NEVER RUN OUT OF COFFEE! I told myself this not too long ago, but I didn't heed my self-warning. Since I had only enough coffee for a small cup this morning, I decided I would go get some coffee at McDonalds and a McGridde (and all that good stuff that comes inside). A good driver needs to have an acute sense of bad...sometimes terrible...drivers in Vidalia, especially on Highway 280. Well, the Onion Festival weekend heightens this need to be aware of the crazies! As I am making my way down 280, I notice a truck is stopped at the road besides Hardy's---heading the wrong direction. My next awareness is a car moving out of the Hardy's lane into my lane a few yards ahead. All of a sudden, this car stops to allow Mr. Going-the Wrong-Way Truck to come on to Highway 280 heading east. I had to slam on the brakes to avoid rear ending the car ahead of me. I laid down on the horn. Background---a few years ago, a car pulled out in front of me and traveled about 195 yards before stopping to allow someone to turn into the TG&Y Parking Lot. (Yes, that's what it still is to me.) This caused me to stop abruptly. While I avoided rear ending the car that made this ill-advised maneuver, the car following me, did Not stop abruptly enough and rear ended me. I told myself if this situation arose again, I would alert other drivers to the situation by blowing the horn. That sounded like a good philosophy, but today's horn blowing was to tell the car in front of me, "That was ill-advised!" (or something like that). My friend in front of me proceeded to shoot me with a bird. He was quite proficient! He held it high outside his window. My response was to hold up both hands to say, "What are you doing?" His response was to shoot me again. By this time, I realize this guy is an excellent marksman, but my response was the same---throwing up both my hand. He decided to mock me and throw up his hands. Honestly, I'm not sure the correct order of his responses---shoot a bird then hands thrown in the air or the other way around, but he was trying to communicate efficiently with me. Of course, this is happening as we start driving down the road, and lo and behold, we both get in the Turning Lane at McDonalds. I am still getting my coffee and McGriddle (and the stuff that comes inside). I am wondering if we might have a little confrontation. Interestingly enough, I get in the drive-through while he turns in and sits in a parking spot almost directly across from me. After a while, he leaves. I'm sorry that there was not an exciting ending for you, the reader!
I was excited because I did not get rear ended. The communication with my new friend was kind of humorous. I praise God for watching out for me, especially on Highway 280. I did ask the Lord to order my steps today. Psalm 37:23 The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.
Final Lesson: Note to self: DO NOT RUN OUT OF COFFEE!
Saturday, April 29, 2017
Thursday, April 27, 2017
The Balance of the Little Things
Many of you have probably read the book, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff. While this is a truth in life, because God tells us to not worry about anything, there is value in paying attention to details. There is value in doing the little things well. There is value in making habits of making right choices on the little things.
Many successful people are well aware of this idea. Many people who live a satisfying life are well aware of this plan. Many of us are well aware of the value of this plan, but we do not put it into practice. As a former middle-school teacher of 29 years, I often used the following philosophy, "You are what you decide to a certain degree." The older you get, the higher that degree goes up, since your parents make decisions for you less and less as you grow older. Even as adults, we certainly do not control everything in our lives. Let's examine this philosophy. The most important choice is how you view God. It determines your eternity. Similarly, the way we view others, certainly helps determine the person we are. It defines the way we behave and treat others on a daily basis. There are so many other choices that shape our lives. Many of these are big, such as marriage partner (or not), career, place you live, friends you choose, church you attend (or not), how you spend your money, how you spend your spare time, and many more.
The premise of little decisions being big has been brought to my attention by retired basketball Coach John Wooden in one of his books, Coach Wooden's Greatest Secret. It is amazing to think about how many small decisions we make--even in one day. Honestly, many of theses decisions do not shape our lives. But, habitual little choices about every aspects of our lives shape who we are. If you are honest in small decisions, you are an honest person. If you are inconsistent in little choices, you are inconsistent. If you are loyal to someone in small choices, you probably are loyal in big choices. Since I was a coach for 40 seasons over a 20-year span, I tend to think about this philosophy applied to sports. Besides the great John Wooden using this philosophy, there are so many coaches that use this approach. The two greatest Alabama football coaches of all time believe(d) in the little things--the details. When I was at my best as a coach, I had my team doing the details well. This philosophy may transcend in to one play for the entire season--success or failure. A base-running error could cost the championship. A well placed squeeze play could win the championship. A 2-point conversion could make or break you. And, the list goes on and on.
One thing I love about sports is there application to other parts of life. Qualities such as disciple, team-work, effort, and DOING THE LITTLE THINGS WELL! For argument sake, let us forget sports. Please think about doing the little things well. It takes practice. It takes discipline. It takes desire. It takes the ability to forgive yourself when you make a bad little decision.
It all boils down to the famous question: What kind of society would we have if everybody treated small decisions like I do?
Many successful people are well aware of this idea. Many people who live a satisfying life are well aware of this plan. Many of us are well aware of the value of this plan, but we do not put it into practice. As a former middle-school teacher of 29 years, I often used the following philosophy, "You are what you decide to a certain degree." The older you get, the higher that degree goes up, since your parents make decisions for you less and less as you grow older. Even as adults, we certainly do not control everything in our lives. Let's examine this philosophy. The most important choice is how you view God. It determines your eternity. Similarly, the way we view others, certainly helps determine the person we are. It defines the way we behave and treat others on a daily basis. There are so many other choices that shape our lives. Many of these are big, such as marriage partner (or not), career, place you live, friends you choose, church you attend (or not), how you spend your money, how you spend your spare time, and many more.
The premise of little decisions being big has been brought to my attention by retired basketball Coach John Wooden in one of his books, Coach Wooden's Greatest Secret. It is amazing to think about how many small decisions we make--even in one day. Honestly, many of theses decisions do not shape our lives. But, habitual little choices about every aspects of our lives shape who we are. If you are honest in small decisions, you are an honest person. If you are inconsistent in little choices, you are inconsistent. If you are loyal to someone in small choices, you probably are loyal in big choices. Since I was a coach for 40 seasons over a 20-year span, I tend to think about this philosophy applied to sports. Besides the great John Wooden using this philosophy, there are so many coaches that use this approach. The two greatest Alabama football coaches of all time believe(d) in the little things--the details. When I was at my best as a coach, I had my team doing the details well. This philosophy may transcend in to one play for the entire season--success or failure. A base-running error could cost the championship. A well placed squeeze play could win the championship. A 2-point conversion could make or break you. And, the list goes on and on.
One thing I love about sports is there application to other parts of life. Qualities such as disciple, team-work, effort, and DOING THE LITTLE THINGS WELL! For argument sake, let us forget sports. Please think about doing the little things well. It takes practice. It takes discipline. It takes desire. It takes the ability to forgive yourself when you make a bad little decision.
It all boils down to the famous question: What kind of society would we have if everybody treated small decisions like I do?
Tuesday, April 25, 2017
Freedom for Abraham
We know him as FATHER ABRAHAM. The Bible first speaks of Abram (later God would name him Abraham) at the end of Genesis 11. Abram's father, Terah took Abram, Sarai (Abram's wife), and his grandson (Lot ) and moved to Haran and settled there.
In Genesis 12, the Lord tells Abram that He will make him into a great nation, and all the families of earth will be blessed by him. Also, the Lord told Abram to leave his native country and go to a land He would show him. Abram obeyed God.
In Genesis 15, the Lord took Abram outside and told him, "Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can.That's how many descendants you will have!" V. 6 reads: And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith.
In Genesis 16, Sarai, Abram's wife, had not been able to bear children for him. At this point, Abram and Sarai attempt to take matters into their own hands. Sarai tells Abram to sleep with her servant girl, Hagar. So, Abram sleeps with Hagar and she gives birth to a son, whom they name Ishmael. Abram was 86 years old when he was born.
In Genesis 17, the Lord appeared to Abram when he was 99 years old. The Lord said, "I am El-Shaddai--'God Almighty.' Serve me faithfully and live a blameless life. I will make a covenant with you, by which I will guarantee to give you countless descendants." The Lord told hime he was changing Abram's name to Abraham, because he would be the father of great nations. Also, the Lord told Abraham that his wife's name would now be Sarah. He would richly bless her and give a son to Abraham through her.
In Genesis 21, we read: The Lord kept his word and did for Sarah exactly what He promised. She became pregnant, and she gave birth to a son for Abraham in his old age. This happened at just the time God said it would. And Abraham named their son Isaac. Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born.
In Genesis 22, God tested Abraham's faith. God told him to sacrifice Issac on a mountain in Moriah. So, Abraham, his servant, and Issac traveled to Moriah. On the third day, Abraham saw the place in the distance. He told the servant to wait there.
The following events often parallel the Gospel. As they start up the mountain (Calvary for Jesus), Abraham requires Issac to carry the wood for the sacrifice. (Jesus was required to take his own cross of wood for his sacrifice.) Abraham believed he would sacrifice his only son (John 3:16). Many scholars believe Abraham believed God would raise Issac from the dead. But, before Abraham killed his son, an angel of the Lord stopped him. At this time God provided a ram caught in a thicket to be used for the sacrifice. The ram was sacrificed in Issac's place. (Jesus was sacrificed in our place.)
A.W.Tozer helped me understand the purpose of this in The Pursuit of God. Abraham loved Issac too much! He had become an idol. But, things change when Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son, Issac. This proved to God and Abraham that Issac was not number one in Abraham's life--God was. God was now on the throne of Abraham's heart. As Tozer so beautifully states it: HE HAD EVERYTHING, BUT HE POSSESSED NOTHING.
When we possess nothing but our faith in Christ, it is very freeing. Idols can weigh us down, The thought of all the things we own can be so burdensome. Just ask the rich young ruler that was unwilling to give his possessions to the poor and follow Jesus. Ohhh, but wait. There are three fingers pointing back at ourselves. As a 16-year old, I burned my rock albums because I felt God wanted me to do so. It would take me decades to realize the albums were not the problem, but my love for them, which was too great. There is freedom in realizing we do NOT own anything. We are merely in charge of the blessings that God has given us!
In Genesis 12, the Lord tells Abram that He will make him into a great nation, and all the families of earth will be blessed by him. Also, the Lord told Abram to leave his native country and go to a land He would show him. Abram obeyed God.
In Genesis 15, the Lord took Abram outside and told him, "Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can.That's how many descendants you will have!" V. 6 reads: And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith.
In Genesis 16, Sarai, Abram's wife, had not been able to bear children for him. At this point, Abram and Sarai attempt to take matters into their own hands. Sarai tells Abram to sleep with her servant girl, Hagar. So, Abram sleeps with Hagar and she gives birth to a son, whom they name Ishmael. Abram was 86 years old when he was born.
In Genesis 17, the Lord appeared to Abram when he was 99 years old. The Lord said, "I am El-Shaddai--'God Almighty.' Serve me faithfully and live a blameless life. I will make a covenant with you, by which I will guarantee to give you countless descendants." The Lord told hime he was changing Abram's name to Abraham, because he would be the father of great nations. Also, the Lord told Abraham that his wife's name would now be Sarah. He would richly bless her and give a son to Abraham through her.
In Genesis 21, we read: The Lord kept his word and did for Sarah exactly what He promised. She became pregnant, and she gave birth to a son for Abraham in his old age. This happened at just the time God said it would. And Abraham named their son Isaac. Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born.
In Genesis 22, God tested Abraham's faith. God told him to sacrifice Issac on a mountain in Moriah. So, Abraham, his servant, and Issac traveled to Moriah. On the third day, Abraham saw the place in the distance. He told the servant to wait there.
The following events often parallel the Gospel. As they start up the mountain (Calvary for Jesus), Abraham requires Issac to carry the wood for the sacrifice. (Jesus was required to take his own cross of wood for his sacrifice.) Abraham believed he would sacrifice his only son (John 3:16). Many scholars believe Abraham believed God would raise Issac from the dead. But, before Abraham killed his son, an angel of the Lord stopped him. At this time God provided a ram caught in a thicket to be used for the sacrifice. The ram was sacrificed in Issac's place. (Jesus was sacrificed in our place.)
A.W.Tozer helped me understand the purpose of this in The Pursuit of God. Abraham loved Issac too much! He had become an idol. But, things change when Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son, Issac. This proved to God and Abraham that Issac was not number one in Abraham's life--God was. God was now on the throne of Abraham's heart. As Tozer so beautifully states it: HE HAD EVERYTHING, BUT HE POSSESSED NOTHING.
