“Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.”

Matthew 16:24

Churches dot the landscape across our nation. From the largest of cities, to the mid-size towns, to the small villages, to the rural communities, you can’t go far without seeing another church. These buildings come in all shapes, sizes, and designs. And many of these buildings have a cross displayed prominently on the steeple.

In some ways we could say that the sight of buildings with crosses are so common-place that we see them without seeing them. They are so numerous across the countryside that we see them without giving any thought to the meaning of the cross.

You can also see crosses being worn around the necks of individuals as a piece of jewelry. The intent of the individual wearing the cross is personal, with some being motivated to use it as a display of their faith while for others just view it as an attractive piece of jewelry.

So, let’s give consideration to the statement of Jesus quoted above. Did Jesus have an ornamental cross mounted prominently on the steeple of a building, or an ornate piece of jewelry worn around the neck of certain individuals? What exactly did Jesus have in mind when He made this unusual statement?

Well, we can know for sure that it was neither a cross displayed on a building, nor a piece of jewelry worn around the neck, as neither were known in His day. As a matter of fact, there was only one thing He could have had in mind when He made that statement: death.

When He made the remark that we are that anyone who would follow Him “must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me,” He was calling for the absolute and total commitment to Him. Let’s think about the three parts of His demand of discipleship.

First, He demands that the disciple would deny himself. Self-denial does not mean denying yourself things. It doesn’t mean that I deny myself a possession, or a person, or a position, but it means that I totally and completely submit myself to Jesus as my Lord and Master. The Apostle Paul gives a concise statement on this matter in his letter to the Romans:

“Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing and perfect will of God.”

Romans 12:1-2

Denying self means presenting our body as a living sacrifice which God can use for His glory. He becomes the Master of life, giving guidance and direction to the disciple who would completely deny self and make Jesus Lord.

Second, Jesus says that the disciple must take up his cross. He follows the demand to deny oneself with the demand to die to oneself. That is what the cross represents: death. As we give ourselves to God as living sacrifices, we are consumed on the altar of complete denial of self and death to self.

I have heard many well-meaning individuals make the statement, “Well, that is just the cross I have to bear.” Sometimes that statement might be made in reference to an illness, a financial disaster, a family loss, betrayal by a friend or family member, or any number of things. Granted, these may be overwhelming and insurmountable, but these are not the cross we are called to bear.

The cross we are called to bear is the cross of death: death to self. The ultimate sacrifice of Jesus was His death on the cross. The cross was His total commitment to the will of the Father which had been preordained from the foundation of the world.

And the third and final demand is to follow Jesus. Follow in the ways of God; follow as best we can the will of God. Live our lives for the glory of God.

Bottom line: there is only one cross we are called to bear. If we would be disciples, these are the demands of discipleship as spelled out by the Master Himself: deny self, die to self, and follow Jesus. I will close with another quote from the pen of Paul:

“I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

Galatians 2:20

Are you a true follower? A sincere disciple? If so, it will be visible by the scars of the cross as you deny self, carry the cross, and follow Jesus.

Admittedly I am a very simple minded individual. However, I like to think of myself as one who tries to understand, as best I can, issues that confront us in our contemporary setting. With that in mind, I would like to think out loud for a few minutes, wrestling with some of those pertinent issues of our day.

I am a bit confused as to why some things have all of a sudden become reprehensible to a large segment of our society. What has prompted the outcry of so many against monuments depicting past historical events and individuals. The individuals and events are reminders of our past, our heritage, our progress as a nation, our track record from the days of our founding fathers to the present day. It is our history. It is a progressive record of who we have become.

Please reread that last sentence: it is a progressive record of who we have become. We could create an elaborate timeline, recording on that line every major event in the life of our nation. At any given point on that timeline, it would only represent who the people of this nation were at that precise moment. For example, if we chose the random date, July 21, 1834, then it would only represent the people alive at that time. Everything prior to July 21, 1834 would be history. And, everything prior to that time would have been part of the process of making the nation what it was on that date.

Now, let’s come forward to July 21, 2020. We have monuments, statues, historical markers, buildings, hospitals, schools, universities, and so many other things named after individuals and groups who have made an indelible impression on the progressive development of this nation. Again, let’s think about that timeline. We are now at a very specific moment in our history. That timeline represents who we are right now, but it also takes into account everything on that timeline that has brought us to this point. Any prior point on the timeline represents a specific point in our history, but it does not represent today’s point.

