Pony Express

Today is Thursday and we haven't had a mail delivery since last Saturday.  The snow event here shut down mail carriers due to ice and snow on the roads.

Today, we were able to get out of the neighborhood and go to the grocery store.  It seems like spring with the sun out and the ice melting finally.  On the way, my wife brought up that perhaps the mail would be delivered today having spied a mail truck.  We laughed and joked about where the old saying went... "neither rain, nor sleet nor snow..." (you know the one).

I guess with all the i-phones and computers, the U.S. Mail is taking a new look.  Nothing real good ever comes in the U.S. Mail any more unless it is something you bought on-line.  Even bills get delivered on line anymore and the people you owe frown when they have to send your bill by "snail mail", not to mention that the competition from UPS and Fedex seem to be more prominent.  I saw in the headlines this morning that the U.S. Treasury is now going to offer debit cards instead of refund checks to those fortunate enough to get something back this year.  I wonder how they will send them out?

The best time to get mail continues to be Chrismas.  Christmas cards are much better if delivered in the U.S. Mail.  They are more personal and bring you closer to your friends and relatives.  I can't remember the last time I received a hand-written letter from anyone....i'd still like that.  I miss good mail.  I keep a supply of stamps although I can't remember the last one I used except for mailing out some Christmas cards this year.

I guess the old saying has fallen by the wayside.  Very few things make it vital that the mail be on time in today's world of data bits and megabytes.  Still, if you really want to show someone you love them, sit down at the table with a pen and paper and write them a letter.  (If you can't remember cursive writing, print.)

What's In a Name?

The book of Isaiah, Chapter 7, verse 14 shows us a prophesy that rang true 'til this day and will always be.  Matthew confirmed it in the Gospel, Chapter 1, verse 23.  We don't just celebrate His birthday...we celebrate the fact that He is with us!

Wonderful, Counselor, the Alpha and Omega, King of kings, Yaweh, Son of God, Son of man, Rabbi, Healer, The Great I AM, Our Father, Creator of Heaven and of Earth, Most High, Redeemer, Savior, Jehovah, Comforter, The Way, The Truth, The Light, and most of all Emmanuel....God with us. 

Sing praises to the Lord this day and unto Him be thankful.  For, by His Hands, we are fed, we are blessed, we are saved, we are set free from the slavery of sin, and we live eternally.  Celebrate and be joyful.

Behind the Scenes, One Week

The phone rang just as he sat down to enjoy one of his favorite meals.  It was one of the husbands at church.  His wife had just been admitted to the hospital after having been rushed to the hospital emergency room.  As was the usual procedure, he finished the conversation and stepped back into the dining area and told his wife he had to miss supper again and head on over to the hospital.  It was a long drive and he'd probably not get back home til late.  He'd grab a burger on the road.

If she knew, she would not have complained to some other ladies at church that he had not visited her today after she had that elective surgery to have that aggravating wart on her finger removed.

He got home after midnight, tired and worn out not just from driving but from praying with the husband over his wife and consoling bunches of family members.  He grabbed a quick glass of milk, brushed his teeth and got down to say his nightly prayers.  He dreaded it but tomorrow would be a busy day.  It was Wednesday and he had not even started on his weekly sermon. 

The course of study was grueling but he was forced to take it in order keep up with what he needed to do to maintain his ministry position.  A book to finish reading and a paper to write before Saturday loomed on his horizon.  He would finish on time though.....it's just the way it was unfolding.

If they knew, they would not complain about his spending "too much time" at home.

He had just finished reading the last chapter of the assigned reading and was about to start on his paper when the phone rang again.  The secretary at church was calling about a man that had showed up at church.  Destitute, dirty, hungry and desparate, the man was begging for help.  He switched off his computer and got dressed and headed to the church.  The man was waiting there and after the usual questioning and consolations, left with fifty dollars he had not had when he arrived.  It was from the pastor's pocket.  He got to bed after midnight...again.

If they knew, they wouldn't squabble so much about his salary come budget time each year.  If they knew, they would not complain behind his back about sermons involving tithing. 

Sunday arrived and God as usual had placed wonderful, soothing words into his mouth.  As the people were filing out, many of them complimented his words and told him how inspiring they had been.  All smiles, all filled with joy.  They were looking forward to next Sunday.

If they only knew...............

Dad Hopes

My youngest son has a friend in prison right now.  He and his wife are going to visit this friend this Thursday.  We were discussing it last night and I told him how proud I was of them deciding to go there and visit.  It is, after all, one of the things Jesus told us to do.

Our conversation led to a discussion about where or how did his friend's parents go wrong.  I mentioned, that parenting doesn't have a handbook and lots of times, it is not to be blamed on the parents.  Sometimes, when a person leaves home, the world just grabs hold of them and won't let go.  Sometimes, it's hanging out with the wrong crowd and sometimes it's heartbreaks or fear that leads one further into trouble.  My son feels like his friend's parents babied the guy too much.  He talked about how the mother even used to call in sick for his buddy so he wouldn't have to go to school or go to work.  He mentioned his friend did not have much of a relationship with his dad...it seems that his dad was always working....even though he is a very good man; you know...Christian and all that jazz.

