"Last In Line...AGAIN!"

Have you ever wondered why you seem to be the last car in line at a fast-food drive through? Now, I know that this is not "every" time, but it sure seems to me it happens a lot! Just this morning, I drove through the golden arches to get my usual unsweetened iced tea and the line ahead of me totaled seven cars and as I waited (patiently, I might add!), not a single car got in line behind me! Is this a conspiracy or what? Is there something that people are trying to tell me that I am not understanding? Of course, not! No conspiracy! No misunderstanding!

My point is that often people come to conclusions about things that happen to them with the same foolish thinking! How many times have you heard (or, have you said!), "Things just seem to happen to me!" The person is bemoaning what is thought to be some miniscule plot to make their life miserable and doing so with success. Friend, you are not being cursed by the "drive through window witch!" Trust me on this one, okay?

The problem is simple. We tend to remember the things that irritate us longer than those things that please us. It may be a part of human nature. I'm not sure! People can recall things that happened to them years ago that was hurtful, inconvenient, or aggravating, but have already forgotten many of the nice things that people have done for them. If I were to keep a record (which I am not going to do!), I would venture to say that most of the time I am not the last car in line at Mickey-D's. Many times, I am first in line and others have to line up behind me!

When you get to thinking about "all the bad things that happen to you," keep them in perspective because they are not as numerous as one may think! I wonder how many will be in line tomorrow morning about 9:45 when I pull up to that obnoxious speaker?

'Hello? Can You Help Us?"

Imagine putting down $2000 for a vacation "dreamhouse," only to find that it was more of a "nightmare!" Further imagine that you are in a town where you know no one...no one at all! What do you do? To whom do you turn? Add to the confusion the three small children you have with you to whom you promised a wonderful and exciting vacation! I wonder what YOU would do!

On Thursday evening, June 11, 2009, as I sat with my wife watching some television my cell phone rang! Who would be calling me so late on my cell phone? Is there some type of an emergency with one of our grandchildren? All of you know the thoughts that go through your mind when you get an unexpected call rather late in the evening, right?

The voice of a young lady asked, "Is this the preacher for the Williamsburg Church of Christ?" To which I glad said, "It is." "I need help!" was the quick reply. It seems they were in Surrey in a house they had rented and the actual house did not "exactly" look like the one in the brochure. It was not a pleasant situation for these four adults and three children. "Can you help us?" was the next response. Confused a bit, I asked, "How can I help you?" "Can you find us a place that will house seven people?" "Well, there are hundreds of rooms here in Williamsburg and they offer superior service," I proudly stated. I mentioned a few of the places that I thought would be able to handle such a large number and told them how to find them. "Really?" the young mother asked. "Absolutely, I have no doubt that arrangements can be made that will satisfy your needs," I quickly added.

After we got this all straightened out, she asked my name. I told her that I was Bill Butterfield. In the background I heard another lady shout, "Bill Butterfield? Bill Butterfield from Parkersburg, West Virginia?" Again, I said, "That's me!" These folk were from Bearwallow Ridge, Ohio (yes, there really is a place by that name) where my father had preached many times and I had gone with him a lot of those times. (When you are a "preacher's kid," you go to church a lot!) "Do you remember Frank Clark?" "Of course I remember him and told them exactly where he lived." "That's my grandfather!" the young lady shouted. Then I told her that my first girlfriend (the letter writing kind!) was from Bearwallow Ridge!

Well, they spent the night there and talked to the landlord the next day (who happened to be on his honeymoon and was not excited about being interrupted) and worked things out in some form. They met me at the church building on Merrimac Trail the next morning, much to my surprise, to thank me for talking to them and helping them to see things would work out! After they took my picture so they could show the folk back home, they went on their way to see the historic wonders of our little town!

Why did I share this with you? One simple reason! Those of us who are Christians are a part of a much, much larger family! No matter where you go, you will find brothers and sisters in the Family of God eager to help out others in the Family! If you are not a part of the Christian family, you have no idea what you are missing here and hereafter!

Same Order...Different Service!

I wonder what the difference is? Those of us who call Williamsburg home are blessed to live in a community that is very diverse...very diverse! The diversity seen here is often limited to much larger cities where crossroads of the world meet. Our little town with its streets lined with beautiful shade trees and houses reminding us our antiquity is at the center of the history of our great country. However, it is, also, a place that many foreign students flocked to each year to work in the numerous service projects available. I remember asking one young man, who was thousands of miles from home, why he would leave home to be a waiter at IHOP. His response was simple, "I can make more money here waiting tables during the busy season than I can at home in a year!" There you have it, but that's not my point!

