"March Madness" or "The Road To The Final Four!"

  For the next few days we will all hear a lot about “March Madness” or the “Road To the Final Four!”  Now for that one person who has no idea what these terms mean, let me tell you that it is the time of year for the NCAA basketball championship!  One team will emerge as the national champion in collegiate basketball!  That means one team out of hundreds will be the winner!  Amazing!

 Fans will be glued to their televisions cheering on their favorite teams.  Money will be won and lost due to the final score in individual games.  Professional careers will be enhanced or damaged directly connected to the way a player conducts himself in clutch situations.  Coaches will be hired and fired based upon how far their team got in the national tournament.

 As much as I love basketball, all of the above is crazy!  It is just a game!  Yes, it is a test of skill and physical endurance, but it is just a game.  World peace does not hinge on who is victorious!  Cancer will not be cured because one team played better than the others!  The economic downturn will not be overcome based upon the score of the championship game!  Yes, it is crazy!

 Let’s keep things in perspective.  All that really matters in life is to “…fear God and keep his commandments!”  That conclusion was drawn many centuries ago and it is still true today. 

I hope your team wins, but more importantly…I HOPE YOU WIN

Four Months And Counting...

   In military vernacular, I am a "short timer" for now.   In less than four months I will be "officially" retired!  The end is near, but it has not arrived yet!  Retirement is a tad scary since I have been in full time ministry for fifty years, but it is, also, exciting because I have been in full time ministry for fifty years!
   My fears are real, but not deal breakers!  For example, what will it be like knowing that I do not have to prepare two sermons and a Bible class each week?  This has been my schedule for over 2,500 weeks with very few exceptions.  That represents a lot of hours of personal study, sermon preparation, and in depth prayers.  There have been many sleepless Saturday nights wondering if I was properly prepared for Sunday's tasks.  All of the above makes me wonder what it is going to be like that first Sunday sitting listening to someone else preach and teach.  I do not want to be a critic, but will it be hard not to be?  I do not know, but I sure hope not!
   There is a fear that I will put myself on a shelf and gather dust in the years to come.  I know I am still vibrant and able to communicate clearly, but will there be anyone who will listen or who will even care?  I do not know, but I sure hope so! 
  What I will do each day is a fear that concerns me, but mostly concerns my sweet wife.  I cannot follow her around all day asking, "What can I do now?"  Then there are the financial fears that face every retired person who gives up a lucrative salary for a fixed income.  Is there going to be expenses that I have not considered?  Will the "nest egg" and a monthly check sufficiently meet our needs?  What about those unexpected emergencies?
   The fears are real...very real, but the dreams are the motivation!  Serving God on a daily basis because you want to, not because it is a part of a job description.  Taking a warm meal to a man living under a bridge because you can and not because it is a part of an organized ministry.  Offering a word of encouragement to that person who has given up on themselves and life because they respect your wisdom in such matters.  Visiting other churches that you have always wanted to visit but you could not do so because you were always busy on Sundays.  Deciding on a Saturday afternoon to go away for the weekend without having to seek permission to be away for a few hours. 
   Oh, yes, the dreams are real, exciting, and eagerly awaited!  Only when the fears outweigh the dreams is there really a problem, so I accentuate the positives and count the days until retirement!

Does It REALLY Matter What Road We Take?

