Black Friday

             I trust you survived “Black Friday,” the day after Thanksgiving.  The original name of “Black Friday” was used by the police, bus drivers and taxi drivers in Philadelphia to describe the traffic congestion in downtown Philadelphia as shoppers flooded in on the day after Thanksgiving.  In more recent years the name has been used to mean the day on which retailers moved into the “black” in annual revenues.

            This traditional beginning of the Christmas shopping season can be a “Black Friday” for many in another sense.  Many see Christmas as a reason for spending.  We want to bless each other, our families and especially our children and grandchildren with material gifts.  Plastic allows us to buy for them things for which we don’t have the money, and puts many into a “black hole” of debt.

            I certainly do not oppose spending and gift giving at Christmas.  These are part of the celebration of Christ’s birth and enhance the season for all, especially children.  But I would remind us that Christians particularly have a responsibility to manage our finances in an exemplary way.  This is part of the overall concept of stewardship.  We all want things.  I have often been blessed on receiving or purchasing something that I really desired.  But we must be careful to keep our desires in bounds. We are reminded in 1 Timothy 6:8-9, “we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.”

          And the truth is we can be happy with less. Contentment does not come from things, it comes from a right relationship with God and resting in His assurances.

Grace and peace.

Homecoming

            

             A couple of weekends ago Liz and I took our grandsons to Homecoming at Samford University.  We had a good time eating Bar-B-Q, and watching Samford football.  Liz and I are now considered “Golden Bulldogs,” i.e. alumni who graduated fifty or more years ago. 

            Homecomings, whether at school, or at church or any other venue, are good times of reunions.  Seeing people we haven’t seen in many years, catching up on others and remembering the good times of the past.  Homecomings also have an element of melancholy.  We saw very few of the other “Golden Bulldogs” from our classes.  The reality is, we receive word every couple of months or so of a classmate who has departed this life.  This is not surprising for a group who can count fifty or more years since college graduation.  The truth is, we are old and getting older.

            This reality is a reminder of the great and final Homecoming we will experience.  I don’t know your concept of Heaven, but we are taught in the Bible that we have a home in Heaven; Jesus is preparing a place for us.  I personally believe that we shall know others and be known by others.  This means family, friends and long lost classmates. I hope a bonus will be that we can remember all of their names.

             In John’s vision of Heaven he reports “I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, tongues…”  (Revelation 7:9)

            Now that will be some kind of a great homecoming.  Be sure you can make it.

Grace and peace.

Time is Time

            Like most of you, for about a month, I’ve been rising while it is still dark outside.  I don’t like that and never have, even as a boy when I rose at 4:00 A.M. to deliver newspapers. Saturday the fifth of November, I’ll set my clocks back an hour ("fall back in in fall") so that I may rise Sunday morning after dawn.  The flip side is that it will be dark Sunday shortly after 5:00 P.M.  The light I gain in the morning will be taken from me the evening. 

            The arrangement is called Daylight Savings Time, a system devised to give us more light in the evening during the Summer.  The truth, of course, is that we don’t “gain” any daylight.  We will have the same amount of daylight no matter where we set our clocks.  We can’t gain any daylight and we can’t gain any additional time.  We will still have twenty four hours each day. 

            We will adjust our lives to the daylight we have, and we will adjust our hectic lives to the twenty four hours we are given. (Wouldn’t it be great if we could manufacture another hour each day!)  We just have to do the best we can with the time we are given.  

            This is also true of the days of life we are given.  We only have a certain number, even though we don’t know that number.  It behooves us to use each one wisely and to the fullest.  That is why Paul instructs the Ephesians and us, “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”  (Ephesians 5:15-16)

Grace and peace.

Happy All Saints Day

            Halloween, of course, is the Eve of All Saints Day.  In 609 A.D, Pope Boniface IV began All Saints Day in May.  The Roman church had canonized so many saints and established “days” for each one, the calendar was filled with celebrations for various Saints.  So the church established “All Saints Day” to consolidate the celebrations and to recognize all saints “known and unknown.”  In 735 Pope Gregory III moved the date to November the First.

            I don’t know how many saints had been canonized by then, but the Roman church did not canonize them all.  That is because, scripturally, everyone who is in Jesus Christ is a “saint.”  Throughout Acts and the Letters, all Christians are referred to as "saints.”  While certain individuals were sainted by the Roman church for exceptional ministry or exceptional sacrifice, only God knows how many, unheralded and unknown, rendered even greater service or endured greater sacrifice. 

