Scary Moments

I realize that with age health issues may arise. I just expected that I would be the first to go down with something...not my wife! We both had colonoscopies at the recommended ages. Mine was clear but she had polyps. We were informed by the doctor that there are two types of polyps. The normal polyp grows outward from the colon wall and is generally benign. He removed them easily with the endoscope. He called these "tree" polyps. The other polyp grows laterally within the wall of the colon and because of this, he called it a "flat" polyp. These are more difficult to detect and remove than the others. My precious wife had one flat polyp and a couple of tree polyps. The first time, the flat polyp was small enough that he was able to remove it somehow with the scope.  I was told to have another scope when my insurance allowed, but, because of the flat polyp, my wife needed to be checked in a couple of years.

Time passes quickly and my wife goes in for her second colonoscopy. This time the doctor finds more tree polyps and wants to see her again in a year. I remember my wife saying, "I must be growing a forest in my colon!". We are concerned , but, the doctor assures us that all is well and she just needs to be checked within the next year. Ok...it is what it is.

The third colonoscopy revealed that she had two almost nothing tree polyps and another flat one. While waking up from the anesthesia, she overhears one of the nurses say "She'll need to see a surgeon." This scares my wife to death even though she's still not completely coherent from the anesthesia. While she's waking up, the doctor comes and informs me that she has one "unusually large" flat polyp that has grown so deep in the wall of her colon that he could not remove it with his instrument safely, so he marked it with blue dye and a gold marker. He assured me that it didn't look cancerous but he biopsied it just in case. At this point we get a medical term for her condition..."tubular adenoma". "I want to see her in two weeks." he said. Two weeks pass..two weeks!...and her doctor knew the day of her colonoscopy what we would be up against. Why he did not inform us that day is beyond me...makes a body wonder if he simply didn't think it urgent enough or knowing we were at his mercy, maybe he wanted a little more money before he turned us over to the next guy! Surely it was the former...still? *scratchin my head*.

Again at this visit, the news almost blows my wife away. The doctor tells her that he must refer her to a surgeon for a colon resection operation. This is startling news as she has no symptoms whatsoever! He explains to her that the polyp has grown deep into her colon wall and removing it by surgery is the only way. He then told her that the biopsy showed the polyp benign at the moment but it was precancerous and had to be dealt with. Six inches to a foot of colon would have to be removed. I suppose he saw the shocked, frightened and then despondent look on her face, then he told her, "Don't worry...Don't worry! You have plenty of colon. You won't even miss it!".  If he thought this would calm her down he was badly mistaken! Now I'm scared too!

Another couple of weeks before we see the surgeon gives us time to research the operation. We find that most are done with a scope and hospital stay is from 3 to 7 days. This is a MAJOR surgery. A section of the colon is removed with instruments that reach through small incisions rather than a single large incision. Because of this, recuperation time is much shorter...supposedly. We proceed to the surgeon's office for the initial visit and he begins to explain the operation. He says he plans to start with the scope, but, it might be necessary to open her up. It would depend on what he found when he got in. An x-ray had been sent to his office showing the location of the polyp in her transverse colon, but he had not looked at it yet, so, his explanation as to what he would do was not explicit at all. He told us that if the adenoma was left of her center line, he would take a 6 to 8 inch section out. If the adenoma was right of her center line, he would take her entire colon from the spot down to her appendix, then stretch the two sections together attaching the small duct at the head of the small intestine to the large intestine. The only other option was to plug out the spot, but, this would risk having to go back in with a much more invasive procedure should the polyp show cancer. Well?...what can you do? We set the date for her surgery on December 28 with the assurance of the surgeon that he would do whatever was necessary to make sure all areas that could be cancerous are removed. He tells us not to worry, he has done thousands of these operations, he is confident that he can fix her completely with no leaks. His confidence that all will go well gives us some peace of mind. He tells us that 3 to 4 days in the hospital after surgery is the normal because it takes a while for the colon to "wake up" after such trauma. Still, you can't help but worry.

During the time till surgery date, my gritty wife develops the "Well...the thing has to come out, so, let's get it over with!" attitude and I assure you that many prayers were offered by each of us and our immediate family. As the word got out to her friends and the community, she began to hear from some of them that they had undergone the same surgery. This eased her mind greatly that everything would be alright...mine too. Our church family gave us great support and encouragement and their prayers were truly felt. Now it's just count the days till the 28th. One bottle of magnesium citrate and a light dose of laxative is all the prep required on the 27th and she's good to go.

The day of the surgery arrived and we were to be at the hospital at 6AM. We park in the parking garage and walk down to admissions pulling and carrying luggage enough for a 3 or 4 day stay. We spend the next 20 minutes or so standing in line waiting to be admitted. A wristband is applied and we're off to the same day surgery center of the hospital. The nurse at the desk takes her papers and whisks us off to a room where we are told to wait till the surgeon and operating room is ready. She gets her hospital robe on and climbs up in the bed. Shortly a nurse comes in and after several questions about previous surgeries and medicine allergies etc, my wife is given a saline drip for hydration purposes.  We are told that it shouldn't be long, so, the wait begins. Next comes the anesthesiologist who explains how she would be put under. He was impressive with his plan and we were satisfied that he knew his business.  About 45 minutes later and after we had dragged her drip line and bag to the bathroom about a dozen times, *whew*, she is given two valium tablets. I know now that it won't be too long before they take her back. Within ten minutes she is really...I mean REALLY relaxed. She thinks that she can't open her eyes, so she jabbers with her eyes closed. She tells everyone that speaks that she loves them..even total strangers! My two daughters who were there with us told her afterward, "Mama, We've seen you on drugs now!".

Soon she is wheeled back to the operating room and I am told to wait by the phone to be updated as needed. About 30 minutes pass and at 10:35AM, the nurse calls and tells me they are about to start. She also tells me to expect an hour to hour and a half operation. I spend the next 20 minutes or so notifying friends and family via text message that the operation has begun. An hour passes and no word yet. I'm a little worried, but there's still a half hour to play with. Another 30 minutes pass and still no word...now I'm getting scared. "Something must be wrong!...What if they can't stop a leak?...What if he has to take the entire colon and build a colostomy? (He had assured us that no ostomy would be needed unless something went wrong)...What if she died!" are things that run through a semi-panicked mind. Finally within the next few minutes I get the call that they are finishing up and it went well. I am relieved of course but still wonder why it took so long. After several minutes the doctor comes in and tells me that he removed about 6 inches of the transverse colon. He said that it took longer because in the time since the last colonoscopy, the blue dye and marker had been lost, so he had to use the x-ray and pinpoint the lesion by measurement. Once the position was located, he found it difficult to reach due to scar tissue from previous hysterectomy and tubal ligation surgeries. He said he had to move a "lot of stuff around" to get to it and finally could not get the section out with his instruments. He explained that he had to expand the primary incision just slightly so that he could get his fingers inside her enough that he could get the section out. Once that was done, he said the rest was a "piece of cake" and that the polyp did not look cancerous to him or his associates at all. I asked if he had removed lymph nodes also. He said there might be two or three along the section removed, but he deemed it unnecessary to remove any others as he was confident that there was no cancer. The section would be sent to pathology for testing to make sure and we should hear from them in a few days. Great news!

