He Lives!

This is the week. Holy Week. Passion Week. It is the week that we remember all that Jesus did in the final week of His life that makes it possible for us to enjoy eternal life. It is the week that we celebrate the greatest event in all of human history.

On Monday of the week of His death, we believe that Jesus cleared the Temple of those selling and trading animals for sacrifices. On Tuesday and Wednesday Jesus spent much time teaching His closest followers. On Thursday the Lord ate dinner with those same disciples, instituted the Lord’s’ Supper, went to the garden to pray, and was arrested.

And thus began the whirlwind of events that would lead to this day of celebration for us. He was tried, convicted, and put to death on the cross. His body was placed in a borrowed tomb, and His followers slinked away in despair. Jesus had talked to them about what was going to happen. But they simply did not believe. Their hope was gone.

But on Sunday morning, some of the women went to the gravesite to more properly prepare Jesus’ body for burial. And that’s when the fun began. His body was gone. Angels encountered the women and told them to go and tell the disciples what they had seen.

Then Peter and John went to the tomb and discovered the same thing. The body of Jesus was gone.

Soon Jesus would appear to them. Over the next 50 days He appeared to more than 500 different people (1 Corinthians 15:5). It was clear. The Lord and Savior who had died on the cross on Calvary’s hill was alive again.

There are those for whom this story seems far-fetched. I get it. It’s not every day a dead person wakes up. But I will say this as boldly and as carefully as I can. Jesus is alive, and if that is not true, then all of Christianity is a lie. If Jesus did not rise from the dead, and if He is not alive today, then our entire faith is a hoax. Again, Paul said so much in 1 Corinthians 15. But then he said, “But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead.”

And that is why we sing. That is why we celebrate. That is why we believe. “I serve a risen Savior. He’s in the world today.” And for that we give thanks and celebrate.

“She went to be with Jesus”

This week marks the twentieth year since my mom passed away. Her 67th birthday was on April 4. She died on April 7. I was the only one in the room with her when she took her last breath. I was living in metro Detroit, and I flew down in the early hours of Tuesday morning. On Wednesday evening I sat in the living room with her as my dad went to his own bed for the first time in a week.

I slept a bit in the chair beside her bed, and I woke up around 7 Thursday morning. I realized we were near the end. About 7:30 that morning she went to be with Jesus.

There are a multitude of things about that day (and that year) that are etched in my mind for the rest of my life. In the first place, Mom was just a little more than a year older than I am when she died. To say that is sobering is an understatement. Especially when you realize that on her 66th birthday we had no idea what was just around the corner. The brain tumor was discovered in July. She was gone the following April.

But I suppose the one thing that stands out the most is the final sentence that I wrote in the second paragraph. “She went to be with Jesus.” What I’m saying is that my Mom did not cease to exist on April 7, 2005. In fact, at her funeral later that week I declared to those present, “Shelby Butler is more alive than she has ever been.” And I still believe that with my whole heart.

In eleven days we will celebrate Easter, Resurrection Sunday. It is a day for dressing up and going to church, for gathering with family, and for reflection and worship. But more than anything it is a day to celebrate God’s ultimate victory over Satan. Jesus is alive, and because He is alive, we can live forever. I hope you believe it. I’ve staked my entire life on it.

April Fool’s Day

Did anyone pull any tricks on you yesterday? It was April Fool’s Day, you know. It is traditional to try and play a prank or a joke on your family and friends. April 1 is the birthday of one of my childhood friends. We used to joke that he was an April fool.

We are not certain about the origins of April Fool’s Day. Some have attributed it to Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. Several other options have been put forth as well. The fact is that we simply do not know how the whole thing got started. But it can be a lot of fun, trying to get something over on a friend or family member. Of course, you can take it too far.

We recognize that on April 1 each year we have to be careful with what we hear or see. Someone might be trying to prank us. What they say has to be taken with a grain of salt.

But here’s a question for you. What about the person whose word you can never trust? Is there someone in your life like that? It could be a family member, a coworker, or a neighbor. But you simply cannot trust what they say. It could be true. But it might not be.

The Bible has much to say about that. One of the Ten Commandments deals with lying. Jesus said, “Let your yes be yes.” And the Bible tells us that God is always faithful. In fact, the Bible speaks of God as unchanging and unchangeable. He is always right, therefore He never needs to change.

Yeah, I know men who think the same thing of themselves, but that’s for another column at another time.

