...too small a thing...

BUT, I Can't Help It!

I can't help it, I can't stop, I don't have any other choice, it is not my fault. These are the things people say when someone is doing something they should not be doing, and they are confronted. Seldom does someone accept their choices and admit that they should not be doing whatever it is that they are caught up in. 

Our hedonistic culture of today does not set boundaries or even hint as to the right directions we need in our lives. The truths about decency, what is ethical, or what is moral, seem to be blurred by movies, television, and social media.  What one person thinks is OK to do others are appalled by even talking about it. Now likely if you are reading this blog you know where this preacher comes from and what we need as our guide. The Bible is plain spoken that the Word of God is what we need. Psalm 119:9 tells us "How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word."  The bible is not a rule book, but it is a guide to show us our Creator and help us to know how to live. When we place faith in the truth of Scripture, then Lord abides with us and In us, through the person of the Holy Spirit. He is to be a guide and give us direction for life. We are not puppets or robots programed by God. We are his children. Created and loved in His Image. And this life we have has certain freedoms to do and be, to go and decide, to live and be whatever we seek to be. So God does not make our decisions for us. And a real truth is that we are we never in the position of "I Can't Help It." 

God Always gives us a choice in life, especially in the patterns and directions. Consider this :

            12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.  1 Corinthians 10:12-13 ESV

The truth of these verses helps us to realize that we on our own can't help it. We are powerless in the human frailty we are wrapped up in to overcome the faults that so easily come at us and consume us. But Praise be to God! We have a God who forgives and provides a way to be better. To do the right thing. To be the person He calls us to be. 

So it starts with reading, studying, and memorization of the Word of God. Then talking with God, day by day, moment by moment, until we get it right. If you feel like you can't help it without the Lord you may be right. But let me assure you Our Lord can overcome anything. And He will. Just ask Him.

Alone?

This is a word that brings image to your mind. Alone, stirs emotion in the heart. If you have a busy hectic day you long for the silence of being alone, but when you have the stillness and quiet of this place of being alone; you want and long to hear the presence of companionship. Every person is different as to how we relate and want companionship and some do better being by themselves than others. But I ask a simple question this morning. Are you ever really alone?

The Lord told us Hebrews 13:15 "I will never leave you or forsake you."

Jesus Said In the Great Commission Matthew 28:20 "I am with you always..."

There is also a passage that sort of frightens me as Jesus told his disciples that everything we do will be reveled at the judgement. So whatever I "think" I can do when I am alone and nobody sees or knows what I am doing is going to be revealed one day.

    For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light. Luke 8:17 ESV

Jesus was known for going off by himself but not to be alone (although it is described with this word) but he went to be with the Father privately. Private moments are needed in our lives to change clothes, use the bathroom, and most importantly talk with the one who never leaves us. 

Things I Don't Like

If you had to make a list of things you do not like and put it in order of the things you dislike the most at the top and dislike a bit less toward the bottom what would it look like? There are a good many things I do not like, but you might want to give this some thought. You see I do not like mosquitos, and find them very annoying but a yellow jacket or big red wasp is higher on the list. Both of these I am likey to face this summer. But even higher on the list would be a copperhead. I had not seen one on my property till last year, but I met him one afternoon and we did not get along at all. There are some people I do not like, but I always ask the Lord to help me love them. (Bless their hearts.)

As I thought about this for a while, the top of the list items that I do not like are not really people, or tangible things, but ideas, and problems I really can't do anything about changing. Things like hate, evil, prejudice, revenge and jealously. Two things that would surely be near the top for me would be Alzheimer's disease, and Heart disease. These things sort of suck the life out of you especially when compared to a mosquito. 

The truth is the things that surface to the top of list we don't like are the things of the moment. Whatever is happening right now seems too often what we don't. like the most. There is a great Bible verse for this....

    For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. Romans 8:18 ESV 

The Apostle Paul knew that better times are coming for all of us who know Christ as Savior. So keep this thought in mind, I like to think this is an original thought of mine but I probably heard it somewhere.  

It is all going to be OK at the end... So if it is NOT OK now ... do not worry it is not the END. 

So, you are a wise guy.

Every year I read through the Bible. Everyone should read Scripture daily. But it is difficult in certain parts of the Bible to sit down and read. I am right now in a part like this, as my reading today was in 1 Chronicles. It is a detailing of who did what in the work in the times and kingdoms of the kings of Israel. After I read it. i scanned back over the passages this morning, and one verse, one name, kind of jumped off the page. Here is the verse. 

    The lot for the east fell to Shelemiah. They cast lots also for his son Zechariah, a shrewd counselor, and his lot came out for the north.  1Chronicles 26:14 ESV

At a first reading of the verse packed into hundreds of other verses with names I would struggle to pronounce, it seems there is little to notice. The context is that the gatekeepers are being listed out for the work in King David's time of rule in Jerusalem. Who is this Zechariah really? The bible actually has a good many people with this name, There is a whole book with this name. It is a different guy. A prophet that was the namesake to this young man. John the Baptist's dad had this name too. And many others with that same name. 

But this guy is listed as a "gatekeeper."  His dad is listed as on the EAST but our guy is on the NORTH. But our guy got an extra word in the sacred text to say that he was wise. "A shrewd counselor" was this man. He was at the door.  Many walked by him each day as they came and went to whatever they were doing never really taking notice of him. And that is what hit me. We often hold a door open for someone, pass someone in a hall, wait behind some one in line, and we seldom know who they are. 

