My Ongoing Thoughts

TURNING THE PAGE...

2/10/2025

As many of my faithful readers are aware, since my retirement, I have now published two novels and am currently writing the third one. At the risk of sounding arrogant, multiple readers have included the phrase “a real page turner” in their reviews of each work. Of course, in regard to works of fiction, being referred to as “a real page turner” is a considerable compliment.

But the reading of books is not the only time in life where turning the page is necessitated to advance one’s story. “Turning the page” applies to so much more. There are times when one must move on from prior activities and previous approaches. This is especially when true such undertakings detract from one’s ability to seek other, equally noble, if not grander endeavors. As D. L. Moody once said: “I’d rather say this one thing I do than these forty things I dabble with!”

That being said, this week marks the fifteenth year of my regular blogging here on my website. In the intervening years, I have attempted to faithfully post blogs an average of two or more times a week. Some of these have been halfway decent- even thought-provoking. Others, by my own admission, have been sorely lacking in that regard.

Of course, whatever the quality of the contents of the nearly 1575 blogs written and posted here over the last decade and a half, I am thankful for all of my faithful readers. Over the years, your engagement and feedback, for the most part overwhelmingly positive, has been very encouraging.

Nonetheless, writing blogs, like all endeavors in life, is an undertaking which serves a purpose until it no longer does. It was Stephen Covey who once famously said:

“You have to decide what your highest priorities are and have the courage—pleasantly, smilingly, nonapologetically, to say ‘no’ to other things. And the way you do that is by having a bigger ‘yes’ burning inside. The enemy of the ‘best’ is often the ‘good’.”

As my regular readers hopefully know by now, the bigger “yes” burning inside me is my calling to write novels. While I may never write a best-seller, the novels I have already written along with the ones I plan to write will always be seen as stories that are imbued with Godly values and scriptural perspectives. Hopefully, this will give me an ongoing if slightly nontraditional pulpit in which to champion just such principles.

After all, as bad as I hate to admit it, statistics seem to indicate that we live in a day where far more unchurched people in the modern world are likely to read a novel and/or to see the movie based upon it than they are to darken the doors of a local church.

Given this, please pray for me as I now move to devote my creative energies to writing novels rather than writing blogs. To be sure, both are important venues for communicating truth. But I have come to realize that, as a writer, I only have so much talent and so much time.

Therefore, since the bigger “yes” currently burning within me is the passion to write novels, I will henceforth be devoting the bulk of my creative energies to that process. Given that I believe this passion is from the Lord; I trust that He will use that effort in His time, for His purposes, and to His glory.

Please pray for me as I now turn this page in my life. It is at once both frightening and exhilarating. If you are unfamiliar with my novel writing endeavors, please visit my other website at: www.cleojackson.org. Here, you can find out about my previously published works, what I am currently writing, and also what all I have planned.

Thank you for your faithfulness in reading my ongoing thoughts here on this website. In the future, I may even continue to post an occasional blog on this site. But to be true to my calling, most of my future thoughts will be found on my writer’s website. There, I plan to post blogs related to my calling as a writer, along with such topics as motivation, inspiration, sources, processes, and publishing concerns, etc.

In the meantime, I plan to leave this website up and running. As a result, the tremendous catalog of blog posts will continue to be available for searching and/or perusal. Down through the years, many a pastor, teacher, and/or author has told me that they made use of my blogs as illustrations in sermons, lesson plans, articles, and books.

Lastly, the Good Lord willing, it is my intention to issue one or more books comprised of the hundreds of blog posts available on this site. One work is a book of 365 daily devotions titled App-2-Go: Daily Applications from the Word of God. Another work in the making is titled Begged, Borrowed, and Stolen, and consists of a topical collection of illustrations for preachers, teachers, and writers organized alphabetically.

Blessings!
CEJ

MONKEY BUSINESS?!

2/4/2025

I remember it like it was yesterday. The year was 1968. My mother and two of my aunts took my sister and me, along with numerous cousins, to the Fox Theatre in downtown Atlanta that December in order to see a movie. The film they chose was entirely appropriate for a group of seven, eight, and nine year olds. It was titled “Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day.”

As I recall, in what amounted to an animated Shakespearian “comedy of errors”, the short film had to do with Pooh and company experiencing a windy day which was somehow interpreted as Wednesday. It must have been good, as it won an Academy Award for the best animated short film of the year.

At the time, however, I paid little attention, either to the film or to its plot, as we sat through the flickering projection. Why? Because my mind was elsewhere. And just where was that? I’m glad you asked.

