What makes one viewpoint different from another? Or, perhaps a better question would be, what makes one viewpoint correct and another incorrect? Especially in matters of religious belief, what makes one correct and worth embracing while others are incorrect and needful of exposing?

I realize an attempt to deal with this subject is dangerous, as it infringes on the demands of political correctness. Advocates of PC would argue that every religious system of thought and doctrine is of equal validity, so one cannot, indeed must not, say that one is correct while all others are incorrect. One can believe what he chooses, but must never impose his beliefs on others.

Now, if the premise of PC is correct, then that means no one can claim to know “the truth.” The reason for this is that there is no such thing as “the truth.” If all religions are of equal validity, then we must understand that none have validity. How can one religious system be valid if it is contradicted by another? If they are contradictory and mutually exclusive, then neither can be the truth. A system of belief cannot possibly be true if another system of belief, also embraced by some to be true, advocates a different set of “truths.” To use an overly simplistic illustration, a thing cannot be black and white at the same time in the same space. It is either white, or black, but not both. In the same way, a religious system of belief cannot be both true and false at the same time. It is either true or false, but not both.

A brief blog cannot possibly delve into all the multi-faceted intricacies of all the religious belief systems, even if we focused only on the major religions of the world. So I will deal with a simple, yet profound, claim of Jesus Christ that really makes all the difference in the world. In the Gospel of John we find this amazing statement:

“I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

John 14:6

Advocates of other religious belief systems would teach that there are other means of attaining entrance into heaven. Some would lead us to believe that through certain religious practices one could go to heaven. Others would teach that living moral lives would gain us entrance. Still others would lead us to believe that as long as my good deeds outweigh my bad I will be given entrance. Each of those are based in some form on the goodness of man.

But, the Bible teaches that there none who are good. Allow me to share just a few examples of verses from the Bible which would establish this as an absolute truth:

“There is none righteous, no, not one.”

Romans 3:10

“Every one of them has turned aside; They have together become corrupt; There is none who does good, No, not one.”

Psalm 53:3

“They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.”

Romans 3:12

These should suffice to make the point: no one is capable of earning entrance into heaven. So, let’s revisit the quote of Jesus cited above. He claims to be the only way for one to gain entrance into heaven. He states emphatically that the only way for one to go to heaven is through Him. Not through Him plus something else. Not through Him plus religious activity, good works, adhering flawlessly to a system of belief, behavior or practice. But through Him and Him alone. Jesus plus nothing.

Now, since two opposite and contradictory beliefs cannot be true at the same time, either Jesus’ statement is true, and He is the only means of gaining entrance into heaven, or He is a liar and not to be trusted. That statement makes all the difference in the world, as well as in the world to come. If I choose to deny His statement, and reject it as being false, that does not negate the truth of the statement, it simply means that I accept a different belief as being true.

So, it all comes down to what we believe. I can choose to believe that living a good life will gain me entrance into heaven. I can choose to believe that adhering to certain religious practices will get me in. I can choose to believe that certain ritual and ceremony is the means of getting in.

But, just for the sake of discussion, what if Jesus really IS the only way to gain entrance? Imagine for a moment you have passed from this life, and are not standing before the Judge of the universe. According to Scripture, you will not be asked to rehearse before the Judge all the good you have done, or all the religious ritual you have performed, or how upright and moral you were during your life. No, He will simply look in the Lamb’s Book of Life. If your name is there, then you are welcomed in. If not, you will hear the most anguishing and agonizing words you could possibly imagine: “Depart from Me, I never knew you.”

What makes the difference? Jesus! He died to pay the penalty we all justly deserve. He suffered in our place. He bore the price of our sin: death, separation from the Father so that we might be welcomed into the presence of the Father.

If you would like more information about this amazing truth, and how you can personally experience His grace and forgiveness, then please send me a private message. I would love to speak with you further about the one thing that makes all the difference.

Anyone who knows me knows that I love the mountains. And I mean LOVE! I have always wanted to live in the mountains. There was a brief period of one year when I was privileged to live in Chimney Rock, NC, while attending Fruitland Baptist Bible Institute (now College) as a student, and I cherished every moment of that time in my life.

But now, I LIVE in the mountains. I get to wake up every morning, look outside, and enjoy the majestic beauty of the mountains of eastern Tennessee. As I told someone just the other day, before moving here I was privileged to drive to the mountains to teach at Fruitland Bible College, but now I have the even greater privilege of driving through the mountains to arrive at that beautiful campus.