Those moments, each of them, are part of us, and we are part of them. So, my question is, what has made them all of a sudden become so deplorable, so reprehensible, so disgusting, so distasteful, that we must rid ourselves of every vestige of our past. It is, after all, our PAST, not our present. It helps me greatly as an individual living in the year 2020 to have an understanding of the progressive development of our nation. I need to know about George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Dwight Eisenhower, Richard Nixon, Bill Clinton, George Bush, Ronald Reagan, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump. I need to know the beliefs of Republicans, and Democrats, and Independents, and Libertarians, so that I might make an educated choice in the ballot box on election day. I need to know what the individual politicians believe, and what they plan to do if elected, before I can in good conscience cast a vote.

Knowing our past helps us plan for our future. Learning from our past helps us make plans for a better future. Instead of destroying reminders of our past, let’s allow them to help us see how far we have come, and teach us how far we must go, to continue making the vision of our founding fathers a reality. And, to live true to our pledge: One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice FOR ALL.

Our daughter, Charity, has tested positive for Covid-19. As a result, Teresa and I were required by our employer, Dollywood, to be tested. So, this morning we went to the health department in Sevierville, TN, for the test. Upon arrival, we followed the signs to the area at which the tests were being done and found several health workers standing in the hot morning sun, taking information, registering those in line to be tested, and doing so with patience and understanding. They took time to answer our many questions, showing no signs of frustration or aggravation with us. They provided their service with a high level of professionalism, coupled with a sincere display of compassion.

As we conversed with those involved in the registration process, and then with those who were actually performing the tests, we shared with them our gratitude for their service, their patience, and their willingness to stand in the hot sun clothed with all the safety PPE necessary to protect them from being infected.

All this caused us to converse about how blessed we are to have dedicated healthcare professionals who place themselves in harm’s way in order to provide their services to those in need. Through the years of my adult life, and especially in the years in which I have needed the attention of healthcare providers, I have become more and more thankful for their selflessness in serving others. I have been blessed to be personally acquainted with many such providers, and, sadly, to my shame, I have not shown my gratitude for them as I should.

So, today, I would like to say a simple ‘thank you’ to all those who are tirelessly, selflessly, and even sacrificially providing their services to our communities. Let’s not take them for granted, but rather, let’s take every opportunity made available to us to share a simple word of thanks. Perhaps you have not needed the services of a healthcare provider in the recent or even distant past, and because of that you have not put forth the effort to thank some of them personally; but might I suggest that we take time, and put forth the effort to do so.

There are many ways in which we can do this. A telephone call; an email; a text message via the portal on your healthcare providers website; an old fashioned, hand-written letter; or by any means available to you.

So, here it is: thank you to all those healthcare providers with whom I have been personally acquainted, as well as those whom I have never met. Your dedication, service, selflessness, and sacrifice are noticed and appreciated.

Who is your role model? Who do you look at as a model worthy of imitation? Who do you admire, respect, look to for guidance, follow as an example?

Teresa and I were driving back to Tennessee from North Carolina, and as we often do, we were going through a list of discussion starters for couples. We had already answered several thought provoking questions when we came to this one: Who do you look at as a role model? My mind immediately went to two persons: my mother, and my sister. Allow me to share with you why I chose these two individuals.

I will begin by talking about my mother. Without a question or doubt, she was an example to be imitated. She was a rather quiet woman, so it was not so much in what she said that led me to choose her as my role model. Rather, it was her quiet strength, her undaunting commitment, her deep desire to provide for her children, unflinching commitment to my father.

My mother lived to the age of 86, and in all those years I never heard her raise her voice, speak a word of profanity, demean my father or my sister, brother, or me. Her willingness to work a physically demanding job in Springs Cotton Mill was a testimony to her total devotion to her family, as she worked this demanding job to provide for the family.

My mother was loved deeply by everyone who had the privilege to know her. I have never heard anyone share a single negative word about her. In the years after my father’s death she maintained a life of commitment to her family and her Lord. Anyone who walked in her back door would be greeted by an open Bible, a Sunday School book, and devotional materials lying on the table. This was her quiet place – her place of talking with her Father in heaven. I was indeed blessed beyond measure to have been reared by this precious saint of God.