            I don’t know any Baptists who celebrate All Saints Day.  But many of them really party on Halloween, from the children who go “trick or treating,” to adults who dress up in costumes, and many families that decorate their homes and yards as much as they do for the Christmas season.

            Maybe we need to begin to celebrate the following day. The old saying is every dog has its day or every person has his fifteen minutes of fame.  I assume in heaven we will know the merit of all the saints of God.  You, as a saint of God, may not have a special day in your honor, but you will be honored, by the other saints and the by the angels, for all that God is able to do in and through you.

            And All Saints Day is your day and my day.  Happy All Saints Day!

Grace and peace.

It Bothers Me

            Alabama’s Immigration law has been much in the national news lately.  Some provisions of it have been stayed by the courts.  Whether you favor the law or oppose it, there are some things that bother me as a Christian and should bother you.  For example, the law would criminalize people who offer a ride or other humanitarian aid to an illegal alien, making “good Samaritans” criminals.

            But the thing which bothers me the most is the effect the law will have on the status of families. Some small children were brought into the country illegally by their parents. English is their primary language, they have progressed through our school systems, and they are qualified for employment.  Many of these have no memory of the land of their origin.  They are “Americans” and proud to be American.  If these young people are deported, they will be sent to a country they do not know and a culture with which they are not familiar. In essence, these young people will suffer as much as one of our own children would suffer if they were snatched away and deported to a foreign land.

            Another case in the news this week concerned an immigrant mother who is now a citizen and her two children, both born in the U.S. and U.S. citizens.  But her husband is an illegal alien.  If he is deported, she has great concern for how she will be able to provide for herself and her children, as well as the trauma of being separated from her husband.

            I haven’t read through the whole law, but I don’t recall any provision to fast track such young people or family members into citizenship.  But that would be the only fair way to handle the situation

            Whether you support the law or do not support the law, please pray for those who lives will be disrupted.  And pray for

the politicians and the judiciary to ease the transitions. 

Grace and peace.

Now I Know

            Over the years I have visited with, prayed with and sought to comfort hundreds of people with pneumonia.  Until last week I did not know for what I was praying.  I had never had pneumonia.  But as some of you already know, it was my turn.

            On Saturday I experienced a severe exhaustion.  Sunday I was still exhausted but went to the church for a deacons meeting and the worship service.  That afternoon I had a teeth chattering chill that lasted five hours.  Liz also said I was running a fever although we did not check it.  Monday morning I felt some better and went to the tennis court, but I was out of it.  Finally going to the doctor, the clinic diagnosed pneumonia, and the doctor put me in the hospital for two days of IV antibiotics, which I continued by mouth after release.

            To say the least, the experience was one of the worst I have ever known.  For days I was beset by weakness, breathlessness, loss of appetite, trouble sleeping and I could not concentrate or work at the desk.  In fact, I didn’t have the motivation to try.

            The episode reminded me of how vulnerable and frail we humans happen to be.  At the height of our strength, we need the Lord’s help.  And when we are weak we need Him more.  And the promise of His help is ours.  “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”  (Isaiah 40:31)  And I thank Him for the antibiotics I continue to take, antibiotics discovered and produced by men but inspired by Him.

Grace and peace.

A Hungry World

             This Sunday (October 9^th) is “World Hunger Sunday” on our denominational calendar.  Most Christian groups observe World Hunger Day at some point, usually in the fall.  Churches are encouraged to collect special offerings and send them for hunger relief.        It has been said often that the Christians of the world have the resources to end world hunger if they chose to do so.  At one point, some years ago, I believed that was true.  It may still be.  People identified as Christians control much of the wealth of the world.

            Now I don’t think the problem of hunger will ever be eradicated.  Crippling droughts have seized many lands, from the horn of Africa to areas of the United States and lands in between.  Floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, typhoons and tornadoes have interfered with food production.  Warring factions have even denied relief provided by the U.S. and other governments from reaching the populations for which it is intended.

            And in the U.S., one of the most blessed nations on earth, hunger still exists.  Religious and government entities have addressed the needs of the hungry, but have been unable to overcome it.

            Although I feel we cannot eradicate hunger, I believe it is God’s purpose for us to do what we can.  The Jimmy Hale mission reminds us on television of how little money it takes to provide a meal for one person (less than two dollars).  And we have multiple opportunities through the church and other charitable organizations to help.  And we can encourage the government to continue to provide relief around the world.

            One of the things Jesus will note at the final judgment is; “I was hungry and you gave me food.”  (Matthew 25:35)

Grace and peace.

Church as Punishment?

