this week in Atlanta. It is a city of high rise buildings whose pinnacles seem to touch the sky. It has beautiful parks, several wide eight lane streets and hustling commerce.
When General Sherman burned this city during the Civil War its inhabitants looked at the ashes and thought it could never be rebuilt. Margaret Mitchell even wrote a book about the determination of Atlanta citizens and Scarlet O'Hara, called "Gone With The Wind."
I see Atlanta and I think about New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurrican Katrina. It certainly can rise again.
Atlanta left behind its endearment of slavery and much of its racism. Maybe, New Orleans will have to leave a few things behind when it rebuilds.
To be born again, we can't do the same thing again. We must be brand new.
The good must rise from the spoils; the bad must be "Gone with the Wind."
When General Sherman burned this city during the Civil War its inhabitants looked at the ashes and thought it could never be rebuilt. Margaret Mitchell even wrote a book about the determination of Atlanta citizens and Scarlet O'Hara, called "Gone With The Wind."
I see Atlanta and I think about New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurrican Katrina. It certainly can rise again.
Atlanta left behind its endearment of slavery and much of its racism. Maybe, New Orleans will have to leave a few things behind when it rebuilds.
To be born again, we can't do the same thing again. We must be brand new.
The good must rise from the spoils; the bad must be "Gone with the Wind."
Tuesday, September 06, 2005
Can't write a check
My wife Joslyn has always said that computers were going to be a curse on us. Now she's partially vindicated in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
Because I bank with New Orleans based Hibernia Bank my banking capabilities have been limited to making deposits and withdrawals up to $100.00. No online banking. No electronic transfers. Automatic withdrawals for regular payments have been halted. Credit card receipts from business activities can't be posted.
Hurricane Katrina has taken out many businesses in the New Orleans area. UPS has 2,200 employees in 22 buildings; they have not heard from several hundred of them. Georgia Pacific Railroad had 8,000 workers, they are out. BellSouth has reporte 1.6 million phones not working. Cox Communications has 1000 employees, 500 in New Orleans.
Then there is Hibernia Bank.
I'd open an account at another bank, but I can't transfer any funds.
The bible says in the last days that that the world would become totally dependent on a evil number based system that will not allow us to sell or buy anything or even make commercial transactions with the Satan's approval.
We have not reached that point in the Revelation prophesy, but the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina let's us know how close we are to the fulfillment of the prophecy.
Joslyn has been predicting a computer dependence meltdown for a long time.
However, she's not laughing about being right....she can't write a check or use her debit card either!
Because I bank with New Orleans based Hibernia Bank my banking capabilities have been limited to making deposits and withdrawals up to $100.00. No online banking. No electronic transfers. Automatic withdrawals for regular payments have been halted. Credit card receipts from business activities can't be posted.
Hurricane Katrina has taken out many businesses in the New Orleans area. UPS has 2,200 employees in 22 buildings; they have not heard from several hundred of them. Georgia Pacific Railroad had 8,000 workers, they are out. BellSouth has reporte 1.6 million phones not working. Cox Communications has 1000 employees, 500 in New Orleans.
Then there is Hibernia Bank.
I'd open an account at another bank, but I can't transfer any funds.
The bible says in the last days that that the world would become totally dependent on a evil number based system that will not allow us to sell or buy anything or even make commercial transactions with the Satan's approval.
We have not reached that point in the Revelation prophesy, but the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina let's us know how close we are to the fulfillment of the prophecy.
Joslyn has been predicting a computer dependence meltdown for a long time.
However, she's not laughing about being right....she can't write a check or use her debit card either!
Saturday, September 03, 2005
Hurricane Fallout
I went to the makeshift shelter in our community for Hurricane Katrina evacuees. The number has grown here to 2,200 in one place. Yesterday, it was announced that another 5,000 are expected.
The number of hurting people is overwhelming.
It looks like a battle zone in the relief centers. There is so much need, yet what we are able to do seems so little.
To sufficiently rise to the occasion takes a united effort. I'm afraid the disunity of our community is beginning to reveal the cracks in the dam.
The Red Cross controls the whole process, the overwhelming majority of its staff and leaders are white. The overwhelming majority of the evacuees are Black.
Black agencies such as "Community Action" and other Black community relief groups are excluded from the relief process inner circles.
When that happens it means that big money is being raised, distributed and handled. Whites have a tendency to have a great compassion for the poor when there is money available.
So, most of our churches stand on the sideline doing what they can individually, but are being excluded from the big picture as others "help" our people...for a profit.
Jesus said the "poor you will have you always."
I guess that applies to poverty and disaster scavengers too.
The number of hurting people is overwhelming.
It looks like a battle zone in the relief centers. There is so much need, yet what we are able to do seems so little.
To sufficiently rise to the occasion takes a united effort. I'm afraid the disunity of our community is beginning to reveal the cracks in the dam.
The Red Cross controls the whole process, the overwhelming majority of its staff and leaders are white. The overwhelming majority of the evacuees are Black.
Black agencies such as "Community Action" and other Black community relief groups are excluded from the relief process inner circles.
When that happens it means that big money is being raised, distributed and handled. Whites have a tendency to have a great compassion for the poor when there is money available.
So, most of our churches stand on the sideline doing what they can individually, but are being excluded from the big picture as others "help" our people...for a profit.
Jesus said the "poor you will have you always."
I guess that applies to poverty and disaster scavengers too.
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Helping the Hurricane victims
Our city is filled with people who have come here from South Louisiana seeking refuge. Many are sleeping in cars, trailers, and tents. About 1700 are residing in the Civic Center here and hundreds more are staying in recreation centers in surrounding towns.
It is devastating to see so much hurt in South Louisiana. Even those who escaped to Monroe still have nothing in New Orleans, Biloxi and other cities. It's all underwater or destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.
It is encouraging to see people lock shoulders and help in a thousand small ways. Our church is washing and drying clothes, preparing food and our youth are walking the dogs of those stranded. Countless numbers of God's people are showing love when it is needed most.
We are compelled to act.
Jesus said what we do for the "least of these" we do for him.
We are praying and trying to help. We don't know how long that will be, but we intend to help as long as it is needed.
It's the least we can do.
It is devastating to see so much hurt in South Louisiana. Even those who escaped to Monroe still have nothing in New Orleans, Biloxi and other cities. It's all underwater or destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.
It is encouraging to see people lock shoulders and help in a thousand small ways. Our church is washing and drying clothes, preparing food and our youth are walking the dogs of those stranded. Countless numbers of God's people are showing love when it is needed most.
We are compelled to act.
Jesus said what we do for the "least of these" we do for him.
We are praying and trying to help. We don't know how long that will be, but we intend to help as long as it is needed.
It's the least we can do.
Monday, August 29, 2005
Watching the Hurricane
Joslyn and I have been up watching the path of Hurricane Katrina. It is moving toward New Orleans at the moment, expected to make landfall with 25 foot surges and winds of 150 to 184 miles per hour.