My second choice of a role model is my sister, Ada. I must begin by stating that this was not always the case. For many years we were not very close. There were even a few times when we were distanced by differing lifestyles, differing preferences, differing everything. We had very little in common, and only saw each other at family get-togethers.

Ada has experienced many highs and lows through her lifetime. She has been hurt deeply by quite a few individuals, and carries the emotional scars of those hurts. She has faced many battles in life, the latest of which was the death of her daughter, Lisa. This, along with so many other challenges, would be enough to bring even the most valiant and strong to their knees. But Ada has faced them with dignity and strength.

I look at my sister now as a seasoned veteran of war. The battles she has fought have only made her stronger. By the grace of God, and through her commitment to Him, she has been able to face some of life’s most formidable foes victoriously.

Was my mother perfect? Is my sister above making mistakes? No. My mother was, and my sister is, human. Humans are fallen. We all fall woefully short of God’s standard of perfection. But my mother was, and my sister is, a spiritual warrior. Life took its toll on my mother. She suffered many losses during her lifetime. The same is true of Ada. But they were willing to learn from those mistakes, those battles, those difficulties.

I loved my mother, and I love my sister. Ada, each time I have the privilege to see you, I see more and more of Mama in you. I am a blessed man indeed!

Definition of History (taken from Miriam Webster Dictionary, online)

a: a chronological record of significant events (such as those affecting a nation or institution) often including an explanation of their causes

b: a treatise presenting systematically related natural phenomena (as of geography, animals, or plants)

c: an account of a patient’s medical background

d: an established record

Does rewriting historical accounts have the potential to actually change the past? Can an event that occurred fifty years ago be eradicated by the removal of that event from all recorded sources? Is it really possible to change history by rewriting history?

Let’s suppose as a young adult, a certain individual decides to marry that person he/she really believes is the person with whom they would like to live the rest of their lives. They are happily married for ten years, and then decide they no longer are right for one another. So, they decide to end the marriage and go their separate ways.

The separation and divorce is rather ugly. When the papers are finalized and the relationship is legally dissolved, they begin removing everything – pictures, videos, sentimental reminders, etc. – of their years together. They are sincerely trying to forget, to wipe any remembrance of that relationship out of their minds. They never call the other person’s name, and will not tolerate anyone mentioning that name to them.

Will this rather extreme behavior actually change the past? Will the attempt to forget past events eradicate the reality of those events from history? Certainly not! The historical events of the past cannot be eradicated, and cannot be changed. What happened yesterday, or last week, or last year, or fifty years ago, is now part of history: personal history, family history, national history, world history.

History should be very important to each of us. A study of historical events helps us understand much about who we are. My personal history would include, but not be limited to, things such as: ethnicity, philosophical tendencies, religious beliefs, political leanings, theological persuasions, etc. A genealogical study would reveal my heritage: where my ancestors originated; how they came to America; why they settled in the Carolinas; what motivated them to choose their livelihood; etc.

National history is also crucially important. Our nation has a history that extends more than 240 years into the past. Two hundred forty years of a rich heritage that has progressively transformed us into what we are now. History should be a tool that helps us better ourselves as we learn from the past. We are, to a large degree, what we are now as a result of the long, rich, progression of the historical events which have transpired.

Personal history, national history, world history, are all important realities that should help us better understand who we are, why we are who we are, and how we can better ourselves as we learn from past mistakes and decisions. The systematic removal of all historical vestiges of the past – statues, flags, documents, etc. – will not change the past. It will, rather, enflame more bitterness and hatred between those who seek their removal and those who stand for their prominent place in the historical development of this nation.

History is just that: history. We can loath our history, lament our history, or embrace it and learn from it. I’m sure there are historical events recorded in the annals of our nation that we all wish were not part of our heritage, but they are there, and they are real, and they did play a part in the ongoing development of the United States.

So, for what its worth, allow me to close with my personal observation. Let’s leave the statues of those heroes, or villains, of our historical past where they are. Let’s allow the flags of our rich heritage to be prominently displayed as a reminder of our national development. Let’s recognize that those statues represent individuals who made an indelible impression on the progressive development of our nation. Let’s learn from them, but not be enslaved by them.

A statue of Robert E. Lee? Jefferson Davis? A confederate flag? Documents associated with the government of the Confederate States of America? The Ordinance of Secession of the Confederacy? These are all tied insolubly with the history of our beloved nation. They are history. They deserve a prominent place in the historical records of our past.