             I heard it on the news today (September 23).  A judge in Baldwin County has given an option to non violent prisoners; go to church or go to jail!  Area ministers working with the judge came up with the plan, convinced that regular church attendance will benefit these prisoners more than time in jail and it will also save the county money by keeping people out of jail.

            But it smacks of church going as punishment.  Many children, who have endured long services with fidgeting and boredom, would agree with this concept.  Many churches have rescued their children from this punishment by having “children’s worship” geared to children and their interests. 

            The American Civil Liberties Union has already announced a challenge to the plan.  They consider it to be an entanglement of religion and state.  In that it is a decision of the individual prisoner who must choose the option, no one will be forced to go to church.  It is a way to avoid going to prison.  Therefore, I don’t agree with the ALCU.

            And I agree with the ministers who helped to come up with the plan.  I dare say that many of these prisoners have had little or no exposure to the gospel or worship.  One of the most significant ways of turning a life around is by a commitment to Jesus Christ and a new life in Him.  I trust their church going will be a positive experience and, for some, a door to a new life.

            Maybe this idea will spread to other areas.  I hope so.  I would be happy to be one of the mentors in our area.

Grace and peace.

Labor Day

            The first Labor Day in the United States was observed on September 5, 1882, in Boston, by the Central Labor Union of New York.  It became a federal holiday in 1894, when, following the deaths of a number of workers at the hands of  the U.S. military and U.S. Marshals during the Pullman Strike.   President Grover Cleveland put reconciliation with the labor movement as a top political priority.  Fearing further conflict, legislation making Labor Day a national holiday was rushed through Congress unanimously and signed into law a mere six days after the end of the strike

            Dozens of people have been killed and many more injured in strikes throughout the years since.  Most strikes are less violent.  The struggle between business and labor continues, however, as evidenced by the Verizon strike which ended a couple of weeks ago. Without doubt the union movement has elevated the status of workers and gained great benefits for them.  A forty hour week and a living wage is their legacy.  But opinion is divided over them.  Cheaper labor overseas is a challenge to US businesses.

            Paul said, “If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.”  (2 Thessalonians  3:10)  This was to counter those who were taking advantage of the early church which had all things in common.  Today there are millions in our country who want to work but cannot find a job.  This labor Day we need to thank God for improved working conditions in our generation, and petition Him to guide our leadership to find the way to economic recovery and job creation.  And we need to pray for and help those who are unemployed.

            In spite of present circumstances, as I look around the world, I’m thankful to be an American and understand why so many want to come here for a better life.

Grace and peace.

The Holy Season

            It’s that time of year.  School is back in session, to the delight of some children and to the dismay of others.   But also that “holy” season has begun.  Football, that is.  I call it holy because so many people worship the game.  One definition of worship is “to render reverence and homage to.”  When something becomes the most important thing in one’s life and its focus, it is fair to say that the person worships that thing.  Some people focus on football all year long and donate great amounts of money to have the privilege of buying the best seats in the stadium for the season.

            Now, I admit that I, too, am a fan of football. 

As a child I listened to the radio broadcasts of the Alabama games and all of us little boys tried to duplicate the jump pass of Harry Gilmer.  My oldest daughter is a graduate of Auburn and is an avid Auburn fan, as is my other daughter (who graduated from Samford) and our grandsons.  Even my wife now roots for Auburn.  But neither of us could be said to worship the game.

            I haven’t checked actual statistics, but I would not be surprised if the millions of people who fill stadiums across the nation and the many more millions who watch football television broadcasts each fall weekend outnumber those who actually attend a worship service or watch one on television.

            Worship may not be the right word, but it would be great if we could generate that kind of passion for Christ and for His kingdom.

Grace and peace.

Praying for the Council

             I gave the opening Invocation for the Birmingham City Council meeting this past Tuesday week.  I appreciated the invitation and was glad to be there to represent our Lord and Central Park Baptist Church.  But the invitation presented me with a dilemma, “What do you pray for at the city council meeting.”

            Considering the state of local politics, many things suggested themselves to me.  But my opinion is that one should not pray a political prayer at a political meeting.  After all, God knows what would be best for the city.  But men, including myself, can certainly disagree on God’s opinion or leadership.   So I did not pray concerning any issues facing the city or council.  Neither did I thank God for my "smoking hot wife," nor end with "In Jesus Name, bogady, bogady, bogady," as did the fellow who prayed for an auto race.

            What I prayed was for the council to be guided by God’s wisdom, whether they want to be so guided or not.  I also prayed that God will bless the city and its people through their efforts.  And I prayed for God’s mercy and grace on the council members and their families.  God certainly knows they need it.