I will never tire of gazing upon the unbelievable beauty of these mountains. Teresa and I have been so blessed through the years of our marriage to travel to many different places in the United States. We have seen mountains and flatlands, oceans and lakes, canyons and cliffs, painted deserts and underground caverns, thunderous waterfalls and tranquil streams. Every different place has its own beauty, its own special majesty and grandeur.

As I enjoy the vistas and the valleys of the mountains, and look through picture albums of trips we have taken to other places, I am reminded of the creativity of our great God. I suppose had He chosen to do so, He could have created a world that was rather bland and boring. He could have created the earth with no variety in landscape. He could have created the earth with no mountains, no deserts, no lakes, no canyons, no waterfalls, no – well, nothing.

But He chose to give us a planet of endless beauty. He gave us a planet to enjoy, to experience, to explore. We have so much to see, so many different landscapes to cause us to marvel at His indescribable creative activity.

But more than that, He gave us a planet which should lead the human heart into a spirit of thanksgiving and praise for allowing us to experience His amazing creativity. It is a testimony that should bring us to a state of awe and wonder as we worship the Creator of this amazing creation we call earth. Listen to the words of the psalmist found in Psalm 19:1-4:

The heavens declare the glory of God;
And the firmament shows His handiwork.
² Day unto day utters speech,
And night unto night reveals knowledge.
³ There is no speech nor language
Where their voice is not heard.
⁴ Their line has gone out through all the earth,
And their words to the end of the world.

It is abundantly clear from those words that the psalmist understood and underlying, foundational fact: everywhere we look we see a testimony of God. So, why not make it a habit of praising Him for His creation. No, we are not to worship the creation, but the One who created it.

So, based on this simple yet profound truth, let me encourage each of us to develop the habit of really seeing Him everywhere, and worship Him for His wonderful gift to us: the gift of His tremendous work of creation. And, let that knowledge lead us into a deeper state of worship and awe of the one true God.

I love music – all kinds of music. I enjoy relaxing to the sounds of soothing, soft music, and I also enjoy patting my foot and playing “finger drums” to the sounds of contemporary Christian music. In my younger years of life I thrilled at the opportunity of playing drums in a rock and roll band, playing a wide range of music – from Credence Clearwater Revival to Grand Funk Railroad. Music has always been, and continues to be, a source of great enjoyment for me.

Have you ever been to a big band concert? It might have been anything from the annual concert of the local high school band, to the amazing music of our armed forces bands on the lawn of the Washington Monument. It may have been in a major concert hall with amazing acoustics, or in an auditorium with horrible acoustics.

What I would like you think about for a moment is that brief period of time in which the musicians assembled in their assigned places, and began the process of warming up. It is such an awful sound. Every instrument playing with no regard to the other instruments: a smorgasbord of sound, with no distinguishing tune, no melody, to rhyme or reason. Noise. Just loud, obnoxious, noise.

However, after a few minutes the orchestra maestro walks to center stage, opens his folder of music sheets, taps on the podium, raises his wand in the air, and those horns, strings, percussion now blend together to make such beautiful music.

Life is much like that, if you think about it. There are times in which life is so chaotic and confusing, with seemingly no rhyme or reason. Just like those instruments playing all at once, but with no guidance, no music sheets to lead them to make the beautiful music they could make if they would just play together. But when the maestro lifts the baton, what follows is majestic.

Now, to the subject of this blog. Have you ever considered your life in light of God’s orchestration? Have you paused lately to give consideration to the amazing fact that there is indeed a maestro – or, should I say, THE Maestro, who is watching over your life, ever ready to raise the baton which will bring clarity out of the chaos? He is ever-present, and all-powerful, and, believe it or not, has all the necessary tools to make a majestic masterpiece out of the miserable mess we oftentimes make of our lives.

As I think back over my life, and specifically over the past few years, I see the amazing orchestration of the Maestro as He has lifted His baton to bring about a beautiful masterpiece. Teresa and I now reside in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. We have always had the desire to live in the mountains. As many of you know, I have the awesome privilege of teaching at Fruitland Baptist Bible College in Hendersonville, NC, which enables us to make a weekly trip to that beautiful campus located in the mountains of North Carolina. But that is only a two-day trek each week. But, now, we have the amazing privilege of living in the mountains of eastern Tennessee.

Some who read this may be wondering how all of this ties together. Allow me to share briefly how this came to be a reality for us. Through the providence (orchestration) of the invisible hand of the Maestro (God), events in our lives led us to make the decision to make this move. The final decision was reached after much prayer as we sought the will of God in this matter. He made things so crystal clear to us that there was no doubt in our minds that this was the path He had orchestrated for us.

Looking back over how all this came to be is a truly fascinating story, but the point I want to reiterate is that the Maestro orchestrated every small detail of this new adventure. We have only been in Pigeon Forge nine days as I write this blog, and His hand of providence continues to be proven each day in remarkable new ways.

