My Child, I Love You

Every time I hear those words from my Heavenly Father in my spirit I feel my heart grow warmer and my soul shine brighter. Sometimes it takes a long time to see just how much, how often, and in how many ways God shows His love for us everyday. His love for us is everywhere, in everything, and flows through all of us as well. His love is what created the universe and His love is what can help us to become who we were meant to be.

Do you want to know how much He loves YOU?

-Open your ears, eyes, mind, and heart and YOU will understand. 

-Listen carefully each day of your life and YOU will receive His assurance.

-Hear the gentle voice of our Father telling you just how much He loves YOU. 

God’s love is expressed on the winds of everything in this world. Let it show through your voice and your life as well.

The Key to Survival

"People that learn how to change when confronted with challenges thrive. Those that do not change will die."

In other words, when life gets tough, it will kill off those who are unwilling to make needed changes. The key to survival is often just about being willing to "change."

It's good to accept ourselves as we are, but when an unhealthy attitude or a destructive behavior gets in our way we need to change. When we wish we could change something about ourselves we had better make that change. People who can embrace change thrive, but those who resist it die spiritually, mentally, and sometimes even physically.

If you have been waiting for a sign to make a needed change, this may be it. I am convinced that it is never too late to be the person you might have been. It's never too late to be happy. It's never too late to do something different or to do something better. It's never too late to change a habit. It's never too late to learn how to live.

So begin making those necessary changes today. Then tomorrow, and every tomorrow thereafter, can truly be different because you will be different.

A Fresh Start

How do you get a fresh start?
-Everyday of our lives can be a fresh start if we wish.

-Each new morning is another gift from God when we can begin again to clean our house within and to live our lives better than we did before.

-Each new day is a fresh beginning to choose love, create joy, spread laughter, help others, and give something back to the world.

-Each new moment is another chance to share a hug, a smile, a compliment, or an act of kindness.

It doesn’t matter how many mistakes we have made, wrong turns we have taken, or days we have wasted. We all can begin again this morning, this day, and right now. God is there waiting to help us to live and love as we were meant to. 

There is an old saying that goes, "If you wake up breathing, you have another chance." Don’t waste your chance today. Make your fresh start now. Wake up this morning and say, "Good morning God! Thank you for my life!" Then go out and live it in joy, love, and oneness with Him. Open your heart, soul, and mind to the love, goodness, and delight that is all around you. Share all the wonder, talent, compassion, and uniqueness that is within you. Help to build a better world with the life you live in it. And seize each new day as a fresh start to live and love.

Turning it around today

Turning-I believe it is one of the most hopeful words in our language. We human beings, by turning, can do something about the course we've taken. We may not be able to change what we've already done; and we may not be able to fully escape the consequences of past choices. But we need not continue in the same, destructive path. We can turn. We can find our way again!

But you can't keep putting it off. Today is the day the changes need to begin. Today is the day that you start on your new path. Today is the day that you forsake your bad seed and plant good seed. Today is the day to get started on that path that will change your life.

Today is the day that:
-You can turn your life around.

-You can turn over a new leaf.

-You can turn your defeat into triumph.

-You can turn your world upside down.

-You can turn wrong into right.

-You can turn yesterday's loss into today's gain.

Are you headed the wrong direction? Don't give up...you can always start over. You can always turn. And turn again...and again...until you come out right. But don't wait until tomorrow to try-do it today!

Love Is

These were some thoughts shared about love by some elementary students. It's amazing how our children see and understand love.

-"Love is that first feeling you feel before all the bad stuff gets in the way."

-"When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love."

-"When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You know that your name is safe in their mouth."

-"Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other."

-"Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs."

-"Love is when someone hurts you. And you get so mad but you don't yell at them because you know it would hurt their feelings."

-"Love is what makes you smile when you're tired."

-"Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK."

-"Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen."

-"When you tell someone something bad about yourself and you're scared they won't love you anymore. But then you get surprised because not only do they still love you, they love you even more."

-"Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it every day."

-"Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well."

-"During my piano recital, I was on a stage and scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore."

-"My mommy loves me more than anybody. You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night."

-"Love is when mommy gives daddy the best piece of chicken."

-"Love is when mommy sees daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford."
-"Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day."

-"You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget."

What's It Gonna Take To Change The World?

