New Year Nuances

I have a hate/love relationship with this time of year.  Business wise, bringing in the New Year means that some extra work needs to be done to close out the previous year and plan for the new year.   The end of the year also means tax prep is just around the corner, which I avoid like the plague.  I'm a "routine" guy, so I am pretty good at doing the same things that are important every day.  But, the "once a year" things are tough for me.  I find that the hardest part of tackling the "once a year" things is starting them.  Once I start them, I can sometimes almost enjoy the process, and the feeling of accomplishment when those things are finished makes it all worthwhile.  Personally, the new year also presents opportunities for fresh starts.  Those can be more challenging than the business fresh starts.  Each year, I find myself making good on commitments to change for the first few weeks, and sometimes a couple of months, but it seems the natural cycle of the seasons pushes me back to the routines that I have been in for 62 years.   I pray for more consistency this year, and if you have some changes that you are thinking about making, I pray the same for you.

The Great Mystery

This is the first year in a while that Caroline and I have not been a part of The Georgia Wind Symphony.  We elected to take a break this year.  While we felt the break was needed, we definitely miss being a part of the group, and especially the Christmas concert.  One of my favorite songs of all time (any genre) is O Magnum Mysterium.  I have posted about this song in the past, but when I think of my favorite Christmas memories, this performance always rises to the top of the list.  Here are the lyrics from the original composition:

O great mystery,

and wonderful sacrament,

that animals should see the newborn Lord,

lying in a manger!

O blessed virgin, whose womb

was worthy to bear

the Lord Jesus Christ.

Alleluia!

My favorite choral performance was at King's College in Cambridge with the original Latin lyrics.  Take a moment to be still and focus on the reason for this season.  Merry Christmas.

Skeptic's Struggle

 

Most of my closest friends believe Jesus is the son of God and that God sent him to earth to show us how He meant for things to be, but I have plenty of acquaintances that don't.  Some deny that Jesus was the son of God, and others don't believe there is any God at all.  Some believe that Jesus was an important historical figure, but don't choose to follow him.  Many just don't want to think about it and have the position, "I don't know, and I'm too busy with stuff to think about it."  Talking about Jesus with people who don't believe is difficult for me, but I think it is easier to talk to someone who has carefully considered Jesus as the Son of God than someone who just doesn't care to think about it.  Julie Hannah is a mathematics professor in Johannesburg.   While her parents took her to church when she was young, her mom told her she did not believe in God.  As a teenager, Julie decided for herself that Christianity was nonsense.  As a young adult she studied other religions attempting to find a worldview that worked for her.   She also studied science looking for creation stories that could debunk any hope for a story based on intelligent design.  Nothing satisfied her.  She went back to the gospels and found a new attraction to the life and message of Jesus, but it was a recognition of her own inability to control the sin in her life that brought her to her belief that what she was reading in the Bible was true.  Praise God for never giving up on Julie and for Julie's willingness to share her story.  For more on Julie, read this article in Christianity Today, and for more detail on her personal research, check out her book.  I hope I have more opportunities to talk to people about what Jesus has done for me.

For Such A Time As This

 

Our Connect Group from church wrapped up our study of the book of Esther last night.  Esther grew up Jewish, but her heritage was not known in the Persia where she was living.  Due to her physical beauty, she was selected by King Xerxes as his queen.   One of Xerxes' lieutenants, Haman, came up with a plan to annihilate all of the Jews in the area and was able to get the king's approval for the plan.   Esther's uncle, Mordecai, was also living undercover as a Jew and learned of Haman's plan to kill the Jews.  Mordecai admonished Esther to use her influence as queen to get Xerxes to reconsider the plan, but in doing so her Jewish heritage would be revealed, which could lead to her own death.  In his closing to his argument Mordecai states, "And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this."   Esther is obedient and the Jews are spared.  Haman's fate was not as good.  He was impaled on the stake that he had built and intended for Mordecai.  

We will have mountain top moments in our life and our faith when it seems like there is nothing that can separate us from the light of God.  We will also have times when we feel that we are in the deepest of valleys, and that there is no hope of being delivered from the darkness that surrounds us.  Esther teaches us that it is in those moments when we need to depend on God's faithfulness for the strength to deliver us from the pain we are in.  Who knows that we might be in that position for such a time as this.  I found this worship song that does a beautiful job of describing this.