Thousands have moved out of the Hurricane's path. A storm center has been set up here in our city for hundreds of South Louisiana citizens fleeing the storm. The youth of "Top Gun" our church youth ministry, are on standby to help move in cots and supplies for those stranded.
We have friends and associates in South Louisiana. We stayed up to watch, out of concern for them. All we can do at this point is pray for them.
Storms, hurricanes and tornadoes seem to be more frequent. Inconsistencies in the weather, national discord and other events are all indicated in scripture as signs of the last days. As the last days of this system approach it is expected that conditions will get worse before Christ comes and makes them better.
The chilling effect of watching great storms and cosmic events is only balanced by our faith that God is still in control of things....even the wind and waves of Hurrican Katrina.
Thousands have moved out of the Hurricane's path. A storm center has been set up here in our city for hundreds of South Louisiana citizens fleeing the storm. The youth of "Top Gun" our church youth ministry, are on standby to help move in cots and supplies for those stranded.
We have friends and associates in South Louisiana. We stayed up to watch, out of concern for them. All we can do at this point is pray for them.
Storms, hurricanes and tornadoes seem to be more frequent. Inconsistencies in the weather, national discord and other events are all indicated in scripture as signs of the last days. As the last days of this system approach it is expected that conditions will get worse before Christ comes and makes them better.
The chilling effect of watching great storms and cosmic events is only balanced by our faith that God is still in control of things....even the wind and waves of Hurrican Katrina.
Sunday, August 28, 2005
100 New Boys in seven days
Joslyn and I have just finished the recruitment week in our youth leadership program called Top Gun. We visited schools, talked to parents and planned a weekend to invite them to the program.
We've been at it constantly since Monday.
Today we concluded the weekend, which included two overnighters for the youth who will spend seven years in the program. We're both hands-on in our involvement, so it is personally draining.
I'm relieved, tired and frustrated.
I'm frustated because four out of five of the 100 new youth from Elementary through high schools have not attended any church in their lives.
Neither have their parents.
If that is the mark of this generation, one that "knows not Joseph or the God of Joseph" then it may explain many things.
It also explains why we can go so frustrated that we stop doing what we do.
We've been at it constantly since Monday.
Today we concluded the weekend, which included two overnighters for the youth who will spend seven years in the program. We're both hands-on in our involvement, so it is personally draining.
I'm relieved, tired and frustrated.
I'm frustated because four out of five of the 100 new youth from Elementary through high schools have not attended any church in their lives.
Neither have their parents.
If that is the mark of this generation, one that "knows not Joseph or the God of Joseph" then it may explain many things.
It also explains why we can go so frustrated that we stop doing what we do.
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
Two Mothers?
I'm still trying to understand yesterday's Supreme Court ruling in California recognizing two lesbians as the mothers of a set of twins.
With donated sperm and ova donated from one of the "mothers" a set of twins was born. The couple broke up later and one of the "mothers" sued for parental rights. California says the lesbian petitioner is indeed a "mom" with all the responsibilities and rights of a mom. So the twins have two mothers.
I was reared by a whole community of mothers. Before I was seven, I lived in a dozen or more homes, with a dozen or more mothers. My father had custody and he often paid people to keep me in their homes.
When I spent the summer on the plantation with my sharecropper grandparents in Panterburn Mississippi there was a grandmother and a countryside filled with mothers.
When I came to church at Tabernacle there were dozens of mothers, all of whom who took an interest in me. The lady across the street from me became my mother too. In fact, I moved in her house for several years. There were more.
They were what Hiliary Clinton calls the mothers of the "village." They looked out for me.
I thought about something ele. The California twins had one father, a sperm donor. However, when a person accepts Christ he has one father, and a lot of brothers and sisters, and mothers too.
Even if our parents, lesbian or otherwise, give us difficult situations to live with, like having two mothers. If we know Jesus, we still have one father...
Who cares.
With donated sperm and ova donated from one of the "mothers" a set of twins was born. The couple broke up later and one of the "mothers" sued for parental rights. California says the lesbian petitioner is indeed a "mom" with all the responsibilities and rights of a mom. So the twins have two mothers.
I was reared by a whole community of mothers. Before I was seven, I lived in a dozen or more homes, with a dozen or more mothers. My father had custody and he often paid people to keep me in their homes.
When I spent the summer on the plantation with my sharecropper grandparents in Panterburn Mississippi there was a grandmother and a countryside filled with mothers.
When I came to church at Tabernacle there were dozens of mothers, all of whom who took an interest in me. The lady across the street from me became my mother too. In fact, I moved in her house for several years. There were more.
They were what Hiliary Clinton calls the mothers of the "village." They looked out for me.
I thought about something ele. The California twins had one father, a sperm donor. However, when a person accepts Christ he has one father, and a lot of brothers and sisters, and mothers too.
Even if our parents, lesbian or otherwise, give us difficult situations to live with, like having two mothers. If we know Jesus, we still have one father...
Who cares.
Saturday, August 20, 2005
I Had Chit'lins Today
I enjoy the fine culinary tastes of the best of our people, but every now and then I get a hunger for some real food.
What's "real" food? Pigtails, pig ears, pig feet, tongue, trite, brains, ham, cracklins, and of course chit'lins. Combine that with mustard greens, collard greens, corn bread, rice and gravy, sweet potatoes and a tall glass of water and you're eating high on the hog.
So, I stopped in a soul food restuarant today. I ordered myself a plate of chit'lins, mustard greens, sweet potatoes, rice and gravy and cornbread. It was a feast worthy of a polite and secretive belch. I broke every health and etiquette rule in the book!
I had grease on my mouth, so I know it was good!
Jesus talked about a different kind of hunger. Hunger for righteousness and thirst for the Word of God. He promised that those who feed their spirits on his word would never hunger or thirst. I hunger for the Gospel too. I thirst for that too.
However, I still crave a big bowl of collard greens cooked with ham hocks and served with hot buttered cornbread.
I don't need a fork, I'll eat that with my fingers!
I'm so Countreeeeeee!
What's "real" food? Pigtails, pig ears, pig feet, tongue, trite, brains, ham, cracklins, and of course chit'lins. Combine that with mustard greens, collard greens, corn bread, rice and gravy, sweet potatoes and a tall glass of water and you're eating high on the hog.
So, I stopped in a soul food restuarant today. I ordered myself a plate of chit'lins, mustard greens, sweet potatoes, rice and gravy and cornbread. It was a feast worthy of a polite and secretive belch. I broke every health and etiquette rule in the book!
I had grease on my mouth, so I know it was good!
Jesus talked about a different kind of hunger. Hunger for righteousness and thirst for the Word of God. He promised that those who feed their spirits on his word would never hunger or thirst. I hunger for the Gospel too. I thirst for that too.
However, I still crave a big bowl of collard greens cooked with ham hocks and served with hot buttered cornbread.
I don't need a fork, I'll eat that with my fingers!
I'm so Countreeeeeee!