Why does the Scripture tell us this man was wise? I do not think that answer is there in our text, but we in the greater context of Scripture can get a good idea. 

The book of proverbs tells us a lot about wisdom. It starts with knowledge of God. It is to be desired. it is more valuable than anything else. And here is a guy tending the door who is wise and I was walking right past him as I read Scripture and not aware of who he was or is. How many more do I walk past those who are wise? But more importantly let me ask myself am I a wise guy? Are you a wise guy? There is little doubt that there is much ignorance in the world. Watch the news, get on social media, or just look around and you can see and hear many people talking and many have wrong ideas, confused values and strange beliefs. Here was a guy with simple job that was according to Scripture a guy you could get good advice from to live your life. 

Let me challenge you. If you are not reading the Bible daily... maybe it is time to start.  Maybe it is what the world needs. More wise guys. 

Try Again

This blog site began in 2006, and for many years I kept a daily post on the site. Subjects vaired over the years from family, to church, to the police work I was doing, and of course mission events. But most of the time it was a devotional page. I hope the one thing that was most constant was the lifting up of Jesus Christ as "Lord of All" to anyone who read these words I wrote. I think I am going to start trying to put up fresh material again. If a few read and Christ is glorified I will have succeeded.  My Pastor from FBC Ellijay preached yesterday on a passage from Joshua 13.

    1Now Joshua was old and advanced in years, and the LORD said to him, “You are old and advanced in years, and there remains yet very much land to    
            possess. Joshua 13:1 ESV

The message was a real challenge to keep on being active for the work of God, even in my senior years.I started going to the gym to work out a few weeks ago and

it feels great, but not necessarily while I am working out. The results however I am pleased with the overall way I feel. So here I am at the keyboard again to try to put into a published page a few words that can help someone who needs a bit of a push. You just DO NOT get too old to do something for the Lord. While I do have to stay close to home now, to care for my wife, I can still write and put into a useful way some of my life experiences.  So here I am. I am going to try again to write regularly.  If you were a regular reader in the past welcome back. If this is the first time to see this blog, I am glad you dropped in. If you are curious there are literally thousands of my old blog post in the archives. The photos are from mission work through the years. I have been blessed by the Lord in so many ways.    I hope you will join me and that I can write something you can read and grow closer to the Lord.  

Inventory as of 9/23/23

All the others wanted their photo with the toothy bear so we made a group shot of all of them. posing. Some are hoping for a new home soon. 

Bulldog - $250

People have ask me several times to carve a BULLDOG and this is my first one.

What Are You Looking For?

I think we all find ourselves looking for something. Something to eat, something to read, something to watch on television. I find myself looking for a pen often to write down something. Most people don't realize it, but I am pretty certain that pens have some sort of legs that they can crawl away like a bug and hide in a drawer. As Christian people we are supposed to be looking for something. Jesus plainly told His disciples to be looking for His return. I think we have neglected this as a people of God. We acknowledge that we should be, but we do not really watch for Him with the expectation and longing. Today I want to challenge you that we really should think about this reality. Here is a little story Jesus told near the end of his ministry. 

34 “The coming of the Son of Man can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. When he left home, he gave each of his slaves instructions about the work they were to do, and he told the gatekeeper to watch for his return. 35 You, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know when the master of the household will return—in the evening, at midnight, before dawn, or at daybreak. 36 Don’t let him find you sleeping when he arrives without warning. 37I  say to you what I say to everyone: Watch for him!” Mark 13: 34-37 NLT

Today you will likely look for something. A cup of coffee to start your day. The mail, quitting time, the red light to change while you are driving, but will you at any moment look to the sky and long for your Savior? As the people of God we should realize and fully appreciate the FACT that Jesus is coming again. Watch with expectation my friend, it can change your whole attitude on life. 

Thanks Dad

With so much happening in our lives there is just so little time to write on this blog page. I cut down over a year ago to just five or six post a month but June is half gone but I have written nothing. But I do promise to pick up writing again as soon as i can. Why you might ask? 

Most of you know we are in the process of selling our home in Kennesaw and relocating to Ellijay GA to a tract of land that has bee passed down to me from my grandfather. The process to ready the house here in Kennesaw for sale and beginning the work in Ellijay as well as keep up with Chaplain duties has made for some long days and not much time for writing. My daughter said this to me last night. "Dad can we do something for Father's day tomorrow besides you running around the house working like a mad man?"  

This made me stop and think...  I know that good dads do work and provide and do what needs to be done. But I know my dad knew when to stop working a bit and enjoy life. Pete Davis caught fish, pulled skiers, hunted deer and sat on the porch. I never thought he was lazy, or avoiding work. This is the first Father's day that I will not see my dad except in my memories. I praise the Lord for the great memories I do have of my dad. He taught me so much, but more important he loved me so much. Wow that is a powerful thought. 

Take time to celebrate Father's day today. It is a good day to tell those who are good dads what a great job they are doing. Encourage those dads who need it. 

I want to encourage and say thanks to two young dads. The dynamic duo of Brett and Brian have become wonderful and loving fathers. I am proud of them and pray for them every day. I love you and hope you have a happy and great father's day too. 

May is a Busy Month- But One MORE Event If you Can

The month of may is busy, busy. Between Police Week, Mothers Day, good weather and school winding up there is always alot to do. 

If you do not have plans for the 19th of May and Happen to own a motorcycle here is a a great event for you,