It was filled with thoughts swirling around all of the intriguing possibilities arising from my brief perusal of the abundance of movie posters filling the foyer while my mother purchased our tickets. Those posters all lauded the recent release of “Planet of the Apes”.

That film, too, would go on to be nominated for multiple Academy Awards, even winning one. For my part, however, I would not be able to see the film for another few years, when it was finally broadcast on network television.

Fast forward some fifty-six years, and you come to today. I am no longer a seven-year-old boy captivated by the notion of an entire planet run by monkeys who lord it over humans. But oh, how my grandsons are!

Thus it was that, while local schools were recently closed for sickness, they all came over for a mid-winter “spend-the-night” party. Rather than watch King Kong whip up on Godzilla for the umpteenth time, as they originally desired, I recommended that we all take a trip instead to the “Planet of the Apes”. Suffice it to say that they were all enthralled from the very opening scene.

Soon enough, we had moved all the way through and beyond the “Planet of the Apes”, going “Beneath” it, “Escaping” it, “Conquesting” it, and eventually even “Battling” for it. That’s right, over a twenty-four hour period, we pop-corned and Kool-aided our way through all five films of the original franchise!

My mother (God rest her soul!) may not have approved. But all these years later, my wife and I did. As did my children (themselves the parents of my grandsons). Why?

Because you simply cannot change the nature of boys! They are what they are! They love all things monkey and any and every movie about monkeys! Be it “King Kong”, “Son of Kong”, “Kong Versus Godzilla”, “Mighty Joe Young”, “Tarzan”, or more recently, “Rampage”, they are passionate about the subject matter. And little wonder, for they are clearly made of different stuff than girls.

As the English Romantic poet, Robert Southey, once put it…

What are little boys made of?
What are little boys made of?
Ships, snails
And puppy-dogs' tails
That's what little boys are made of!

What are little girls made of?
What are little girls made of?
Sugar and spice
And everything nice
That's what little girls are made of!

Now, I realize that we live in a day and age of gender confusion. But as a believer, I choose to embrace the clear teaching of Holy Scripture that tells us (in the Old Testament book of Genesis, chapter 1, verse 27)… “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”

That concept is firmly repeated (in the Old Testament Book of Genesis, chapter 5, verses 1-2): “This is the written account of Adam’s family line. When God created mankind, he made them in the likeness of God. He created them male and female and blessed them. And he named them ‘Mankind’ when they were created.”

What is more, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Himself, underscored this when He said (in the New Testament Gospel of Matthew, chapter 19, verse 4) “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female?”

Given all this, I am convinced that God intentionally gave my seven grandsons life. He also made them boys with the intention that they would one day grow up and be strong, brave, and godly men.

Therefore, part of my God-given responsibility as their grandfather is to help each of them to become all that God intended them to be. My role is to encourage, teach, and discipline them as they grow and develop. It is also to protect them.

For the same Jesus quoted above also issued (in the New Testament Gospel of Mathew, chapter 18, verse 6, and Mark, chapter 9, verse 42) a woe unto anyone who caused any of His little ones to stumble!

In light of all this, I’m extremely thankful for every single one of my God-given seven grandsons. And I plan to do my part to help them be all God intends.

Right now, that might involve watching movies about men and women being brave and overcoming marauding apes. But as they grow and mature, it will likely involve far bigger, far greater, and far more significant lessons. God willing, I plan to be right there in the mix, helping them become men!

And that, my friend, is anything but monkey business!

Meanwhile... In one particular scene where Charlton Heston was struggling to overcome a powerful gorilla that was attempting to restrain him, one of my grandsons asked: “Granddaddy, would you let a monkey do that to you?” I replied: “Not at all! I would make a monkey out of that ape!” (Sorry, I couldn't help myself!)

SOURCES:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnie_the_Pooh_and_the_Blustery_Day;
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planet_of_the_Apes_(1968_film);
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planet_of_the_Apes;
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What_Are_Little_Boys_Made_Of%3F.

SCRIPTURE:

https://biblehub.com/genesis/1-27.htm;
https://biblehub.com/genesis/5-2.htm;
https://biblehub.com/matthew/19-4.htm;
https://biblehub.com/matthew/18-6.htm;
https://biblehub.com/mark/9-42.htm.

SEE ALSO:

https://www.foxtheatre.org/about.

LEARNING EXPERIENCE?

1/27/2025

AI (or Artificial Intelligence) is all the rage these days. Just this week, our President announced a $500 million dollar investment in the field. A couple of days later, China announced an open-sourced AI that was significantly cheaper to create, rocking the stock market here in the USA. American government and business leaders alike clearly took this as a shot across the bow. Obviously, the need for research and development here at home is necessitated.