"What’s it gonna to take to change this world?" That question has troubled mankind for centuries. I don’t pretend to have all the answers, but I think that I have learned the first step to take. It  consists of three little words. If everyone accepted these three little words into their hearts and believed them with their souls then we could put an end to hunger, war, hatred, and strife. If everyone just lived by the truth of these words then we could make this world a paradise with everyone working together, helping each other, and caring for this planet that is our home. What are these three words? "God Loves You."

God loves us all so much. However, so many of us go through life never accepting His love into our hearts, souls, and minds. Maybe we don’t accept it because we don’t feel worthy of it. Well we aren’t, but God gives it to us just the same. When we do accept God’s love an amazing thing happens. We start to become more worthy of it every day. In fact, we start to choose it, share it, and live in it moment by moment. Then we begin to change the world around us as well. With God’s love flowing into our hearts like a river we begin to brighten everyone we meet with our light and uplift everyone we meet with our joy. With God’s love within us we begin to live as His Children and everyday bring a little more Heaven to Earth.

"God loves you!" Take these three words to heart and accept them into your soul. Believe them in your mind and live them in your life. Then go out and start to change the world. It can be done. It is being done right now one heart, one soul, and three words at a time. It is going to take a lot of love to change this world, but God has more than enough for the job. He just wants you to help Him share it and plant it in every heart you touch.

Positive Answers

For all the negative things we say to ourselves, God has a positive answer for it.

You say: "It's impossible"
God says: All things are possible (Luke 18:27)

  You say: "I'm too tired"
God says: I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28-30)

  You say: "Nobody really loves me"
God says: I love you (John 3:16 and John 13:34)

  You say: "I can't go on"
God says: My grace is sufficient (II Corinthians 12:9 and Psalm 91:15)

  You say: "I can't figure things out"
God says: I will direct your steps (Proverbs 3:5-6)

  You say: "I can't do it"
God says: You can do all things (Philippians 4:13)

  You say: "I'm not able"
God says: I am able (II Corinthians 9:8)

  You say: "It's not worth it"
God says: It will be worth it (Roman 8:28)

  You say: "I can't forgive myself"
God says: I FORGIVE YOU (I John 1:9 and Romans 8:1)

  You say: "I can't manage"
God says: I will supply all your needs (Philippians 4:19)

  You say: "I'm afraid"
God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear (II Timothy 1:7)

  You say: "I'm always worried and frustrated"
God says: Cast all your cares on ME (I Peter 5:7)

  You say: "I don't have enough faith"
God says: I've given everyone a measure of faith (Romans 12:3)

  You say: "I'm not smart enough"
God says: I give you wisdom (I Corinthians 1:30)

  You say: "I feel all alone"
God says: I will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5)

Pass this on -- you never know whose life might need this today!

"The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble;
and He knoweth them that trust in Him."   (Nahum 1:7)

How Do I Change My Life?

Whenever life acts we respond. If you win the lottery you might be happy. If you lose your job you may be angry. Whatever your reaction it will depend upon your attitude. Fortunately, we control our attitudes.

In determining how we face life it is our attitude that is the key. See whether or not you agree with the following statement.

"You are responsible for all of your experiences of life."

This statement is absolutely true but it is somewhat of a trick. The trick is that it does not say "in life" but "of life." You are not responsible for everything that happens to you, but you are responsible for how you react to what does happen to you. The formula is that, "Life acts. You react." Your reaction is under your control. In any life situation you are always responsible for at least one thing. You are always responsible for the attitude towards the situation in which you find yourself. Your attitude is your reaction to what life hands you. You can have either a more positive or a more negative attitude. Your attitude is under your control and can be changed. With the right attitude you can be a resilient person.

What is an attitude? An attitude is a point of view about a situation. An attitude has three components. An attitude is made up of:

• What you think.
• What you do.
• What you feel.

No matter what situation you are in you always have certain thoughts about it. You also have an emotional response to it, and you behave a certain way in it. To begin changing your attitude you either change your thinking, the way you act, or the way you feel. Two of these choices are easier to influence than the third.

It is easier to change the way you think or behave than to change your emotions. However, it is usually our emotions that get our attention in regard to the situation. It is our emotions that we most want to change. When we feel sad, angry, anxious, or frustrated we don’t like it. We want the feeling to quickly go away. So we start trying to change the emotion. We often begin by trying to change others so we can feel better. It doesn’t work. We engage in behaviors like alcohol and drug abuse to numb the feelings. It doesn't work. Working all the time or excessive shopping are attempts at avoiding emotional distress. They don't work.

