It has been several days since my last post. Long work days and a bit of mental fatigue just left me with a case of writers block. Actually, it may have just been mental block -- I didn't feel much like thinking! As I sometimes jokingly say, "I try not to think. It gives me headaches!"
Honestly, it isn't much better tonight, but I wanted to share a bit about our Vacation Bible School at Central Park. VBS has always had a special place in my heart for a couple of reasons. First, it is perhaps the biggest week of the year for many churches as the children have a full week of Bible study and support activities that center around a particular theme. It is a wonderful environment in which the children grow in their understanding of who Jesus Christ is and how he desires to relate to them. We are careful to not intimidate or push the children in any way, believing that only the prompting of God's Holy Spirit can result in a sincere profession of faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior. This week 12 of the children have indicated a desire to accept Christ as their Savior, and our staff will contact parents for permission to follow up with the children to be sure they fully understand the decision they say they are ready to make. If the child and their parents are sure the child is making a well informed and sincere decision they will be allowed to make their profession of faith public at a church worship service. They will then be baptized into membership of the church.
The second reason I am really big on VBS is that it was during VBS when I was 9 years old that I accepted Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior. It wasn't that this was the first time I had been taught about Jesus (I had been been in church since the "diaper roll"). However, it was during this particular week that everything I had learned really came together in a way that I knew it was decision I needed to make.
I thank God for Vacation Bible School. It has been a vital part of the elements God has used to prepare millions of children to follow the leading of His Holy Spirit to accept Christ. Pray not only for the VBS at Central Park Baptist, but for all of the thousands of VBS events that occur during the summer months.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Thankful for the price paid!
It was 65 years ago today that thousands of American, British, Canadian, and French soldiers stormed the beaches of Normandy or parachuted behind enemy lines on the day that came to be known as D-Day! I watched part of the movie In Search of Private Ryan last night. It was made to be more "realistic" than the typical war movie, and the gruesome nature of the show does make it closer to the real thing I'm sure. However, there is no way to even begin to approximate what that day was truly like for those men who experienced it.
On occasions such as today it is appropriate for all Americans to reflect on what our fathers and grandfathers did for our nation, the world, and their families. Every man (and now woman) who fought during World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf, and elsewhere, sacrificed something on our behalf. All lost part of themselves on those battlefields around the world, while others lost all, including their lives. Most of these were young people, probably 25 years old or less.
Though I understand that war is sometimes unavoidable or is warranted by the actions of others, it is my prayer that our leaders will be wise in their use of military might. However, the Bible would seem to indicate that wars will become more and more frequent until that time when Christ returns. More young people will die on the battlefields, and more civilians will be killed as well. But one day, when the Prince of Peace comes to take believers to our heavenly home, wars and rumors of wars will cease and never occur again!
On occasions such as today it is appropriate for all Americans to reflect on what our fathers and grandfathers did for our nation, the world, and their families. Every man (and now woman) who fought during World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf, and elsewhere, sacrificed something on our behalf. All lost part of themselves on those battlefields around the world, while others lost all, including their lives. Most of these were young people, probably 25 years old or less.
Though I understand that war is sometimes unavoidable or is warranted by the actions of others, it is my prayer that our leaders will be wise in their use of military might. However, the Bible would seem to indicate that wars will become more and more frequent until that time when Christ returns. More young people will die on the battlefields, and more civilians will be killed as well. But one day, when the Prince of Peace comes to take believers to our heavenly home, wars and rumors of wars will cease and never occur again!
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Take nothing for granted!
When I first began writing in my blog I suppose I took it for granted that I would always be able to find at least a few minutes each day to write down a few of my thoughts. This week has shown me that I can't make that assumption. Even when I had a few minutes, I honestly didn't have much "brain power" to think deeply enough to address what I've been reading in the Scriptures. Long hours, killer physical therapy on my bum knee, and strange sleep patterns have combined to make sitting down at the computer to write a not so attractive activity.
Interestingly, Proverbs 27:1 addresses the very thing I have experienced this week . . . "Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth" (NKJV) or as "The Message" translation puts it, "Don't brashly announce what you're going to do tomorrow; you don't know the first thing about tomorrow."
So often we tell someone, or even our self, what we will be doing the next day, the next week or month, even next year and beyond. Truth is, we have no idea what tomorrow will bring. I've seen so many examples of this fact. One of those examples is a very painful reminder that life often takes strange, and sometimes painful, turns. About 15 months ago a young man named Parker came by the house with my son Andy. Parker had roomed with Andy at Auburn (he actually lived in the mobile home we owned there) and had come by to spend the night. This was on Friday night. On Monday night after that Parker was in a horrific car crash in Auburn and was life-flighted to a trauma hospital in Columbus, Georgia. His mom and dad were awaken by a phone call about 3:00 am telling them that Parker was barely clinging to life - they better come quickly. Parker survived the crash, but he suffered TBI (traumatic brain injury) and lies in bed, unable to speak, walk, feed himself, or anything he had taken for granted before. What a terrible tragedy!
I don't think any of us mean to seem arrogant when we speak of things we will do in the future. Rather, we just don't think very much about the frailty of life. Obviously, we don't want to be ghoulish or scared of every shadow. That isn't living! However, we do need to acknowledge the fact that we really shouldn't take things for granted . . . not the people we love, not the physical health we enjoy, not the freedom that is ours, not anything. We should appreciate every blessing life has to offer, and the One Who provides those blessings. Don't wait until tomorrow to do what you ought to do today, and don't wait to tell someone that you love them. You may not get the chance to do it tomorrow!