   I am currently planning a trip to Melbourne, FL and trying to decide where we will stop to spend the night, eat a meal or just sightsee a little.  There are dozens of ways to get from Williamsburg, VA to Melbourne, FL.  Each of them have their own unique characteristics making them appealing on some level. 
   It may be that we could follow route #17 and pretty much follow the coastline and visit many small communities and appreciate their individual beauty.  I like doing this and, like a great friend once said, "There's no better way to get to know a community in a hurry than to eat a meal at one of the local restaurants, especially one where many "locals" eat!" 
   If we were in a hurry, we would get on I-95 and "...put the pedal to the metal..." and head south!  This without doubt is the shortest and quickest way to get to the above destination.  The problem with driving interstates all day is that one gets a big bored and can easily become weary and eventually careless.  This is not good at 70 miles per hour, but interstate driving is efficient!
   One could combine the above two routes and make it a rather interesting trip and still end up in the same place...Melbourne, FL!
   The above illustration reminds me that a lot of folk look at our spiritual journey in much the same way!  Some have said, "We are all headed to the same place, so why does it matter how we get there!"  If we are trying to get to a warmer climate and out of the cold of the Winter in the north, that is problem correct, but that does not apply to our spiritual journey.
   Yes, there is only one destination that we all desire to reach...Heaven!  We have dreamed about Heaven!  Read about Heaven!  And, intensely desire to go to Heaven!  The difference with this journey is that there is only ONE road to follow!  That is right...just one!  It is said in JOHN 14:6, "I am the way, I am the truth, and I am the life.  No man comes to the Father, but by me."  There you have it...singular!  One road and the road is Jesus Christ!  Following the steps of Jesus will take you to where he is...Heaven!  It is acceptable to choose whichever route you want when going to Florida, but when going to Heaven there is only one...Jesus Christ!
   I am ready to get this trip started, how about you? 

You Play Until The Final Whistle...

   I sat with millions of others last night watching the 48th annual "Super Bowl" and I did so with startling amazement!  I really did not care who won the game, but I did hope to see a great display of talent and sportsmanship from two great teams.  Of course, the real reason I wanted to see this game was because of the Denver Bronco's quarterback, Peyton Manning.  Having watched him for years play some of the most outstanding games any quarterback ever played, I just knew that last night it was going to be another magnificent performance.  I was not ready for what happened!
   The more I watched the game and pass after pass soared over receivers' outstretched arms or bounced on the turf right in front of them, the more I realized that this was not "Peyton Manning's Night!"  I am taking nothing away from an outstanding performance by the Seahawks defense because they played incredibly well...well enough to win and win BIG!  After sixty minutes of interceptions and fumbles there was no doubt about the outcome!
   Now that I have had twenty-four hours to think about it the more I realize that life is a lot like that game!  I have thrown my interceptions and have dropped the ball many times.  Sometimes it is not my throw that was bad, but the way someone else denied me the chance to complete a task.  I have not always awkwardly fumbled the ball, but someone knocked the ball out of my hands.  That's life!  There are always those detractors trying to make us failures and often they succeed! 
   Notice though that Manning and the Broncos kept playing for the full sixty minutes!  The game was out of reach long before the final whistle was blown, but they were still trying to score until the referee blew his whistle and declared, "Game over!"  I, too, must keep playing the game of life until it is over...completely over!  Regardless of the momentary failures, I must keep moving!  The only way I can win is by still playing until the "final whistle!"  Then, only then, will I win by the grace of God!
   You see, I am not playing for the Lombardi trophy, but for the prize above all prizes...Heaven!  A prize that I have been promised if I am "...faithful even until death."  Will I play the "perfect" game? Never.  Can I play until the game is over?  Absolutely!  I hope we all win the "crown of life!"

In The Eyes Of An Expert...