If we are to maintain an understanding of who we are now, we must remember from whom we came. Let’s not rewrite history, but let’s embrace it, learn from it, and allow it to help us better ourselves to continually and consistently improve our ongoing desire to better understand each other. We are not white America; we are not black America; we are America. We are not the Confederate States of America; we are the United States of America. The Declaration of Independence states definitively, “All men are created equal.” It’s time we live by that statement of truth. It’s time we put aside those things that divide and cause dissention and divisiveness, and embrace those things that bring us together.

Wouldn’t it be great if we could all be colorblind? Why do we place so much emphasis on the color of one’s skin? Why should we judge people of one skin color as being in some way inferior to another whose skin color is a different shade of brown? What if we could all develop the ability to see people simply as human beings, and celebrate our differences rather than viewing some as being superior to others because of the color of their skin?

Racial prejudice is a learned behavior. Children are not born with a natural bent toward racial prejudices. Children accept other children as equals, regardless of skin color. They only show prejudices if they are taught to be prejudiced. If they are reared in an environment of racism, they will most likely grow up to be racists. Conversely, if they are reared to view all people as equal, they will most likely grow up to embrace the view that all are truly of equal value.

As a young boy, one of my best friends was Freddie. We played together. We went camping together. We went skinny dipping together. We frequented each other’s home, ate at each other’s table, slept in each other’s bed. My skin was a light shade of brown, while Freddie’s was a dark shade of the same color. But we saw each other as equal.

As an adult, living in Garland, Texas, my family lived next door to a couple, Clarence and Stephanie. We became very close friends, spending time in each other’s home, eating at each other’s table, sharing life’s experiences with one another. Clarence and Stephanie were delightful and we enjoyed their company immensely. Clarence’s skin was a dark shade of brown, while Stephanie’s was the same as mine. They shared with us that they had been ostracized by both families. Their love for one another was strong enough to weather that storm, but it was so painful to hear their stories of feeling abandoned.

I remember the following event as if were yesterday. The words of Clarence still reverberate in my mind. We were taking an early evening walk, when Clarence took me by the arm, turned me to look into his eyes, and said, “You are the first totally non-prejudicial person I have ever met.” Admittedly, I was shocked to hear those words. I stood in silence for a few moments before speaking. Finally, I said to Clarence, “I wish that were true. I, like everyone else, have prejudices. However, one of my prejudices is not racial. I simply strive to view every person as equal. Color of skin does not determine the importance of one person above another.”

A little later, as parents of teen-age sons, Teresa and I talked about dating rules we would establish for Bryan and Josh. The one, all-important criteria we agreed on was that we would encourage our children to only date believers in Jesus Christ. Color of skin would never be a determining factor in the choice of friends, or of those our children would choose to date and possibly marry.

Now allow me to skip ahead in my life time-line. As a senior adult, in semi-retirement, I worked part-time at Carowinds Amusement Park. I had the privilege of working with several truly wonderful individuals, one of whom was a 77 year old man named Bobby. It is not an exaggeration to say that everybody who met Bobby really loved Bobby. I remember going home on many occasions with stories of Bobby to share with my wife, Teresa. It was quite a while before Teresa had the opportunity to meet Bobby, and I can still remember the look on her face when she saw him for the first time. It was a look of surprise as she shook hands with this man whose skin was a dark shade of brown. Her hand looked rather pale as it was cradled in Bobby’s dark hand.

We all shared a delightful conversation as Teresa and Bobby got to know one another. Later, when we were alone, Teresa said to me, “You never mentioned that Bobby is black.” My response? “It never entered my mind to say that.” Bobby was my friend. I didn’t see a black man: I just saw Bobby.

I do not share these personal stories with the intent of placing myself on a pedestal of non-prejudice that should be viewed as an example. I am simply sharing them to say that I believe this is the way we should all be: truly color-blind when it comes to skin color. We are, after all, created in the image of God. As I shared in my last blog, we are all equal in the eyes of God, so why can’t we be equal in each other’s eyes.

It would change the world radically if we could simply see each other as an equal, walking through the journey of life as fellow sojourners, rejoicing when another rejoices, mourning when another mourns. Whether your skin is a light shade of brown, a dark shade of brown, or somewhere in between, we are still all human beings. Let’s treat each other with the mutual respect we all deserve and need.

