Blog Archives

MASTERING THE GAME

1/28/2013

Well, the Super Bowl is almost upon us. Many people are all worked up over this weekend. No doubt, the people who are the happiest about this year’s match-up are the good citizens of Baltimore and San Francisco.

Of course, there are some people who are avid football fans no matter which two teams happen to be playing. They will enjoy the game this Sunday just for sheer love of the sport.

For my part, I must confess that I have been a little less interested ever since the Atlanta Falcons were eliminated in the NFC Championship game a week ago. I will still watch the big game, to be sure, only with a little less enthusiasm now than might have been the case.

Hopefully, this sets me apart from those people who are simply rabid about their particular team. You know the type, I’m sure. They are not fans, but fanatics - in the truest since of the word. The tenor of their whole lives appears to be dependent upon the performance of their particular team on a given weekend.

Paul Powell tells the story about one such person…

A man was an avid Cowboy fan. He lived and died
with every game. But, when Jimmy Johnson left the
Cowboys he became disillusioned and thought the team
would fall apart. So, he gave up his option on his season
tickets. But, when the next season rolled around, the
Cowboys started doing very well. In fact, they did so well
they won their conference and were scheduled to play the
San Francisco 49ers for the division championship the next
week.

His interest in the Cowboys suddenly revived and
he began to try to get a ticket to the game. But, they were
extremely scarce. He finally located one ticket that cost
him $1,000. The day of the game came and the game was a complete sellout. There weren’t even scalpers out in the
parking lot trying to get rid of an extra seat. There were no
seats available.

He found his place, sat down, and anxiously waited
for the game to start. Kick off time came and he noticed
the seat next to him was vacant. Next to it was a neatly
dressed, middle-aged lady. He said to her, “I can’t
understand this seat being vacant. The game is a sellout. I
wonder what happened to the person who has this seat?”
The lady responded, “That’s my husband’s seat.” The
man responded, “Oh, where is he?” She replied, “He died.”

The man responded, “I’m sorry to hear that. But with
seats at a premium and the price so high, why didn’t you
bring a relative with you?” She replied, “I couldn’t. They’re all at the funeral.”*

Is football important? Yes! Especially in the south! Is football the most important thing in life? No! Especially for believers! So, enjoy the big game this Sunday evening. But as you do, ponder the words of the Apostle Paul in I Corinthians 6:12: "Everything is permissible for me" - but I will not be mastered by anything.

Indeed, for the believer, all things must be kept in their proper perspective.

*SOURCE: http://www.baylor.edu/content/services/docu
ment.php?id=146507

MORE THAN A MEAL

1/24/2013

Our annual Wild Game Supper is this Saturday night at our church. It is one of many special events we have each year, and will easily have as many as 800 people in attendance. In reflecting on this, I thought I would share the following story.

An avid hunter went on safari with his wife and mother in law. One evening, while deep in the jungle, the wife woke up and found that her mother was gone. Rushing to her husband's tent, she told the hunter that her mother was missing and insisted on them both trying to find her.

The hunter picked up his rifle and started to look for his mother in law. In a clearing near the camp, they came upon a chilling sight: the mother in law was backed up against a huge boulder, and a large lion stood facing her. The wife cried to the husband, "What are we going to do?"

"Nothing," said the husband. "The lion got himself into this mess; let him get himself out of it."*

All jokes aside, I’m looking forward to this wonderful event, complete with Fish, Ribs, Kielbasa, Alligator, Venison, Buffalo, Bear, and much more. More importantly, I am looking forward to hearing our speaker for the evening, Sammy Gilbreath, as he shares insights from a lifetime of hunting and fishing with his family.

By and large, my own family enjoys hunting. My father in law and mother in law both have done a lot of coon hunting down through the years. I myself enjoy hunting, as do my children. My boys are both avid hunters; as is my son-in-law. I have even taken my entire family on hunting trips before.

I have done this because I firmly believe that hunting and fishing, when undertaken in a lawful and ethical manner, are wholesome activities that help to produce responsibility within young men and women. For this reason, I have tried to use hunting, fishing, and other such activities to instill values within my own children. (I guess I have just long subscribed to the old adage that “Boys who are raised to hunt and fish don’t generally grow up to mug old ladies.”)

How does hunting help to instill values in children? I would answer that most everyone knows the story of how David slew Goliath with a sling and five smooth stones. But not many know the rest of the story. When David was auditioning, as it were, for the job to fight Goliath (in I Samuel 17), he told King Saul how he had earlier killed both a lion and a bear while protecting his father’s sheep. He was confident that God had used these experiences to prepare him for his forthcoming fight with Goliath, which he would now win as well.