   One of my favorite television shows (there are only a few!) is "American Pickers."  For those who may not know this show it is not about playing guitars or odd photographs of those protesting some unfair treatment.  "AP" is about Mike and Frank who travel all over the country going from one junkyard to another looking for rare and unusual items.  Some of the things they find are incredible, but most of all the people they meet are delightfully unique.
   This morning they uncovered an Ape, which was a Japanese motorcycle manufactured in the late 1940s and early 1950s.  You would have thought that Mike had found a 10-carat diamond!  He was so excited!  He bargained with the owner for a better price and finally paid $5,000 for the rusty, worn out piece of metal with three wheels.  Seeing what horrible shape it was in seemed like a waste of money until he discovered from an "expert" that it could be sold for $10,000 "as is."
   As I finished my cup of hot tea, my mind went to the number of things in life that are thought to be of little value until they are observed by an "expert."
   For example, there are those who look at some jobs as being meaningless and below the standards of acceptability.  You know, jobs where you have to work with your hands and from which one gets their clothes soiled.  The kind of job that only pays a little more than minimum wage without any type of benefits.  They seem so useless and worthless unless observed by an "expert," which in this case is someone providing the best he or she can for the family.  The job that makes putting food on the table, clothes on the children,  and heat from the furnace priorities. 
    What about the value of an education?  One spends sixteen years of life in a classroom learning to write an intelligent sentence or discovering how to balance a checkbook, but for what?  For a lifetime of discovery!  Being able to read about those people, places and events of the past so an appreciation can be gained for where we are today.  Discovering cures for maladies that have hampered humankind for decades.  To be able to unleash the power that God instilled in the mind to bring peace to a troubled world.  Yes, in the hands of the "expert" an education is the key that unlocks a beautiful future!
   Then there is that book that has been around for thousands of years and is used to swear in presidents, make weddings more spiritual, and keep small children entertained in Sunday School. Yes, the Bible is seen as pretty much worthless to many people, but to the eyes of the "expert," it is the answer to difficult questions concerning relationships.  The Word is the source of lasting peace that can come only through an understanding of its great truths.  The "expert" sees it as the revelation of God's will for his creation, therefore, making it possible to glorify the divine.  But, most of all, it is considered valuable because it serves as a road map on a journey through life that ends at the gates of God's heavenly city!  It may look worthless to some, but to the "expert" [in this case, the believer] it is eternally precious!
   Let me encourage you today to me a little more discerning when looking at those things that seem to some to be worthless, useless and empty because their value will only be known by an "expert!"


  

Helping Empower Loving People!

On several occasions I have tried to discipline myself to maintain "Wondering In Williamsburg" on a regular basis and each time I have failed!  So, with greater determination, I am going to make another effort at being more consistent. 
"Wondering In Williamsburg" began with the distinct purpose of encouraging others in their personal journey in life.  I knew that each of us has a different path to follow and that some had a more difficult time than others.  I also knew that we each needed encouragement to succeed!
Furthermore, I wanted to empower folk, not just encourage them!  Many of us are enablers, but few have the ability to empower!  Loving people need empowered whether they are parents, spouses, aged, young, rich, poor, healthy or sick...all loving people need empowerment!
For nearly fifty years I have spent time trying to empowering loving people to be all that God wants them to be and all that they want to be.  My desire was not to make the wealthy wealthier nor the popular more popular, but just to empower normal people to reach their potential.  We certainly need more doctors, lawyers, ministers, teachers and other professionals, but this world is crying out for "average people" to reach their greatest height!  Without some empowerment it will never happen for some folk!  Thus, "Wondering In Williamsburg" has been resurrected!
It is my aim to touch the lives of those who need help in surviving the plagues of life!  Disease, sorrow, abandonment, and confusion devour the determination of many people, but with a kind word of encouragement and some empowering guidelines, they can survive! 
I hope that the goals I have set for myself and for this blog can be reached and that God can use it to help empower loving people!

"If It Is Not Broken, Do Not Fix It!"

Have you ever heard the expression, “If it is not broken, do not fix it?” I know you have and we all understand what that means, right? Simply put, if something is working well there is no need to tinker with it and risk the possibility of messing it up! Years ago, Linda and I purchased our first colored television from an individual. It was an older model, but it had a good picture and great sound, so we enjoyed it. At some point, I decided that I could improve the picture quality by “fine tuning” the horizontal, vertical, color contrast and some other items. When I finished “fixing it,” the picture was hardly recognizable. We would have been much better off, if I had never tried to fix something that was not broken.

A lot of things are like that. Sometimes a person hears Dr. Phil make some claim that a little adjusting of a relationship will make it much richer. A tweak here and a nip there is supposed to make a good marriage great! Remember the theme of this article? Messing with a good marriage to make it better sometimes has catastrophic affects. There is nothing wrong with trying to improve a relationship, but it is often best left alone if it is working for those involved.