The point of all I am saying today is simple. You can trust God. He will not lie to you. He will not even try to trick you on April 1. And then, you need to be trustworthy yourself. Oh, it’s okay if you try and pull a trick on someone one day a year. But you need to be someone whose word is true. You need to tell the truth. As Jesus said, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Pests

Just like many homeowners, I have a contract with a “pest control service.” Once a quarter they come to my home, inspect it for pests (read bugs), and spray around the outside of the house. If we have a problem inside the house I simply let them know, and they will treat the interior as well. In addition, they inspect annually for termites to be sure that my house will not be damaged.

Have you ever wondered why God created bugs? I don’t mean bees. We need those to pollinate our plants. But what about ants and cockroaches? I mean, is it disrespectful to ask if there will be cockroaches in heaven? I mean, they seem to thrive every other place in the world…

Of course, I believe that God had good reasons for everything that He created. But we certainly consider some of those things to be pests. The sand gnats that buzz around your face when you are in your garden or at a picnic. The fire ants that seem to wait until some of them have reached your knee before the command to bite is given to all ten thousand that are on your leg.

What other pests exist in your life? Could it be a family member? A co-worker? That dreaded telemarketer?

Indeed, we have to deal with pests from time to time. Can I offer a couple of words of advice? The first one may seem funny, but it really isn’t meant to be. Try hard not to be the one whom others consider to be the pest. It is remarkable that most pests don’t think of themselves in that manner. But we all can be “pesty” from time-to-time. Don’t be that person!

Second, try to be more patient and kinder to the pests in your life. I’m not talking about roaches here. Go ahead and set that trap. But to the people in your life who get on your nerves? Try to show more grace. You don’t know what is happening in his/her life. Jesus told us to love our enemies. That’s one of the hardest commands He ever gave. But you never know what impact you might have in another’s life if you actually do that.

“Love one another.” It sounds simple. But it’s not. Still, it is our calling. “Love one another.”

“The God Who Is There”

I was recently scrolling through social media (yes, I have one account), and I saw this question posed as a headline. “Something that proves low intelligence.” Directly below there was only one answer showing. “Religious belief.” My instinct was to dig deeper, to see what else was said, to view the personal information of the person who posted, and then to respond. My second instinct was to put down my phone. Fortunately, I followed my second instinct.

But I’ve thought about that post several times since then. Could this be true? Have religious people (and specifically Christians) set aside their brains in order to follow a fairy in the sky that does not exist? First of all, from a historical perspective it is not true at all. Yes, there are those who have sought to pit science against religion, and who have referred to any and all who believe in God as ignorant. But the truth is that the first scientists were, for the most part, committed Christians. The same is true about some of the finest mathematicians and writers and thinkers of all time. No, it cannot be said that all religious people are lacking in intelligence.

But I will tell you this. Even some Christians wonder about this. And in their practices they actually seem to confirm it. Have you ever had a worship leader say to you, “Now empty your mind of everything and simply focus on God at this time.”? I have wanted to scream, “NO!” at the top of my lungs.

It is true that we are called to worship with our hearts and emotions. But we are also to worship with our brains. You cannot understand the Bible unless you engage it intellectually. The Bible calls for us to, “Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.”

I believe that God created us, heart, soul, mind and strength. I believe that He has given us the capacity, not only to love Him, but to think. And I believe that when we truly think about our world as it exists, that the only logical conclusion is to declare that He not only exists, but that He loves us, is interested in our lives, and wants us to love and follow Him. I am committed to that belief, and intend to share it with others to the best of my ability for the rest of my life.

When you go to church, don’t check your brain at the door. Trust the Lord. Believe in His Word. He really is, as Francis Shaeffer once wrote, “The God Who Is There.”

Resurrection

We are in the middle of the Lenten season. It might surprise you that a Baptist pastor knows about that. The truth is that we do not practice Lent in the same manner as other Christian traditions. But I am aware of it.

Lent is a time that leads up to Easter. Resurrection Sunday. I am certainly aware of that day. Easter will be celebrated world-wide next month. It is a time when we will be reminded of the central truth of the Christian faith. Jesus is alive!

Here’s the thing. I am fully aware that there are those who question the validity and the veracity of the resurrection. After all, we live in a scientific age when we no longer believe in such superstitions and fantasies.