Our initial tendency is to focus on the feeling level and to change it first. The feeling or emotional level, however, is the most difficult to work on. You can’t "grasp" a feeling and force it to change. Feelings are powerful but vague. You can not get a grip on a feeling. If you want to change your feelings you must start elsewhere. You must begin with either your thinking or your behavior over which you have more control. The secret in effectively changing your emotions is knowing that feelings, thoughts, and behaviors are all related. When you change one of them ( for example, thinking) the other two (feelings and behavior) will change as well. Since it is easier to get a "grasp" on thoughts and behavior this is the place to begin your work of staying resilient. Change what you think! Change what you do! The emotions will change and you will be creating resiliency.

The Seven UPS

-Wake Up - Decide to have a good day. "Today is the day the Lord hath made; let us rejoice & be glad in it"   (Psalms 118:24)

-Dress Up -The best way to dress up is to put on a smile. A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks."The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart"   (I Sam 16:7)

-Shut Up - Say nice things & learn to listen. God gave us 2 ears and 1 mouth so He must have meant for us to do twice as much listening as talking. "He who guards his lips guards his soul" Proverbs 13:3 "Gossip betrays confidence avoid men who talk too much" Proverbs 20:19 "Listen to advice, accept instruction and in the end, you will be wise"   (Proverbs 19:20)

-Stand Up - For what you believe in. Stand for something or you will fall for anything. "Let us not be weary in doing good; for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good..."   (Galatians 6:9-10)

-Look Up - To the Lord. "I can do everything through Him who gives me strength"   (Phillipians 4:13)

-Reach Up - For something higher. As Jiminy Cricket sings "High Hopes" Always try to better yourself. Have FAITH. "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."   (Hebrews11:1)

-Lift Up - Your Prayers. "Do not worry about anything; instead PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING"   (Phillipians 4:6)

It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

Yes, it is if you are a Clemson Tiger fan, a South Carolina Gamecock fan, or most importantly a San Francisco 49er fan. This has been a great football season for me so far. First things first:

-Clemson is 7-0 and still has some very big games in the last 5 of the season. The offense has been beyond description. We have to take it one game at a time, but the possibility is still there to go undefeated.

-South Carolina is 6-1 and has a great defense, but there offense has really struggled in several games. Hopefully the loss of Lattimore will not affect them as much as people think. Still 6-1 with all the distractions they have had this year is pretty good.

-Last but not least, my 49ers are rolling. What a game yesterday against Detroit. I know they still have to play some great opponents in the coming months, but it feels good to see them where I used to see them at the top instead of at the bottom.

As a football fan it's a great season so far, but there is still more stuff to come. Teams rise and fall from week to week, but a true fan never gives up hope in his or her team.

That's also true about one's relationship with Christ. Through thick or thin He will be there. Brother John Tyson reminded us of that at Homecoming yesterday. He is always with us even when we are fair-weather fans.

Just to add this footnote-Any time of the year is wonderful when you're serving Jesus.

Life Isn't Fair

Life isn't always fair. We do suffer pain, injustice, and difficulty. I found a speech that is simply entitled, "Life is not fair; get used to it", that was shared at a high school graduation ceremony several years ago by a former graduate of that school. Here's what she said:

-The world won't care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something before you feel good about yourself.

-You will not make 100 thousand dollars a year right out of high school. You won't be a vice president with all the privileges until you "earn" both.

-If you think your school teachers were tough, wait till you get a boss. He doesn't have tenure.

-Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your grandparents had a different word for burger-flipping; they called it opportunity.

-If you screw up, it's not your parents' fault so don't whine about your mistakes. Learn from them.

-Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way paying your bills, cleaning your room, and listening to you tell them how idealistic you are. So before you save the rain forest from the blood-sucking parasites of your parents' generation, try delousing the closet in your own room.

-Your school may have done away with winners and losers but life has not. In some schools they have abolished failing grades, they'll give you as many times as you want to get the right answer. This, of course, bears not the slightest resemblance to anything in real life.

-Life is not divided into semesters. You don't get summers off, and very few employers are interested in helping you find yourself. Do that on your own time.

-Television is not real life. In real life people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs.

-Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one.

Bringing Jesus Back Into The Church

If the church will preach Jesus and let Him have His way in their services people will find the answers they seek about Him.

-If you are suffering, Jesus can ease your pain.

-If you are confused, Jesus can clear your mind.

-If you are fearful, Jesus can give you peace.

-If you have bad habits, Jesus can break them for you.

-If you have vicious harmful thoughts, Jesus can scatter them for you.

-If unclean spirits are within you, He can cast them out.

