My Ongoing Thoughts

LETTING OTHERS SEE JESUS IN YOU

1/17/2022

A friend of mine, who I went through school with, is now a physician in another state. This is not surprising, given that back when we were growing up, he was always in great physical shape, even running cross-country track in high school. He did not play other sports, as he was always slight of build, and only medium height.

Nevertheless, he was extremely intelligent, always scoring near the top of our class, no matter the subject. Unfortunately, however, his intelligence could sometimes be manifest as much through his wit as through his test scores. Once, when we were in the hallway awaiting the bell to assemble for homeroom and the start of the school day, he obviously said or did something that aroused the ire of a large, imposing classmate.

Let’s just say that this latter individual excelled more on the playing field than in the classroom. In fact, he would go on one day to play football at a power five university.

Anyway, to this day, I remember seeing my friend being jerked up by the shirt collar and shoved up against a locker with his feet literally dangling above the floor, and hearing his assailant angrily growling these words at him: “Now say something smart, kid, now say something smart!” I never knew exactly what my friend had originally said; but I will never forget what he said next. Unable to resist himself, I suppose, my friend calmly retorted: “E = mc2!”

Suffice it to say that a chorus of laughter went up from those of us around them. As might be expected, this did nothing to relieve the tension, but only served to intensify the bully’s anger, not only at my friend, but at those of us who chuckled as well. I suppose that had a teacher not happened up on the situation and diffused the matter, my friend may well have paid a very heavy price for his wit.

Still, I have often admired my friend for his ability to respond so quickly in such situations. I, myself, can be witty and even acerbic at times. But I find that I usually need a little time to think through my responses to challenging situations. While such an approach often allows for a more detailed and thorough reply, it does little to satisfy the modern world’s appreciation for soundbite worthy sarcasm. But I digress…

I shared the above story as the result of having recently seen a television commercial which struck me as quite effective. You see, the older I get, the harder I find it is for me to remember things. That’s why these days, my wife and I, like so many others our age, take a memory supplement. (I will not here identify the specific brand we use. There are several good ones on the market; and I will let my readers decide if they need one, and which brand they might choose.)

One brand, however, deserves credit for its marketing campaign. Halfway through the television commercial employed for its promotion, the actor who has discovered the product suddenly develops a huge, thick, and disheveled head of grey hair along with a matching set of bushy eyebrows and mustache. The catchphrase is then revealed, as the announcer challenges us would-be consumers to “Get your Einstein on!”

Now, I’m certainly no Einstein! But I did get the point of the commercial. Its inference is immediate and effective. After all, in our culture, Albert Einstein is synonymous with genius. And when we think of intelligent phrases, we often think of his celebrated theory of special relativity, commonly expressed as “E = mc2”, meaning that mass and energy are the same physical entity and can be changed into each other.

Thus, in the equation, the increased relativistic mass (m) of a body times the speed of light squared (c2) is equal to the kinetic energy (E) of that body, or in simpler terms, “energy equals mass times the speed of light squared”.

Granted, not everyone can qualify as a theoretical physicist; and the above theory may not get you all excited. Yet, few, if any of us, care to be seen as unintelligent. Thus, while we might feel free to apply such terms as “dumb” or “stupid” to others, we find ourselves offended when others apply them to us.

Perhaps it is a worthy thing, therefore, to go about getting one’s Einstein on. In truth, most anything we can do to increase our mental capacity is commendable. Hopefully, the more we use our God-given intelligence, the greater the benefit to us and our fellow man.

But there is an even greater way to benefit ourselves and our neighbors. And that is not just to grow mentally, but also to grow spiritually. How much better off would the world be if we all placed as much of a premium on maturity in our spiritual lives as we do in our intellectual lives?!

Luke’s New Testament Gospel (chapter 2, verse 52 NIV), tells us that “Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” It follows, therefore, that Jesus valued His mind, as well as His body. But He clearly valued His soul as well. So much so that He appears to have placed enough of a premium on growing spiritually that He viewed it as a prerequisite to relating to and benefitting those around Him.

In light of this, should we not do the same? If we truly desire to improve the quality of life for ourselves and those around us, should we not also place as much of a premium on spiritual maturity as we do on intellectual and physical maturity? Yes, we should.

Why not let your spiritual growth be so apparent that when others see you, they see someone who values more than just the mind or the body, but someone who values the soul as well? In other words, why not “Get your Jesus on!”, and let others see Jesus in you?

SOURCES:

https://www.ispot.tv/ad/wfy6/focusfactor-get-your-einstein-on;

https://www.britannica.com/science/E-mc2-equation.

SEE ALSO:

https://hymnary.org/text/while_passing_through_this_world_of_sin.

