“She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.” Proverbs 31:25

The occasion called for celebration, and we were blessed to be invited to the 90^th Birthday Party of my mom’s oldest friend. They had known each other as young girls, which means like God… Mary Lee has known me since before I was born. The get together was a small affair since, how many people make it that far? But because of her impact on family and friends, it required renting a room!

Kids generally get a Slip n Slide or a Bounce House for their birthday. Cardiac arrest is what those would have gotten Mary Lee. But no doubt she would have tried them anyway. So there she sat… all 4’11” of her (I’m guessing here) with the dignity of her counterpart The Queen of England. Though MUCH more classy and interesting. I can actually say that… because so many people did!

Mary Lee is most known for her quick wit and classy humor. I don’t know how she didn’t make it to Prime Time TV, but she is still the brightest star in the room wherever she goes. The thing I’ve always admired was her ability to wrap a bad situation into a story that had everyone rolling in laughter, begging for more. Because sadly, there were enough bad situations to make her enormously popular.

As each person in the room had a chance to talk about her, I felt honored to be among those who joined in that club. And while it was her humor that was unanimously mentioned, the central processing center for that gift has always been her heart. I can’t rightly say that I ever heard her say anything bad about anyone. But like a ‘lady’ Don Rickles, if she did, they’d always beg for more.

I don’t expect to hit 90, and really have no desire to do so. Life on this planet has gotten a little too icky for me, and since I don’t possess Mary Lee’s ability to turn that much ick into a 90 season comedy show, I’ll leave that to her. For me, the big lesson I continue to work on, until Doctor Death rings my bell, is her ability to genuinely display real love and care for God’s people… with dignity.

So thank you M’Lady for the invite and the gift to aspire toward. But please keep your calendar open… I think I want YOU to do my funeral! 

“‘Meaningless! Meaningless!’ says the Teacher. ‘Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.’” Ecclesiastes 1:2

My mom’s dearest friend from High School is celebrating her 90^th Birthday today. Which happens to be my birthday too! Since my mom is busy doing other things in Heaven, I am planning to attend the celebration. I rented a hotel room in Orlando a day early and started a fun weekend. Yesterday, as I sat beside a lake, I overheard a worker talking about life! He was prophetic!

He was telling a fellow worker about how his life USED to be. “Man… I had clothes and shoes and WHEW! I was fancy!” As he stood there sweating while trimming bushes, I felt God move, so I followed. Popping out from behind the bush I enthusiastically said, “YOU sir, are a WISE MAN!” Looking dumbfounded, I told him that he had just PERFECTLY summed up life! He was perplexed!

I asked him if he knew what the wisest and richest man ever to live on earth had said? With “Huh?” was his reply, I told him about Solomon’s summation of life as “MEANINGLESS!” This seemed to depress him even more, so I added the cure. “Do you know what the ONLY thing that matters in life happens to be? To Love God and follow His directions in the Bible.” A twinkle came to his eye.

This morning, while Katie slept, I went and got a cup of coffee, sat out by the pool, then opened my Bible. But before I even had a chance to read 1 word, I sensed the Holy Spirit of God say, “Good Morning son! And Happy Birthday!” Smiling, we went on to spend some beautiful time together. I was glad no one else was out there because I felt like I was beaming! God… I love Him!

Meaningless? Without God in my life… it would be! But with Him, there is not a thing in this world that I need. Not only did I get to spend meaningful time with Him, I also got a sermon out of it! I’ll share it with the folks on Sunday… because that is HIS purpose and meaning for MY life!

Is YOUR life meaningless… or is it filled with Him?   

“One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless.” Proverbs 14:16 ESV

Having just turned onto the main road heading south toward town, I didn’t expect to see one this close to home! But like a polar bear sighting in Florida, there he was! And he was a BIG one! As I got closer, I was able to confirm that, right there in front of my eyes… stood a fool! And so close, I had to swerve to miss him!

He was driving a Cadillac SUV which in some circles for what he was doing, MAY have been a clue! Because sitting askew on top of his car, was a mattress! Putting 2 + 2 together, I knew why he was on the side of the road, because he was trying to retie the mattress to the SUV’s luggage rack. Having had the same experience years ago, I knew his problem was LACK of experience. He was a newbie!

There are some things I have had to learn the hard way! Book studies on aerodynamics in science class was boring. Math and calculations were meant for people who liked that sort of thing. Until one day, while moving a mattress with only a car to do it, I received a ‘show and tell’ lesson in physics. I too ended up on the side of the road trying to keep my cargo from lifting off in the wind!