“But know this: Hard times will come in the last days. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, proud, demeaning, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, without love for what is good, traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to the form of godliness but denying its power. Avoid these people.”

2 Timothy 3:1-5

Are we living in the last days? Is this global pandemic a sign that we are nearing the end? Is the civil unrest we are now witnessing in the United States a sure sign that this historical generation will be the last? How are we to interpret what is happening in the world today in light of Scripture? Or, does Scripture even address the chaos we are now witnessing in the world?

For those who believe the Bible to be the very word of God, without any mixture of error, the answer is a resounding yes: Scripture does address the chaos. The passage quoted above from the pen of the Apostle Paul certainly addresses the rioting and looting we see all across our land. The death of George Floyd – as awful and brutal and callused as it was – may have been the instigating factor in the civil unrest we are witnessing, but it is certainly not the cause of the rioting and looting and violence happening in cities across America. There has to be an underlying cause that is fueling the flames of this senselessness.

Please allow me to take a brief aside here to state my personal views on these present events. I can state it in three simple words: ALL LIVES MATTER! Yes, that is an extreme oversimplification of an extremely complex matter, but it is my personal sentiment. God created the human race – ONE RACE. There are not multiple races, but only one. Mankind was created by God, in the image of God, and are meant to be representatives of God. Now there are multiple ethnicities, but there is only one race. And among that one race, there are good individuals and bad individuals. There are those who are respected by others, and respectful of others. And, there are those who have no respect for others, and will do harm to others if given the opportunity.

Among all the ethnicities which make up the population of planet Earth, there are good, and there are bad. The good usually do good, but have the ability to do bad; the bad usually do bad, but have the ability to do good. It is all a matter of personal choice. Right now, we are seeing an alarming number of those who are choosing to be bad and do bad.

The protests which began immediately upon the death of George Floyd started with a noble purpose: make sure the wrong done to Mr. Floyd was vindicated: Make sure those who were guilty of participating in his death were brought to justice. That point, I believe, could be agreed upon by the vast majority of the citizens of the United States.

But those protests have quickly devolved into an ugly recklessness that goes far beyond the scope of a stance for what is right. Those who now engage in rioting and looting, of physical destruction of property and physical violence against others, are no longer part of a movement to make sure a wrong is righted, but are rather a part of a display of wanton evil. You simply don’t make an action right by doing something wrong.

The cry is going out across our land to do away with the police. I, for one, stand behind our police one hundred percent. The vast majority of police officers serve their respective communities and cities courageously and sacrificially. They leave their homes and families every day, willing to pay the ultimate sacrifice protecting those they have never met from the dangers of those who would do them harm. They do this knowing full well that any day could be their last day. It could be the last time they hug their spouse, kiss their children, wave goodbye to those they love, to protect those they don’t even know. And yes, to protect those who are prone to do them harm.

On those occasions when a police officer, with ill-intent, takes it upon himself to do harm to another – whether it be because of ethnic prejudices, societal prejudices, economic prejudices, or any other form of prejudice – then that officer should be punished to the full extent of the law. A uniform and a badge does not give an officer the right to use his position to unleash his personal vendetta against those he dislikes.

But please, let’s give credit where credit is due. Let’s be sure to thank the vast majority of honest, well-meaning, self-sacrificing men and women who do their jobs faithfully, serving and protecting the communities in which they serve.

Now, back to my original question: Are we living in the last days? Well, I don’t know. And, neither does anyone else. But I will state without reservation: The Bible does speak of the climate of the days just prior to Jesus’ return as being days of civil unrest. Go back to the top of this blog and reread the words of Paul to Timothy. Those words could be repeated in local newspapers across this great country.

But, whether it is a sure sign of the impending end of history as we know it or not, it is time for good people to lift our voice and be heard. Would you join me in applauding those who serve our communities selflessly, tirelessly and sacrificially? Would you take every opportunity to thank a police officer for his/her service to your community? A simple thank-you may not sound very profound, but I guarantee you that right now, with our present state of unrest, those two words would mean the world to those who serve you and yours.

I’ll close by simply stating here: Thank you, police officers, fire-fighters, sheriff’s deputies, and all other first responders, for your service to communities and cities across this great land. As Paul said in his letter to the Romans:

“Let everyone submit to the governing authorities, since there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are instituted by God. So then, the one who resists the authority is opposing God’s command, and those who oppose it will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have its approval. For it is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, because it does not carry the sword for no reason. For it is God’s servant, an avenger that brings wrath on the one who does wrong.”