What I hope that you will take away from this blog is this: Teresa and I are not special, other than the wonderful truth that we are God’s children. His hand of providence is just as real in your life as it is in ours. You may be in a season of confusion and chaos. You may be struggling to make sense of the mess you are now in. Please be aware of this amazing truth: the Maestro is at work, and He will soon walk out center stage, raise His baton, and the confusion will disappear while all becomes incredibly clear. You will then hear the beautiful music of His orchestration in the events of your life.

Stop! Be still! Listen! Do you hear it? It’s the sweet music the Maestro is bringing your way as He orchestrates the movements of your life. Take heart. He is always working on your behalf for your good. Bask for a while today in that reality, and enjoy the concert!

In June, Teresa and I took a week off from our responsibilities at Carowinds, and visited Dollywood, in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Those who know us well know that we have been amusement park junkies our entire married life. So, we took a week off from working at one amusement park to go play in another!

Let me insert a brief aside here before getting to the point of this blog. We love Carowinds. We have worked here for a few years and have thoroughly enjoyed it. We have made many friends and shared many memories. We will miss this place immensely.

When we visited Dollywood in June, we fell in love with it, just as we had fallen in love with Carowinds years ago. On the way home we began discussing how great it would be to work at Dollywood, making new friends and sharing new memories. So, when we arrived home we decided to fill out on-line applications, just to test the waters. We chose a position we felt we would both enjoy, signed an electronic signature, and hit send.

A couple of days later we received an email asking if we would do a telephone interview. Teresa and I agreed to this, and spent a while talking with a human resource representative. After the interviews, we received an invitation to come to the park for a face-to-face interview with the HR rep and the director of the department of which we had applied.

Appointments were made, and we once again made the drive from Carowinds to Dollywood. Our applications were submitted with the understanding that, if hired, we would begin next season. However, on the drive up we talked about the possibility of being hired for the remainder of this season, and what we would do if that opportunity presented itself.

Arriving on Monday, we began visiting campgrounds (Teresa and I live in our fifth wheel camper), trying to find one that we might move into in March if we were hired. We visited several, all of which informed us that they had long waiting lists for long-term campsites. The last campground we visited was Mill Creek Resort. Once again we were told that there was a long waiting list.

After talking with the owner of the campground for an extended period of time, she then informed us that a campsite would be available the first of September. We informed her that we were applying for positions next season, not next month. But, she penciled our names in for that campsite, with a move in September.

The next morning we arrived for our interviews at the park. It didn’t seem like an interview at all; rather, it seemed like having a conversation with an old friend. At the conclusion of the two interviews, we were asked when we would like to begin. I replied that we were applying for next season. He then repeated the question: when would you like to begin? I repeated that we were applying for next season. He then said, “Let me rephrase my question. When can you begin?”

Teresa and I looked at each other for a brief moment before I said, “When would you like us to start?” He then replied, “How about September 23?” We had discussed this very thing on the way up. We also had been offered a campsite, at the campground of our choice, being able to move to the site on September 17.

We had prayed diligently before making this trip, and had committed it to the Lord, asking that He would make our path clear. We also prayed that He would give us perfect peace in making a decision. All of the events described in the preceding paragraphs occurred in such an extraordinary way that we feel God was indeed answering our prayers.

Therefore, the adventure continues. We are looking forward to this next chapter in our amazingly blessed life. God has led us to many places of service. We have tried to follow in obedience the paths He set for us. And now, the path is leading us to Pigeon Forge, TN, to enjoy the excitement of spending time at another amusement park, and, to bask in the beauty of the mountains of eastern Tennessee.

It’s a tough job – but somebody’s got to do it!

I have told you these things to keep you from stumbling. They will ban you from the synagogues. In fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering service to God. They will do these things because they haven’t known the Father or Me. But I have told you these things so that when their time comes you may remember I told them to you. I didn’t tell you these things from the beginning, because I was with you.

John 14:1-4, Jesus speaking to His disciples

When I first became a follower of Jesus Christ, I came across this passage and was, admittedly, confused as to what Jesus was conveying to His disciples. However, as I began to study the Bible more seriously, and as I tried to understand this statement in the historical context in which it was spoken, it became quite clear as to the sobering message Jesus was giving.

The early church was made up, mostly, of Jews who accepted the reality of Jesus being the long awaited Messiah. Early in church history, those who converted to Christianity from the Jewish faith found themselves in a very precarious dilemma. Within a very short period of time, these early followers of Jesus were excommunicated from the synagogue, severely persecuted, and many were even executed for their commitment to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Thus, these words of Jesus proved to be true in the life of the early church.