Comfort In Pain

 

Horatio Spafford was a successful attorney and real estate investor, but lost his fortune in one of the worst economic collapses in the country's history.  Later that year, he lost his 4 year old son to a debilitating disease.  With what money he had left, he decided to send his family on a trip to separate them from his work and soothe the pain of their loss.  He arranged for his wife and four remaining children to board a ship from the states bound for England, and he would join them after tying up some loose ends with his work.  Two days after boarding the boat, Horatio received a cryptic notification from his wife which said "Saved alone.  What should I do?"  He then learned that the ship his family was on had been hit by another ship, and his family's ship had sunk.  Over 200 people died, including his four daughters.  His wife survived.   Horatio left immediately to join his wife in England, and part of the way into the trip, the captain let him know they were passing over the spot where the shipwreck had occurred.  In the midst of unbearable pain, Horatio wrote these words of comfort.  "When peace like a river attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll - whatever thou lot, thou hast taught me to know, it is well, it is well with my soul."  The year was 1873, and Horatio had just penned what would become one of the most well-known hymns ever written.   God did not promise that life on this earth would be easy, but He did promise that He would be with us and that He would comfort us.

I was first introduced to Wintley Phipps at a company meeting when he performed one of the most moving performances of Amazing Grace that I have ever heard, but I just found his arrangement of It is Well today.  Take a moment to feel the comfort of God's presence.

Thanks A Billion

I'm thankful that at least once a year the holiday schedule reminds us to be thankful.  Being thankful is one of the healthiest states of mind because it takes my mind off of my problems and points it towards all the good in my life.  More importantly, it takes my mind off of myself and points it to others.   I am thankful I have work that is meaningful.   I get to work with Janet, who has been with me for 17 years, and my son, Michael, who has been with me for 10.   I am thankful for many great clients who make working a joy  and the others that create opportunities for growth.  I am thankful for my extended family, many of which are close by.  I am especially thankful for my immediate family.  I would rather be with them than anyone else in the world.  I am most thankful that God sent his son Jesus to die for my sins, and that He reveals Himself to me as a seek to know Him more.  I hope you have much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. 

The Shepherd shepherding

If you are looking for a great place to spend the night in Clemson, be sure to check out The Shepherd Hotel.  It is a high end hotel with some of the best service around thanks to its relationship with Clemson Life.  You may already be familiar with Clemson Life, or remember it from this post I made 8 years ago.  The story is unforgettable.   Clemson Life helps students with disabilities learn how to live on their own, and one of my clients and neighbors at the lake, David Saville, was featured in that video.  The Shepherd Hotel opened last year and hired 60 students associated with the Clemson Life program to provide the highest level of service possible to its guests.  Check it out for yourself the next time you are in the area.

Adrift No More

 

Vinh Chung graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BA in Biology from Harvard University and received his medical degree from Harvard Medical School.  He is now a board-certified dermatologist in Colorado Springs, specializing in treating skin cancer using the Mohs surgical technique.

In 1979, Vinh was four years old and floating adrift on a derelict fishing boat off the coast of Malaysia with 92 others including his mother, father and siblings.   Vinh was one of the 300,000 boat people forced to flee Vietnam under the threat of persecution and  death.  On one of the last days that he was on the boat, Vinh saw his father fall to his knees and pray to his creator for the first time.  His father was praying for rain that might save them from dehydration and allow them to live a few more days.  Almost immediately, the skies turned dark and the rains came.

That same year, Stan Mooneyham was the  president of World Vision, a Christian humanitarian aid organization bringing relief to those in need.  Knowing of the crisis in Vietnam, World Vision purchased a WWII service boat and had it reconditioned into a rescue boat.  The mission was to try to bring aid to any of the refugees that were lost at sea, and was named Operation Seasweep .  After days at sea, and finding no refugee boats, Seasweep was almost out of fuel and water and was preparing to return to port, but in the distance they saw a small fishing boat filled with refugees bobbing in the sea.  On that day Vinh and 92 others were saved.

Vinh is now on the board at World Vision and has published his memoir, Where the Wind Leads, detailing the story.  Click here for a preview of the book, and if you have more time, click here for the full story of Seasweep including footage of the actual rescue.

Girl Power

 

I have a lot of important females in my life - starting with my mom who lives next door to us, and my loving wife, Caroline, who lives next door to her...(with me!).  Then there is my amazing daughter, Lizzy, and equally amazing daughter-in-law, Emily.  Those two females gave me 5 more spirited granddaughters that bring us so much joy.  