When we possess nothing but our faith in Christ, it is very freeing. Idols can weigh us down, The thought of all the things we own can be so burdensome. Just ask the rich young ruler that was unwilling to give his possessions to the poor and follow Jesus. Ohhh, but wait. There are three fingers pointing back at ourselves. As a 16-year old, I burned my rock albums because I felt God wanted me to do so. It would take me decades to realize the albums were not the problem, but my love for them, which was too great. There is freedom in realizing we do NOT own anything. We are merely in charge of the blessings that God has given us!
Monday, April 24, 2017
If U have a Bible, U are Fortunate!
Praise God for this lesson found in 2 Kings 22: we are very fortunate to have His Word! You can buy a Bible in this country for less than $2. It is not illegal to possess it, which is the case in many countries of our world today. Most of the time, I use my phone App and I love it! I do love the FCA Bible that was given to me as a present, as well. We have many translations from which to choose. I am thankful to find translations that help me better understand the Bible. My preference is the New Living Translation, but I like seeking the truth through other translations as well.
There are many lesson from 2 Kings 22. King Josiah is 26 years old, and he is in his eighteenth year of his reign in Jerusalem. Here, we find that he made plans for restoration of the Temple, which was a good decision in itself. One which showed his love for God. As a result, Hilkiah, the high priest, found the Book of the Law in the LORD's Temple. He gave it to Shapan, the court secretary, who read it to King Josiah. In verse 11, Josiah tore his clothes in despair when he heard what was written in the Book of the Law. Upon Josiah's orders, Hilkiah, Ahikam, Acbor, Shapan, and Asaiah went to the temple to inquire about the words written in the scroll. They consulted with the prophet Huldah. She interpreted the message from the LORD. The message in 2 Kings 22:16 & 17: This is what the Lord says: I am going to bring disaster on this city and its people. All the words written in the scroll that the king of Judah has read will come true. For my people have abandoned me and offered sacrifices to pagan gods, and I am very angry with them for everything they have done. My anger will burn against this place, and it will not be quenched.
I am thinking, wow, if they wouldn't have found these scrolls, they wouldn't have heard this harsh message. True, but it is ALWAYS good to hear the truth of the LORD! And, sometimes there is also good news to follow. That is what happens here!
In 2 Kings 22:18, Huldah tells the group to give the king of Judah the following message in verses 19 & 20. You were sorry and humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I said against this city and its people---that this land would be cursed and become desolate. You tore your clothing in despair and wept before me in repentance. And I have indeed heard you, says the LORD. So I will not send the promised disaster until after you have died and been buried in peace. You will not see the disaster I am going to bring on this city.
What a fantastic lesson! The LORD saw Josiha's repentance and He decided to wait on carrying forth the disaster until after Josiah's death. GOD WILL NEVER BE WORSE THAN THE WORDS HE GIVES US, BUT HE CAN BE BETTER! In other words, our prayers can change God's plans for our good!! The other lesson is one for which I seek forgiveness---be thankful for His Word. Study it and follow it. The thought that they found this scroll from the LORD that was missing is remarkable! It trips me out! Many of us have so much and do so little with it! I ask the LORD to forgive me for not cherishing His Word! For not believing His Word! For not following His Word! I praise Him for His mercy! I praise God of hearing our prayers! God is good!!
There are many lesson from 2 Kings 22. King Josiah is 26 years old, and he is in his eighteenth year of his reign in Jerusalem. Here, we find that he made plans for restoration of the Temple, which was a good decision in itself. One which showed his love for God. As a result, Hilkiah, the high priest, found the Book of the Law in the LORD's Temple. He gave it to Shapan, the court secretary, who read it to King Josiah. In verse 11, Josiah tore his clothes in despair when he heard what was written in the Book of the Law. Upon Josiah's orders, Hilkiah, Ahikam, Acbor, Shapan, and Asaiah went to the temple to inquire about the words written in the scroll. They consulted with the prophet Huldah. She interpreted the message from the LORD. The message in 2 Kings 22:16 & 17: This is what the Lord says: I am going to bring disaster on this city and its people. All the words written in the scroll that the king of Judah has read will come true. For my people have abandoned me and offered sacrifices to pagan gods, and I am very angry with them for everything they have done. My anger will burn against this place, and it will not be quenched.
I am thinking, wow, if they wouldn't have found these scrolls, they wouldn't have heard this harsh message. True, but it is ALWAYS good to hear the truth of the LORD! And, sometimes there is also good news to follow. That is what happens here!
In 2 Kings 22:18, Huldah tells the group to give the king of Judah the following message in verses 19 & 20. You were sorry and humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I said against this city and its people---that this land would be cursed and become desolate. You tore your clothing in despair and wept before me in repentance. And I have indeed heard you, says the LORD. So I will not send the promised disaster until after you have died and been buried in peace. You will not see the disaster I am going to bring on this city.
What a fantastic lesson! The LORD saw Josiha's repentance and He decided to wait on carrying forth the disaster until after Josiah's death. GOD WILL NEVER BE WORSE THAN THE WORDS HE GIVES US, BUT HE CAN BE BETTER! In other words, our prayers can change God's plans for our good!! The other lesson is one for which I seek forgiveness---be thankful for His Word. Study it and follow it. The thought that they found this scroll from the LORD that was missing is remarkable! It trips me out! Many of us have so much and do so little with it! I ask the LORD to forgive me for not cherishing His Word! For not believing His Word! For not following His Word! I praise Him for His mercy! I praise God of hearing our prayers! God is good!!
Friday, April 21, 2017
Josiah
Praise God for Josiah!!! After so many of the early Israelite Kings "Did what was evil in the LORD's sight," (recorded in 1 Kings and 2 Kings), it is so refreshing to know that Josiah, "did what was pleasing in the LORD's sight and followed the example of his ancestor David. He did not turn away from doing what was right." (2 Kings 22:2) (NLT)
Why did Josiah choose this way of life instead of doing what was evil in the LORD's sight? I don't know. I know part of it was his choice to do the right thing, and continuing to do so. I believe he loved God greatly! Maybe he learned to NOT make the same mistakes his predecessors had made. Maybe God chose him to be a shining example and gave him extra help.
Josiah became king at eight years old. Surely, he must have had good advisors and godly people as role models. 2 Kings 22:1 tells us his mother was Jedidah, the daughter of Adahiah from Bozhath. Maybe Josiah's mother and grandfather taught him the way of the LORD at a very early age. I mean the dude is king at 8 years old! And, he chose to please God and did not turn away from doing what was right! AWESOME!
As we seek answers on his daddy, Amon's side the family, he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD (2 KINGS 21:20). Verse 22:22 really hits me about Amon: He abandoned the LORD, the God of his ancestors, and he refused to follow the LORD's way.
As we go back one more generation to Amon's father, which is Josiah's grandfather, maybe there will be the treasure of answers to Josiah being such a godly man and good king! NOPE! Josiah's grandfather, Manasseh was one of the most evil of all the Israelite kings. The following verses sum up his reign and the LORD's decisions. 2 Kings 21:10-14 (NLT)
Then the LORD said through his servants the prophets: "King Manasseh of Judah has done many detestable things. He is even more wicked than the Amorites, who lived in the land before Israel. He has caused the people of Judah to sin with his idols. So this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I will bring such disaster on Jerusalem and Judah that the ears of those who hear about it will tingle with horror. I will judge Jerusalem by the same standard I used for Samaria and the same measure I used for the family of Ahab. I will wipe away the people of Jerusalem as one wipes a dish. Then I will reject even the remnants of my own people who are left, and I will hand them over as plunder for their enemies.
Josiah did much good in 2 Kings 22 and 2 Kings 23.
2 Kings 23:25: Never before had there been a king like Josiah, who turned to the LORD with all his heart, soul and strength, obeying all the laws of Moses. And there has never been a king like him since.
In conclusion,
1. I want to be like Josiah and not like Manasseh or Amon.
2. We do NOT have to be like other people (even our father or grandfather). We are responsible for our own decisions.
3. Our decisions, whether good or bad, affect others.
4. In order to please God, we must have faith. We must obey Him, and we must love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.
Why did Josiah choose this way of life instead of doing what was evil in the LORD's sight? I don't know. I know part of it was his choice to do the right thing, and continuing to do so. I believe he loved God greatly! Maybe he learned to NOT make the same mistakes his predecessors had made. Maybe God chose him to be a shining example and gave him extra help.
Josiah became king at eight years old. Surely, he must have had good advisors and godly people as role models. 2 Kings 22:1 tells us his mother was Jedidah, the daughter of Adahiah from Bozhath. Maybe Josiah's mother and grandfather taught him the way of the LORD at a very early age. I mean the dude is king at 8 years old! And, he chose to please God and did not turn away from doing what was right! AWESOME!
As we seek answers on his daddy, Amon's side the family, he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD (2 KINGS 21:20). Verse 22:22 really hits me about Amon: He abandoned the LORD, the God of his ancestors, and he refused to follow the LORD's way.
As we go back one more generation to Amon's father, which is Josiah's grandfather, maybe there will be the treasure of answers to Josiah being such a godly man and good king! NOPE! Josiah's grandfather, Manasseh was one of the most evil of all the Israelite kings. The following verses sum up his reign and the LORD's decisions. 2 Kings 21:10-14 (NLT)
Then the LORD said through his servants the prophets: "King Manasseh of Judah has done many detestable things. He is even more wicked than the Amorites, who lived in the land before Israel. He has caused the people of Judah to sin with his idols. So this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I will bring such disaster on Jerusalem and Judah that the ears of those who hear about it will tingle with horror. I will judge Jerusalem by the same standard I used for Samaria and the same measure I used for the family of Ahab. I will wipe away the people of Jerusalem as one wipes a dish. Then I will reject even the remnants of my own people who are left, and I will hand them over as plunder for their enemies.
Josiah did much good in 2 Kings 22 and 2 Kings 23.
2 Kings 23:25: Never before had there been a king like Josiah, who turned to the LORD with all his heart, soul and strength, obeying all the laws of Moses. And there has never been a king like him since.
In conclusion,
1. I want to be like Josiah and not like Manasseh or Amon.
2. We do NOT have to be like other people (even our father or grandfather). We are responsible for our own decisions.
3. Our decisions, whether good or bad, affect others.
4. In order to please God, we must have faith. We must obey Him, and we must love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.
Wednesday, April 19, 2017
The Origin of Vidalia
Dr. Daniel Good, my professor of URBAN GEOGRAPHY at Georgia Southern said, "Transportation is the maker or breaker of Cities." When I heard this statement in 1987, I new it was important, but it is one of the most useful lessons I have ever learned. Why? I take many things for granted, such as the origin of a city. However, there was a time when I would see footage of a city being flooded, and I would think, "Why did the city build so close to the river?"
Actually, the river is EXACTLY the reason for the city being located near the river. Since transportation is important for hauling people and materials, in the 1700s and prior, the river was a great way to carry people and goods. Of course, there were paths and dirt roads that carried people and goods via a wagon, stagecoach, or other devices. But, the river was a fast way to move these items. In our own region, Reidsville (founded about 1828) and Mt. Vernon (founded in 1797) are two examples of "River Towns".
In the early 1800s, railroads began dotting the landscape of America. This would change our country in a way that nothing else had before. Now, people did not have to depend on locations of rivers to decide a route that would carry people and goods. The railroad allowed people to choose the route that would allow them to quickly carry people and goods.
The origin of Atlanta began in 1836. Georgia decided to build a railroad to the U.S. Midwest. There was a stake driven in the ground at ZERO MILE POST. The name of the town was known as "Terminus". This designated the end of the railroad line at that time. However, it quickly became the railroad hub for the Southern United States. The town's name became Marthasville in 1842, but by 1845, the present name of Atlanta was cemented. (This information is from Wikipedia.)