Friday, August 19, 2005
A $423 alignment bill
I took the Honda CRX to get that wheel replaced yesterday. What was supposed to be a simple wheel replacement and alignment cost more, but it had to be paid.
It turns out I needed two tires, an alignment, tie rod ends, and a wheel rotation. Final bill $423.00. After I got over the shock of the cost I drove off in my little 1985 red CRX feeling pretty good because everything was straigtened out.
The same rings true for us spiritually. The price of our salvation was a death on a cross. It was a high price.
But, thanks to Jesus we have the assurance that everything has been straigthened out and realigned.
Jesus paid for my salvation, unfortunately I had to pay the $423.00 for little Honda. Thanks to his grace, I shelled it out and drove away.
It turns out I needed two tires, an alignment, tie rod ends, and a wheel rotation. Final bill $423.00. After I got over the shock of the cost I drove off in my little 1985 red CRX feeling pretty good because everything was straigtened out.
The same rings true for us spiritually. The price of our salvation was a death on a cross. It was a high price.
But, thanks to Jesus we have the assurance that everything has been straigthened out and realigned.
Jesus paid for my salvation, unfortunately I had to pay the $423.00 for little Honda. Thanks to his grace, I shelled it out and drove away.
Thursday, August 18, 2005
Wheels Out of Line
I like to drive a little red Honda CRX, 1985. It's old but it runs and it's paid for. My wife drives the new SUV Expedition.
Someone pointed out to me yesterday that the right front tire of my CRX is worn to the thread. I hadn't noticed. It's dangerously close to the blow out stage. I'll get my wheels aligned today and a new tire.
Our lives can really get messed up when our alignment is off. It wears our spirituality to the thread. Without a realignment, we're all close to the blow out stage.
As for the 20 year old CRX...as long as it starts and runs 30 miles to a gallon of gas, I'll keep driving it!
Someone pointed out to me yesterday that the right front tire of my CRX is worn to the thread. I hadn't noticed. It's dangerously close to the blow out stage. I'll get my wheels aligned today and a new tire.
Our lives can really get messed up when our alignment is off. It wears our spirituality to the thread. Without a realignment, we're all close to the blow out stage.
As for the 20 year old CRX...as long as it starts and runs 30 miles to a gallon of gas, I'll keep driving it!
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
Thieves and Burglars
The police surrounded my office after the alarm went off. Our district association has been meeting this week, but I had to skip out when I received a call that my buglar alarm had been tripped by burglars.
I watched as police dogs moved through the building and police officers stood outside with hands on their holstered weapons shouting commands to the burglar if he was in the building.
After about an hour the drama was over. With the exception of the broken glass and fingerprint powder everywhere, it was done. Nothing was taken apparently. The alarmed surprised the burglars.
It was a reminder that Jesus said not to put your trust in worldly goods where burglars and thieves can get to them. We should put our treasures in heavenly things where they are safe in the trust of God.
The burglars apparently didn't get the message.
For those burglars who don't follow Jesus' teaching...we buy burglar alarms.
I watched as police dogs moved through the building and police officers stood outside with hands on their holstered weapons shouting commands to the burglar if he was in the building.
After about an hour the drama was over. With the exception of the broken glass and fingerprint powder everywhere, it was done. Nothing was taken apparently. The alarmed surprised the burglars.
It was a reminder that Jesus said not to put your trust in worldly goods where burglars and thieves can get to them. We should put our treasures in heavenly things where they are safe in the trust of God.
The burglars apparently didn't get the message.
For those burglars who don't follow Jesus' teaching...we buy burglar alarms.
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
I Fell Down
I'm still laughing at myself. I know everyone present got a good laugh because I still chuckle everytime I think about it.
I went to a community meeting Monday night to hear presentations from our school board members. I sat up close to the front, shaking everyone's hand and doing the cordiality thing. When I sat down, my chair slipped from under me.
I tumbled backward as if I was drunk. My chair seemed to run away from me. There was nothing to hold on to. My feet spread apart and flew up into the air!
Once everyone saw that I wasn't hurt they had a good laugh. I did too.
There was the pastor of the Tabernacle Baptist Church and publisher of the local newspaper with his feet up in the air like a drunk man. It was too funny.
That's the way it is in life. Sometimes what you thought was there to support you is not there. You reach for something to hold on to but it's not there.
We fall down!
Thanks to Jesus, we get up!
I got up..but it was still funny.
I went to a community meeting Monday night to hear presentations from our school board members. I sat up close to the front, shaking everyone's hand and doing the cordiality thing. When I sat down, my chair slipped from under me.
I tumbled backward as if I was drunk. My chair seemed to run away from me. There was nothing to hold on to. My feet spread apart and flew up into the air!
Once everyone saw that I wasn't hurt they had a good laugh. I did too.
There was the pastor of the Tabernacle Baptist Church and publisher of the local newspaper with his feet up in the air like a drunk man. It was too funny.
That's the way it is in life. Sometimes what you thought was there to support you is not there. You reach for something to hold on to but it's not there.
We fall down!
Thanks to Jesus, we get up!
I got up..but it was still funny.
Sunday, August 07, 2005
Bubble Bath and A Wake Up Call
After a week at the Youth Encampment at Southern University, I had a chance to take a full bath, instead of just a shower yesterday. The showers at Southern were very nice but nothing takes the place of a good hot bath.
I drew a full tub of water, added fragranted bubble bath. The temperature of the water was hot enough to boil a cob of corn I suspect; but I like hot baths.
With bubbles everywhere, I sat in the tub. It was relaxing.
I wonder if there will be bubble baths in heaven? I guess not; especially since we won't get dirty or smelly or tired.
I'll miss the bubble baths when I get there, but I'm sure I'll get over it..quickly.
Before I knew it I dozed off to sleep..in the tub. I dreamed about bubble baths in heaven. I was running around on clouds, wrapped in a towell, blowing bubbles! I passed Moses and Elijah and blew bubbles at them. I shook hands with Martin Luther King, and said hello to Mary McCleod Bethune and Marian Anderson. I blew bubbles as I raced past all of them, floating like an astronaut in space from one cloud to the next.
Floating!
Blowing bubbles!
Then the phone rang!
When I woke up, the bubbles were gone. The water was luke warm and the bubbly dream was gone too.
I don't know what heaven will be like, but one thing is for certain, once the dream of eternity begins we won't wake up to find that the bubble are gone!
I drew a full tub of water, added fragranted bubble bath. The temperature of the water was hot enough to boil a cob of corn I suspect; but I like hot baths.
With bubbles everywhere, I sat in the tub. It was relaxing.
I wonder if there will be bubble baths in heaven? I guess not; especially since we won't get dirty or smelly or tired.
I'll miss the bubble baths when I get there, but I'm sure I'll get over it..quickly.