What fascinates me is the difference in cultures. I frequent McDonald's restaurant each day with the same drive-through order: "large unsweetened iced tea with ten Splendas." The window is served during the summer by young adults from the far east who are so different than those who have the same job in the fall and winter. The "summer" crew is polite, courteous, and greet the consumer with a "Good morning!" and a hardy "Thank you for coming!" They will go out of their way to be sure your order is correct. It is very refreshing! However, during the "off season" one gets no conversation, no greeting, and often an incorrect order. It is not very pleasant to be served in such a bland, non-friendly manner.

If I am not mistaken, most of these young adults are about the same age with nearly the same education, but there is a difference! While some are sullen and appear to be angry, the others are smiling and enjoying their opportunities. What makes these young adults so contrasting?

Could it be the influences that have shaped their lives? Could it be the difference in parenting styles? Could it be while one appreciates the chance to improve his life, the other believes the world owes him a life? The answer to the previous three questions is probably , "Yes!"

Is it any wonder that the consumer gets a bit frustrated with some while not so with others? Without the consumer there would be no jobs for these young adults. There would be no places to work...even minimum waged jobs! I know flipping hamburgers all day and getting someone's "large unsweetened iced tea with ten Splendas" is not the same as discovering the cure for some dreaded disease, but it is better than having nothing to do at all, right?

Be grateful for small blessings, at least, until your blessings can be larger!

Why Can't We All Just Get Along?

As I sit here this morning wondering about the confusion that exist throughout the world, I won dered why can't we all just get along? North Korea has exploded, at least, one nuclear bomb test and fired off three or four "test flights," the Dow Jones numbers rise and fall like a child's yo-yo; critics appear before the president announces his nomination for the U. S. Supreme Court; and, churches on every corner bicker with one another over some matter of opinion! Can we all just get along? Do we have to criticize each other just because we don't cross every "t" and dot every "i" exactly alike?

We are engaged in a significant expansion and remodeling of our church facilities right at the moment. It has been a project that began last September and is just now drawing to a close. I have watched with interest throughout these eight months as the work has been done. One thing that has caught my attention is the precision of the process. As one job is completed, another one is opened up for a different group of workers. Some work in the area of preparation and are replaced by builders and they are replaced by finishers! Today, painters have spotted places that need a bit more attention while others have been applying the finishing touch. One will be cutting a piece of moulding while one is being carried to the third guy who will put it in place! Precision! It reminds me of a finely tuned dance troup who knows each others move and are ready to step in at the right time.

Why can't life be that way?

If folk were less eager to criticize the opposition and more concerned about getting the job done, peace might just break out everywhere. Lasting peace! Politicians have an "unwritten code" that they must not applaud the efforts of the opposing party! Athletes must not congratulate their opponents even in defeat! Neighbors must fine some critical point with each other's lawns! Churches must announce the differences they have with each other! Why can't we all just get along?

Maybe the reason is that we just cannot be wrong about anything! I remember as a child blaming every scuffle that my brother and I had on my brother. I doubt that he was the source of all our disputes, but I was not about to admit my guilt! Do you have any idea how difficult it is to live with the above disposition? If one cannot be wrong about anything, he must always be on edge lest he be mistaken about something. What if the one thing I don't know proves me to be wrong about some practice? It means that I have to ignore the obvious error and plod ahead because I cannot be wrong! How sad! How troubling!

Friends, neighbors and brethren, why can't we all just get along?

The More Things Change....

Our local bi-weekly newspaper, The Virginia Gazette, has been covering our community and the surrounding area since 1735. It is pretty much a "folksy" type paper full of information that the rest of the world would find useless and probably a bit boring. However, if you live here you want to know what is happening around town and find out from "The Last Word" what the latest complaints are. Today as I perused it over lunch, I began to wonder how much different the news might have been nearly 300 years ago than it is today. No, I did not research this carefully and read the first edition of the paper, but I did wonder about it.

Were the concerns of 18th century much different than in the 21st century? Were their economic problems then like there are today? Were folk struggling to find employment? Were wars and rumors of wars rampant in their world? Were there athletic events that some found interesting? Were there political "issues" being discussed at length on the front porches of Duke of Gloucester street? Did children give reasons for parents to be concerned? Oh, the list could go on forever, right?

I guess my point is, how much have people changed over the centuries? I know our problems have different wrappings, but are they basically the same problems? When I was a young person one of the huge concerns of parents was their young boys "going out behind the barn" and smoking a cigarette, now it is inhaling some mind-altering drug. But, is that basically the same concern? In high school, if a young girl would become "with child," she would be sent to live with an aunt because the aunt needed help, but she would return in about nine months without a child that was given up for adoption. Today, it is the guilt of unwanted pregnancies and abortion that leads the list of concerns for teenagers who are "with child."

