SEPTEMBER MOURN

A number of years ago Neil Diamond sang a song, September Morn, which became very popular. As we approach the anniversary of anguish again on September 11th, we remember where we were, what we were doing, who we were with. That September morn became September mourn in an instant. It changed our lives and our land that we call America. Jesus was "acquainted with grief" the Bible tells us. St. Matthew's Gospel says, "Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted." Psalms 30: 11 says, "You have turned my mourning into dancing." Now, what do you say? I hope this week you won't be weak, but strong as you "turn your eye's upon Jesus", and as you do, "Keep the SON in your eyes" and be filled with His marvelous grace. When under attack remain under God's grace.

THESE SHOES ARE MADE FOR WALKING

This morning I felt an urge to drop what I was doing and visit a dying friend in a nearby hospital. I shared some things with Herb to help him as best Icould. I mentioned knowing his mother when I was a teenager in their town. I mentioned him being a district supertindent several years ago in the area I recently served as a pastor. I reminded him of how they have pictures of former pastor's in the parlor of First Church. Dr. Ellsworth Kalas preached a sermon a number of years ago about the feet of the messengers of God and that rather than having pictures of pastors, we should have the shoes of pastors instead. In my very first sermon at First Church, I mentioned that I was following in the footsteps of outstanding pastors. Well, Herb has big feet and I know I can never begin to accomplish all that he has to the glory of God. Soon Herb will walk on streets of Gold because he told people all about Jesus and His love. I hope I can do half as much.

GARBAGE IN - GARBAGE OUT

While I watched it raining today I took in some of the scenery and the silence of the afternoon from our front porch swing. I noticed the tall trees, the drooping flowers soaking wet with rain drops and a garbage can beside the street. All of the sudden the lovely landscape lost it's beauty and I lost my sense of serenity. It was all spoiled by a big black garbage can. Why did it have to be there? Why wasn't it put away so I could enjoy the scenery? When I stopped to think about this interruption to my peaceful porch moment, I realized that the landscapes of our lives are all spoiled with something. At times it is by something someone has said or done or, by something we've said or done. We can't protect ourselves from such sights by ignoring them, by pretending that they aren't there. What we have to do is to accept them as they are and get on with our lives. As we do, maybe we should seek to add as much beauty all around as we possibly can so that others can have a beautiful day.

GRACE IN PLACE

I just saw a truck with the word "GRACE" on it going down the street in front of our house. Maybe someone down the street need a truck full of GRACE. Maybe someone is searching for it and can't find it. Maybe someone hopes it gets to their house before it's too late. I hope that truck full of GRACE gets to the right place. Hold on, I've got to answer the door bell...I wonder who it might be? Isn't this wonderful, it's someone delivering a package for me all wrapped up in love. Well, I can't believe my eye's, it's GRACE!!! "Grace, grace, God's grace…” God's grace is in just the place. Delivered for free for me. I hope you hear a knock on the door of your heart soon and receive God's grace, full and free.

HE WENT ABOUT DOING GOOD

I read in the morning newspaper that a dear friend of mine has died at the young age of 90. I met Mr. Kramer when I was a teenager. He was a member of the church my father pastored when I began attending college. Whenever he saw me he always asked how I was doing. He really was interested in knowing. He wasn't just being a polite person. He was an interested person. Little did I know that a number of years later I would become his pastor at the very same church my father served. Again and again he would ask me how I was doing. He would stand still and listen to every word I had to say as if I were the only person in the world. At that moment, I was. I've thought of Mr. Kramer many times through the years. I hope he knew how much interest I had in him because, he will always hold a place in my heart for being like Jesus "who went about doing good." Mr. Kramer left a good impression upon me. I just hope I can go and do likewise.

GREAT PREACHER'S I'VE HEARD IN PERSON

I've been blessed to hear outstanding preachers throughout the years of my life. My father saw to it that I started at an early age. I heard Billy Graham and W. E. Sangster when I was a child. Since I was a child, I've heard George Buttrick, Norman Vincent Peale, Charles Allen, Fred Craddock, Will Willimon, Leonard Sweet, John Maxwell, J. Ellsworth Kalas, James W. Moore and John Killinger.

The other day I was looking at some of their books that I have and realized that I have the autographs of Chalres Allen, Fred Craddock, Will Willimon, Leonard Sweet (even an email from Sweet), J.Ellsworth Kalas, James W. Moore and John Killinger.