Before I knew it I dozed off to sleep..in the tub. I dreamed about bubble baths in heaven. I was running around on clouds, wrapped in a towell, blowing bubbles! I passed Moses and Elijah and blew bubbles at them. I shook hands with Martin Luther King, and said hello to Mary McCleod Bethune and Marian Anderson. I blew bubbles as I raced past all of them, floating like an astronaut in space from one cloud to the next.
Floating!
Blowing bubbles!
Then the phone rang!
When I woke up, the bubbles were gone. The water was luke warm and the bubbly dream was gone too.
I don't know what heaven will be like, but one thing is for certain, once the dream of eternity begins we won't wake up to find that the bubble are gone!
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
Getting to the real me
I'm attending the Louisiana Baptist Youth Encampment this week in Baton Rouge. It's a week long retreat for Louisiana youth to reflect on their spirituality, sponsored by the State Convention at Southern University.
Yesterday, as I ate breakfast, I watched the myriad of youth pass by with a variety of fashions. Then I noticed that the adults were similar in their fashion statements, just more conservative. It struck me how far we go to present a face to the public that may not be the real us.
A weave looks good, but it's not the natural hair of the wearer. A girdle can make me appear thinner. Contacts, fingernails, padded bras and hips, false teeth, girdles and rows of gold plated teeth, all present an image to the public that may not really be us.
It's not just youth, it's adults too. We all seem to mask who we really are behind something else. There are several layers of articificial appearances and personalities that we have dig through to get to the real us.
God cuts to the chase. He's ignores our weaves, contacts, pads, clip ons, etc. He looks straight at our heart. Man sees the outside and can be fooled by appearances. God judges the heart.
Our outward masks may give us an artificial appearance before others, but they won't change the way God sees us.
God saw us in the shower!
He knows the real deal!
Yesterday, as I ate breakfast, I watched the myriad of youth pass by with a variety of fashions. Then I noticed that the adults were similar in their fashion statements, just more conservative. It struck me how far we go to present a face to the public that may not be the real us.
A weave looks good, but it's not the natural hair of the wearer. A girdle can make me appear thinner. Contacts, fingernails, padded bras and hips, false teeth, girdles and rows of gold plated teeth, all present an image to the public that may not really be us.
It's not just youth, it's adults too. We all seem to mask who we really are behind something else. There are several layers of articificial appearances and personalities that we have dig through to get to the real us.
God cuts to the chase. He's ignores our weaves, contacts, pads, clip ons, etc. He looks straight at our heart. Man sees the outside and can be fooled by appearances. God judges the heart.
Our outward masks may give us an artificial appearance before others, but they won't change the way God sees us.
God saw us in the shower!
He knows the real deal!
Saturday, July 30, 2005
Another Case of Popcorn Today
I bought a case of popcorn yesterday. It's the kind in the packages complete with the oil and popcorn salt in the same package. I buy popcorn by the case. I don't like micro-wave popcorn. Either pop it in a pot on the stove or churn it out of a popcorn machine.
So, I gave myself a present a few years ago. I bought a popcorn; just like the one in the movies. It's always filled with hot, fresh kernels. When I walk in my door the smell of popcorn meets me everyday. It's my favorite snack.
The problem is that my favorite snack often replaces my meals. Even though it's low on calories and has plenty of fiber, it's short on protein. It's quick, convenient and tasty, but not very nutritious. It's supposed to be a snack; not a meal.
There was a time when I tried to exist spiritually on snacks; everything really nourshing took too long or had a high cost. The problem with snacks, you know, a little praise here, a little worship there; a bible scripture every now and then is that they were not really nourishing. They were spritual snacks.
I learned that I need more spiritually to be fully nourished; snacks were fine but not sufficient.
Now I study regularly, pray constantly, worship, serve and give. I believe I'm on the right right level of the spiritual food pyramid.
But that popcorn machine that keeps turning out the snacks...that's a horse of different color.
So, I gave myself a present a few years ago. I bought a popcorn; just like the one in the movies. It's always filled with hot, fresh kernels. When I walk in my door the smell of popcorn meets me everyday. It's my favorite snack.
The problem is that my favorite snack often replaces my meals. Even though it's low on calories and has plenty of fiber, it's short on protein. It's quick, convenient and tasty, but not very nutritious. It's supposed to be a snack; not a meal.
There was a time when I tried to exist spiritually on snacks; everything really nourshing took too long or had a high cost. The problem with snacks, you know, a little praise here, a little worship there; a bible scripture every now and then is that they were not really nourishing. They were spritual snacks.
I learned that I need more spiritually to be fully nourished; snacks were fine but not sufficient.
Now I study regularly, pray constantly, worship, serve and give. I believe I'm on the right right level of the spiritual food pyramid.
But that popcorn machine that keeps turning out the snacks...that's a horse of different color.
Thursday, July 28, 2005
Where are the volunteers?
A group of young people from across the nation come to our city every year to spend a week repairing the homes of the poor and the needy.
This year, the group called "Work Camp" is spending a week in 100 degree heat helping 18 famlies repair their homes. They are painting, repairing screens, steps and making other changes.
The youth pay over $300 a week for the "privelege" to stand in the heat and sweat for a week helping people they do not know. At night, they sing and pray and sleep on the floors at a school.
After a week they return to their homes. Hundreds of youth like these are doing the same across the nation.
This week's Sunday School lesson is about helping the needy in the name of Christ. At Bible Study last night we talked about the need for missionary service. The "Work Camp" volunteers were given as an example. They were praised.
Why is it that, allowing for a few exceptions, most volunteers such as these are whites helping Blacks?. It's rare for Blacks to volunteer to help whites in such efforts.
The people in the neighborhood watched as they worked in the sun. They thanked them. They praised them.
It just appears that we won't volunteer unless we are being paid to volunteer. We are definitely not going to pay over $300 for the privelege of working in 100 degree heat, working for free and sleeping a hard school floor.
As I reviewed Sunday's lesson from Matthew 25:31- I thought of the "Work Camp" volunteers and wondered to myself, "Where are the volunteers?"
Are we sheep or goats?
This year, the group called "Work Camp" is spending a week in 100 degree heat helping 18 famlies repair their homes. They are painting, repairing screens, steps and making other changes.
The youth pay over $300 a week for the "privelege" to stand in the heat and sweat for a week helping people they do not know. At night, they sing and pray and sleep on the floors at a school.
After a week they return to their homes. Hundreds of youth like these are doing the same across the nation.
This week's Sunday School lesson is about helping the needy in the name of Christ. At Bible Study last night we talked about the need for missionary service. The "Work Camp" volunteers were given as an example. They were praised.
Why is it that, allowing for a few exceptions, most volunteers such as these are whites helping Blacks?. It's rare for Blacks to volunteer to help whites in such efforts.
The people in the neighborhood watched as they worked in the sun. They thanked them. They praised them.
It just appears that we won't volunteer unless we are being paid to volunteer. We are definitely not going to pay over $300 for the privelege of working in 100 degree heat, working for free and sleeping a hard school floor.
As I reviewed Sunday's lesson from Matthew 25:31- I thought of the "Work Camp" volunteers and wondered to myself, "Where are the volunteers?"
