Thanksgiving
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day. I may have mentioned this before, but Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Oh, don’t get me wrong. I love Christmas. The decorations, the music, the gifts. And most of all, The Gift, God’s Son, my Savior, Jesus. But there is something about Thanksgiving that is simple and pure. So far commercialism and materialism have not taken over this day.
Thanksgiving is one day set apart to give thanks. And let us be clear. It is not about giving thanks to your friends, your parents, your children, or your neighbors. No, it is about giving thanks to God.
When we consider all that God has done for us, how we ought to give thanks for His goodness. I know that not everything goes the way we would like it to go. Consider this. I had surgery the last week of September, and it took me most of October to recover. It was not an easy experience. And about the time I started feeling myself, my wife and I were struck by a stomach virus that turned us inside out. Again, it was not an enjoyable time, and it took more than a week to recover from that.
You see, God has not promised us an easy life. In fact, quite the contrary. He has said that we will face trials and tribulations. But He has also promised this. He will not leave us nor forsake us…ever. He can be trusted, because He is both good and great. And so, give Him thanks. Thank you, Lord, for your grace and your mercy.
Lemons and Growing
A couple of years ago I wrote about a little lemon tree in my front yard. It was two-years old, and yet only about 20 inches tall. In spite of that, it produced seven lemons. I called it my little Charlie Brown lemon tree.
Two winters ago the tree got bit by the freeze we had. I really thought it was dead. I didn’t think it would survive. But through Spring and Summer of 2023 leaves began to appear. A handful of blooms sprouted, but following the advice of a friend, I pinched them off. And the tree began to grow.
Fast-forward to 2024. The tree is almost four feet tall. The limbs spread out as wide as it is tall. And it is filled with lemons. I know there are more than 60 on it. And they are huge. Some of the largest lemons I have ever seen. I have propped the tree up with tomato stakes and string so that the limbs don’t collapse on the weight of the lemons.
I’m so looking forward to a lemon icebox pie. We’ve already used a couple in low country boils. And my wife is squeezing lemon juice into her tea.
I’ve never lived anywhere that lemon trees would grow. I grew up on a small farm that had twenty plus apple trees, and two pear trees. And I’ve always been around vegetable gardens. My dad always had a garden, and he taught me all that I know.
Watching stuff grow fascinates me. Lemon trees. Tomato plants. Two-year old granddaughter. And followers of Jesus Christ. In the same way that my lemon tree has grown, God wants His children to grow in their faith. In Ephesians Paul talked about maturing in every way. We grow in our knowledge of Christ, as well as our ability to follow His teachings. I pray that you will grow in your faith and knowledge of Christ. And maybe enjoy a piece of lemon pie.
Our Only Hope
My wife and I have just returned from the annual meeting of the Georgia Baptist Convention. Our church is a part of this convention, and each year I try to attend the annual meeting if I can. There are several reasons. First, we do business that is important. We have missionaries and ministries around our state which we support with our giving, and on occasion with our personal work.
Second, there are many opportunities to worship at this meeting. We sing, and several preachers will speak to us. It’s good for a preacher to hear other preachers on occasion. Quite frankly, it does a body good.
Third, there is always an area for “displays.” Different schools and ministries set up booths to show what they are doing, and how we might become a part of that. I will visit the booths of all three of my alma maters just to see what is happening these days. It doesn’t hurt that all of the displays have bowls filled with candy. I’m always up for a Hershey’s Kiss.
But the real reason I go to the convention is simple. I have the opportunity to visit with friends I don’t see throughout the year. Some were classmates in school. Some are fellow pastors, but we now live several miles apart. We often eat lunch together. It is a good time to catch up.
This year there will be a measure of sadness. One of my best friends in the ministry will not be there. He passed away from a massive heart attack earlier this year. The father of five, he was in his forties. I hope Tina and I will see his widow and their children there. But I’m not sure.
My sadness at losing my friend is tempered by this one truth. I believe in the resurrection. I believe Jesus was raised from the dead, and I believe that everyone of His children will be raised as well. That’s my only hope. Paul wrote, “If in this life only we have hope we are the most pitiable of all.” But then he wrote, “But indeed Christ has been raised from the dead.” In a world filled with sin and sorrow, that is our hope. It is our only hope. I hope that is your hope as well.