But, is that the only thing Jesus was speaking of, or was there more. More, even for us today. We have all been shocked once again by the radical, militant actions of adherents to Islam. CBS news headline on Tuesday, April 23, was as follows:

ISIS claims responsibility for Sri Lanka Easter Sunday bombings

CBS Online News

This probably does not come as a huge shock to anyone, but let’s think of it in terms of the statement of Jesus quoted above. Could it be that the statement had more than just an immediate historical fulfillment? Could Jesus’ words have application to other historical periods of persecution of the church? Could it be that Jesus was not only predicting a time of persecution against His first followers, but multiple times scattered throughout the history of the church?

Why is it that these attacks were specifically aimed at Christians? Simple: Radical Islam is consumed with the desire to eradicate all Christians from the face of the earth, and they are doing it in the name of Allah, “God.” As Jesus said, “In fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering service to God.” Could this contemporary persecution of Christians be a fulfillment of those sobering words?

That question brings me to the point of this blog. The answer to that question is found in the words of Jesus: “I have told you these to keep you from stumbling.” Jesus wants His followers to be aware of the fact that they will face persecution, and even execution, at the hands of those who reject Him and embrace a religion that is radically opposed to Him and His teachings. In the face of such severe, harsh treatment, Christians should continue to live lives of total commitment to Jesus Christ.

In the book of Revelation, John points to another time of extreme persecution against believers. Once again quoting Jesus, John records:

Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. Look, the Devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will have affliction for 10 days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Revelation 2:10 – The words of Jesus Christ to the church in Smyrna

Obviously the situation is vastly different, and the historical setting is far removed from that of these original statements of Jesus. However, the quote from Revelation states the same truth as that found in John 16:1-4, and it is here that Jesus is speaking about a future time of persecution against the church. And please note that in His words from Revelation, He encourages His followers to be “faithful until death.” How are we to understand this admonition? Is Jesus saying that we should be faithful until we die at a ripe old age? Or, is He saying that we should be faithful until our faith costs us our very life? I believe the statement encompasses both. Be faithful, even if we lose our life to those who oppose Jesus, His teachings, and His disciples.

Jesus has given us forewarning concerning those who hate Him, and thus, hate His followers. He has given us these warnings so that episodes of persecution will not catch us off-guard. I challenge each of us to examine our own hearts, and our own personal level of commitment to the teachings of our Lord and Master, and to be faithful to death.

Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, ‘Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ Having said this, He breathed His last.

Luke 23:44-46

Sunday’s coming!

Catchy little phrase, isn’t it? We have all heard it countless times. The phrase will certainly mean different things to different people. What does it mean to you?

For some, it would no doubt result in excitement as they think about the activities of a coming weekend: perhaps a gathering of friends, or a weekend get-away, or a long-anticipated period of uninterrupted rest. For others the same phrase might cause feelings of sadness as they contemplate the end of another weekend and the thought of returning to the drudgery of the job on Monday.

But for the Christian, this phrase carries a totally different meaning. In one sense, it simply means that we are looking forward to a day of rest as prescribed by God’s word. It was God Himself who prescribed this day of rest, and He certainly knew what He was doing when He made this a permanent guideline for humanity. We all need a day of rest. The human body simply cannot continue to go on, day after day, week after week, year after year, without a time of rest. We desperately need to rest.

However, for the Christian the meaning of this phrase goes deeper. It also carries the meaning of a day of worship. We are to set aside this day as a day to gather with other believers for times of spiritual enrichment, mutual encouragement, and Biblical instruction and admonition. It is a time of sharing with one another, and caring for one another.

And yet, on this particular week of the year – this week referred to as Passion Week – we find the deepest meaning of all to the phrase, “Sunday’s Coming.” The events of this week give us full understanding of the phrase. Jesus had entered the city of Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. He was greeted with shouts of joy and gladness, and hailed as the Son of David, a messianic term which referred to the promised Messiah, the chosen of God, the One who would bring salvation to the people of Israel, and the entire world.

That final week was filled with drama and intrigue. The religious leaders, even those who adamantly opposed one another in all matters of religion, seemed to coalesce into a well-greased religious coalition which was bent on nothing less than the destruction of Jesus. They bombarded Him day after day with endless questions, trying to find some fault in Him. When they finally realized that it was a futile endeavor, they decided to make false accusations against Jesus which they hoped would result in His death.

They finally made it happen (even though they really had nothing to do with it at all, other than being pawns in the hands of a sovereign God, carrying out His pre-ordained plan He had made from eternity past). Jesus was given the death sentence, which would be carried out in the most vicious type of death ever devised by man: crucifixion.