I am always amazed, and even amused, by such declarations. We no longer believe in superstitions, right? Do you know any baseball players? Okay, then you know that superstitions are real. And then there are those who believe in crystals and the like. Yeah, we are living in a truly sophisticated era where everyone is rational and reasonable all the time. Just get on Facebook and you will see that, right?

Again, here’s the thing. We are more scientifically advanced than they were in the first century. We have more knowledge in many areas of life. But they knew something that we all know, too. Dead bodies don’t walk out of graves. Resurrections simply did not happen. And yet…

The claim was made that Jesus was alive. And there is more evidence for that than many will acknowledge. The truth is simple. If Jesus is not truly alive, then the entirety of Christianity is a farce and a lie. If His body were ever to be found, every church building should be sold (or given away), and we should cease to exist.

But we believe He is alive. The resurrection is true and real. We serve a risen Savior! Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift!

Team Player

I am writing this on Wednesday morning, a week in advance, and they play tonight. So, I do not know the outcome of the game. But the MCA Buccaneers boys’ basketball team is playing in the Georgia High School State Tournament. They have already won two games. They are ranked in the top five in the state, and have been ranked number one for a couple of weeks. They are having an outstanding season.

The bottom line is this. By the time you read this they will have been eliminated from the tournament, or they will be preparing for the championship game in Macon later this week. There will be ecstasy, or agony.

How do I know this? Forty-eight years ago, about this time of year, I was playing in the state tournament. My Dacula Falcons won one game, but lost in the quarterfinal round. We finished the season with 26 wins and 3 losses. I remember peeling off that number 22 jersey in the locker room at Macon Coliseum for the last time. I cried like a baby.

Playing team sports was a powerful teaching tool in my life. I learned how to work with others. I learned to listen to, and learn from, a coach. And during my high school basketball playing days I learned a lot about race relationships. During my senior year the miniseries “Roots” debuted. My coach made practice accommodations for us to be home in time to watch it. Both watching the show, and listening to my teammates was quite the experience for me. It helped me to grow.

We live in a world that is deeply divided today. Race is simply one of the issues that divide us. I wonder. What would happen if we actually listened to one another? How would life change if we stopped screaming, and really heard what others were saying.

Your momma told you what I’m about to say. But you may need to hear it again. God gave you two ears and one mouth. There might be a reason for that. Paul wrote in Romans 12:18, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” I pray that we will do just that.

Shepherd Stealers

My wife and I will be traveling this weekend. It won’t be a long trip. Going back and forth to Jacksonville. Our son will be playing basketball, and it will be the first time this season we will get to watch him. His team is ranked in the top five in the nation.

I know, it sounds like a typical dad’s pride completely out of control, but this is a rather unique situation. Corey was in a catastrophic accident more than a decade ago. He suffered a spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed from the waist down.

He plays basketball for the Shepherd Stealers, a team based out of the Shepherd Center in Atlanta, one of the most reputable rehabilitation centers in the nation for spinal cord injuries, head trauma, and stroke care. Corey was flown there from Charleston, South Carolina a couple of weeks after his accident, and has lived just a few miles from the Center since his discharge.

When I watch the Stealers play, I admit that I do so with mixed emotions. There is a measure of sadness, because I watched that same boy running and jumping up the court when he played high school basketball. I also watched him play soccer, the sport in which he excelled. I sometimes wonder why. And I wonder what if.

But I also get into the games, cheering for Corey and his team, griping about the referees, and hoping that they will come away with the win. I am just a bit competitive.

The fact is that life throws us curveballs. It does not go the way we would always like. God does not answer every prayer in the manner we wish He would. But don’t be fooled. He does answer prayer. And He never forgets us. I need to be reminded, and you probably do, too, that God’s love is never in doubt. He settled it on the cross. We trust Him because we know He loves us.

Sliding Toward a Collision

Our recent snow got me to thinking. I grew up in north Georgia, so I saw snow a few times. But it would snow, everything was cancelled for two days, it melted, and we went back to life as normal.

But in 1991 my family moved to Indiana, and we lived “up north” until 2005. So, I spent my fair share of time driving in bad weather, shoveling snow, and trying to get around in the wintertime. For the most part we did okay.