There was a railroad that would change our area as well. In 1890, the Savannah, Americus, Montgomery (Alabama) Railroad (or SAM Railroad) owned by Sam Hawkins was built. The railroad created Vidalia, along with many stops that we now know as towns or crossroads, such as Lyons, Higgston, and MacGregor. Stops were required about every 3 miles to fuel the steam engine. The SAM Railroad ran east to west, and transported people and materials. The railroad discontinued the transportation of people through Vidalia around 1970. However, it has never stopped delivering materials. Many stories claim the way Vidalia came by its name. However, the real story goes back to 1890. W.T. Jenkins could be called the Father of Vidalia. He was very involved in much of our city's development. As a matter of fact, the name of the railroad stop located here was Jenkins Station for a short time, but one day a package was designated for Vidalia, and it was accepted by Jenkins and the name Vidalia became a reality. Other Railroad Lines would follow. The Macon, Dublin, Savannah Line is still used. It is the line that runs near Vidalia High School. It joins the SAM and continues on to Savannah. The final Railroad Line that came through Vidalia was the Florida-Georgia Line. For you old-time Vidalians, you will remember the overpass near the present location of Paul Thigpen's Car Lot. For you youngsters or folks new to our area, there was a line that ran south to north and went right by Rigdon Printing Co. As a matter of fact. the Rigdon Printing Co. is located near the original Train Depot where there was a railroad junction for these three railroads. The Florida-Georgia Railroad Line is now out of business.
Vidalia owes its origin and growth to the railroad! So, if you ever get frustrated having to wait on the train, take a deep breath and realize the importance of that 14-foot item rambling down the tracks!
Actually, the river is EXACTLY the reason for the city being located near the river. Since transportation is important for hauling people and materials, in the 1700s and prior, the river was a great way to carry people and goods. Of course, there were paths and dirt roads that carried people and goods via a wagon, stagecoach, or other devices. But, the river was a fast way to move these items. In our own region, Reidsville (founded about 1828) and Mt. Vernon (founded in 1797) are two examples of "River Towns".
In the early 1800s, railroads began dotting the landscape of America. This would change our country in a way that nothing else had before. Now, people did not have to depend on locations of rivers to decide a route that would carry people and goods. The railroad allowed people to choose the route that would allow them to quickly carry people and goods.
The origin of Atlanta began in 1836. Georgia decided to build a railroad to the U.S. Midwest. There was a stake driven in the ground at ZERO MILE POST. The name of the town was known as "Terminus". This designated the end of the railroad line at that time. However, it quickly became the railroad hub for the Southern United States. The town's name became Marthasville in 1842, but by 1845, the present name of Atlanta was cemented. (This information is from Wikipedia.)
There was a railroad that would change our area as well. In 1890, the Savannah, Americus, Montgomery (Alabama) Railroad (or SAM Railroad) owned by Sam Hawkins was built. The railroad created Vidalia, along with many stops that we now know as towns or crossroads, such as Lyons, Higgston, and MacGregor. Stops were required about every 3 miles to fuel the steam engine. The SAM Railroad ran east to west, and transported people and materials. The railroad discontinued the transportation of people through Vidalia around 1970. However, it has never stopped delivering materials. Many stories claim the way Vidalia came by its name. However, the real story goes back to 1890. W.T. Jenkins could be called the Father of Vidalia. He was very involved in much of our city's development. As a matter of fact, the name of the railroad stop located here was Jenkins Station for a short time, but one day a package was designated for Vidalia, and it was accepted by Jenkins and the name Vidalia became a reality. Other Railroad Lines would follow. The Macon, Dublin, Savannah Line is still used. It is the line that runs near Vidalia High School. It joins the SAM and continues on to Savannah. The final Railroad Line that came through Vidalia was the Florida-Georgia Line. For you old-time Vidalians, you will remember the overpass near the present location of Paul Thigpen's Car Lot. For you youngsters or folks new to our area, there was a line that ran south to north and went right by Rigdon Printing Co. As a matter of fact. the Rigdon Printing Co. is located near the original Train Depot where there was a railroad junction for these three railroads. The Florida-Georgia Railroad Line is now out of business.
Vidalia owes its origin and growth to the railroad! So, if you ever get frustrated having to wait on the train, take a deep breath and realize the importance of that 14-foot item rambling down the tracks!
Tuesday, April 18, 2017
Ode to Beth Brand
Ms. Beth Brand died on April 8th, 2017, two days prior to her 95th Birthday. She was a recent resident of the Oaks Bethany Home. Ms. Brand had served as a nurse for many years. She must have been a fantastic one! Her intelligence, humor and giving-spirit were some of her genuine qualities. These must of served her patients and fellow employees well. Our "Bethany Group" that ministers at the nursing home once a month with singing, praying, and conversation had built quite a friendship with Ms. Brand. We began our friendship because she was a member of the First United Methodist Church. That was enough reason, but after we got to know her, it was our treat and blessing to visit her.
Ms. Brand was in such good spirits, even when she was not feeling well. We always left more blessed than she did. Ms. Brand asks each of us to sign her book each visit, especially if we were new. I am not sure the reason. Knowing her, she probably prayed for us by name! We were glad to sign, regardless of the reason. She always wanted to give us something; a piece of candy, a cookie, and one day she gave each of us a can of coke. I put mine in the refrigerator. It had been there untouched for a while. I think the morning I took my first drink of it coincided with the weekend I heard the news about her death. I was out of coffee, and it was perfectly timed for a little morning caffeine. If she didn't have anything to give us, it would really bother her. We assured her that we didn't needed anything, but she was a giver!
She loved to hear us sing! "This little Light of Mine" was one of her favorites. As we sang, Ms. Brand would have a twinkle in her eye as she watched and listened to us. It was a God moment, like very few we are privileged in this life! Her favorite song, "In the Garden", became one of our favorites. It is such a wonderful song that gets right to the crux of our relationship with Jesus. We would ask her to help us with the words, and she would. I believe Ms. Brand is having a special In the Garden Time with Jesus right now!
Her mental clarity floored me! Ms. Brand always had words of wisdom. One of her favorite philosophies that rings so true: YOUR ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN YOUR WORDS.
I hope our kids listened to this advice. I certainly want to heed the advice, because I heard it. Her favorite story, which we heard more than once, was about the names of God. It became known as her Andy story. I can't capture the telling of the story from Ms. Brand, but the premise is as follows. Ms. Brand was explaining to the young kids about the meanings of God's names. When she was finished, one little boy said you forgot one. Ms. Brand asked, "Which one?" He said Andy! She responded that Jehovah had NO names concerning "Andy". The little boy said, "It sure sounds like it to me when you say, 'And He (Andy) walks with me and and He (Andy) talks with me.'" We would laugh hard---sometimes too hard---it was fun every time. Plus, it went right along with her favorite song IN THE GARDEN.
Finally, Ms. Brand loved a good laugh. She had an eye for details and appreciated humorous moments that might pass some of us right by. (I want to get better at this skill.) One event that hit her as hilarious is as follows. Somebody had given Ms. Brand some candy. Since there was quite a bit of it, she placed it on a tray and put it near her door. I think it was located there so anyone who wanted some could have it. Well, there happened to be a privacy curtain near the tray, and one day a hand came around (or under) the curtain and grabbed up a handful of candy. She laughed and laughed! Ms. Brand was 93 years-old at the time. She said, "If I live to be 100, I won't see anything that funny!" Now that hit me as funny! I am thinking, If someone younger---even my age--used the reference of "If I live to be 100" would carry more weight. After all, she only had 7 more years to go. After her death, I recalled my thoughts on this incident. You know, even if you are 93 years-old, 100 is still a milestone! Praise God for each day He gives us! Praise God for the life of Ms. Beth Brand!!
Ms. Brand was in such good spirits, even when she was not feeling well. We always left more blessed than she did. Ms. Brand asks each of us to sign her book each visit, especially if we were new. I am not sure the reason. Knowing her, she probably prayed for us by name! We were glad to sign, regardless of the reason. She always wanted to give us something; a piece of candy, a cookie, and one day she gave each of us a can of coke. I put mine in the refrigerator. It had been there untouched for a while. I think the morning I took my first drink of it coincided with the weekend I heard the news about her death. I was out of coffee, and it was perfectly timed for a little morning caffeine. If she didn't have anything to give us, it would really bother her. We assured her that we didn't needed anything, but she was a giver!
She loved to hear us sing! "This little Light of Mine" was one of her favorites. As we sang, Ms. Brand would have a twinkle in her eye as she watched and listened to us. It was a God moment, like very few we are privileged in this life! Her favorite song, "In the Garden", became one of our favorites. It is such a wonderful song that gets right to the crux of our relationship with Jesus. We would ask her to help us with the words, and she would. I believe Ms. Brand is having a special In the Garden Time with Jesus right now!
Her mental clarity floored me! Ms. Brand always had words of wisdom. One of her favorite philosophies that rings so true: YOUR ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN YOUR WORDS.
I hope our kids listened to this advice. I certainly want to heed the advice, because I heard it. Her favorite story, which we heard more than once, was about the names of God. It became known as her Andy story. I can't capture the telling of the story from Ms. Brand, but the premise is as follows. Ms. Brand was explaining to the young kids about the meanings of God's names. When she was finished, one little boy said you forgot one. Ms. Brand asked, "Which one?" He said Andy! She responded that Jehovah had NO names concerning "Andy". The little boy said, "It sure sounds like it to me when you say, 'And He (Andy) walks with me and and He (Andy) talks with me.'" We would laugh hard---sometimes too hard---it was fun every time. Plus, it went right along with her favorite song IN THE GARDEN.
Finally, Ms. Brand loved a good laugh. She had an eye for details and appreciated humorous moments that might pass some of us right by. (I want to get better at this skill.) One event that hit her as hilarious is as follows. Somebody had given Ms. Brand some candy. Since there was quite a bit of it, she placed it on a tray and put it near her door. I think it was located there so anyone who wanted some could have it. Well, there happened to be a privacy curtain near the tray, and one day a hand came around (or under) the curtain and grabbed up a handful of candy. She laughed and laughed! Ms. Brand was 93 years-old at the time. She said, "If I live to be 100, I won't see anything that funny!" Now that hit me as funny! I am thinking, If someone younger---even my age--used the reference of "If I live to be 100" would carry more weight. After all, she only had 7 more years to go. After her death, I recalled my thoughts on this incident. You know, even if you are 93 years-old, 100 is still a milestone! Praise God for each day He gives us! Praise God for the life of Ms. Beth Brand!!
