Harry Whitt on the Journey with Jesus
Many people have a wrong perspective of leaders. In the extreme, some tend to either place them on a pedestal or despise them. Hopefully, most of us view them with some normalcy, as people with a tough job who are trying to do their best despite their own weaknesses. But how do ordinary people do extraordinary things?
The past month of January was almost consumed with our Journey to India. One week prior to leaving in preparation, two weeks on the journey, and one week recovering from jet-lag and catching up on the home-front. It was a long journey but a great and rewarding trip for Pastor Butch Suddath and I. Pastor Reddy and his family took great care of us by receiving us into their home, feeding us, and driving almost 800 miles in our time together.
John the Baptist was the forerunner of Christ. He was sent to prepare the way for Jesus. He jumped in his mother’s womb when Mary, pregnant with Jesus, visited his mother. In later years on the banks of the river he declared Jesus to be the Lamb who would take away the sins of the world. He baptized Jesus in the Jordan River and was present when the Spirit descended like a dove and remained on Jesus. I am sure he heard the words of the Father from Heaven directed to Jesus, “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased” (Luke 3:22 NKJV).
A new decade is upon us! The year 2020 is here and a lot has happened in the last ten years—some good and some bad. It seems the world is a little crazier now than then. Tens years ago, there were many things in our culture that was not acceptable but now is celebrated. The scripture describes our time quite well, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter” (Isaiah 5:20 NKJV)! People’s attitude toward sin changes like the wind but God and His Word does not change. Truth is not fluid.
Occasionally, I will do a one-man drama of a character as an illustrated message in church. This past Sunday I portrayed one of the old shepherds who heard the angels and had seen the Baby Jesus in the stable as is depicted in Luke chapter 2. I had not planned to record the drama but a church member recorded it on his iPhone and airdropped it to me. SO HERE IT IS!
Thanks for watching. Blessings to you.
Yours on the Journey,
Harry L. Whitt
I have been a kid and I think I was a funny kid. I am a father with two grown children and my kids had some funny moments that we still laugh about as a family. Each of us have retold the stories from our own perspective and we all laugh again. Now I am a grandfather of five ranging in age from about sixteen months to almost thirteen years old. My grandchildren are especially funny–in a good way. We have lots of fun.
You may be wondering like me—where has this year gone? Wow, it is hard to believe, we are just a few weeks away from 2020! In this month, we gather with family and friends to celebrate the birth of Jesus and stand in amazement of God coming in the likeness of man in the person of Jesus the Christ.
Do you have a friend who is always telling jokes, but he never laughs at anyone else’s jokes? Once you notice it, it becomes quite annoying. I am not advocating payback to the non-laugher, but for us to be considerate—to return the favor when we have been shown favor.
I remember some of the old timers testifying in my childhood country church, “I thank the Lord, that things are as well with me as they are!” If you had asked them to explain, they would have added: “There are a whole bunch of people who are in worse shape than me. I may not be rich, but I have enough. I am so thankful for what I do have. I could be dead. I should be dead. I can still do for myself. God has been good to me and mine.”
“When you open the box and assemble the parts without reading the directions, you will have leftover parts. Read the manual—God’s Word.”
In the beginning, God in His wisdom established the building block of society and community known as the family. This family begins with the union of a man and woman. Society and community begins and properly functions from this basis.
Pathway Journey 