PastorTim

GETTING THERE FROM HERE

One of the really neat things I remember as a young boy filled with dreams of Cincinnati Reds baseball was that a road we traveled often, US Rt. 52 could if you traveled it long enough take you right to the front door of the Big Red Machine! If you traveled east for a hundred miles or so, “seemed like an eternity to me then” you could get there right from here. It was Amazing to me a t the time. This road that I traveled on often could take me right to the Mecca of my childhood dreams….. Riverfront stadium.
Another local thoroughfare that could take you places was the Ohio Erie Canal. Now this does go back a little further than my recollection. I have read that as early as 1787, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson had discussed the desirability of a canal linking Lake Erie to the Ohio River as part of a national system of canals. Wikapedia tells me that The Ohio Canal or Ohio and Erie Canal was a canal constructed in the early 1800s, which connected Akron, Summit County with the Cuyahoga River near the Cuyahoga's mouth on Lake Erie in Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, and a few years later, with the Ohio River near Portsmouth, Tuscarawas County, and then connections to other canal systems in Pennsylvania and Ohio. The entire canal system was 308 miles (496 km) long with 146 lift locks and a rise of 1,206 feet. After the peak of the 1850s and a bottoming out of revenue due to the Civil War in the early 1860s the canals expenditures starting to outgrow its revenues due to rising maintenance costs. By 1911, most of the southern portion of the canal had been abandoned. The canal carried freight traffic from 1827 to 1861, and then freight traffic rapidly diminished due to the construction of railroads. From 1862 to 1913, the canal served as a water source to industries and towns. In 1913, much of the canal system was abandoned after critical sections were destroyed by severe flooding. During it’s construction workers were initially paid $0.30 per day and offered a jigger of whiskey. As work progressed, and where labor was in shortage, workers could make as much as $15 per month. At that time, cash money was hard to come by in Ohio forcing much bartering. Working on the canal was appealing and attracted many farmers from their land. So get this. This canal, which I drive by daily, which is but a few mere minutes from my house could take a person to Lake Erie and points beyond! You betcha and at a whopping three miles per hour to boot! (Pictured below is a chart of the canal along with some old pictures I have collected, also a few of a lock that is still in Rushtown just a few minutes from my house.) OK, so there’s your history lesson for the day class, now to my thought. Getting from Scioto county to Cincinnati was fascinating to a young American boys mind. Getting to Lake Erie from southern Ohio was astounding to a farmer in the 1800’s but even more incredible getting to Heaven from right here in McDermott is and always has been available! You can get there from here! From anywhere for that matter. Why I know of a young lady who became a Christ follower in a Wal Mart parking lot in Huntington West Virginia, proving just what the church marquee said, “Wal Mart isn’t the only saving place.!” I have heard of folks choosing to follow Christ while hunting in the woods, fishing on a boat even, yes even playing golf on a golf course. Listen to the prophet Jeremiah “Ye shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the LORD:” Now quickly hear Jesus words from Matthews gospel, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” It’s interesting to me that in regard to getting to heaven, it’s not so much about the destination, it’s really important how and from where we get started. Did you hear both scriptures talk about the heart and how it directly ties to where we are going? Finding God starts with searching with the whole heart. Treasures in heaven are directly related to what the love of the heart is. So it begs the question I suppose, what are you seeking with all your heart? Or better yet, where is your treasure? Our focus at the starting point of our search really will determine our destination.
Joseph Stowell writes “Heart is used in Scripture as the most comprehensive term for the authentic person. It is the part of our being where we desire, deliberate, and decide. It has been described as "the place of conscious and decisive spiritual activity," "the comprehensive term for a person as a whole; his feelings, desires, passions, thought, understanding and will," and "the center of a person. The place to which God turns." When God turns and looks at your life, in what direction does he see you headed? You see it’s true; you can get there from here! If you really want to!