I have found the same thing is true with a church! If a church is at peace, happy and loving on each other, why mess with it? If that same church is reaching out to the lost in the community with reasonably good success, why risk ruining that ministry? The list could go on, but you get the idea, right? “If it is not broken, do not fix it!” When we start tinkering with the church, we can find ourselves much worse in the end than we were in the beginning! Then, the question can be asked, “how’s that working for you?”

Many peaceful, growing, and loving churches have become frustrated, cold, and lifeless because someone thought they knew something about “church growth” when the truth is that the church belongs to Jesus and He said, “I will build my church!”

"Range Wars & Church Leadership!"

I know you have read about the “wars” that were fought between the cattlemen and sheep herders in the wild, wild West. These “wars” were very prevalent in west Texas and other places where pasture was at a premium. Do you know why the two groups could not get along?

The problem was that sheep graze differently that cattle. Cattle will usually only eat the tops of the grass and not get down close to the ground. It has something to do with the physical structure of their mouths, etc. Sheep, however, can (and will) graze to the point of eating the grass right down to ground level, therefore, making it impossible for cattle to graze on the same land. Obviously, this produced a huge problem for the cattle ranchers as they drove their cattle to the market. Many of them, if they did not die from hunger, had lost so much weight their value decreased dramatically.

Also, remember that one would “drive” cattle, but “lead” sheep! The sheep would just keep on eating until there was nothing left unless those in charge led them to a different area. Occasionally, a sheep would wander off by itself in search of food and fall prey to a hungry beast or become trapped in a vine, but others would die in the field from a lack of food. The problem was not with the sheep nor cattle, but with those whose job it was to lead them to greener pastures.

It is not unlike the responsibilities of tending to the flock of God today! God’s people have to be led, not driven! They will stay in the same spot forever unless someone leads them to greener spiritual pastures. Now, that is risky! God’s sheep may resist being led away from a barren, life-threatening area, but that resistance does not lessen the responsibility of those gifted with leadership.

However, if they are not led to greener pastures where life is, they will die in a barren wasteland. Some will wander off in search of food for their souls, but others will remain stagnant and die spiritually. The result is the same regardless!

--- Bill Butterfield
January 27,2012

Always Someone's Son!

I grew up in the Ohio River valley known as "Billy" Butterfield, the younger son of Tom and Martha Butterfield. When I began preaching, I was always introduced as "Tom Butterfield's son, Bill." It was like I had no personal identity and it seemed that I would always be known as someone else's son, brother, friend or whatever. I must admit when I became a teen, I resented that a bit...no, a lot! It was never: president of his senior class; student body president at Ohio Valley College (University, now); member of OVC chorus, etc...I was always attached to someone else!


Now, fifty years later, it still happens, but not nearly as much. I have had the unique privilege of preaching in (Colonial) Williamsburg, Virginia for the past fifteen years. It is unique for a lot of reasons, but one is that we have tons of tourists every year. We always have a few folk at every Sunday service from somewhere else. Among those who visit our area are families from Ohio and West Virginia who know the "Butterfield" name.


I still have folk who tell me, "Your Dad baptized me up in Monroe County, Ohio back in the 1950s," or, "Are you related to Tom W. Butterfield?" After such comments and questions, I know that I am in for a ten minute conversation about something that happened decades ago. But, something is different now! I enjoy all of those stories!


It is so refreshing to hear folk speak so kindly of Dad and Mom. To hear them share with me stories about the work that my parents did in various locations within a hundred miles of "the Valley." Baptisms. Marriages. Funerals. Revivals. The list goes on and on! All of those stories are a part of the heritage from my parents and each of them brings joy to my heart.


I can only pray that my sons will have similar experiences in their lifetime. Maybe they will hear about their Grandpa Butterfield's preaching or Grandma Butterfield's sweetness. I hope so! I guess there would be no greater joy than for them to complain about hearing stories about their Dad and Mom's efforts, too!


Yes, I was raised as a "preacher's kid" and have no regrets sharing my identity with those who loved me!