One thing is for sure, God has not changed and never will change! That's comforting to all of us who place our trust in Him. We will never have to apologize for what He did, never be embarrassed by some misdeed that He performed, and never have to explain His prejudices toward anyone. What a blessing! Also, God maintains the answer to the guilt for our misdeeds and the cleansing power of forgiveness. Aren't you glad?

So, whether it is the 18th century or the 21st century, some things are different, but some things never change!

"I'll Never Be A Mother...But I Can Wonder!"

For the 45th time, I am planning a "Mother's Day" sermon and each year I struggle with this task! One reason it is getting more difficult for me is because this is the second year in a row that I will not get to buy a card or send a bouquet of flowers to my Mom. I miss her greatly! As I sat in the quietness of my study checking out sermons that others have preached on this wonderful day of celebration, my mind began to wonder what it must be like to be a mother. No, I will never know because I am a 63 year old man, but I can still wonder!

I read recently some thoughts that others have had about being a mother and found them to be challenging. Here are a few of them:

"It takes about six weeks to get back to normal after having a baby...the truth is that once you are a mother, "normal" is history!" The thrill of birthing a human life must be an incredible experience, but things are never the same again. A mother's time is not her own! A mother's thoughts are always about someone else! A mother's love blooms and never fades!

"You cannot love a second child as much as you love the first one...the truth is the person who said this never had two or more children!" I have known some families with several children and each child seemed to have as much love as was needed. I guess love is something that a mother never runs out of because there is always enough for one more!

"The hardest part about being a mother is labor and delivery...that person has never watched her baby get on that big yellow school bus on his first day of school...nor has that person said good-bye to a son boarding a plane for Iraq or Afghanistan to fight for their country!" The travail of child birth seems light compared to the travail of the heart at separation.

"Your mother knows you love her, so you don't have to tell her...somone has never been a mother!" Trust me, you never quit telling your Mom that you loved her then and moreso now!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

"Take The Detour If You Have The Chance!"

When you reflect on your immediate past, what do you think? I wonder how many of us can look back at the past decade and think, "Wow! This is as good as it gets!" For the past dozen years, I have been privileged to live and work in Williamsburg, Virginia. I have lived here longer than I have ever lived anywhere in my life. You see, I am a "PK" [preacher's kid] and it was usually "three years and a cloud of dust!" One would think that I would have learned my lesson about preaching, but I am in "my own" forty-fifth year of preaching.

As I drive to my study each morning (a ten mile jaunt), I have the blessed privilege of arriving here several different ways, but without doubt the best way is detouring through "colonial" Williamsburg. This morning I took the detour! Let me tell you about it!

Within five minutes (that's about as long as it takes to take the "detour") I witnessed sleepy-eyed students from the College of William and Mary making their way to that early morning lecture. At the same time, joggers came by on their normal morning routine as they "stay in shape!" As I made the turn onto Boundary Street there was a man power-washing the sidewalks in "colonial" Wiliamsburg. "Power-washing" in the 18th century? Is that not a bit peculiar?

Rounding the corner at Francis Street one knows that he is returning to "a different age!" Historic interpreters, dressed as their forerunners were, are making their way to jobs (gun- making, gardening, serving, and carriage driving) that will allow modern thought take a backseat to historical perspective. Is there anywhere else that one can see beautifully decorated tour buses and ducks drinking from a puddle leftover from last night's storm...all within two minutes? Is there any other place where one can see fifty elementary students dressed in shorts and T-shirts eagerly awaiting someone to step out in colonial garb to tell them "how it was back then?" Three minutes later (if you get caught by a traffic light) be ordering an iced tea from the "golden arches?"

That's what it is like for me to "take the detour" to work each morning! What a community this is!

One more thing. This is like every other village in the country in that we have those who have little good to say about "our town!" They are consumed with modernization, new housing, more traffic, and signs that don't quite meet the specifications. Their disgruntled words can be read each Wednesday and Saturday in our local newspaper (The Virginia Gazette) on the last page called, "The Last Word!" They probably feel better letting others know that they are not happy, so that's all right! The rest of us get a good laugh out of those things that others seem to think will destroy the universe if they are not halted...and halted NOW!

For more than twelve years I have been blessed to live and minister in "our town!" I love it!

I hope you can come by and "take the detour!"

What was it you said?