For my part, I have learned a lot from hunting down through the years. A deer stand or a turkey blind is often a peaceful place to allow one to think about things. In truth, I have even written a sermon or two while sitting in the woods with a deer rifle or a shotgun or else a bow and arrow in my lap.

Steve Chapman, husband of Annie and famed recording artist, has written several books on lessons learned from a lifetime of responsible hunting. He has a wonderful blog full of insight with which I can relate. Check it out at: http://www.steveandanniechapman.com/category/outdoor-insights/.

But I have also used hunting and outdoor activities with my children to help instill values within them – values such as the importance of bonding with one’s peers, of assuming responsibility for one’s actions, and of practicing genuine stewardship over God’s creation. I believe I have been successful with these things through outdoor activities together with my family.

And I also believe that Dr. Paige Patterson, President of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, and an accomplished big game hunter, is right when he says that whenever we teach a child to hunt, a number of important sequences follow. He delineates these in his article titled HUNTING’S ULTIMATE HAPPINESS, which can be found online at: http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=
&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&ved=0CDMQFj
AA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.paigepatterson.info%2Fdocum
ents2FHuntings_Ultimate_Happiness.pdf&ei=D7UBUfLKAYH
I9gSCw4HoDA&usg=AFQjCNHW9cLoUPeBp66METZ6eXd858
1BRw&bvm=bv.41524429,d.eWU.**

In a day and age of increasing irresponsibility within both society and the home, Dr. Patterson argues that proper instruction in the handling and use of firearms for hunting purposes can be a positive quality in the life of a maturing adolescent. I wholeheartedly concur.

*SOURCE: http://huntingjokes.thejokeindex.com/.
**NOTE: If this link to Dr. Patterson's article does not work, try a simple Google search for the article title with Dr. Patterson's name.

THE SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE

1/20/2013

Tuesday, January 22, 2013 marks the 40th anniversary of the landmark U. S. Supreme court decision, Roe vs. Wade, in which abortion was legalized in America. I have strong convictions about this matter. For me, abortion is a national tragedy in America today - a terrible stain on our beautiful national tapestry. Every hour or every day of every week of every month of every year, 171 unborn babies are aborted in our country.

That is over 4100 abortions per day, or over 1.4 million abortions per year. Even conservative estimates are that 55 million babies have been aborted in America since Roe vs. Wade became law - 55 million children deprived of their lives without ever seeing the light of day! May God forgive us for what we have done to our fellow human beings!

Because of these things, churches all over America celebrated the sanctity of human life this past Sunday.  We did so at our church as well, emphasizing a local crisis pregnancy ministry, Hope Resource Center in Knoxville, Tennessee, and their tireless efforts on behalf of the unborn.  (Cf.: http://www.hoperesourcecenterknoxville
.com/.)

They work very hard to help ladies (and couples) with unplanned pregnancies to understand that there are viable alternatives to abortion. One such option is that of adoption. Patrick Kelly shares a wonderful story about the beauty of adoption. He says that…

A group of first graders were discussing a picture of a family. One little boy in the picture had a different color hair than the other family members. One child suggested that he was adopted; and a little girl said, "I know all about adoptions because I was adopted." "What does it mean to be adopted?" asked another child. "It means," said the girl, "that you grew in your mommy's heart instead of her tummy."*

We concluded our emphasis on the sanctity of human life on Sunday evening by showing the movie titled October Baby. I highly recommend this film. It tells the story of a young lady who discovers that she had been adopted after she had narrowly survived an attempt to abort her life when she was in her mother's womb.

It is a touching movie with a significant message, about not only the terrible consequences of sin, but also about the amazing power of grace and forgiveness. (You can find out more online at: http://octoberbabymovie.net/.)

Lastly, some people, including even some claiming to be Evangelical Christians, may ask what all the hoopla is, and why the issue of abortion simply will not “go away” after forty long years. Dr. Al Mohler, President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, gives five reasons why we must not give up the struggle as believers to undo the catastrophe of Roe Vs. Wade.

I hope you will take the time to read his article at: http://www.albertmohler.com/2013/01/18/forty-years-after-roe-human-dignity-hangs-in-the-balance/?utm_source=Alb
ert+Mohler&utm_campaign=8415d7ca6c-Albert_Mohler_Em
ail_January_18_2012&utm_medium=email.