Are we sheep or goats?
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
He wore flip flops to church
I read the morning paper today and saw another in a series of editorials I've been reading on the internet, in newspapers and TV news about the the young ladies who wore flip flops to the White House a while back.
The articles hit home because Sunday, one of the youth of our congregation came to worship wearing short pants and flip flops.
On one side the young man is very active in our congregation, volunteers, studies and lives a pretty straight life. He has a fascination with flip flop shoes. He has a pair to match everything: plain flip flops, designer flip flops; etc.
On the other hand I feel like I have failed him. I have taken him half way around the world and given him the best instruction I know; but somehow I can't get it over that there are standards beyond his own. The same rings true with others concerning sagging pants, gold plated teeth, and hoochie mama dresses.
The WORD says that there is a way that seems right to men. Until we can see with spiritual eyes what we do always seems right, if the only persons to be pleased are ourselves. When God is left out of the picture, anything goes.
The young ladies who wore flip flops to the White House fouled up a golden opportunity. If they failed to learn when and where to wear flip flops; then there are probably other social graces they haven't learn either.
I feel compelled to be sure that those who are around me won't get invited to the White House; or worse become President wearing flip flops.
The articles hit home because Sunday, one of the youth of our congregation came to worship wearing short pants and flip flops.
On one side the young man is very active in our congregation, volunteers, studies and lives a pretty straight life. He has a fascination with flip flop shoes. He has a pair to match everything: plain flip flops, designer flip flops; etc.
On the other hand I feel like I have failed him. I have taken him half way around the world and given him the best instruction I know; but somehow I can't get it over that there are standards beyond his own. The same rings true with others concerning sagging pants, gold plated teeth, and hoochie mama dresses.
The WORD says that there is a way that seems right to men. Until we can see with spiritual eyes what we do always seems right, if the only persons to be pleased are ourselves. When God is left out of the picture, anything goes.
The young ladies who wore flip flops to the White House fouled up a golden opportunity. If they failed to learn when and where to wear flip flops; then there are probably other social graces they haven't learn either.
I feel compelled to be sure that those who are around me won't get invited to the White House; or worse become President wearing flip flops.
Sunday, July 24, 2005
Finished the Book
I finished reading John Grisham's "The Testament" yesterday.
I started reading it on the plane from Hawaii. There are a few fiction authors that I read every year. I started reading Grisham novels a few years ago. I also read John Jakes, and Michener. Pure entertainment.
I picked up the habit of reading fiction from my wife. I usually read non-fiction religion, politics,social science, journals and what she calls "heavy" stuff. When we met in 1973 she ordered romance novels from a book club by the box and read whole boxes in two weeks; then ordered more. I'd listened as she described the places, scenery and other details of her mental visits to the scenes of the novels.
So, I went half way. The authors I read tell a good story but pack it full of what I'm interested in: history, religion, politics, social science, etc. That way I kill two birds with one stone. So, occasionally she listens as I describe the scenes of the places I have visited in my latest read. In 31 years, we have traveled the world.
The testament is about a billionaire who leaves 11 billion dollars to an illegitimate daughter who is a missionary for Christ in the jungles of Brazil. The thrust of the novel is the quest to find her and convince her to accept the money.
When they find her they learn that she is totally committed to Christ, and is uninterested in the money at all. The unsaved lawyer who finds her is impressed by her sincerity and devotion. Ultimately, he finds peace with God himself. The daugher contracts malaria, but in a dying act, accepts the 11 billion dollars, puts it in a trust for Christian causes and places the converted lawyer over it to dispose of as the Lord leads him.
In the process I learned a lot about lawyers, wills, courtroom battles and a tremendous amount of history about the Panatal in Brazil, malaria, floods, Anacondas, and the Indian tribes of the region.
It was a good read. I enjoyed reading about Brazil. I wouldn't want to visit; not even a day.
I started reading it on the plane from Hawaii. There are a few fiction authors that I read every year. I started reading Grisham novels a few years ago. I also read John Jakes, and Michener. Pure entertainment.
I picked up the habit of reading fiction from my wife. I usually read non-fiction religion, politics,social science, journals and what she calls "heavy" stuff. When we met in 1973 she ordered romance novels from a book club by the box and read whole boxes in two weeks; then ordered more. I'd listened as she described the places, scenery and other details of her mental visits to the scenes of the novels.
So, I went half way. The authors I read tell a good story but pack it full of what I'm interested in: history, religion, politics, social science, etc. That way I kill two birds with one stone. So, occasionally she listens as I describe the scenes of the places I have visited in my latest read. In 31 years, we have traveled the world.
The testament is about a billionaire who leaves 11 billion dollars to an illegitimate daughter who is a missionary for Christ in the jungles of Brazil. The thrust of the novel is the quest to find her and convince her to accept the money.
When they find her they learn that she is totally committed to Christ, and is uninterested in the money at all. The unsaved lawyer who finds her is impressed by her sincerity and devotion. Ultimately, he finds peace with God himself. The daugher contracts malaria, but in a dying act, accepts the 11 billion dollars, puts it in a trust for Christian causes and places the converted lawyer over it to dispose of as the Lord leads him.
In the process I learned a lot about lawyers, wills, courtroom battles and a tremendous amount of history about the Panatal in Brazil, malaria, floods, Anacondas, and the Indian tribes of the region.
It was a good read. I enjoyed reading about Brazil. I wouldn't want to visit; not even a day.
Friday, July 22, 2005
The Bald Heads
I went to the Louisiana Baptist Convention yesterday. The President, Dr. Harry Blake, gave his address. It was dynamic and powerful.
He is a good looking 70 plus man who likes to make jokes about his bald head. He usually gets plenty of laughs when he talks about other leaders in the convention who are also bald headed.
As I looked across the stage it dawned on me that nearly all of the leaders of the convention were either gray headed or bald headed; and all men(Except for the Women's Deparment Leader).
There was a noticeable absence of young, non-traditional pastors; and since the convention does not embrace women preachers, a noted abscence of female ministers. (Those who were there were not recognized as such).
Then it dawned on me that I was a gray head, everyone on my row was a gray head or bald head and the women who made up the majority of the crowd, were not recognized at all.
The spoken message of the President was euphoric.
The unspoken message of the bald heads was troubling.
He is a good looking 70 plus man who likes to make jokes about his bald head. He usually gets plenty of laughs when he talks about other leaders in the convention who are also bald headed.
As I looked across the stage it dawned on me that nearly all of the leaders of the convention were either gray headed or bald headed; and all men(Except for the Women's Deparment Leader).
There was a noticeable absence of young, non-traditional pastors; and since the convention does not embrace women preachers, a noted abscence of female ministers. (Those who were there were not recognized as such).
Then it dawned on me that I was a gray head, everyone on my row was a gray head or bald head and the women who made up the majority of the crowd, were not recognized at all.
The spoken message of the President was euphoric.