Election Results
Shh! Do you hear that? It’s the sound of silence. It’s peace and quiet. No more political ads. No more phone calls and texts. The election is over. We can get back to normal. Except…
Now the handwringing begins. It’s the end of democracy as we know it! I’m sure you’ve heard that by now. And keep in mind, I’m writing this five days prior to election day. We don’t know the results. But depending on which candidate wins, and which news channel you are watching, we are doomed forever, or our nation has been saved.
I want to be clear on this issue. I do believe that elections matter. I do believe in exercising my right to vote, and I will be even more clear. I have strong opinions and thoughts on political issues.
But hear me out. If you believe that the future of the world could be saved or destroyed by what took place yesterday, I think two things are true. One, your opinion of the power of the presidency of the USA is too elevated. And two, and even more importantly, your understanding of the power of the Kingdom of God is not high enough.
Again, I am not saying that political issues do not matter at all. But my understanding of the nature of God reminds me of this. He has endured the abysmal reigns of kings and dictators in other places in the world. And He has outlived every good and every bad president this nation has had. And He is still the Sovereign Lord of the universe.
In other words, our hope is not in the ballot box. Our hope is in God. No matter who was elected yesterday to serve our nation for the next four years, God remains on His throne, and He still cares for His children. He can be trusted. He is good. I hope that you will hang your hat on that.
Day By Day
I am grateful for the opportunity to address you each week in our local paper. I never really know exactly how many people are reading, but I am encouraged occasionally as someone tells me they have enjoyed a column.
I enjoy writing. Of course, I’m not sure I would have said that in my college or graduate school days. It seemed as if a paper was due every other week, and in fact that was often the case. And even now, writing for a deadline can be a challenge. Sometimes I forget, and I get a friendly email reminder from the publisher, “Columns?” Quite succinct and to the point. And sometimes I sit at my desk and ponder, seeking inspiration from above.
But most of the time I just write about life. It’s funny how every day occurrences have so much to teach us about God and faith. But that’s just it. It’s not the great things that we do that change the world. It’s everyday life.
There is an Old Testament story about a man who was quite sick. He learned of a prophet who could heal, and traveled to him. The prophet did not bother to come and see the sick man. He simply sent word, “Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan River and you will be well.”
This offended the man Naaman. In the first place, he was a man of position, and for the prophet not to come to him was upsetting. And then the Jordan River was not the nicest or cleanest of rivers. “How dare he!” was all he could think.
But some of his servants spoke with Naaman. “What if the prophet had told you to do some great thing? Would you have done it? Why don’t you try his way?” And that’s what Naaman did. He went to the Jordan, followed the instructions, and he was healed.
I am afraid that many people are waiting for their “big opportunity.” What great thing will God have me to do? And sometimes the Lord simply calls us to walk with Him day by day in the everyday affairs of life. What about you? What is God calling you to do? The best way to find out is simply to take the next step of faith, whatever that may be.
Share
We are getting closer and closer to the holiday season. In fact, there are hints of it all around us. Many retail establishments already have some decorations in place. It seems that they start earlier and earlier every year. And the reason is pretty simple. If we start shopping this early, we are likely to spend more than if we wait until Black Friday or later.
I am a kid at heart when it comes to holiday celebrations. I am quick to get out the decorations, and for the most part I think the more the merrier. I have drawn the line at getting on a roof since my 60th birthday, but beyond that I am all in.
And the music? I love it. In fact, our choir has been practicing for its music cantata since the second Sunday in September. It takes a minute to get a group of non-professionals ready, so we start that early. And I don’t mind. By the day after Thanksgiving I will have my car radio set to one of the stations that plays only Christmas music, and I will sing along to every one of them.
But I am aware that the holiday season can be a challenge. Perhaps this is the first one without that special someone. Or, it just may be another time when the divisions in your family cannot be mended. Or, there could be any other number of reasons, but the fact is that holidays are a burden for some.