A few minutes later a nurse tells me to gather my bags and report to room 336 in the hospital and wait about an hour for her to come out of recovery. I tell all our folks who are waiting in the lobby and proceed to the room. Finally after two solid hours they bring her up to the room. She is still under the effects of the anesthesia and pain medicines, so, she still loves everybody! I'm so glad the operation is over that I just about can't stand it! She shows us the incisions and I count 4 staples just under her breast bone, 16 holding together the larger incision from just above her navel to a couple inches below and small taped puncture wounds on either side of the center line of her abdomen. She says nothing hurts and she thinks this won't be as bad as the hysterectomy. The first afternoon and night were good. She slept from the medicines she had been given. I tried to sleep on a cot provided but wound up just sitting in a very uncomfortable chair thinking what in the world would I do if I had lost her.

The next day she began to hurt...not so much a continuous pain, but sharp pain when she tried to move. Moving from one side to the other hurt her, the process of sitting up on the side of the bed hurt her etc. A morphine pain pump had been supplied for her to use as needed but she determined that she would not because she was afraid it would make her gag and heave. That would really hurt. She bore the pain till the end of that day. Finally her nurse asked her about pain and she explained that she feared the morphine. The nurse said "We can give you Norco ( hydrocodein) tablets for the pain. This was great because she had used them before through the years with no side effects. Also her mouth was dry as a desert because of the nausea patch that had been applied on surgery day. The nurse removed it and promised to bring some kind of lemon flavored swab to help the dryness. Things like this are available to surgery patients, but, the average person(like us) wouldn't know to ask! Not long after the pain pills, she sleeps all night. I am exhausted by now and the body reaches a point where it has to rest, so, even on the most uncomfortable cot in the world, I slept most all night too. During the rest of our stay, short naps were all we could do.

Her doctor checked on her promptly at 8AM each day and told us everything looked good. All she needed to do to go home was have a bowel movement. Finally on the 4th day, New Years eve, we are allowed to come home. Yesterday we heard that the pathology was clear and no cancer was present. The cells tested precancerous as they had before. We still have a follow up visit to attend, but she's now on the mend. Perhaps this story will help prepare someone who is about to undergo a colon resection surgery. There will be some scary moments, but, the choice of not seeing a gastro specialist for a colonoscopy and winding up with colon cancer is much scarier! Get your colon checked..it saved my wife from the horrible experience of cancer treatment. It can save your life!

Praise the Lord who watches over us all!

Explaining God.....sort of!

A professor asked one of his students, "You are a Christian, aren't you son?". The student replied, "Yes Sir."  Professor: So, you believe in God?  Student: Absolutely, Sir.  Professor: Is God good?  Student: Sure!  Professor: Is God all powerful?  Student: Yes.  Professor: Well, my brother died of cancer even though he prayed to God to heal him.  Most of us would try to help others who are ill, but God didn't. How is this God good then? Hmm?  Student: Silence  Professor: You can't answer can you?  Let's start again, young fella, is God good? Student: Yes.  Professor: Is satan good? Student: No.  Professor: Where does satan come from?  Student: From--God.  Professor: That's right.  Now tell me son, is there evil in this world?  Student: Yes.  Professor:  Evil is everywhere isn't it? And God created everything, correct?  Student: Yes.  Professor: So, who created evil?  Student: again silent. Professor: Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness?  All these things exist in the world don't they?  Student: Yes Sir.  Professor:  So, who created them?  Student: No answer.  Professor: Science says that you have 5 senses that you use to identify and observe the world around you. Tell me son, have you ever seen God?  Student: No Sir.  Professor: Tell us if you have ever heard, felt, tasted, or smelt your God? Have you ever had any sensory perception of God for that matter?  Student: No Sir, I'm afraid I haven't. Professor: Yet you still believe in Him?  Student: Yes!  Professor: According to Empirical, Testable, Demonstrable Protocol, science says your God doesn't exist. What do you say to that? Student: Nothing, I only have my faith.  Professor: Yes! Faith, and that is the problem science has.  Student: Professor, is there such a thing as heat?  Professor: Yes.  Student: And, is there such a thing as cold? Professor: Yes. Student: No, Sir! There isn't! (class becomes silent) Student: Sir, you can have lots of heat, even more heat, white heat, a little heat, or no heat. But, we don't have anything called cold. We can hit 458 degrees below zero which is no heat, but we can't go any lower than that. There is no such thing as cold. Cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, just the absence of it. (Pin drop silence in the room) Student continues: What about darkness, Professor? Is there such a thing as darkness? Professor: Yes, what is night if there isn't darkness? Student: You're wrong again Sir! Darkness is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, or even flashing light. But, if you have no light constantly, you have nothing and it's called darkness. In reality, darkness isn't! If it were, you could make it darker couldn't you? Professor: So what is your point? Student: Sir, my point is that your philosophical premise is flawed! Professor: Flawed? Can you explain? Student: Sir, you are working on the premise of duality. You argue there is life and then there is death, a good God and a bad God. You view the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought! It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it. Tell me Sir, do you teach evolution? Professor: Yes. Student: Have you ever seen evolution with your own eyes? Professor shakes his head with a smile beginning to realize where the argument was headed. Student continues: Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an ongoing endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion Sir? Are you not a scientist but a preacher? The classroom explodes in an uproar. Student continues: Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the Professor's brain? (much laughter) Is there anyone who has heard, felt, tasted or smelt it? No one? So, according o the established rules of Empirical, Stable, Demonstrable Protocol, science says that you have no brain Sir! With all due respect Sir, how do we then trust your lectures? The room is again deftly silent. The Professor stares at the student, his face unfathomable. After a long pause, Professor: I guess you'll have to take them on faith, son. Student: That is it Sir--Exactly! The link between man and God is faith. that is all that keeps things alive and moving.

The argument above took place in a time quite different than today. Even so, the points made by both the Professor and the Student are still common to arguments today regarding the existence of God. As Christians, we know that we cannot "argue" a person into heaven, but, we can defend our own faith just as the student did in the argument above. More and more scientists are coming to the realization of a "Grand Design". Evolution and Big Bang theories just don't seem to "measure" up in a scientific view, as science is in the business of measurement!

My hope is that someone somewhere might read this and better understand his relationship with God. Faith is the key and, by the way, the Student in the narrative above was____Albert Einstein! Have a blessed day!

Wait on it....Wait!

Have you ever thought about how much time you've spent in your life waiting on something? Most people, including myself, are not good at waiting. We live in a culture that expects instant gratification in all aspects of our lives. When we have to wait on something, we often whine and complain, even lose our tempers, our good sense, and our tongues sometimes!