            And looking at the scene in the city, the county, the state and the nation, we all need to pray mightily for our leaders.  God has the answers to all our problems.  We must pray that our leaders discern His will, not their own or that of their political party.

Grace and peace.

Bishops and bishops

            As the result of an election on July16, my next door neighbor is now the Episcopal Bishop for the state of Alabama.  Now a state Bishop in the Episcopal Church is a person with extensive power and influence.  He will receive respect and adulation from the state’s Episcopalians.  He will travel extensively as one of the governing Bishops in the United States.

            He will also walk a difficult path with all the changes going on in society and within every denomination.  Turmoil in the Episcopal Church has been openly reported in the media.

            Now the truth is, I’m a bishop too.  Note the word is spelled with a small “b.”  The translation of the Greek word bishop in the New Testament is “overseer,” and is used in conjunction with presbyter, meaning “elder,” and poimen, a word that means “shepherd” but is equivalent to the English word “pastor.”  All three of these terms are used in the New Testament to describe the leader of a local congregation.  So I am a bishop, presbyter and poimen.

            A few weeks ago my neighbor got his long handled pruning saw trapped in a large branch he was cutting.  It was fairly high and he had no way to free it.  So, like any good neighbor, I carried my extension ladder and chain saw next door, climbed up in his tree and cut the limb, freeing his saw.

            That was one bishop going to the aid of another bishop.  Now doesn’t that sound holy?  But of course it was a very mundane situation.  It was just one man going to the aid of another man.  But it also illustrates that even Bishops are just ordinary men with ordinary problems. 

Grace and peace.

The First Amendment

       The folloing is the post which was not posted at the first of the Month.  I still don't know how I goofed.

            We again celebrated our nation’s birthday on July Fourth.  We celebrate independence from Great Britain and the establishment of the United States as an independent country.  I also celebrate the establishment of a country where there is separation of church and state.

             On my van is a bumper sticker which reads, “Separation of Church and State. Good for Both.” A middle aged man, who identified himself as the son of a Baptist preacher, was loading some chairs into the van.  He commented that “Separation of Church and State” is not in the constitution but are words penned by Thomas Jefferson.  He was familiar with the issue, he assured me.  The claim that the words are not in the constitution is one of the facts marshaled against such separation by those who would end the neutrality of our government in religions affairs.  Generally they are advocates for Bible reading or study in public schools (Which Bible or which religion?), monuments or other religious symbols on government property, or government money to pay tuition to religious schools.

            Those who use this argument seem to ignore the context in which President Jefferson wrote.  In a letter of assurance to the Danbury Baptist Association in Connecticut in 1802, he coined the phrase in explaining the impact of the First Amendment to the Constitution.  The amendment, of course, states the government shall make no law concerning the establishment of a religion or prohibiting the free exercise of religion.  Jefferson said, “Thus building a wall of separation between church and state.”  The amendment itself, in Jefferson’s opinion, built the wall.  He was only explaining it.

            Jefferson believed religion to be a private matter between an individual and his God, and government should not get involved.  Where government has been involved with religion the results were bad for both.  We only need to study European history, or look at contemporary nations where governments seek to impose religious practice on their people.

            As we celebrate the freedom of our country, also celebrate with me freedom of religion in our country.

Grace and peace.

Planning Ahead

       In my lack of computer knowledge I sometimes think I have posted something and then do not see in on this blog.  Such is the case with some thoughts on July 4th and our celebration of freedom.  If I find it somewhere in my files, I will post it later.

       In Proverbs we are told; "There are many plans in a man's heart." (Proverbs 19:21)  That is so true.  Our heads are full of so many different plans.  And planning is wise.  Planning ahead is necessary, but some things don't work out the way you think they will.  Twelve years ago, when we moved back to Birmingham, Liz and I purchased a large house with a large lawn.  I enjoyed keepting the lawn, trees and shrubs.  I also enjoyed handyman projects.  I enjoyed repairing things which needed repair.  I single handedly remodeled all three bathrooms.  We imagined living out our lives in a home we really love.  But things changed.  We got older.  The stairs have become a challenge for us both.  And the home repairs and landscape are now more than I want to keep up with.  We need to downsize to one level.  So we find ourselves trying  to sell our loved house in the worst housing markets in decades.  As it turned out we did not plan far enough ahead.
       When my father-in-law died in 1989, he was buried in a plot in Elmwood cemetery which had been in the family for decades.  Liz and I decided we needed to plan ahead for our own resting places.  A couple of decades ago we purchased a companion mausoleum crypt at Elmwood (i.e. a place for the two of us).  But this time our plans changed and we no longer need the mausoleum crypt, so we have offered it for sale at a bargain price.  But it seems there is not much traffic in the resale of cemetery plots or mausoleum crypts.        
       The Proverb says; “There are many plans in a man’s heart, nevertheless the Lord’s counsel – that will stand.”  Only the Lord knows the future and we need to know that our plans may not stand, only God’s.