I want to bring you two measures of encouragement. First, Paul told us to, “Bear one another’s burdens.” Would you look around this year and see if there is someone you can encourage during this time? Perhaps you could set another place at the table. Maybe you could purchase one more gift or write one more card. But be aware. Pay attention. Spread the love.
Second, if the time is hard, don’t look within for strength. Look up. God really does love you, and He wants the best for you. He has promised, “If you seek me, you will find me.” I’ve found that a promise to be true. The Lord is with us. He will help us. He can be trusted.
Adopted into the Family
I’m getting old. You want to know how I know this? My oldest son turns 40 today. I remember turning 40. My mom called and asked me how it felt to be 40. Feeling a bit snarky I replied, “Well, how does it feel to have a child who is 40?” She let it slide, but today I am repentant of that smart-aleck remark. What goes around comes around.
I was not present 40 years ago when my son was born. Neither was my wife. You see, we adopted him when he was two. I remember that day like it was yesterday. It was a Wednesday morning. We were called by the social worker and told, “We have a blond-headed two-year-old boy looking for a home. Are you interested?”
It didn’t take long to answer that question. By three o’clock in the afternoon, following a brief stop at “Toy R Us,” we were home. He had a Big Wheel and a ball and bat, and we were having a blast. The years since that time have flown. He is now a girl dad. Who would have thought it?
The Bible says that God has adopted us, at least those who have placed their faith in Him. Paul wrote, “He has given us the spirit of adoption, whereby we call Him, Abba, Father.” God did not have to do that. He did not need us. We needed Him, and He has made a way for us to be a part of His family. What a blessing that is!
My sons were an answer to prayer for my wife and me. And we were an answer to their needs, even if they were too young to pray for us. My oldest, the one with the birthday, called me Daddy on the ride home that day. What a moment that was!
And God thinks of me as His son. I can’t get over that. He chose me. He loves me. And I know that He loves you. I pray that you will experience the thrill of being adopted into the family of God. There is nothing like it.
Ignore It or Fix it
I guess you can say that I am still somewhat in recovery mode. I had a bit of surgery at the end of September and I’m still getting over it a bit. I had sinus surgery. I’ve had a few more sinus attacks and head colds in recent years, and breathing through my nose has become increasingly more difficult. So, I finally made the decision to have it done.
Upon examining me and reading the scan, the doctor asked me a question. “So, did you play basketball or hockey?” He was saying that things were a little crooked up there. What’s funny is that I have been popped in the nose by elbows plenty of times over the years, but I was never actually diagnosed with a broken nose. So, I had never had any type of treatment to fix it.
A lot of things in life are like that. There is a problem, but we have not addressed it. We seem to think that if we just ignore what is going on it will finally go away. We do that with breaks in relationships. We do that with difficulties on the job. It seems that the most frequent place we do so is in our family life.
Jesus told us to deal with such issues. On one occasion He said (this is the Brad paraphrase), “If you have a problem with a brother, and you find yourself at church, stop pretending to worship, go to your brother, and make amends.”
Sounds pretty simple. But in many ways it’s harder than hard. First, it’s hard to admit that we are the problem. Second, we aren’t sure how the other person will respond to us. And so, too often we simply pretend that nothing is wrong, and go on living a lie.
My sinus problems weren’t going away. I’ve been dealing with them for decades. I needed to let the doctor fix the issue. And we need to let the Lord work in our lives to fix the issues that divide us and tear us apart. I pray that you will do that today. And I pray that the Lord will go before you to make that happen.
Contentment
Recently my wife and I went on vacation in the North Carolina mountains. We stayed in a wonderful cabin near the beautiful village of Highlands. We didn’t do a lot. We took a couple of hikes. Ate some good food. Drove around the area. Mostly we rested. It was a wonderful week of relaxation.
There was one thing that struck me on the trip, and I thought about it even more when I returned to church the following Wednesday night. My topic for that evening was, “The Ten Commandments for Today.” I walked through each of the commands to speak of its relevance to our time and our lives.
Well, here is what hit me. One day we drove down to the main drag in Highlands. We were on a quest for gifts for granddaughters. There were many wonderful shops, and we were successful in our adventure. Then I had apple pie flavored ice cream. Enough said.