I don't know anyone who enjoys waiting in a line. We don't like waiting on food at burger joints. We don't like waiting on stoplights (my Pastor says they are instruments of the devil). We don't like waiting on the good things in life such as the fish to start biting or for a good supper to get cooked! Now it's gotten to the point where we snarl and fuss when we click the computer mouse and the page doesn't instantly pull up!

"Have a seat in the waiting room and the doctor will see you in a few minutes."...oh boy!...waiting rooms! All major institutions in our society have designated areas for us to wait....waiting rooms or waiting areas. I don't like waiting rooms one bit! They are usually always nearly full, you have to sit down next to a total stranger, you don't know what sort of germ you might catch from those people, you may have to make conversation with them, and you wonder how long you will have to wait. Once I took my Dad to the eye doctor. My Mom went along as well and we got to the office a few minutes early. After signing in, we moved into the crowded waiting room to sit and wait. Mom and Dad were able to sit next to one another but I had to sit across the room. The nurses were leading people out and taking people back in their usual busy manner. Most of those coming out had dilated eyes from whatever procedure they had undergone, and, because they were nearly blind, the nurses would patiently lead them to the waiting room to deliver them to their family members. One fellow came out on his own and sat down next to a lady who he thought was his wife. He said, "Honey they dilated my eyes and I can't hardly see nothin!". The lady looked at him and smiled as she said, "I believe it cause, I ain't yo wife!....Honey!". I cracked up! His actual wife was there in a flash, gathering him up and both apologizing to the lady. Someone ought to write a book.."Tales of the Waiting Room"...might be a best seller!

Psalm 27:14  Wait on the Lord, be of good courage and He shall strengthen your heart; wait I say, on the Lord!

Why is it so hard for us to wait? Christians ought to be good at it for from the moment of conversion we begin to wait upon the return of Jesus. We wait on God all the time for His instruction, His direction, or His intervention in our lives. God can change our circumstances. The problem with us is that God's timing is usually different from ours and we must wait in our present circumstance when we want to move forward.

Even so, it is always wise to wait on God. We live in the "right now" society. Instant gratification defines it, but, we must hone our waiting skills. God gives clear direction to us but seldom quickly. We must wait till He
gives it. Wait on the Lord.

Psalm 32:8  "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with my eye".

God uses our waiting time to prepare us for His purpose. Good parents do not give their children everything the ask for. Besides spoiling them, sometimes we know that the timing isn't right. Give them sugary treats or soft drinks just before bed time?...don't think so...the "timing" isn't right! How much more does God know this for us His children? Waiting also strengthens our faith. We cannot have too much of it for it provides us with hope when all else fails. Faith will sustain in whatever circumstance we find ourselves.

Finally, waiting allows us time to sift through our motives. Time allows a good thought process to play in our minds..."Why do I want this?"..."Do I need this?"..."Will I use this enough to justify the expense?"..."Will this benefit my family or just myself?"..."Will this cause a financial burden?"...etc. If we allow God to sift through our motives, the truth will come out, good or bad, and, we can better make a decision. If you need to make a life changing decision, wait a little, think through it carefully and let God direct you.

As I have gotten older, I find that waiting is not as bad for me as it used to be. I can tolerate it much better at my age now than I could when I was younger. A good word and friendly smile seem to expedite the waiting process. Still I must wait till Jesus returns or until God calls me home, we all do, so, let's just call it an "art" and wait on the Lord! He will sustain us.

Could it be true?

In the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century, the polio virus affected many children in the United States and the rest of the world. In the 1950's, a man named Jonas Salk developed a vaccine to be delivered by mouth on a sugar cube. It was promised that the dreaded polio virus could be eradicated. Could it be true?

During the Cold War of the late 1950's and through the 1960's, the U.S. and the Soviet Union entered a competition for space dominance. It seemed that the Soviets were always a half step ahead until in 1961, President John Kennedy vowed that the United States would put a man on the moon by the end of that decade. Could it be true?

By 1880 the population of the United States had grown so large that it took seven years to conduct a census. The government needed a faster way, so, work began on a marvelous number crunching machine that could sort and assemble names and numbers in much less time. The early machines used punch cards and filled large rooms with equipment, but, the census was taken in three years rather than seven. It was said that someday we would all be able to have these machines in our homes, carry them with us, even wear them on our wrists like a watch. Could this be true?

In 1972 Home Box Office (HBO) took advantage of the developing technology and launched its network. The service offered current and past movies directly in the home. The business was formed on the premise that people would pay a fee for the service. Pay good money to watch TV when free TV existed for all? Could it be true?

Some two thousand plus years ago, a man called Jesus preached that He would tear down the temple and rebuild it in three days. He told His followers that he would be tortured and killed for their sake and for all humanity. He also told them that on the third day after his death, He would rise from the grave. Based on proven historical record, we know Jesus lived and was put to death by crucifixion. We have the eye witness testimony of reputable men and women of that day that the stone was rolled away and the tomb was empty. They also testify of seeing and touching His body in the days and months that followed. Jesus also promised that one day He will return and all of us who believe will meet Him in the air, the dead in Christ shall rise first, then those of us who remain. Could it be true?

I hope you have a very fine and happy Easter. As for me, I believe that He lives and will come back someday. If you think about it, it's not a whole lot more incredulous belief than the things mentioned earlier in the post that have come to pass as predicted. So, could it be true?...I believe it could!

She's a'comin down!

Stoically she stands in our rural community. Beulah church was established in 1850, and, the original building was constructed prior to the Civil War somewhere around 1855. Some modifications and modernizations have taken place over the years, but, the original foundation blocks and timbers are still in place under the old sanctuary.

Many of us who still live here grew up in the church. As a child, the building was a wood frame structure with an auditorium filled with old wooden pews. Connected to the back were two stories of Sunday school rooms. There was no air conditioning. In the heat of the summer, two giant fans located on the front walls of the church pulled air through the structure. Gas heaters kept us warm in the winter. It didn't matter. People came to hear the Word preached by men of God who were willing and able to be heard over the noise of the fans and in the still of the winter.

There was no baptistry in the church. Baptisms were held in local ponds and creeks, or, in a bigger church located in an area town. There was something special about these events, and they are ingrained in our memories forever.

Every summer the church hosted a Vacation Bible School. In my youth, there were only two structures on the campus-- the church building and the parsonage. Between the two buildings there were some oak trees, some of which were close enough together that someone had nailed boards to them, making rudimentary tables. These became "refreshment" tables during Bible School, loaded with kool-aid and cookies for the children who attended. During these sessions, we learned Bible verses and stories, we crafted things out of popsicle sticks and pipe cleaners that made us so proud, we learned the pledges of allegiance to the U.S. flag, the Christian flag, and the Bible, we learned the four notes on the piano that signified standing or sitting (I still hear them in my mind!), and we learned that the fabric of our lives is the Christian love that binds us all together. I am ever thankful for the Christian example given to me by the men and women of my community who guided us and loved us during these Bible School sessions. I will never forget them.