Having done so, I also hope you will find some appropriate way to become involved in this spiritual battle, and to affirm the sanctity of human life on behalf of all people, including both the born and the unborn.

*SOURCE: http://www.findthepower.com/PageOne/SiteStart
Children&God.htm.

GET MOVING!

1/17/2013

I love the following little reminder about the importance of getting the most out of life. It seems that…

Four friends decided to attend a “Life Improvement Seminar”, hosted by a well-known “Life Coach”. As a part of the conference, they were required to participate in a certain exercise, wherein they were asked to ponder their response to the following question: “When you are in your casket, and friends and family are mourning over you, what would you like to hear them say about you?”

The first man spoke up and said, “I would like to hear them say that I was a great doctor in my time, and that I took great care of my fellow man in his daily needs.” The second fellow said, “I would like to hear that I was a committed educator and school teacher who made a huge difference in our children of tomorrow.”

The third man shared the following response, “I would like to hear people say that I was a wonderful husband and a great family man, who could be rightly proud of the influence he had upon his children.” The last guy replied simply, “I would like to hear them say… LOOK, HE'S MOVING!!!”*

In truth, as James 4:13-15 makes plain, none of us are promised tomorrow. Because of this, it is important to make the most of each and every day. Remember the admonition given by the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 5:14b-16: “This is why it is said: ‘Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.’ Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”

How are you doing in this regard? Are you spending your time wisely by making the most of every moment and every opportunity God has given you? If not, then maybe now is the time to get moving!

*SOURCE: Based on a similar version found at: http://www.
digitaldreamdoor.com/pages/quotes/pearly_gates.html.

A FEW GOOD MEN (AND WOMEN)

1/13/2013

Joey Nelson, Pastor of Stone's Hill Community Church in Ligonier, Indiana, tells a story about several military recruiters who showed up at a local high school one day.
It seems that...

The recruiters were on hand to address a gathering of high school seniors. The recruiters represented different branches of the U. S. military: the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, and the Marines: each of which was given fifteen minutes to speak.

The Army, Navy, and Air Force recruiters all got a little carried away with their presentations; so when it came time for the Marine to speak, he had just two minutes. He walked up and stood utterly silent for a full sixty seconds, half of his time, staring out at the students.

Then he said this: "I doubt whether there are two or three of you in this room who could even cut it in the United States Marine Corps. But I want to see those two or three immediately in the Dining Hall when we are dismissed." He turned smartly around and sat down. When the students were dismissed, they literally mobbed the Marine requesting applications.*

Of course, the recruiting motto of the US Marine Corps is: “We’re looking for a few good men”. The Bible tells us that God, too, is looking for a few good men, as well as a few good women.

2 Chronicles 16:9 (NKJV) says "For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him..."

God is indeed looking for a few good individuals. He is looking for people He can depend upon. Will you be one of those?

*Note: Nelson's original story only has three recruiters: one each from the
U. S. Army, U. S. Navy, and U. S. Marines. Given the fact that my own son is a member of the Tennessee Air National Guard and a graduate of Basic Training within the U. S. Air Force at Lackland Air Force Base, I took the liberty of modifying the original story to include the U.S. Air Force.

PROGRESS CHECK

1/10/2013

Well, we have almost come to the end of the second week of this new year. That, of course, begs a question. How are you coming with those infamous new year’s resolutions? Hopefully, a little better than the poor guy below.

After seven years, he appears to have been fairly unsuccessful in living up to any of his attempted resolutions. You might want to pay special attention to the last one. It has particular relevance for us all…

RESOLUTION #1:

2007: I will read at least 20 good books a year.
2008: I will read at least 10 books a year.
2009: I will read 5 books a year.
2010: I will finally finish The Pelican Brief.
2011: I will read some articles in the newspaper this year.
2012: I will read at least one article this year.
2013: I will try and finish the comics section this year.

RESOLUTION #2:

2007: I will get my weight down below 180.
2008: I will watch my calories until I get below 190.
2009: I will follow my new diet religiously until I get below 200.
2010: I will try to develop a realistic attitude about my weight.
2011: I will work out 5 days a week.
2012: I will work out 3 days a week.
2013: I will try to drive past a gym at least once a week.

RESOLUTION #3:

2007: I will brush my teeth after every meal.
2008: I will brush my teeth once a day.
2009: I will I will brush my teeth once a month.
2010: I will see my dentist this year.
2011: I will have my cavities filled this year.
2012: I will have my root canal work done this year.
2013: I will get rid of my denture breath this year.