THE EVIDENCE

The birds are back now, oh how I missed their singing. It’s quiet and comfortable around the old Throckmorton hacienda. They’re gone finally! No not the kids, I’m talking about the Cicada’s. They came, they screeched, they left! All I care is they’re gone. Do I understand why they came? NO. Do care about their contribution to the environment? NO. They’re just gone Praise the Lord! Oh but their footprints they do remain, not really footprints per say, you know what I mean. Everywhere I look I can see the evidence. Evidence of their emergence, their reign of terror, and their legacy. It’s all around me. They miraculously appeared, they lived and achieved their purpose. Know how I know? The evidence! It is what they were designed for and they lived up to their design. Know how I know? The evidence. The holes everywhere in my yard, you could throw out a handful of marbles in my front yard and they would just disappear! The dead tree limbs that surround the property. They were here trust me! I’ve seen the evidence.
One of my favorite images of the early church is found in the fourth chapter of Acts as a handful of Christ followers are brought before the authorities and examined for their behavior and what the religious leaders find in their lives is what it would behoove every Christ follower today to reflect in their influence on the world around them. Peter and John had offered testimony regarding a man who God had healed at the temple. “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.” In those verses we find a beautiful picture of evidence in their lives that cannot be disputed. First I see their boldness in the face of their detractors. It was uncommon for men such as these to take such a stand for their faith in the face of persecution. They meant business! Secondly I notice that these men reminded their persecutors of Jesus. What an honor! May we always remind those we meet of Jesus. Lastly the verses tell us that they saw the man that was healed and could say nothing against it. You talk about evidence. Whether they believed the men or not, whether or not they believed in Jesus or not, there was before hem evidence they could not dispute. Oh Lord, may it be so in our lives as well. Help us to be bold for the cause of Christ, help us in everyway and everything remind others of Jesus and may there be evidence of a personal relationship with Christ so evident in all we do so as to remove any doubt of our love and our allegiance.
From “Bits & Pieces, October 15, 1992” we find the following story. A young American engineer was sent to Ireland by his company to work in a new electronics plant. It was a two-year assignment that he had accepted because it would enable him to earn enough to marry his long-time girlfriend. She had a job near her home in Tennessee, and their plan was to pool their resources and put a down payment on a house when he returned. They corresponded often, but as the lonely weeks went by, she began expressing doubts that he was being true to her, exposed as he was to comely Irish lasses. The young engineer wrote back, declaring with some passion that he was paying absolutely no attention to the local girls. "I admit," he wrote, "that sometimes I'm tempted. But I fight it. I'm keeping myself for you." In the next mail, the engineer received a package. It contained a note from his girl and a harmonica. "I'm sending this to you," she wrote, "so you can learn to play it and have something to take your mind off those girls." The engineer replied, "Thanks for the harmonica. I'm practicing on it every night and thinking of you." At the end of his two-year stint, the engineer was transferred back to company headquarters. He took the first plane to Tennessee to be reunited with his girl. Her whole family was with her, but as he rushed forward to embrace her, she held up a restraining hand and said sternly, "Just hold on there a minute, Billy Bob. Before any serious kissin' and huggin' gets started here, let me hear you play that harmonica!” I love that story because it always makes me laugh. But when it comes to the evidence that God demands in our lives as we follow Christ, it’s no laughing matter especially if it is lacking in any way.
Years ago I heard a preacher say these words that still haunt me to this day. If you were convicted of being a Christian would there be enough evidence to convict you? I don’t know about you but I want to be found guilty! May it be so Lord Jesus.

CAUGHT UP IN THE MOMENT…

For some reason when my son Joey was a little boy he became fascinated with our sixteenth president Abraham Lincoln. I’ve always loved American history and it was a joy to watch my son’s ears perk up and his face light up as he would read and discover facts and information about this great man. When summer rolled around that year because of some good intelligence we decided that to provide a good wholesome dose of Lincoln we needed to plot a course toward a little town in Pennsylvania that became the stage for the turning point of the Civil War and the site of the most moving though hastily penned speech that to this day stirs the heart of every man or woman who takes the time to listen to it’s profound power and eloquence. So here we were, driving from McDermott Ohio in a 1986 Ford Bronco packed tight with two small curious children who I’m sure asked on numerous occasions “Are We There Yet!!” To ease the pain of the journey and relieve the stress on the chauffer “ME” we decided to pepper the ride with helpful facts about the civil war and President Lincoln himself. Over ten hours to be exact of pertinent information regarding the President, the battles and of course Lincoln’s demise. Late in the day we arrived in Gettysburg to find that after we checked into our hotel most of the shops and museums were closed for the day. We then made our way to the National cemetery where we found ourselves standing in the little cove where various plaques and statues marked the place of the Famous address. It was indeed a solemn moment, others tourists were standing reading the bronze plaques and soaking in the moment as we were. Then it happened and I will forever remember this moment. Stephanie, who was then a little more than, well lets just say I could hold her in my arms, Stephanie who had been listening to us fill her little mind with stories and facts of this wonderful nation leader was caught up in the moment. So with her sweet little voice she looked at her Mother and spoke loud enough for all to hear… “I’m Gonna Miss Him Mom” Right there with all the composure we could muster while stifling our laughter, and with the adoration of all fellow tourists in attendance it began to sink in that it was as though to her this had all just happened and he had just died. She was caught up, simply caught up in the surroundings, the moment, the reality of what had happened there.