The church has hosted countless weddings, revival services, and fellowship meals through her history.  Many of us that still attend were married at the old altar. Strains of "Revive Us Again" ring in my mind every time I hear the word "revival".  Country cooking is the rule at all fellowship meals and I guarantee that the ladies ( and men) of the church can flat out cook! Great food and fellowship abounds every time.

March 8, 2015 is the date of the last services held in the old building. Then, as the old country boy says--"She's a'comin down"! The membership has voted to tear the old building down and rebuild on the same site. A modern structure that will be larger and more energy efficient will replace the old building. Although we are sad to see the old church torn down, we are also anxious to see it reborn in the form of a structure that should last for generations to come. The building that houses Beulah church will look much different, but the church--brothers and sisters in Christ, remain strong and dedicated to follow His will.

Approximately $4.50...

I have found that in today's market, the human body is worth approximately $4.50. That's a pitiful amount, barely enough to buy a Big Mac, a couple of gallons of gas, maybe a gallon of milk. Is this all we're worth? I suppose if a person wanted to sell each organ individually he could get much more, but, not a very practical option for obvious reasons. There are people who have accumulated a lot of wealth and we say that they are "worth" whatever the total of that wealth might be, but, truthfully our bodies are all worth approximately that same, almost nothing, $4.50.

Of course, the value or worth of our bodies to each of us is priceless. There are some lines of thought, even by Christians, that project that in eternity we will not need our bodies. Some believe that we will be spirit entities not housed in flesh and bone. The Scriptures teach us differently.  The resurrection of the dead does not involve the soul really, it is the reformation of the body! Not only is our body important to us, it is very important to others as well. When a person that we love dies, we do not mourn the soul for the Scriptures tell us in II Corinthians 5:8 that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. We mourn the absence of the body before our eyes. We can no longer see, touch, or hear the body of the person we loved, therefore, we grieve the loss of it.

There can be no doubt of the value and importance of the body to God. We were wonderfully and fearfully made by Him. The evidence is clear beginning with Enoch. Genesis 5:24 states "Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.". God took Enoch body and all...He didn't leave the body and take only Enoch's soul. So it was with Elijah...2 Kings 2:11, "And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.". Lazarus was reunited with his body when Jesus called him from the grave. What do the Scriptures tell us when Jesus was crucified?... "And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose.", Matthew 27:52. Jesus himself appeared after the resurrection to the disciples in His body, inviting Thomas to touch Him to dissuade his doubt. In Jude 1:9 we see the angel Michael confronting the devil over the body of Moses. As the jewel of His creation, God places great value on a person's body.

It may be asked, "Will a person whose body is in the grave have a body until the final resurrection of the dead?"....well...Moses appeared in bodily form on the Mount of Transfiguration. We don't know what type of body it was, but, it was certainly recognizable to Peter, James, and John as they witnessed the event (Matthew 17). I think we will have some type of body during that time, fit enough to house our spirit until that great day of resurrection of the dead, and then, the actual bodies we inhabited here on earth will be resurrected and changed in a way that would suit them to spend eternity with God in Heaven.

It may be true that the value of the trace elements and skin that make up our bodies are worth a measly $4.50, but, in essence it is our most valuable possession. For Christians, the resurrection of the body is the basis of our hope and faith and as we approach the Christmas season, let us not forget that Jesus sacrificed His body on the cross for each of us that we might receive the greatest gift of all....Merry Christmas!

Thanksgiving ....my way of thinking!

It's the season to be thankful and I certainly am. This great country, family and friends, good health, and the good food are primary reasons to be thankful for most people, but along with these, I present the following things for which I am very thankful.

1)  I am thankful that I live out in the sticks. I can often see deer or turkey out back of my house along with a group of resident squirrels that enjoy the hickory nut trees on the edge of the woods. In the springtime the smell of honeysuckle permeates the air with a fragrance like no other, and in the heat of the summer I enjoy working a garden and sitting on the porch late in the evening with my wife ( mostly listening to her account of the day).  Hunting or fishing provides for much entertainment year round, so, I'll take the country living anytime.

2) At my age I am thankful that I still have teeth!...well most of them anyway. I have lost  two or three over the years, each damaged playing football in my youth which contributed to their demise.  Yesterday I chomped down on a bite of hamburger steak with a bone shaving in it and broke another of my enameled jewels...looks like it will have to go as well. I hate it, but, at least so far it doesn't hurt and I still have plenty left!

3) I am thankful for expressions of the south.  Southerners say things to each other that only they can understand. Here are a few examples:
   
     "Bless ye heart!".....an expression of sympathy, love, consideration, exclamation at circumstance
     "Happy as": a) a pig in the sunshine, b) a duck in the water, c) a baby "knawin" on his first chicken
                          bone ( and many more).....blissfulness
     "Like a mule staring at a new gate"....confusion, caution, hesitation
      "A long row to hoe".... A difficult task...time consuming task..etc.
      " treated like a red headed step child"... being ignored or put aside
       "crazy like a fox"....presenting oneself dumber than he really is
      " he's got rabbits in that briar patch"..... He needs a hair cut
      " hotter than a $2 pistol.....reference to a pretty woman; reference to a sports team on a winning
         streak or an individual player performing at a high level
      "even a blind hog will find an acorn once in a while"....encouragement to persevere
       "Old as Methusala".... Description of an elderly person
There are many, many more!

4) I am thankful for SEC football. This season has provided some great games and I really believe it's
the best conference in America.  Certainly the conference winner and possibly a couple more
should play for the national championship this year...trouble is, by the end of the season all the
SEC teams are so beat up from playing each other, it might be difficult to beat a healthy Florida
State or Oregon team who has played a much lighter schedule!

5) I am thankful for the smells of the holidays and the sound of children playing. The aromas of the           different foods cooking and the anticipation of the mouthwatering goodness along with the squeals of laughter coming from children having a good time provide a sense of contentment like none other!

6) I am thankful that I still sleep through the night. I seldom have to get up during the night and I wake up feeling rested and ready to meet the day.

7) I am thankful for new underwear...silly I guess, but true nonetheless! It didn't use to matter much as I was younger but now it's a wonderful feeling to put on a new pair of underwear that fits like it's supposed to fit...feels mighty good!

8) I am thankful for gas logs...a wonderful invention! I know how hard it is to heat a big house with firewood in open fireplaces or inserted wood heaters, and I know how expensive it is to run central heat. With one turn of a knob, I have instant heat, something you can back up to, the unit is thermostatically controlled, and the propane is affordable....a marvelous thing!

9) I am thankful for veterans. These men and women deserve the utmost admiration. My Dad and Uncles along with many others in our area served in World War II and Korea, many my age went to Vietnam, I have a son in law who has been to Afghanistan twice. Their valiant and heroic service has allowed me to live a most blessed life and I am very thankful for what they have done for me. God bless every one of them.