Monday, April 17, 2017
Honorable Mention Live Sporting Events for J Lo
1. 1982 (1981 season) Sugar Bowl...UGA vs Pittsburgh (spectator)
2. 1998 (1997 season) Outback Bowl UGA vs Wisconsin (spectator)
3. 1995 Peach Bowl (Coach Ray Goff's last game) UGA vs Virginia (spectator)
4. 1974ish Atlanta Braves' game in which Hank Aaron hit 2 HRs (spectator)
5. 1979 VHS Football beat Lyons 1-0 (penetration rule) (spectator)
6. 1976 VHS Football lost to Turner Co in the State Semi-Finals (but VHS was there) (spectator)
7. 2004 VHS Football lost to McIntosh Co in the Semi-Finals in the Dome. (spectator)
8. 1989 VRD Midget Girls District Champs (coach)
9. 1992 VRD Jr Girls State Runner-ups (coach)
10. 1996 VRD Jr Girls State Runner-Ups (coach)
11. 1988 VHS Football Region Champs (Assistant Coach)
12. 1994 VHS Softball State Runner-Ups (Assistant Coach)
13. 1996 VHS Softball State Runner-Ups (Assistant Coach)
14. 1990 VRD Jr Girls District Champs (coach)
15. 1991 VRD Jr Girls District Champs (coach)
16. 1992 VRD Jr Girls District Champs (coach)
17. 1993 VRD Jr Girls District Champs (coach)
18. 1995 VRD Jr Girls District Champs (coach)
19. 1996 VRD Jr Girls District Champs (coach)
20. 1977 VRD Pony League---I hit a double, triple, & HR in 2 innings prior to rainout (player)
21. 1985 Mens Softball Vidalia Merchants--4th place in Alma Tournament (player/coach)
22. 1983 GSC Flag-Football--undefeated season (coach)
23. 1982 Football UGA v Clemson (1980 National Champs v1981 National Champs) (spectator)
24. 2012 My return to Jax for UGA v FLA with my Homies (It was Top Ten Pic Day) (spectator)
25. 1996 Olympics 5th/6th and 7th/8th Mens' Basketball (spectator)
2. 1998 (1997 season) Outback Bowl UGA vs Wisconsin (spectator)
3. 1995 Peach Bowl (Coach Ray Goff's last game) UGA vs Virginia (spectator)
4. 1974ish Atlanta Braves' game in which Hank Aaron hit 2 HRs (spectator)
5. 1979 VHS Football beat Lyons 1-0 (penetration rule) (spectator)
6. 1976 VHS Football lost to Turner Co in the State Semi-Finals (but VHS was there) (spectator)
7. 2004 VHS Football lost to McIntosh Co in the Semi-Finals in the Dome. (spectator)
8. 1989 VRD Midget Girls District Champs (coach)
9. 1992 VRD Jr Girls State Runner-ups (coach)
10. 1996 VRD Jr Girls State Runner-Ups (coach)
11. 1988 VHS Football Region Champs (Assistant Coach)
12. 1994 VHS Softball State Runner-Ups (Assistant Coach)
13. 1996 VHS Softball State Runner-Ups (Assistant Coach)
14. 1990 VRD Jr Girls District Champs (coach)
15. 1991 VRD Jr Girls District Champs (coach)
16. 1992 VRD Jr Girls District Champs (coach)
17. 1993 VRD Jr Girls District Champs (coach)
18. 1995 VRD Jr Girls District Champs (coach)
19. 1996 VRD Jr Girls District Champs (coach)
20. 1977 VRD Pony League---I hit a double, triple, & HR in 2 innings prior to rainout (player)
21. 1985 Mens Softball Vidalia Merchants--4th place in Alma Tournament (player/coach)
22. 1983 GSC Flag-Football--undefeated season (coach)
23. 1982 Football UGA v Clemson (1980 National Champs v1981 National Champs) (spectator)
24. 2012 My return to Jax for UGA v FLA with my Homies (It was Top Ten Pic Day) (spectator)
25. 1996 Olympics 5th/6th and 7th/8th Mens' Basketball (spectator)
Saturday, April 15, 2017
TOP 25 Sporting Events I have Witnessed In Person
1. 1972 MLB All-Star Game in Atlanta (spectator)
2. 1997 Georgia win over Florida in my first GA-FLA game in Jax (spectator)
3. 1997 VHS Softball Varsity Head Coach First Game (coach)
4. 1980 Hershel Walker gains 283 yards vs Vandy...most in a game at UGA (spectator)
5. 1976 My one and only Out-of-the-park HR...VRD Pony League (player)
6. 1980 VHS Football Region Championship over Blackshear (spectator)
7. 1996 Olympics...USA vs Cuba in baseball (spectator)
8. 1991 VRD Jr Girls State Champions (coach)
9. 1979 Hershel Walker and Johnson Co. State Championship (spectator)
10. 1997 VHS Softball Region/Area Champions (coach)
11. 1975 VRD Midget Varsity State Runner-Up (player)
12. 1993 VRD Jr Girls State Champions (coach)
13. 1969 VHS Football State Champions (spectator)
14. 1996 JRT Softball League Champions (coach)
15. 2001 JRT Basketball League Champions (coach)
16. 1981 VRD Baseball Mite League Champions (coach)
17. 1982 VRD Mens' Church League Softball--Methodist--State Final Four (player)
18. 1982 VHS Basketball Boys State Runner-ups (spectator)
19. 1995 VHS Baseball State Champions (spectator)
20. 2004 VHS Baseball State Champions (spectator)
21. 1986 Hawks vs Bulls/ Dominique vs Jordan (spectator)
22. 2002 Georgia SEC Champions (spectator)
23. 2005 Georgia SEC Champions (spectator)
24. 2012 Alabama beat UGA in SEC Championship (spectator)
25. 1990 Georgia Southern National Champions (spectator)
2. 1997 Georgia win over Florida in my first GA-FLA game in Jax (spectator)
3. 1997 VHS Softball Varsity Head Coach First Game (coach)
4. 1980 Hershel Walker gains 283 yards vs Vandy...most in a game at UGA (spectator)
5. 1976 My one and only Out-of-the-park HR...VRD Pony League (player)
6. 1980 VHS Football Region Championship over Blackshear (spectator)
7. 1996 Olympics...USA vs Cuba in baseball (spectator)
8. 1991 VRD Jr Girls State Champions (coach)
9. 1979 Hershel Walker and Johnson Co. State Championship (spectator)
10. 1997 VHS Softball Region/Area Champions (coach)
11. 1975 VRD Midget Varsity State Runner-Up (player)
12. 1993 VRD Jr Girls State Champions (coach)
13. 1969 VHS Football State Champions (spectator)
14. 1996 JRT Softball League Champions (coach)
15. 2001 JRT Basketball League Champions (coach)
16. 1981 VRD Baseball Mite League Champions (coach)
17. 1982 VRD Mens' Church League Softball--Methodist--State Final Four (player)
18. 1982 VHS Basketball Boys State Runner-ups (spectator)
19. 1995 VHS Baseball State Champions (spectator)
20. 2004 VHS Baseball State Champions (spectator)
21. 1986 Hawks vs Bulls/ Dominique vs Jordan (spectator)
22. 2002 Georgia SEC Champions (spectator)
23. 2005 Georgia SEC Champions (spectator)
24. 2012 Alabama beat UGA in SEC Championship (spectator)
25. 1990 Georgia Southern National Champions (spectator)
Friday, April 14, 2017
Good Friday
Wow, what a name for a day to remember the crucifixion of Jesus Christ of Nazareth!
It was a horrendous day for Jesus--that Friday more than two millennial ago.
However, His choice to allow all the things that occurred to Him, changed the course of history for good.
I think about Moses' words to his brothers in Genesis 50:20. When his brothers were scared Moses would do something to harm them for giving him away so many years prior, he said: What you meant for harm, God intended it all for good. The Jewish leaders meant the crucifixion as the ultimate harm to Jesus and His followers. To His movement! They wanted to preserve their way of life and their pride! But, what they meant for harm, God intended it all for good!
As we contemplate the crucifixion of Jesus, there are 4 main areas that I would like to focus on.
1. Jesus is the appropriation for our sin. His body was broken and His blood was shed for us! He is the Lamb of God. There would be no other sacrifices needed to make us clean before God.
2. Jesus was hurt! After being flogged with a lead-tipped whip, Jesus was required to carry His own cross about a mile (although Simon, the Cyrene would help), then His hands and feet were nailed to the cross. He would have to pull himself up to breath for hours. I predict He had to do this 4,000-5,000 times. His back must have been hurting terribly as He struggled against the cross to breathe. What's more, he refused the myrrh offered to Him, that would have helped ease the pain!
3. Jesus took our sin! He took all of it: past, present, & future. Again, this was once and for all! No longer, would periodic sacrifices be required by our Father in Heaven to provide forgiveness for people's sins. What's more, Jesus' sacrifice was for everyone, not just the Jews!!
4. Jesus was separated from His Father in Heaven. I believe this occurred when the day turned black for 3 hours. I believe it occurred simultaneously with Jesus bearing our sin. He who knew no sin, became sin! Jesus cried out, "Abba (or Daddy), why have you forsaken me?!" As far as we know, this is the only time in eternity the Father and Son have been (or will be) separated.
That is why it is called GOOD FRIDAY!
It was a horrendous day for Jesus--that Friday more than two millennial ago.
However, His choice to allow all the things that occurred to Him, changed the course of history for good.
I think about Moses' words to his brothers in Genesis 50:20. When his brothers were scared Moses would do something to harm them for giving him away so many years prior, he said: What you meant for harm, God intended it all for good. The Jewish leaders meant the crucifixion as the ultimate harm to Jesus and His followers. To His movement! They wanted to preserve their way of life and their pride! But, what they meant for harm, God intended it all for good!
As we contemplate the crucifixion of Jesus, there are 4 main areas that I would like to focus on.
1. Jesus is the appropriation for our sin. His body was broken and His blood was shed for us! He is the Lamb of God. There would be no other sacrifices needed to make us clean before God.
2. Jesus was hurt! After being flogged with a lead-tipped whip, Jesus was required to carry His own cross about a mile (although Simon, the Cyrene would help), then His hands and feet were nailed to the cross. He would have to pull himself up to breath for hours. I predict He had to do this 4,000-5,000 times. His back must have been hurting terribly as He struggled against the cross to breathe. What's more, he refused the myrrh offered to Him, that would have helped ease the pain!
3. Jesus took our sin! He took all of it: past, present, & future. Again, this was once and for all! No longer, would periodic sacrifices be required by our Father in Heaven to provide forgiveness for people's sins. What's more, Jesus' sacrifice was for everyone, not just the Jews!!
4. Jesus was separated from His Father in Heaven. I believe this occurred when the day turned black for 3 hours. I believe it occurred simultaneously with Jesus bearing our sin. He who knew no sin, became sin! Jesus cried out, "Abba (or Daddy), why have you forsaken me?!" As far as we know, this is the only time in eternity the Father and Son have been (or will be) separated.
That is why it is called GOOD FRIDAY!
Thursday, April 13, 2017
I am not of the philosophy, "All things happen for a Reason!"
I am not of the philosophy, "Everything happens for a Reason," if there is an insinuation that God orchestrates everything that happens to us. I do believe in Cause and Effect. And, I also believe in Free Will. Most importantly, I believe God is sovereign and nothing on this Earth is allowed to happen unless God allows it to happen. Even then, I believe in miracles! God can change the consequences of events. (See: John 11 and The Raising of Lazarus.) Ultimately, I believe God loves us more than we love ourselves!!
Cause and Effect: If I walk out in front of a moving truck, it is going to hit me! But, God didn't orchestrate it! On the flip side, if I obey God's Word, He will bless me. The book of Proverbs is filled with Cause and Effect.
Free Will: God has given people free will to make choices. We can order a pizza. We can choose to go to college. If we are in a Third World country, we can choose to survive or give up.
To further this point, let's look at the first sin in the Garden of Eden.
Genesis 2:18, "But the Lord God warned him (Adam), 'You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden--(2:17) except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.'"
In Genesis 3, the serpent deceived Eve. v1, "Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?" v2&3, Eve; "Of course we may eat of the fruit of the garden. It's only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden we are not allowed to eat." She went on to say if they even touched it, they would die. v4, The serpent told her they wouldn't die.v6, Eve was convinced by the serpent they would't die, so she ate some of the fruit and gave some to Adam. He also ate. v7, Then, their eyes were opened, and they were ashamed of their nakedness.
This is Cause and Effect! It didn't happen for a reason orchestrated by God! He didn't want this to happen.
Then, there is Job. God does not initiate the bad things that happened to him and his family. Satan asked God to allow him to do these evil things to Job. God allowed it.
Good News for God's people: The scripture gives us several instances that God does get involved in our life for our good. Again, God wants good for us! But, that first sin of Adam and Eve caused us to live in a fallen world.
Psalm 37:23 The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.
We still have free will, but praise the LORD for his direction and delight over us!!!
Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
So, with our free will as human beings, we will mess up! But, how awesome to know God will do what this verse says!
John 3:16 For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life.
God has and will take care of us, but we have to allow Him do so.
Cause and Effect: If I walk out in front of a moving truck, it is going to hit me! But, God didn't orchestrate it! On the flip side, if I obey God's Word, He will bless me. The book of Proverbs is filled with Cause and Effect.
Free Will: God has given people free will to make choices. We can order a pizza. We can choose to go to college. If we are in a Third World country, we can choose to survive or give up.
To further this point, let's look at the first sin in the Garden of Eden.
Genesis 2:18, "But the Lord God warned him (Adam), 'You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden--(2:17) except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.'"
In Genesis 3, the serpent deceived Eve. v1, "Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?" v2&3, Eve; "Of course we may eat of the fruit of the garden. It's only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden we are not allowed to eat." She went on to say if they even touched it, they would die. v4, The serpent told her they wouldn't die.v6, Eve was convinced by the serpent they would't die, so she ate some of the fruit and gave some to Adam. He also ate. v7, Then, their eyes were opened, and they were ashamed of their nakedness.
This is Cause and Effect! It didn't happen for a reason orchestrated by God! He didn't want this to happen.
Then, there is Job. God does not initiate the bad things that happened to him and his family. Satan asked God to allow him to do these evil things to Job. God allowed it.
Good News for God's people: The scripture gives us several instances that God does get involved in our life for our good. Again, God wants good for us! But, that first sin of Adam and Eve caused us to live in a fallen world.
Psalm 37:23 The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.
We still have free will, but praise the LORD for his direction and delight over us!!!
Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
So, with our free will as human beings, we will mess up! But, how awesome to know God will do what this verse says!
John 3:16 For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life.
God has and will take care of us, but we have to allow Him do so.
Wednesday, April 12, 2017
Love others
Jesus taught us to love others, even our enemies. He also taught us to forgive others as the Father in heaven has forgiven us. This is part of the Lord's Prayer:
Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
So, we are asking God to not forgive us if we are not willing to forgive others. Lord have mercy!
This week, God has been teaching me about accepting His love for me (among other things).
