The Value of Time

• To realize the value of ten years:
  Ask a newly divorced couple.
  
• To realize the value of four years:
  Ask a graduate.
  
• To realize the value of one year:
  Ask a student who has failed a final exam.
  
• To realize the value of nine months:
  Ask a mother who gave birth to a still born.
  
• To realize the value of one month:
  Ask a mother who has given birth to a premature baby.
  
• To realize the value of one week:
  Ask an editor of a weekly newspaper.
  
• To realize the value of one hour:
  Ask lovers who are waiting to meet.
  
• To realize the value of one minute:
  Ask a person who has missed the train, bus or plane.
  
• To realize the value of one second:
  Ask a person who has survived an accident.
  
• To realize the value of one millisecond:
  Ask the person who has won a silver medal in the Olympics.
  
• To realize the value of a friend:
  Lose one.

Time waits for no one.  Treasure every moment you have.

"Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."   Ephesians 5:15-20 (NIV)

You'll Never Be Sorry

You Will Never Be Sorry . .

-for thinking before acting. -for hearing before judging. -for forgiving your enemies. -for being candid and frank. -for helping a fallen brother. -for being honest in business. -for thinking before speaking. -for being loyal to your church. -for standing by your principles. -for closing your ears to gossip. -for bridling a slanderous tongue. -for harboring pure thoughts. -for sympathizing with the afflicted. -for being courteous and kind to all.

I Am Very Thankful

If I make it to Thursday, I will have outlived my Dad by one year. If he were alive today he would have been 81 years old this year. I am thankful that in spite of health issues these past 7 years and 353 days God has been very good to me. I just thought today was a good day to give God praise for everything He has blessed me with.

I am thankful for:

-Parents who raised me with Christian principles, who loved me in spite of my faults and failures, and lived as an example before me all the days of my life.

-For two brothers that are still my friends even until this day. One I get to see a lot, the other very seldom, but I love them both and thank them for their friendship.

-For a wife that will soon be a part of my life for 40 years. She deserved a lot better life than I have provided for her as a pastor's wife, but nevertheless she has stood beside me in whatever area of ministry the Lord has sent us into. She is my partner and my best friend.

-For a son who has been a source of comfort, a partner in good times and bad, and a friend that has proved how much he loves his mom and dad time and time again.

-For a daughter-in-law who is both beautiful and caring as a wife and mother, and has provided us with 3 grands that have stolen my heart

-For Hannah, Gracie, and Hayden without whom I never would have known the truest love that a human being could know. As I said earlier, they have stolen my heart.

-For my heritage in the Church of God from my childhood up. She is not a perfect church, or the only church, but she sure has been good to me.

There are many more things that I could say I'm thankful for in this life, but this blog could not contain them. So let me just put it this way-Thank your Lord for my past, my present, and my future. It's been a blast so far and looking forward to many more adventures ahead.

Thanks again.

Knowing Our Heritage

On August 19, 1886 the Christan Union was formed. This Sunday we celebrate 125 years of ministry of the Church of God at Donaldson. I am 3rd generation COG, credentialed since I was 18 years old, and still amazed at how far we have traveled away from the roots of our forefathers who established our movement.

When the Christian Union/Holiness Church at Camp Creek/Church of God was formed there was a purpose behind it that has long since been forgotten. Our forefathers after 2 years of study of the Bible and prayer came to the conclusion that God wanted a church that would not conform to a creed or traditional basis, but be guided by the Word of God. Our forefathers broke away from the Landmark Baptist movement that said the Baptist church was the only way to heaven and that all other churches were just societies. Richard Spurling and his son, R.G. Spurling believed that the church was not inclusive to just one denomination, but should be open and available for all that believe and are hungry for a relationship with God.

Our early pioneers believed that the way of holiness was the Biblical way we should live and that we should be governed by God's Word and the Great Commandment-to love the Lord with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, and our neighbor as ourselves. Yet even though our founding fathers had a great plan, we as a church have become more influenced by the world and the era in which we have lived in every aspect of thinking, even our belief in holiness.

Case in point-I remember when I first grew a mustache I was told I was going to hell because it was a sin. Yet the person that told me that didn't know that both Richard and R. G. Spurling, our founding fathers, had one a whole lot bigger than I could grow. It wasn't because it was wrong, it was because that era of society viewed it worldly, rather than prove it scripturally. I can remember so many things in my lifetime that we left unproven or unsaid just because it was considered worldly without any scripture base for it. And even today as a pastor I am having to deal with a generation that thinks change is compromise or evil because of their upbringing.

So here is my prayer and hope for the future of our movement:

-That we will remember the original purpose for which our church was established.

-That we will always live holy according to the Bible and not the whims or fashions of the world or the time period that we live in.

-That we will remember and accept all people regardless of creed or color as canidates for salvation and seek fellowship with all believers in Christ.

-That we will be Biblical in all aspects of our lives, not just the ones that we want to accept, but in all areas.

Like a mighty army moves the Church of God. I still believe it and am happy about it.