10) I am thankful for love...the love of God who sent His own Son to offer us eternal life, the love of Jesus who offered Himself a living sacrifice for us all, the love of the Holy Spirit who remains within us today to guide us through life, the love of my wife and children and their families...my legacy if you will...that comforts and sustains me, and the love of my Christian brothers and sisters who support and encourage me.

These are just ten things that I am thankful for. Some may seem odd to the reader, and I suppose they are, but, to a man like me, based on my life and experiences, they are truly reasons to be thankful. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

Smoke on the Bottle

Psalm 119: 83: For I am become like a bottle in the smoke, yet do I not forget thy statutes.

In David’s day, most people did not have houses as we know them today. The majority lived in small huts or tents, others lived in mud brick structures in towns or small villages. They were poor folk who didn’t have much. For warmth and for cooking, they would simply build a fire somewhere in the room and since there was no fireplace and chimney to hold the fire, the room would soon fill with smoke. They would build their roofs leaving a small opening in the top so that the smoke could escape, so, I suppose the women would light the fire, then leave the room until most of the smoke had a chance to rise and clear a little. 

Also, water was not readily available to every household. Most all of them had to walk to a well or stream somewhere to get water, so they would make bottles out of goat skins and bring it back to their homes. The best place of safety for these bottles would be to hang them on a nail inside the house or from the rafters someway. Of course, each day the bottle hung in the house, the rising smoke from the fire began to blacken it, even to make it shrivel above the level of what it contained. David lamented that he was like the bottle in the smoke.

God’s people have their trials and tribulations don’t they? Throughout the Bible we can read about Godly men and women who went through terrible trials and tribulations.  Jesus himself tells us in John 16:33...”In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world”. 
  
What are the sources of the smoke in our lives? Many people will tell you that the main source of trouble in their lives is their job. A wise schoolteacher once sent a note home to the parents on the first day of school that read “If you won’t believe everything your child says happens at school, I won’t believe everything that he says happens at home! Being a retired school teacher, I fully understand the significance of this statement! Things happen on every job and the more salary you command or the more you can advance in the workplace, the more responsibility you have…smoke!

Often trials arise from the things that make us comfortable. Many people want the finest houses and all the modern conveniences of today to the point that they will take on more than they can handle. Think about the fire that warmed those people in their huts. Did it not also smoke the bottle and the warmer they kept the house with a fire, the more the bottle blackened. In today’s world, the more comforts we have, the more responsibility we have to take care of them---smoke!

Most of us have children and they certainly should be a comfort to us as they are one of God’s many blessings, but, they often do things or don’t do things that are against the way we tried to teach them…smoke!

Many people are losing their livelihoods because of economic conditions. It is very troubling when a company dissolves or moves to a place where labor is cheaper. People who have devoted their entire careers to a company are left out in the cold…smoke!

Even the church can be a source of smoke to the Christian. Have you ever come to church thinking that all is well, going good, and then the preacher delivers a convicting sermon that sort of bursts your bubble? Maybe you’ve come to church with a warm heart toward your brothers and sisters and then left with a heart blackened by something that happened during church or by what someone said. Perhaps you try to perform a Christian service for someone with your heart in the right place and the person you tried to help takes it the wrong way or seems unappreciative…smoke!

Personal health issues like high blood pressure or diabetes, caring for an elderly parent, sickness in a family, the death of a loved one, abusive relationships, terrorism, war and many other things are ever present contributors to the smoke in our lives.

A question: Does being saved mean that we should not feel the effects of our trials and tribulations? Think again of the water bottle in the hut. Does it feel the effect of the smoke? Of course it does, it turns black, it shrivels up because of the smoke. It is not a single puff that does it but rather a daily bombardment over a long period of time. So it is with us, we feel the hurt and pains of our trials and tribulations, often, to the point that we think they will get the best of us, and they never seem to let up on us. But realize this, although the smoke aggravates and damages the water bottle, it does not destroy it. It would take the flame of the fire itself to do that and the water bottle is kept safely away from the flame. A Christian will most certainly feel the pain of his smoke throughout his life, but the Holy Spirit within us will keep us away from the fires of this world and they will not consume us unless we let them.

Perhaps we feel as David did, a bottle in the smoke. What then can we do to make it through? David said though he felt like a bottle in the smoke, he would not forget God’s statutes. The smoke could harm the outside of the bottle, but, it had no power over what was on the inside. Could this be our source of strength and comfort in the face of trials and tribulations? Most people think of statutes as laws, the ten commandments, and we will do well to remember them in the face of adversity, but if you think about it, isn’t everything God says a statute? The Bible is God’s word and it is absolutely true, so, shouldn’t we remember His promises also as statutes? This seems to me the only logical way to withstand the smoke in our lives, remember His promise to those of us who believe. Jesus said “Let not your hearts be troubled, ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:1-3) Jesus is going to return for us. He promised! Well, “when?“ do we say. No man knows the answer to this, so, what are we to do in the mean time? Jesus says “If ye love me, keep my commandments and I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever“(John 14:15-16) “ Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest." (Matt. 11:28) In the mean time, we are to keep Jesus’ commandments, i.e., love God with all our hearts and souls and love each other, the second causing all the other commandments to fall into place. If we do this, Jesus promises another Comforter, the Holy Spirit will reside inside us forever.

Although we all have smoke in our lives from various sources, as believers we all have one thing in common, that steadfast faith that God will not desert us. We must hold tightly to our faith even when we cannot understand why the God that we love allows things to happen to us His children. The promise that Jesus will return for us is our comfort, our strength is the presence of the Comforter-the Holy Spirit-within us, and our peace is the promise that there is a place of rest awaiting those of us who refuse to let the smoke in our lives cause us to forget God‘s statutes.  The future seems uncertain but God’s law and his promises will stand forever. If you feel battle scarred and wounded by life’s trials and tribulations, uncertain about the future, or beaten down by circumstances, remember the example of the bottle in the smoke, blackened and wrinkled on the outside but clean and safe on the inside.

God bless us all!

(adapted from a sermon given by C.H. Spurgeon, March 23, 1856)

Another day in paradIse!

He wakes around five, glad he's alive, and thankful for all that he has.
His coffee tastes good, the night air is cool and he waits for the sun to rise.
He thinks of his children, how they are doing, and he thinks of his loving wife
He's had a good rest and he knows he is blessed, ...another day in paradise.

He puts on his shoes, turns off the news, grabs his hat as he crosses the floor.
He's headed outside with his chores on his mind, he reaches and opens the door.
The cool of the morning, the birds on the wing, the sun beginning to rise,
God's glory surrounds him, majestic and clear...another day in paradise.

He no longer works a regular job, a teacher by trade he had been,
He enjoyed his work, knows he made the right choice and would do it all over again
He thinks, " Do I miss it?", a question he's heard, the years just seemed to fly by
"Not enough to go back!", he knew in his heart...another day in paradise.