But as I was walking back to my wife’s car, I noticed something. My wife has a very nice, relatively new vehicle. It is a 2023 Buick Enclave, well-equipped. It was perfect for the trip. Lots of room, comfortable, and easy to drive. But looking around that evening I realized that her car was likely the least expensive vehicle parked on the street. I’m talking about high end automobiles, one after the other.
One of the Ten Commandments simply says, “Do not covet…” To covet is to long for something that belongs to another. It leads to theft, to envy, and to discontent. I had to stop that evening and take stock of my life. The simple truth is that I am blessed. Contentment with what you have, and gratitude for what you have been given are of such great importance.
Paul wrote, “In everything give thanks, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” I pray that you will find contentment and joy in the gifts of God. Be grateful. He is good.
“It’s Not About You
“It’s not about you.” Those are the opening words to Rick Warren’s book, The Purpose Driven Life. And I once heard a great preacher begin his sermon in this way. “I don’t know much, but this much I know. There is a God, and I’m not Him.”
The Bible teaches that God made human beings in His own image. Theologians have debated for centuries just what that means. But what I find interesting is that, in many ways, human beings have been attempting to recreate God in their own image. In other words, we want God to conform to our wants and needs.
Years back there was a bumper sticker that was quite popular for Christians. It read, “God is my Co-Pilot.” That’s cute, but there’s a problem with it. If God is your co-pilot you’re sitting in the wrong seat. Unless I am mistaken, the pilot is the boss over the co-pilot. The co-pilot is supposed to obey the pilot.
Jesus once said, “If you love me you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15). As Henry Blackaby, author of Experiencing God, said, “Partial obedience is disobedience.” And he went on to explain that if we are not obeying God then we cannot truly claim to love Him.
Even I find the words I’m writing here to be a bit harsh. But they are true. I need to remember that only God is God. He is the creator and sustainer of the universe, and He created you and me for a purpose. He loves us and has a wonderful plan for our lives. But one thing that God does not do is this. He does not say to us, “You do you. Just be what you want to be and it will be okay.”
Rather Jesus said, “Take up your cross daily and follow me.” The road Jesus travelled was filled with trouble and trials. It has rocks and winds and turns that are difficult to navigate. But it is also a road that He knows well, and while we may find it hard to navigate, He is able to get us where He is leading us.
I am aware that following Jesus can be a challenge. But I want to go where He is going. I want to follow Him, because I know that He knows what is best for me. Accept the challenge with me to follow Jesus. I’m not saying the journey will be easy. But I am saying that it will be worth it.
Favorite Season
Well, Sunday is the first day of Fall. Aren’t you excited? We will have the joy of experiencing crisp and cool mornings, and temps will hover in the 70’s throughout the day. Uh, wait just a minute. That was exactly what I enjoyed last week. My wife and I were in a cabin in Highlands, North Carolina. It was wonderful.
But reality check. We are still in Southeast Coastal Georgia. I don’t think Fall temperatures will magically appear because we turn the page on the calendar. It takes Fall just a little bit longer to reach us than it does other places. And can I share a secret with you? I don’t mind at all.
Now listen. Fall is actually my favorite season of the year. I love going to the mountains for a few days of rest and relaxation. But it’s what follows Fall in many places that gets to me. I’m not a cold weather fan. Yes, my family lived in the upper Midwest (Indiana and Michigan) for more than 14 years. We served wonderful churches and made marvelous friendships. But do I miss the weather? Let me just say it this way. I’ll take August here over February in Michigan 24/7/365 without any hesitation.
In fact, I promised God when we moved back south that I would not complain about the heat, and I have kept that promise. Don’t get me wrong. I love air conditioning. But the cold wears me out. Still, when the Lord led us to move to the north we did so, and happily served Him there.
I am reminded that Paul wrote to the Philippians and said, “I am content no matter the circumstances.” What a great attitude the apostle had. And he lived that way. Even from prison, where he wrote that letter, he spoke about joy and rejoicing and made it clear that the Lord was all that he needed.
I don’t know the circumstances of your life right now. But I know that the Lord is with us. He has promised never to forsake His children. Even in the midst of the storms of life, He can be trusted. I pray that you will learn to trust Him.