I will never forget the first time I felt completely out of control. I had been to the grocery store, and was still in the parking lot. I was going 5 mph as I approached the main road. I applied my brakes, and realized I was simply sliding toward the road. No matter how hard I pushed on the pedal, I was not stopping. The brakes were doing their job. The tires were not turning. But I was sliding and gliding toward an inevitable encounter with the car stopped in front of me. Not going fast. Just not stopping. Completely out of control.

How often does your life feel like that? Perhaps you have recently lost a loved one. Or you may have been given that diagnosis no one wants to receive. You may have too much month left at the end of the money. A child is rebelling. A spouse has decided to call it quits. And there is nothing you can do about it. It’s out of your control

What do you do? Well, the only thing I know to do is to ask God for help. In Psalm 18 David wrote, “In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears.” David trusted the Lord. That’s all he had, but that was enough.

And the Lord is enough for us, too. Again, life may not go as we desire. But God has not forgotten. He has not forsaken. He will help you. You can trust Him. On that day in Indiana I was fortunate that my car somehow stopped before colliding with the one in front of me. But I am certain of this. Even had it not, the Lord was with me. He always is.

Puzzles and Life

Forrest Gump famously said, “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get.” And he was right. We don’t know the future. We simply take things as they come our way.

I would also say that life is sometimes like a puzzle. My wife is really into putting puzzles together. Two Christmases ago I gave her a puzzle table that is currently set up in our upstairs room with a partially assembled 1000-piece puzzle. How she has the patience for that is beyond me.

I know how she goes about the process. First you find all of the edge pieces, and you build the border. Then you fill in the middle. To seek to do a puzzle any other way would probably lead to frustration and failure.

Sometimes life feels like putting together a puzzle from the middle out. That is especially true if you are not seeking to follow the Lord. His Word, His commands, His direction, is the border around life. Once that is intact we are better able to fill in the rest of the pieces. But if that border is missing, life can get off the rails quickly.

So many people are convinced that following the Lord is a chore. They believe that He wants to take away our fun. He wants to make us subservient and remove joy from our lives. But in Psalm 119:35 we read, “Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it.” The psalmist claims to “delight” in obeying the Lord.

I’ve heard it said that the center of God’s will is the safest place to be. I’m not sure that is correct. It is not always safe to obey the Lord. But I am sure of this. The center of God’s will is the best place to be. I pray that you will find that place, and that you will delight in obeying the Lord, no matter where He leads.

Snow Storm ENZO

Well, that was fun, wasn’t it? I’m talking about winter storm Enzo. Ice and snow everywhere. Power outages. Five consecutive nights of temperatures in the twenties. And barely above freezing in the daytime. I’ve talked to a lot of people down here, and I have yet to hear one say, “I hope that happens again next week.” Rather, what I have heard more often has been, “I didn’t move here for this.”

Having lived where winter is a thing (Indiana and Michigan from 1991-2005), I have to tell you this. I would have been perfectly happy never to see another snowflake in my life. I have no intention to take a vacation where snow is likely. And I certainly do not want to live where shoveling snow is a regular requirement. No, I’m just not a fan.

And yet…My son and his family lost power for more than a day. They spent one night, and the better part of two days with us. And I watched the girls romp and play in the winter wonderland that surrounded my house and property. We built a snowman. And before it was over they had Papa pulling them around on a TV tray using the golf cart. And lo, and behold, Papa ended up on the tray behind the cart and had a good time after all.

The truth is that there is beauty and goodness all around us, even in the midst of the storms of life. Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, “In everything give thanks.” Notice he did not say to give thanks for everything. He said in everything. In the midst of our storms and trials we can give thanks, because we know that God is good. He has our best interest in mind. He loves us.

I’ll be completely honest with you. I will be quite satisfied if it never snows again. But if it does, I’ll probably find myself pulling those girls around, making memories, and laughing until my stomach hurts. And I will give thanks to God for the blessings He gives to us all.

“I Know Who Holds Tomorrow”

I’ve heard it said that life is like a toilet paper roll. The closer you get to the end, the faster it seems to go. I can attest to that. I remember impatiently awaiting my sixteenth birthday, already owning my first car, but unable to drive it alone until I passed that milestone and got my driver’s license.

But thirty came soon after that, and fifty, sixty, and sixty-five have zoomed by like traffic around I-285 in Atlanta. And if you are not familiar with I-285, simply give thanks to God and don’t worry about it.

It’s funny. When I turned fifty someone said something to me about being middle-aged. I’m not trying to be morbid, but fifty is not middle-aged for most folks. In fact, we make a big deal about someone living to 100. No, 35-40 is more in the middle-age category. Sorry if that bursts your bubble.

