Salt & Light

I had a funeral Sunday afternoon. I arrived about an hour beforehand to get everything ready. The assistant funeral director was there as well. We made some small talk and then he said, "My neighbor attends church here". I can't tell you how many times I've heard that in some form or other. It usually turns out to be someone that I've never seen. "Really" I questioned, "What's His name". "Hayward" was his reply. Hayward doesn't just attend - he is fully engaged and then some. A zephyr of God's encouragement to our battle weary fellowship. Then this elderly man told me that before the McKie family moved into their neighborhood he didn't know any of his neighbors. Now they have had a block party organized by Hayward. Then he told me that Hayward mows this elderly family's lawn for them.
What a deep encouragement to me as a Pastor. That man came into our church with a positive outlook because of his interaction with one of our members. Now that's a refreshing change...and its the way it is supposed to be.
I thank God for men like Hayward & I pray for more to follow in his footsteps.

GREAT BOOK!

Two thumbs WAY UP!!
My good friend & ministry partner, Jim Williams gave me this book for Christmas. He knows I am a huge Bucs fan. It is the one part of our Florida Expereince that we refused to let go of. We lived there & were Bucs fans when they were known as the Yucks! That all began to change when we hired the quiet devensive coordinator for the Minisota Vikings - Tony Dungy.
We lived so much of this book only now I had a behind the scenes tour of some great Tampa years. More than that this book is about excellence, integrity, consistency & how all these things can & should bring glory to God.
I couldn't put the book down & I finished it around 3 this morning. My son, Paul jr. is reading it now. I highly reccomend it.

A Kick in the Head

My living room looks like the North Pole threw up! Elizabeth somehow enjoys this part or is at least nostalgic about it. I haven't worked up to that yet. I'm just basically frustrated with it all. I did get a great lamp for behind my chair so now I can read much better. I really do love it.
Back to my rant though. Three days before Christmas I heard a relentless dripping in the "messy side" of the basement. I discovered that the ice maker had been leaking for some time & we had several inches of standing water in the basement. I turned off the water supply to the ice maker & that did "fix" it for now. I have to check the seal and try again. The boys really cleaned the basement & that was a plus. Then on Christmas Eve the Washing Machine died. It wouldn't spin. The church had one donated & it sat there for months. My Dad & brother picked it up but after installing it we discovered that it too didn't work! Now I have 2 machines that don't work and the dirty clothes are piling up along with the post Christmas mess!
Then Sam topped it all off by falling "Just Right" at Nana's house during Chrstmas lunch. I heard his head hit the corner of the wall. A sickening thud then no cry because he couldn't breathe. He does that when he's really hurt. Beth was up in a flash & scooped him up. after a bit Sam caught his breath & let out a loud scream. I rushed into the other room to see him & Elizabeth quite bloody. I know head wounds bleed profusely but when I finally found the cut I could tell right off that it was deep & wide.
Long story short - Off to the Doc, which was open - wow, three staples in his head & back to Nana's to open presents.
Then to top it all off, Paul Jr beat me in 'overtime' at trivial pursuit to win the Academy gift certificate - for the second year in a row! How do our kids get smarter than us & who cares what "C" stands for on the periodic table of elements!
All in all - This month & year has been a real kick in the head.

An Election Year Greeting to ALL my friends

I borrowed this from Pastor James McDonald. It gave me a laugh

To All My Democrat Friends:

Please accept, with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all. I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2008, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great. Not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country nor the only America in the Western Hemisphere. Also, this wish is made without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the wishee.

To All My Republican Friends:
Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and may God bless you and yours!

A Taste of Heaven

Tonight my Bride & I took my two brothers, David & Andy, Christmas shopping. It has become an annual tradition. One of Andy's favorite songs is Hallelujah Square because it reminds him that he will run one day. Andy was born with cerebral Palsy. He turned 50 this year & he is slowing down a bit. Andy still 'walks' with crutches but shopping has become a great adventure with the advent of the motorized shopping cart. Beth & I drew straws & she got David while I got Andy. Andy & I met with early success & he got all his gifts quickly. He sent me to the pharmacy to pick up one last thing. I was gone a whole 30 seconds. When I came back...no Andy. I don't usually panic because he normally can't get very far. The scooter adds a whole new twist. Long story short, I circled WalMart three times & then I started to panic. I sent David one way & I went the other. We met back at the jewelry counter & here comes Andy strolling down the middle aisle. I was relieved, amused, & warmed at the thought of Andy's mobility.
That's when it hit me...this is a taste of heaven. I don't expect to even see Andy for the first thousand years or so in heaven. He's going to be running everywhere enjoying perfect legs & magnificent mobility. I reckon he'll only stop to bow before the King of kings & LORD of lords & then in a beautiful act of worship he will rise on restored legs and dance before his maker. It makes me love Jesus all the more.
Yes, I lost my crippled brother in WalMart...and I loved it!