Fear Not
Do you remember where you were, and what you were doing, 23 years ago this morning? I was in metropolitan Detroit, having breakfast with a number of other pastors when the owner of the place hurried into the room where we were eating. “They’re attacking us on our own soil!” he exclaimed. “You’ve got to come and see.”
We followed him to the front of the restaurant where he had a tiny television showing the news footage of smoke in the first tower. It was only a couple of minutes before we saw the second plane hit the second tower. Of course, you know the story of what happened next. Just the phrase, “September 11,” brings back the memory.
Many things have changed since that day. It is much more of an ordeal to board a plane. We are suspicious of those who do not look like we do. We simply do not trust others as we once did. And many folks live in constant fear of what might happen next.
I do not, in any way, wish to minimize the awful events and consequences of that day. Like an earlier president said of Pearl Harbor Day, it is a day that lives in infamy. Perhaps you know someone who was impacted by the attacks of that day. Even if a friend or family member enlisted in the armed forces following that day, you are aware of the way life has changed since then.
But I want to remind you of this fact. The Lord has spoken this to us many times in His word. “Do not fear.” “Fear not.” “Do not be afraid.” No matter how it is translated, it means the same thing. Trust God. Paul said that the Lord has, “not given us the spirit of fear.”
I know that there are fearful things in this world. But I trust in the God who raised His Son from the grave, permanently defeating even death in that moment. And I know that He is able. And so, I trust Him. I pray that you will do the same.
Best-Lived Book
“Do you understand what you are reading?” These were the words that Philip asked the man from Ethiopia. “How can I, unless someone guides me,” was the response, and from that point Philip began to explain to him the meaning of the Scriptures.
When I read those verses I am reminded of conversations I have had with folks along the way. “I’ve tried reading the Bible, but I just can’t understand it.” And I get that. Even Peter wrote about Paul, “There are some things in his letters that are hard to understand.”
On the other hand, theologians have a word to describe the Bible. It is perspicuity. In English the word means plain to understand, or free from obscurity. So, theologians speak of the perspicuity of the Scriptures.
What is meant is simple. The Bible can be understood. There are places that are not obvious to all. There are passages that are challenging to discern. But the overall message of the Bible is clear and can be comprehended.
Do you understand what the Bible says? Or is it a challenging book that you consider to be beyond your comprehension. I would like to offer you a challenge.
Commit yourself to reading the Bible, seeking better to understand what it is saying to you. That is something that will benefit every person reading his column.
Find a modern, readable translation. Set aside a specific time each day for reading. Pray before you start, asking God for wisdom and help. Pray when you are done, asking God to help you apply what you have learned. Don’t hurry. Take your time and meditate on what you have read.
And finally, consider this. The point of Bible study/reading is not more knowledge. It is life change. We all need to have a better understanding of what the Bible says. But the purpose for reading is to do what it says. The Bible is not meant simply to be read and enjoyed. It is to be lived.
The Bible, by every measure, is the best-selling book of all time. My prayer is that it will become the best-lived book of all time.
Risk
I have several items on display in my office. Diplomas from Shorter College and two seminaries. My ordination certificate. Pictures of family. And then there are plaques and pictures that have been given to me. Some have Bible verses, one has a prayer, and one speaks of the work that is done in a pastor’s study.
Two items on the wall hold a special place in my heart. The first is a cross stitch that my wife did for me more than 40 years ago. It is the picture of an open Bible with the cross and a world globe laying across. It has the date of my ordination stitched at the bottom. It is a reminder that the job of a pastor must be guided by the Bible, latched to the cross, and is for the people of the world, wherever I find myself.
The second picture is a painting of Jesus kneeling between three sheep. There are flowers and trees in the background. The painting, as best I know, was an original. It is not the finest work of art I have ever seen. But the origin of the painting makes it special to me.
I was the pastor for a young lady who was a missionary in a country where following Jesus is a dangerous adventure. She served as a teacher and a friend to women in this country, and the painting was done by a lady who put her trust in Christ. That, in and of itself, was a crime, and sometimes punishable by execution. But for this young woman, it was worth the risk. Jesus had changed her life, and she was committed to follow Him.