I wonder what it would be like if all of us decided that we would do more listening and less talking? Wow! Now there is a challenge for a world where everyone wants to be heard...and heard NOW! I remember hearing my father say, "God put our tongues behind a cage (teeth - bb) and he intended it to stay there!" Hmmmm. Maybe Dad was on to something! He would add, "He gave us two ears and one mouth which should tell us that God wants us to hear twice as much as we speak." Hmmmm, again.


On the Internet news today I read where folk were criticizing our president for listening to some of the leaders of countries with whom we have not had the best of relationships. It sounded like he had committed a crime of some sort the way it was described. All he was doing was listening, is that so wrong?


Have you ever scolded a child for what you perceived to have been a wrongdoing, but found out later that what you "perceived" was not what really happened? Did you give that child a chance to explain? Did you really listen or just hear some words? There is a big difference between "listening" and "hearing!"


My point is that many misunderstandings could be cleared completely if some would only spend more time listening and less time talking! The New Testament writer, James, said, "My dear brothers, taken note of this: everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry." [James 1:19] That's good advice!


Today, why not make it a practice to listen carefully to what others are saying before you say your first word? It will catch them by surprise and you might just learn something.

Kenny Perry is not an "average" golfer..."

Most of you know that I have had a passion for golf for all my adult life! I began hitting a golf ball around when I was about twelve, played my first round of golf on a "real" golf course with my cousin, Doug Dotson, when I was sixteen, and have been playing now for forty-eight years! I guess, other than living, I have played golf longer than anything else I have ever done!

Yesterday afternoon I watched on television, along with millions of others, the two greatest golfers in the world battle it out in the Masters golf tournament in Augusta, Georgia. It was classic! No one could write a script any better! While neither of them won the tournament they made one spectacular shot after another for nearly four hours with only three or four "bad" (?) shots!

As much as I enjoyed the prowess of Mickelson and Woods, I was hoping that Kenny Perry would win it all! Maybe it was the older guy rooting for Perry to become the oldest player ever to win the Masters. Maybe it was because I had read some articles about Perry's relationship with Jesus Christ. Oh, maybe it was because I wanted to see someone beat the best in the world! Regardless of what I wanted, Perry came up short in the "sudden death" playoff.

In an interview that I listened afterwards, Perry hinted that he was not in the same caliber as the "stars" of the game, but was merely an "average" golfer! I wonder how anyone could consider himself "average" when he missed winning golf's greatest prize by one stroke. Perry is not your "average" golfer. Believe me, I know!

There must be a certain sense of reality that takes over when one "almost wins!" Those poorly made shots will be replayed forever in Kenny Perry's mind. Though there were only two or three of them, they will never be forgotten! It will always be, "what might have been!"

One thing that stands out in my mind is that Perry understands that golf is a "game," and in no way compares to "life!" The "almost winner" still has his family, health, and, most of all, his relationship with Jesus Christ. With those things he will always be a winner!

"Don't Mess With Mary!"

Last Friday afternoon I had the privilege of helping to celebrate the life of Mary Chapman. Very few of you reading this blog will know who Mary Chapman was because her circle of influence was pretty localized and limited. Let me tell you just a bit about Mary.



Mary was born in southern West Virginia in 1922 and moved to our little town in 1964. She worked several years at our local Eastern States Hospital and befriended hundreds of people who were confined to these quarters. She retired from her employment in 1987, but not from life! Mary was extremely active in our local church family until her health caused her to slow down rapidly. She seldom missed a service with the faithful help of her two daughters.



But the above is not the "real" Mary Chapman story. You see, Mary had a will about her...a very strong will! Mary knew what Mary wanted and very little would deter from accomplishing that which she desired. One young "robber to be" found out that Mary's desire to keep her purse caused him a bit of embarrassment! That's right, when she was 81 years of age, a young man decided that he would steal her purse, but Mary had different ideas! With a very strong voice, she reminded him, "I have a cane for you and I will use it!" The would-be robber fled "purse-less!" He learned quickly that you don't mess with Mary!



Another time we were having a campaign at church in some of the hottest weather imaginable for the month of May. We were hitting the streets to see how we could serve our neighbors! Mary went out the first day (she was now 82 years old) and worked "like a soldier!" I asked her the next day to stay inside where it was cool and her response was short and curt, "No, sir. I am going out with the others!" Like the would-be robber, I did not mess with Mary.



I wonder what makes the difference in people? Is it heredity? Environment? Teaching? Oh, maybe it is a bit of all three! The fact is Mary knew what she wanted and she went out to get it! The amazing thing is that what she "wanted" was not what many others would want...she wanted to do what God wanted her to do! And, you don't mess with that!



I wish all of you could have known Mary Chapman because you would have been a better person for having done so!



