The Value of Home Grown

I literally hate to buy tomatoes at the grocery store.  At best, I prefer to buy them at those little produce stands you see by the side of the road.  Better yet, I love to grow them.  There is something so very satisfying about going out to the back yard, picking one, washing it and cutting it up for evening supper's salad. Grocery store tomatoes are not tasty or juicy and somehow they just don't seem to "be from around here".  I always look forward to April 15th.  Usually, it is a safe date to set out your plants.

Perhaps it's the loving care you give them as they grow such as the battles you fight with the cut worms, the worry you have when you leave home and remember you forgot to water them before you left and all the hastle of tieing the stalks to the stakes to make sure they can't blow over from the weight of all that lucious fruit.  And, believe it or not, I really do enjoy giving them to neighbors.  (I can never eat all that I grow and it breaks my heart to see one go to waste.  And, my wife doesn't can stuff.)

The good book teaches us that we don't need to pray for the Lord to make the job easier for us.  We are to pray that we are strengthened for the job at hand.  It's true.  Test it!  Grow a tomatoe bush this summer. 

When He Comes

The jokes and hoopla continue as we enter the eve of the latest prediction of Christ's return to us.  The story is that He will come to rapture all believers on May 21st (tomorrow).  I read headlines this morning that there will be parties going on to celebrate the fact that the guy predicting this was wrong.  (To be held on Sunday of course.)

Jesus said, "Only our Father in Heaven knows the day and hour."  I take Him at His word for this as I contemplate what His coming really means.  Prophets of the Bible related their experiences and visions in the only way they knew how at the time.  In the end, it simply means we have hope that extends into time without restrictions. 

Why would anyone have a party to celebrate the fact that Christ did not return yesterday?  I can only ascertain that they either don't know the way, or that they simply don't want Him to return.  Either way it is a sad statement that will be made and it will be a black eye once again given to Christianity.  Regardless of whether or not anyone predicts the date and time, in the end does that really matter?  There will still be skeptics, there will still be believers, and, when it does occur, those of us who are righteous will join in singing and rejoicing praises to our Lord and Saviour.  Those of us who are not righteous will bow down and confess Him as Lord of all.

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.