-If you are hateful toward others, or indifferent, He can fill you with love.

-If you need anything whatsoever, Jesus can provide it.

-If you give yourself to Him, Jesus will give Himself to you.

-If you accept your rightful place in the household of God, Jesus will love you and take care of you forever.

Let's bring Jesus back into the church!

How About A Little Joy Today

Sometimes life gets a little rough, and we all need a bit of joy in our lives. We often talk about warnings that come from the Bible, how to live or not live our lives. However, sometimes we forget that the Bible tells us to enjoy life a little bit. God did not mean for us to be sad or serious all the time. He tells us to get out and have a little fun. Here are some "happy" Bible verses to add some sunshine to what an be a gloomy day:

Psalm 27:6 - "Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD."

Psalm 97:11-12 - "Light is shed upon the righteous and joy on the upright in heart. Rejoice in the LORD, you who are righteous, and praise his holy name."

Psalm 118:24 - "This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."

Proverbs 15:13 - "A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit."

Proverbs 15:23 - "A man finds joy in giving an apt reply - and how good is a timely word!"

Proverbs 17:22 - "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones."

Isaiah 35:10 - "And the ransomed of the LORD will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away."

Isaiah 55:12 - "You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands."

Nehemiah 8:10 - "Nehemiah said, 'Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.'"

John 16:22 - "So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.".

Forgiveness (Part 3)

If the hurtful event involved someone whose relationship you otherwise value, forgiveness may lead to reconciliation. This isn't always the case, however. Reconciliation may be impossible if the offender has died or is unwilling to communicate with you. In other cases, reconciliation may not be appropriate, especially if you were attacked or assaulted. But even in those cases, forgiveness is still possible — even if reconciliation isn't.

If you haven't reached a state of forgiveness, being near the person who hurt you may be tense and stressful. To handle these situations, remember that you have a choice whether or not to attend specific functions and gatherings. Respect yourself and do what seems best. If you choose to attend, don't be surprised by a certain amount of awkwardness and perhaps even more intense feelings. Do your best to keep an open heart and mind. You may find that the gathering helps you to move forward with forgiveness.

Getting another person to change his or her actions, behavior or words isn't the point of forgiveness. Think of forgiveness more about how it can change your life — by bringing you more peace, happiness, and emotional and spiritual healing. Forgiveness takes away the power the other person continues to wield in your life.

Consider admitting the wrong you've done to those you've harmed, speaking of your sincere sorrow or regret, and specifically asking for forgiveness — without making excuses. Remember, however, you can't force someone to forgive you. Others need to move to forgiveness in their own time. Simply acknowledge your faults and admit your mistakes. Then commit to treating others with compassion, empathy and respect.

Forgiveness (Part 2)-Letting Grudges Go

When you're hurt by someone you love and trust, you may become angry, sad or confused. If you dwell on hurtful events or situations, grudges filled with resentment, vengeance and hostility may take root. If you allow negative feelings to crowd out positive feelings, you may find yourself swallowed up by your own bitterness or sense of injustice.

If you're unforgiving, you may pay the price repeatedly by bringing anger and bitterness into every relationship and new experience. Your life may become so wrapped up in the wrong that you can't enjoy the present. You may become depressed or anxious. You may feel that your life lacks meaning or purpose, or that you're at odds with your spiritual beliefs. You may lose valuable and enriching connectedness with others.

The Mayo Clinic says that letting go of grudges and bitterness makes way for compassion, kindness and peace. Forgiveness can lead to:

• Healthier relationships
• Greater spiritual and psychological well-being
• Less stress and hostility
• Lower blood pressure
• Fewer symptoms of depression, anxiety and chronic pain
• Lower risk of alcohol and substance abuse

Forgiveness is a commitment to a process of change. A way to begin is by recognizing the value of forgiveness and its importance in your life at a given time. Then reflect on the facts of the situation, how you've reacted, and how this combination has affected your life, health and well-being. When you're ready, actively choose to forgive the person who's offended you. Move away from your role as victim and release the control and power the offending person and situation have had in your life. As you let go of grudges, you'll no longer define your life by how you've been hurt. You may even find compassion and understanding.

Forgiveness (Part 1)

I believe forgiveness is a choice we make through a decision of our will, motivated by obedience to God and his command to forgive.

The Bible instructs us to forgive as the Lord forgave us:

Colossians 3:13  "Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."

We  forgive by faith, out of obedience. Since forgiveness goes against our nature, we must forgive by faith, whether we feel like it or not. We must trust God to do the work in us that needs to be done so that the forgiveness will be complete.
 