SCRIPTURE:

https://biblehub.com/luke/2-52.htm.

“WHAT, ME WORRY?!”

1/12/2022

Such was the phrase made famous mostly by MAD Magazine’s fictitious mascot and cover boy, Alfred E. Newman. Fictional though he was, his question forever remains relevant. For it is everyman’s question, including mine. Consider the events of this past Monday night…

It only took 41 years, but my beloved University of Georgia Bulldogs finally won themselves another NCAA National Football Championship. They came close a time or two since 1980; but not until this past season did they actually pull it off, culminating in their defeat of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide forty-eight hours ago in the College Football Playoff championship game by a score of 33-18.

My wife and I watched the whole game. As we did, we carried on what amounted to a non-stop texting conversation with friends and family far and wide. Along the way, like all true DAWG Nation fans, I rode an exhaustive emotional roller coaster throughout much of the game.

When the Dogs played well, I was feeling high! But when they faltered, I sank to emotional lows. And if the truth be known, I was more down than up for the first three quarters or so. While their defense lived up to its billing, keeping the Tide out of the end zone for much of the game, their offense sputtered.

In the first offensive possession alone, I suffered through the agony of watching a three and out series, punctuated by a sack, a fumble (fortunately recovered by us), a delay of game call, and a near interception. Alas, for us Dog fans, Alabama fared little better. Between them, both teams managed a total of five field goals.

But all that changed in the second half, as the Bulldogs’ offense finally got on track. Even though their vaunted defense did eventually allow a touchdown to the Tide, the Dogs themselves went on to score 27 more points. The last of these came on a dramatic pick-six interception pulled off as Alabama was driving to make it a closer game.

When this last play happened, a huge collective sigh of relief went out from millions of Bulldog fans, as everyone realized that the “Junkyard Dogs” had finally secured not only the victory, but also that elusive and long sought National championship.

Fast forward 48 hours till this evening. ESPN Network rebroadcast the game, which I recorded earlier and watched tonight. Not surprisingly, I found the game just as enjoyable the second time around. (After all, my Bulldogs won the game.) What was surprising, however, was that I was able to do this devoid of all the emotional ups and downs that accompanied the first agonizing viewing.

As I have reflected on all of this, I have come to appreciate a little more of the differences between my own earthly perspective and God’s Heavenly perspective. As I live my life, I experience each and every aspect of it “in the moment”.

Once that moment has passed, of course, I have the advantage of reviewing it as part of the past. But I can never know it in advance. I can never know the future. For this reason, I can never know the ultimate outcome of either any given experience within life or of life itself.

From God’s perspective, however, things are seen in an entirely different manner. This is because the Heavenly Father sees things in their totality. And thus, when He sees my life, He sees my past, my present, and even my future all at once.

He knows the outcome of every situation, just as He does the outcome of my life. He has already seen it all - past, present, and future - in advance. And all of this is to say that He already knows exactly how every single thing comes out!

In light of this, let me share some really good news with you. When you already know how something turns out, you are not condemned to ride the emotional roller-coaster that otherwise accompanies the experiences of life.

Pause and let that sink in a moment! Grasping this singular principle may well be the key to living a life of genuine joy! That’s right. It’s just that simple. After all, did not Jesus spend an enormous amount of time stressing this in His teachings?

In His most renowned message, the famed “Sermon on the Mount”, he repeatedly askes “Why do you worry?” He then goes on to remind us repeatedly that our Heavenly Father is well aware of our needs, our lives, and our destinies.

Is not His point, in part at least, that if we could only remember to see things from God’s perspective, our lives would be so much less stressful? I believe it is!

Experience has taught me that, very often, whenever some experience in life passes from the present into the past (as all of them inevitably do), I often look back and see things entirely different. I can only imagine, therefore, what all of life will look like once it is has been lived.

No doubt, only Heaven will reveal how often I fretted and worried over what I thought was some insurmountable situation, only to see that, as the Apostle Paul once told the Christians at Rome (Romans, chapter 8, verse 28), in the end “God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose for them.”

SOURCES:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_E._Neuman.

SCRIPTURE:

https://biblehub.com/matthew/6-28.htm;

https://biblehub.com/romans/8-28.htm.

WINTER WONDERS

1/6/2022

The old folks used to say that if a snowfall lies on the ground for three days, it means another one is on the way. They may be right. As I type this, we are three days removed from one dusting of snow with another predicted for tonight.

When my family and I lived further south, we tended to get long summers with short spring and falls, and even shorter winters. But the great thing about living in here in eastern Tennessee is that we pretty much get to enjoy four full seasons. Each in its own way is a blessing.