Romans 13:1-4

One final word: Those officers who were involved in the death of George Floyd, and any others who would use their position and authority in self-serving, destructive ways, should be quickly apprehended and brought to justice. They should punished to the full extent of the law they had sworn to uphold. But, let’s not be guilty of putting them all in one basket, and judged because of the action of the very small percentage of those who would do harm. Let’s focus, rather, on the overwhelming positive influence they have in serving us, their constituents, and thank them accordingly.

“The Lord is my shepherd;
there is nothing I lack.
He lets me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters.
He renews my life;
He leads me along the right paths
for His name’s sake.
Even when I go through the darkest valley,
I fear no danger,
for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff—they comfort me. You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
as long as I live.”

Psalm 23

Most professing believers in Jesus Christ can quote from memory the words of Psalm 23. We find great comfort in the words of David as he ponders these majestic thoughts of his personal confidence in God. Quite often this beloved Psalm is read at the memorial service for a loved one who has passed from this life into the eternal realm. Comforting words, indeed.

But, do we really believe these comforting words? Let’s take a few minutes to walk through Psalm 23, striving to come to grips with our belief in the words.

First, let’s think about what David says concerning trust. He makes the assertion, “I lack nothing.” Other translations word this phrase a little differently. A few examples will suffice to show this distinction. “I shall not want” (KJV, NASV); “There is nothing I lack” (HCSB); “I have what I need” (CSB); “I will never be in need” (CEV). There are other variations, but these show how varied the interpretations are. The words are different, but the meaning remains the same: God, the Shepherd, meets all needs in the lives of His sheep.

So, is this real in your life? Are you completely satisfied knowing that God’s provision for you will meet all your needs? Are you confident that you will never lack anything of necessity for your well-being? Or do you complain that you don’t have as much as someone else? Or that you don’t have everything you want?

Oh, just a second. Did I just change the subject? Did I make the transition from needs to wants? Well, yes, I did. And that is where the rub is, would you agree? We oftentimes confuse our needs with our wants. I may have more than enough food in the pantry to keep me nourished for weeks to come, but I may stand there staring at all that food wishing I had something else. I have what I need, but not necessarily what I want. If I understand this phrase correctly, then David had reached the conclusion that his Shepherd would never allow him to lack anything he needed, not everything he wanted. That is trust.

But let’s move on. David not only speaks of his trust in the provision supplied by his Shepherd, but also of his trust in the peace He gives. He makes the statement that his Shepherd causes him to lie down in fields of green grass by streams of peaceful water. This Shepherd really knows the needs of His sheep, and goes to extreme measures to ensure those needs are met.

Let’s face it: there is not much true peace in the world right now. We are still in the throes of the Covid-19 crisis, and now our nation is being torn apart by rioting in the streets of cities across the country. There is much that will quickly rob us of peace as we watch the news broadcasts, showing graphic images of city streets that look more like war zones than civilized America.

And let’s not overlook the imagery David presents of his personal dilemma in Psalm 23. We don’t know the exact circumstances of his present state of affairs as he penned these words, but it is obvious that he felt his life was threatened, even to the point of the possibility of his own impending death. And yet, he is at perfect peace, trusting that his Shepherd would care for him, provide his every need, and give him a settled peace in the midst of his looming storm.

And finally, one more observation from David’s words. He says, “You treat me to a feast while my enemies watch. You honor me as Your guest, and You fill my cup until it overflows.” Because of his trust in his Shepherd, his confidence in his Shepherd, and his peaceful rest in his Shepherd, David could rest assured that his enemies would not, could not, prevail. His Shepherd would care for him, forever.

Can you honestly, sincerely, truthfully, say with David, “The Lord is my Shepherd; I will never be in need; I will never lack; I will have everything I need”? Or, do you say the words, and then grumble because you don’t have everything you want; you say the words, and then complain about the doctor’s diagnosis; you say the words, and then worry about tomorrow; you say the words, and then succumb to your fears.

If we say the words, then let’s mean what we say. The Lord is MY Shepherd. I will trust Him to supply, to strengthen, to sustain, to walk along beside me, even when life is at its worst, even when I don’t have everything I want, even when the shadow of death clouds out the light. I will trust Him.