I know I am!

"Being God? What's That Like?"

I am wondering this morning what it must be like to be God. When you love everyone equally as much whether they are the "salt of the earth" or absolutely rotten, how does that work? When those that are so unlovable often react better than those who profess "their love for everyone," which do you appreciate more? When some folk perform legalistically every small word of a command and others totally ignore the most obvious, with whom are you the most disturbed? Sometimes it must be tough to be God!


After considering the above for a brief few moments, reality surfaced! I "know" what it is like to be God! That's right, I do not have to wonder because I already know! Let me explain...


I grew up hearing folk say that God came to earth in the "form" of Jesus (seemingly ignoring the fact that Jesus IS God!) to discover what it was like to be human. Now, as a child I was satisfied to accept that premise, but the older I got the more I realized that someone had missed a very, very important point. For God to be God, He had to know everything, right? Therefore, He had to know what it was like to be human without having to "come to this earth," right? Oops, the former premise has serious faults!

The fact is that Jesus did not come to earth to find out what it was like to be human, but he came to show us what it was like to be God! Does that not make more sense? I would never have known what it was like to be God without Jesus' demonstration of "God-likeness!" Someone noted, "Jesus put skin on God!"


This demonstration of being godly was highlighted by Jesus' service to others! Even though many equate being "God-like" with barking out orders for others to perform, it really is being on bended knee cleaning up the messes made by others! The custodian cleaning up some human filth is more like God than the one standing tall and telling others what he wants them to do.


So, as I wrote earlier, I "know" what it is like to be God...it is ministering to others!

"Don't Blame The Ostrich!"

I find adages to be fascinating and enjoy discovering the origins of such. I was wondering a little while ago about the familiar, "Burying your head in the sand." We have all heard this adage and have probably used it to describe someone that deliberately refuses to see the facts in some situation. Often when a person denies that a certain problem exists, someone will chime, "He is just burying his head in the sand!"

The origin of this statement is attributed to the habit of ostriches burying their heads in the sand when an enemy approaches. It is said that they bury their heads because they believe if they cannot see the possible attacker then the attacker cannot see them! Now, that sounds like the practice of a very stupid animal which is the charge leveled against ostriches. It is claimed by some that the brain of an ostrich (and, for the record, all types of birds) is so small they cannot help be mentally challenged. The fact is the exact opposite is true! The brains of aviaries are much larger than other animals' brains when contrasted to the body size of each.

So, why are ostriches given the "credit" for being the source for this adage? It is highly possible that this criticism is attached to them because of their habit of lying on the ground to make themselves inconspicuous to an approaching threat. They do not bury their heads in sand nor in bushes as some suggest! It might come from the way they lower their heads to eat, but when you are shaped like an ostrich you have few other means of eating, right?

My point in today's blog is that many folk, unlike the ostrich, do deny the truth my deliberately concealing it from themselves. It is the old, "ignorance is bliss," mentality! If I don't know what is true then I am not responsible to it! We all know that this is not true! Just because we do not understand the "law of gravity" does not make us immune to its effects, right? Not knowing the speed limit is not an acceptable excuse when approached by a highway officer!

Why do we seem to think that this principle works in other ways? Probably so we do not have to accept the blame for failed efforts. It is this denying of facts that causes marriages to fail, economies to flounder, and countries to be overcome! Not knowing the facts will never excuse poor judgment nor failed attempts!

The same principle applies to our relationship to God's will! Ignorance is no excuse! Since God has revealed His will for us through the Bible, we have no excuse for not knowing what His will is, right? We should make every effort to discover His will for us and, also, make ever effort to share His will with others! Jesus said that it would his word that will judge us in the last day, so there you have it! Ignorance is not bliss!

My friend, keep your head out of the sand so you can see approaching dangers, imperfect examples, and hazardous highways! By doing so, you will be able to see the blessings that come from a life dedicated to God!

"Hey, what about me?"

In every mixed group of people there are always some very, very special ones, right? It could be that older friend who has such wonderful experiences to share with anyone who will listen and who enjoys sharing those same stories over and over again. Or, it could be that young couple who are beginning their marital journey and everything is new, refreshing, and exciting. What of that recent college graduate who is trying to secure her first employment in a market that is not as strong as it should be and she is worried about where this will lead. The list of people who enrich our lives is endless and each one's story is a precious part of our mental library.

There is one group of people that sometimes go overlook...quite unintentionally! Remember, as a child when we were told that we "should be seen and not heard?" That was a pretty tall order for some of us because we always had something to say...maybe not important to everyone, but, at least, to us. It was pretty frustrating to be ignored by all the "big" people around you, wasn't it? I wonder if we learned anything about that feeling of frustration.