Spring brings an explosion of color and smells and sounds as life springs forth. Summer allows for long full days of outdoor activity. The fall sees a display of deciduous foliage all but virtually unparalleled in other latitudes. I have learned to enjoy the beauty of each of these seasons in their time.

But more and more these days, I find that my appreciating the splendor that only winter can provide. Few things are as breathtaking as what Clement Moore described as the light of the “moon on the breast of the new fallen snow”, giving a “lustre of mid-day to objects below”.

Or that feeling of majesty captured so well in the movie A Christmas Story. when little Ralphie opens his window on Christmas morning and beholds the beauty of a fresh snowfall that has wondrously blanketed everything in sight.

Such sights are only enhanced by the accompanying silence that snow so often brings. As a buffeting agent, snow tends to quite nature all on its own. But it also usually limits the amount of traffic and other human activity that otherwise normally punctuates the average day. Whenever this happens, one typically finds that the visual grandeur of fresh snow is further enriched.

My wife and I discussed these and many other blessings of the season as we went “walking in a winter wonderland” this past week.

But that walk provided me one other insight into what a winter snowfall provides. That is the ability to see much further and deeper than at any other time of the year. Think about it. As beautiful as they are, the blossoms of spring and the leaf cover of summer nonetheless tend to obscure the view. And even in the fall, when the leaves drop, as one peers through the woods, the view is often blurred by a lack of contrast.

But when the winter applies a fresh layer of snow, one begins to see through the trees to what lies beyond. As we walked along, I glanced into the woods in every direction. Suddenly, I could see the roof tops of numerous houses and barns as well as yards and pastures, all of which were otherwise obscured throughout the rest of the year.

I found myself able to get a far better lay of the land, as it were. I could see hills and valleys and make out all sorts of roads and other landmarks, the existence of none of which I had heretofore known about. And in that moment, I had a further insight.

Perhaps life itself is much the same. Perhaps life has its seasons, all of which are a full of blessings in their own right. In the spring of life, we come to be. Life is fresh and so much is new with each passing day. In summer, we come of age. We mature and grow tall and strong. Life is full with activity and progress. In the fall of life, we slow down a bit as the intensity of life gives way to a fuller appreciation of the beauty if life.

But the winter of life brings a set of blessings all its own. It provides us with insights into things we never really saw before, and gives us some solitude to reflect on and appreciate these things.

The Book of Proverbs (chapter 20, verse 29, KJV) tells us that “the glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head.” The Amplified Bible translates this verse this way: “The glory of young men is their [physical] strength, and the honor of aged men is their gray head [representing wisdom and experience].”

There were seasons when I was a young man. Those were the spring and summer of my life. During that time, I prided myself on my strengths and abilities. But those seasons have now given way to other ones, to fall already, and soon, to winter. And yet, I am not troubled by this. Rather, I find myself thoroughly enjoying the current season, even as I look forward to the one soon to dawn.

For even now, I find that I am better able to appreciate the beauty of life in ways I was once far too busy to value. Even more importantly, I find that I am beginning to see things as I have never really seen them before. The depth and breadth of that sight is refreshing, as I find myself better able to grasp and make sense of the world in which I live.

For all these things, I thank God more and more each day for His blessings upon me.

SCRIPTURE SOURCE: https://biblehub.com/proverbs/20-29.htm.

A FULL PLATE

1/1/2022

When it comes to the holidays, my precious wife is a bit old-fashioned. She goes all out in the fall for Halloween and Thanksgiving; and this is nothing compared to Christmas. In December, she knocks it completely out of the park, decorating, cooking, and providing an atmosphere that is guaranteed to inspire all but the most orneriest Scrooges amongst us.

She carries that same passion right over into New Year’s Day. On that day each year, there are certain things she simply will not do, such as cleaning house or washing clothes. She firmly believes that undertaking these and/or similar household tasks on the first day of a given calendar year sets a bad precedent for the remainder of that year.

Not that I am complaining. After all, who wants to run a vacuum cleaner when there is so much football to watch on television?!

On the other hand, there are certain things she absolutely believes must be done on New Year’s Day. To begin with, staying up till midnight and ringing in the New Year by kissing one’s spouse is a top priority. I, myself, am completely in accord with this. So much so, that from about 10:30 pm on last night, I kept asking her to check her watch! :)

Another fine New Year’s Day tradition she firmly believes in has to do with the kitchen. She insists on cooking a meal of ham, back-eyed peas, and either collard or turnip greens. Supposedly, the pork helps to facilitate good fortune, while the peas and greens represent pennies and cash that could be enticed to come one’s way.