I believe God honors our commitment to obey Him and our desire to please him when we choose to forgive. He completes the work in his time. We must continue to forgive (our job), by faith, until the work of forgiveness (the Lord's job), is done in our hearts.

Philippians 1:6  "And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus return."
 
We will know the work of forgiveness is complete when we experience the freedom that comes as a result. We are the ones who suffer most when we choose not to forgive. When we do forgive, the Lord sets our hearts free from the anger, bitterness, resentment and hurt that previously imprisoned us.
Most times, however, forgiveness is a slow process.

Matthew 18:21-22  "Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times."




This answer by Jesus makes it clear that forgiveness is not easy for us. It's not a one-time choice and then we automatically live in a state of forgiveness. Forgiveness may require a lifetime of forgiving, but it is important to the Lord. We must continue forgiving until the matter is settled in our heart.

I Am Blessed (Part 5)

None of the blessings I have received from the Lord would be possible if it weren't for my parents. My dad and mom raised my two brothers and myself to honor, respect, and love the Lord with all of our hearts. They are the reason I am the man I am today.

This coming March my dad will have been in heaven for 24 earthly years. Man, I still miss him today. If he had lived he would have been 81 this year. To know my dad was to love him. He loved his wife, his kids, his church, but most of all his Lord. He endured more than his share of sorrows in ministry, but also has reaped the fruits of his labor. He gave 38 years of service to God and to the Church of God. He may never have pastored huge churches, but he sure was a spiritual giant to me.

My mom is still fighting the fight of faith. She's 77 now and a little slower than she used to be. She has gone through several health problems over the past few years, but she keeps pressing on. The thing I can say about her is that she is a warrior of the faith and has not given up the battle. She too bears the scars of ministry, but the seed she invested in my brothers and I lives on in our ministry. She's still a prayer warrior and knows how to get ahold of God in the time of need and we love her for that.

We didn't have a lot growing up, but we always had enough. They both sacrificed many times to help us to go forward with our lives and for that I consider myself extremely blessed.

One day I'll see my pop again and can tell him how much I missed him, but until then I'll try to help mom as much as I can. It's the least I can do to honor the ones who gave so much for me.

I Am Blessed (Part 4)

I have been blessed 3 seperate times in the past 12 years in more ways than I could ever express thanks for.

12 years ago a bundle of joy came into my life by the name of Hannah. 8 years ago another angel came in Gracie. Then 3 years ago Hayden joined the clan. I know now why they call them grandchildren because they sure do make me glad when they are around.

Hannah is growing into a beautiful young lady that I'm sure will break plenty of hearts. She favors her mother more every day and has talent just like her mom. She's my first grand and words cannot express just what she means to me.

Gracie is a girlie girl. She likes the frills and fancies and she too will be a heartbreaker. She is all girl and doesn't mind you knowing it and I love her for that

Hayden Colt is the spitting image of his dad growing up. He is full of energy, loves his sisters, and especially likes to stay at his grandparents house. In fact sometimes, it's hard to get him to go home. I sure do miss him when he leaves.

God has been good to me in so many ways, but He broke the mold when He gave me these three little ones to enjoy in my older years. I will do my best to leave a legacy for them to follow and I praise the Lord every day for these gifts He's given me. I truly am a blessed man.

I Am Blessed (Part 3)

Almost 13 years ago both a beauty and a blessing came into our family. We knew the Burrell family many years ago while pastoring in the same city. How ironic that years later a Ms. Candace Burrell would steal the heart of our son and become a part of our family. She not only completed him, but she brought a wonderful change into our household.

Candy has one of the greatest voices you will ever hear anywhere. I tried to get her to try out for American Idol because I know she could have won. That's how great she is vocally. Yet to me it is her compassion and caring attitude that she has for the less fortunate, those that are hurting, and those that are in need that show her true qualities. Not only is she beautiful on the outside, but she has a beautiful spirit on the inside as well.

She has proved herself as a loving wife, a devoted mother, and as a valuable asset to our family. I don't think that Shane could have found ayone else that we could love as a daughter-in-law like we love Candy. She's just great!

Candy was raised as a PK as well, but she has never allowed that to stop her from caring about others. She proved that recently on a missions trip to Alabama in mnistering to victims of the devastating storms that affected the area. Her concern for people spiritually is that they just be real and understand that you can't put God in a box. That's the kind of daughter-in-law every pastor ought to have. I'm just glad she is a part of my family. God truly blessed us when He allowed her to meet and fall in love with Shane.