I am blessed to have a lot of "kids" around me every week! Nope, I am not a teacher that is surrounded by children six hours a day, but I do get to interact with a lot of neat children two or three times a week...at church! You see, I am "Mr. Bill" to a pretty large (and getting larger) number of little gals and guys. I try to have something to say to each of them each time we meet if it is nothing more than a compliment regarding what they are wearing. (You can always tell when their mother's let them pick out the "uniform of the day!") But, you always tell them how good they look, right?

Last Sunday morning as I was greeting folk as they left the worship time, one little guy got my attention and I began scruffing his hair, calling him by name, and maybe a little tickling in his ribs. He laughed and went on as I spoke to his father, but he returned for another scruffing, tickling and a "How you doing, Elijah?" As I turned to some of the adults who were exiting, I heard a sweet little voice ask, "What about me?" I immediately recognized the voice, but continued greeting the "big" people, but another "Uh...what about me?" was heard. This time a bit more forceful and a bit louder! I turned and looked down and there stood Stephanie, the sweetest and cutest nine-year-old you could ever meet. Again, with a bit of smile, "What about me?" I knew she was waiting on her weekly hug from "Mr. Bill!" So, what was I to do, but hold up the line and give her a squeeze?

I relate this to you because I want you to consider the children of the world! This is a very tough world into which they have been born. Oh, I know their youthful exuberance does not allow them to know how tough things are for us "big" people, but they will find out...find out soon enough! Please, take some deliberate time for the little guys and gals of this world! Let them know that they are loved, important, and a blessing!

I am thinking of the passage in the Bible that says, "...and a little child shall lead them!" I have learned much about life from the "little ones" and some of those lessons have been difficult, but all of them have been valuable!

Remember, Jesus said, "...of such is the kingdom of heaven!" Wow! He never said that about any of us "big" people!

"I Won't Be Attending This Party! How about you?"

Have you ever received an invitation to a party about which you were unsure? A party that you were not real sure that you wanted to attend! No, it was not because of the people having the party because you loved them very much. It was not because you did not want to dress up as your favorite character because it was not that kind of an event. The timing fit your schedule and the place was not far from your home. The problem was that you knew the party was going to be a "pity party" for the host or hostess! That's was the only kind of "party" they understood!

I wonder how many of us have been trapped into such a situation? I know you have!

Those who host such parties are overcome by their personal concerns. Those concerns may be health related, financial shortfalls, spousal abuse or abandonment...the list is long and difficult. These folk have known tremendous failures of one kind or another and have been overcome by the enormity of the problem. They never intended to be addicted to "self pity" anymore than a drug addict intended to be taken in by cocaine or heroin. It happened! How? Generally, it started as a kind word or gentle gesture on the part of someone feeling another's pain. That pain is demonstrated once, twice or more and it felt good to the hurting person. It felt so good that more of it was desired and sought. Within in a matter of time it felt so good that only a larger dose of the sympathy would satisfy the individual's need and at that point the addiction to pity was set.

With a loving heart others joined the party and began sharing their sorrow for the host of this "self-pity party!" They meant well, but were only compounding the addiction. What was needed was some "straight talk" regarding overcoming the addiction! But, what does one say?

Jesus asked a man one time if he wanted to get well, even though he knew the man had been lying on a mat for thirty-eight years due to some form of paralysis. Did the man need a miracle for his body? Uh...maybe! Did he need a miracle for his mind? Probably! Jesus simply said with great force, "Get up! Take up your mat and walk!" Straight forward talk! No touching! No spittle made from the dirt! Just...simple instructions to a man that was playing the blame game so common to those engulfed in self-pity! What happened? The man got up and walked!

There are those among us who need no more addictive empathy, but a panacea for their personal feelings of pity! Help them overcome this addiction! Encourage them to seek help for the addiction!

Remember, a "pity junkie" does not need to be introduced to a supplier of this deadly poison!

"I Want To Pray...NOW!"

I wonder what we would do if a little lad expressed a desire to pray...RIGHT NOW! Would you say, "Well, I guess it depends upon where we were and what we were doing?" Maybe so, but I want to tell you about a very "special" little guy. My buddy, Brady, is probably six years old (I am guessing about his age) and I was privileged to count him among my friends while his father served in the military near Williamsburg, Virginia. At one time, my favorite "Brady story" was him trying to figure our what to call me. You see, most of our kids at church call me, "Mr. Bill," but Brady was torn between "Mr. Churchman" and "Mr. Preacher." I got one or the other of these most of the time!