The unspoken message of the bald heads was troubling.
Thursday, July 21, 2005
Movie Provided Sunday School Insight
During our bible study last night there was a lively discussion about forgiveness, which is the subjection of Sunday's International Sunday School Lesson.
Most participants easily said they were willing to forgive offenses; that is until the subject of the marital infidelity arose.
The issue surfaced as Tyler Perry's "Diary of a Mad Black Woman" was raised. The movie made the point that the heroine would not be really free until she forgave the husband who dogged her out and cheated on her. In the movie she helped her dog of a husband find himself, regain his spirituality and get back on his feet. Then she left him for another man.
The issue raised is whether or she actually forgave him in the spiritual sense. His infidelity gave her a scriptural way out of the marriage. Even though she had an "out" she did not have to use it. Forgiveness means to forget the past and restore an offending person to their previous status.
Did she really forgive him?
Those who freely said they were willing to forgive had a variety of views when it came to forgiving a cheating, dog of a spouse.
Forgiveness is a tough pill to swallow. The main point of the lesson is that if we have been forgiven ourselves, and we have, then we should be willing to forgive others.
It's easier said than done.
Hmmmm
Most participants easily said they were willing to forgive offenses; that is until the subject of the marital infidelity arose.
The issue surfaced as Tyler Perry's "Diary of a Mad Black Woman" was raised. The movie made the point that the heroine would not be really free until she forgave the husband who dogged her out and cheated on her. In the movie she helped her dog of a husband find himself, regain his spirituality and get back on his feet. Then she left him for another man.
The issue raised is whether or she actually forgave him in the spiritual sense. His infidelity gave her a scriptural way out of the marriage. Even though she had an "out" she did not have to use it. Forgiveness means to forget the past and restore an offending person to their previous status.
Did she really forgive him?
Those who freely said they were willing to forgive had a variety of views when it came to forgiving a cheating, dog of a spouse.
Forgiveness is a tough pill to swallow. The main point of the lesson is that if we have been forgiven ourselves, and we have, then we should be willing to forgive others.
It's easier said than done.
Hmmmm
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
Shouting over the vacum cleaner
For two days now, I've been pushing a vacum cleaner and carpet steamer!
Whatever was in the shot the doctor gave my wife Sunday, charged her up. She left Sunday evening for Alexandria to attend the Louisiana Baptist State Convention. She wanted to operate a booth during the convention this week to meet many of the Louisiana ministers who share with us all year.
I stayed behind..to do the house work while she went to the convention.
House work is more than a notion. It's been ten years since I've done this. My wife has been doing this for 31 years, while she kept up with me, and mothered our three sons. I see, it's more than a notion. I'll have to raise her pay.
I washed the dishes, but soon as I washed them, they seemed to reappear, one by one: a glass, a dish, a spoon; pretty soon the bottom of the sink vanished out of sight.
Where did all of those dirty towels come from? If you clean something once, why doesn't it just stay clean?
If the floors have been saved from dirt once, aren't they always saved?
If the towells have been been washed in the suds, why can't they stay clean?
If the floors have been anointed with shampoo, many years ago, why do they still get dirty?
When you come to my house don't you know my floors have been anointed? Someone brought the world in on the bottom of their shoes and messed up the shampoo I did ten years ago!
My goodness there is a spider web! It wasn't there the last time I swept there about 10 years ago. If I removed the spider web 10 years ago, why does it keep coming back? Forget about, "Who let the dogs out", I want to know, "Who let the spider in?"
Somehow I get the idea that cleaning a house is much like our spiritual lives. We may have cleaned house sometime ago, but the devil keeps looking for ways to dirty our dishes, walk on our clean floors and build spider webs on unused gifts.
Theses dirty floors are witnessing!
Somehow I feel a whoop coming on! The broom is testifying! The vacum cleaner is glorifying! And the clothes in the dryer are shouting..."I been washed...I've Been redeemed!"
I'm about to have church over this vacum cleaner!
I feel a whoop coming on!
..now back to the real world. I still have eleven rooms to go!
Whatever was in the shot the doctor gave my wife Sunday, charged her up. She left Sunday evening for Alexandria to attend the Louisiana Baptist State Convention. She wanted to operate a booth during the convention this week to meet many of the Louisiana ministers who share with us all year.
I stayed behind..to do the house work while she went to the convention.
House work is more than a notion. It's been ten years since I've done this. My wife has been doing this for 31 years, while she kept up with me, and mothered our three sons. I see, it's more than a notion. I'll have to raise her pay.
I washed the dishes, but soon as I washed them, they seemed to reappear, one by one: a glass, a dish, a spoon; pretty soon the bottom of the sink vanished out of sight.
Where did all of those dirty towels come from? If you clean something once, why doesn't it just stay clean?
If the floors have been saved from dirt once, aren't they always saved?
If the towells have been been washed in the suds, why can't they stay clean?
If the floors have been anointed with shampoo, many years ago, why do they still get dirty?
When you come to my house don't you know my floors have been anointed? Someone brought the world in on the bottom of their shoes and messed up the shampoo I did ten years ago!
My goodness there is a spider web! It wasn't there the last time I swept there about 10 years ago. If I removed the spider web 10 years ago, why does it keep coming back? Forget about, "Who let the dogs out", I want to know, "Who let the spider in?"
Somehow I get the idea that cleaning a house is much like our spiritual lives. We may have cleaned house sometime ago, but the devil keeps looking for ways to dirty our dishes, walk on our clean floors and build spider webs on unused gifts.
Theses dirty floors are witnessing!
Somehow I feel a whoop coming on! The broom is testifying! The vacum cleaner is glorifying! And the clothes in the dryer are shouting..."I been washed...I've Been redeemed!"
I'm about to have church over this vacum cleaner!
I feel a whoop coming on!
..now back to the real world. I still have eleven rooms to go!
Sunday, July 17, 2005
My Son Will Take Care of the 5th
After reading my last post, my son Robert, sent me an email. He says, he'll buy the 5th and put it in my refigerator for me.
He questions why I would even be concerned with what others think since I have freely stood alone against public opinion in the past. It's pretty easy to stand alone when you know you are right. It's harder to do when you know that Word does not back up your action.
The problem with me standing in a line in a liquor store is that it clashes with
1 Thessalonians 5:22 which says believers should, "Abstain from all appearance of evil." A prominent, nationally known pastor standing in line at a liquor store somehow seems to give the appearance of evil to me; even though I know that the 5th would be used for medicial purposes and would probably take 30 years to consume.
Well it turns out that we didn't need the 5th anyway. Sunday morning, Dr. Claude Minor, a deacon of our church and his wife Dorothy, a registered nurse, came to Joslyn's rescue. They came to our home in a "house call" and pulled out the old needle to the arm. A fresh shot of anti-biotics runs away the germs which caused, what turned out to be bronchitis.
The issue of avoiding the appearance of evil is a dilemma of many pastors who are constantly aware that often innocent acts may be perceived by others as an evil that will diminish their witness. It should be an issue for everyone who is a Christian.