Every time I look at the painting I am reminded that there are believers around the world who risk their lives every day for their faith, and I am reminded to pray for them. I thank God for them. I admire them. I want to be as faithful as they are.
Occasionally in the USA someone says something derogatory about Christians and our faith. We are often quick to be offended by such. I want to remember that this is only a mild thing. We have brothers and sisters who face much more than we do, and I want to pray for them. I hope you will join me in doing just that.
Weather the Storm
School is well underway here in McIntosh County. In fact, by the time you read this the Bucs will have already played their first football game and will be preparing for game two this Friday. I think it’s too hot for football.
I remember when we did not start school until after Labor Day, and the first football game would be that Friday. It was warm, but not as bad. Of course, back then they would play ten consecutive weeks, and fewer teams made the state playoffs. So, with school starting as early as it does (blame it on the semester system replacing quarters), and with bye weeks and more playoff games, there are three weeks of football in August.
I am glad that my favorite sport was played indoors. We never had to battle the elements during a basketball game (my dad told me that he played two outside basketball games in the 1950’s, but I’ve always wondered if he was, “misremembering”).
No matter, the wind never impacted my jump shot. I never had to run the court in the rain. The sun could not be blamed for getting in my eyes. No, basketball was played in perfect conditions on a hardwood court.
Life is more often like football than basketball. Not only are they playing in the heat right now, but it is likely they will have rain and cold impact them before the season is over. And they have to play through it. Unless there is lightning, football games are played. And the mud and the rain and the cold and the heat all play a role in the outcome.
And so, your life is impacted by the storms of life. There are only three kinds of people. Those in the midst of a storm. Those coming out of a storm. And those about to enter a storm. How you navigate life’s storms tells much about you. Remember that the disciples were in the boat on the lake because they were obeying Jesus. He told them to go to the other side. So, storms don’t indicate that you are out of His will.
The Lord doesn’t keep us out of storms. He goes with us through those storms. I pray that you will trust the One who walked on water and stilled the storm. He will take care of you.
Better Way
I recently took a trip to New York City. My son has been working on Long Island, and I wanted to visit with him. The Braves were going to be in town, and I had a birthday that week, so I splurged and made the trip. It was great. The Braves lost, but the time spent with my son was well worth the time and money spent.
As part of the trip I drove my car to the Savannah airport, took a plane to New York City, and then, while in the city I used a variety of means to navigate from place to place. I rode a bus and a train, and then, for the first times in my life I rode the subway, an uber, and a cab. Yeah, I’m a country boy. I haven’t been to any city very often, much less the largest one in our nation.
I traveled from the airport to a train station to meet my son. Then we took a combination of subway and bus to get to my hotel. Then there was the train and an uber to get to the game. And finally, I took a taxi to get back to the airport. Why so many methods? Well, the only two methods that would have gotten me everywhere were the taxi or uber. But that would have been expensive. The bus would have gotten us most places, and was inexpensive, but it stopped every other block. It would have taken forever. Neither the subway nor the train went everywhere I needed to go. So, I tried to use the most convenient and cost-effective method for each trip.
In life we often use many methods to attain our goals. We go to school, we read and listen to experts, we try things on our own. Many people use these same kinds of methods for getting to God. But Jesus was rather plain when He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except by me.” There it is. Jesus claimed that faith in Him was the only way to God. That is a bitter pill for many to swallow. But it is exactly what Jesus said about Himself. I pray that you will consider His claims. Read the New Testament Gospels and learn about Him. His way is always the better way.
Seek to be Meek
“The meek will inherit the earth.” That is what Jesus said in His sermon on the mount. It was one of the Beatitudes. The full quote is, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”
For many today, that is one of the things that is questioned about Jesus. In fact, I once heard a man say, “No, the strong will inherit the earth. The weak will get stomped along the way.” Did you notice the subtle difference in what he said? He used the word weak instead of meek. That is a mistake made by many.
When I think of meekness, I think of my dad. He was quiet. He rarely raised his voice. But he was strong. And I knew that it was in my best interest to obey him.