I am blessed because of my wife, Becky, my son, Shane, and my daughter-in-law, Candy. I would be a very lonely man without them by my side. So I praise God for His blessings on me.

But wait....you haven't read the best part of the story yet..........!

I Am Blessed (Part 2)

Becky and I had been married for 7 years when Shane came along. My dad was so proud of him that he was walking up and down the hallways at the hospital in Shelby telling everyone about His grandson. It was almost 9 days before I got to hold him due to an infection he had. What a bundle of joy he was.

I have many fond memories of his childhood watching him grow into the man he is today and I am very proud to say that he is my son. If I have any regrets in life it is that I did not spend as much time with him as I would have liked due to the demands of the ministry as he was growing up. It's those things that can really cause a preachers kid to either turn out good or bad.

You see they see both the good and the bad things that happen to a pastor and they also feel the blunt of them. I'll never forget the time that we had a boys group at church that did stuff that we as a family didn't like to do. My idea of camping is to stay in a motel. He begged me to not have to go into that group, and finally I relented because I saw how much it was affecting him. There were a lot of things that bugged him growing up, but he never rebelled against his mom and me. He was a fine young man and I appreciate his efforts to honor his parents as he was growing up.

He is still assisting us in a lot of ways. He tried his best in ministry to do what God wanted and seemingly things never did work out as he planned, but he has been an encourager to us in our  ministry even to this day. I am very proud of him as a man of God, a husband, and a father to my three grands.

He's just one more reason why I am blessed today.

I Am Blessed (Part 1)

You have probably heard the old saying, "Behind every good man there's a good woman." Well, I am here to tell you that should be changed to, "Behind every good man there's a better woman." When God blessed me with my companion almost 40 years ago I believe that He broke the mold.

Becky has endured more than her fair share of heartaches as a pastor's wife. She has suffered with me when people left the churches we pastored for the wrong reasons or when I have had to deal with problems in the church. She has cried more than a 1,000 buckets of tears over precious folks the Lord has called home, those who have gone through tremendous sickness and trials, and with those who have found Christ as their Savior at the altar. She has been my right arm, my encourager, and my strength throughout all of my ministry.

She is the perfect wife, the best mom, the greatest grandmother, and someone I am glad the Lord allowed me to spend my life with. I would be nothing without the Lord and very little without her. As the old saying goes, she completes me.

Have we ever been at odds with one another?  Sure we have. Have we always agreed on everything? Absolutely not! But at the end of the day we show how much we care and put the past behind us. That's why I have been truly blessed with the lady that lives with me who has sacrificed so much to see the Kingdom of God go forward.

So on this Monday when most of the pastors I know lament over what could have been on the day before, I just thought I would thank the Lord for His blessings on me. Thanks again for Becky...because You knew I needed her more than anyone else to share my life with me.

Making The Right Choice

Making the right choice is not always easy. Sometimes what we choose causes us to feel like a loser rather than a winner.


Have you heard the story about an angel who suddenly appears at a faculty meeting and tells the dean of the college that, in return for his unselfish and exemplary behavior, he will be given his choice of infinite wealth, wisdom or beauty. Without hesitating, the dean selects infinite wisdom.

"Done!" says the angel, and disappears in a cloud of smoke and a bolt of lightning.

Now, all heads turn toward the dean, who sits surrounded by a faint halo of light. At length, one of his colleagues whispers, "Say something wise."

The dean looks at them and says, "I should have taken the money."

Though wealth is highly regarded in our world, I rather suspect this fictitious academic made the better choice. Wisdom, like many other virtues, is usually more difficult to obtain and can be far more satisfying.

When our hearts are empty, we collect "things." On the other hand, when our hearts are full, we tend to lose interest in most of the "stuff" of life. The "things of the heart" become all important. Things like love and joy and peace. Or wisdom. Or hope. Or faith.

And the wonderful truth is that these gifts are given freely to any who will take them! None of us has to live without love. There really is joy to be found in this life. And we can know peace - now.
-No heaven can come to us unless our hearts find rest in today. Take heaven!

-No peace lies in the future that is not hidden in his present moment. Take peace!

-The gloom of this world is but a shadow. Behind it, yet within reach is joy.

-There is a radiance and glory in the darkness, could we but see, and to see we have only to look.  I beseech you to look.

-Life is so generous a giver.


You have already been offered things even finer than infinite wealth. Will you grasp them and make them yours by choice today?