I guess what comes to my mind as I remember this moment is the question, when was the last time I was caught up in the moment in my walk with Christ? When was the last time it was so real to me that I felt like I was hearing Jesus speak directly to me, like he was in the same room with me? When was the last time I forgot about those around me, what they think, what they are worrying about, what they think about me, I just sat with Jesus. Listening to him, experiencing him, sitting at his feet so to speak. So many things occupy my mind, my time, and my focus. Am I occupied enough with Him? Perhaps I could take a lesson from Mary, Lazarus sister … “Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.” How often do I more resemble Martha than Mary?

The citizens of Feldkirch, Austria, didn't know what to do. Napoleon's massive army was preparing to attack. Soldiers had been spotted on the heights above the little town, which was situated on the Austrian border. A council of citizens was hastily summoned to decide whether they should try to defend themselves or display the white flag of surrender. It happened to be Easter Sunday, and the people had gathered in the local church. The pastor rose and said, "Friends, we have been counting on our own strength, and apparently that has failed. As this is the day of our Lord's resurrection, let us just ring the bells, have our services as usual, and leave the matter in His hands. We know only our weakness, and not the power of God to defend us." The council accepted his plan and the church bells rang. The enemy, hearing the sudden peal, concluded that the Austrian army had arrived during the night to defend the town. Before the service ended, the enemy broke camp and left. With dangers each of us face in life, with spiritual opposition which is rampant, and our culture which seems to be teetering on the edge of hiding its face from the God who with his mighty arm raised up and strengthened and blessed our nation from it’s infancy we dare not neglect our praise to the one who is worthy. We can ill afford to take one step out of bed in the morning without our Lord being the focus of our day. How can I hear His voice or know his will if I never get caught up in His presence? I don’t want to miss Him; I want to always be found in His presence!

ARE WE THERE YET?

As vacation season quickly approaches again I can still hear my children’s voices in my mind from memories of vacations past. “Daddy, are we there yet?” Boy I sure miss those days although at the time it was a little hard to take. "Old Vacation Pics below" Now I know that nobody really likes to wait especially two kids in the back seat of a car with no air conditioner on the way to Kings Island for a day of fun. But in our walk with the Lord it is very important that we patiently wait on him for his timing is always perfect. The bible is filled with stories of men and women who have failed miserably in their faith. God, not man inspired the Bible. If man would have written it he would have no doubt glossed over his faults, but when God paints a picture of us, he paints us warts and all!
There is a story in the Old Testament about the nation of Israel’s first king a man by the name of Saul. The lessons that Saul learned cost him his throne and I hope that we can glean some truth from scripture today that will help us to learn to wait on the Lord. In the beginning of the 15th chapter of 1st Samuel we see that God through the prophet Samuel directed Saul to go and utterly destroy the Amalekites, a nation who had years before dealt treacherously with Israel when they were coming out of Egypt. The task was that Saul was to completely destroy them, totally wipe them out. God wanted them removed from the scene. I think that one of the most obvious analogy is that God wants Sin to be completely Gone from our lives, not just almost gone, or 99.9% gone but altogether removed from us so that he may bless us and we can have fellowship with him. You see God will not be where sin is. The problem arose when Saul and the people thought it best to not completely destroy all the people and they kept back some of the spoils that they thought would be worth saving. Big No No! Before we take a closer look at Saul let me ask you today, have you done all that God wants you to do, and are completely obeying the Lord right now? Friend God is very interested in our obedience to him.
Let’s take a look at just what Saul did. First of all, he disregarded Gods prophet. In verse 1 we are told that Samuel was sent by God to speak to Saul. Listen to his instructions in verses 2 & 3 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt. Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass. God’s instructions were direct, and they still are! Let me ask you, is there anything in your life right now that you would be ashamed for your Pastor to see you doing? Secondly, Saul disobeyed Gods word. The instructions were pretty clear and he simply chose to do something else. When we go against what is the known will of God we get into trouble. In fact we see that God’s chosen leader was allowing himself to be influenced by the people. When making excuse for not obeying Saul said in verse 15; “And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.” Be very careful in your Christian walk not to be influenced by people, it can lead to what Saul did next. Notice thirdly, that Saul distorted Gods purpose. God wanted the Amlekites totally destroyed. They were the constant enemy of Israel, as sin is to us. Look at the excuse Saul used, “we’re going to try to use this for God!” verse 21. God can never use sin! Just because it looks OK to you doesn’t mean it’s OK with God.
So Tim, what can I do if I have failed to wait on the Lord and now I’m in a heap of trouble? Well I’m glad you asked, so let suggest four things. #1, identify the problem. Be honest with yourself and with God. #2, Act on it even if the problem appears small. Remember it’s the little foxes that spoil the vine. #3, Act decisively and quickly. Don’t put off dealing with sin, it can kill you. #4, is a solemn fact that should motivate us to action and that is, there are some things if left unchanged can separate you from God forever.
An old Scottish man had a sign over the door of his house for his son to gaze upon as he left for the day. It said “Do not say anything you don’t want to be saying when Jesus comes back. Do not do anything you don’t want to be doing when Jesus comes back. And do not go anywhere you don’t want to be found when Jesus comes back.” Are we there yet? No but I want to be found ready when we get there don’t you?