        The old saying is true; the only sure things in this world are death and taxes.  The only sure thing in preplanning is to plan our location in the next life.  Jesus said; "I go to prepare a place for you."  You can have an eternal place in heaven if you welcome Jesus into your heart now.

Grace and peace.

Fathers Day

             Fathers Day is kind of an afterthought to Mothers Day.  During the first part of the last century sputtering efforts were made at having a day for Fathers.  It wasn’t until 1966 that President Lyndon Johnson proclaimed the third
Sunday of June as Fathers Day.  In 1972 President Nixon signed into law the observance.

            Fathers don’t receive the same outpouring of praise or love that mothers receive.  But this is to be expected.  Looking back, it was mom that took care of the children.  She was there to cook their meals, wash and iron their clothes, kiss their “boo boos,” read to them, teach them, get them to school on time, help with homework, ferry them to a multitude of activities, and to counsel them in times of hurt, fears and stress.  Most of the time mom is the “rock” of their existence.

            To be fair, dads now are doing many of these things, in contrast to many dads in the past.  In previous generations fathers were there to provide the material things necessary and to exercise discipline when things got out of hand.  In those generations father’s left the “mothering” to their wives.  Even though dads are doing more of those things, it is still mom who does the primary nurturing.

            The tragedy of our generation is the multitude of single mothers raising children without the support of a husband.  I don’t have the statistics, but I am aware of the epidemic.  This is not to say they cannot do the job well.  They deserve a double dose of praise and thanksgiving.

            But if you have (or had) a father who stands beside you, provides for you, and is part of your growing years, be thankful unto God and express gratitude and honor to him on this Father’s Day.  And if your father has gone on to the next life, give thanks to God for him.  And, men, let the lord lead you to become a father figure to some child who does not have a father in his life, for whatever reason.

Grace and peace.

The Good Ole Summertime

     Theoretically, summer will not be here for another week. In reality, Summer is already here. We are in a drought and the daily temperatures have been in the upper 90s. Earlier we had the furnace on one week and the air conditioning the next week.
     I thank the Lord for air conditioning in our home and in our vehicles. We retreat to one or the other as often as we can. But I also marvel that we lived without it in former years. When I was a child, no one’s homes was air-conditioned, so kids spent as much time as possible outside. Some of my favorite memories are of the whole family sitting in lawn chairs in the back yard in the evenings and into he night At our house we had a whole house window fan which helped us sleep at night. But some nights that was not enough, so we sweated through the night.
     In those years the only place in town which had air conditioning was the movie theater. A big selling point for the movies was that air conditioning. And I can remember the shock and the relief of walking off he hot sidewalk into the dark air conditioned comfort.
     Not even our church, which was relatively large, had air conditioning. What we had were hand held "funeral home" fans. I remember many a Sunday sitting on a pew and fanning for all I was worth. Sweat would stick our Sunday dress shirts to the back of the wooden pew.
     Except for church on Sunday, we kids went barefoot all summer. I remember hopping along our way on sun heated pavement, especially asphalt. Often this was to the neighborhood city operated swimming pool, when we had the admission price to go. It was only four blocks from our house, but those could be a tortured four blocks, walking on grass when we could and pavement when we had to do so. When we went, we would spend three or four hours in the water.
We welcomed thunderstorms and played in the rain, ignoring the danger, if we were even aware of it.
     I’m sure it got as hot as it does now, but, looking back, we dealt with it better and enjoyed the good old summer time.

Grace and peace.

A Message From God?