For example, when my son walks into the liquor store to buy the 5th for me; someone from the church where he serves as musician is bound to see him with the little brown bag. They won't ask why, they'll just repeat what they saw, "the church musician was in the local liquor store. He bought a fifth of whiskey, put it in a brown bag and walked out of the store."
What they will report will be the truth, but not the whole truth. Since the whole truth won't be told to explain questionable activities; many believers have learned to avoid known questionable activities. This is done for the good of those who would be devastated by our misinterpreted action.
Preachers live in fish bowls. Everyone watches every action.
What some people forget is that non-believers put all Christians in the same fish bowl.
He questions why I would even be concerned with what others think since I have freely stood alone against public opinion in the past. It's pretty easy to stand alone when you know you are right. It's harder to do when you know that Word does not back up your action.
The problem with me standing in a line in a liquor store is that it clashes with
1 Thessalonians 5:22 which says believers should, "Abstain from all appearance of evil." A prominent, nationally known pastor standing in line at a liquor store somehow seems to give the appearance of evil to me; even though I know that the 5th would be used for medicial purposes and would probably take 30 years to consume.
Well it turns out that we didn't need the 5th anyway. Sunday morning, Dr. Claude Minor, a deacon of our church and his wife Dorothy, a registered nurse, came to Joslyn's rescue. They came to our home in a "house call" and pulled out the old needle to the arm. A fresh shot of anti-biotics runs away the germs which caused, what turned out to be bronchitis.
The issue of avoiding the appearance of evil is a dilemma of many pastors who are constantly aware that often innocent acts may be perceived by others as an evil that will diminish their witness. It should be an issue for everyone who is a Christian.
For example, when my son walks into the liquor store to buy the 5th for me; someone from the church where he serves as musician is bound to see him with the little brown bag. They won't ask why, they'll just repeat what they saw, "the church musician was in the local liquor store. He bought a fifth of whiskey, put it in a brown bag and walked out of the store."
What they will report will be the truth, but not the whole truth. Since the whole truth won't be told to explain questionable activities; many believers have learned to avoid known questionable activities. This is done for the good of those who would be devastated by our misinterpreted action.
Preachers live in fish bowls. Everyone watches every action.
What some people forget is that non-believers put all Christians in the same fish bowl.
Saturday, July 16, 2005
After 24 years, The bottle was empty
After 10 hours on an airplane, it was good to touch ground in Monroe yesterday.
The warmth and beauty of Hawaii is a nice post card memory, but Dorothy had it right, "There's no place like home."
When we entered the airport all of the youth were met by their parents with smiles and hugs. My wife and I were met by our luggage. We loaded it all in our vehicle and made it home.
There were newspapers and mail stacked neatly inside by my youngest son looked after things while were away. Everything was just as we left it.
The cold that my wife, Joslyn, wrestled with during the whole trip, came down hard on her once we made it home. She was coughing and weazing something terrible. She tried all of the medicines we usually use for colds, but they didn't work.
I would have made her a hot "totty" (A tea with a shot of whiskey) but the 5th of whiskey that we used for 24 years for such occasions was gone. It was given to us by an elderly woman who told us about "hot totties." It took 24 years for us to use it up. I could have bought one in Hawaii but it would have been my luck for someone to see me buying a fifth of Whiskey on a church trip in Honolulu. Neither was I about to be seen standing in a liquor store buying a 5th of whiskey at 1 a.m. in the morning in Monroe! Try to explain that on Sunday morning!
So at 1:45 a.m. this morning I was standing in Walmart with two bottles of Night time Nyquil. It wouldn't be as effective as the "Hot Totty" but it would have to do.
She coughed and weazed for a while until the NyQuil kicked in. About 2:30 this morning I finally dozed off too.
It was a great trip. The Lord favored us with a safe journey and return.
Before I dozed off I had a very silly thought, "I have to figure out a way to get another 5th without standing in line at the liquor store. At age 56, the next one will have to last about 30 or 40 years."
As I smiled to myself, I said, "Maybe someone will send me one, like I was given the first one. Home remedies beat Nyquil anytime." Then I dozed off to sleep
The warmth and beauty of Hawaii is a nice post card memory, but Dorothy had it right, "There's no place like home."
When we entered the airport all of the youth were met by their parents with smiles and hugs. My wife and I were met by our luggage. We loaded it all in our vehicle and made it home.
There were newspapers and mail stacked neatly inside by my youngest son looked after things while were away. Everything was just as we left it.
The cold that my wife, Joslyn, wrestled with during the whole trip, came down hard on her once we made it home. She was coughing and weazing something terrible. She tried all of the medicines we usually use for colds, but they didn't work.
I would have made her a hot "totty" (A tea with a shot of whiskey) but the 5th of whiskey that we used for 24 years for such occasions was gone. It was given to us by an elderly woman who told us about "hot totties." It took 24 years for us to use it up. I could have bought one in Hawaii but it would have been my luck for someone to see me buying a fifth of Whiskey on a church trip in Honolulu. Neither was I about to be seen standing in a liquor store buying a 5th of whiskey at 1 a.m. in the morning in Monroe! Try to explain that on Sunday morning!
So at 1:45 a.m. this morning I was standing in Walmart with two bottles of Night time Nyquil. It wouldn't be as effective as the "Hot Totty" but it would have to do.
She coughed and weazed for a while until the NyQuil kicked in. About 2:30 this morning I finally dozed off too.
It was a great trip. The Lord favored us with a safe journey and return.
Before I dozed off I had a very silly thought, "I have to figure out a way to get another 5th without standing in line at the liquor store. At age 56, the next one will have to last about 30 or 40 years."
As I smiled to myself, I said, "Maybe someone will send me one, like I was given the first one. Home remedies beat Nyquil anytime." Then I dozed off to sleep
Thursday, July 14, 2005
"Ohana" and "Aloha"
We are packing up to leave Hawaii today. Last night we attended a Hawaiian cultural feast in the spirit of "Ohana" and "Aloha." Aloha means, hello, goodbye and love in a spirit of warmth and friendship. Ohana means family.
There were plenty of activities at the feast, plenty of food: poi, cake,chicken, beef, fish, fruits of every kind and loads and loads of rice.
There were many couples who were celebrating their wedding anniversaries, some as new as four days old. One couple marked their 60th anniversary. There was friendship everywhere.
Our youth are required to keep journals, recording their impressions of what they saw and experienced. I have not been to sleep. I stayed up all night long, editing their journals and measuring the effectiveness of these eight days on their spirituality.
The idea is to learn to see Christ in every experience. With many of them we achieved our goal.
There are others that have a ways to go, before they can see Christ in every experience.
I saw Christ in the words that were spoken by the Hawaiian guides as they constantly reminded us of "Ohana" that we are related by virtue of having the same spiritual father. There was a special moment at the feast when 1,200 people of different races, cultures, colors and kindred all joined hands in the spirit of Ohana and asked blessings for the food. It was a snapshot of what will be when the savior returns. One family.