I hear and read about a lot of girls that are hurting.  They hurt because they may not like the way they look, or they aren't accepted by the cool kids at school.  Many are bullied, and in the most extreme cases, they are taken advantage of.  

Some of you may be familiar with Tori Kelly.  She is an accomplished singer with a long career, but do you remember that she got her start on American Idol when Simon did not vote her through and described her as a human orange?  I am pretty sure that was not the only criticism that she endured trying to make a name for herself.  I found this video of her testimony which should serve as encouragement for any of us that sometimes feel like we are not enough.  Tori sings both pop and worship music.  I was mesmerized as she leads worship here singing about the reckless love of God.

I pray that all the females in my life, and females everywhere, find their identity in Christ and their joy in His reckless love.

Looking For Joy

 

Last week, I posted about a Christian comedian, John Crist. John has definitely brought me some laughs over the years.   Watching a good comedian can take the edge off and bring some temporary relief to a monotonous day or even some more serious struggles.   But lasting joy only comes from a connection with our creator - and that creator sent his son, Jesus, to earth to reveal himself to us.  I was looking for a worship song to help express that feeling and found this one by Tauren Wells and Elevation Worship.  "If it's not good, then He's not done, no He's not done with it yet, there will Be Joy in the morning".   Take a few minutes and meditate on those words.

Seriously?

Let's face it, this blog usually deals with some pretty serious topics - serious to me, at least.  Last week, I had some thoughts on the war in Gaza/Israel.  A lot of times it is about something I heard at church or in our small group, and sometimes it is about something that inspired me.  I admit to taking myself way too seriously most of the time, but that is my nature.   My son, Michael, and his wife went to hear John Crist at the Fox Theater this past Saturday.  You may be familiar with John from some of his YouTube videos.  He is a Christian that is all about finding laughs at our own expense.  I'm pretty sure God has a great sense of humor, and I know he loves humility.  Here is a short clip of John doing stand-up.  I know I need a few more belly laughs, and maybe you do too.

Terror Rains Down

The military leader of the terrorist group in the Holy Land announced his intentions to kill every Jew within reach - his barbaric actions based on centuries of hate.  Fortunately, God placed two people, their Jewish heritage hidden, within the trusted circle of the terrorist and his cabinet.  At great risk to their own lives, the two Jews were able to convince the terrorist organization's leader to spare the Jews, and a notice was sent to the Jewish towns warning them of the threat and encouraging them to prepare their defense.  Many Jewish lives were spared 2500 years ago due to Esther and Mordecai's courage to stand in the face of danger.   I wish that last Saturday, someone would have had the same influence within the Hamas organization that could have saved thousands of Jewish lives.  Now, my prayer is that Hamas would feel the unrelenting resilience of the Jewish people and fold quickly under the threat of annihilation, hopefully sparing more innocent lives in Israel and in Gaza.  I pray that God will show his face to anyone with a desire to see Him.

Refusing To Bow

 

In the Book of Esther, Mordecai refuses to bow down to the ruthless Haman, who had been appointed as the right-hand-man to King Xerxes.  After Mordecai revealed his Jewish ancestry, Haman ordered not only Mordecai to be killed, but all Jews.  What happens next is for future posts, but Mordecai's refusal to kneel paints a picture of faith under fire.

In 1936, August Landmesser attended a rally, led by Adolf Hitler, to christen a new ship and was identified in this photo as the man with crossed arms refusing to salute Hitler.  He had become disenchanted with the party when the party tried to intervene in his relationship with Irma Eckler, a Jewish woman.  Both Landmesser and Eckler were sent to separate concentration camps.  Eckler died among 14,000 others exterminated by the Nazi's there.  Landmesser died performing dangerous service as a part of the penal battalion that he was assigned to.

We may not be faced with genocide and concentration camps, but every day we have the opportunity to stand up for our faith or hide it from the world.  I want to stand more.