     A couple of weeks ago we received in the office at Central Park Baptist Church (the church I am serving as pastor) a letter from a lady in Rome, Georgia. Her husband and sons were hunting turkeys, she says, when they spotted a white envelope which they brought home. The envelope was from a long past drive by the church, and "Early Debt Retirement Commitment." The tornadoes that swept through our neighborhoods picked up the envelope from someone’s home and bore it across the state line. This and many more stories illustrate the power of those storms. (I have an asphalt shingle from someone’s roof on top of my garage.)
     The lady reported that, being a strong believer in God, when she saw the envelope God touched her heart for Central Park Baptist Church. So she wrote a letter, enclosed the envelope and a check for twenty dollars for the debt retirement fund. This was all she could afford to send, she said. The church staff redirected her gift to the Tornado Relief Fund.
     She is just one of hundreds of thousands God has touched concerning the plight of the tornado victims all over the country. They may not see it as God’s initiative or God moving in their lives, but most of them do. And I certainly do. And I praise God for sending armies of volunteers to help the folks in our area as well as other areas. I trust He will continue to do so. It will that months to sort things out and years to rebuild. (Volunteers are still going to New Orleans to help the victims of hurricane Katrina.
     Tragedies will come, They are part of life in this world. But we are not alone. God sends His multitudes, or in some cases, his one or two, to stand beside us and to help us. Be open to Him sending you.

Grace and peace.

Memorial Day

Memorial Day was begun to honor those who were killed in the Civil War, and known as Decoration Day.  After World War One it was expanded to remember all who have died in war.  The name was changed and the date of the last Monday in May was established by congress.  During the past century, the celebration gradually expanded to include all the deceased and the day became a popular time to clean the church yard cemeteries.  

On Saturday the 14th I attended two visitations/memorial services.  One was for a preacher acquaintance the same age as me. The other was for the wife of a preacher who was a school mate of mine in college and long time friend.  These joined a growing list of my family and friends who have moved on to the next life.  So Memorial Day becomes more and more a personal event.                                                      

Also, Memorial Day is a reminder that this life is not forever.  No matter our age, life can come to an end quite suddenly, as it did for my minister friend who preached on Sunday and was gone before the following Sunday; and as it did for those victimized in the tornadoes.

I turned 76 years of age a few days ago.  This means, I have to admit, that I must be classified as “elderly,” although I don’t think of myself as elderly.  But I recognize that, being past three score and ten, the time I have left is growing shorter.  So, as I remember those family and friends who are gone, I am grateful to God for my continued survival and for His current purpose and leadership to me.  And I also reflect on what I have been given.  I am thankful for family and friends I have had and now have.  I am thankful for the journey on which the Lord has led me.  I am thankful for the prospects of each new day and the opportunities it presents.  And I am thankful, that when my time comes, I know where I’ll be going and that I will experience a wonderful new life we cannot now imagine.         

                       

What about you ? 

Grace and peace.

I Still Don't Believe It

            I still don’t believe it!  Returning to Birmingham on Wednesday, a week after the tornado outbreak, I drove over to Pleasant Grove to the street where Ronnie and Clydene Charles lived.  After finding their badly damaged house, I stood in the yard and looked in front of me at an area which looked for all the world like it had been bombed into oblivion.  I was looking at it with my own eyes, but my mind wouldn’t believe it.  I have never seen such destruction.

             I am so grateful that, although their house is a wreck, they came through the storm safely.  And I am also grateful other Pleasant Grove families related to the church I'm serving, Central Park Baptist, came through safely, although some had damage to their homes.

            When I look at Pleasant Grove and realize that this is only one spot devastated by the storms, that great swaths of cities and whole small towns were blown away, I can only imagine the totality of the destruction.  And because well over two hundred people in Alabama lost their lives, I know there is  great amount of grief for the families and the friends of those who were lost.

            I praise God for the tremendous outporing of concern from all over the nation and, particularly by Alabamians, for those who were hit; providing money, shelter, food, water and other goods.

              The dead will be missed for a long time, the injured will heal over time, the homes and neighborhoods will be rebuilt; but the lives of those who suffered and the lives of all of us who stood with them will be changed forever.

            In spite of all that happened I still stand by a statement that our daughter has all over her house, “Life is Good.”  It’s good because God is good.  We may not understand, but we know without a doubt that God is good.  More about this later.

Grace and peace.

Mothers Day

       Sunday is Mothers Day.  We will honor our mothers as we do every year.  Mothers come in all shapes, sizes and dispositions.  Some are talented in special ways, intelligent and innovative.  Others seemingly are without a clue and muddle thrrough motherhood.  Regrettably, some are biased, mean spirited, cruel, substance addicted, i.e. very poor examples of motherhood.

       The commandment in the Bible is clear, however, "Honor your father and your mother." (Exodus 20:12)  There are no conditions or exceptions given.  One's parents may have dropped the ball, may have made life for iyou miserable, and in the eyes of the world and in your eyes, are not worthy of honor.  This does not change the commandment, however.   With the commandment, God gave Moses a reason or motivation; "that yoiu days may be long on the earth."  A broader understand of the promise is, honoring your parents will ultimately bless you.