Given this, I found a recent online article quite interesting. John Johnson over at Newser.com posted a piece titled “Ants May Solve Our Traffic Jams: They Stay in Their Lanes, May Provide a Model for Autonomous Traffic Systems”. According to the article…

You know that guy who tries to pass everyone on the shoulder of a road during a traffic jam? Even ants would think he's a jerk. A new study suggests that the tiny creatures have a knack for avoiding jam-ups when they're marching along together—and one of the rules is "no overtaking," per Interesting Engineering. Researchers at the University of Trento in Italy studied the way ants behave when proceeding in a long line—long being relative at 30 centimeters, or about 12 inches, according to a release at Phys.org. The line moved with the ants in perfect sync with each other.

"Ants are among the few species that can handle bidirectional traffic flows, much like our roads, yet they move seamlessly without congestion," says Marco Guerrieri, co-author of the study in the journal Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives. The lead ant lays down a pheromone trail the others follow, moving "in platoons with small gaps and no overtaking," explains Guerrieri. This might not have much relevance at the moment in regard to the aforementioned shoulder-passers—but it could someday if autonomous vehicles become the norm.

"In the future, traffic systems for autonomous vehicles ... could be inspired by ant behavior," say the researchers. "Just like insects communicate through pheromones, on smart roads, Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAV) could use advanced communication technologies to communicate with each other and with the road infrastructure management." Like the ants, the autonomous vehicles "could form coordinated platoons, moving at high speeds with close spacing across parallel lanes."

I had to laugh as I read the story. In a day and age of artificial intelligence driven by algorithms, researchers have apparently discovered that simply watching slow-motion films of ants moving along provides a much needed clue for the movement of automobile traffic.

Why am I laughing? Because the Word of God tells us (in Proverbs 6:6-8 KJV): “Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.”

I like the way the New Living Translation translates Proverbs chapter 6, verse 6: “Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and become wise!”

Did you catch it?! Some three thousand years before anyone ever conceived of computers and artificial intelligence, the Bible offered men and women simple everyday wisdom!

Now, if the Word of God is so preeminent to the wisdom of men and women in matter of insect behavior in the natural world, how much more so is it in matters of the spiritual realm? That is to say, in matters far more consequential?!

Of course, whether or not we choose to learn from the ants is purely our choice. In other words, we alone determine whether or not we will ever see the Word of God as a beneficial “learning experience”!

ARTICLE SOURCE:

https://www.newser.com/story/362786/ants-may-solve-our-traffic-jams.html.

SCRIPTURE:

https://biblehub.com/kjv/proverbs/6.htm;

https://biblehub.com/proverbs/6-6.htm.

SEEKING DIRECTION?

1/22/2025

It goes without saying that nations going one direction can change and go another. Within them, the same is often true for their governments, their economies, their companies, their sources of entertainment, and yes, even their houses of worship.
Look no further than right here in America. As recent events underscore, a lot has changed in our society. And no doubt other changes are coming.

Paul McCartney once sang about "this ever changing world in which we're living". How right he was. For it has rightly been observed that about the only thing that is constant in this world is change itself!

Given this, we like to think that some things will always stay the same – that some things can always be depended upon. One such example is comprised within the laws of nature. After all, east is east and west is west; and in theory, at least, never the twain shall meet.

But the same cannot be said of north and south. If you keep going east, you will never go west. But if you keep going north, you will, in fact, eventually wind up going south!

But how does one decide which direction is north? If the answer is to look at a compass, then that simply begs the question of true north versus magnetic north. Compasses along with modern GPS systems depend on magnetic north as their one true guide. But as it turns out, this is not exactly the case.

Consider the following article in the news earlier today titled “Canada Can No Longer Claim the Magnetic North Pole”. According to Arden Dier at www.Newser.com, it turns out that…

GPS systems around the world are adjusting to a new model tracking Earth's magnetic north pole, the point that attracts the needle of a compass, which is now closer to Siberia than to Canada, reports the Washington Post. The point, which differs from the geographic North Pole at the top of the world, is determined by Earth's magnetic field and is in constant movement owing to the flow of liquid iron in the Earth's outer core. Indeed, it's shifted about six miles or less per year over the last four centuries, CNN reports. But its drift can speed up or slow down. Around 1990, it was drifting at a rate of 34 miles per year. Around 2015, it had slowed to about 22 miles per year.

The article then went on to address the importance of all this.