He wishes for things as any man does, but is not obsessed by the thought
Of spending money on frivolous things, happy with what he's got.
A house, a car, and a wonderful wife makes a man rich in this life.
The laughter of children now with kids of their own..another day in paradise.

Late in the evening he sits on his porch watching his neighbors go by
Coming home from their work, they wave as they pass and he thinks, "How blessed am I!"
To be home all day, to work or to play, sometimes it's hard to decide
He smiles as he thinks what's up for tomorrow....another day in paradise.

He remembers the words of the apostle Paul, to " think on more excellent things",
He knows in his heart that he's safe in the arms of Jesus our Lord and King
And one day he'll know those excellent things and see wonders through awestruck eyes
With loved ones about, the truth will come out...another day in paradise!

A. Harrison

What I think about...

Grand children.....one of the best perks of growing older.  I enjoy their company immensely and  I want them to enjoy being with us as well. Our pastor encourages us to pray a fence around our kids and grand kids....I'm sure tryin! I hope that as they get older, they will still want to see us from time to time. God bless them and that's what I think about it.

The idea of entitlement....where is it written that if you are born in the U.S., you are "entitled" to  a free ride in life?  Doesn't  our constitution entitle us to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness? Focus on the word "pursuit"! In my mind it means to chase something, which in turn implys action. The idea that a man can be or have whatever he wants in America as long as he's willing to work for it (pursuit of happiness) seems to have been replaced by the idea of entitlement. I despise the fact that I must give such a large percentage of my hard earned money to the government each year, knowing that it is used in part to fund these entitlement programs. Corruption is rampant. People who are perfectly able to work and be productive are taking advantage of the system. How else could a person drive a Cadillac and purchase groceries with food stamps? It doesn't seem right to me...and that's what I think about it.

Obamacare.....scares me to death!  I have read parts of the original bill that I don't like at all. The full impact of this monster has not fell upon us yet. I believe it was designed to force hard working, honest people to foot the bill....another exertion of government control over the people. In time, healthcare as we know it will be no more. Look at countries that have government controlled healthcare systems. Ask their people if they like it...they despise it! People who are in great pain must wait weeks or months for minor surgeries that would alleviate their problems. In my own experience, I have paid out of pocket over $3000 more since the healthcare law has taken effect than I would have paid last year. Why?....Obamacare forced my insurance carrier to raise the out of pocket expense per person from $2500 to $6500! Thanks a lot Mr. President!

I worry for people my age and older. Healthcare for us will be sparse if the law is not changed or repealed. Of course our illustrious congressmen, senators, and president along with their staff are exempt, so, no worries for them. I cannot understand how a so called president was able to force such  a burdensome and unpopular law on the people. It needs to be done away with...and that's what I think about it.

Strange coffee and grits....it is said that variety is the spice of life, but c'mon now! Since I am now retired, I get "sent" to the grocery store a good bit. I get to the aisle with grits or coffee on the shelf and I'm supposed to buy a certain flavor. Why does there have to be 40 different flavors of grits and 75 different flavors of "strange" coffee?  Plain grits and plain coffee would make my shopping experience much easier.....that's what I think about it.

Gun control....another effort in futility. Recent random acts of violence have escalated the talk of gun control. Throughout the ages, there have been acts of violence whether calculated, premeditated, or random in which many precious and innocent lives have been lost. Whether it be with a club, sword, bow, or an AK-47, the act is heinous. How can it be prevented is a question like why is water wet! Taking away a man's guns is certainly not the answer. I understand why some people think that the average citizen does not need an assault rifle, but at the same time, this is America where we are guaranteed the right to bear arms, and, if a man is willing to work and pay for a rifle to possess legally, then by Granny, he ought to be able to have it. That's what I think about it.

Marriage....an institution ordained by God between a man and a woman. Call me a bigot, call me biased, call me whatever, but honestly, the thought of two men or two women interacting as more than just friends is repulsive to me. The mutual love and respect found in a marriage nourish and sustain peace, contentment, and fulfillment. Liberalistic views of today's culture condone and promote the so called "same sex marriage". As the Ol boy would say, "They ain't no such thang!". That's what I think about it.

"What is truth?"...Pontius Pilate

It's been a long cold winter. You can tell by looking at me that I have been pretty much hugging the fire all winter. Bet I've gained ten pounds and it's all right here! *patting belly* I guess I'll have to go back on the dog food diet again...lost nearly 40 pounds the last time...just load up your pockets with purina and eat a couple pieces every time you feel hungry. It contains sufficient nutrition to maintain the body without any fat or other additives that might cause harm, it'll make your hair slick and shiny, and you get used to the taste. Be careful though, I heard of a man that was on it who walked out of a store, saw a cat, chased it out into the street and got hit by a car!

As I told this yarn, before the cat statement, were you thinking that it was believeable and therefore truth? Why?...because there were some facts in it that you knew were true?...because it was me telling it in a “matter of fact” way? 

John 18:37-38

³⁷ Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
³⁸ Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.

There are two prevalent views as to the question “What is truth?”.... the correspondence view and the relativistic view. The correspondence view is based on a statement being true if and only if it corresponds to or agrees with known facts, or objective reality. In other words it is a belief in absolute truth. What is absolute truth?...a truth based on fact or agrees with some known occurrence. Example: The human body will die without oxygen. This is an absolute truth which can be backed up by scientific fact and by occurences as well. Any clear declarative statement must be either true or false. It cannot be neither, nor can it be both true and false. This view promotes the testing of a statement to determine whether or not it can be backed up by fact. A statement can be proven false if it can be shown to disagree with objective reality. At one time in history, most of the educated world thought that the world was flat! They believed and accepted this as truth for years and years. They must have been very dissapointed when the theory that the earth was round began to take hold and the ships began to prove it. So it will be for those who refuse to accept that truth is absolute.

The relativistic view is that truth depends on views or cultures, not on objective reality. Truth for one may be totally different than truth for another. It allows each person or society to live by whatever they decide is true. You'll here a relativist say things like:

“Well, if that's true for you I guess it's ok.” or, “ we can't judge other cultures.”

People of this mind set do not believe in absolute truth, yet the statement that there is no absolute truth is in essence an absolute truth, at least for them! When truth is dependent upon the individual, one person might say Jesus is Lord while another might say Allah is lord. Both statements will be true to the one who spoke them, but, the very definition of Lord requires the title to belong to only one. Those who say there is no absolute truth make decisions every day based on things they believe are true or false. They turn on a light believing in the reality of electricity. They drive a car believing in the dependability of it. Not one of them would want to be operated on by a brain surgeon who did not believe that some things about the brain are true and some are not true! If there were no absolutes, there would be no right or wrong. I could kill someone and because I believe I should do such things, it has become my personal truth and who are you to judge me?

In the absence of truth, power is the only game in town.