Loving Life

 

One of my closest friends is John Crawford.  I met him in 1980 at UGA when we were both in the Redcoat Band.  Our lives have many intersecting points.  I am his insurance client.  He is my real estate client. My wife works for him.  But more than anything, he has been a spiritual mentor for me for 40 years.  John has four sons, and the oldest is Luke.  Luke is married to Elizabeth, and 9 months ago they were excited to announce that they were pregnant with a child, which would be John's first grandchild.  Shortly after that, the family was saddened to find out that their baby had a condition called Anencephaly. Anencephaly is a rare, serious condition where the baby's brain does not develop completely and cannot survive for long outside of the womb. Many, if not most parents, would make the decision to end the pregnancy. Luke and Elizabeth never considered that option.  They wanted the opportunity to hold their baby and love it for any time that they could. Last week, baby Nathaniel was born and loved as much as any baby could be loved for a full hour before passing into the loving arms of Jesus. The family was grateful for the time they had with Nathaniel and recognized that Nathaniel was one of the few children that never experienced any pain or sadness on earth. We all praise God for that, and I praise God for the value that Luke and Elizabeth placed on Nathaniel's life. Their story is a miracle for me.

Hero's tribute

 

Michael W. Smith is one of the titans of the contemporary Christian music genre.  We have been singing his songs in church and along with him on the radio and streaming for over 30 years.  Earlier this month, I was looking for a way to reflect on the events of 9/11 and came across this worship performance led by Michael which premiered in June of this year.  I learned that Michael had released his album entitled "Worship" on 9/11/2001, and the music in this 2013 performance is from that 2001 album.  He was joined by other performers, including Amy Grant, another one of my favorite Christian artists.  Decades ago, Amy helped give Michael rise to prominence as Michael served as her keyboardist and eventually the opening act for her concerts.  If you have been reading this blog for a while, you know of my love for orchestral music.  Michael is also a gifted orchestral arranger, so this performance with a full orchestra is of particular significance to me.   This link is for the full one hour performance.  If  you don't have that much time, here is Michael's video of his chart topping mainstream song, "My Place in This World".  Praise God for Michael's talent and his willingness to use it to help build God's kingdom here on Earth.

Wine and Women

Last night in our ConnectGroup meeting, we dove head first into the book of Esther.  We talked about the 4 main characters.  King Xerxes - the ruler over Persia known for his love of wine and beautiful women, but not so much for his leadership qualities.  Haman - the king's first lieutenant with a treacherous desire for power.  Mordecai - a Jewish exile that was quiet, but defiant and determined.  Eshter - Mordecai's cousin, also a Jewish exile, caught Xerxes's eye.  Xerxes was so enamored that he made Esther queen.  In our discussion time, we talked about which of the characters we could relate to most.  We all want to have the courage of Esther and Mordecai, but there are pieces of Xerxes and Haman in all of us.  I look forward to seeing how the story of Esther unfolds and to the truths that will be revealed about our God and our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Ester Rules

We had the first meeting of the season for our ConnectGroup from church last night.  We will be reading and discussing Max Lucado's book, You Were Made For This Moment.  The book will walk us through the Book of Esther.  Esther is one of the most well-known women from the Old Testament.   She faced challenges and hardships that could only be overcome by the plans of God, in whom she had ultimate faith.  I found this creative video providing a 10 minute overview of the book of Esther.  Take a look, and if you would like to read along with our group, here is a link to the book.

Work Matters

 Most people work to earn a living.  We need income to provide basics like food, clothing and shelter and most of us that are reading this have discretionary income for products and services to make life "better".   Those things include recreation, entertainment and travel, among others.  I also believe we work to give back.  It starts with the Bible's instruction to give 10% of what we earn to support the local church, and Caroline and I have some other ministries that are important for us to support as well.  All that being said, work doesn't have to be all about income.   We might work at some things for no money, and that work could be the most important work we do.  Whether we are working for money or working for free, we can always choose to work in a way that is honoring to God.  When we do that, He is pleased.  Happy Labor Day.

Solid Game Plan

 

Most college football fans probably saw that David Pollack was released from his duties at ESPN's College Gameday show recently.  And there aren't many UGA fans that have forgotten Pollack's introduction to the college football universe when he made this interception in the endzone for a touchdown at the 2022 GA/SC game.  My roots run a little deeper with Pollack, as he was from Shiloh High School in Gwinnett County, where both of my kids attended.  I don't know him personally, but I love what I see and hear about him.  He is a man of faith and is not shy about sharing it with others.  I saw this podcast posted on social media about how he is dealing with the career change that he is currently in the midst of.  It's no surprise that he is taking his time and listening to what God has in store for him next.  Praise God for His leadership in Pollack's life.