Using a Cadillac SUV to transport a mattress was NOT what identified the man as a genuine fool. It was his location that made him stand out! With 2 lanes of traffic moving at 55 mph, his car was parked with 2 tires ON the highway! All right lane traffic had to swerve to miss hitting him! The fool was relying on MY actions to avoid imminent danger. Satan LOVES fools!

God’s text book, The Bible, gives me words to live by. Admittedly I have had to learn MANY of His lessons the hard way. But I’ve come to realize that, while more painful and slow, there is nothing wrong with the hard way. As long as learning is the end result. But allowing desires, satan and other people’s ideals to define Truth is truly foolish. I thank God for HIS offered wisdom.

What makes YOU stand out… and is the cargo of YOUR life secure?

“…no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.” Ephesians 4:14

It just so happened that I was in the middle lane of a 3 lane highway moving at the speed limit of 55 mph. While I was coming up on a merge from the right… and an eventual reduction into a 2 lane highway, I was unconcerned, having done it thousands of times before. It was then that I saw the smashed bottle, wildly dancing in the center of the road! “Oooo,” I thought. “A metaphor!”

The speed of the traffic caused air currents to spin wildly out of any kind of long term prediction. As a car passed the bottle on the right, the helpless debris was thrust to the left. When a left side car hit the bottle’s position, it responded by veering to the right. Interestingly enough, as the dozens of cars passed, there was no way to determine where the bottle would ultimately come to rest.

There was no doubt the bottle was litter. Also no doubt that WHERE or HOW it got there in the first place would ever be discovered, recorded or told. Was it deliberately tossed out by an unlawful and unconcerned citizen? Was it an accident… maybe falling from a recycling truck or dropped by someone who later became thirsty, but then had no way to satisfy their thirst?

Deep pondering would have to wait because I was in traffic with far more important things upcoming which required my full attention. So I drove… and the bottle danced! But because the bottle lacked a soul and spirit, it’s fate was really of no concern to anyone… including me. But the metaphor started to form when a question popped into mind. What if it HAD a soul or spirit?

There are BILLIONS of people on this planet, and the currents of peoples, governments, groups and individuals blow in all directions. For every thought or idea, there is a counter. Being created as an individual with free will, I am left to decide my own fate. I am not junk or trash, but made for the highest possible honor above every other creature. While winds blow ideas, God awaits my choice!

All the traffic was moving in the same direction, at the same speed. Larger vehicles created more disruption and, like doctrines, had greater influence over the bottle. But when it comes to MY direction of choice for a forever location, my Creator had a PARTICULAR goal in mind from the very start… to make me HIS Child… FOREVER! I am no accident. Neither are you!

Are YOU flowing with His Spirit and goal in mind?

“We ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.” Romans 8:23

Our Church has a Memorial Garden in the back, where the cremains of over 2 dozen former Church and family members lie in rest, awaiting the return of our Savior Jesus Christ. It was my father’s idea. He felt that scattering precious ashes to the wind seemed disrespectful. So the Memorial Garden was set up, without markers, as a place go, remember and pray. WORK just kinda came along!

As it stands, only half the Garden has been kept up. That half is where the people are. The other half just kind of… GROWS! And since Florida is a flowering state, stuff grows like crazy! We don’t have a regular gardener, so when things get out of hand, whoever feels led goes to the garden to trim or pull weeds. This last week Katie and I felt led to get to work. This morning… we groan!

‘Out of control’ describes the ‘other half’ of the Garden, and trees, weeds and vines have grown to that state! The ONLY way to get things back under control is to get in there and manually pull, cut, trim and haul away the debris. When the temperature and the humidity hit in the 90’s, desire and expectation often fail to meet! Realistically, it’s gonna take longer than we thought!

As hours passed by yesterday, we both became sweaty messes. Passing a point where I had no more to give, I looked toward the site where my father’s ashes lay and actually felt jealous! Where HE is now, I will go. But not just yet. For now… I work, sweat and groan! As I remembered this Bible verse, my soul became buried in sorrow, but my spirit was refreshed with God’s Hopeful promise!