The disciples were in a state of shock. We can’t even begin to imagine the horror they experienced as they saw these events unfold before them. Jesus is brutally beaten, then made to carry His own cross to the place of death. He is nailed to that cross, lifted between heaven and earth, and after several grueling hours of horrific anguish, He dies.

Jesus, dead. His body hanging lifeless on that cross. The Son of God, the Savior of man, the One in whom they had placed all their hopes and dreams, hangs motionless on that cross.

Bewildered, confused, perplexed, hopeless, helpless, afraid, locked behind closed doors, awaiting news of their own fate at the hands of those who had killed their Lord. Gloom, despair, depression, darkness of soul and mind, was the reality of their present state. They had invested over three years of their lives to Jesus, and now…… well, now, it has proved to be a big joke. They had given their lives to One who was now dead, buried, gone!

The next three days and nights must have been filled with unspeakable, indescribable anguish. What must they have talked about behind those bolted doors? What must have been uppermost in their minds as they contemplated their next move? How could they carry on now without Jesus there to lead them? How were they to face their families and friends with the shame of having been so duped by this charlatan? How could they ever go back and pick up the pieces of their broken lives from which they had walked away three years ago?

Perhaps, in a very small way, you can relate to those feelings of anguish, pain, disillusionment and discouragement. Perhaps things have not worked out for you as you had planned. Perhaps life has not been good to you. Maybe you have experienced some type of loss: a failed business venture, a broken relationship, the death of a spouse or child, the diagnosis of cancer, or any one of an endless list of possibilities. You are now reeling in the aftermath of that loss, and you are wondering what to do now: where to turn, from whom you can get assistance, by what means of escape you will make your exit.

Well, here is where the phrase really gets its meaning: no matter how dark the hour, how dreary the outlook, how desperate the situation, Sunday’s coming! The darkness of death that Jesus had now faced and experienced would be transformed into marvelous, majestic, miraculous light as He breaks free from the shackles of death, hell and the grave. He comes forth victorious, doing exactly what He had told His disciples He would do.

The darkness dissipates, the light shines, and the disciples are miraculously transformed from broken men and women into those who will now literally turn their world upside down for the cause of their now risen Lord and victorious King.

So, how do we make application of this wonderful truth? Let’s respond to that question from two different perspectives. First, let’s consider the temporal perspective. No matter what you are going through, regardless of how severe or how trivial, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Darkness gives way to light. Joy does come in the morning after the long night of darkness and despair. The key is to keep our eyes focused on Jesus in the midst of the darkness. He is unaffected by your present state of circumstances, and yes, He does care deeply for what you are now experiencing. He is not only watching you in your storm, but He is with you in your storm. Trust in Him; lean on Him; accept by faith the strength He alone can give.

Second, let’s consider for a moment the ultimate perspective. Jesus faced the horror of His betrayal, His savage beating, His vicious death, and the darkness of being forsaken by His Father. However, through it all He kept His eyes on the reality of resurrection Sunday. He saw, through the eyes of faith, the wonderful truth of His own victory over death, hell and the grave. For each person who has been born again into the family of God through God’s amazing grace, we, too, can look beyond anything and everything this life throws at us with the assurance that Sunday’s coming! The darkness will be dispelled by His glorious light. Death will be dealt a death-blow by His eternal life. The things of earth will fade into insignificance as we peer into the eyes of the One who purchased us with His blood. We will enjoy eternity in the presence of the King of kings and Lord of lords.

Rest assured, Christian friend. Sunday’s coming!

Until next time:

Blessings!

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.

Colossians 3:12-14

There are certain things in life that cause me a great deal of pain, sorrow, and deep, abiding sadness. I would like to focus my attention in this blog on one of those crushing realities: fractured families.

Please allow me to begin on a positive note. I am so very blessed in this life to have a wonderful family. I am the youngest of three children. My sister, Ada, and my brother, Wayne, are two very special people. Our parents, W.C. and Evelyn Stewart, were extremely good providers for us as we grew. My siblings and I were blessed to have such sacrificial parents who put our needs first. I did not realize until I reached young adulthood how they cared so deeply for us.

As a young, rebellious teen-ager I took so much for granted. I very seldom, if ever, stopped to realize how much my parents cared for me. Without going into graphic detail, just let it suffice to say I was not a very good child/teenager/young adult. Pretty much the exact opposite. I can’t bear to imagine all the heartache and grief I caused my parents in those years of my life.

But they never, ever, stopped loving me. They were always there, always loving and caring, even when I gave them every possible reason to disown me. I am sure that my siblings would say the same thing about our parents.