God tells us: The just shall live by faith. As I have gotten older, I have tried to sometimes live a life of mental-faith. While it is true that we must study the scripture and understand God's Salvation plan and plan for our life, to receive Jesus is a belief of the heart. Our most spiritual moments are often that of blind-faith, where we trust God cause He's God. I was reading lately about Solomon in 1 Kings. He asked God for wisdom, and he became the wisest man in the world. Later on in his life, he had collected 700 wives and 300 concubines. As he tried to please them by appeasing their gods, he went stupid and messed up his relationship with God.
I'm not sure what happens to us as we get older, but I have experienced too much reason and not enough faith. Since retiring, I have been afforded an opportunity to relax, get to know the God of my salvation--once again. My love for Him is being stoked! And the thought of not having to do for Him, but accepting His love for me is very freeing! This helps me to want to serve Him. I see others. Far too often, I have wanted to not see, so that I didn't have to make a moral choice. I wanted to just live in my own bubble. How can I love others if I don't want to see them, much less listen for their need? This is tough on a selfish ole guy, but let's take it one person at a time.
NOTE TO SELF: God id God. We are here because He created us. The least we can do is seek Him and follow His rules. WOW! No wonder they say "take it a day at a time", because this is tough. Speaking of...isn't it cool how we have a day and then go to sleep? No matter how good or bad the day was, it is gone! Such a blessing from God!
As we approach Good Friday and Easter, let us be mindful of Jesus' last few days (and hours) on this Earth. Believe with the heart so that we can see. Thank you, Lord!!!
Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
So, we are asking God to not forgive us if we are not willing to forgive others. Lord have mercy!
This week, God has been teaching me about accepting His love for me (among other things).
God tells us: The just shall live by faith. As I have gotten older, I have tried to sometimes live a life of mental-faith. While it is true that we must study the scripture and understand God's Salvation plan and plan for our life, to receive Jesus is a belief of the heart. Our most spiritual moments are often that of blind-faith, where we trust God cause He's God. I was reading lately about Solomon in 1 Kings. He asked God for wisdom, and he became the wisest man in the world. Later on in his life, he had collected 700 wives and 300 concubines. As he tried to please them by appeasing their gods, he went stupid and messed up his relationship with God.
I'm not sure what happens to us as we get older, but I have experienced too much reason and not enough faith. Since retiring, I have been afforded an opportunity to relax, get to know the God of my salvation--once again. My love for Him is being stoked! And the thought of not having to do for Him, but accepting His love for me is very freeing! This helps me to want to serve Him. I see others. Far too often, I have wanted to not see, so that I didn't have to make a moral choice. I wanted to just live in my own bubble. How can I love others if I don't want to see them, much less listen for their need? This is tough on a selfish ole guy, but let's take it one person at a time.
NOTE TO SELF: God id God. We are here because He created us. The least we can do is seek Him and follow His rules. WOW! No wonder they say "take it a day at a time", because this is tough. Speaking of...isn't it cool how we have a day and then go to sleep? No matter how good or bad the day was, it is gone! Such a blessing from God!
As we approach Good Friday and Easter, let us be mindful of Jesus' last few days (and hours) on this Earth. Believe with the heart so that we can see. Thank you, Lord!!!
Tuesday, April 11, 2017
Phil Michelson is right handed...REALLY?!
Prior to the MASTERS last Sunday, I watched a show about Phil Michelson (AKA Lefty).
I've watched Phil play golf for over 20 years, and I always thought he was a lefty...period.
No, he is right handed. However, as he learned to play the game of golf at an early age, he literally faced his daddy and imitated his game. Since, he was facing him, he actually performed these skills left-handed! AMAZING!
Does this ever have spiritual parallel! As Christians, we should model God. If we face our Heavenly Father, or Abba, we can imitate his game of life! What's more, since the Father sent us a model in His Son, we can watch Him. As we study his words and actions, we can model them. Now, that is easier said than done, due to the fact we have 3 main enemies:
1. Our carnal nature
2. The Devil
3. The World
So.......in Jeremiah 29:13 (NASB), God says: You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. I am getting this image of Phil facing his earthly father, and doing every move just like Daddy. Hmmmm How can I do that as a Christian?
1. Pray honestly.
2. Read the Bible.
3. Go to Worship.
4. Receive God's love. (It will change U.)
5. Listen.
6. Do the same golf swing. OK...Be Obedient!
Honestly, I need help! Well, Phil sure had to practice. It wasn't just a one time facing his father and imitating thing. We all are in the same boat, so we can go out to the range (out to eat & fellowship). Or, we can get up a foursome and play 18 (Go to Sunday school or small group). Hey, let's get in a tournament!! (Go help others!!)
In conclusion, I am going to segue to another parallel. This is not original, but it's a good-un!
Much as the moon reflects the light of the sun to help brighten the darkness of night, we, as Christians, must reflect the light of the Son to shine His light in to a dark world!
I've watched Phil play golf for over 20 years, and I always thought he was a lefty...period.
No, he is right handed. However, as he learned to play the game of golf at an early age, he literally faced his daddy and imitated his game. Since, he was facing him, he actually performed these skills left-handed! AMAZING!
Does this ever have spiritual parallel! As Christians, we should model God. If we face our Heavenly Father, or Abba, we can imitate his game of life! What's more, since the Father sent us a model in His Son, we can watch Him. As we study his words and actions, we can model them. Now, that is easier said than done, due to the fact we have 3 main enemies:
1. Our carnal nature
2. The Devil
3. The World
So.......in Jeremiah 29:13 (NASB), God says: You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. I am getting this image of Phil facing his earthly father, and doing every move just like Daddy. Hmmmm How can I do that as a Christian?
1. Pray honestly.
2. Read the Bible.
3. Go to Worship.
4. Receive God's love. (It will change U.)
5. Listen.
6. Do the same golf swing. OK...Be Obedient!
Honestly, I need help! Well, Phil sure had to practice. It wasn't just a one time facing his father and imitating thing. We all are in the same boat, so we can go out to the range (out to eat & fellowship). Or, we can get up a foursome and play 18 (Go to Sunday school or small group). Hey, let's get in a tournament!! (Go help others!!)
In conclusion, I am going to segue to another parallel. This is not original, but it's a good-un!
Much as the moon reflects the light of the sun to help brighten the darkness of night, we, as Christians, must reflect the light of the Son to shine His light in to a dark world!
Monday, April 10, 2017
JEHOVAH JIREH
Jehovah Jireh literally means, “The Lord will provide” (Genesis 22:14).
The expression of God being our provider is also mentioned in the New Testament, “And the same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)
Here are questions for myself:
“If I believe God will provide for me, why I am worried?”
Also, “Why I am not more grateful?”
Lastly, “Am I a spoiled American Christian?”
Unfortunately, I go through much of life worried, ungrateful, and live a life as a spoiled American Christian. God, help me to repent…beginning this moment! God did not say these things flippantly! He meant them. Let me do further self-introspection. Why am I a spoiled American Christian? And the reason it is such a concern is the fact it is a great material-barrier to having the right relationship with God. I am not as close to him as I could be. Also, God can’t use me to help others if I am “depending” on myself.
I think many of us have an illusion that we are in control. I believe this goes back to our blessings in this country, and for lack of gratefulness on some of our parts. As a social studies teacher, I started believing my students would not remember ANYTHING I taught them. So, I asked them to remember this one fact: IRRIGATION IS THE KEY TO THE GROWTH OF CIVILIZATION. Fortunately, many of my former students actually remembered this one thing. They have made me proud by coming up to me and quoting some facsimile of this statement. Let’s dig deeper in to the importance of this truism. Without proper irrigation and an ability for farmers to grow an excess amount of crops, we would all be farmers, hunters, or gatherers. After all, I just came home from the grocery store and purchased several items that someone else grew. Praise God for the apples, grapes, and coffee creamer! To continue, if there is enough excess crops grown in a region or country, then people are allowed to specialize in specific jobs, other than agricultural or hunting positions. Now, I can be a teacher, sanitation engineer, aqua-marine biologist, soldier, professional golfer, and so on and so on. This certainly allows for a structured society as well. Two percent of the American population produces food for the rest of the country. You may be thinking, I learned this in sixth grade, but…did you get up this morning thanking God for it? If you did, I applaud you. I confess, I am spoiled American Christian. I get impatient if the line is long in the grocery store! COME ON, SELF!!
Now let’s think about the rest of the world. There are 570 million farms in the world. More than 90% of farms are run by an individual or family. These farmers focus on growing enough food to feed themselves and their families. They typically build their own houses and grow the food they eat. Some may grow enough extra that they can buy a small amount of items during the year. They are NOT spoiled!! There are reports of revival breaking out in many poor regions of the world when the gospel is preached. I am concluding that one big reason is lack of material-barriers to stop the spiritual revival. I am not God! There may certainly be other reasons.
I think we can learn the following:
1. It is good to be blessed. We can bless others! But, we must give God His due, if we want to be in right standing with Him. (Also, there is nothing preventing God from putting America in a state of third world-ness.) Therefore, if we don’t want to be spoiled Americans, then we must be grateful and help others!
2. Realize God has blessed us for a reason. Let us seek Him, first! Then, let us seek His plan to use us to help others.
3. There are many poor people in this country. Whether it’s their fault or not, they are on our watch of this Christian Generation.
4. We must not be under the illusion that we are in control. One disaster can change that mind-set in a hurry. We have never made it rain, however—if we need rain—we can ask God for it. Our houses (and their furnishings), schools, clothes, food, and family are blessings from God!
5. In this Holy Week, let’s recognize God’s ultimate gift of Salvation! Jesus came to save us through the Cross and Resurrection (and there is so much more to the layers of God). Let us seek to know Jesus and make Him known.
CONCLUSION: I have been a spoiled American Christian for a looooong time. I know this can't change over night, but the first step to change is recognizing the problem. I confess that I really need to change! God, help me!
The expression of God being our provider is also mentioned in the New Testament, “And the same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)
Here are questions for myself:
“If I believe God will provide for me, why I am worried?”
Also, “Why I am not more grateful?”
Lastly, “Am I a spoiled American Christian?”
Unfortunately, I go through much of life worried, ungrateful, and live a life as a spoiled American Christian. God, help me to repent…beginning this moment! God did not say these things flippantly! He meant them. Let me do further self-introspection. Why am I a spoiled American Christian? And the reason it is such a concern is the fact it is a great material-barrier to having the right relationship with God. I am not as close to him as I could be. Also, God can’t use me to help others if I am “depending” on myself.
I think many of us have an illusion that we are in control. I believe this goes back to our blessings in this country, and for lack of gratefulness on some of our parts. As a social studies teacher, I started believing my students would not remember ANYTHING I taught them. So, I asked them to remember this one fact: IRRIGATION IS THE KEY TO THE GROWTH OF CIVILIZATION. Fortunately, many of my former students actually remembered this one thing. They have made me proud by coming up to me and quoting some facsimile of this statement. Let’s dig deeper in to the importance of this truism. Without proper irrigation and an ability for farmers to grow an excess amount of crops, we would all be farmers, hunters, or gatherers. After all, I just came home from the grocery store and purchased several items that someone else grew. Praise God for the apples, grapes, and coffee creamer! To continue, if there is enough excess crops grown in a region or country, then people are allowed to specialize in specific jobs, other than agricultural or hunting positions. Now, I can be a teacher, sanitation engineer, aqua-marine biologist, soldier, professional golfer, and so on and so on. This certainly allows for a structured society as well. Two percent of the American population produces food for the rest of the country. You may be thinking, I learned this in sixth grade, but…did you get up this morning thanking God for it? If you did, I applaud you. I confess, I am spoiled American Christian. I get impatient if the line is long in the grocery store! COME ON, SELF!!
Now let’s think about the rest of the world. There are 570 million farms in the world. More than 90% of farms are run by an individual or family. These farmers focus on growing enough food to feed themselves and their families. They typically build their own houses and grow the food they eat. Some may grow enough extra that they can buy a small amount of items during the year. They are NOT spoiled!! There are reports of revival breaking out in many poor regions of the world when the gospel is preached. I am concluding that one big reason is lack of material-barriers to stop the spiritual revival. I am not God! There may certainly be other reasons.
I think we can learn the following:
1. It is good to be blessed. We can bless others! But, we must give God His due, if we want to be in right standing with Him. (Also, there is nothing preventing God from putting America in a state of third world-ness.) Therefore, if we don’t want to be spoiled Americans, then we must be grateful and help others!
