Christmas with Granny
I have a photograph from Christmas this past year of Granny in a rocking chair with a huge poster of “It’s a Wonderful Life” in the background. It is a nice photograph and captures the moment for time.
Unfortunately, Granny won’t remember it.
Granny is what everyone in my family calls my wife’s mother. Her husband, the grand-children, the sons-in-law and her own children. It is a term of love and respect.
Unfortunately, we have to keep telling Granny that we already opened the Christmas presents and yes, one of her grandsons is married and yes, Granny, its been year since the wedding.
Granny’s father was a preacher, one of those preachers in the 20th century that went from church to church preaching the Gospel. I was fortunate to hear him preach one summer evening in a small rural church before...
He started going to the bank trying to withdraw money he didn’t have at a place he hadn’t had an account for many years...
My wife gave me a CD of his sermons for Christmas this year.
Her grandfather, if he was alive wouldn’t remember them or know who was talking.
In case you haven’t figured out, the preacher had alzheimers and his daughter does too...
So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. (Eph 5:28)
Granny still lives with her husband, who takes care of her. He didn’t leave her, put her away, or whine about live’s misfortune. He has become the walking epitome of love in a modern age of throw-away love.
Note what Paul has written to husbands, love their own wives...In I Corinthians 13, Paul again writes: “Love suffers long and is kind”. And again we read later in the same chapter: “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.”
Our world is full of heroes, fighting the war on terrorism, saving people in burning buildings, rescuing people lost at sea, stopping crime, lives full of self sacrifice.
And then there are the quiet ones, laboring out of the love for someone else. Not out of duty, tho duty does call, not from a burden, tho the burden is there, but from a deep abiding love.
Someday, Granny will have to have serious help, and then she will meet her Lord, that is the outcome of patients with this disease.
Until that day, my hero will be there, taking care of her.
Until next time on my front porch.
Saturday, January 31, 2004
Monday, January 26, 2004
OOPS! SORRY ABOUT THAT!
Recently CNN’s web page posted an article about Trail magazine and a rather bad goof in editing:
“The February edition of Trail magazine gives advice to walkers caught in bad weather on Ben Nevis in Scotland about how to make a safe descent. “
“But the magazine's directions would instead lead readers off the north face of the 4,406-feet (1,322-meter) mountain, which is notorious for its changeable weather and has claimed the lives of several climbers. “
“Guy Procter, the editor of Trail, acknowledged the magazine had inadvertently erased the first of two crucial bearings needed to get off the summit. He said that happened during the editing process.” (Thursday, January 22, 2004 Posted: 8:18 AM EST (1318 GMT)CNN.COM)
All it takes is just one mistake and all is lost. People immediately caught onto the mistake in the magazine, and thankfully the editors posted a correction. But what about a very ghastly mistake that will cause millions to be doomed?
What haven’t you heard? Isn’t it in all the papers? On the television news, I mean, after all we have 24/7 news networks now, one of them will report it, right?
Wrong. Just what is it?
A mistake. A very big mistake that many do not realize they are making.
“ 1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber (I Peter2:1-3).”
The first mistake that happens is that people believe the wrong things told to them by the wrong people. As scripture plainly states there will be false prophets and false teachers and the way they lead is destruction. These people have followed the wrong directions.
The second mistake that happens is that they have make the mistake of not testing the spirits that teach them. John in I John 4 tells us (verse 1)
“ Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
The third mistake is to not listen to God’s Word and to “know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God”( I John 4:2-3).
Also John tells us in the same chapter that people “ are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them.” which just compounds the problem.
All it takes is a little mis-direction. A little editing, a little different spin on what scripture teachers and a person walks off the cliff into oblivion.
Think what it would be like to be that hiker in Scotland, walking along the trail when all of the sudden the fog closes in. Following the course plotted out for you and using your compass you blithely follow the directions and ....step off a cliff to your doom...all because of the wrong directions.
How many more will be lost because they followed the wrong directions? How many more will walk off the cliff because they didn’t check their bearings, use the scripture to check up the teachings they heard and trusted man’s wisdom instead of God’s?
