A DECLARATION OF CELEBRATION

Tuesday a couple of things happened to me at a funeral that will stay with me for a long, long time. As the casket of a seventy-seven year old pastor was being taken down the aisle and to the door of the church, I thought of how many times Herb had walked that aisle across the years as he sought to serve the Lord and the people he pastored. And then as we were walking down the steps of the church suddenly chimes started playing. The chimes in the core of the city had to be heard for blocks and blocks.What a wonderful testimony of celebration for all those who heard them. It was a declaration of celebration of a life lived long and well. Herb had heard those chimes over the past years and now those very same chimes rang out in his honor as hundreds of people remembered a man who gave us something to really worth celebrating, a life well lived.

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?

THESE SHOES ARE MADE FOR WALKING...

It was a hard thing to do but I had to do it yesterday. As I stood by the garbage can and dropped my blue tennis shoes in, many memories came to mind. Those are the tennis shoes I walked many a mile in when my wife and I were in Gatlinburg, TN a few years ago. Those are the tennis shoes I walked many a mile in when we were at Asheville, NC at The Cove a few of years ago. Those are the tennis shoes I walked in here at home as I walked several blocks with one of our two grand-dogs (they belong to our son). Those are the tennis shoes that I've taken the garbage out with many, many times. Now, to the dump, to the dump, to the dump they go...gone, but not forgotten.

So what? Where do your shoes take you?

May the soles help your soul walk with God these Summer days.

Our Old Kentucky Home

Jennifer has added a new spirit of excitement to our house since moving in a few days ago. As the song says, “Our house is a mighty fine house with children living under our roof and two dogs as well & mom & pop…” It’s just great in our Old Kentucky Home.

TOP TEN THINGS TO DO AT A YARD SALE

Our neighborhood is having a big yard sale this Saturday. Hundreds of people will seek to find something worth taking home. Not me. I'm trying to get rid of it! My cup runneth over already with things we've had year after year after year. To top that, one of my brothers is bringing stuff over to my yard to sale! What am I to do?
Here are my thoughts on the matter. What do you think?

My Top Ten Things To Do At a Yard Sale:

10. Buy NEW old stuff & add to the stuff we already have.
9. Put a "For Sale" sign on my brother's car. "What do I hear? Who will give me $___?" SOLD!
8. Have my son's two dogs bark so loud everyone leaves. Want to buy two dogs? "Here Memphis! Here Keyara!”
7. Give away free garbage bags full of things I have that you've always wanted. Yes, I said free, friend.
6. Play some of my sermons while people purchase things. Someone may get under conviction & buy all kinds of stuff.
5. Just stand in the yard and watch people. They can be very entertaining. It's free too!
4. Watch cartoons all morning. I get the lazy-boy!
3. Sell tapes of my sermons. Two for the price of one. What a bargain, brothers and sisters.
2. Hide in the basement. Wait, we don't have one.
1. Go see my best buddies, Barnes & Noble. They have great coffee! And, I can bring home some really good books.

John, you're fired!

I was asked to preach for several Sundays at a small church until they receive a new pastor. I have all the sermons ready in my brief case and ready to preach. They include the sermon, the text, the songs to sing and one or two other things. Lots of thought. Lots of work. Lots of prayers.

Well, today my District Supertindent called and in essence told me what Donald Trump would tell me, "John, you're fired!" Not really. I'm just not needed. The church has a new pastor who starts Sunday. So I will simply put my sermons away and hope to preach them somewhere else some other time.

I'm delighted that the small church has a new pastor and that they don't have to wait. I'm also glad that I can sit with my family at church Sunday and listen to my Pastor share the Good News of the Gospel. Life goes on. I'm a survivor.

OPIE AT THE OCEAN

Late one afternoon as we watched three boys playing by the seaside. All of the sudden one of the boys hit a sea gull as it was flying off. Sad to say, it didn't fly long. It went down to its death. The boys were afraid. What would their parents have to say about this tragic thing? What would their parents do?

All this afternoon drama reminded me of an episode on Andy Griffith where Opie killed a small bird with a sling shot. He wondered what his father would say and what he would do. Opie learned a lesson from what he did. I hope those three boys learned their lesson too. I know I learned my lesson. You can get the Gulf Shore blues real quick. How did they handle things? How do I handle things? How do you handle things?

ABOUT THAT BOOK

One of the books I bought and read while I was on the 7th story balcony was Having a Mary
Heart in a Martha World by Joanna Weaver. As I read the book I realized I was reading about myself. I, like Martha, stay too busy when I need to simply stop and rest and be restored. I have an idea I'm in good company with others who have the habit of not pushing the "pause" button on their souls. Hold up your hand if I'm writing about you. Yes, I see that hand are there others?

GULF SHORES GREAT!

My wife and I are just back from spending a week on the Gulf Shores because some friends allowed us to stay at a condo for free. The Gulf Shores are great and so are Steve and Susan!

I made a mistake and wrote Gulf Shoes when I started this post. Then I realized I was right about being wrong. You don't have to wear shoes on the sandy beaches. Fact is, I only wore shoes to go out to eat and when my wife had me go shopping with her. What a waste of time when I could of been walking on the beach or back on the 7th story balcony reading a good book.
Now that's what I call great!!!

Current Reads

Living the Resurrection by Eugene Peterson

The Three Hardest Words in the World to Get Right by Leonard Sweet

The Wartime Sermons of Dr. Peter Marshall by Peter J. Marshall

Christ Plays In Ten Thousand Places by Eugene Peterson