As I write this, it is now c. 3:00 pm on New Year’s Day. So far, I have yet to receive any infusion of wealth. But I am pleasantly digesting one fine mid-day meal! When the dinner bell rang a little while ago, I dutifully filled my plate to the full. (And considering that I would rather be lucky than wealthy, I even had second helpings on the ham!)

All jokes, aside, here in the southern USA, we are somewhat noted for our New Year’s Day traditions. (You can read more about them in the references cited below.) And like many southerners, we here in the Jackson home hold true to them year by year.

Nonetheless, deep down in our hearts, my wife and I will admit that neither of us really believes that eating pork is lucky, or that eating peas and greens somehow ensures an influx of money.

What we do believe, however, is that each New Year that comes our way is a gift from Almighty God. If the Lord tarries His coming, and if He does not choose to call us home to Heaven in the coming year, 2022 will bring us 52 more weeks or 364 new days to live. What is more, each of these days will be divided into 24 hours, 1440 minutes, or 86,400 seconds.

Given that most anything can happen in the next second, what the Bible calls “in the twinkling of an eye”, each new second of life is a precious opportunity. That means in 2022, we may well be given 449,600 (86,400 X 364) new opportunities at life! Let that truth sink in for a moment. If you do, you will surely sense just how precious a gift the coming year is.

Now, what better way is there to utilize that gift than by finding some mean or means to redeem as many of these God-given opportunities as possible?!

Do you have a purpose in life? The mere fact that God created you and endowed you with life means you most assuredly do. So, why not commit afresh and anew to discovering just what that propose is?! As well as to seeking God-given moments of opportunity in order to fulfill that purpose?!

The Apostle Paul told the believers in Galatia (chapter 6, verse 10) that, as they had opportunity, they should seek to do all the good they possibly could. If we follow this admonition, not only will God be glorified in us, but our own lives will be more meaningful as well. Not to mention the difference doing so might make in the lives of those around us!

For these reasons, this coming year, I’ll not be looking so much to fill my plate with fortune or material possessions as I will to fill it with God-given opportunities to live a full and meaningful life. For when 2022 has come and gone, these latter things will surely be far more filling than mere good luck, a fast buck, or even a second helping of my wife’s famous ham, peas, and greens!

SOURCES:

https://www.moms.com/new-years-day-superstitions/;

https://www.newyearwiki.com/new-years-food-superstitions/.

SCRIPTURE:

https://biblehub.com/bsb/galatians/6.htm.

LIVING A FULL AND MEANINGFUL LIFE

12/28/2021

The headlines this week are replete with lists of those individuals we as a society have lost this past year. As I write this blog post, the most recent of these passings, announced today, was that of NFL Hall of Famer John Madden. As I reflected back over his career, I could not help but be impressed by how full his life was.

I remember him as a player (for the Philadelphia Eagles), as a coach (for the Oakland Raiders), as a broadcaster (for CBS Sports), as a pitchman (for beverages) and, along with my two sons, as a video game entrepreneur (PlayStation’s Madden NFL Series). At any stage of success, he could have stepped back and called it quits, choosing to rest on his laurels. Instead, at every stage, he kept reinventing himself and doing more and more with his life.

Ironically, the story I saw on the news about Madden’s death was followed by a television commercial advertising Jimmy Dean Sausage. Here is yet another example of a man who pursued multiple careers successfully. He started out as a singer (“Big Bad John”), transitioned to a television show host (“The Jimmy Dean Show”) , went on to make movies (even starring in a “James Bond” Movie), and did all of this before starting a world famous sausage company, and even opening a few restaurants.

When people asked him why he started a meat company of all things, Dean often joked, “If you had ever seen me act, you would've realized that diversification was imperative!”

I suppose I have always been impressed by people like Madden and Dean who refused to be pigeon-holed with regard to their chosen pursuits. This is especially true in the day and age in which we live, wherein we are encouraged to pursue one profession to the exclusion of others.

In truth, people of extraordinary talent have always pursued multiple interests. This is why I have always loved reading the exploits of such people. Originally, the term “renaissance man” referred to such giants as Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, who successfully painted, sculpted, experimented, designed, engineered, dissected, wrote, taught, and the like.

In more modern times, we see such successful entrepreneurs as Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, and Richard Branson leaving behind the mere pursuit of money to conquer space travel and travel to Mars.

And long before any of these men existed, Solomon of old was a poet, a lyricist, a writer, a scientist, a merchant, a warrior, and a king. As such, he was the original Renaissance man.

Sad as it was, perhaps it is apropos that John Madden’s passing occurred three days before New Year’s Day. After all, if the coming of a new year is about anything, surely it is about the opportunity to start anew and afresh. I trust that the life you are currently pursuing is purposeful and fulfilling. But if not, what better time to make a change in your life’s direction?