Are you walking off a cliff?
Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully (I Peter 1:10)
Recently CNN’s web page posted an article about Trail magazine and a rather bad goof in editing:
“The February edition of Trail magazine gives advice to walkers caught in bad weather on Ben Nevis in Scotland about how to make a safe descent. “
“But the magazine's directions would instead lead readers off the north face of the 4,406-feet (1,322-meter) mountain, which is notorious for its changeable weather and has claimed the lives of several climbers. “
“Guy Procter, the editor of Trail, acknowledged the magazine had inadvertently erased the first of two crucial bearings needed to get off the summit. He said that happened during the editing process.” (Thursday, January 22, 2004 Posted: 8:18 AM EST (1318 GMT)CNN.COM)
All it takes is just one mistake and all is lost. People immediately caught onto the mistake in the magazine, and thankfully the editors posted a correction. But what about a very ghastly mistake that will cause millions to be doomed?
What haven’t you heard? Isn’t it in all the papers? On the television news, I mean, after all we have 24/7 news networks now, one of them will report it, right?
Wrong. Just what is it?
A mistake. A very big mistake that many do not realize they are making.
“ 1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber (I Peter2:1-3).”
The first mistake that happens is that people believe the wrong things told to them by the wrong people. As scripture plainly states there will be false prophets and false teachers and the way they lead is destruction. These people have followed the wrong directions.
The second mistake that happens is that they have make the mistake of not testing the spirits that teach them. John in I John 4 tells us (verse 1)
“ Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
The third mistake is to not listen to God’s Word and to “know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God”( I John 4:2-3).
Also John tells us in the same chapter that people “ are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them.” which just compounds the problem.
All it takes is a little mis-direction. A little editing, a little different spin on what scripture teachers and a person walks off the cliff into oblivion.
Think what it would be like to be that hiker in Scotland, walking along the trail when all of the sudden the fog closes in. Following the course plotted out for you and using your compass you blithely follow the directions and ....step off a cliff to your doom...all because of the wrong directions.
How many more will be lost because they followed the wrong directions? How many more will walk off the cliff because they didn’t check their bearings, use the scripture to check up the teachings they heard and trusted man’s wisdom instead of God’s?
Are you walking off a cliff?
Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully (I Peter 1:10)
Saturday, January 10, 2004
SAY IT AIN’T SO...
Say it ain’t so...Pete!
If you pay attention to the sport news, there is a lot of commenting on the latest book by former athlete, Pete Rose, player and manager of the Cincinnati Reds.
But about fourteen years ago, he was banned from professional baseball because he was found to be gambling on baseball games, a big no-no in Major League Baseball. This resulting in him being banned for life from baseball and all these years gone by he has denied his involvement in gambling activities...until now.
Now, in his book he admits gambling on baseball games.
What is the big deal? People place bets all the time on sporting events, so why not Pete? Because he was the manager of a team that was playing in the sport he was gambling on.
Historically, many years ago an event took place that explains the reason for the harsh penalty on Pete Rose.
The 1919 World Series resulted in the most famous scandal in baseball history. Eight players from the Chicago White Sox (later nicknamed the Black Sox) were accused of throwing the series against the Cincinnati Reds. Details of the scandal and the extent to which each man was involved have always been unclear. It was, however, front-page news across the country and, despite being acquitted of criminal charges, the players were banned from professional baseball for life. The eight men included the great Shoeless Joe Jackson, pitchers Eddie Cicotte and Claude "Lefty" Williams; infielders Buck Weaver, Arnold "Chick" Gandil, Fred McMullin, and Charles "Swede" Risberg; and outfielder Oscar "Happy" Felsch.
The aftermath of the scandal was so large that it drove baseball into the draconian policy it now has. Pete Rose has said that if he had abused drugs, all would have been forgiven, but drug abuse didn’t affect baseball as the “Black Sox” scandal did eighty four years ago.