Passion for Living

 

While I was growing up in Columbus, my dad met Frank Fuller at the Springer Theater.  Frank was an elementary school teacher by day, but loved being on stage in the evenings.  Frank was single and became a fast friend of the family joining us for dinner most nights for several years.  He was like an older brother to me and was singularly responsible for teaching me to play tennis.  Frank also loved volleyball and dancing.  So you can see that Frank led an active life, but what I remember most about him was his passion for living.  He always seemed to love whatever he was doing and whoever he was with.  We got to see Frank in May at my nephew's wedding.  I don't know Frank's exact age, but in his 70's, he not only made it to the dance floor at the reception, he owned the dance floor.  Frank passed away yesterday after suffering a sudden massive stroke.  This makes me really sad, but knowing that he lived every day to the fullest is an inspiration to me and everyone that knew him.

Comeback Kid

 

I just finished watching the Netflix limited series, Quarterbacks, last night.  The series follows three quarterbacks through their 2022 seasons with up close and personal footage of them on the football field and at home with their family and friends.  One of the featured quarterbacks was Kirk Cousins with the Minnesota Vikings.  Kirk had a great 13-4 season, but the highlight of the season was overcoming a 33 point deficit to defeat the Indianapolis Colts, earning bragging rights for the biggest comeback in NFL history.  Some of the sideline and locker room comments were pretty raw, and in typical Netflix fashion, there was no bleeping the f-bombs.  But you never heard Kirk drop one.  Instead, there was footage of him singing hymns and praying with his kids at bedtime.  It was so refreshing to see a high achieving celebrity unashamed of his faith.  I found this video with a little more of his story.  Praise God for Kirk and others like him who are helping to build God's kingdom here on earth.

AI Jesus

Artificial Intelligence (AI) seems to be in the news almost every day.  Faster computing engines allow large volumes of data to be searched to find solutions to complex problems.  AI is used in medical treatments, to help solve crimes and 100's of other very positive situations.  AI is also being condemned for misuse including cheating on school assignments and scams involving computer generated false identities.  I just learned that Jesus has made his way into the AI world.  A computer generated Jesus answers random questions from users at this site.  I watched for a while this morning and saw Jesus respond to great questions from random viewers like, "Why did you die?" and "When are you coming back?" and also watched him respond to one bordering absurdity, "what do you think about when you are on the toilet?"  Surprisingly, AI Jesus responded with humor and thoughtfulness.  I'm not sure AI Jesus is something that I will use regularly, but I do love that there is a chance someone seeking to understand Him could find this and be encouraged to know and fall in love with RL Jesus (Real Life Jesus).

Chimney Point

Over a decade ago, I got a call from a gentleman in Texas looking for 100 acres on Lake Hartwell.  I had been working as a REALTOR in the area for several years and was happy to assist.  That gentleman was Bill McKenzie, founder of Pine Cove Camps in Texas.  Many of his Texas campers came from the Atlanta area, and he wanted to establish a camp in the southeast.  I took him to the Cleveland Plantation property in Westminster that I was very familiar with, and that property worked for them.  Today, Pine Cove Camps is hosting Family Camps at the new and improved Chimney Point.  Family Camps are for parents that get jealous of all the fun their kids have going off to camp.   The whole family attends with joint activities and separate activities for adults and kids.  Take a look at what Chimney Point looks like today and praise God for the lives he is changing.

Max a million (145)

 

I was looking for some new books to read and began researching authors that I have read in the past.   I found Max Lucado's website.  Max is the pastor at Oak Hills Church in San Antonio and is known for his poetic storytelling.  His books have been purchased over 145 million times, and I have read several, but I had never listened to him speak until today.  Here is Max's telling of Jesus with his disciples calming the storm.  And if you don't have 12 minutes, Max also has a one minute daily devotional that I have just signed up for.  Prepare to be inspired.

Old Friend

I may have written about C.S. Lewis in the past, but it has been a while.  I would guess it has been over a decade since I last read one of his books.  We studied The Screwtape Letters in one of our church small groups.  My first introduction to him was around 1995 when I read Mere Christianity for the first time.  I fell in love with his ability to describe truth through allegory.  Mere Christianity originated as a series of radio shows for the masses, so his words are simple, but the way he assembles them is a work of art.  I have since read most of his major books, but somehow I have not yet read his most commercially successful series, The Chronicles of Narnia.  That series is appropriate for children, but the timeless message is for adults, too.  I am starting with The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe today.  Let me know if you want to read along with me.