A mentor of mine once told me that life is best lived in chapters. Chapters all have one thing in common. They begin and they end. If it is time for a new beginning in your life, why not turn the corner as well as the page on the calendar? Why not start some new journey? Why not undertake some new endeavor? Why not embrace some new adventure? As Will Rogers was fond of saying, “Go on and get out on that limb. Ain’t that where the fruit is?!”

Rogers was right. After all, what if John Madden had given up on football after his playing days were over? What if Jimmy Dean had stopped after his first big country hit? The world would likely be a poorer place in either case. I am thankful, therefore, that such gifted individuals as these chose to use the full expression of their talents and skills in order to enrich the lives of us all.

But more than just thankful; I am also convicted. In what way? I am convicted with regard to my own efforts in life. Have I truly utilized all of my God-given gifts, talents, and/or skills? If so, have I employed them in ways that have chiefly glorified Him? Beyond this, have I used them to help to enrich the lives of others? For most assuredly, if God gave them to me, then He did so for these very reasons.

Perhaps we would all do well to ask ourselves these and similar questions on the cusp of a brand new year. For if New Year’s Day represents anything, surely it is new chances and new opportunities with which to live and make a difference with our lives. Only then can any of us be said to have lived a truly full and meaningful life.

SOURCES:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Madden;

https://www.profootballhof.com/players/john-madden/;

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Dean;

https://www.jimmydean.com/our-story/.

THE LIGHT SIDE

12/22/2021

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. After all, December 25th is fast approaching. But I’m already finding reason for joy! This is because December 21st has now come and gone. As most people know, that date marked the day of the winter solstice this year.

By way of summary, the winter solstice is the day on which we have the most amount of darkness. Thereafter, rather than getting shorter, the days begin to get longer. Granted, this may only be by a few minutes each day; but it still happens. And it will continue to do so for the next six months, until the summer solstice in June, when we will finally have the most amount of daylight, before the waning days of fall set back in.

(For those who care about such things, halfway between each solstice are the annual equinoxes. In both the spring and the fall, there occurs that single day on which we have equal amounts of light and dark, with daylight waxing in the spring and waning in the fall.)

So, what’s my point? Just that I purely despise it getting dark at 4:30-5:00 pm each day. I much prefer days when we have sunlight well into the evening hours. Now, I understand that all of this is seemingly exacerbated by time change. But even without man-made clock adjustments, the rotation of the earth on its axis provides for much more sunlight per day in the northern hemisphere in the lead up to, during, and just after the summer months.

And this is precisely why I have longed to see December 22nd finally arrive. From this day forward, the world begins to get a little brighter. And that brightness will last just a little bit more each day.

In a literal sense, this allows me to get so much more done outside each day than is possible in the lead up to the winter solstice. From this day forward, no more being cooped up indoors from 5:00 pm on. More and more light means more and more opportunity to accomplish daily goals. For that reason, if for no other, I am happy to see this day arrive.

But maybe there is more than just the literal, physical ramifications of this day to be happy about. Maybe, just maybe, we can all be happy about what this day symbolizes. For surely it represents the day when darkness begins to give way to light!

Think about it. Whenever we experience darkness in our lives, do we not welcome the light? I know I do. This is especially true after extended periods of darkness. In such cases, any amount of light, even the most miniscule, is most reassuring.

This is not to mention the fact that warmth comes along with the light. After all, is not the lack of sunlight that which results in the lack of warmth? Simply put, where there is no light, there tends to be no warmth. Conversely, where there is plenty of sunlight, there tends to be more warmth.

How appropriate, therefore, that Christmas falls just after the winter solstice.

One of the most often quoted prophecies of the birth of Jesus at Christmastime is from Isaiah, chapter 9, verses 6-7:

6For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

But remember that this very oracle from Isaiah begins with these words:

2The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.

Little wonder, then, that we celebrate Christmas with so many lights! If the coming of God’s Son into this world is about anything, it is surely about God’s light bursting forth into the darkness of mankind’s sinful condition.

What about you today? Are you now in, or have you recently been through, a period of darkness? If so, then let me share some really good news with you. That little babe born on the very first Christmas morn would one day grow up and have this to say (as recorded in the New Testament Gospel of John, chapter 8, verse 12):

“I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”

Let that notion dawn on you, my friend. If you do, I’m confident you will soon see the light!

SOLSTICE INFORMATION SOURCE:

https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/winter-solstice-what-is-it-when-occur.

SCRIPTURE SOURCES:

https://biblehub.com/niv/isaiah/9.htm;

https://biblehub.com/john/8-12.htm.