For more on the scandal visit the following site:
http://www.mc.cc.md.us/Departments/hpolscrv/blacksox.htm
Now, what has all this have to do with a weekly Bible devotional? Read on...
"But if you do not do so, then take note, you have sinned against the Lord; and be sure your sin will find you out.” (Numbers 32:23)
Scripture tells us the terrible price of sin; “Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.” (James 1:15)
We cannot hide our sins, for God’s Word tells us that result: “He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy” (Proverbs 28:13)
“For the wages of sin is death,” (Romans 6:23) is a hard verse to read, if we stop there and do not read on. But realize the consequence of sin, acknowledge it and then move on to the rest of the verse: “but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
That says it all. You don’t have to wait fourteen years to confess your wrongs, your sins, just realize that “all have fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) and also “For there is not a just man on earth who does good And does not sin.” (Ecclesiastes 7:20)
Remember, you can’t hide sin, your sins will find you out, and soon or later, accounting will happen for what you have done.
In Christ there is the freedom from sin. Don’t wait like Pete did. Obey the Lord today.
Say it ain’t so...Pete!
If you pay attention to the sport news, there is a lot of commenting on the latest book by former athlete, Pete Rose, player and manager of the Cincinnati Reds.
But about fourteen years ago, he was banned from professional baseball because he was found to be gambling on baseball games, a big no-no in Major League Baseball. This resulting in him being banned for life from baseball and all these years gone by he has denied his involvement in gambling activities...until now.
Now, in his book he admits gambling on baseball games.
What is the big deal? People place bets all the time on sporting events, so why not Pete? Because he was the manager of a team that was playing in the sport he was gambling on.
Historically, many years ago an event took place that explains the reason for the harsh penalty on Pete Rose.
The 1919 World Series resulted in the most famous scandal in baseball history. Eight players from the Chicago White Sox (later nicknamed the Black Sox) were accused of throwing the series against the Cincinnati Reds. Details of the scandal and the extent to which each man was involved have always been unclear. It was, however, front-page news across the country and, despite being acquitted of criminal charges, the players were banned from professional baseball for life. The eight men included the great Shoeless Joe Jackson, pitchers Eddie Cicotte and Claude "Lefty" Williams; infielders Buck Weaver, Arnold "Chick" Gandil, Fred McMullin, and Charles "Swede" Risberg; and outfielder Oscar "Happy" Felsch.
The aftermath of the scandal was so large that it drove baseball into the draconian policy it now has. Pete Rose has said that if he had abused drugs, all would have been forgiven, but drug abuse didn’t affect baseball as the “Black Sox” scandal did eighty four years ago.
For more on the scandal visit the following site:
http://www.mc.cc.md.us/Departments/hpolscrv/blacksox.htm
Now, what has all this have to do with a weekly Bible devotional? Read on...
"But if you do not do so, then take note, you have sinned against the Lord; and be sure your sin will find you out.” (Numbers 32:23)
Scripture tells us the terrible price of sin; “Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.” (James 1:15)
We cannot hide our sins, for God’s Word tells us that result: “He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy” (Proverbs 28:13)
“For the wages of sin is death,” (Romans 6:23) is a hard verse to read, if we stop there and do not read on. But realize the consequence of sin, acknowledge it and then move on to the rest of the verse: “but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
That says it all. You don’t have to wait fourteen years to confess your wrongs, your sins, just realize that “all have fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) and also “For there is not a just man on earth who does good And does not sin.” (Ecclesiastes 7:20)
Remember, you can’t hide sin, your sins will find you out, and soon or later, accounting will happen for what you have done.
In Christ there is the freedom from sin. Don’t wait like Pete did. Obey the Lord today.
Tuesday, January 06, 2004
NUMBERS, NUMBERS AND MORE NUMBERS
Numbers, numbers, numbers. There are numbers everywhere you look!
I have phone numbers; one for home, one for work, and one to keep tabs on my daughter.
I have a social security number, a vehicle registration number, a driver’s license number, and a number that tells me where I live.