It's important to track these changes to ensure pinpoint accuracy in navigation, including from GPS-enabled smartphones. Now, in the first update since 2020, the World Magnetic Model finds magnetic north mostly followed the path predicted five years ago, per CNN. It is now located at 85.762°N and 139.298°E. If a person flew from South Africa to the UK today "using the previous WMM and setting off just one degree off-course," they would end up about 93 miles off course, the British Geological Survey explains. The WMM is expected to move further toward Russia, though at a slowing rate, over the next five years, reaching 84.723°N and 126.092°E by 2030. "At its current trajectory, it is likely to approach Siberia in the next decade," per the Post.

Wow! Did you catch it? That which people depended upon for direction a mere five years ago is no longer valid! Why? Because it is not permanent. Rather, it is both temporary and transitory. Always be careful where and to what and in whom you look for direction in this world!

Now, if that is true for the natural world, then how much more is it true for the spiritual world?!

As we look back across the ages, we see that there has been a plethora of philosophies, beliefs, and religions. Along with this, there has been an equal proliferation of religious leaders, including prophets and priests and monks and popes and preachers and the like.

In light of this fact, how does one decide which to follow? I answer that, for my part, I have weighed them all, and concluded that there is only one that has proven trustworthy without fail. My testimony, paralleling the testimony of billions of other people throughout history, is that there is one faith that does not change. There is one God in Whom this faith is founded that does not change. That faith is the one espoused in the Holy Bible; and that God is the God of the Bible – Jesus Christ Himself.

In the New Testament Book of Hebrews (chapter 13, verse 8), the Bible affirms that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday tomorrow, and tomorrow. Time and again, in both the Old Testament (Malachi 3:6) and the New Testament (James 1:17), we are told that the God of the Bible alone does not change!

Are you looking for an unchanging entity upon which to find direction in life? Both for this world and the world to come? Then I wholeheartedly direct you to the God of the Bible. For He alone is trustworthy. So, my friends, if you are seeking direction, take heart. The God of the Bible can and will guide you in the way you should go!

SOURCE: https://www.newser.com/story/362930/canada-can-no-longer-claim-the-magnetic-north-pole.html.

SCRIPTURE:

https://biblehub.com/hebrews/13-8.htm;

https://biblehub.com/malachi/3-6.htm;

https://biblehub.com/james/1-17.htm.

HELP ME, JESUS!

1/17/2025

Well, here it is the third Friday of January. So, I will take this opportunity ask you a question. How are you coming with those pesky New Year’s Resolutions?

The good news is that if you are still working at keeping them, the chances are that you will continue to do so. Why do I say this? Because people whose business it is to know such things tell us that the second Friday in January is “Quitter’s Day”.

According to www.Nationaltoday.com…

Quitter’s Day is held on the second Friday in January. This year, it falls on January 10. The tradition of setting New Year’s resolutions began some 4,000 years ago with the ancient Babylonians. For them, the year did not begin in January but in mid-March — on the first moon after the spring equinox. Quitter’s Day is set aside to recognize those who set new year goals and fail to achieve them — and to encourage and equip them to try again and ultimately succeed. Research has shown that people quit their resolutions for the year by the second Friday of January.

The article goes on to say:

In 2019, extensive research was conducted by Strava — a social network for athletes — and it was found that approximately 80% of people who made New Year’s resolutions have tapped out by the second week of January. Making deductions from the available 800 million user-logged activities in that year, Strava even went on to predict that the second Friday of January was the fateful day when the motivations of most quitters begin to decline. The main areas of focus for resolutions involve exercise, eating habits, and weight loss.

Therefore, if you have persisted in your resolutions for a full seven days beyond “Quitter’s Day”, you are clearly on track to have continued success. So, stay the course, my friend. That is certainly what I intend to do.

But what does it take to do that? Many things, no doubt. Among them, to be sure, are dogged commitment, personal discipline, and unwavering resolve. But even then, it is still not easy to display these qualities consistently in one’s own strength. Therefore, accountability is almost essential.

Perhaps that is why so much emphasis is placed in the Bible on supporting one another. We are told in Proverbs (chapter 27, verse 17), “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”

We are further reminded in Ecclesiastes (chapter 4, verses 9-12) that two are stronger than one. We read:

Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labor:
If either of them falls down,
one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
and has no one to help them up.
Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Clearly, the Bible shows us the value of friends - not just having one, but being one. For of all the qualities of friendship, perhaps the one that is the most crucial is encouragement. Thus…

In 1 Thessalonians 5:11, we read:
Therefore encourage and build one another up, just as you are already doing.

In Proverbs 27:17, we read:
As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.

In James 5:16, we read:
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail.

In Romans 15:1, we read:
We who are strong ought to bear with the shortcomings of the weak and not to please ourselves.

In Hebrews 10:24-25, we read:
And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds. Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

In 1 Corinthians 12:26, we read:
If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

and In Philippians 2:4, we read:
Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Working together with others, you can improve your lot in life and theirs.