This world is EXACTLY how it was for Adam and Eve after ‘The Fall.’ The curses of work, weeds, sweat and death remain as evidence of sin’s consequence. Yet my desire to live, enjoy, prosper and flourish point to the inward Truth, written on my heart by God, that THIS is NOT the way things were meant to be! In joyful sorrow, He calms me with His promise… Where He is… I will go… but not just yet!

Will YOU be there with Him? And are you looking forward, with Hope, to the trip?

“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6:38

It has been said, “When you play with fire you either get burned or smell like smoke!” And while I don’t know who said it, I can vouch for the accuracy of the statement. Except for now! Technology has proven that as time passes, convenience just seems to happen! And Katie and I were conveniently sitting by a fire, completely safe… and NOT smelling ANYTHING!

A dear friend had asked a favor. He had a large wooden yard ornament that ‘needed some repair’ and, having mentioned that I used to be in carpentry, he sprung the repair request in my direction. “Sure!” I said. “I’ll take a look at it.” When he got it to me, I couldn’t imagine how he got ‘miracle worker’ out of ‘carpentry!’ “Just take it home and look at it,” He said. So I put it in my garage.

Because ‘the thing’ was so broken and rotted, I determined there was no way it could be fixed. Every once in a while he’d ask, “did you take a look at it yet?” and I’d just laugh, thinking there was NO way he was serious! After it sat there for over a month, I heard something in his voice that made me realize ‘the thing’ was VERY sentimental and important to him. So I adjusted my impossible level.

It took a few months and plenty of ‘miracle,’ but it got done and he was more than pleased. One day we received a package at our door. Opening it I found a box of blue, glass rocks and some kind of cover! A couple weeks later an outdoor propane fireplace was delivered. In our discussions I had mentioned that we used a fireplace that burnt artificial logs, but the stink and smoke was nasty!

Last night Katie asked, “would you like a fire tonight?” Instead of a grumpy look, my face just smiled! Being the fire builder, I’m the one who ends up stinking! But now… with only the turn of a knob, we enjoy a clean, non-smelly and smokeless fire! It is WONDERFUL! And it’s all because my friend gave me something I thought was impossible, and then blessed us back in return! Just like God does!

The rules of giving were written BY God! As with most rules, there are doubters and naysayers who question the possibility of receiving AFTER giving! But just like the rule of gravity, how many times does one have to fall off something to certify it’s authenticity? Sitting beside my wife and beside a beautiful fire reminded me that… truly, one getteth AFTER one giveth! But giveth-ing cometh firsteth!

Have YOU tested God’s giving and receiving principle?

“…be made new in the attitude of your minds; and put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:23-24

Decorating the house for Holidays is a ‘thing’ for Katie. With the 4th of July approaching, putting up the Patriotic decorations became a priority. My daughter painted a picture of an Eagle’s head we both like, so Katie hung it on the front door. When I shut the door, the painting crashed to the floor, breaking the frame! And while fixing broken frames is not ‘my thing,’ it had to be done.

I learned that PLANNING can take as much, or more time, as DOING! With each repair idea came a need for a different tool. I have LOTS of tools. As I planned my work I worked my plan. But even as I’d line up 1 corner, it would misalign another! Determining I needed either 6 hands or more tools, and having neither, the project is taking longer than I had hoped! Kind of like my life!

There are days when I feel like a broken picture frame. If someone were to ask, “How are you doing?” I’d have to answer, “it’s complicated.” Reading this verse this morning while looking in the rear-view mirror at yesterday, I got a clearer picture of what’s really going on. Being made body, soul and spirit, I realized they go together like gasoline, muriatic acid and a match! Life is WAR!

With NO benefit of choice, I was born an enemy of God. Human sin had placed me in that position. Thankfully, God wasn’t happy about my condition, and took the necessary steps to get me back onto His side… at The Cross! But while the opportunity to ‘get right’ was there, the CHOICE to JOIN God rested upon MY shoulders. The challenge to ‘be right’ still does. And it starts in my mind.

Inside this aging body lies a soul and a spirit. And all 3 are constantly at war! When mind gets an idea, body is too tired. When God’s Spirit calls, soul and body battle to answer. Reading the Bible can give me God’s clear direction as to where I should go, but my THREE-GOS have to decide to unite and actually DO it! NOT doing it can become tiring… and complicated! Because ‘I KNOW!’

I was CREATED in God’s Image to BE and ACT like God. I KNOW when I am not! His Spirit inside continually prompts me to walk in the direction He is pointing. Obeying Him is the only thing that allows me HIS peace and joy. Made to be like the image I hold, I am His framework that constantly needs work to keep it together. I have been framed to display HIS Image!