This of course led us to talking about "tough love".  You've heard of it before.  It's when a parent allows the child to experience the results or consequences of a mistake and enforces that child to take responsibility for their actions.  That leads to learning, that leads to character building. 

My son wanted to know how a father should learn to administer tough love.  Again, no handbook.  I told him he has to be very careful to make sure that the situation calls for it.  If it's given under the wrong circumstances, it could hurt more than help.  God is a lot like that.  It's where that old saying probably comes from, you know.  It's the one where we say "God will not make me endure more than what He knows I can take."  Some of us need to have more tough love than others.  I know...I am one.

Pray for my son as his son turns one year old this month.  And pray for parents that don't know the consequences of holding back tough love.

Room 6101

It is the last room at the end of a very long corridor on the last floor of one of the two hospital towers at Athens Regional Medical Center.  It took forever for me to get there from the parking garage and I was greeted by a list of instructions for entering.  "ALL VISITORS ARE REQUIRED TO PUT ON GOWN AND GLOVES BEFORE ENTERING.  REMOVE GOWN AND GLOVES PRIOR TO EXITING ROOM."  The gowns were this bright yellow paper-like substance and the gloves were the typical latex type, blue in color.  I wondered what Robert would think of such a thing as I went ahead and "suited up". 

My heart broke in two as I quietly walked in.  He was laying there asleep and his little ball cap was on his chest.  It's probably as old as he is, all dirty and crumpled.  He always had it on when I went to his little trailer to deliver his lunch.  I had never seen him without it on and his little bald head was shining.  He looked cleaner than I remember.  The room was dark and quiet and the only sounds were of his labored breathing and an occasional swish sound coming from the IV maching pumping some sort of life fluid into him.  He wasn't hooked up to a heart monitor.  He did have an oxygen tube on though, much like the one he used at home.  I noticed next that his arms (wrists) were restrained, probably more for his safety than that of others.

Robert would have said that his room was ok.  He's used to being alone and shut in, out of the way, ya know.

When my tears began, I prayed a now common prayer over him as I thought what to say.

I remember some times when I would leave Mr. McClures' place, I prayed to the Lord to not let it be too long before he gathered Robert into His arms and hugged him.  In fact, I prayed it the last time I left his trailer, October 18th.  I prayed it once more hoping in faith it was being answered as I spoke. 

I will miss him.

When God Says You're Doing OK

Lately, I've found myself asking for approval a lot in my prayers.  For people to say i'm doing ok in my Christian walk, it's not doing the job anymore.  I think most of us just want to know whether of not we are doing enough, whether or not we are good enough or will our moment in the judgement seat be the most agonizing thing we will ever experience?

I've come to a few conclusions though.  I don't think our Father meant for us to go through life wondering this all the time.  He gave us guidelines to follow and if we follow them, we should know (by faith or by fact) that we are doing ok.  Second, God has a way of letting us know if we are doing ok.  Admit it....the majority of times, when we do something, we automatically know if we are doing ok, don't we?  If we are doing ok, we feel it.
 
Sometimes, I just think, "If someone would just tell me I'm doing ok, things would be so much easier."  Then, it's as if the Lord says, "Be still and listen....I'll tell you."  It's an ongoing project.  I find myself refusing to settle for the way things are.  It's part of what keeps me busy and keeps me growing.  I love to hear Him tell me that I'm doing ok!

Some Branches Just Won't Bear

With a tinge of guilt, I destroyed my tomato bushes today.  I have been told that some tomato varieties will have bushes that are called "duds".  Both of mine turned out to be duds.  I have babied them both since May by fertilizing, weeding, picking off cut worms...you know the drill.  All in all, I think perhaps I reaped 10 tomatoes off two beautiful bushes.  Usually, I have so many I end up giving them to friends.  The plants were always healthy and grew to over 6 feet high....the only problem was that although many, many flowers were produced, no tomatoes would form.

Jesus told a parable once about a fig tree that would not bear.  The master told the worker to cut it down and cast it into flames but the worker talked him into letting him try one more season to encourage the tree to bear.  (I would have done this with my tomatoes but they are annuals.....besides, I babied them enough all summer.) 

It gets frustrating some times sharing our testimonies and not seeing any fruit.  We just have to keep on witnessing and cultivating our faith.  The point is you are bearing fruit just by sharing your story.  Be patient.  Be sympathetic and loving.  The person you are sharing with may need a lot of pruning, feeding, and encouraging.  In your absence, the Lord will do His work.  Remember, Paul said we plant, water, and cultivate....God makes the growing occur.