Of course, the Bible also says in Proverbs (chapter 18, verse 24) that “there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” The one true Friend above all others is, of course, Jesus Christ. He tells us repeatedly in the Gospels that He is our friend (Luke 12:4; John 15:15).

And with this Friend pulling for us, we can find strength beyond our wildest expectations. As the Apostle Paul reminds us (in his New Testament Letter to the Philippians, chapter 4, verse 13): “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”

What all are you hoping to accomplish this year? With regard to your health? To your career? To your finances? Or more importantly, to your relationships? To your parents and grandparents? To your siblings? To your marriage? To your children? To your grandchildren? And above all, with regard to your Lord and Savior Himself?

Help yourself to these goals. But help others as well. And when you need a little help, rely on others. Above all, rely on the Lord Himself! Together, you will go forward and achieve success beyond your wildest dreams!

SOURCES:

https://nationaltoday.com/quitters-day/;

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/01/10/quitters-day-new-years-resolutions/77559275007/.

SCRIPTURE:

https://biblehub.com/proverbs/27-17.htm;

https://biblehub.com/ecclesiastes/4-10.htm. See the Cross References here as well.

https://biblehub.com/proverbs/18-24.htm;

https://biblehub.com/luke/12-4.htm;

https://biblehub.com/john/15-15.htm;

https://biblehub.com/philippians/4-13.htm.

THE FACTS OF LIFE!

1/13/2025

In a little over a week, the 25th anniversary of my father’s death will occur. He departed this life on January 23, 2000. Naturally, in light of this, I have spent a good deal of time reflecting on him, on his life, on his impact, and on his legacy. All of this in turn has led me to reflect on the meaning of life in general as well.

So, when my wife’s cousin recently posted a piece on Facebook titled REAL COWBOY LOGIC’S POST, it caught my attention. I thought it fitting for such a time as this. Here it is, exactly as posted…

When you die, don't worry about your body...
Your relatives and funeral staff will do it. I know this first hand. I’ve done it myself…
They will take you out of the house and deliver you to the funeral home of your family’s choice.
They will take off your clothes
They will wash you
They will dress you up
They will even apply makeup to make you look presentable
Many will come to the funeral to honor you.
Some will even cancel their plans and ask for leave to go to the funeral.
Your things--things you hate to be borrowed will be sold, donated or burned.
Your keys
Your tools
Your books
Your CDs, DVDs, games
Your collections
Your clothes...
And be sure the world won't stop and cry for you.
The economy will continue.
You will be replaced in work. Someone with the same or even better ability will take your place.
Your property will switch to heirs.
And don't doubt the small and big things you have done in your life will be spoken of, judged, doubted and criticized.
People who only knew your face will say, ′′Poor thing!"
Your good friends will cry for a few hours or several days, but then they will laugh again.
Your pets will get used to the new owner.
Your pictures will be hanging on the wall for a while, then they will be put on furniture and finally stored at the bottom of the box.
Someone else will sit on your couch and eat from it.
Deep pain in your home will last a year, two, maybe ten... Then you will join the memories and then your story will end.
It will end among people, end here, end in this world.
But your story begins in a new reality... in your life after death.
The things you once have will lose their meaning. You cannot bring your earthly possessions here.
the beauty of your body
last name
property
loans
working position
bank account
the house
the car
academic titles
Classmates
trophies
Friends of the world
man / woman
the kids
the family...
In your new life, you will only need your soul.
The only property that will last is the soul.
......................................................................................
The big question is: Do you know where your soul is going after this life is over?
Jesus said: "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6)
The Bible is clear that no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again (John 3:3).
John 3:18 explains in the simplest terms who will go to heaven and who will go to hell: “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." So, those who go to hell are specifically those who do not believe in Jesus’ name.
Simply, if you receive Jesus Christ as your Savior, by grace alone, through faith alone, you will spend eternity in heaven. If you do not receive Jesus Christ as your Savior, you will be eternally separated from God (Matthew 25:46).
The Bible says, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).
We can choose to trust in Jesus’ payment for our sin, or we can choose to pay for our sins ourselves—but we must remember that the payment for our sin is eternity in hell.
"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23).
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved" (Acts 16:31)

For my part, I will take this opportunity to share several things in light of this post.

To begin with, I thank God for my earthly father. Like me, he was not a perfect man. But he was a good man. He was also a good father. He gave me life, and then invested heavily in me. He nurtured me, cared for me, provided for me, disciplined me, taught me, and inspired me - in all aspects of my life. In short, he loved me, as he did my two sisters. And for that, I (we) will always be thankful.