I have a shoe size, hat size, waist size, shirt size, and of course an IQ number.
I can count one dozen donuts, but not the number of certain colors of M&M’s in a bag.
I have two dogs and two cats.
There are 5,280 feet in one mile, which equals 880 fathoms and if that isn’t enough, that equals 8 furlongs!
There are 24 hours in a day, and there are 8,760.00 hours in a year (looks like a long time when you think of a year that way doesn’t it?).
And to come to think of it, in a normal person’s life of say, 70 years, you will have lived approximately 613,200 hours (depending if you make it to 70 or make it past) which equals out to 25,550 days.
What is the point of all this? The point is that your days are numbered. From one to whatever, your days have a certain number attached to them. Read with me from Job 14.5, “Since his days are determined, The number of his months is with You; You have appointed his limits, so that he cannot pass.”
We can also read in Psalms 39:4-5;”"Lord, make me to know my end, And what is the measure of my days, That I may know how frail I am. Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, And my age is as nothing before You; Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor.”
Every day is our last one. Tomorrow may never come and you cannot go back and relive yesterday. So what is there to do?
Live today for Christ. Live for others. Live to grow and mature.
While each day has its ups and downs, the groan of an earthly existence, we know that in due course our days have a certain number attached to them and we have limits.
What else is there to do? “So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom.” (PS 90:12) We grow in Christ. This is what we do.
Finally, “ And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,” (Hebrews 9:27)
So, in conclusion, our days are numbered, we don’t know how many, we must be prepared and in Christ we will find the answer to the number.
Until next time on my front porch.
Numbers, numbers, numbers. There are numbers everywhere you look!
I have phone numbers; one for home, one for work, and one to keep tabs on my daughter.
I have a social security number, a vehicle registration number, a driver’s license number, and a number that tells me where I live.
I have a shoe size, hat size, waist size, shirt size, and of course an IQ number.
I can count one dozen donuts, but not the number of certain colors of M&M’s in a bag.
I have two dogs and two cats.
There are 5,280 feet in one mile, which equals 880 fathoms and if that isn’t enough, that equals 8 furlongs!
There are 24 hours in a day, and there are 8,760.00 hours in a year (looks like a long time when you think of a year that way doesn’t it?).
And to come to think of it, in a normal person’s life of say, 70 years, you will have lived approximately 613,200 hours (depending if you make it to 70 or make it past) which equals out to 25,550 days.
What is the point of all this? The point is that your days are numbered. From one to whatever, your days have a certain number attached to them. Read with me from Job 14.5, “Since his days are determined, The number of his months is with You; You have appointed his limits, so that he cannot pass.”
We can also read in Psalms 39:4-5;”"Lord, make me to know my end, And what is the measure of my days, That I may know how frail I am. Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, And my age is as nothing before You; Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor.”
Every day is our last one. Tomorrow may never come and you cannot go back and relive yesterday. So what is there to do?
Live today for Christ. Live for others. Live to grow and mature.
While each day has its ups and downs, the groan of an earthly existence, we know that in due course our days have a certain number attached to them and we have limits.
What else is there to do? “So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom.” (PS 90:12) We grow in Christ. This is what we do.
Finally, “ And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,” (Hebrews 9:27)
So, in conclusion, our days are numbered, we don’t know how many, we must be prepared and in Christ we will find the answer to the number.
Until next time on my front porch.
Sunday, January 04, 2004
The following post is about my daughter Charity who is celebrating her 18th birthday this week. The big question to ask is "Where did the time go?"
My Dearest Charity,
A long, long time ago, I would come home from work and sit in a rocking chair, hold you on my lap and sing to you:
“Let me call you Sweetheart
I'm in love with you.
Let me hear you whisper that you love me too.
Keep the lovelight glowing in your eyes so true
Let me call you Sweetheart
I'm in love with you!
I am dreaming, dear, of you
Day by day
Dreaming when the skies are blue,
When they're gray;
When the silv'ry moonlight gleams,
Still I wander on in dreams
In a land of love, it seems
Just with you....