So, what is my point. It’s actually quite simple. Psalm 90:12 says, “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” The psalmist’s point seems to be to make the most of each day. Each day is a gift, and we are not promised tomorrow.

Last year I preached the funeral of two close friends. One was a 45-year-old pastor who died suddenly of a heart attack. We had been friends and prayer partners for more than a decade. Being twenty years older, I had thought he would preach my funeral. The other was a deacon, golf partner, and close friend from a previous church. Just a little older than I am, he suffered several years from a rare form of cancer. The last time I saw him he weighed less than a hundred pounds. In both cases I grieved deeply. And I was forced to consider my own mortality.

“Man knows not his time,” the preacher wrote in Ecclesiastes. And more and more I realize that is true. As has often been said, “I don’t know what tomorrow holds, but I know who holds tomorrow.” And He is true and faithful. He can be trusted. He is good. I pray that you will learn to trust Him more.

The Book

Another year is underway, and I have again undertaken the task of reading through the Bible in this time. I did this the first time in 1976. My pastor challenged our entire church to read through the entire Bible, and gave us a reading plan that would allow us to accomplish that feat. I was a sixteen-year-old junior in high school when I started, and was a senior, seventeen years old when I completed it. It was a life changing experience for me.

I had read “Bible stories” my entire life. I could recite the books of the Bible in order. I had memorized several verses. But I had never read the entire book. I didn’t really understand how the story flowed. It was hard at times (Leviticus and Chronicles are a slow read for a teenage boy). But I persevered. And again, it changed my life.

Only four months after completing my reading through the Bible I answered the call into ministry. God used my time in His word to make clear that He was calling me to be a pastor, something I have now been doing for more than 42 years. And He gave me a desire to learn more about the Bible so that I could teach it to others.

I went on to college, and to seminary (two times) after that. And I have bought book after book with the intent to help me have a better understanding of what the Bible truly says. I hate to say it, but there is an appalling ignorance of the Bible, even in the church. And it’s not just that some people believe that the epistles were the wives of the apostles.

I’ve heard people quote John Wesley (cleanliness is next to godliness) and claim it is in the Bible. I’ve even heard someone quote Jiminy Crickets (Let your conscience be your guide) and say it is in the Bible. Not so. I’ve also heard people say, “The Bible contains the Word of God,” when it is actually true that, “The Bible is the Word of God.”

The Bible itself says that God’s Word is rich and powerful, often acting like a sword that cuts deeply in order to bring healing. The Bible contains the answers to our most significant questions. Are you as familiar with your Bible as you should be? Let me encourage you to read it alone, study it with others, and to, “Hide its word in your heart.” You’ll be glad you did.

“God is Great, God is Good”

“God is great. God is good…” So begins the little blessing prayer that I was taught as a little boy. It continues, “Let us thank Him for our food. By His hand we all are fed. Thank you, God, for daily bread. Amen.”

There was a time, when as a young boy and I was hungry, that I could say that little prayer so fast you would have great difficulty understanding one word of it. I’m not proud of that, but it was the case. Like so many other things, this prayer was a good thing for me when I was young. It taught me some basics in prayer. But it is not enough. I needed to grow and mature in my prayer life, and I certainly needed not simply to repeat words without thinking about them.

The fact is, even as an adult, I did not realize the full significance of this prayer until I took the time to study it with care. “God is great. God is good.” At first, these two phrases seem to say the same thing. They are merely repetition in order to emphasize the fact. But, as the football commentator sometimes says, “Not so fast, my friend.”

“God is great, God is good,” actually points out two separate things. That God is great means that He is magnificent and powerful and strong. He is the creator and sustainer of all that is. That God is good means that He is loving and kind and wants the best for us. Yes, God is both great and good, and that is good news for us all.

The greatness of God means that He is able to help us. The goodness of God means that He is willing to help us. And I am without words to contemplate the reality of both of these statements. I pray that you will celebrate with me the greatness and the goodness of our God.

He is the Reason

It is the day after Christmas. In so many ways an anti-climatic day. All of the presents have been opened. Some may already be broken, while others have been put away to be forgotten. My mother was notorious for this. By noon on December 26, there would be no evidence in her house, save the leftovers in the refrigerator, that Christmas had ever happened. The tree and the decorations were boxed and put away in the garage or attic. The gifts were put where they would be stored permanently. And the radio was back to playing “regular music.”

