If I remember the story correctly, a man in conversation with the famous evangelist D. L. Moody, pointed to a drunken man on the street and said, “Moody, isn’t that one of your converts?” Moody replied, “Yes, that looks like one of my converts.” Implying that the work of man does not change an individual but only a true work of grace by Christ can convert.
Continue reading “True Conversion”Suffering and the Kingdom
I remember some of the old timers from our valley and ridges talking about folks who were going through difficult times and using the rhetorical phrase, “I don’t know how they have ‘walkin’ around sense?”
That’s the truth. When you look at the suffering of some folks, you think, “How do they keep their senses about them?” I am amazed how some people go through horrific things and seem to weather the storm with supernatural strength. Well, it is with supernatural strength. God gives the that extra “Umph!” to get them over the line.
Continue reading “Suffering and the Kingdom”Simply Put
Simply Put
Put me in a family to love
Put me in a community to serve
Put me in Your Kingdom to sacrifice
Put Your Word in my ear to hear
Put Your Word in my heart to believe
Put Your Word in my mouth to speak
Put something in my hand to give
Put compassion in my heart to heal
Put bread in my hand to share
Put me in a place to trod
Put me in Your field to work
Put me in the world to shine
Put me in the line to stand
Put me in the battle to fight
Put me in the war to win
Put me in Your altar to pray
Put me in Your heart to worship
Put me in Your hand to die
—Harry L. Whitt
Old Men
I remember when I was a boy looking at old men in wonderment. They were either my grandfather or someone else’s grandfather. I knew my granddaddy was once a farmer and he still dabbled with farming. He helped my Daddy with a few things, had a garden, and sometimes had a little patch of corn. He got a few dollars every month from the plan put in place by FDR.
Continue reading “Old Men”Treasure in Earthen Vessels
When I was a young man, I felt like the future was an expanse of forever, laden with endless opportunities, and fueled by youthful endurance that was unstoppable. Too bad, I was also stupid! Some of my mistakes took me back three steps for the one I had made forward. Sound familiar?
Continue reading “Treasure in Earthen Vessels”Whatever a Man Sows…
Springtime is just around the corner and some of us with a need for dirt under our fingernails, plant a garden. Anyone who plants a few seeds revisits the ground in a few days to look for the seedlings bursting forth from the ground. The small green sprigs give a hint of a harvest to come.
Continue reading “Whatever a Man Sows…”Sharing a Little Gold Dust
It is amazing how all the people we cross paths with in life leave a mark on us. As I get a little further in this journey, I am more conscious than ever to leave a little gold dust on others that I have scraped off the Throne of Grace.
Continue reading “Sharing a Little Gold Dust”How to Make Sense of Nonsense?
The short answer to my title question is, “You can’t!” We all have spent time racking our brains about something so absurd and coming to no conclusion to our question of “Why?”
A stranger with whom you have no quarrel keys your car with a long scratch. You watch the news where a young child was playing in their room when a stray bullet sends the child to Heaven and the perpetrator to jail and perhaps to Hell. The horrors of war fill our screens and you and I collectively scream, “WHY??”
Continue reading “How to Make Sense of Nonsense?”Like a Child
Featured Photo: That pitiful looking kid with the big head and little shoulders was taken about sixty-three years ago when I was about three years old. I still look like that when I’m in my Heavenly Father’s arms.
Most little kids will wear whatever you pull out of the drawer. It does not matter if it is purple checked pants with an orange stripe shirt. Their hair can be a mess, with candy smeared across their face, and they will still meet you at the door with a chocolate smile. Their self awareness has not yet morphed into pride.
Continue reading “Like a Child”What Gets Heaven’s Attention?
People are fickle. Politicians worry about what the polls say. Internet gurus worry about clicks. Media folks look at the ratings. Churches count the heads.
Continue reading “What Gets Heaven’s Attention?”