That commitment will bring about a settled satisfaction, a complete contentment, as we rest securely in the arms of our caring Shepherd. Then, we can say with the Apostle Paul:

“I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know both how to have a little, and I know how to have a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me.”

Philippians 4:11-13

May it be so with each of us, and with all of us. He is our Shepherd. He cares for us and He can be trusted.

My wife, Teresa, and I love strolling through gardens, meandering on quiet walkways along the banks of a bubbling mountain stream, hiking through the thick, lush foliage of a mountain trail. This is one of the countless reasons we love living in the mountains of east Tennessee. I oftentimes say to anyone who cares to listen, “I wasn’t born in Tennessee, but I got here as quick as I could!” It has been a long-time dream of ours to live in the mountains, and that dream has come true, as we now reside in Pigeon Forge, just a few miles from the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.

Today, we took another drive along the Foothills Parkway, and then took a walk on the Townsend Walkway in the gorgeous mountain town of Townsend, TN. As we often do, we walked in silence, just enjoying the solitude and the quietness of this beautiful day. As we walked, I began to think about how unbelievably blessed I am. I began to recount, in my mind, the multitudes of blessings I experience each and every day. And as I pondered these thoughts, a very clear message popped ever so clearly in my mind: bloom where you’re planted.

Simple, right? Bloom where you’re planted. Through the 46 years of our marriage, Teresa and I have lived in four different states: South Carolina, North Carolina, Texas, and now Tennessee. We have been blessed to visit quite a few more states, enjoying a wide variety of landscapes, from looming mountain peaks to deep, rugged canyons. We have seen the majestic beauty of snow-capped mountains in Colorado, Wyoming and Montana, and the arid, bone-dry, barren landscape of Arizona and New Mexico. We have been awed by the rugged beauty of the Grand Tetons, and the lush foliage of western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee. Everywhere we have been blessed to travel, especially everywhere that we have been privileged to live, have given us opportunities to bloom where we were planted.

It really matters very little where we are planted. What matters is how we bloom where we are. I have had conversations with so many individuals who could not seem to find contentment and joy. They always wanted to be somewhere else, doing something else, perhaps even with someone else, thinking that those changes would bring them something they were missing. Instead of enjoying where they were, they were always looking for something new and exciting to add zest to their lives.

Please don’t misunderstand my point here. It is always good and appropriate to dream about the future. But to do so to such a degree that it robs me of the pleasures of my present life, then those dreams will ultimately become nightmares. They will cause me to think of myself as a failure, not being able to make my dreams a reality.

The key, I think, is to maintain those dreams, without allowing those dreams to make me miserable where I am at the present time. Let me try to explain by using a personal illustration. Through the years, we have been privileged to enjoy family vacations. For me, part of the excitement of a vacation is planning for it. I actually begin planning a vacation far in advance. I try to make sure the trip is almost as enjoyable as the destination. Part of my planning would be researching fun and exciting stops along the way. My family would only reap the benefits of all my pre-trip planning after the trip started, but I had been relishing the trip far more due to all my research and planning.

However, when the day finally arrived for our departure, the trip was exciting and fun due to all the “extras” I had added to the agenda. So, the trip itself was part of the fun. Granted, those stops along the way were not even comparable with the destination, but it made the long drive a little more bearable.

Let’s try to apply that to life. As I write this blog, we continue to be in the throes of the Coronavirus epidemic. Many of us are planted in isolation, and even when we are out in public we are trying to stay as far away from others as possible. We can decide to be a weed during these days. Weeds tend to suck the life out of the beautiful flowers and plants that are blooming all around. But how much better is it to be a bloom among the weeds.

We are all on a journey right now, right? We’re on a journey between the restrictions of the pandemic and the freedom of a pandemic free environment. We can become weeds, choking the life out of those around us; or, we can bloom where we are, bringing light and life to those around us.

So, let’s make the most of our present circumstances. Let’s make the decision to not allow the restrictions imposed upon us to make us miserable, bitter individuals who are like a dark cloud over everyone we meet. Rather, let’s be the beam of sunshine shooting rays through the clouds, brightening the day for everyone we meet.

So, how do we do that? My suggestion: bloom where you’re planted. Your days will be much more enjoyable, for you, and for those around you.