Still, despite all these things, upon his death, so much of what is said above wound up applying to him, to his accomplishments, to his belongings, and even to his memory in this world. Alas, the facts of life in this world ultimately applied to him just as they inevitably do to everyone.

But thank God what else is said above also wound up applying to him. For there came a time in his earthly life when my earthly father embraced the grace of my Heavenly Father, and became a born-again follower of Jesus Christ.

And for this reason, I am confident that, twenty-five years ago this month, he simply traded life in this world for life in another, far better and far more satisfying world! Praise God, the facts of life in that world now apply to him just as they will to all who accept Jesus Christ!

After all these years, I find that I still miss my father terribly. But I have concluded that the passing of a quarter century now means that I am only that much closer to seeing him again!

For due largely to the influence of my earthly father and upbringing he provided me, I, too, came to the place where I embraced the same Savior and same Lord that he did. And as a result, these days, I find myself focusing less and less on the things of this world, and more and more on the things of the world to come!

By the way, my two sisters share the same testimony. I trust you can say the same.

SOURCE:

https://www.facebook.com/story.php/?story_fbid=507574944067180&id=100044440356207.

SPECIAL BLESSING

1/7/2025

The recent holiday stretch has been a mixed blessing for yours truly. It was bad enough that my beloved Georgia Bulldogs lost their College Football Playoff game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. But to add insult to injury, I wound up with a horrible cold that laid me up for four or five days.

The good news is that I’m better now. The better news is that the good of the holidays far outweighed the bad, as I became the recipient of any number for blessings during this same stretch.

To begin with, my family and I have all now been allowed to live into yet another calendar year. We are each reasonably healthy and quite blessed. We enjoyed celebrating our family and our Lord on His birthday, as we gathered, feasted, and partied together.

In the process, I received my share of gifts, which made me happy. But I was given even greater joy as I watched others receive the gifts I gave to them. Hopefully, the memories we made together will live on in the minds and hearts of everyone involved.

For my part, however, one memory will stand out above all the others. That was the special blessing I had of seeing my oldest grandson take communion for the very first time as we all attended the annual Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion Service at church.

My wife I were unable to go forward and receive communion ourselves. But that was only because we willingly took the responsibility of staying back and sitting with the younger grandsons, the smallest of was sick with a cold, and coughing continuously.

We did not do this in order to boast about it. We simply did so because I thought it was the proper thing to do. That is to say, we gladly did it so that our daughter and her husband could go forward with their eldest son and, together, take communion as a family.

By now, you have probably surmised, quite correctly, that I caught my youngest grandson’s cold. But I would gladly endure the discomfort and distress I have undergone overt eh last week for the memory of seeing my grandson take his first communion. I will carry that memory with me throughout the remainder of my life.

In the process, of course, I have both been reminded that it is indeed much more blessed to give than to receive! For perhaps, this entire episode is but a small reflection of the whole purpose of Christmas. I remind you that the Bible tells us that Christmas is ultimately about Christ giving Himself to become a sacrifice in order that we might be made whole and enter into the presence of our Heavenly Father.

Thus, the Apostle Paul tells us (in his First New Testament Letter to the Corinthians (chapter 3) that Christ came into this world, suffered, died, and was raised again to life, all on our behalf. The writer of the New Testament Book of Hebrews further tells us (in chapter 4) that Jesus is our High Priest, Who sacrificed Himself that we may “approach the throne of God’s grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us”.

Together, these two passages sum up God’s great Christmas gift to us in Christ Jesus. And together, they also remind us of what we can and should do for others, especially at Christmas.

And so, my friend, if Christ has sacrificed so much for me, then I will gladly suffer a little in order for my grandson to grow in his relationship with the Lord. For the memory of my recent sickness will soon be forgotten; but the memory of seeing my grandson take his first communion will stay with me forever.

And I trust that the Lord will continue to give me many more opportunities to sacrifice on behalf of him, his siblings, and his cousins in the coming year. That will be blessing enough for me!

SCRIPTURE:

https://biblehub.com/niv/1_corinthians/15.htm#footnotes;

https://biblehub.com/niv/hebrews/4.htm.

GENTLE REMINDERS

1/3/2025

Tributes have been pouring in for former President Jimmy Carter, who died over the recent holidays. To be sure, his single term as president came during a turbulent time marred by political terrorism abroad and financial turmoil at home. Historians will continue to debate how these and many more aspects of the times formed his presidential legacy.

Still, there is no debating the fact that he was America’s most impactful former president. Let alone the fact that he lived to be 100, his life after the White House was marked by multiple accomplishments, including the establishment of the Carter Center and its many endeavors as well the advancement of Habitat for Humanity and its praiseworthy mission.