2. Realize God has blessed us for a reason. Let us seek Him, first! Then, let us seek His plan to use us to help others.
3. There are many poor people in this country. Whether it’s their fault or not, they are on our watch of this Christian Generation.
4. We must not be under the illusion that we are in control. One disaster can change that mind-set in a hurry. We have never made it rain, however—if we need rain—we can ask God for it. Our houses (and their furnishings), schools, clothes, food, and family are blessings from God!
5. In this Holy Week, let’s recognize God’s ultimate gift of Salvation! Jesus came to save us through the Cross and Resurrection (and there is so much more to the layers of God). Let us seek to know Jesus and make Him known.
CONCLUSION: I have been a spoiled American Christian for a looooong time. I know this can't change over night, but the first step to change is recognizing the problem. I confess that I really need to change! God, help me!
Saturday, April 8, 2017
Hershel Walker as a DAWG
After being perhaps the most highly recruited Georgia Bulldog ever, Hershel signed a letter of intent to play for the Dogs on Easter Sunday, April 6, 1980. However, during summer workouts, he did not impress his teammates. Also, Coach Vince Dooley had a rule of not starting freshmen. So, when UGA opened up the 1980 season against Tennessee, Hershel did NOT start at running back. He was allowed to return kickoffs, but that was it. In the second quarter, with Georgia down 9 to 0, enter Hershel Walker. His impact was not felt until the third quarter with Georgia down by a score of 15 to 2. One of the most famous runs (and an announcer’s call of a play) occurred when Hershel ran off left tackle and ran over Bill Bates, an All-American, and proceeded to run threw two arm-tackles on the way to his first collegiate touchdown. Hershel scored again five minutes later on a 9-yard run. Georgia would take the lead, 16 to 15, and hang on to win. This was just the beginning of things to come! Georgia had a powerful offensive line in front of this incredible back. He continued his dominance racking up 1,616 years rushing on 274 carries. He scored 15 touchdowns, and made the All-American team as a freshman. Notable games of 1980 included: wins over rival Clemson (20-16), South Carolina (13-10) and hated-rival Florida (26-21). (Must be noted, in 1980, colleges played an 11-game regular season.) At the end of the season, UGA was 11 & 0 and ranked number 1 in America! They would play the Mighty Irish of Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl on January 1, 1981. Georgia would complete their dream season by defeating the Irish by a score of 17-10. It was (and still is) Georgia’s only undisputed National Championship in football.
On a personal note for the 1980 season: I watched in person Hershel rush for 283 yards vs Vanderbilt. This was his all-time for a single game in his college career.
Georgia opened up the 1981 season with 2 wins, prior to traveling to Clemson. It would be the Tigers’ day as they defeated Georgia 13-3 on the way to an undefeated season and a National Championship. This would be the only regular season loss for a Georgia team that included Hershel Walker in the 3 seasons he played in Athens! Georgia came back from that loss to finish 10 and 1 with another trip to the Sugar Bowl vs Pittsburgh. I attended this game. We had a blast as Georgia was winning 20-17, with less than a minute to go in the game. That is when the fun left and the air went out of the building! I was perched very high in the Superdome, but even I could see our defense creep up to the line. Pittsburgh was on UGA’s 33-yard line, and there was no reason to use this D! My yells to back up from the upper-Upper Deck fell on deaf ears as Dan Marino would throw the game-winning touchdown. Back in that day, there was not as much sophistication with defensive audibles. This did not help me wonder WHY did Georgia do such a stupid thing! Finally, a year and a half later, there was an article in the newspaper. Defensive Coordinator Erk Russell said an automatic blitz was called when the opposing team was in that formation. That helped put a little salve on the wound and quench my curiosity of this stupidity. Nevertheless, Georgia still had a great season, finishing with a 10-2 record. Hershel logged his most carries (385) and gained his most yards (1,891 ) in a season.
It must be noted that ABC had a television agreement with the NCAA back in that day. ABC would show one or two games on Saturday and some special-event games during the regular season. That was it! Well, Labor Day night of 1982 was a special occasion! The 1980 National Champion Georgia Bulldogs would face the 1981 National Champion Clemson Tigers. I had a seat in the “new end zone section”. Meanwhile, Hershel had fractured his right thumb in practice in late August. He only carried the ball 11 times for 20 yards, but he would be a decoy on one of the prettiest plays I ever witnessed from an end zone vantage point. The Dogs called a sweep to the left for Hershel, but wait! It was a reverse to Electron Jackson! He raced down the right sideline for an apparent touchdown, only to have it called back for a holding penalty. In the end, Georgia defeated Clemson 13-7, so that was probably my favorite non-play I witnessed! Georgia went on to an undefeated season, which earned them another trip to the Sugar Bowl. This time, they would face the Nittany Lions of Penn State. The Todd Blackledge led team defeated UGA 27-23 to break Georgia’s heart while giving Penn State a National Championship!
For the season, Hershel gained 1,752 yards on 335 carries. He would win the Heisman Trophy for that 1982 season! His career totals: 5,259 yards on 994 carries. The DAWGS record with Hershel was 33 and 3.
Their rankings in the AP Polls:
1980…# 1
1981…# 6
1982…#4
In my opinion, Hershel Walker is the greatest college football player to ever live! I love watching #34 run through people, by people, and over people. He just looked like a football player. If he would not have come to Georgia, their National Championship total would be zero! Long live Hershel!
On a personal note for the 1980 season: I watched in person Hershel rush for 283 yards vs Vanderbilt. This was his all-time for a single game in his college career.
Georgia opened up the 1981 season with 2 wins, prior to traveling to Clemson. It would be the Tigers’ day as they defeated Georgia 13-3 on the way to an undefeated season and a National Championship. This would be the only regular season loss for a Georgia team that included Hershel Walker in the 3 seasons he played in Athens! Georgia came back from that loss to finish 10 and 1 with another trip to the Sugar Bowl vs Pittsburgh. I attended this game. We had a blast as Georgia was winning 20-17, with less than a minute to go in the game. That is when the fun left and the air went out of the building! I was perched very high in the Superdome, but even I could see our defense creep up to the line. Pittsburgh was on UGA’s 33-yard line, and there was no reason to use this D! My yells to back up from the upper-Upper Deck fell on deaf ears as Dan Marino would throw the game-winning touchdown. Back in that day, there was not as much sophistication with defensive audibles. This did not help me wonder WHY did Georgia do such a stupid thing! Finally, a year and a half later, there was an article in the newspaper. Defensive Coordinator Erk Russell said an automatic blitz was called when the opposing team was in that formation. That helped put a little salve on the wound and quench my curiosity of this stupidity. Nevertheless, Georgia still had a great season, finishing with a 10-2 record. Hershel logged his most carries (385) and gained his most yards (1,891 ) in a season.
It must be noted that ABC had a television agreement with the NCAA back in that day. ABC would show one or two games on Saturday and some special-event games during the regular season. That was it! Well, Labor Day night of 1982 was a special occasion! The 1980 National Champion Georgia Bulldogs would face the 1981 National Champion Clemson Tigers. I had a seat in the “new end zone section”. Meanwhile, Hershel had fractured his right thumb in practice in late August. He only carried the ball 11 times for 20 yards, but he would be a decoy on one of the prettiest plays I ever witnessed from an end zone vantage point. The Dogs called a sweep to the left for Hershel, but wait! It was a reverse to Electron Jackson! He raced down the right sideline for an apparent touchdown, only to have it called back for a holding penalty. In the end, Georgia defeated Clemson 13-7, so that was probably my favorite non-play I witnessed! Georgia went on to an undefeated season, which earned them another trip to the Sugar Bowl. This time, they would face the Nittany Lions of Penn State. The Todd Blackledge led team defeated UGA 27-23 to break Georgia’s heart while giving Penn State a National Championship!
For the season, Hershel gained 1,752 yards on 335 carries. He would win the Heisman Trophy for that 1982 season! His career totals: 5,259 yards on 994 carries. The DAWGS record with Hershel was 33 and 3.
Their rankings in the AP Polls:
1980…# 1
1981…# 6
1982…#4
In my opinion, Hershel Walker is the greatest college football player to ever live! I love watching #34 run through people, by people, and over people. He just looked like a football player. If he would not have come to Georgia, their National Championship total would be zero! Long live Hershel!
Friday, April 7, 2017
God uses birds to feed a man! WOW!
My bible readings have recently centered around 1 Kings. I have learned a great deal about Solomon, and the kings who followed him. Many of these kings did what was evil in the Lord's sight and had to pay a price. Often, their families were involved in the consequence.
This morning, I was surprised to see Elijah's name at the beginning of 1 Kings 17!
In verse 1, Elijah told King Ahab there would be no dew or rain during the next few years until he gave the word.
In verse 2-4, the Lord total Elijah to go to the east and hide by Kerith Brook, near where it entered the Jordan River. The Lord told Elijah to drink from the brook, and---get this---eat what the ravens bring you, for I have commanded them to bring you food. This is tripping me out! The Lord has told birds to fill the man-feeder twice a day. I know many people fill their bird feeder, probably twice a day. But, the shoe is on the other talon. TOO COOL!
Verses 6 & 7: So Elijah did as the Lord told him and camped beside the Keirth Brook, east of the Jordan. The ravens brought him bread and meat each morning and evening, and he drank from the brook.
Conclusion:
1. God does God-size acts, so that we KNOW He is God! There is NO other explanation for birds feeding a man!
2. We need to obey God! Elijah did exactly as the Lord told him.
3. God is faithful! The Lord did everything He said He was going to do.
4. We need to allow God's miracle to happen. Afterwards, let's be sure to give God the credit and the praise!
This morning, I was surprised to see Elijah's name at the beginning of 1 Kings 17!
In verse 1, Elijah told King Ahab there would be no dew or rain during the next few years until he gave the word.
In verse 2-4, the Lord total Elijah to go to the east and hide by Kerith Brook, near where it entered the Jordan River. The Lord told Elijah to drink from the brook, and---get this---eat what the ravens bring you, for I have commanded them to bring you food. This is tripping me out! The Lord has told birds to fill the man-feeder twice a day. I know many people fill their bird feeder, probably twice a day. But, the shoe is on the other talon. TOO COOL!
Verses 6 & 7: So Elijah did as the Lord told him and camped beside the Keirth Brook, east of the Jordan. The ravens brought him bread and meat each morning and evening, and he drank from the brook.
Conclusion:
1. God does God-size acts, so that we KNOW He is God! There is NO other explanation for birds feeding a man!
2. We need to obey God! Elijah did exactly as the Lord told him.
3. God is faithful! The Lord did everything He said He was going to do.
4. We need to allow God's miracle to happen. Afterwards, let's be sure to give God the credit and the praise!
Thursday, April 6, 2017
Are You in AWE of God?!
* This post uses Mark Patterson’s book WILD GOOSE CHASE very heavily as a reference.
“Boredom is the root of all evil." This is a quote from a Danish philosopher and theologian, Soren Kiergard.
Why are many Christians bored with their faith? The rich young ruler told Jesus he had kept all the commandments. He asked Jesus what else did he need to do to inherit eternal life. How did he know he needed more? HE WAS BORED IN HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS. The Rich Young Ruler’s righteousness was not enough. He needed Jesus’ Righteousness. He had a God-sized hole in his heart that only God could fill.
God says we need to be like children to enter the kingdom of God. One characteristic children possess is being in awe. We are so blessed that we start taking things for granite. And the older we get, the worse it gets—for most of us. We get very accustomed to things like running water, A.C., heaters, cars, good roads, clothes, hospitals, schools, bountiful amounts of food, family, friends,and the list goes on and on. Jesus told us to first seek the kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give us everything we need ( Matthew 6:33 ) But, I think many of us have lost some appreciation for these things!
Here’s the kicker: Many of us take for granite a safe place to worship, good preaching, good Bible teaching, good singing.
Here’s the atom bomb: Many of us take for granite a day (and break it down to a beautiful sunrise, rain, the sunshine on our back, clouds, a beautiful sunset). By the time a child is 10 years old, there have been 3,650 sunrises and 3,650 sunsets. By 50, a person has been alive for 18,250 sunrises and 18,250 sunsets. That is a total of 36,500 sunrises and sunsets! Maybe we have gotten use to the AWE!
Is that it? NO! Many of us have lost our awe of God! We take for granite God’s answer to prayers. We take for granite being able to hold, read and study God’s Word. We take for granite our salvation and the price paid for it. We take for granite the Holy Spirit’s guidance and peace. We take for granite God’s forgiveness. We take for granite that our heavenly Father knows the number of hairs on our head, every tear we cry, and every detail of our life.