“All Scripture is inspired by God, and is profitable to teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

2 Timothy 3:16-17

“No prophecy of Scripture comes from the prophet’s own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by the will of man; instead, men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”

2 Peter 1:20-21

Have you taken time lately to think about how blessed we are to have the Bible? It is so easy to take it for granted, isn’t it? Think about it, most of us probably own multiple copies of this sacred Book, in several different translations, laying around the house. Many of us also have study aids to assist us in our personal desire to not only read, but understand this most wonderful Book. And yet, truth be known, for too many of us, this most glorious of all books is so often neglected. I realize that many of you who read my blogs regularly probably do spend time reading from the pages of this Book, but sadly, there are far too many who never pick it up except to shove it under our arm as we make our way to church on Sunday.

That is, indeed, a tragedy of enormous proportion. This Book is, after all, the very Word of God. There is no other book which even begins to compare with the wonder of the Bible. So, I thought it might be wise to take a few minutes to remind ourselves of some of the wonderful facts relative to Scripture.

Let’s begin by an overview of some of the wonderful statistics regarding this Book. The Bible consists of sixty-six different books: thirty-nine in the Old Testament and twenty-seven in the New Testament. These different books were written by about forty different authors over a period of fourteen hundred years. Before moving on, please reread the preceding two sentences, then take a moment to let those facts sink in. Forty different authors, living in different historical eras, coming from different backgrounds, economic classes, social classes, and having experienced vastly different walks of life, wrote these distinct books which comprise the Holy Scriptures. Princes, paupers, shepherds, kings, common men and women from all walks of life were chosen by God to be the human authors of this Holy Book.

Some wrote in times of prosperity, while others wrote in times of poverty. Some wrote to preserve history, while others wrote to show how history is a tool in the hands of God. Some wrote to call people to repent, while others wrote to assist serious believers in their journey of spiritual growth and development. Some wrote to reveal the realities of living a life devoted to God, while others wrote to warn about the realities of the severity of God’s judgment against those who reject God.

But the amazing thing is that all forty authors, over fourteen hundred years, wrote a message of absolute cohesiveness. Their message is one, with a commonality running throughout the entirety of Scripture. There are different parts to the story, but the story is one. So, let’s give our attention to the amazing story of the Bible. For the sake of clarity, I will divide my thoughts into four parts: creation, fall, judgment, and redemption.

The story begins with the record of God creating the heavens and the earth. There was a time before time existed. God, being the creator of time, is not subject to the limitations of time. He operates within the parameters of time, and interacts with His creation in time, but is not limited to time. He existed before time, and will exist after the cessation of time. And so it is with all of creation: God created everything that now exists, and operates sovereignly over that creation.

Man is the culmination and crown of creation. Man was created in the image of God and enjoyed perfect fellowship with God. He was given the ability to choose whether or not he would maintain this state of uninhibited fellowship with God, or would relinquish that fellowship by deciding to go his own way in life.

Using this ability to choose to disobey God, man fell from God’s grace by acting in a way contrary to God’s perfect will. Having disobeyed, man suffered the consequences of this action, and was banned from the perfect paradise. The judgment of God was immediate. The world began experiencing the effects of the fall. This fall from grace brought about massive changes to the created order. And those earth-altering effects continue to the present day.

However, the fall did not catch God off-guard. Being omniscient, God knows everything: past, present and future. He knew before creating the world that man would be disobedient, that the fall would occur, and that He would have to personally intervene. Before creating the world, God had already ordained Jesus Christ to be the sacrificial Lamb who would die in order to provide redemption for fallen mankind.

Those who believe the testimony of Scripture embrace certain absolute and irrevocable truths. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God; all are under the just condemnation of God; all are hopeless and helpless left to themselves; Jesus Christ died as the sacrificial Lamb to take away the sin of the world; and salvation is provided for those who repent and turn to God by faith. Those who by faith believe these truths will be saved by God’s amazing grace.

Creation, fall, judgment, redemption. The message is clear. The mandate is certain: all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. The method of redemption is set: Jesus Christ died in our place, paying the penalty for our sin. The mission was ordained from eternity past: the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost. And now, the choice is yours. Come to Jesus; repent of sin; experience His gracious gift of salvation; live life for His glory in the present; enjoy Him forever in eternity.

And, spend some time today, and every day, reading from the pages of this truly amazing, God-breathed Book. You will be the better for it!