Boat Church

 

15 years ago our family had a great tradition of attending Boat Church at Lake Hartwell on Sunday mornings.  Boat Church is an informal meeting on Sunday mornings mostly for families that have full time churches in metro-Atlanta, but wanted to worship on Sunday's without driving back to town.  Someone would bring a guitar, and someone would prepare a short message for the group.  We were pretty consistent for about 5 years, but when grandkids started to appear, it became harder to orchestrate.   My good friend, Luke Crawford, recommended we have Boat Church this past Sunday at our dock, and we ended up with 36 in attendance.  People arrived by car, pontoon boat, ski boat, fishing boat and kayak.  Luke's dad, John, and his brother, Jon Jon, led music and another good friend, Stephen Byerly, brought the message.  It was so much fun seeing old friends, making new friends and worshiping together.  I am not in a position to commit to this for every Sunday, but I sure hope we are able to do it more.   "For where two or three are gathered in his name, there am I in the midst of them."  Matthew 18:20.

Making Life Count

Caroline and I hit a milestone in our marriage this week.  We have now been married for 40 years.   I met Caroline in kindergarten in 1966, but we didn't start dating until 1977.  We dated on and off through our junior year of college, but got engaged that year and married two weeks after we graduated from UGA.  We got pregnant with Michael on our honeymoon, so in that year, we graduated from college, got new jobs, got married, got pregnant, moved to a new city and had our first child.  I think we maxed out the stress meter based on major changes in your life, but apparently, we were able to manage it.   2 kids and 7 grandkids later, we are fortunate to have all of them nearby so we can do life with them.  I can't imagine sharing the last 40 years with anyone else besides Caroline.  The word I think of when I think of her is nurture.  She is amazing at nurturing her relationships with God, her family, her friends and still finds the energy to love me and take care of me.  Thank you for making my last 57 years worth living.  

The photo was from our recent trip to Victoria on Vancouver Island.

Pirate Booty

 

Caroline and I feel like our life revolves around our faith, our family, our friends and our work.  We are fortunate to have our kids and grandkids nearby, so we get to see them regularly, but 3 days out of the year, we have exclusive access to just the grandkids.  They come to stay with us at Lake Hartwell for Pirate Camp - and no parents allowed!  We spend those three days searching for buried treasure, chasing Captain Hook and having cannonball wars (water balloons).  We share the week with another couple and their grandkids, so this year we had 11 pirates.  Click here for short videos 

Bread Sticks

 

I have been leading a small group from church for the last several years.  There are two sessions per year with breaks in between.  I am pretty good about daily bible study and preparation when the groups are meeting, but I have been viewing the time in between sessions as "taking a break".  A good friend of mine challenged me recently to read every morning - not just a book someone had written with their perspective, but the best book ever written, the Bible.  I  have read through the Bible a couple of times in my lifetime, but I asked my friend where I should start.  Without hesitation, he said the Book of John.  I had forgotten how packed with truth this book is.  In the first five chapters, Jesus has been teaching and performing miracles.  Jesus' followers knew that their ancestors had been provided manna from heaven when they were wandering in the desert.  In Chapter 6, Jesus is teaching a large crowd, and the people are hungry.  A boy has two fish and five loaves, and the food is multiplied so that 5000 are fed.  On the next day, people were following Jesus, not for the teaching, but because they were hungry again and wanted more food.  Jesus explained to them, "I am the bread of life,  whoever comes to me shall not perish and whoever believes in me shall never thirst."   If Jesus is the bread of life, one of the best ways to taste it is through reading His words regularly.  I am so grateful that my friend challenged me to start reading the Bible regularly. I challenge you: if you haven't read the Book of John in a while, start today.

More Meals

 

This week in my  Spot On The Lake blog, I posted about an event that is supporting Meals on Wheels in Anderson, SC.  I haven't had personal interaction with Meals on Wheels, but they were angels to my brother-in-law who was in bad health and couldn't get out of his apartment.  They faithfully brought him meals to get him through the week and also provided an informal wellness check as his health deteriorated.  He passed away last year, but I know that many days, the Meals on Wheels volunteers were the only people he interacted with.  I am thankful for their service.  For more information on Meals on Wheels or to support their cause, click here.