If we didn’t take it for granite, wouldn’t we be more thankful? Wouldn’t we enjoy the fact we have been given one more day? Wouldn’t we sing a little louder, praise God a little more?
Do we need revival? Do we need a kick in the backside from our Heavenly Father? Or do we need more quiet time to KNOW He is God! He is the Great I AM! He is the Giver of Life!
If your aweness is in tact, God bless ya!! But for the rest of us...
If your aweness is in tact, God bless ya!! But for the rest of us...
We must get back our AWE! For that to happen:
- We have to live with our eyes and heart wide open.
- Trust God like a little child trusts.
- Appreciate the AWESOMENESS of God, His creation, His plan, and other people.
Mark Batterson says look for your God-ordained passion. What makes you sad, mad, or glad. God wants good—the best for us. Let’s use our passion to live and glorify Him!
Final thought: as we look at the variety in nature, consider this.
In 1885, Wilson Bentley took 5,381 photographs of snowflakes. They were all different!
I WANT TO BE IN AWE EVERYDAY!!
Wednesday, April 5, 2017
The Blessings of the VRD; Final Chapter
This blog will be a 2-parter: First, God's blessings of the VRD as an adult. Secondly, the weight of a single action can tremendously bless another.
I have been blessed by the VRD as an adult.
In 1980, I was a part of the first softball team of the Vidalia First United Methodist Church. The league consisted of at least 10 teams. There were tons of great players in the League. Our team had a pretty good regular season, but the class of the League was one of the Tabernacle Baptist Teams. The church had a Red team and a Blue team, and I don't remember which one was the best, so let's appoint the Red team as the best for argument sake. Well, Tabernacle Red had only lost 1 game during the regular season. At the end of the season, we had a double elimination tournament for the League Teams. Our team found itself in the Loser's Bracket, but we fought our way back to the Championship Night! Tabernacle Red was undefeated, so we would have to beat them twice. Word of explanation: Adult Softball in Vidalia was a big deal in the 70s and 80s. We had fans, and not just the family! It was an attraction. So, there was a lot of talk to the lead up of the game. Here was the thought I remember the most: "The Methodist may beat Tabernacle Red once, but they won't beat them twice in one night!" Hmmmm...that is exactly what happened: The Methodist won 2 games and the League Tournament! That would catapult our church team to more than a decade of success. Here are some of the players that played on our teams over the years (forgive me, fellows, if I leave you off): Tony Head, Garry Adams, Bill James, Gregg James, Billy Merritt, John Mason, Lynn Hodges, Rick Jordan, Rad Dixon, David Avery, Richard Avery, David Onstott, Danny Ray Almond, Johnny Brantley, and many more. We won the VRD League Title several times. This was no easy task! After Tabernacle had their run, First Baptist became our rival with good teams year after year. Then, Calvary Baptist built a great team. At one point, we combined with the Lyons Rec. Dept. and had to deal with some really good teams from their league. First Methodist also won the District many times. Our best showing in the State Tournament was 4th place in Augusta, where the temperature reached 106 degrees on that Saturday in August of 1983ish. The team that gave us both of our losses literally hit 20-something home runs in our 2 losses!
It was also a blessing to play in the VRD Men's Church Basketball League for 4 years. That's all I have to say about that.
The weight of a single act can tremendously bless another.
It was the summer of 1975 and my first year playing Pony League on a field that was 2 or 3 years old. (It is now called Field 4 at Ed Smith, but it WAS the field in that complex at that time.)
The VRD still used the Coaching Staff to coach teams on a rotating bases. There were no volunteer coaches. My coach for that first game was Tony Head. To my surprise, he batted me first in the line-up. To preface: I had been a good fielder and a terrible hitter for 3 years of Mighty Mites and 2 years of Little League. I can't tell you what a confidence boost it was for me. Not only that, but other coaches throughout the season batted me first or second! I had a lot of walks, hit pretty well, and stole bases at will. When it was time for the All-Star list to be put up, I was on it. I think my daddy had to look at the list twice! This was a dream come true for me. Much of my success was believing that I must be pretty good if I am batting lead off. At the end of the season, I received the MVP trophy for my team!
The following season, I really played well during the season, and was the best batter on the All-Star team! (They gave trophies for things like that back in those days, so I had one to prove it.)
It all went back to Tony's decision to bat me lead off in my first Pony League game.
I have been blessed by the VRD as an adult.
In 1980, I was a part of the first softball team of the Vidalia First United Methodist Church. The league consisted of at least 10 teams. There were tons of great players in the League. Our team had a pretty good regular season, but the class of the League was one of the Tabernacle Baptist Teams. The church had a Red team and a Blue team, and I don't remember which one was the best, so let's appoint the Red team as the best for argument sake. Well, Tabernacle Red had only lost 1 game during the regular season. At the end of the season, we had a double elimination tournament for the League Teams. Our team found itself in the Loser's Bracket, but we fought our way back to the Championship Night! Tabernacle Red was undefeated, so we would have to beat them twice. Word of explanation: Adult Softball in Vidalia was a big deal in the 70s and 80s. We had fans, and not just the family! It was an attraction. So, there was a lot of talk to the lead up of the game. Here was the thought I remember the most: "The Methodist may beat Tabernacle Red once, but they won't beat them twice in one night!" Hmmmm...that is exactly what happened: The Methodist won 2 games and the League Tournament! That would catapult our church team to more than a decade of success. Here are some of the players that played on our teams over the years (forgive me, fellows, if I leave you off): Tony Head, Garry Adams, Bill James, Gregg James, Billy Merritt, John Mason, Lynn Hodges, Rick Jordan, Rad Dixon, David Avery, Richard Avery, David Onstott, Danny Ray Almond, Johnny Brantley, and many more. We won the VRD League Title several times. This was no easy task! After Tabernacle had their run, First Baptist became our rival with good teams year after year. Then, Calvary Baptist built a great team. At one point, we combined with the Lyons Rec. Dept. and had to deal with some really good teams from their league. First Methodist also won the District many times. Our best showing in the State Tournament was 4th place in Augusta, where the temperature reached 106 degrees on that Saturday in August of 1983ish. The team that gave us both of our losses literally hit 20-something home runs in our 2 losses!
It was also a blessing to play in the VRD Men's Church Basketball League for 4 years. That's all I have to say about that.
The weight of a single act can tremendously bless another.
It was the summer of 1975 and my first year playing Pony League on a field that was 2 or 3 years old. (It is now called Field 4 at Ed Smith, but it WAS the field in that complex at that time.)
The VRD still used the Coaching Staff to coach teams on a rotating bases. There were no volunteer coaches. My coach for that first game was Tony Head. To my surprise, he batted me first in the line-up. To preface: I had been a good fielder and a terrible hitter for 3 years of Mighty Mites and 2 years of Little League. I can't tell you what a confidence boost it was for me. Not only that, but other coaches throughout the season batted me first or second! I had a lot of walks, hit pretty well, and stole bases at will. When it was time for the All-Star list to be put up, I was on it. I think my daddy had to look at the list twice! This was a dream come true for me. Much of my success was believing that I must be pretty good if I am batting lead off. At the end of the season, I received the MVP trophy for my team!
The following season, I really played well during the season, and was the best batter on the All-Star team! (They gave trophies for things like that back in those days, so I had one to prove it.)
It all went back to Tony's decision to bat me lead off in my first Pony League game.
Tuesday, April 4, 2017
The Blessings of the VRD: Part 2
Working for the city every night and day!
This post will focus on jobs at VRD. After all, there is quite a list of locations that must be maintained and jobs required at these locations. The VRD has 2 Sports Complexes, 5 parks, a swimming pool, an office, an activities building, and walking track. This allows the Rec to employ many people, and also requires a ton of volunteers.
I have personally been very blessed to be a VRD worker and a Volunteer Coach. My first job began when I was 13 & 14 years-old. At that time, there were no volunteer coaches, so the Coaching Staff...coached. They hired studs like me (ok...kids) to umpire. Early on I learned a wonderful lesson. I was umpiring behind the plate, and I made a call at the plate with which a fan took exception. She started yelling, "Kill the Ump! Kill the Ump!" I was thinking, "REALLY?" "I'M JUST A KID!" Lesson learned: it doesn't matter your age, people have a right to hate on the umps.
My next job was a step up to Concession Stand Worker. I was stationed at what is now Field 4 at Ed Smith Complex. It was a hot box, and I had to deal with the public. Another wonderful learning experience.
After 2 years of working at Sea Island Cotton Gin, I joined the wRECking Crew (AKA Maintenance Crew) for the VRD in the Summer of 1980. It was one of the hottest summers on record, but I was 18 and I didn't care. As a matter of fact, I loved the job! I worked with the VRD Maintenance Crew for 6 summers in-a-row and several Springs. As I look back to imagine the reasons for my fondness of the wRECking Crew, I have arrived at several reasons.
1. I was young and didn't know any better.
2. I took off my shirt to work on my tan (invaluable at that time).
3. As we did manual labor, I considered it a work out for my muscles.
4. I was around athletics all the time. This was cool to me.
5. I made some good friends. I worked with some any zany characters, but I'm one, too!
***Coach Ed Smith was my immediate boss. He treated us right, and I wanted to be a good worker for him. I appreciated him and respected him. It is amazing what you can learn from someone like Coach Smith, if you pay attention. One valuable lesson I learned was having deadlines for projects in stages. I watched him write deadlines on the calendar that hung on the wall in his office. If something unexpected occurred, there was still time to complete the project. I tried to use that in my job as an educator...at least when it was possible and I was being smart.
***Coach Smith also has a great since of humor. He said so many funny things over the years, I can't remember them all. One of my favorites: "I don't mind you taking a break, but not before you START working!" And that is exactly what we had done. She wha wa!
After a career change to education, I also had an employee change at the VRD. I began working with the Sports Staff in 1987 and continued to 1996. Garry Adams was now my immediate boss, and he always had my back and supported me. Bill James was also a great positive influence on me. He had a way of knowing the right thing to say when things were not going well. I appreciate these guys treating me as an adult, even though just a few short years prior, they were my coaches when I was growing up at the VRD. This job had a variety of requirements. For the first few years, the mornings required us to do T-Ball. I am saying: we had to get a lineup, coach, umpire, and telling the kids to, "Quit climbing on the Fence!"...periodically! Billy Meritt and I took the Little League Field. He has a great sense of humor, and we had fun. The nights required us to umpire games. There were some seasons that I must have umpired every girls softball game played. One of the most multi-tasking jobs ever was Mite Girls Softball. Linda Roper and I would pitch to the girls, coach a team, and umpire! In a sudden epiphany, Garry almost belted out, "Wait a minute. We are about to change this!" (or something to that effect). His epiphany was to give each team volunteer coaches. Hallelujah! Finally, we discovered we could make the pitching machine pitch a simulated slow pitch softball. Good times! Eventually, the Sports Staff became Field Supervisors. This was a mix bag of tricks. Certain nights there was little to do. Other nights became bizzaro world! Stuff popping up that was not in any Field Supervising Manual. Once again, this was a learning experience. My best life-lesson: If someone is angry about a situation, allow them to speak their mind fully, then interject. Often after someone spills their guts, everything is fine.
My favorite part of the Coaching/Sports Staff was coaching. I coached the Midget Girls All-Stars for 3 years and the Jr. Girls All-Stars for 7 years. For a vast majority of the time, I had great kids and parents to work with, and we had a lot of fun. Final story of the post...Sometimes, I would have a parent that needed to discuss an issue with me. One hot day in the summer of 1993, I looked to my left during Jr. Girls All-Star practice. This lady with shades and a bad look---kinda FBI look was standing at the fence. She did NOT look happy! I thought to myself, "She is going to have to wait to the end of practice to talk to me." So, I ignored her. Finally, she says, "James!" Well, it was my sister! I didn't recognize her in her shades and FBI looking self! She and I still laugh about that one!
This post will focus on jobs at VRD. After all, there is quite a list of locations that must be maintained and jobs required at these locations. The VRD has 2 Sports Complexes, 5 parks, a swimming pool, an office, an activities building, and walking track. This allows the Rec to employ many people, and also requires a ton of volunteers.