THANKS DAD, AGAIN

A lot of emotion swirls in my head as I look back over the last few days. In my role as Pastor and friend I have spent time with two hurting and devastated families who are walking through a valley of tragedy and loss. Perhaps it’s that I have been reminded again of the brevity of life and just how important the moments we have with those we love really are. The Psalmist is so profound and yet poetic when he writes, “LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is: that I may know how frail I am. Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah. Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them. And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee. Deliver me from all my transgressions: make me not the reproach of the foolish. , Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were. O spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more.” And how true those words are. Lord make us aware, Lord make us to remember, and yes Lord, make us thankful. And thankful I am especially this time of year.
My life has been blessed and touched with the lives of some great men. I am blessed to have had two great papaws. One who I grew up living next to was my Dad’s dad, Cecil Throckmorton. Though He passed away many years ago I still think of him often. I see his handiwork in the house that I now live in, I carry on his love for woodwork and flowers. I hear old friends and neighbors still speak highly of him and I am thankful for the influence he had upon my life. "Papaw Cecil pictured below in his Border Patrol uniform & in his straw brim hat at a Throckmorton reunion from days gone by" My Mom’s dad, Paul Henson who is still living and just recently turned ninety by the way, I still get to enjoy. When I have the opportunity, and it’s not enough I assure you, I get to stop by papaw Henson’s and enjoy a cup of coffee and some good laughter seasoned with talk of trains or perhaps local history. Why there could even be a practical joke or two, He’s feisty even at ninety! "Grandpa Henson pictured below in his home, waiting on a cup of coffee I think!" Again I am blessed for the influence he has had on my life. I love them both! But it’s Fathers Day, and my Dad who lives right next to me I probably won’t see today because of the demands of my profession. But Monday I will walk out the path to his house, gift in tow to wish him a Happy Fathers Day. As I write this column I have reflected on what my Dad has given me over the years. First off I think that Dad has passed on to me an analytical mind. A desire to learn all I can about all I can. I use that each and every day in what I do and still crave to learn more, thanks Dad. Secondly a love for this country, it’s heritage and political process. Even with all the wrong in our Republic this is still the greatest nation on the face of the earth and I am thankful for America in big part because of my Dad, thanks Dad. And along the way Dad has shared much good practical advice for living, such as when dealing with life and people don’t take things personally. In other words when someone is upset with you it’s usually not you that they are mad at. So step back assess the situation and help solve the real problem. Boy has that come in handy over the years! Thanks Dad. "Dad is pictured below in the top picture with my son Joe in Detroit recently at the Henry Ford Museum and at the bottom playing the sax with a group called the Bel Aires from the early sixties"
As a Dad it’s true, we pass along so very much to our children. As kids we don’t always appreciate the smarts our Dads have until years later. I like what Mark Twain said about his Dad. “When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years!” Yep, Dad’s get smarter, or maybe we do! One of my heroes of the Syndicated Column was Lewis Grizzard who wrote this about his Father; “To love someone unconditionally as I loved Daddy is to remember isolated and long-past moments together, to remember nuances that made such an object of love unique and impossible to replace. That is why I remember, and cherish, the memories of the man’s hair, his smell, his likes and dislikes, his speech, and his idiosyncrasies. We had such a little time together. War took him away. Then he came back for a short time before he was gone again. He never would return on a full-time basis. Maybe that is why each of the nuances, each of the jokes and stories, each
of the memories is so priceless to me. I have some pictures of my father. I
have that packet of war records. I have the flag that was across his casket.
I have his Bronze Star and his Purple Hearts in a frame and they hang on my
wall. But what I don’t have anymore is him. There will be no new memories made. That is why I cling to those I have with such tenacity.”
While we have Dad with us let’s not forget to say thanks. Lets not forget to love and appreciate all they mean to us. And may we not forget to live up to the standard expected by our heavenly father to be the Godly Dad to those precious little lives who call us ….. Daddy.