However, that is not what this blog is about. This blog is about the heartache and heartbreak of those family members who live in a constant state of fracture. Something has happened – perhaps something of extreme significance, or, perhaps, something of the most trivial nature imaginable.

Allow me to share a couple of personal experiences I have known in the past. In one instance, a father and son lived in houses with adjoining yards. They saw each other every day. They would pass by one another as they left their respective homes. They even attended the same church! But when I met them, they had not spoken in over ten years. As I tried to facilitate a reconciliation between them, I was simply told it was none of my business. The father was tragically killed in an accident, without ever having been reconciled to his son. Fractured!

Another example was a few years after the incident mentioned above. The father of six siblings was gravely ill. The family was called to the hospital as the father’s condition worsened, and his death was imminent. As I sat in the ICU waiting room with these six siblings, I could sense the tension between them. They were arguing about who would get what when their father passed. The situation grew so heated that the police were called to intervene. Fractured!

I could relate several other instances, but these two will show how awful it is to live in a fractured relationship with those we should love the most. I realize that disagreements occur, and even times of heated arguments might take place, but should we not work at resolving those issues that have divided us? Should we not make every effort to be reconciled?

When my mother’s health began to decline, my siblings and I began trying to work out a plan that would best meet her needs. The time eventually arrived in which she could no longer care for herself, so my sister, sister-in-law, and my wife would take turns caring for her. When it became obvious that her needs were more than could be met at her home, the decision was made to find a nursing facility that could meet those needs. I’m not suggesting here that we did everything exactly the way it should have been done, but we tried, working together, to make sure her needs were met.

Then, when my mother passed away, my siblings and I worked together to make arrangements for her celebration of life service. Afterwards, we worked together to make sure her estate was treated with fairness.

If I could go back and change some things, would I? Absolutely! For one thing, I would have tried to take some of the burden off of my sister, as she went above and beyond in caring for our mother. But the point is, we tried, with everything in us, to work together. When it was all said and done we even heard a few individuals say they wished their families could work together as well as we had.

My question is, why can’t you? My siblings and I are nothing special. We are just three individuals who love each other and care for one another. Are we as close as we could be, or should be? Certainly not. But I know one thing for sure: if I need them, they will be there for me, and I for them.

Friends, life is too short to allow fractured relationships to go unattended. What, in all of life, could be so bad that it fractures our relationships to the point that we can’t stand the sight of one another? Please, don’t allow too much time to pass before you make every effort to be reconciled. I assure you, if you don’t, there will come the day you look back with deep regret because you allowed whatever happened in the past to rob you of the joy you could be experiencing in the present.

So, go ahead, make that phone call. You will be glad you did!

There is an occasion for everything,
and a time for every activity under heaven:
a time to give birth and a time to die;
a time to plant and a time to uproot;
a time to kill and a time to heal;
a time to tear down and a time to build;
a time to weep and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn and a time to dance;
a time to throw stones and a time to gather stones;
a time to embrace and a time to avoid embracing;
a time to search and a time to count as lost;
a time to keep and a time to throw away;
a time to tear and a time to sew;
a time to be silent and a time to speak;
a time to love and a time to hate;
a time for war and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Today, March 5, 2019, I celebrate my 67th birthday. Sixty-seven years: A very, very long time.

I remember as a young boy thinking that 30 years old was ancient – until I reached 20 – then 30 didn’t seem quite as ancient as I once thought. But then, I began to think that 50 would be the pivotal date between vigor and vitality and the nursing home – until I reached 40. It was then that I figured 60 would be the point in time, when those who reached that milepost in life, would sit around, sipping on a hot cup of tea, while being wrapped in a shawl to keep the old bones warm.

Then, I reached fifty! Fifty years old! And yet, 50 didn’t seem so bad. All those images that had been floating around in my head evaporated, as fifty came and went with little visible signs of wear and tear. Of course, the old body wouldn’t do some of the things it once did, but, all-in-all, 50 wasn’t so bad after all.

The years between 50 and 60 seemed to pass quickly. As a matter of fact, I look back over those years and wonder where they went! And now, today, I have reached the ripe old age of 67. It really doesn’t seem possible, but, here I am. And, other than a few aches in the joints, and a few health issues that are manageable, I still enjoy relatively good health.

Of those 67 years, my wife and I have spent the last 45 together. We have experienced much in those four and a half decades. We have lived in three states (South Carolina, North Carolina, and Texas), and have moved sixteen times. We have enjoyed doing life together, and are looking forward to our future together as we have now moved into our semi-retirement years.

I have said all that to make this simple observation: Time passes too quickly! As I think about my life, I have a few really big regrets. Oh, I have more than a few regrets, but only a few really big ones. I am going to share a few with the hope that you will possibly learn from my past mistakes.