I have personally been very blessed to be a VRD worker and a Volunteer Coach. My first job began when I was 13 & 14 years-old. At that time, there were no volunteer coaches, so the Coaching Staff...coached. They hired studs like me (ok...kids) to umpire. Early on I learned a wonderful lesson. I was umpiring behind the plate, and I made a call at the plate with which a fan took exception. She started yelling, "Kill the Ump! Kill the Ump!" I was thinking, "REALLY?" "I'M JUST A KID!" Lesson learned: it doesn't matter your age, people have a right to hate on the umps.
My next job was a step up to Concession Stand Worker. I was stationed at what is now Field 4 at Ed Smith Complex. It was a hot box, and I had to deal with the public. Another wonderful learning experience.
After 2 years of working at Sea Island Cotton Gin, I joined the wRECking Crew (AKA Maintenance Crew) for the VRD in the Summer of 1980. It was one of the hottest summers on record, but I was 18 and I didn't care. As a matter of fact, I loved the job! I worked with the VRD Maintenance Crew for 6 summers in-a-row and several Springs. As I look back to imagine the reasons for my fondness of the wRECking Crew, I have arrived at several reasons.
1. I was young and didn't know any better.
2. I took off my shirt to work on my tan (invaluable at that time).
3. As we did manual labor, I considered it a work out for my muscles.
4. I was around athletics all the time. This was cool to me.
5. I made some good friends. I worked with some any zany characters, but I'm one, too!
***Coach Ed Smith was my immediate boss. He treated us right, and I wanted to be a good worker for him. I appreciated him and respected him. It is amazing what you can learn from someone like Coach Smith, if you pay attention. One valuable lesson I learned was having deadlines for projects in stages. I watched him write deadlines on the calendar that hung on the wall in his office. If something unexpected occurred, there was still time to complete the project. I tried to use that in my job as an educator...at least when it was possible and I was being smart.
***Coach Smith also has a great since of humor. He said so many funny things over the years, I can't remember them all. One of my favorites: "I don't mind you taking a break, but not before you START working!" And that is exactly what we had done. She wha wa!
After a career change to education, I also had an employee change at the VRD. I began working with the Sports Staff in 1987 and continued to 1996. Garry Adams was now my immediate boss, and he always had my back and supported me. Bill James was also a great positive influence on me. He had a way of knowing the right thing to say when things were not going well. I appreciate these guys treating me as an adult, even though just a few short years prior, they were my coaches when I was growing up at the VRD. This job had a variety of requirements. For the first few years, the mornings required us to do T-Ball. I am saying: we had to get a lineup, coach, umpire, and telling the kids to, "Quit climbing on the Fence!"...periodically! Billy Meritt and I took the Little League Field. He has a great sense of humor, and we had fun. The nights required us to umpire games. There were some seasons that I must have umpired every girls softball game played. One of the most multi-tasking jobs ever was Mite Girls Softball. Linda Roper and I would pitch to the girls, coach a team, and umpire! In a sudden epiphany, Garry almost belted out, "Wait a minute. We are about to change this!" (or something to that effect). His epiphany was to give each team volunteer coaches. Hallelujah! Finally, we discovered we could make the pitching machine pitch a simulated slow pitch softball. Good times! Eventually, the Sports Staff became Field Supervisors. This was a mix bag of tricks. Certain nights there was little to do. Other nights became bizzaro world! Stuff popping up that was not in any Field Supervising Manual. Once again, this was a learning experience. My best life-lesson: If someone is angry about a situation, allow them to speak their mind fully, then interject. Often after someone spills their guts, everything is fine.
My favorite part of the Coaching/Sports Staff was coaching. I coached the Midget Girls All-Stars for 3 years and the Jr. Girls All-Stars for 7 years. For a vast majority of the time, I had great kids and parents to work with, and we had a lot of fun. Final story of the post...Sometimes, I would have a parent that needed to discuss an issue with me. One hot day in the summer of 1993, I looked to my left during Jr. Girls All-Star practice. This lady with shades and a bad look---kinda FBI look was standing at the fence. She did NOT look happy! I thought to myself, "She is going to have to wait to the end of practice to talk to me." So, I ignored her. Finally, she says, "James!" Well, it was my sister! I didn't recognize her in her shades and FBI looking self! She and I still laugh about that one!
Monday, April 3, 2017
The Blessings of the VRD; Part 1
My childhood was a great one! I had a wonderful family, pretty healthy body, and a great neighborhood! There were more than 10 boys in my neighborhood. We played the 3 traditional sports: basketball, football, and baseball. We also played other sports, including ones we made up. Many of those had something to do with a frisbee. My least favorite outside fun activity, was chase...at night...in the grave yard. We often wore a white shirt so that you would blend in with the tomb stones. After a while, I was hoping someone would catch me!
Our fun was heightened by the "official games" at the Vidalia Recreation Dept. It was cool to have uniforms, a schedule, coaches, a scoreboard, umpires, and fans! The VRD started in the mid-50s by Coach Ed Smith. Later, Garry Adams, Bill James, and Greg James would join the staff in the early 70s. My youth sports career at the VRD began in 1970 with Mite Baseball that summer and Mite Football that Fall. I would play at least one sport as a youth from '70 until '77. The list would include 8 years of baseball, 4 years of basketball, and 6 years of football.
We were so fortunate to have the VRD as part of our youth for so many reasons.
First, the facilities were good. The VRD Block included a swimming pool, football field, a park, 2 baseball/softball fields, 4 tennis courts (two of these doubled as basketball courts), Boy Scout Hut, an office, and (later) an activities building. It was a Kid's Wonderland! In the future...2 more complexes would be built.
Next, the staff was sports-minded, developers of talent, and were very concerned about doing things the right way. We were taught sportsmanship immediately. 2 Quotes that are burnt in my memory: "Act like you been here before" and "This ain't Bush League".
We were taught to hustle. Get on and off the field between innings. Don't quit on the play! Push yourself.
We learned sportsmanship. Allow the coach to fuss at other players--that's not a teammates' job.
Don't rub a win in the other teams' face. Don't be a sore loser.
Also, we learned the rules for the sports. In the backyard, it was easy to argue about rules, but the VRD Staff taught us the rules. Such things as: "The Infield Fly", "The difference between a Force out and a Tag", "How to call off other players", "Football positions", "The reason football plays were called by certain numbers", "what a foul consisted of in basketball", and much more.
Personally, I was thrilled to play at the VRD as a kid. Some of my favorite memories include my team winning the league exactly once in the Big 3 sports: football, baseball, and basketball. I loved my 2 years of Midget Varsity. Garry did a great job, I learned a lot, and I enjoyed hitting people!
Pony League was the one league that I learned to hit a baseball. I made the all-star team twice, and I hit an out-of-the-park homer. The most hilarious thing I remember was being thrown out of the Ball Park by Sydney Bedingfield. He was umpiring behind the plate in the game that followed my team's game. Well, as a 13-year-old, I was full of punkness! I was standing near home plate, giving the batters trouble---making fun of them and not remembering anything I had been taught about class at the VRD! After a while, Sydney had enough. He took off his umpire's mask, and yelled, "James Lowe, You are ought of the Ball Park!" I'm glad he did. I deserved it, and I learned from it.
Stay tuned for: Blessings of the VRD; Part 2
Our fun was heightened by the "official games" at the Vidalia Recreation Dept. It was cool to have uniforms, a schedule, coaches, a scoreboard, umpires, and fans! The VRD started in the mid-50s by Coach Ed Smith. Later, Garry Adams, Bill James, and Greg James would join the staff in the early 70s. My youth sports career at the VRD began in 1970 with Mite Baseball that summer and Mite Football that Fall. I would play at least one sport as a youth from '70 until '77. The list would include 8 years of baseball, 4 years of basketball, and 6 years of football.
We were so fortunate to have the VRD as part of our youth for so many reasons.
First, the facilities were good. The VRD Block included a swimming pool, football field, a park, 2 baseball/softball fields, 4 tennis courts (two of these doubled as basketball courts), Boy Scout Hut, an office, and (later) an activities building. It was a Kid's Wonderland! In the future...2 more complexes would be built.
Next, the staff was sports-minded, developers of talent, and were very concerned about doing things the right way. We were taught sportsmanship immediately. 2 Quotes that are burnt in my memory: "Act like you been here before" and "This ain't Bush League".
We were taught to hustle. Get on and off the field between innings. Don't quit on the play! Push yourself.
We learned sportsmanship. Allow the coach to fuss at other players--that's not a teammates' job.
Don't rub a win in the other teams' face. Don't be a sore loser.
Also, we learned the rules for the sports. In the backyard, it was easy to argue about rules, but the VRD Staff taught us the rules. Such things as: "The Infield Fly", "The difference between a Force out and a Tag", "How to call off other players", "Football positions", "The reason football plays were called by certain numbers", "what a foul consisted of in basketball", and much more.
Personally, I was thrilled to play at the VRD as a kid. Some of my favorite memories include my team winning the league exactly once in the Big 3 sports: football, baseball, and basketball. I loved my 2 years of Midget Varsity. Garry did a great job, I learned a lot, and I enjoyed hitting people!
Pony League was the one league that I learned to hit a baseball. I made the all-star team twice, and I hit an out-of-the-park homer. The most hilarious thing I remember was being thrown out of the Ball Park by Sydney Bedingfield. He was umpiring behind the plate in the game that followed my team's game. Well, as a 13-year-old, I was full of punkness! I was standing near home plate, giving the batters trouble---making fun of them and not remembering anything I had been taught about class at the VRD! After a while, Sydney had enough. He took off his umpire's mask, and yelled, "James Lowe, You are ought of the Ball Park!" I'm glad he did. I deserved it, and I learned from it.
Stay tuned for: Blessings of the VRD; Part 2
Saturday, April 1, 2017
I wanna be the me God wants me to be
As I seek to be the me God wants me to be, I want to share some lessons I have learned SO FAR.
We are complex creatures. We have a logical side and a imagination side. Both are necessary to be a Christian.
First, let's explore the logical side. God is a God of order. 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV) tells us: For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. So, it is good and necessary to be logical to study scripture and learn with our mind who God is and how we can be saved. In my own life, I can confess that becoming a teacher brought order to my life, which in turn benefited me spiritually. But logic in itself, is limited to my mind.
Next, let's explore the imagination side. My imagination side allows me to believe with my heart that Jesus performed miracles. I can't believe in a miracle with my mind, because miracles are illogical in the laws of earth. My heart sees God as God! He is above the bounds of earth's rules, thus miracles can happen.
Romans 10: 9 & 10 (NLT) tells us: v. 9 If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. v.10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. Therefore, my heart allowed me to believe and my mind allowed me to speak of this belief.
Interestingly enough, retirement has given my imagination time to renew. My faith had taken some big hits a few years ago when I all of the sudden became very logical. God is renewing my imagination and my faith. My love for Him is being rekindled! This blog itself is a result of being open to new avenues for the Lord to bless me and use me.
Finally, I believe it is more important to seek God than seek His will. I do believe He will guide me, and I must seek his direction. But, simple pursuit of His will without a hunger for Him is fruitless. (Listen to Jesus Culture: Set a Fire) I want more of God!
Psalms 37: 3 & 4 (NLT) tells us: v. 3 Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. v. 4 Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.
We are complex creatures. We have a logical side and a imagination side. Both are necessary to be a Christian.
First, let's explore the logical side. God is a God of order. 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV) tells us: For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. So, it is good and necessary to be logical to study scripture and learn with our mind who God is and how we can be saved. In my own life, I can confess that becoming a teacher brought order to my life, which in turn benefited me spiritually. But logic in itself, is limited to my mind.
Next, let's explore the imagination side. My imagination side allows me to believe with my heart that Jesus performed miracles. I can't believe in a miracle with my mind, because miracles are illogical in the laws of earth. My heart sees God as God! He is above the bounds of earth's rules, thus miracles can happen.
Romans 10: 9 & 10 (NLT) tells us: v. 9 If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. v.10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. Therefore, my heart allowed me to believe and my mind allowed me to speak of this belief.
Interestingly enough, retirement has given my imagination time to renew. My faith had taken some big hits a few years ago when I all of the sudden became very logical. God is renewing my imagination and my faith. My love for Him is being rekindled! This blog itself is a result of being open to new avenues for the Lord to bless me and use me.
Finally, I believe it is more important to seek God than seek His will. I do believe He will guide me, and I must seek his direction. But, simple pursuit of His will without a hunger for Him is fruitless. (Listen to Jesus Culture: Set a Fire) I want more of God!
Psalms 37: 3 & 4 (NLT) tells us: v. 3 Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. v. 4 Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.
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