Are YOU showing Him off?  Or are you in need of repair!  He’s GREAT at fixing frames if you will let Him!

“Count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” Romans 6:11

My 8 and 5 year old grandsons were over yesterday, and because it was hot, they ended up in the pool. A favorite game of ours is my throwing pennies into the water and their diving down to get them. After I ran out of pennies, it was time to introduce them to something new. What happened next was a good lesson for anybody who wants a more abundant life!

I challenged the oldest to dive down to the bottom and stay there. Because he had a tendency to float to the top, I stood on him to keep him underwater. Over a minute later, he still wasn’t struggling. But I let him loose and he came up laughing saying, “that was cool!” His younger brother then hollered, “do that to me too grampa!” So I held BOTH of them underwater… while their mom laughed and videoed the scene!

“Horrible!” or “Child abuse!” some might say. But attempted murder is probably more like it! What I DIDN’T say was what made all the difference. Because floating above them was a scuba tank with 2 regulators supplying air to them! Though underwater, they were breathing just fine! And LOVING IT! What under normal circumstances would be considered horrific, had just become a great time!

Unless one is a fish, breathing and underwater do NOT go together. When Jesus told Nicodemus that to enter Heaven one had to be ‘Born Again,’ His words were shocking! They still are! People who haven’t exercised Faith in Christ have the tendency to drown in the sea of common sense, rather than trusting in the Savior. Jesus is just trying to get them under… to show them the life that is greater!

My grandsons are smart. They know staying underwater too long can be a serious problem. They SAW the contraption with the hoses floating in the water, but my trying to explain the scientific and practical applications of scuba was NOT going to get them down and keep them down. What they needed to do was what they did! They TRUSTED me… then gave it a try! Just like Jesus asks us to do!

Faith requires action. That means that I can be told over and over that God is good and that His ways are better and more joyful than what I am used to. But until I do more than just , and be willing to dive under and be held by Him, I will NEVER experience the REAL life He promises me. But FIRST, I must be willing to die to my own old way of seeing and doing things!    I’ve tried and… Jesus Works!

Have YOU exercised faith in Jesus Christ and been Born Again? If so… how’s it going?

“Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong.” Isaiah 1:16

I have a couple of older cars, which is what I prefer. It’s not like I wouldn’t LOVE a new car for both my bride and myself, it’s just that the cost for new does not justify the benefits. So we keep our 18+ year old cars going. To do that requires me to have a mechanic… and I do! I am blessed because my mechanic is ALSO my friend and a fellow Believer! Lately, he’s been making a suggestion!

When I last took my truck to him, I had run out of electrical tape to cover the flashing indicator dashboard lights. He repaired the problem and then did an inspection on my vehicle because, like I said, he is also my friend. When I picked it up, he said, “we need to get this back in soon… your back brakes need to be replaced!” My response was, “O.K.!” But my thought was, “Pshaw!!!!”

Look… my brakes have been working fine! I have not had even 1 incident when I pushed on the brake pedal and my truck didn’t stop. But… we made an appointment to get my truck to him last week… then I completely forgot! Still, I can tell you that I haven’t had even ONE close call with any braking issues! BUT, like I said, he’s my friend, so I guess I’ll humor him and get my truck to him this Friday.

I have learned that maintenance is such an inconvenience! It takes time, effort and determination to keep things in good working order. Me being me, I don’t like wasting time on things I don’t see as THAT big a problem. Reading the Old Testament Prophets lately, I see that Israel had the same issue! Their attitude was, ‘why bother cleaning up when we’re having so much fun in the mud?’

As I look around at America, I no longer have to look OUT THERE to hear a news story that indicates a ‘stopping problem!’ Just looking around my own little community, I see lives that are completely out of whack and headed for disaster! As evil becomes more acceptable and normal, I am reminded that STOPPING… will soon become an impossibility! A crash is certain!

Reading the Word is ALWAYS inconvenient to me. It is obvious that ‘I’ am NOT Israel… and that ‘I’ alone am not America! When I read the Word it is easy for me to tape over the dashboard lights that indicate that ‘I’ have any problems. Sometimes, it takes more than a little nudge by my friend ‘The Holy Spirit’ to help me see that “I” do indeed… have a ‘Stopping Problem!’ And it’s Shop Time!

How’s YOUR life going… and stopping?