ON MY SIDE…

12/17/2021

We have had unseasonably warm weather the last few days here in east Tennessee. For this reason, even as we approach the shortest day of the year, there has been much more opportunity for outdoor activity. Still, I was caught off guard by the video that was texted to me yesterday.

It seems my daughter and son-in-law together have been using the warm temperatures to teach my oldest grandson how to ride a bike. When I clicked on the play button, I beheld my grandson wobbling back and forth as he bravely made his way forward down the street.

It was obvious that he was at once both terrified and exhilarated. As each successive video came though, it was also obvious that his confidence level grew with each attempt. Much like the Wright Brothers at Kill Devil Hill, his first attempts were short, jerky, uncoordinated affairs. But by the time he had undertaken his fifth or sixth sortie, his skills were noticeably improved.

The last video showed him barreling down the sidewalk with a huge grin on his face as rode into the waiting arms of his mother. Apparently, he is still working on his stopping technique.

Kudos to him! He has now undergone a rite for passage for the all-American kid. And having learned to ride a bike, he will never unlearn it. Moreover, having mastered a bicycle, he will soon be moving on to other vehicles. Such is the way life works.

But kudos go out as well to his parents. First, to his mother (and my daughter), who patiently nurtured him to this point. After all, she has been there with him every step of the way in his short life. She was there when he was born, when he learned to roll over, to sit up, to crawl, to walk, and to run.

But I want here to give a particular shout-out to his father (and my son-in-law). His dad has been with him every step of the way in life as well. The video clips well illustrate this, as his father is literally there beside him, from the first attempt at balancing to his ultimate mastering of the process of riding a bike. With each press of a peddle, his father can be seen at his side, coaching him and encouraging him in his dogged quest to succeed.

As I watched this process unfolding, I was reminded of the role my own father played in my life. He too stood by my side. He too coaxed and cajoled and cheered me as I sought to make my way forward in life. I thank God for that man. I hope that I was able to do much the same for my own three children.

But these events have also reminded me of the role my Heavenly Father plays in my life. As the One Who gave me life, and endowed me with certain skills and resources, He knows all that I am capable of. And for this reason, He faithfully walks with me and talks with me as I make my way through this world.

When I need instruction, He provides it. When I need encouragement, He provides it. When I need assistance, He provides this as well. And yes, when I need discipline, He also provides this. At every turn, in every situation, on every day, He is faithful to be my side, fulfilling His promise never to leave me nor forsake me. For that, I am grateful.

Along the way, I have no doubt that He rejoices at my victories. I also have no doubt that He grieves over my failures. But in the end, with His help, even though I may stumble and fall in the process, I have learned that eventually, I can do all things through Him Who strengthens me! I hope you have a similar testimony.

My grandson has learned a valuable lesson. He has now mastered the art of riding a bicycle. In due time, though, I trust that he will come to see that he has gained much more from this and similar life experiences. I pray that he will grasp the fact that he has been provided with a father who loves him and walks by his side.

Even more, I pray that he will one day grasp the fact that he also has a loving and compassionate Heavenly Father Who stands by him as well. For this single realization will do more to compel him forward in life than anything else he ever discovers.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:

https://biblehub.com/hebrews/13-5.htm;

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

SEE ALSO:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_the_Garden_(1912_song).

SUBTLE REMINDERS!

12/13/2021

Fogbows, sometimes referred to as white rainbows, cloudbows, or ghost rainbows, are an extremely rare meteorological phenomenon; but they really do occur on occasion. And this happened most recently in Goodland, Kansas.

Senior meteorologist Brandon Vincent with the National Weather Service in Goodland was in just the right time at just the right time. He had lined up his camera and captured about 30 minutes of video of fog rolling in, which he then set about reducing to a six-second time-lapse for presentation.

But he got more than he anticipated in the process. According to Vincent: “My first thought was, ‘Oh, that’s cool … I don't think I've ever seen one of those before’.”

Fogbows, it seems, are much like rainbows. The major difference is that the colors aren't quite as vibrant because the water droplets that cause them are so much tinier than raindrops. For this reason, fogbows are almost white in color.

Apparently, viewing a fogbow is like seeing a rainbow with the sun behind you but looking into a bank of fog. And someone has to be in just the right place at just the right time because they usually form just as the fog is dissipating. When a fogbow appears at night, it is called a lunar fogbow.

I confess that I am somewhat envious of Mr. Vincent in that I have never seen a fogbow. It must be a pretty cool sight. But I have seen many, many rainbows in my life.

Rainbows have been adopted as political and cultural symbols by many organizations in the modern eras. But knowledge of them is as old as recorded history; and the truth is that they were imbued with other meaning long before that applied to them now.