First, life is short! Sixty-seven sounds like an awfully long time, and I guess it is, but as I look back, it seems to have gone by so quickly. I really regret not using my time on this earth more wisely. If I could change the past, one thing I would make sure to do is spend more quality time with my wife and children. Life gets so very, very busy. I spent way too much time investing in things that now seem extremely unimportant, while neglecting the more important things.

Second, I would have used my God-given talents and abilities more aggressively. When I completed my doctorate, I was encouraged to use my skills in Greek and Hebrew (I won the American Bible Societies award for outstanding student in both languages) to engage in teaching one or the other of the languages in seminary or college. I, regrettably, did not pursue this avenue. Now, please don’t misunderstand, I have certainly enjoyed my pastoral ministry which spanned 40 years, but as I think about those years I feel that I could have invested time in the pursuit of other ventures.

Third, I have to admit that I failed to enjoy life’s simple pleasures. Too many times I rushed through life without taking time to enjoy life. My wife and I have embraced the mentality of getting to our destination as quickly as possible, without taking time to enjoy the trip. I have come to realize that enjoying the journey is just as important as reaching the destination. We have long lived by this principle: We don’t back up! What I mean by that is we have been in such a hurry to get somewhere that we haven’t enjoyed the trip. We are both trying to change, but old habits are hard to break!

I realize that I have already lived much longer than I have yet to live. I hope that I have learned some lessons that will enable me to make more of my remaining time. I want to enjoy life to the max. I want to glorify God in all that I do. I want to invest in my family as much as I can. I want to be remembered as one who learned to stop and smell the roses along the path. I want to stroll through life, not race through it.

If you are reading this, and you are now in the young adult years of your, please don’t make the same mistakes that I have made, and now regret. Take time to build a life, not just live a life. Take time to enjoy the journey, not just rush to the destination. Take time to invest in the lives of those you love, because, rest assured, the day will come when you look back and ask yourself: “Where did the time go?”

Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”
But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”

Matthew 4:3-5

In my last blog, “A Little Food for Thought,” I tried to answer a question that had been posed to me concerning my outlook on life: Optimist, Pessimist, or Realist? This has prompted me to give a little more consideration to this subject. However, this time, I am going to reverse the title from “A Little Food for Thought” to “A Little Thought for Food.”

In the passage cited above, Jesus makes the assertion, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” An interesting concept, wouldn’t you agree? Let’s try to understand this thought-provoking statement made by our Lord.

First, let’s give attention to the comparison Jesus is drawing. He is comparing the importance of eating food with that of listening to God. In one way this is a rather simple comparison to make. We have to eat to live. Man cannot survive very long without the consumption of food. Therefore, the consuming of God’s Word, spiritual food, is just as necessary as the consumption of food for the body.

But, second, there is something of far more importance than this simple comparison. There is no sin in the desire for food, or the consumption of food. These are natural. This is the way God created us. However, there is a deeper, darker component to this temptation. As a matter of fact, it is sinister at its core. It is a diversionary tactic of the devil to try to make Jesus think the Father does not love Him. The underlying sentiment is that if God really loved Jesus, He would do a better job of providing for Him.

And, the devil has not changed his tactics. He is still up to his old, ageless tricks. When some form of adversity comes our way, he plants the same thought in our minds, doesn’t he? “Oh, God really doesn’t love you, does He? If He did He wouldn’t let you suffer like this. If He really loved you, don’t you think He would take better care of you?” And with this, the seed of doubt enters the mind, and the root of despair begins to grow.

If these doubts linger, and we begin to dwell on them, then we open ourselves up to the onslaught of our enemy. Rest assured, if we give him an inch, he will become our ruler. We will move from doubting God, to being angry with God, to complaining about God, to revolting against God, to walking away from God, and ultimately to defaming God in the eyes and ears of others.

Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.

Psalm 119:11

If we neglect feasting on the Word of God, then we become impoverished spiritually. The psalmist had learned this lesson, as evidenced in the verse cited above. Jesus stated clearly that we need to feed on the Word of God, and the psalmist states that by doing this we will safeguard ourselves against falling into sin. Neglecting to feast on His Word weakens us spiritually just as neglecting to eat nourishing food weakens us physically.

So, let’s give ourselves some spiritual nourishment by regularly feasting on a little thought for food. Do you have a daily time in which you get alone with the Father, feasting on His Word? Do you have the habit of storing His Word in your heart so that it might strengthen you in times of weakness, encourage you in times of discouragement, guide you in times of uncertainty, guard you in times of temptation? His Word is our source of life: fulfilling life, satisfying life, contented life, courageous life, victorious life. But, if we are not feasting regularly from this lavish table provided by our loving Father, then we open ourselves up to all the subtle tactics of the enemy of our souls.