Stop Bashing Tim Tebow

I love NFL football and have been a San Francisco 49er fan since John Brodie was the QB. Yes, SC fans, I remember when Steve Spurrier took them on a win streak when Brodie was hurt back in the day. I also remember when Bill Walsh picked up my second favoite QB of all time that people said would never make it. He had made the news as a player in the USFL not for his stats, but his contract. He was a lefty and liked to run as much as he did pass. People said Walsh was crazy and the press in Tampa couldn't get him out of town fast enough. All he did was break several of my favorite QB's Super Bowl records and then join him in the Hall of Fame. I'm talking about Steve Young. How quickly people forget the same stuff they are saying about Tim Tebow today they were saying about Steve Young several years ago.

Assumption gets you in trouble many times, so trouble here I come. I am assuming that many of the Tim Tebow bashers don't like his image as a clean-cut, Christian gentleman. Yes, that used to be the standard people sought after in our nation, but if you take a stand for God now very openly as Tebow does you get attacked. His talent is raw in the NFL and he's just in his second year, yet people are all ready saying his career is over. Seems like same of these same people or their forerunners said the same thing about Steve Young.

I knew when John Fox was named coach of the Broncos that Tim's chances there were numbered. Foxy won't go through another season with a young QB like he did in Charlotte last year. So with every throw that's off they find another reason to bury Tebow. With every throw or mistake he makes it becomes a big deal. The kid's got more talent in him than most people believe and I am praying he proves them wong.

I'm not a Bronco's fan, not a Florida fan, but I don't like it when somebody doesn't get a fair chance to compete in any profession. Not matter what he does somebody is on his case. Sportswriters and sports reporters please find another hobby horse to ride. Stop bashing Tim Tebow and just give him a chance. Remember, there just might be a little Steve Young in him.

P.S. Isn't it amazing that most of his critics careers in the NFL were not very good. Kinda makes you wonder doesn't it?

EARTHQUAKE!

I was sitting in Mutt's Bar-B-Q yesterday eating lunch when all of a sudden my table started shaking and I was almost knocked out of my chair. I found out that an earthquake had happened over 400 miles away and I was feeling a shockwave sent to SC from Virginia by it. Yes, my friend the earth did move and I could feel it.

Scary thought isn't it-An earthquake on the eastern seaboard of the good old USA? Well it happened and many of us felt the reactions from it.

What does the Bible say about earthquakes?
Matthew 24:7 "For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places."

Mark 13:8 "For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows."

Luke 21:11 "And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven."

Isaiah 24:18-20 "And it shall come to pass, that he who fleeth from the noise of the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that cometh up out of the midst of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for the windows from on high are open, and the foundations of the earth do shake. The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly. The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again."

Three things to remember about earthquakes:
1-Jesus is Coming!
2-Jesus is Coming!
3-Jesus is Coming!

'Nuff said!

Somethings To Say To Your Kids That Just Might Help Them

1. I love you! There is nothing that will make me stop loving you. Nothing you could do or say or think will ever change that.
   
2. You are amazing! I look at you with wonder! Not just at what you can do, but who you are. There is no one like you. No one!
   
3. It's all right to cry. People cry for all kinds of reasons: when they are hurt, sad, glad, or worried; when they are angry, afraid, or lonely. Big people cry too. I do.
   
4. You've made a mistake. That was wrong. People make mistakes. I do. Is it something we can fix? What can we do? It's all over. You can start fresh. I know you are sorry. I forgive you.
   
5. You did the right thing. That was scary or hard. Even though it wasn't easy, you did it. I am proud of you; you should be too.
   
6. I'm sorry. Forgive me. I made a mistake.
   
7. You can change your mind. It's good to decide, but it is also fine to change.
   
8. What a great idea! You were really thinking! How did you come up with that? Tell me more. Your mind is clever!
   
9. That was kind. You did something helpful and thoughtful for that person. That must make you feel good inside. Thank you!
   
10. I have a surprise for you. It's not your birthday. It's for no reason at all. Just a surprise, a little one, but a surprise.
    
11. I can wait. We have time. You don't have to hurry this time.
    
12. What would you like to do? It's your turn to pick. You have great ideas. It's important to follow your special interests.
    
13. Tell me about it. I'd like to hear more. And then what happened? I'll listen.
    
14. I'm right here. I won't leave without saying good-bye. I am watching you. I am listening to you.
    
15. Please and Thank You. These are important words. If I forget to use them, will you remind me?
    
16. I missed you. I think about you when we are not together!
    
17. Just try. A little bit. One taste, one step. You might like it. Let's see. I'll help you if you need it. I think you can do it.
    
18. I'll help you. I heard you call me, here I am. How can I help you? If we both work together, we can get this done. I know you can do it by yourself, but I'm glad to help since you asked.
    
19. What do you wish for? Even if it's not yet time for birthday candles and we don't have a wishbone, it's still fun to hear about what you wish for, hope for, and dream about.