Just today, I got word from his mother, Montie, about another, much more precious, "Brady story." Let me share it with you.



Yesterday as Brady and his parents left church (they now live in the Atlanta, GA area), Brady stopped them in the hallway and said, boldy, "I want to pray. Now." Remember, the opening question of this blog? He and his parents stopped right where they were, bowed their heads, and little Brady prayed, "Dear Lord, Thank you for Taylor, and Jack, Lee Ann, Thomas (...a pause...) Jefferson, and Martin Luther King. Amen." Now, I don't know Taylor, Jack, or Lee Ann, but they were important enough to Brady to include in a list of some pretty important people.


As I read Montie's note, my heart melted! No, not for Brady, but for the rest of us. We often take prayer for granted and never think of its importance. How many times have you wanted to stop and pray, but decided to go on with what you were doing and bring up this matter in your nightly prayers. Not Brady...he wanted to pray NOW! Isn't that what we need to do? An hour or a few hours may be too long to wait! We may forget what was on our minds, forget the person that we needed to remember, or disaster strikes before the sun sets. When is the "right" time to pray? NOW! Just ask, Brady.


Dear friend of mine, prayer is a powerful display of faith on the part of God's children, but it is, also, a powerful source of strength! Please...please, don't forget to pray NOW!

"It's My Job!"

Sometimes I wonder why people complain about their jobs! Oh, I understand why a construction worker would complain about working out in freezing temperatures or why a chef would get tired of the smell of grease all day. There are probably some jobs that are a bit boring due to repeating the exact same chore all day long and others are frustrating as you deal with dissatisfied customers. But, why do some seem to complain about a job that is exciting, rewarding and envied by many, many others?



Do you know who Lin Hao is? Think real hard because many of you have heard his name and have seen him on television (or maybe a few who were lucky enough to have seen him in person). Most of the world first saw Lin Hao about six months ago on television! Does that help any? Okay, he was the little nine-year-old Chinese boy that carried a small version of the flag of China during the Olympics. He was dwarfed by 7'6" Yao Ming as they led the Chinese athletes into the stadium during the opening ceremonies. Did you watch long enough to know who Lin Hao was and why he was leading the parade of 639 Chinese athletes?



He was a survivor of the May 12, 2008 earthquake that hit China. The tremors that caused the death of 69,000 people brought Lin Hao the chance to teach the world a great lesson. You see, he was trapped in a primary school building that had collapsed with all the children inside. He struggled and got out of the rubble although suffering a head injury (the scar from the injury was obvious during the parade). However, even after escaping, he went back in and led two of his classmates to safety who were doomed to death unless someone helped them, but in crawled their hero, Lin Hoa.



The story does not end with the rescues! Lin Hao was interviewed frequently during the Olympics and always answered the same way when ask about his heroics. His response was always, "I am the class leader and a hall monitor. It was my job to look after my classmates!" That's it...he was doing his job!



Friends, we need to understand that we all have a job to do. It may not be the most exciting job in the world nor one that will grab publicity, but it is our job! We need to do that job with pride, enthusiasm, and dignity. At a time when thousands are losing their jobs everyday, we ought to be grateful to have a job to do, right?



So whether you go to a school, restaurant, factory, hospital, or construction site...do your job! Why? Because that's what we all must do...our job!



Make today a profitable day of work and you will rest more comfortably tonight!

"Sing And Be Happy!"

As I sit here this morning and look out of the window in my study, I see gray skies, trees trembling in the wind, and drops of rain falling lazily to the ground. It is not a "stormy" day, but it certainly is not a "bright sun shiny day" either! I wonder how many people see life that way! You know, not so bad, but not that good! I have heard folk say, "I wish it would get cold and stay cold or become warm and stay warm!" They don't seem to like those mediocre days of partly cloudy skies and intermittent sunshine!



This reminds me of the devotional song that says, "If the skies above you are gray, you are feeling so blue..." The encouragement is to, "Sing and be happy, press on to the goal, trust Him who leads you, He will keep your soul."



That is solid advice for all of us! It is when we let our surroundings (weather, confusion, disappointments, etc.) determine our joy that we discover that our trust in God has weakened significantly. I am not a prophet nor the son of a prophet, but I am a believer and the son of believers! Behind every cloud is a "silver lining" that shines in the heavenly land! Today's agonies will be overwhelmed by tomorrow's blessings! This moment's disappointments will be overshadowed by the next moment's realities! So, why not "sing and be happy?"



It really doesn't take too long for you to turn a gloomy gray sky day into a bright day of sunshine by just singing a happy tune! Whistle while you work and notice how much easier the work seems to be. Hum a happy melody and notice that the people around you are really your friends, not your competitors.