Bill Butterfield
Williamsburg, Virginia
December 30, 2011

"Wondering In Williamsburg" Returns!

After an absence of more than a year, Wondering In Williamsburg is back again! There were a number of reasons why Wondering.... has not been active, but I hope that time restraints, etc. will not interfere again and allow for it to be worthwhile and regular from this point forward. Many of you contacted me regarding Wondering... and I am humbled and gratified by your concern.


I hope that Wondering... can take a bit of a turn from the past by it being used as a means to challenge you to greater spiritual heights. It is so easy to become lax in our exercising of our mind and when this happens we cease to grow! I know it is comforting to read about how "right" one is, but my goal is not to make the comfortable more comfortable, but to challenge each reader to think...really think!


I remind you that anything appearing in Wondering... is the result of my own study, thoughts, and discretion. It is not my aim to be a spokesperson for anyone else, but me! You may not agree with everything you read in Wondering... and for that matter, I would probably be ashamed of you if you did. Sometimes I don't even agree with what I write because I am still a "work in process" and my thoughts can change regularly. I hold no one to what they believed and taught 20 years, weeks, days or minutes ago IF they are still studying and working through the intellectual process. I feel the same way about myself as long as I am studying and growing!

So, with the above re-introduction to Wondering In Williamsburg, I begin again!

Not "bad" kids...

I have had the privilege during the past few months to serve as leader of young people who needed to do some "community service." None of these young folk were in any serious trouble with the local departments, but had been careless in maintaining acceptable behavior. Things like staying out past the local curfew and misbehaving more than once in the classroom. During the course of time that I have spent with these young people, I have grown to appreciate each of them and to understand a little about their lives and situations, neither of which I will go into in this blog.




The reason I mention the above is because there are two young ladies cleaning our chapel area right now and they are here for the very first time. I wonder what it is that causes folk to behave in a manner that they know will cause them to serve "community service" time. No, it is not because they do not know what is in store for them because these are "repeat offenders!" [Written a bit in jest!]




I surmise that several things contribute to this form of misbehavior. In my humble opinion, one of the most frequent causes is lack of parental supervision and direction. In the cases this Summer, none had a solid family circle. In many of the families, one of the parents was completely absent due to abdicating his/her responsibility or completing their own "debt to society." With such an absence it falls on the single parent to provide a family income, therefore, absent from the home for hours at a time. We all know what happens when children are left unsurpervised!




Boredom! As I write this, school is just beginning for some, but not for all! Children have finished all of their Summer sports programs, vacations have long since been forgotten, and there is little to do except wait for the first school bell in the Fall. Never are the words, "idle hands are the devil's workshop," truer than at the end of Summer! I have some of those that I work with saying, "I am bored out of my mind! I can't just sit at home alone and do nothing!" Guess what? I understand...I really do!




Well, you get the idea! Rather than being super-critical of those who find themselves in some type of "trouble," we should be working to help them survive the lonely days of Summer! It would not take much for you to supervise some "community service" projects or, better yet, provide some type of adventure so that "community service" would not be necessary!




Any ideas? Please, share them with me.

If I Could Do It All Over Again...

I wonder what it would be like to begin life over again, but with the knowledge one currently possesses! Oh, I know that it is not possible, but I just wonder. What would I do differently since I know how it is going to turn out? Who would I have on my list of friends? What things would I get involved in knowing the headaches that some of them caused? I wonder...


For instance, would I have made friends with "Butchy" Boggess knowing that nearly sixty years later I would always wonder what happened to him? He and I were the best of friends in the first and second grades, but my family moved and I never saw him again! Does he still live in our hometown? Is he married? Did he follow his father's example and become a mechanic? I don't know...I will never know! If I had known that Laura Lytton did not even know that I existed, would I have walked home behind her everyday in the third and fourth grades? Probably not...but maybe!