Along the way, he garnered many awards, including a Nobel Peace Prize. The latter is fitting as he will no doubt be remembered most for his meek, gentle nature, based upon his deep and abiding convictions as a born-again believer in, and follower of, Jesus Christ.

This is likely why Carter prided himself on being known as a man of the people. One way in which he manifested this characteristic was through his habit of personally shaking hands with every single individual on an airplane whenever he flew publicly. Delta airlines CEO confirmed this in a tribute he posted, sharing several pictures of Carter making his way through aircraft cabins greeting passengers one by one.

This latter reminded me of a documentary I once saw on Air Force One. It contained a segment on the day that Nixon resigned and departed Washington D.C. for California aboard Air Force One. The world best remembers this trip as the day Air Force One changed its Call Sign from Air Force One to SAM 27000 mid-flight due to Gerald Ford being sworn in as the new president.

But the documentary contains another poignant moment. When Nixon was departing the airplane, he thanked the pilot, Captain Ralph Albertazzie, and then apologized to him, stating that it had been his attention all along to promote the Air Force officer. He had simply gotten too busy and had kept putting the matter off in light of what he perceived as more pressing issues.

Regrettably, as he was now no longer president, it was too late to act. For all that, he said he was now sorry, and asked the man’s forgiveness. In response, of course, the pilot graciously told him that he understood, and that an apology was not necessary.

I love this story because it reminds us that we need to be careful not to allow the hassles of everyday life, no matter how pressing, to interfere with personal commitments we make to ourselves and to others. We all know how easy this is to do. No doubt many of you, just like me, have similar stories of regret that we could recount.

But what better time is there to commit not to fall prey to such remorse again in the future than at the dawning of a new year?

The Bible is full of stories of people whose lives were full of regret. Samson had regrets. Jonah had regrets. David had regrets. Peter had regrets. Paul had regrets. So did John Mark, as well as a host of others. And yet, the Bible recounts these stories for two primary reasons – first, to show us that everyone is frail, and second, to show us that God gives each of us second chances.

Samson, Jonah, David, Peter, Paul, and John Mark were all given further opportunities in life to do right by their Lord, their fellow man, and themselves. They all did just that. And what is true for them is also true for us.

As 2024 gives way to 2025, do you have regrets over yesterday? Then, I encourage you to look to the Apostle Paul, who admonished the Philippians (chapter 3, verses 13 and 14) to follow his example of "forgetting what lies behind" and instead, "focusing on what lies ahead and pressing on". Thereafter, as he told the Galatians (in chapter 6, verse 10): "as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people."

All of this is to say that we may not be able to undo the mistakes of yesterday; but we can commit to do our best not to repeat them in the future. For our God is a gracious God; and He always gives us second chances. Whenever He does, may we take advantage of these opportunities to do right by Him, by others, and by ourselves.

SOURCES:

https://www.foxnews.com/travel/jimmy-carter-carried-out-travel-ritual-every-time-he-boarded-flight;

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VC-137C_SAM_27000.

SCRIPTURE:

https://biblehub.com/philippians/3-13.htm;

https://biblehub.com/galatians/6-10.htm.

NOTE:

I pride myself on thoroughly documenting my sources. For this reason, I am still working to verify the actual documentary containing the story of Nixon and Captain Albertazzie. It is most likely from the History channel’s “MODERN MARVELS: AIR FORCE ONE – A HISTORY” (1997: A&E Television Networks Catalog Number AAE72281). If not, then it is from “Air Force One”, a video documentary released by National Geographic on VHS in 2001 and released on DVD in 2003 (ASIN: ‎B00005MEPQ). Back in the day, these were the only channels we received on cable tv. I will update this posting when I have verified the actual source.

GOOD INTENTIONS!

12/30/2024

Someone recently asked me if I intended to stay up and see the New Year in. When I replied that I might, I was told to be sure that I was standing only on my left foot as the clock struck midnight. That way, I would be sure to start off the New Year on the right foot!

Well, I do hope to start 2025 off on the right foot. But more than this, I hope to end it that way as well. Allow me to explain.

A prominent life insurance company currently has an advertising campaign that employs the terms “coulda”, “woulda”, and “shoulda”. In a series of vignettes, people appear in rapid succession regretting the fact that they never bought life insurance - the first says she “woulda” but didn’t, the second saying he “coulda” but didn’t, and the third saying she “shoulda” but didn’t.

Of course, the point of the commercial is that getting life insurance is something that needs to be accomplished and not put off. Besides, as they say, it’s better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it!