       Gratefully, most of us have or had mothers who are or were absolutely worthy of honor, respect and love.  It makes for us a day of celebration.  To all of you who are mothers,

                        Happy Mother’s Day.

                        Grace and peace. 

The Merry Month of May

The first day of May has been for centuries a day of celebration in England and for some communities in America.  It has no religious significance and its origin was a Celtic celebration of the beginning of Spring.  It is a day celebrated with maypoles, dancing and other activities.            

On a site on the internet called “Important Dates in History” you may discover what happened in any month of any year.  Checking the year 1935, I discovered that in May of that year the Hoover Dam, the greatest engineering feat in the world up to that time, was completed.  Also that month the Canadian government began circulation of the last Canadian silver dollar.                                                                                         

One very important event to me is not there, the birth of a baby boy in a duplex apartment in Ensley, Alabama.  As you may guess, that baby boy was me.  If you look at June, 1944, you will see that the allies stormed the bearch at Normandy during the Second World War.  But another date important to me is missing.  It was then that a nine year old boy gave his life to Christ during Vacation Bible School at Ensley Baptist Church and was born again.  I could list other dates significant to me, such as graduations, marriage, and births, for example.  But the most important event of all is yet to come.  That is the day I will be born from this world into the presence of Jesus Christ.  I don’t know that date and hope it isn’t near.  But it will be great and it is a time I can anticipate with joy, because I know that it will be a promotion and a heavenly celebration. How about you?                        

Grace and peace. 

AM I A MONKEY?

            I recently read a recently published little book of that name written by Dr. Francisco Ayala, biology professor at the University of California, Irvine.  He points out that the theory of evolution is accepted universally by scientists but that it does not conflict with the bible.

            For a number of weeks I’ve been teaching the first eleven chapters of Genesis on Wednesday evenings.  I have presented all the problems inherent in accepting this portion of the Bible literally.  I proposed that these chapters be received as a parable.  Doing so does not negate the claim that the Bible is “truth without any mixture of error.”  The truths taught concerning God being the creator and the author of life are not challenged, only the literalness of the account, i.e. six twenty four hour days; a “firmament” (heaven) with water above it and water below it.; etc.

            Of course, for those who insist on a literal interpretation of every word in the bible, this makes me, in their eyes, one who “does not believe the bible.”  I become that dreaded enemy called a “liberal.”  This in spite of the fact that I believe the bible is “truth without any mixture of error” from cover to cover.

            When it comes to the evolution of species, so ably defended, or presented, by Dr Ayala, I am still not fully convinced.  It isn’t that I have a problem with the concept and its theological implications.  God could have used it in His creation process.  Our origin would still be God’s doing.  It is just that there have been too many frauds and shaky assumptions by zealous promoters of the theory.  That there has been evolution, of that I have no doubt.  What I am not yet convinced is that all the various species are the result of evolution rather than specific creation.

            Am I a monkey?  Certainly not!  Although the DNA of our closest ape cousins are quite similar, and apes have been taught sign language, the gap between us is still huge.   And I admit, some of my human brothers and sisters do exhibit animal behavior.  But they should know and do know the difference.

            By the way, I do like, bananas, which were featured on the book's jacket.

Grace and peace.

Tax Time

            If it is April, it must be income tax season again.  In fact, Monday is the deadline for filing income tax returns. There is a lot of anti-tax sentiment around at present.  The platform of “No New Taxes” helped a lot of people, particular in the "Tea Party," get elected to public office this past year.  In the face of declining revenues during a period of economic recession, government bodies are electing to reduce services rather than find new sources of income.  These politicians will face the voter backlash which is sure to result from all all the cutbacks.

            Alabama is one of the lowest tax states in the nation, and the taxes are some of the most regressive, i.e. poor people pay a disproportionate amount of taxes compared to middle or upper income families.  But in the realm of politics, things usually are not fair.  I would support a redistribution of taxes, to cause wealthy individuals, landowners, businesses, and others to pick up their fair share.  And I am not opposed to new taxes, except as they impose more of the public burden on the poor.

            To me, paying taxes is a privilege.  When I consider all for which we depend upon the government, I think we have a bargain.  Think about it.  We have safety provided by the military, police, firefighters, paramedics, etc..  Also, we have increased safety provided by controls on food and medicine.  To these add entitlement programs such as Social Security, Medicaid, and education.  And someone must provide roads, airports, train terminals,sea  ports, i.e. the entire transportation infrastructure.  I could list a host of other things government bodies do for us.  All these benefits make our taxes look good.