Seasonal Insanity

We've been observing the night of the giver for 11 years now. 12 years ago we had one of those material mayhem Christmas mornings. The kids were in the midst of a present opening frenzy. They didn't care what was in it & would throw it down & start tearing into another one. It was like watching a pride of lions tear apart their prey. Something in me just blew. I informed Elizabeth that there would be NO gifts next year. Christmas as we knew it would be canceled! As you can imagine, she was not hip to my patriarchal edict. She knew "Christmas Morning" was a problem but was not about to embrace such a radical solution. We have a great relationship & I can count on one hand the number of real "disagreements" we've had in nearly 20 years of marriage. This was one of them. We decided to table the discussion & pray about it for a week. We then sat down & rationally discussed the problem & what values we wanted to weave into the warp & woof of our children's souls. That was the key. We both agreed on the problem & on the values. First, we wanted to exalt Christ & give him the spotlight on Christmas morning. Second, we wanted our children to learn the joy of giving & to practically experience the joy of giving. Through our collaboration we crafted "The Night of the Giver". Each family member, just four of us then, would have a "Night" in which they would give their gift to each person. They were to plan the entire evening's events. There were to "catches". One: The Giver received no gift but the gift of giving to others. Two: The Giver had to pay for the gifts & the evening's events. We did help the children with extra jobs to help them earn their money.
Our new tradition worked marvelously! Our boys started in June by earning money and saving it for their "Night". Even that first year we saw massive improvement. The boys never once complained about not receiving a gift on their night. They were thrilled to give a meaningful gift to each family member & then to plan the meal & entertainment for the evening. One year my son Zachary, about 6 at the time, found a $100 brief case at the office supply store for $10. On his night he was so excited as he gave me my gift that he literally ran around me in circles. I still use that same brief case some 10 years later. Elizabeth & I are able to give our major gifts to the children & to each other on our nights & that way Christmas morning is reserved for Christ. We can sit around the tree, read the Advent account in scripture, sing carols & thank God for his indescribable gift in Christ.
One of the neat perks of the night of the giver is that we get to celebrate for 6 days now instead of just one. Elizabeth usually takes the family out for dinner & a Christmas movie. Then when we get home she'll give her gifts. This year my gift was a trip to the Creation Museum just outside of Cincinnati Ohio. We left at 4 am Saturday morning so we could get there in time. I can tell you that they loved it & were so surprised. Anna really has a heart for others & she will often bake cookies on the morning of her night & then we will go caroling to the shut ins in our church and give them cookies as part of her evening's activities. I still have a Popsicle stick pencil holder on my desk given to me by Paul Jr. on his first ever night of the giver. It means more to me than anything else on that desk.
The night of the giver has evolved over the years. We are now seeing gifts of time & or events rather than material things. Ellie took us all ice skating at the civic center one year for her gift. We are also seeing an outward focus on others. The Night of the Giver has truly met & exceeded our goals. Many other families over the years have adapted it & embraced the concept as their own. We are thrilled to see our children working to earn money ,falling in love with giving, and most importantly - giving Jesus the glory due his name.

Day Away

Beth & I had a wonderful day away this past Monday. Our dear friends, the Glaze's have a mountain get away in north Georgia. This picture is from last year. They have done a fantastic job of sprucing up the yard. We went up Sunday evening after we enjoyed lunch at the Sleeper family's home. We pulled in around 10:30pm Sunday night. Three fat does were in the side yard eating grass. My wife said, "that's more deer than you've seen all year while hunting." That was so uncalled for. She then was put out when I sped up & tried to run them down as they crossed the road.
Monday morning I took Beth to the Unicoi State Park Lodge. They have an impressive quilt display there. We also were able to see their Christmas tree display that filled the entire second floor. I decided to eat there as they have an excellent buffet. Monday was no exception. The London Broil was the best I've ever had. I got my plate and sat down waiting for Beth. I turned to see her talking to someone (not quite like my sweet quiet wife). It turned out to be Faye & James, the daughter of Miss Trellie Fudge, one of our dear shut in members. Faye & James were just married recently. They were both married for 38 & 40 years respectively. Both their spouses died & they were single for a few years. God brought them together & they were recently married. I was so impressed with James. A Godly man who has a quiet strength & a servant's heart. Faye told me that towards the end of the wedding, James washed her feet. I had met them a few days earlier as I was visiting Miss Fudge. Of all the place to run into them...half way up a mountain in the North Georgia Wilderness! We sat & fellowshipped with them around coffee & pie. What a treat. Then as we all got ready to leave, James took our check & bought lunch for us.
Suffice it to say, it was a blessed retreat. I drove Beth through the park & was saw a big buck walking down the road. I pulled right up to him & he just looked at us. Then when we pulled into Wildwood - two does ran accross the street before the lake. Six deer in two days! O well, humble pie is low-cal.

A Dog's Life

This is our beloved family pet "Trigger". He just loves to sit & soak up the sun on a cool autumn afternoon. He also enjoys making a "nest" of the fallen leaves in which he curls up for a "dog nap". What a life! I guess its a trade off for having to eat dog food.