But the principle employed in the commercial transcends the acquisition of life insurance. It finds application in many other aspects of life as well – especially as one year gives way to another.

Like many people, I usually make out a list of New Year’s Resolutions. To be more accurate, I usually make out a list of things I intend to accomplish in the coming year – sort of an annual “To Do” list. As I look back on 2024, I am pleased with the fact that I was able to see a number of these tasks completed.

However, as always, there were a few that I did not manage to finish. Some were begun, but never concluded. Sadly, others were never even begun. The reason? Well, you see, I have many. To begin with, I “coulda”, but I didn’t. Plus, I “woulda”, but I didn’t. Oh, and also, I “shoulda”, but I didn’t.

Now, as the year winds down, I find that I am full of regrets at not having done so many of the things I said I was going to do in 2024. And I do not like this feeling! For this reason, I have promised myself that if the Lord allows me to draw breath in the coming year, I plan to attack my “2025 To Do List” with vigor!

And in so doing, I hope to fulfil the Biblical admonition about “making the very most of (my) time on earth, recognizing and taking advantage of each opportunity and using it with wisdom and diligence” (Ephesians 5:16, Amplified Bible).

The host of the television commercial referenced above concludes by talking about how we often put off what we know we should be doing; and, before the know it, another year has passed. He then says: “Don’t regret what you didn’t do ‘yesterday’... Feel great about saying ‘yes today’!”

That’s not a bad principle to apply, particularly at this time of the year, as we reflect on what all we left undone last year and what all we need to do this coming year!

SOURCE:

https://www.imdb.com/video/vi3937780505/.

SCRIPTURE:

https://biblehub.com/ephesians/5-16.htm.

C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S

12/25/2024

As a child, before I came of age and discovered Atlanta’s WQXI AM pop station, I largely listened to the music chosen by my parents. This consisted of either “easy listening” on Atlanta’s WLTA FM or else “country” on WPLO AM. The latter was then dominated by the “Nashville Sound”.

Accordingly, I moved back and forth with ease between the croonings of either Perry Como or Jim Reeves pouring forth from the RCA Mark 8 Floor-Model Stereo that dominated our living room, depending entirely upon the mood my parents were in at the moment.

At Christmas time, however, things changed. Throughout the month of December, country and easy listening artists were largely replaced by the Christmas music of choral and big band groups. When this happened, the radio was turned off and the LP recordings of such groups as the Robert Shaw Chorale, the Harry Simone Singers, and the Westminster Abbey Choir permeated our home.

Later, it would fashionable for most all artists, whether Christian, country, pop, or even rock, to record and release Christmas albums and CDs. To this has been added an ever-growing assortment of novelty songs and movie soundtracks that, when combined with the aforementioned albums and CDs, largely comprise the modern day Christmas musical canon.

And to be honest, this then became the selections that my wife and I and our children have mostly listened to during the holidays over the years. But these days, I find myself increasingly returning to the Christmas music of my childhood. I have spent a small fortune finding and downloading the musical selections I once so enjoyed.

Thus it was that, while out walking yesterday and listening to my “Childhood Christmas” playlist, I came across the Eddy Arnold classic titled “C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S”. I thought it fitting to post the lyrics here this day…

When I was but a youngster
Christmas meant one thing
That I'd be getting lots of toys that day

I learned a whole lot different
When Mother sat me down
And taught me to spell 'Christmas' this way:

'C' is for the Christ child, born upon this day
'H' for herald angels in the night
'R' means our Redeemer
'I' means Israel
'S' is for the star that shone so bright
'T' is for three wise men, they who travelled far
'M' is for the manger where He lay
'A' is for all He stands for
'S' means Shepard's came

And that's why there's a Christmas day!

And that's why there's a Christmas day!

A simple song, a beautiful message, and above all, a fitting reminder for Christmas Day!

For when all the layers of modern Christmases have been peeled away, when all the music and lights and decorations and presents and foodstuffs and movies and any one of a thousand other trappings are removed, the essence of Christmas still comes down to the simple message found in Matthew 1:18-2:12, Luke 2:1-12, and John 1:1-14, but best summed up in John 3:16-17:

16For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

May we never forget this! May we always remember why we have, and why we celebrate, Christmas Day!

SCRIPTURE:

https://biblehub.com/niv/luke/2.htm;

https://biblehub.com/niv/matthew/1.htm;

https://biblehub.com/niv/matthew/2.htm;

https://biblehub.com/niv/john/1.htm.

SONG LYRICS:

https://genius.com/Perry-como-c-h-r-i-s-t-m-a-s-lyrics.

SEE ALSO:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PH6BR1NOTI.

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