Interestingly, Proverbs 27:1 addresses the very thing I have experienced this week . . . "Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth" (NKJV) or as "The Message" translation puts it, "Don't brashly announce what you're going to do tomorrow; you don't know the first thing about tomorrow."
So often we tell someone, or even our self, what we will be doing the next day, the next week or month, even next year and beyond. Truth is, we have no idea what tomorrow will bring. I've seen so many examples of this fact. One of those examples is a very painful reminder that life often takes strange, and sometimes painful, turns. About 15 months ago a young man named Parker came by the house with my son Andy. Parker had roomed with Andy at Auburn (he actually lived in the mobile home we owned there) and had come by to spend the night. This was on Friday night. On Monday night after that Parker was in a horrific car crash in Auburn and was life-flighted to a trauma hospital in Columbus, Georgia. His mom and dad were awaken by a phone call about 3:00 am telling them that Parker was barely clinging to life - they better come quickly. Parker survived the crash, but he suffered TBI (traumatic brain injury) and lies in bed, unable to speak, walk, feed himself, or anything he had taken for granted before. What a terrible tragedy!
I don't think any of us mean to seem arrogant when we speak of things we will do in the future. Rather, we just don't think very much about the frailty of life. Obviously, we don't want to be ghoulish or scared of every shadow. That isn't living! However, we do need to acknowledge the fact that we really shouldn't take things for granted . . . not the people we love, not the physical health we enjoy, not the freedom that is ours, not anything. We should appreciate every blessing life has to offer, and the One Who provides those blessings. Don't wait until tomorrow to do what you ought to do today, and don't wait to tell someone that you love them. You may not get the chance to do it tomorrow!
Monday, June 1, 2009
All the King's horses, and all the King's men!
In every life a little rain must fall . . . and then again, sometimes it is a raging storm! Unless you live a very unusual life there will be times when you experience great hurt and disappointment. No matter how good a person you are! It is just a fact of life.
It is during those painful moments when we (and those around us) discover just what we really are. Spiritual sounding talk is easy, but what happens when life comes crashing in around you? Solomon shares a truth when he says:
"If you fall to pieces in a crisis,
there wasn't much to you in the first place." (Proverbs 24:10, The Message)
I have often talked with my boys about preparing ourselves for the inevitable difficulties that come into our lives. You cannot afford to wait until something goes wrong before you seek the Lord and His strength. It must be something that we pay attention to on a daily basis in order to have a "spiritual root system" which can withstand the sudden and terrible storms of life. The unexpected death of a parent, spouse, child, or close friend. The revelation of a loved one engaged in some gross sin. The loss of your job. Any one of a countless number of storms.
No one is immune! In recent years our family has experienced several storms. I had a neck surgery that resulted in total paralysis on my left side and the prognosis for a quick recovery was not good. My mother had a massive stroke and has spent the past 3 years in a nursing home. Dad fell out and lay in the bathroom floor all day until my sister found him there -- he had a brain tumor which required surgery. My oldest son, Andy, fell about 30 feet one night onto a concrete patio, breaking his left wrist and his jaw in two places. I fell down some stairs and required lower back surgery.
Any one of these events could have provoked panic and paralyzing fear, but in each circumstance our family was able to deal with the problems in faith and confidence. It wasn't because of our personal intestinal fortitude, but the strength that is produced in a life of faith. We know that our own strength is never enough so we lean upon God and the relationship that has been building through the years.
God is faithful to His promises, which include His promise to never leave nor forsake us! Just like a growing friendship results in a bonding and increasing trust level, our growing relationship with the Lord results in a greater trust level and a real sense of bonding with Him. May your relationship with God give you a wonderful sense of confidence and trust that will undergird you and prepare you to face whatever storm might come your way.
It is during those painful moments when we (and those around us) discover just what we really are. Spiritual sounding talk is easy, but what happens when life comes crashing in around you? Solomon shares a truth when he says:
"If you fall to pieces in a crisis,
there wasn't much to you in the first place." (Proverbs 24:10, The Message)
I have often talked with my boys about preparing ourselves for the inevitable difficulties that come into our lives. You cannot afford to wait until something goes wrong before you seek the Lord and His strength. It must be something that we pay attention to on a daily basis in order to have a "spiritual root system" which can withstand the sudden and terrible storms of life. The unexpected death of a parent, spouse, child, or close friend. The revelation of a loved one engaged in some gross sin. The loss of your job. Any one of a countless number of storms.
No one is immune! In recent years our family has experienced several storms. I had a neck surgery that resulted in total paralysis on my left side and the prognosis for a quick recovery was not good. My mother had a massive stroke and has spent the past 3 years in a nursing home. Dad fell out and lay in the bathroom floor all day until my sister found him there -- he had a brain tumor which required surgery. My oldest son, Andy, fell about 30 feet one night onto a concrete patio, breaking his left wrist and his jaw in two places. I fell down some stairs and required lower back surgery.
Any one of these events could have provoked panic and paralyzing fear, but in each circumstance our family was able to deal with the problems in faith and confidence. It wasn't because of our personal intestinal fortitude, but the strength that is produced in a life of faith. We know that our own strength is never enough so we lean upon God and the relationship that has been building through the years.
God is faithful to His promises, which include His promise to never leave nor forsake us! Just like a growing friendship results in a bonding and increasing trust level, our growing relationship with the Lord results in a greater trust level and a real sense of bonding with Him. May your relationship with God give you a wonderful sense of confidence and trust that will undergird you and prepare you to face whatever storm might come your way.
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