Let me call you Sweetheart
I'm in love with you.
Let me hear you whisper that you love me too.
Keep the lovelight glowing in your eyes so true
Let me call you Sweetheart
I'm in love with you!”
And now, the time has flown by and here you are on your eighteenth birthday! Where has the time come?
It seems to be an adult’s lament to say “where has the time gone?” and it is so true. I say this because the time on earth I have been blessed with you has moved too quick to be fair.
I would love to return to watch (and coach, remember?) you in biddy basketball. To get down on the floor and play with you and your dolls or your “stove” you got for Christmas.
To watch you in ballet-you were so beautiful and graceful!- to hold you once again when you fell off your bike and lost your front teeth.
I yearn to have you sit on my lap again during church and “accidentally” push the button on my train tie so that it plays “I’ve been working on the railroad” and during communion at that!
I would take all the heart aches back to raise you once again. To go camping and yell at you and your brother for jumping on the air mattress and putting a hole in it. And then, while I was popping pop corn, you two had the wit to fall asleep!
To watch you ride in the 4-H and Christian girls horse shows again. To wonder what in the world is going on and nobody seemed to be able to explain it too me. I faked like they were though.
I am bless with all the memories you have given me and I hope that the ones you carry are just as pleasant.
Yes, at times, mom and dad can be very trying, but we love you with all our hearts can hold and there is more to spare.
I love you so very much, more than I could every show or say. I will always be there for you and praying for you. My heart has more room for more memories of my dearest Charity.
A blessing for you:
May the wind always be on your face
And the storms behind you
Let the sun shine always on you
Giving you green grass and
Peaceful springs.
May the good Lord bless you with peace,
A home full of love
Clear sailing and a safe harbor.
Love Dad
My Dearest Charity,
A long, long time ago, I would come home from work and sit in a rocking chair, hold you on my lap and sing to you:
“Let me call you Sweetheart
I'm in love with you.
Let me hear you whisper that you love me too.
Keep the lovelight glowing in your eyes so true
Let me call you Sweetheart
I'm in love with you!
I am dreaming, dear, of you
Day by day
Dreaming when the skies are blue,
When they're gray;
When the silv'ry moonlight gleams,
Still I wander on in dreams
In a land of love, it seems
Just with you....
Let me call you Sweetheart
I'm in love with you.
Let me hear you whisper that you love me too.
Keep the lovelight glowing in your eyes so true
Let me call you Sweetheart
I'm in love with you!”
And now, the time has flown by and here you are on your eighteenth birthday! Where has the time come?
It seems to be an adult’s lament to say “where has the time gone?” and it is so true. I say this because the time on earth I have been blessed with you has moved too quick to be fair.
I would love to return to watch (and coach, remember?) you in biddy basketball. To get down on the floor and play with you and your dolls or your “stove” you got for Christmas.
To watch you in ballet-you were so beautiful and graceful!- to hold you once again when you fell off your bike and lost your front teeth.
I yearn to have you sit on my lap again during church and “accidentally” push the button on my train tie so that it plays “I’ve been working on the railroad” and during communion at that!
I would take all the heart aches back to raise you once again. To go camping and yell at you and your brother for jumping on the air mattress and putting a hole in it. And then, while I was popping pop corn, you two had the wit to fall asleep!
To watch you ride in the 4-H and Christian girls horse shows again. To wonder what in the world is going on and nobody seemed to be able to explain it too me. I faked like they were though.
I am bless with all the memories you have given me and I hope that the ones you carry are just as pleasant.
Yes, at times, mom and dad can be very trying, but we love you with all our hearts can hold and there is more to spare.
I love you so very much, more than I could every show or say. I will always be there for you and praying for you. My heart has more room for more memories of my dearest Charity.
A blessing for you:
May the wind always be on your face
And the storms behind you
Let the sun shine always on you
Giving you green grass and
Peaceful springs.
May the good Lord bless you with peace,
A home full of love
Clear sailing and a safe harbor.
Love Dad