Living The Life

 

When I was a child, I hated funerals - putting on a coat and tie in the middle of the summer to go hear sad stories about somebody I may have never met.   I'd rather be swimming.  But life has changed me.  I now anticipate attending funerals, especially if I know that the deceased is a Believer.  Otherwise, it can be terrifying.  David, one of my past pastors, and one of my closest friends, lost his mom this week.  I didn't know her personally, but I feel like I know her because I know David.  Apparently, a lot of him came from her.  David posted the note below which includes a tribute written by his brother.  David's mom's life makes me want to live a better life.  Isn't that what Christians are supposed to do?

On Friday evening, Deb and I inched our way through Memorial Day traffic to be with Mama. When we arrived, she was breathing rapidly and Jesse was patting her forehead with a damp cloth. Less than an hour after we arrived, Deb suggested we pray for her. We held her and prayed briefly that Jesus would welcome her home, and as we said "Amen" she passed from our arms into the arms of her Savior. Below is a beautiful tribute written by my brother Jesse (so it includes a Latin phrase). A memorial service is planned for August 19 at Memorial United Methodist in Franklin, NC. Time TBA. Consistent with her character, Mama left a specific instruction regarding her funeral: "Be brief. Be jovial. No folderol."

Ruth Crawford Slagle, 96 years of age, passed away on May 26, 2023 at her home in Franklin, North Carolina. She was born at that home place on June 20, 1926 to Cecil and Flora Robinson Crawford.

Ruth was raised on the family farm up on Wayah Creek in Macon County, worshipped at Mount Hope Baptist Church and was baptized in Cartoogechaye Creek. She attended Slagle School and Franklin High School. She was a diligent student and was accepted to Mars Hill College. Upon her graduation she became one of the “Atomic Girls” and worked at Oak Ridge, Tennessee on the Manhattan Project until the end of World War II. After the war she taught school in Highlands and Wilmington, North Carolina.

Ruth married Frederick Slagle at Mount Hope in September of 1949. Theirs was a blessed union for 73 years. She and Frederick were said to have met on the floor under a quilt frame as their mothers and other women in the community gathered and stitched together. Frederick said it seemed like they had been married all their lives. After careful consideration and consultation with her mother and mother-in-law (formerly a Presbyterian missionary) she decided to join her husband in the Methodist Church, not a forgone conclusion. They moved to Forest Park, Georgia in 1956. A faithful and diligent member, she served the congregation of Jones Memorial United Methodist Church for forty years. They raised a family of five children and were active in their lives and the community in which they lived. After their children were grown, they returned to Franklin where they became faithful members of the congregation of Memorial United Methodist Church.

Like her mother, she was a long-time Master Gardener and continued to learn and grow in the garden for as long as she was able. She was gifted with an astonishing knowledge of the plants around her and they prospered under her care. Her most wonderful gift was her ability to cultivate relationships. Her thoughtful care and concern produced a harvest of hundreds of close and loving friends, fellow travelers in the faith and loving family from the east to the west coasts and in between. A humble person, full of grace, she profoundly touched the lives of all kinds of people through thoughtful acts, kind works and beautiful handwritten letters. She had the gift of the right words offered in love that healed many. The steady and unchanging character of her Christian witness informed everything she did. A true daughter of North Carolina, she embodied the state motto: Esse Quam Videri.

Majestic Creations

 

Caroline and I were lucky enough to visit the Pacific Northwest with friends for the past few days. We are still there returning on Friday. We started in Banff Canada, rented a car, and made our way through the Canadian Rockies to Victoria on Vancouver Island.  This has to be some of the most beautiful topography that I have ever seen. The word that keeps coming to mind for me is majestic. The beauty that we have witnessed confirms for me that there is a God, and he is an amazing artist. The majesty of his creation can only be surpassed by his own majesty.   Praise Him.  Worship Him.--

Child's play

 

On Saturday, Caroline and I had the privilege of hosting my grandson, Evan's soccer team and their families at Lake Hartwell.  That added up to about 45 kids and adults.  I spent some time with the adults, but the kids stole the show.  It was so much fun seeing them play with each other and encourage one another.  At one point we had 15 of them on tubes behind the boat, and as far as I know, they all made it back ashore.   We also had some of the kids trying new skill sports behind the boat. And jumping off the top of the dock catching a football mid-air went on for hours.  In the gospel of Matthew, Matthew reports that the disciples approached Jesus and asked "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"  Jesus called a child over, placed the child in their midst and said, "Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.  Whoever humbles himself like this child, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  And whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me."  I want to try to find all of those childlike qualities that Jesus loved.