Many years ago I heard Dr. W. W. Slider say at a Pastor's School that anyone who preaches Jesus is a great preacher. Well, I know Jesus is the greatest subject of any sermon preached. My hope is that I always life high the Name I love to hear, Jesus. It's not about me, nor is it about all the great preacher's anyone has heard. It's all about Jesus. That's what is so outstanding to this preacher.

THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX

I have a small plastic box that looks like a crate. It has all sorts of stickers on it that indicate things to do and not do.
DO NOT DROP!
HOLD FOR PICK-UP
FRAGILE
KEEP DRY HANDLE WITH CARE
If you look at this plastic crate, you will see an eye looking out at you. Then if you touch the crate, you will hear a loud knock from within it and a voice calling out, “EXCUSE ME, EXCUSE ME, EXCUSE ME! CAN YOU LET ME OUT OF HERE?"
This tiny crate created a lot of questions for me: What do I need to get of? Who or what put me in this situation in the first place? How can I get out of this situation? Who can help me? Do you feel like a captive in a crate? Why? What are you doing to get out? Whenever I see this tiny crate up on the shelf in my study, I study it to see if I'm like that little fellow in big trouble. If I feel I'm free, I'm grateful. If I see I'm held captive by something or someone, I cry out to the Lord, "Excuse me, excuse me, excuse me, can you let me out of here?" Most of the time it works well. At times, I find myself blushing because I put myself in that box! What a silly thing to do! I'm so glad God gets the key to the lock and lets me out and sets me free when I whisper a prayer or even shout out a prayer for help.

FRIENDS AND FOOD GO TOGETHER

One of the things that thrills my soul is to have a meal with friends from time to time. Just in the past few days I have had the opportunity to be with a couple of dear friends from the town where we live. Hal and I met over forty years ago. I've conducted a couple of revivals for him and have always enjoyed his friendship. Paul and I met three years ago but bonded as friends right off. He was with me through some very difficult days as he advised me on what to do to survive spiritually and physically.
When I met with Hal one day and Paul another, I offered thanks for the food and for friends such as these two. Two songs come to my mind as I think of friendship: "Blest Be the Tie that Binds" and "What a Friend We Have in Jesus".

I thank God for giving me many friends through the years.

HOLD THAT THOUGHT

The other afternoon I was reading a chapter from Frederick Buechner's book, Secrets in the Dark, when I felt the urge to read about someone he says had a great impact upon his life, Dr. George A. Buttrick. I got up from the porch swing and pulled a book off the shelf in my study that contained a bio on Dr. Buttrick. Before long I was reading some sermons that were published by this great Preacher from many years ago. Then I remembered that I too, like Frederick Buechner, was touched by this Preacher from the past. I had forgotten that my wife and I not only heard him at a retreat in Bardstown, KY a number of years ago, but, we were privileged to sit at a table with Dr. & Mrs. Buttrick and carry on a conversation. I asked Dr. Buttrick what he thought of Dr. Norman Vincent Peale and he quick as a flash said, "I find Peale appalling and Paul appealing!" What an afternoon. What an appealing man!

It's amazing to me that one thought sent me in search for one book about a man who had a great impact upon my life, Jesus Christ. He is the most appealing person in all the wide, wide world. That thought has a hold of me now that I think about it.

SOMETHING I'VE NOTICED

-Since our daughter has moved home with us I'm finding that we are doing a couple of things more than we use to do. One thing is that we eat at the table much more. Most of the time we would eat in front of the TV in our favorite chairs with out tray tables in our laps. Now we eat at the dining room table. We carry on conversations and we share stories. Another thing is that we laugh a lot more. I find myself laughing when I hear our daughter laughing in her bed room while watching her TV. She will be watching some show and get to laughing so loud & so much that I find myself laughing at and with her. It's a hoot!

One last thing I've noticed is that I love being a proud parent of two precious children who call our house "home".

HIT & RUN

One of the things that I like to do most is to watch people. Just the other day I was watching people from my car in the Kroger parking lot. I saw a woman pushing her shopping cart with her head down. She wasn't watching what she was doing or even where she was going. Before she could look up she had hit a man who was walking towards the door. She didn't even apologize. She simply walked on off as if it hadn't happened! He was a gentleman and didn't pursue the hit & run.
I wonder what I would have said or done.
What about you?