So, come to the table, eat to your heart’s content, feasting on the lavish spread the Father has set before you. I assure you, you will not be disappointed.

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things.”

Philippians 4:8

I was asked a few days ago to identify myself in one of three categories: optimist, pessimist, or realist. There was no hesitation at all before I blurted out my response: I am definitely a realist. Or at least that is how I view myself. Those who know me well may have a different opinion, but this is certainly how I see me. Let me try to explain.

I don’t see a silver lining to all of life’s eventualities, nor do I see doom and gloom on every turn. As I observe human behavior, and as I watch news reports of current events, I could easily find myself in a state of discouragement due to the seeming darkness of the human heart. However, the discouragement can be instantaneously transformed into ecstasy as I hear a baby laugh, or a bird sing, or as I simply take a moment to breath in the freshness of a new day dawning. This, in its simplistic form, is the reason I view myself as a realist. I see things as they are.

Now, having said that, let me hasten to say there are days in which I find myself being the supreme pessimist. There are things that happen that cause me to think we are witnessing the total depravity of humanity. News reports of violence in the workplace, in the marketplace, and in the home force me to wonder just how more depraved the human race can become. Stories of human trafficking, child molestation, rape, murder, torture, the proliferation of drug abuse, and so many others could cause even the most optimistic among us to become a cynical pessimist.

But then, there are other days in which I find myself the consummate optimist. The beauty of a sunrise or sunset, painting a portrait with colors no man could ever produce with paints and canvas. The gentle sounds of a cascading mountain stream, or the mighty crash of a thunderous waterfall. The sun reflecting majestically off snow-covered mountain peaks, or the reflection of a brilliant full moon as it glistens across the still waters of a tranquil lake. The brilliance of red and gold leaves dotting a mountainside in the crisp air of fall, or the many hues of green bursting forth as spring brings new life to what has the appearance of death. The sound of my wife’s slow, rhythmic breathing as she sleeps peacefully beside me in the quietness of the early morning.

Yes, I can be quite the pessimist, and a few minutes later be a romantic optimist. But, still, when asked my opinion of myself, I would have to say that I am indeed a classic realist. I base this, mainly, on the fact that I am a believer in the Bible. I believe it records for us the panorama of God’s purposes and plans for His creation. In the Bible, God reveals to those who would read with eyes of faith and ears of understanding His grand plan from eternity past.

The story is so very familiar. God created everything that now exists. Through His creative imagination He placed the planets in place, and now keeps them in place by His power. He chose to create life on at least one of those planets, the one upon which we live. He formed and framed the majestic mountains, and the hot, arid deserts. He formed the oceans, and set the boundaries within which they must remain. The variety of vegetation and wildlife we see in different climates and geographical settings was by divine design. He created a perfect paradise into which He placed man and woman, and gave them dominion over the earth.

It was all such a glorious, wonderful, perfect plan. Optimism at its very best!

But then, something tragic occurred. Man was given the opportunity to make a choice. It seems to have been an extremely simple choice from our present day perspective. Obey God, and enjoy the beauty, bounty and blessings of this perfect garden paradise forever, or disobey and forfeit it all. They chose to disobey, and therefore, paradise was lost, forever.

The glorious, wonderful, perfect plan was subverted by human failure. The result: pessimism at its very worst!

But, the story doesn’t end there. Even though the plan of God had been subverted by sinful man, God was still on the throne and in control. As a matter of fact, man’s disobedience did not catch God off-guard and unprepared. The Bible reveals to the careful reader that God already knew what man would do, and had already ordained a plan though which the disobedient choices of man could be forgiven, and the reality of living in, and enjoying, God’s presence and power could be experienced.

Pessimism at its worst overcome and defeated by optimism at its best!

And now, out of that wonderful story of God’s redeeming grace, we are to look at things realistically through the eyes of faith and the ears of understanding. We realistically look at the world, understanding that it suffers due to the curse of God because of the fall of man. However, we also look realistically at the promises of God that teach us His plan is still to redeem sinful man, and recreate the sin-cursed earth, and restore His original plan of living eternally in His perfect paradise created for the redeemed.

The only thing left to say is simply this: Are you one of the redeemed who is anxiously awaiting the return of the Lord Jesus Christ? It is only through His redeeming blood sacrifice that we are able to overcome the obvious, pessimistic darkness of this world, and enter into the transforming light of His love and grace. Then, and only then, can we be truly optimistic as we look realistically at the glory set before us in our Lord Jesus Christ.