RESOLUTION #4:

2007: I will not spend my money frivolously.
2008: I will pay off my bank loan promptly.
2009: I will pay off my bank loans promptly.
2010: I will begin making a strong effort to be out of debt by 2011.
2011: I will be totally out of debt by 2012.
2012: I will try to pay off the debt interest by 2013.
2013: I will try to be out of the country by 2014.

RESOLUTION #5:

2007: I will enjoy my job and be a productive employee.
2008: I will be a team player at work.
2009: I will be more assertive with my coworkers.
2010: I will not let my boss push me around.
2011: I will not let my sadistic boss drive me to the point of suicide.
2012: I will stick up for my rights and contact HR when my boss bullies me.
2013: I will tell Dr. Newhart and the group about my boss.

RESOLUTION #6:

2007: I will try to be a better husband to Marge.
2008: I will not leave Marge.
2009: I will try for reconciliation with Marge.
2010: I will try to be a better husband to Wanda.
2011: I will not leave Wanda.
2012: I will try for reconciliation with Wanda.
2013: I will stop looking at other women.

RESOLUTION #7:

2007: I will get serious about my relationship with God.
2008: I will begin reading my Bible every day.
2009: I will participate in all the church has to offer.
2010: I will try to at least get to worship every Sunday.
2011: I will try to go to church as often as my schedule permits.
2012: I will try to set aside a little time each day for a prayer.
2013: I will try to catch my favorite TV preacher every so often.

It has been said that a goal is a dream with a deadline. Study after study tends to indicate that people who are the most successful in their chosen endeavors are invariably goal setters.

As 2013 continues to unfold, what are your goals? Have you articulated them? Written them down? Are any of them spiritual? Should they be? Are you any closer after two weeks to attaining any of them? Why or why not? What can be done about this? What should be done about this?

SOURCE: This particular item is based on a piece I originally found at http://www.ahajokes.com/fp059.html. I took the liberty of editing it somewhat from the form in which it occurs there.

T'was the Time After Christmas

1/7/2013

This past Sunday, in my morning message, I attempted to address the subject of where we go (and what we do) as believers, now that the excitement and activity of Christmas has come and gone. In doing so, I read a poem by Wayne Stiles, a gifted Christian speaker and writer, titled T’was the Night AFTER Christmas.

As many people have requested a copy, I am posting it here. I hope you enjoy. Wayne’s web site, my source for this piece, is listed at the bottom of the page.

T‘was the Night AFTER Christmas

T‘was the night after Christmas, when all through the house,
Every creature was searching (both me and my spouse),
The stockings, the drawers, we looked everywhere,
In hopes the receipts for our gifts would be there.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the house to see what was the matter.
When, what to my wondering eyes should I see,
But my neighbor, too searching, his trash on the street.

More rapid than eagles he looked, but in vain,
And he shouted his creditors, and called them by name:
“On VISA! On MASTERCARD! On DISCOVER, I’m appalled!
I’ve thrown cash away! Cash away! Cash away—all!”

He’d splurged once again; he knew it too well,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard in my head,
A gentle reminder from what he had said.

I, too, was as guilty, from my head to my foot,
My conscience was tarnished like ashes and soot;
I focused, this season, on presents and things,
And not on my family, my friends, and my King.

I spoke not a word, but went straight to my work,
Ran into my house (I’d been such a jerk!),
Right up to my wife I came with a hug,
And kissed all my kids, right there on the rug.

“The night after Christmas is better,” said I,
“Than never recalling in Christmas is Christ!
The best of all gifts, which to us has been given,
Is Jesus, who died for our sins . . . and is risen!”

SOURCE:
http://www.waynestiles.com/twas-the-night-after-christmas/

TRYING SOMETHING NEW

1/4/2013

As I usually do during my trips back home to Georgia for the holidays, I spent a little time last week riding around the community where I grew up.  To this very day, there is something special about revisiting the places I used to haunt back in my childhood. I particularly love to go back by my parents' farm.

A lot has changed there. The man who bought the place has torn down the old farm house in which I grew up. He has now replaced it with a nice new one. The driveway is also now paved. A few fences have been added and/or rearranged here and there. But by and large, it is still recognizable as the old farm it was years ago.

Most of the original barns and storage buildings still stand. One, however, is now missing. As a child, it was my favorite. This was because it was the one where all the vehicles were kept, including the trucks and tractors. I used to love to tinker with my dad’s tools and pretend like I was an engineer working on a rocket ship bound for Mars or some similar place. I would also spend hours on end (or so it seems) sitting at the wheel of an old Farmall tractor and pretending I was driving a race car at the nearest NASCAR track.