There is one line in the above mentioned song that is bad advice. It says, "When the dark clouds vanish away then your heart truly can sing." Do we have to wait until the sun shines again before singing? I think not! It is the singing that drives the clouds away and brings back the sun! There is no reason we cannot enjoy life while the raindrops are falling on our heads. If one has to wait until the storm passes by to be happy, he may miss the blessing of trusting in God! My happiest moments are trusting God when there seems to be no reason to trust Him!



"Don't worry...be happy!" There you go! Simple, but profound!

"Old Dogs And New Tricks!"

"Wisdom is wasted on the old!" I just read the preceding thought and wondered what the author had in mind. It reminded me a bit of a saying that I remember seeing on the side of my Dad's scotch tape holder. It read, "Too soon old and too late smart!" I guess that's about the same thing, isn't it?



As I tried to think through both statements, I came up with only one conclusion. They are both saying that the young need the wisdom of the old, but wisdom is wasted on the old because they won't change their minds or lives, even if change is needed. Hmmmm? I guess that is assuming that young folk would change their minds and lives if shown that change would make their lives more desirable. Is this conclusion assuming things that are basically not true?



Remember hearing, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks?" I am wondering again if that adage is true! How old does a dog have to be before he cannot be trained anew? What determines if such training will be useless? Even if it takes an old dog a bit longer to learn a new "trick," does that mean we should not make the effort to improve his life? What if the old dog resists discovering new "tricks," are we to cease making the effort? I wonder!



There is one thing for sure, the above adages do not apply to humankind. Period. I have seen folk who were well into the sunset of their lives make drastic changes in their lifestyles. They have learned to eat well, exercise more, and live happier even after years of missing all three. I have, also, seen young flexible teenagers who did not change even when shown their lifestyles were detrimental physically, mentally and spiritually. Well, there goes the above theories!



What does that mean for those of us who are trying to help people have healthier, happier, and more contented lives? It means, if you are working with "old dogs," you might want to give up a bit sooner, but if you are reaching out to "young and old people," you never, never give up!



What do YOU think?

The Baton Will Soon Be Passed!

I wonder what's going through the mind of President-elect Barrack Obama about now! In a week and a day, he will walk into the oval office as the President of the United States of America for the first time. Wow! With a simple, "I do," he becomes the most powerful man in the world! On his shoulders will fall the fortunes of 350 million citizens, plus the futures of billions more. He will control the most powerful military ever known to humankind! He will preside over a budget of thousands of billions of dollars! Mind-boggling, isn't it? How do you suppose he feels about now? Excited? Humbled? Scared? Nervous? Probably all four and many more!

It was interesting this morning to listen to the farewell press conference of George W. Bush as he prepares to return to his ranch in Crawford, Texas. The questions were unlike those asked in previous news conferences because this would be his last as the sitting president. Questions like: Do you have any regrets? What was your biggest mistake? How did you feel the first time you walked into the oval office? Would you do anything differently? Very few of the questions were about current situations in the world because there was not that much time now to deal with them. The wars and the weak economy will be passed on to the 44th president next Tuesday, January 20. He will then pass the ruling baton to another generation of politicians!

My prayer is for this country and the possible new direction that it will take! I am not a prophet and have no crystal ball, but I pray that God's will can have free reign in people's lives. That God's truths will be held in utmost esteem! That the problems plaguing the nation at this point will be resolved and peace can break out throughout the world! That Mr. Obama will be safe and provide some much needed leadership for us all!

I don't wish our new president luck....I promise him prayer! Will you join me?

On With Living and Loving...

Leo Buscaglia, known as "Dr. Love," once noted, "Don't brood! Get on with living and loving. You don't have forever!" Buscaglia was one of my favorite modern day philosophers years ago. He was not a scholarly theologian, but more of a practical philosopher. When I was in my twenties, I ran across one of his paperbacks on "love" and I read that over and over again until I had nearly digested it all! I finally passed it on to someone else and I hope they gained as much common sense out of it as I did.



When I read the above quote the other day on the website, "Brainy Quote," it spoke to my heart (my heart needed someone to speak to it!). It is so frustrating to brood over matters that are really unimportant in the big picture of life. I wonder how much precious time is wasted by trying to work out that which is unable to be worked out? A lot, I am sure.



You and I need to get on with living because as Dr. Love suggests, "...You don't live forever!" At some point life will cease as we know it and there will be no more time to "get on with living!" Two things are terrible things to waste: one's mind and one's life!



Now, what was it I was brooding over? Oh, well...it does not matter because I have to get on with living and loving!