The true Christian view is the correspondence view. We believe in absolute truth, because truth is what is real. We believe the Bible is God's word written down by men inspired of Him. There are many passages that tell us that God is Truth. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man cometh to the Father but by me.” We believe that Jesus is the Son of God, He died on the cross, was buried and was ressurected on the third day and we take it to be an absolute truth. My Savior lives! He will return someday to take His followers home. 

Some may think” Well, how can you accept this as absolute truth?”...remember the definition..based on fact..what facts?..the factual evidence presented by the Gospel writers. How can you believe them? They were reputable men of their day, their stories matched closely even though they were in different parts of world when they wrote, and none of them ever wavered in their accounts! Think of a place you've never actually been...how do you know it's true that its there? You believe because of the testimony of reputable people who have been there. Several years ago, my Dad told me he saw a bear, my neighbor Charles said he saw it, the Motley boys said they saw it....I never saw it, but, I believe it was there because of the testimony of these reputable men. If I can believe in the truth of a place I've never been, or, the existence of a bear I didn't see, then surely I can believe in the truth of the testimony of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. My Savior lives! You say, “but, what if they're wrong just as the earth being flat was wrong?”. I say that the word of man is often wrong, but the word of God is absolutely true and has stood for all the ages.

You can't argue a person into heaven. In order to make an argument, one must accept the fact that some absolute truth exists. They can't see how illogical their side of the argument is, nor can they see how logical your side is. If a person says there is no God, the statement itself must be an absolute for him, else he has no basis for argument. His statement then by definition must be based on fact..no way..because all the historical facts that we have back up the existence of God.

So, to answer Pilate's question “what is truth?”, God is truth. Go back now to verse 37 above and substitute "God" for each phrase "the truth". Can you see why Jesus came? Pilate had no clue. A person can call himself whatever he likes, but, he can't call himself a Christian unless he holds the correspondence view of truth. Christians believe in the moral absolutes of right and wrong. Christians accept Jesus and His Word as the ultimate source of truth regarding morality and salvation. Because we know and speak the truth, the world hates us. We are often called bigots, hippocrites, and judgemental. Even so, we must continue to speak and demand the truth. Hold fast to the truth of God's word as we defend the faith. Speak it  when given the opportunity with tactfullness, compassion, and love for our fellow man.

 

 

For Christians only....not!!!

Knowing God's Will

One of the most difficult things in the Christian life is to know and do God's will. We hear sermon after sermon where doing God's will is mentioned at least once somewhere. We all must make decision after decision each day and many of them on the spur of the moment. How do we know we are following God's will as we make these quick decisions? Other times we make decisions on things where we have plenty of time to think and pray on them. How do we know in these cases? What is the will of God? It would be nice if God had placed a flashing neon sign in our minds that gave us specific directions on every decision, but, that's not the way it is! The thing is, God's will is not the same for every Christian...if it were, we would all be carbon copies of each other, with the same intellect, the same likes and dislikes, and the same gifts....no, it must be something different for every one of us. How then can each individual Christian ascertain what God's will is for his life?

Romans 12: 1-2    1.  I beseech ye therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and perfect, will of God.

A traveling salesman was headed to his next stop through a range of remote, rugged mountains when his car broke down. He was miles and miles from any help, but luckily, there was a monastery close by. He walked to the monastery explained that his car had broken down and he needed some help. The friendly monks took him in, gave him food and a bed, and promised to get help for his car. As he stayed the night, from deep  within the monastery, he could hear a hauntingly beautiful and very mysterious sound. He had never heard anything like it. It was pleasant to his ears and reached inside and grabbed his heart in such a way that he had to know what it was. He left his room and began to draw closer to the mysterious sound. Finally, he was standing in front of a huge wooden, padlocked door. The sound seemed to be emanating from behind it, so, the next morning, he asked the monks what was making that beautiful, mysterious sound. The monks said "We can't tell you, you're not a monk!". Smitten by not knowing what it was and desperate to know, the man replied, "Well then, how do I become a monk?". The monks answered," You must count all the blades of grass and all the grains of sand on the face of the earth and then you can become one of us!". The man left and 45 years later he returned to the monastery with two astronomical numbers that correctly met the requirements of the order. The monks accepted him and immediately he had to know what was making the mysterious sound. The monks provided him with a set of keys and said "Go..see for yourself!". The first key opened the gigantic wooden door...the sound was louder, but, now there was an iron door. A second key opened it. Next was a door of silver, then one adorned with jewels, and finally one of pure gold, each of which required a key. Finally, the man slowly opened the final door and looked inside...

You might ask, "What in the world has this story got to do with knowing the will of God and the scripture passage?". Maybe we can draw some parallels. To know the will of God, (vrs 1), we must present our bodies unto God. Just as the man in the story had to sacrifice 45 years of his life to become a monk, God expects us to sacrifice our bodies to Him. God can make this claim because we were bought with a price..1 Cor. 6:20, For ye are bought with a price, therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. Why does god expect this?...the body is the seat of our sinful desires and we tend to allow our bodies to affect our minds. Satisfying the flesh tends to cause an unrepentant mind. Paul calls this a "reasonable service" which simply means it follows logic. Christ sacrificed himself for us, we must give our all to him. This is the first step in knowing and doing God's will. If we are not willing to give ourselves to the Lord, we will spend a lifetime asking questions for which there are no answers from the world's standpoint. Jesus taught in Luke 9:23, And He said unto them all, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

Secondly, we must separate from the world (vrs 2). This doesn't mean we should become hermits, nor does it mean that we should set some impossible standard to reach. Paul teaches, "Be not conformed to this world"...to be conformed is to shape one's mind and character after the pattern of another. We are not to shape our thinking or character after the world, meaning, not to be like he world in actions, words, and in example. Two reasons for this come to mind...1) because of what the world will do to us as a Christian. 1 John2: 15-16, Love not the world, neither the things in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world., and 2) because the world is enmity against the Lord...James 4:4, Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.  How do we separate from the world when we must live in it each day of our lives? Paul says we do it by being transformed, that is, to transfigure our minds, and, the way to do this is to have a steady diet of God's word....study the scriptures, know the word! Without it we become more and more like the world, conformed in mind and body to worldly things. Don't you know that the man in the story had to separate himself from the world? Imagine what people thought as they saw him out counting blades of grass and grains of sand...they thought he was crazy just like they did as Noah took 40 years to build the ark on dry land. Well, what can the word do for us if we study it? It cleanses our minds from the filth of the world. Psalm 119: 9, Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. It prevents us from sinning. Psalm 119: 11, Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee. It guides us in the path of righteousness. Psalm 119: 105, Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. There are many more things the word can do for us. Study it, live by it, heed its warnings, obey its commandments, count on its promises, and hide it in your mind.