Another fond memory I had of that building was the loft. I would climb all over the upper part of that building. It was my own personal combination jungle gym and secret spy headquarters. I can only assume that my father and mother never quite caught on to that because one particular year, sometime around late October or early November, I was climbing in the rafters and discovered two brand new bicycles, still in the boxes.

One was a girl’s bike, obviously intended for my sister, and one was a boy’s bike, just at obviously meant for me. I was so excited. I was getting my very own ten-speed bicycle!(They were all the rage at the time.) With great effort, I managed to contain my excitement for the next few weeks, even though time seemed to drag by at a snail's pace.

When Christmas day finally did come, I managed to act convincingly surprised; but inside, I  simply could not wait to get outside and ride my new prize. Having done so, however, I soon discovered that this thing was no toy. It was unlike any other bike I had ever owned. It actually had gears. In fact, it had two levers of gears. The one on the left controlled gears one through five. The one on the right controlled gears six through ten.

In short order, I decided that neither extreme on the range of gears was good for riding. First or second gear would likely mean peddling like crazy and hardly getting anywhere. By the same token, once I got much beyond fifth or sixth gear, it was awfully hard peddling. This was especially true of gears eight through ten, which were outright torturous on my legs.

So what was my solution to this dilemma? It was simple. I decided just to ignore all the gears except three through five. I just pretended the other gears did not exist and never again attempted to use them. Instead, I decided just to ride around looking cool; and to do it with the least amount of effort and discomfort as needed. Besides, who would be the wiser?

But I knew in my heart the answer to that question. It was me who would be the wiser. I was dogged in my conscience because I instinctively knew that I had taken the easy route, largely because I did not want to exert myself. In doing so, however, I was not utilizing the true potential built into my new bike. Ultimately, I was cheating myself! And deep down inside, I knew it!

I trust you see the point of my little story. As 2013 dawns, why not try shifting out of your own particular comfort zone? Why not try using a gear or two that you know you have been given, yet you habitually never utilize? Sure, it may be a little uncomfortable.  It may require a little bit of effort.

But you might just be surprised at how much more effective you are as you make use of your God-given talent and skills. And who knows? You might even enjoy the change of pace!

Either way, as you do, let your motto be that of Isaiah 43:19 (HCSB): “Look, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it?” For no doubt you will see it. As will others. Especially God. For it is He Who has promised to honor all those who boldly step out in faith and claim the future He has for them.

BOLDLY FACING EACH NEW DAY

1/1/2013

On her website, www.destinedforheaven.com, Sarah Jane Doohan has a post taken from Billy Graham’s masterful book titled Angels, first published back in 1975. It is about what happened one night in the lives of John G. and Mary Paton, Presbyterian Missionaries who were serving in the New Hebrides Islands of the South Pacific back in the nineteenth century.

“Hostile natives surrounded his mission headquarters one night, intent on burning the Patrons out and killing them. John Paton and his wife prayed all during that terror-filled night that God would deliver them.

When daylight came they were amazed to see that, unaccountably, the attackers had left. They thanked God for delivering them.

A year later, the chief of the tribe was converted to Jesus Christ, and Mr. Patron, remembering what had happened, asked the chief what had kept him and his men from burning down the house and killing them.

The chief replied in surprise, “Who were all those men you had with you there?” The missionary answered, “There were no men there; just my wife and I.”

The chief argued that they had seen many men standing guard – hundreds of big men in shining garments with drawn swords in their hands. They seemed to circle the mission station so that the natives were afraid to attack.

Only then did Mr. Patron realize that God had sent his angels to protect them. The chief agreed that there was no other explanation.”

I love this story. It reminds me that, just as Jesus promised, as I live out my life, I am not alone. He will never leave me nor forsake me (Hebrews 13:5). Nor will He put any more on me than He gives me the strength to endure (I Corinthians 10:13).

And if this were not enough, He has given His angels a charge to watch over me, so that I will be protected in all ways (Psalm 91:11).

Because of these things, and numerous other promises from the Word of God, I will not live in fear of what tomorrow may hold. Instead, I will go boldly into the coming year and look to each new day as a blessing from my Heavenly Father, with ample opportunity to glorify Him by the life I live. I wish the same for you.

Happy New Year!

SOURCE: ttp://destinedforheaven.wordpress.com/2010/08
/04/true-account/