In fact, rainbows are introduced in the very first book of the Bible – in Genesis, chapter 9, verses 8-17:

8Then God said to Noah and his sons with him, 9“Behold, I now establish My covenant with you and your descendants after you, 10and with every living creature that was with you—the birds, the livestock, and every beast of the earth—every living thing that came out of the ark. 11And I establish My covenant with you: Never again will all life be cut off by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.”

12And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between Me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: 13I have set My rainbow in the clouds, and it will be a sign of the covenant between Me and the earth.

14Whenever I form clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, 15I will remember My covenant between Me and you and every living creature of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. 16And whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of every kind that is on the earth.”

17So God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between Me and every creature on the earth.”

These days, of course, people see all sorts of meaning in rainbows. But for me, above all else, catching sight of a rainbow simply serves to remind me of Almighty God’s covenant of mercy. It reminds me that He is patient and longsuffering, in spite of my and every other human being’s shortcomings. And where would we be without His grace and mercy?!

Of course, rainbows also remind us that a storm is now over. Technically, to see a rainbow, one must have the storm beyond them with the sun shining behind them and onto the retreating storm (or rain cloud). Hence, rainbows serve to remind us, even as it did Noah of old, that whatever storm we have just endured has now passed.

Many a time in my life, I have endured storms. Sometimes, they have been physical. At other times psychological, emotional, relational, financial, professional, etc… But in every case, the storm eventually passed. And once it did, I was reminded of God’s grace in having sustained me through it all.

And that brings me back to fogbows. Many a time, metaphorically, I have been in the fog with regard to a given situation and/or decision. But in God’s timing, the fog has lifted and I have been seen my way forward. When this has happened, just as has been the case when I have endured the storms of life, I have so often been reminded that it was God Himself Who lifted the fog and showed me the way!

Perhaps I am not alone here. Perhaps you too can relate to God’s reassurance during and after a storm. Perhaps you can relate as well to God’s direction after the fog has lifted. If so, then join me and give praise to God the next time you see a rainbow. And if you ever do see a fogbow, remember that it too is surely a reminder from God about His tender mercies!

STORY SOURCE:

https://www.foxweather.com/weather-news/rare-fogbow-caught-on-video-by-kansas-meteorologist.

SCRIPTURE SOURCE:

https://biblehub.com/bsb/genesis/9.htm.

WELL WORTH REPEATING

12/9/2021

They’re back. After a whole year, we welcome them once again into our homes for the very familiarity of their message. I am referring, of course, to that select group of classic and timeless Christmas television commercials. No doubt you are familiar with them.

In the interest of brevity, I will highlight only three of them here. The first is when the famed M&Ms candy characters meet Santa Claus. Together, they say, “He does exist.” Thereafter, they faint; after which Santa says, “They do exist.” And thereafter, he faints as well.

The second is when an assemblage of bell-ringing Hershey’s Kisses chocolate drops performs “We Wish You A Merry Christmas”.

And the third is when the viewer hears “O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree” playing against a simple visual backdrop of a single palm tree decorated in Christmas lights silhouetted against a tropical night time sky.

Why do these and similar commercials re-appear year after year with consistent regularity on television during the Christmas season? Because they are undeniably effective in that they resonate with the audience making their message timeless! They do not need to be updated or altered in any way. Their message is clear and they are as effective today as when they were first produced.

Of course, the exact same thing is true of the actual Christmas story itself, without which three would be no such commercials. For Christmas itself also reappears every year with consistent regularity. And no wonder; for it never gets old. It never goes out of style.

Why is this? There are many reasons perhaps. But above all, it is because the message of Christmas resonates with all of us. No matter our circumstance, somewhere deep within our souls, the message of Christmas strikes a responsive chord! It does this for all people in all times and in all places, never losing its meaning and/or its relevance!

So, my friend, rejoice! As always, Christmas is here again. And “the old, old story of how a Savior came from Glory” is as new and refreshing this year as it ever was. As the Scriptures say…

“4But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. 5God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. 6And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, ‘Abba, Father.’ 7Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.”

For this reason, as always, the message of Christmas is well worth repeating!

HYMN LYRICS SOURCE:

https://hymnlyrics.org/mostpopularhymns/victory_in_jesus.html.

SCRIPTURE SOURCE:

https://biblehub.com/nlt/galatians/4.htm.

A QUICK AND EASY DECISION

12/5/2021

As I pen this blog post, it is now Sunday evening, a little over 36 hours before what will be the morning of December 7th, 2021. When this unfolds, the world will mark the 80th anniversary of the day and hour of what President Franklin Delano Roosevelt called “a day which will live in infamy”.

In his speech before the U. S. Congress on December 8th, 1941, he referred to the “unprovoked and dastardly attack” by “by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan” on the U. S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, asking congress to declare war on Japan. Together, these events collectively marked the United States’ entry into World War Two.