The third parallel we can see concerns the understanding of God's will. Even after dedicating his life to the task of counting blades of grass and grains of sand, and separating himself from the world to do this, the man still needed a set of keys to open the doors hiding the source of the mysterious sound. What then are some keys that we can use to help us understand God's will? One key is the biblical examples of the Godly men and women of the Bible. One must not confuse God's will with His purpose for us. Our purpose is to glorify Him and increase His kingdom. His will for each of us, though different for each person, collectively allows us to accomplish His purpose..a marvelous mystery! A second key is prayer. Prayer is a powerful tool in understanding God's will when done with a regard for others rather than self. We should pray regularly...it always helps. The third key is a willingness to accept things that come our way as the working of God in our lives. I don't think we should agonize over all the decisions we make daily. I believe that we make them based on our Christian lifestyles and beliefs, guided by the Holy Spirit within us. When our conscience is clear, not troubled by a decision, I am confident that God is guiding us, even when a decision leads to trouble of some kind. Jesus prayed in Luke 22: 42, Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. Accept the things that come your way as the working of God; have faith that all things are for good for those who believe.

So, there you have it. To understand the will of God, we must give our lives to Him, a living sacrifice, separate our minds from the world, being transformed, not conformed, and understand that the decisions, situations, and occurrences that present themselves in our lives are the working of God. Now, back to the story, the man sacrificed 45 years to the quest, he separated himself from the world by his actions, and he acquired the keys to the doors that protected the mysterious sound. Can you imagine his sense of fulfillment and excitement as he slowly opened that last door? What was making the mysterious sound?...Well...I can't tell you!...You're not a monk!! Neither can any man tell you what God's will is for you in your life...you have to search it out yourself, but, using the advice of Paul, praying regularly, and studying the Bible can help us know and follow God's will. God bless us every one. Amen

Warning....sermonette!

Occasionally I have the privilege to speak to a group or fill the pulpit at church. I am strictly a layman who simply knows what and in whom he believes. I hope you enjoy this presentation on how I think Christians should approach the fear in their lives.

The two stones

There once was a princess of renowned beauty and gentleness who fell in love with a poor farmer and they planned to marry. Her father the king was dead set against it and set out to rid himself of the problem by killing the young farmer, so, he trumped up some charge and had him thrown into the dungeon. It was the custom of the kingdom to have a trial and then guilt or innocence would be determined by drawing a stone from a bag. The king would place two stones in a bag, one black and one white, and the accused would have to draw one in front of the king’s court. If he drew the white stone, he would be declared innocent, released, and free to marry the princess, but if black, he would be beheaded. Sounds like a 50-50 chance right? Normally it would be, but, the evil king didn’t want him to have a chance at all, so he ordered that two black stones be placed into the bag for this particular trial. While the king plotted the demise of the young farmer, the princess overheard and immediately went to the dungeon and informed her sweetheart that all was lost. The young man took the news somberly, but after a little thought, he told the sobbing princess “Do not fear, our love will prevail!“. The farmer was in a dire situation. He should have been sorely afraid. He could not escape, he could not accuse the king of foul play for that would mean his immediate execution, yet, he showed no fear, only his undying love for the princess.
 

The next day the trial took place before a huge crowd of lords and ladies as well as common folk and after the accusations and denials of the trial took place, it was time for the poor farmer‘s last word before he drew for his life from the bag containing the two black stones.What in the world would he do?

1 John 4:18  There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

It is normal for a human being to fear. God provided us with the emotion for our protection against bodily harm and in this capacity it is helpful to us. There is also that innate, reverent fear of God as the all powerful One who created us and can at His pleasure take us out. This fear is also helpful to us.

On the other hand, if we let fear hinder our service to God, then it is harmful-- even sinful to us. Wait..could fear be a sin? One of the most repeated commands (if not the most repeated) in the Bible is “Fear not.”. Why is fear so dangerous? It brings upon itself what it fears! You see, fear is the perception of a threat. Remember FDR’s famous line “We have nothing to fear but fear itself”? When we let our fears rule our minds, then it becomes a force rather than a simple emotion. That force is ruled by the devil. Faith is the force of God’s kingdom. We are saved by faith, healed by faith, sustained and strengthened by faith. Faith attracts God’s blessings while fear attracts the curses of Satan. Remember when Peter walked on the water. He did fine until his fear began to overcome his faith. The last statement in Romans 14:23 says “for whatsoever is not of faith is sin”. In Rev. 21: 7-8, we see that the “fearful” are among those who will have their part in the lake of fire. The devil can take our fear and make our lives miserable. He can use our fear to make us ineffective. Fear of witnessing, fear of teaching a class, fear of offending someone, fear of what people may think of me, and on and on are tools of the devil! Fear is a serious thing and we must resist it, just as we do other sins. What is our remedy? “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear”. What father would not run into a burning building to save his child? His love for his child is greater than his fear of the fire, therefore, his love drives off his fear. 1 Tim. 1:7  reads “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” Love and fear cannot exist together. Love is associated with safety and well being while fear is associated with dread and doom--the “torment” spoken of in our verse. They are fundamentally opposites!

Where do we get this “perfect love”? Psalm 34:4 says, “I sought the Lord and He heard me; He delivered me from all my fears.” Look at John’s argument in the earlier verses of chapter 4. Verse 8, “ God is love”, verse 10, “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us..”, verse 11”….we ought to love one another.”, verse 16 and the first part of 17, “God is love and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect…”, so, we get our perfect love from God, and it is an endless supply.

Our verse says perfect love casteth out fear, therefore there must be some power associated with it. 2 Tim 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love… God gives us power to resist the devil and we do it with love provided by God through the presence of the Holy Spirit who lives within us. God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Selah (Ps 46:1-3) God empowers us through His love. Paul states " I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Phil 4:13, so can we.

Fear is a destructive force in our lives, we must guard against it. It can make us miserable. It can make us indecisive, it can make us ineffective, it can take away our confidence, and it can paralyze our minds. The power we receive in union with Christ is sufficient to do his will and to face the challenges that arise from our commitment to doing it. As we contend for the faith we will face troubles, pressures, and trials. As they come, ask Christ to strengthen you. As Jesus once said: “In the world there are tribulations, but be of good cheer for I have overcome the world.”. As I studied for this presentation, I ran across this statement made by a preacher in one of his sermons. The only people who have no fear are the ones in the graveyard! We must daily work to attain that “perfect love” so that we can echo the words of Paul in Hebrews 13:6 : "The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”.  I think the poor farmer in the story had an attitude such as this as he faced his predicament. What did he do? Well…

The farmer stood up and addressed the king in front of the huge audience saying “My king, I am guilty only of loving your daughter the princess, and I know that you think me the lowliest of the low and not good enough to marry your daughter, therefore, I am not worthy even to draw a stone. Sire, I place my life in your hands, you draw a stone and show it to the court, I will live or die by the stone remaining in the bag." Such an humble an honorable request as this could not be denied by the king in front of his kingdom, so of course the king drew a black stone, which meant to everyone present that the remaining stone had to be white! The farmer took the princess by the hand, winked at the king, and they lived happily ever after.

  “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”

God bless us all with His perfect love that we may not fear. *smile*