To some who resented paying taxes to foreign rulers Jesus said, “Give to Caesar that which is Caesar’s and to God that which is God’s.”   There will always be death and taxes.  Death is overcome in Christ and taxes are necessary to any society in this world.

Grace and peace. 

April Fool

            This week some will observe April Fools Day, which is the first day of April.  No one has tried to make me an April fool in many years, but some still try to fool others.  One year, my late brother, Bill, on the phone with his oldest grandchild, then in grade school, had her believing that an airplane had landed in his back yard.  Well, you can’t blame a young girl for believing what her grandfather told her, even on April 1^st.  All of this is, of course, in fun.  And I suppose all of us have been tricked into being an April fool at some time or another. 

            But there are some people who are fools all the time.  In the Bible we are told of Nabal, whose name is sometimes translated as “fool.” (1 Samuel 25:25)   What a way to go through life.  Also in Psalm 14:1 we read, “The fool has said in his heart, there is no God.”  According to that, the number of fools in the United States is growing rapidly.  According to polls, more and more US citizens are reporting themselves as atheists or agnostics.  After this life they will regrettably discover their foolishness.

            But the biggest fool of all is the person who believes in God, but acts like there is no God.  They ignore His offer of Salvation through Jesus Christ.  Or they claim a relationship with Jesus Christ and then act like the devil.  Their surprise in eternity may be the biggest of all, when they cry out, “Lord, Lord” and Jesus says, “I never knew you.”  They will realize how big a fool they have been.

            On the other hand, Paul labels himself and his coworkers as fools, “We are fools for Christ’s sake…”  (1 Corinthians 4:10)  To the world, anyone who exhibits zealousness for the gospel looks like a fool.  Amen!  May their tribe increase!

Grace and peace.

In answer to some questions, I hope to post something new at least once a week.

Civility in Politics?

             Mark DeMoss, a prominent evangelical Christian who runs a public relations firm in Atlanta, is dropping his effort to get elected officials to sign a rudimentary “Civility Pledge.”  He and a friend, alarmed at the escalating incivility among politicians developed a simple pledge which says, “I will be civil in my public discourse and behavior.  I will be respectful of others whether or not I agree with them.  I will stand against incivility when I see it.”

            They sent out 585 letters asking every sitting governor and member of Congress to sign the pledge.  Mr. DeMoss said in an interview that he is now folding the project after spending two years and about $30,000 in expenses on the endeavor. Only three legislators had signed the pledge.  You read right, ONLY THREE members of congress and no governors would sign the pledge.  In fact, he reports receiving some very hostile emails using unbelievable language and some words he will not repeat publically.

            Most, if not all, of these elected officials are people of faith, a majority of which are Christian by profession.  You would think they would readily sign such a pledge.  Jesus said, “love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.” (Matthew 5:44)  With some politicians the rule seems to be, “hate your enemies, curse those who disagree with you and spitefully assassinate their character.”  It can be debated as to whether current incivility in politics is greater than it was in the past, but whether it is or not, it is too great now. Some political pundits ranting in the media today will one day face the Lord to give an account of their incivility.  I’m glad I won’t be among them.

Grace and peace.

Christian Integrity and the Internet

I received a forwarded e-mail from an acquaintance not long ago which questioned the religious integrity of President Obama as well as making other negative points about him.  I knew the e-mail was false, but checked it out on Snopes.com anyway.  I replied to him and all his mailing list in a forward, bringing to their attention that the forwarded e-mail was false.  I was surprised when some on his list sent me e-mails questioning my integrity or my knowledge of the facts.

            For years I have tried to help people understand they should not forward a damaging e-mail or a political e-mail without checking it out.  One needs  to see if the facts contained therein are true or false.  If someone forwards an e-mail containing false information it is tantamount to lying.  It makes you a liar for you are spreading falsehoods.  Internet e-mail has made liars of more Christians than anything the world has ever seen before.  There has always been gossip which often did the same thing, but not to the extent of this internet gossip.

            There are some who will not take the word of fact checking sites like Snopes, or the result of investigative reporting by the media.  They become convinced that their false opinion is the truth and turn on anyone who challenges it.  Such was the case of those who disliked my pointing out the falsehoods in the e-mail mentioned.  This is particularly true in the realm of political debate.  I am severely disappointed by the number of Christians, otherwise good people, who pass on political falsehoods. Christian integrity demands that we be careful to know the facts and stick to them.

            Even better, the Christian imperative of love would lead us to heed what many of us were taught by our parents and Sunday School teachers, “If you can’t say anything good about someone, don’t say anything at all.”