As might be expected, therefore, the television and radio airwaves this weekend are filled with documentaries about Pearl Harbor. So are innumerable podcasts and internet sites.

One of the best I was privileged to see was one titled “Remember Pearl Harbor”, narrated by Tom Selleck. If you have a chance to view it, I highly recommend doing so. Rather than just telling the basic history and showing the familiar clips of the attack, it moves through the sequence of the attack with interviews from survivors, allowing many of those who were involved and were still alive at the time of its filming to tell their stories personally, and telling the stories of many of those involved but now deceased on their behalf.

Selleck relates one story in particular that struck me as powerful. On the morning of the attack, U. S. Army Air Corp Lieutenant Glenn Sorensen had just finished detailing his prized possession: a 1937 Buick sedan. At the time, he loved that car more than anything else in this world. But the sudden realization that he and his nation were under attack immediately changed his priorities.

The Sacramento Bee newspaper picks up the story…

“I look up in the sky and it’s full of Japanese airplanes,” (Sorenson) said from his recliner tucked in a corner of his living room. After the first attack, (he) climbed into his Buick, speeding for the flight line and awaiting aircraft. A dozen brand-new B-17 Flying Fortresses were arriving that day. He was too late. ‘All of our planes and hangars were destroyed. I was strafed during the second attack,’ Sorensen continued. ‘They were also dropping bombs and strafing the field.’

Three of those rounds struck Sorensen’s sedan, but somehow missed him. From his recliner 73 years later, Sorensen reached for a small manila pouch. Typed in tiny print on its face, the pouch reads in part: ‘This bullet was lodged in Lt. Glenn Sorensen’s 1937 Buick.’ ‘It was the greatest car I ever owned,’ he said. ‘And it likely saved his life.’”

As I first watched (and later read the newspaper account) of Sorenson’s ordeal, I was reminded that crises, whenever they come our way, quickly have the power to help us prioritize.

By Lieutenant Sorenson’s own admission, in 1941, few things were ever as prized as by him as that 1937 Buick Sedan. He loved it, babied it, and cared for it extensively. But all that changed - in a split second - in the twinkling of an eye. For once he grasped the fact that his country was sunder attack, he immediately regarded that beloved automobile as expendable. As such, he willingly sacrificed it to the fierce onslaught of the enemy.

Why? Precisely because, by default, it quickly became an expendable asset in the struggle for a far greater purpose. Simply put: his beloved car suddenly mattered very little when compared to his own life and his liberty, as well as those of his fellow man!

In many respects, Sorenson’s experience prefigured that of his nation. Countless United States ships, planes, trains, tanks, and other such pieces of equipment were ultimately to be deemed expendable in the greater cause of victory over fascist tyranny and oppression.

80 years on, what can we glean from all of this? For me, at least, the answer is obvious. Few, if any, would question the assertion that we now live in in a day and age when many are accustomed to placing a premium on material possessions. Given this state of affairs, does it not now behoove us to learn from the experience of men like Lieutenant Glenn Sorensen? Indeed it does!

As someone who is now 60 years of age, I will admit that I have to stop and count up the various vehicles I have driven, owned, and/or prized in my lifetime. To the best of my knowledge, that number now sits at 22. Make that number 27 if one includes motorcycles, tractors, and the like. Make it 36 if one includes riding lawnmowers! And yet, of all these, I can only account for the whereabouts of less than 10. The rest are simply gone forever.

In retrospect, therefore, no matter how much I may have prized each and every one of them in their time, I now recognize how little they have mattered in the face of more significant possessions. After all, what is an automobile (or any other possession) when compared to my freedom?!

To their credit, what Tom Brokaw called “the Greatest Generation” willingly let go of all things material in order to obtain a far greater good. May we willingly follow their example! And may we do this not only in a corporeal sense, but also in a spiritual sense!

After all, did not Jesus Himself admonish us thusly when He asked the piercing question, “What does it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?” Little wonder, then, that the Apostle Paul would go on to say that he considered everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus as Lord, for Whose sake he had lost all things. As he put it: “I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.”

Glenn Sorenson understood this principle. So do I.

The question is: “Do you?”

SOURCES:

Articles:

https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/history/article4312895.html;

https://www.owleyes.org/text/pearl-harbor-speech/read/text-of-roosevelts-speech#root-2.

Scriptures:

https://biblehub.com/mark/8-36.htm.

https://biblehub.com/philippians/3-8.htm.

ADDENDUM:

See Also:

https://www.newser.com/story/314248/pearl-harbor-survivors-gather-on-80th-anniversary.html.

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