The Shot Seen Round The World

On Tuesday, February 7th, Andrew Bernstein snapped this iconic photo of Lebron James releasing the shot that broke Kareem Abdul-Jabar's life time NBA scoring record.  You will notice a row of professional photographers seated along the edge of the court who no doubt got multiple photos of this shot from every angle possible.  You will also notice a sea of metal rectangles held by adoring fans who needed their own photo.   Many probably missed witnessing the shot with their own eyes as they were staring into the small screen in front of them.  Why?  I think most would say they wanted to capture the moment. But why?  Wouldn't the hundreds of professional photos do that?  Or maybe they want to prove they were in the arena.  If they told a friend they were at the game, would the friend not believe them?  I think we all know why.  They wanted to post a photo to social media so 20 people might "like" it.  But it's not Lebron or even the photo that needs to be liked.  It's the person that posted it.  It seems a lot of us are captivated by ourselves. I wasn't at that game, but I have posted photos of me doing fun things that I hope people will like.  I try not to focus on who responds, but sometimes I give in to the temptation.  Most of us should do this less.  There is ultimately one thing we should be captivated by and that is God, our creator, who sent His son to live in a broken world and die for the sins of each one of us.  I want to try to do that more today.

The idea for this post and my thoughts were inspired by Marshall Segall at desiringGod.com.

Idol's Idol

 

I watch too much television, and one of my guilty pleasures is American Idol.  It's no surprise that the entertainment industry is largely void of anything remotely religious.   You may hear about celebrities believing in some undefined higher power, but it is rare that you hear anything about Jesus.  I was surprised and delighted by one of the current American Idol finalists, Megan Danielle, from Danielsville, GA.  She was a bar singer until her grandfather encouraged her to start singing about her faith instead of whatever was in the bars on weekend nights.  In her audition, she sang Lauren Daigle's "You Say".  She did a great job with it and was surprised when Lauren herself showed up half way through her audition.  It was a sweet moment.  I love that Megan has the guts to let her faith show.  Click here for the video, and vote for Megan to keep her in the competition.

A Living Legacy

I have never attended Northpoint Church, but I am a fan of the founding pastor, Andy Stanley.  I have watched him on television and online and read several of his books.  He has an amazing ability to make ancient biblical truths seem brand new and applicable to what I am going through at that time.   Andy's dad was Charles Stanley.  Charles served in full time ministry for over 50 years and passed away a couple of weeks ago.  I am certain that much of who Andy is came from his dad, Charles.  Their relationship was sometimes strained, especially when Andy made the decision to leave his dad's church and start his own church.  Since then, they have been able to work through any differences, and Andy credits his dad with helping to make him into the man that he is today.  I found this great conversation between them from a few years ago.   I hope that any of you that watch this will take the opportunity to have a similar discussion with your dad - or with your kids.

Card Tricks

 

Tarot Cards have been used for centuries to assist clairvoyants with seeing things beyond what normal people are able to see.  Tarot cards are still used today as a part of the global phenomenon of New Age spirituality.  New Age spirituality is difficult to define, but it is based on the idea that the mind, body and spirit are all connected and that anything that feels good, is good.  Doreen Virtue was raised in the Christian Science Church and was attracted to New Age thinking and the power of Tarot cards, but she didn't like the scary Tarot cards including the Hanging Man, Death and The Devil.  She created a new deck of cards called Angel Cards that eliminated the scary cards, and the cards became wildly popular.  At one time, she was the highest selling New Age author and was in high demand at speaking engagements.  One day, while listening to a sermon on the radio, she was convicted that everything she had been teaching for the last several years had been a lie.  The key Bible verse from the sermon was 2 Timothy 4:3. "For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine: but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires."  "Wanting to have their ears tickled" is such a strangely true statement.  Many of us are constantly looking for people to tell us things that we want to believe - that make us feel good.  But what we really need is the truth.  The truth is we are sinners, and we are responsible for our sin.  We can do nothing without the saving grace of God that was purchased by the death of His son, Jesus, on the cross.  Doreen's acknowledgement that her teachings had been false shattered her world, but she now uses her platform to share the message of Jesus.  For more on Doreen and the pastor that preached her saving sermon, click here.