I’ll never forget the day. I was in third grade. Dad came home from work and walked to my room. Closing the door he said, “We need to talk, Sport.” And I immediately froze. I couldn’t remember what I had done wrong. Why would we need to talk?
He quickly told me that I was not in trouble, and then he informed me that he and mom wanted me to take piano lessons. He shared many reasons for that. Music was a great discipline, it would make me better educated and more rounded. And on he went. Three times I said to him, “But I don’t want to take piano lessons.” After the third time he stood up and responded, “Your objections have been heard. You start Tuesday.”
And with that it was done. I took piano lessons for 8 years. Sometimes I loved it, and at others I hated it. But make no mistake about it. I took piano lessons. That quiet, gentle man laid down the law, and I did what he said.
I hope you will see that meekness is far from weakness. Meekness, in the Bible, says that the person is not self-willed, not concerned with getting one’s own way, but willing to submit to achieve what is good for others. It is the opposite of self-will and self-interest. It is Christ-like behavior. I need to work at being meek. Perhaps you do as well. I pray that we will seek to be meek so that we might be more like our Savior.
The Storm
I spoke in last week’s column a little about playing basketball in high school. I was part of the second generation of three to play for Dacula High School in Gwinnett County. My mom and dad played in the 1950’s, my sister and I played from 1975-81, and my niece and nephew played in the early 2000’s. My mom, sister, nephew, and I all played in the Georgia state tournament. Mom was a state champion.
I played JV ball my freshman year, and the next year I was on both the JV and varsity teams until Christmas when I played strictly varsity. That was not terribly impressive though, given our ream. During my sophomore year, we lost twenty games. We won two. Beat Jackson County twice. That was it.
We improved a lot my junior year, winning more than we lost. And then, my senior year we put it together. We won 26 and lost 3, winning the region, regular and tournament championships, and losing to the eventual state champion in the playoffs. From two wins to twenty-six. I was one of two seniors on that team. The only one to start.
I’ve often thought of how proud I was to be a part of turning a program around. Two years after I graduated, our school won the state title. We won five consecutive region titles from 1977-81. It was a lot of fun.
But do you know what? Which year do you think I learned the most? The truth is that I learned more the season we lost all those games than I did the other year. I learned what not to do. I learned about personal relationships. I learned how to deal with adversity. It wasn’t fun. I didn’t enjoy it. But I learned.
Sometimes God takes us throught the storm. He never leaves us or forsakes us. But He allows us to go thorugh the storms in order to fashion and form us into the people he wants us to be. I pray that as you go through the storms of life, you will learn to trust the One who is able to help. God is with us. We can trust Him.
The Big One
I will celebrate a birthday later this week. This is a big one. The Federal government sent me a gift. It’s my Medicare Card. You would not believe how much mail I have received since January offering me the best deals on Medicare supplements or advantage plans and the like. Or maybe you would. Some of you have already been through it. When I have mentioned it to a couple of friends they have referred to me as, “a mere baby'“.
Well, I have to tell you that I don’t feel like a baby. There are the aches and pains that go with growing older. And my wife has asked me more than once. “Was it worth it? Would you do it all again if you knew?”
Her question refers to the many years of abusing my knees and hips and ankles, not to mention elbows and shoulders, flinging my body around on a basketball court, and throwing a baseball or softball. And I always smile and say, “Absolutely.” I loved it then, and I still have fond memories today. I would do it all again.
I remember both aspects of games. I blocked the shot of George Rogers in a game my senior season. Yes, the Heisman Trophy winner! I’m certain he remembers nothing about it. But I got at least a blocked shot without a foul. And we won the region tournament and went to the state tournament for the first time in a decade for our school. The thrill of victory.
And I missed a free throw that would have clinched the county championship, only to watch an opponent make a shot to tie the game. We would lose in overtime. The agony of defeat.
But there were lessons learned in both victory and defeat, and they have stayed with me through the years. Preparation matters. Teamwork matters. Not quitting matters. They matter on the ball field/court. And they matter in life.
I’m grateful for the lessons of life that the Lord has taught me on the diamond and in the pulpit. And I pray that I will continue to learn as long as He grants me breath.