We parted the same way we met, with Aloha.
In life we live with Aloha (love). When we leave it is with Aloha (farewell). But, when Christ comes back, he'll probably say something that sounds pretty close to "Aloha!"
I'll get an hour or so of sleep; then catch the plane back to Louisiana.
Aloha!
There were plenty of activities at the feast, plenty of food: poi, cake,chicken, beef, fish, fruits of every kind and loads and loads of rice.
There were many couples who were celebrating their wedding anniversaries, some as new as four days old. One couple marked their 60th anniversary. There was friendship everywhere.
Our youth are required to keep journals, recording their impressions of what they saw and experienced. I have not been to sleep. I stayed up all night long, editing their journals and measuring the effectiveness of these eight days on their spirituality.
The idea is to learn to see Christ in every experience. With many of them we achieved our goal.
There are others that have a ways to go, before they can see Christ in every experience.
I saw Christ in the words that were spoken by the Hawaiian guides as they constantly reminded us of "Ohana" that we are related by virtue of having the same spiritual father. There was a special moment at the feast when 1,200 people of different races, cultures, colors and kindred all joined hands in the spirit of Ohana and asked blessings for the food. It was a snapshot of what will be when the savior returns. One family.
We parted the same way we met, with Aloha.
In life we live with Aloha (love). When we leave it is with Aloha (farewell). But, when Christ comes back, he'll probably say something that sounds pretty close to "Aloha!"
I'll get an hour or so of sleep; then catch the plane back to Louisiana.
Aloha!
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
Which body clock do I use?
After six days in Hawaii, I'm finally getting adjusted to what they call "Jet Lag."
My body clock has been out of sync for nearly a week. My secretary calls me at 8 a.m. Louisiana time, but it's 3 a.m. in Honolulu. I call her at 1 p.m. and she's gone for the day because it's 6 p.m. in Louisiana.
I try to compensate by setting my watch to Louisiana time to keep reminding myself of the real-time. That helps.
I find spiritual truth in this frustration. The Christian is constantly striving to live by God's time. Often, like many people, I'm trying to push him to move on my time. Maybe I should set my spiritual watch by heaven's time; that would help me overcome spiritual jet lag.
Anyway, there's just one more day to go, then we board a plane back for Louisiana.
The beaches, palm trees, and sunny weather are nice, but Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz had it right; "There's no place like home."
When I get home, then I'll be on the right time, all the time.
That goes both ways! Hallelujah!
Monday, July 11, 2005
The View from Honolulu
I've been in Honolulu since Thursday. Along with my wife and two deacons from Tabernacle, our youth are here for eight days and seven nights. It's part of our fellowship and cultural study for youth. This makes state #50. Last year it was Alasaka.
Sunday, we attended the Waikiki Baptist Church. It was close to our hotel. We didn't know what to wear. So All 25 of us put on suits and ties, like most traditional Louisiana Christians. We were over dressed. No one had on a tie, not even the preacher.
We didn't feel odd though, we dressed they way we felt comfortable for worship. We felt safe in a Baptist Church. In a strange city where the hotels have four bibles in the desk instead of one, is a little unsettling. There was the "Sayings of Buddha","The Book of Mormon","The King James Bible" and "The Aloha Testament." We didn't know what to expect. We looked for a Baptist Church or least a Methodist or a COGIC congregation nearby. We didn't know what "Non-Denominational" would mean since that has no clear meaning and changes from culture to culture. We saw a Baptist Church and chose to attend the Waikiki services.
We attended Sunday School and I was impressed with the wisdom of the instructor. The class and its members were very warm and receptive. If we had reservations about being Black and 4,500 miles away from home, the mixed cultured class took away our reservations. They were accustomed to people of many races. Visitation at this congregation just blocks from the largest hotels was 75 percent of their Sunday attendance.
We should have noticed it at first, but it took some time for us to really realize what we were experiencing. The truth we learned left a sad note in our hearts. There were absolutely no youth. No youth department. No babies. No teenagers. All senior citizens.
The minister who preached talked about Stewardship. But the bulk of his message was about leaving a gift to the church at death, living wills, and illustrations about dying and leaving something behind.
The people themselves were so friendly. They were very warm, friendly and welcomed the large audience of visitors from USA, Russia, Australia, New Zeland and other places. One family of visitors brought brought a young child about seven years old.
There were children in the house; but they were all visitors.
The expected skirms and figitry of youth, amidst the aging silence of this congregation of sainted souls said more than words could say: A church that does not cultivate its youth has only one thing to look forward to in this life...living wills and figuring out how to live without children or grandchildren to carry on the legacy of its local congregation.
It's a picture that I will keep in my mind and reflect on it the next time someone criticizes our congregation for spending so much time and money developing our youth.
Amid the excitement, culture and leisure of Hawaii; that single picture lingers.
Sunday, we attended the Waikiki Baptist Church. It was close to our hotel. We didn't know what to wear. So All 25 of us put on suits and ties, like most traditional Louisiana Christians. We were over dressed. No one had on a tie, not even the preacher.
We didn't feel odd though, we dressed they way we felt comfortable for worship. We felt safe in a Baptist Church. In a strange city where the hotels have four bibles in the desk instead of one, is a little unsettling. There was the "Sayings of Buddha","The Book of Mormon","The King James Bible" and "The Aloha Testament." We didn't know what to expect. We looked for a Baptist Church or least a Methodist or a COGIC congregation nearby. We didn't know what "Non-Denominational" would mean since that has no clear meaning and changes from culture to culture. We saw a Baptist Church and chose to attend the Waikiki services.
We attended Sunday School and I was impressed with the wisdom of the instructor. The class and its members were very warm and receptive. If we had reservations about being Black and 4,500 miles away from home, the mixed cultured class took away our reservations. They were accustomed to people of many races. Visitation at this congregation just blocks from the largest hotels was 75 percent of their Sunday attendance.
We should have noticed it at first, but it took some time for us to really realize what we were experiencing. The truth we learned left a sad note in our hearts. There were absolutely no youth. No youth department. No babies. No teenagers. All senior citizens.
The minister who preached talked about Stewardship. But the bulk of his message was about leaving a gift to the church at death, living wills, and illustrations about dying and leaving something behind.
The people themselves were so friendly. They were very warm, friendly and welcomed the large audience of visitors from USA, Russia, Australia, New Zeland and other places. One family of visitors brought brought a young child about seven years old.
There were children in the house; but they were all visitors.
The expected skirms and figitry of youth, amidst the aging silence of this congregation of sainted souls said more than words could say: A church that does not cultivate its youth has only one thing to look forward to in this life...living wills and figuring out how to live without children or grandchildren to carry on the legacy of its local congregation.
It's a picture that I will keep in my mind and reflect on it the next time someone criticizes our congregation for spending so much time and money developing our youth.
Amid the excitement, culture and leisure of Hawaii; that single picture lingers.
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