It does seem as if the day comes and goes, and is quickly forgotten. Now listen, I am not saying that we ought to celebrate into January. I have to tell you that I think, “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” is the most obnoxious song I’ve ever heard. I can’t change the station fast enough, much to the consternation of my wife, anytime it comes on.

But I don’t want us to box up Jesus and put Him away as quickly as we box up the trees and the lights and the candles. In fact, I don’t want us to box Him up at all. I want us to remember that Jesus is not only the reason for the season at Christmas. He is the reason that we have life and peace and joy. He is the reason we have salvation. He is the reason that life is worthwhile. He is the reason that we can life forever.

I am so grateful that I met this Jesus as a nine-year-old boy. And I am thankful that He is still with me. He has been faithful. He has been good. I pray that I will remain faithful and will “finish well” this life He has given to me.

Debt Free!

This past Sunday was a very special one for our church family. First, let me set the stage for you. In the Spring of 2021, we formed a committee to investigate the possibility of building a new social hall and kitchen for our church. In November of 2022 that committee brought a proposal to our church to proceed with the construction of a 6000 square foot building that would provide us a place to eat, fellowship, worship, and learn. The church voted overwhelmingly to accept this motion.

On Sunday, January 8, 2023, we had a “Groundbreaking Ceremony” at the completion of morning worship. We simply threw some dirt around, took pictures, and began to dream about what might be. Later that week the work began.

On Sunday, January 7, 2024, exactly 52 weeks, 364 days later, we held a “Dedication Service” to celebrate the completion of the new building. We had actually eaten breakfast there the previous Sunday, but on that day we gathered in a circle around the new social hall, and we sang and prayed prayers of thanksgiving for what God had allowed to take place in our church.

Now, here is the part that I still have trouble believing. Keep this in mind. I’ve been a pastor for 42 years, five of them at Shellman Bluff. I’ve only been a part of one other building program, and that was in 1984 in south Louisiana when I was still a seminary student. I’ve helped three churches pay off debt. But this is only the second building program from scratch. Keep in mind the dates above.

This past Sunday, January 5, 2025, exactly 52 weeks, 364 days after the Dedication Service, we burned the mortgage note on the building. It’s completely paid off! Almost $1.6 million dollars in labor, materials, equipment and furnishings, and we don’t owe another penny.

What a testimony to the greatness of God, and the faithfulness of His people. I am overwhelmed by it all. I am privileged to serve this wonderful group of people that gathers at Shellman Bluff each week. And I am humbled by the fact that they allow me to be a part of their lives. I am truly blessed. I pray that you will see the greatness of God and the faithfulness of His people wherever you live and serve. That is truly a blessing.

Second Chances

Well, Happy New Year. Yes, when I typed this in order to send it to the editor, I indeed had to go back and correct the date. I typed 2024 out of habit. And I will probably do the same thing on checks and letters more than once in the next few weeks.

Why do we celebrate the new year? In many ways it would seem to be an artificial holiday. And yet, it represents the possibility of a new start. It offers us the opportunity to get things right. Many folks begin the year with resolutions. The intent is to do things differently, and to get better results. Yes, the new year offers us the chance to do things better. It is, in many ways, a second chance.

I am so glad that we have a God who offers us a second chance. He has done so for so many throughout human history. Moses killed a man, went into exile, but returned to lead the Hebrew children out of slavery. Jonah ran from God and his calling, but God rescued him from the belly of the fish to take His message of love to the Ninevites. And Peter denied Jesus three times, and yet he was restored and preached the first Christian sermon on the Day of Pentecost.

And God has done the same thing for so many of us. I have been given second chances on more than one occasion. God has allowed me to fail, forgiven me, and then given me the opportunity to continue to serve Him. Without such grace there would be no hope. But there is grace. There is hope. And it is all because of the goodness and faithfulness of the Lord.

“Born to Die”

“Only seven more sleeps.” That’s how we would describe it to our boys when they were much younger. Only seven more sleeps until Christmas Day. We had a calendar that had pockets for each day of the month, and a little mouse that we would move each morning to show the boys how close it was until the special day. I remember one year my youngest got up early and moved the mouse several days forward. He truly thought that moving that mouse would make it so. Christmas would come early.