Would I have run for senior class president in a school that I attended only two years? What about being student body president in the small junior college from which I graduated, would I do that again? If I knew then what I know then, would I have dressed like an African native in an Afro wig and mini-skirt for my senior class play? Would Dave Jordan and I have tried to get into every club in high school during our senior year (and we would have made it if the Future Nurses Of America would have been more open-minded)?


After junior college, would I have gotten married to the bride that has been by my side for the past forty-five years if I had known then what I know now? Would that bride and I have sought two young boys to adopt and love like we do? If I had known the difficult times we would have living in the "fish bowl" of being a preacher's family, would I have put my family through that experience? I wonder...


There are a few things that are certain! I would have done some things differently, especially in those youthful years, but I don't think I would have excluded any of those people who blessed my life during those days. I would have waited a little while to marry, but I would have married the same bride that has blessed my life over and over again. Those two boys would have been included in my life as my two best friends and the joys of my life.


Another thing that is certain is that I would not have made some of the mistakes that I made through ignorance or in rebellion. Most of those things will be taken to my grave forgiven by the blood of Jesus Christ and certainly that would not have changed!


I guess if I could do it all again, it would be with the same people, but with some needed changes! I would, also, like to know if you ever wonder about doing things differently. Leave me a comment!

Do You Have A Gold Medal? I Don't!

The Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia will be over in a few days and most of us have enjoyed watching superior athletes compete for the precious gold medal that is given to the winner. Of the few dozen who will "win the gold," there are hundreds more that tried, but never quite skated fast enough, allowed the puck to get to the net, or missed that difficult move on the ice. I feel for those who tried to "win the gold," but never quite made it!


It is a little like life! All of us want to succeed at whatever we try, if we didn't we would never try, right? Whether we are trying to climb the ladder of professionalism or write that one song that will make our name memorialized forever or be the kind of parent that will allow our children to "rise up and call us blessed!" We all want to "win the gold!"

But what about those of us who fall a hundredth of a second short? What of those that never make it out of the mailroom in the office complex? What of the author whose work is good, but not "that" good? What if I must settle for silver or even bronze or no medal at all? Am I a loser because I did not "win the gold?"


As I sit and ponder what happened in life's Olympics, I must consider how much effort I made! Did I give it my all? Could I have work harder? Could I have spent more time honing my skills? Was I expecting way too much out of myself? These and other questions will make me wonder until the next time I choose to compete!


Remember one thing. You may never wear the gold medal around your neck, but that does not mean you are not a winner! Victory is nice, but trying to win creates the spirit of determination!

"Not everyone wins a gold medal...but everyone can try!"

Who Will Be Number Eight?

Am I the only person in the world who never heard of becoming an "honorary citizen of the United States?" I hope not! Did you know that throughout our 234 years of existence that we have honored seven people with "honorary citizenship?" I must have missed the day in history class where this was discussed.



The first one to receive such an honor was General Lafayette in 1784. He was selected for the part he played in our Revolutionary War. This was done by a very grateful nation!



It was two hundred years later before the second such honor was bestowed on Raoul Wallenburg (1981) for his efforts to rescue the Jews from the gas chambers during the Holocaust. Again, a much deserved recognition. I do wonder if there were no others during that two hundred years that accomplished something worthy of note, but he was the second one chosen.



The next two where a husband and his second wife. William and Hannah Penn were bestowed this honor in 1984 for their contributions to our nation through their work in Pennsylvania, but I am not exactly sure what those contributions were. Remember, I said that I must have missed history class the day that these things were discussed!



Kazimierz Pulaski was honored as the "father of the American calvary" in 2009, obviously making him the most recent so honored "citizen of the United States."



Even though the above honorees were recognized after their deaths, two were given the distinction as "honorary citizens" during their lifetime. Sir Winston Churchill was designated in 1963 for his leadership during World War II and for his very close ties with the United States during this period of history. The other honoree was Mother Teresa who was given the award in 1996 for her humanitarian ministry among the poor of this world.



I am wondering who will be the next person given such esteem? Where is that person living? What is he or she doing to merit such acclaim? Who will be the one that nominates them for such an award?



These and other interesting questions await answers!

"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!