Well, we all know it does not work that way. For those of us who are older, the days, weeks, months, and even years, seem to fly by on the wind. I mean, this Sunday my wife and I will have been married 45 years. It just does not seem possible, and yet the man I see in the mirror is clearly, shall we say, much more distinguished, than the man in the picture taken on that day in 1979.

But for children, the days seem to creep slowly forward. There is nothing worse than having to be patient. Finishing the semester of school, and even then having to wait several more days. Oh, will it ever get here!

Think of that first Christmas. Mary and Joseph have travelled from Nazareth to Bethlehem. They were alone and afraid, probably hoping they could get back to their hometown before the baby was born. But God had other plans. Jesus was born in Bethlehem, placed in an animal’s feeding trough, and the world would never be the same.

Jesus’ birth was unlike any other. First, he was conceived in a miraculous manner. Then His birth was announced by angels, attended by shepherds, and considered a threat by the Roman king. But of course, His life and death were also unlike any other. He was perfectly sinless. And He died in our place.

In the midst of the celebrations of Jesus’ birth, let us not forget this important truth. He was born to die. His purpose was to offer us forgiveness and salvation. And for that we give thanks and praise. God is so good. Christmas is certainly one proof of this.

Christmas Music

Later this week my family will travel to Savannah for, “A Christmas Tradition,” at the old Savannah Theatre downtown. It is labeled as the oldest continually operating theater in the United States, and I have to tell you that the folks who run the show do a wonderful job.

Tina and I have attended concerts and shows at the Fox Theater in Atlanta, as well as the Fox Theater in Detroit. We have gone to Christmas shows in Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Greenville and Columbia, South Carolina. We have yet to find one we have enjoyed more than the one in Savannah.

I love the music of Christmas. In fact, I still sing in the choir at our church. Our cantata will be this Sunday morning. My radios, both in my car and in my office, are set for the sounds of the season. I love the sacred Christmas music. Solid favorites like, “Silent Night”, “Away in a Manger”, “O Come All Ye Faithful”, and “O, Holy Night”. But I also want to hear Nat King Cole sing “The Christmas Song”. You simply can’t celebrate the season without it.

Music is a special language that God has given us. Music appeals to the soul, to the heart, to the emotions. When I lived in the upper Midwest it would do my heart good to hear Ray Charles croon, “Georgia on My Mind”. And my wife knows that there is to be no conversation in the car whenever Dan Fogelberg starts to sing, “Leader of the Band”. Perhaps the most fitting lyric ever sung describes my life when it comes to my dad. “My life has been a poor attempt to imitate the man…”

But Christmas music is so often the best of all. We joyfully sing of Santa and reindeer and snowflakes (despite never seeing any of that in these parts), and then we hear of the quiet town of Bethlehem, the angels singing of the birth of a baby, and the great joy of the season. And we are glad. Content even.

I pray that this Christmas season will be a blessing to you. I pray that the music will bring hope and joy to your heart. And may you seek to follow the One came that you might have life, and have it more abundantly.

“Soon it will be Christmas Day”

“City sidewalks, busy sidewalks, dressed in holiday style. In the air there’s a feeling of Christmas…” So begins one of my favorite Christmas songs. Though I don’t live in a city, I enjoy the melody and the lyrics, especially as the song concludes, “Soon it will be Christmas Day.”

And that is indeed the case. Yes, we are still three weeks away, but the time for parties and decorating and shopping and cooking is quickly passing us by. Before you know it you will be turning the calendar to the New Year, and wondering where the time has gone.

I have said it before, but it remains true. When it comes to Christmas, I am just a big kid. I enjoy the lights and the songs, the smells and the foods. There is very little about Christmas that does not get me excited.

My wife and I raised two boys. I did so enjoy shopping for them when they were younger. No matter how old you are, buying toys you wished you could have had (or perhaps you did have) remains a blast. Today we have three granddaughters, ranging in age from two to sixteen. Hot Wheels cars are just not the answer for those girls. I have to depend on my wife for assistance as we make our purchases.

All of our gift-giving is simply a reminder of the greatest gift ever given. God, looking down on the need of those whom He created, saw that we needed a Savior. We needed someone to take our place and pay for our sin. And so, He sent us His Son. I don’t understand that kind of love. But oh, how I am grateful for it. “He became flesh and dwelt in our midst.” That is the greatest gift from the greatest God. And for that we give thanks.