HAPPY FATHERS DAY DAD!

VOICE DIALING WOES

My new phone, as with many I have had in the past have a wonderful feature called voice dialing. If you’ve ever used it, you probably have somewhat of an idea what I’m about to share. The feature works like this, you push a certain button on your cell phone, it asks you for a command. You state the command such as call, check, or you can even turn certain things off. I have tried with no success asking the phone to be still, but to no avail. Anyway, when you say call you are then asked to state the name or number you wish to call. In my new Blackberry I have about 300 numbers programmed in so all I need to do at this point is to say a name, here’s where it gets real fun and here’s what it usually sounds like, Tim, “Call”, Phone, “Say the name or Number”, Tim, “Terri”, Phone, “Did You Say Kevin?” Tim, “No”, Phone, “Did You Say Roger?” Tim, “NO”, Phone, “Did You Say Audrey?” Tim, “NOOO!” At this point in the conversation, a conversation with a phone mind you! At this point the phone, which only gives you three options for a given voice command stops tryingand hangs up! Swirling around in Tim’s mind is the fact that One, it would have been quicker and less stressful to just dial the number myself manually and Two, should one really get that worked up because a little piece of overpriced technology can’t understand SIMPLE ENGLISH????? Sorry, it’s just that by time I do give up and call the number myself, I forgot who and why I was even calling! You know it just might be that whoever designed the voice prompt system for the Blackberry didn’t take into consideration my Southern Ohio drawl. Ah technology, gotta love it. I’m so glad that getting in touch with God is never complicated or troublesome.

Think about this, First Communication with God is always available. Listen to Jesus words in Luke 11, “And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him? And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth. And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” Isn’t that great news? God’s always available, we just need to seek Him.
Secondly, Any problem with Communication is on our end not God’s. Isaiah said it this way, “Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness.” Hey if your not making connection know that God’s not the problem, maybe you have spiritual technical problem. That’s why we need to stay close to Him. Not just call on God when we’re in trouble. Jean McMahon writes, “Attending church in Kentucky, we watched an especially verbal and boisterous child being hurried out, slung under his irate father's arm. No one in the congregation so much as raised an eyebrow -- until the child captured everyone's attention by crying out in a charming Southern accent, "Ya'll pray for me now!"
Lastly I want to remind us that there is no excuse not to have a good connection with God. The Prophet Jeremiah tells us, “ Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the LORD:” What an amazing truth, when we seek God with all our heart, He’ll be there. The central significance of prayer is not in the things that happen as results, but in the deepening intimacy and unhurried communion with God at His central throne of control in order to discover a "sense of God's need in order to call on God's help to meet that need" E.M. Bounds, The Weapon Of Prayer. Voice command is great, when it works, but prayer, fellowship with God, communicating with the creator, that’s priceless!

Stay in touch!

PS: Below after the phone picture are a few more pics of the Cicada invasion of 2008 at home.

I UNDERESTIMATED THE CREEPINESS

Dateline Thursday May the twenty second two thousand eight McDermott Ohio. Looking back I can still remember where I was when they came the last time. It was a Sunday morning as I recall. Terri and the children were still in the house getting ready for church, it was the year 1991. I had poured myself a cup of coffee and was taking a stroll in the early morning spring air. At first I didn’t notice them, then a noise, a crackling noise began to draw my attention to the ground, then I saw them. They were everywhere, thousands, millions even, emerging from their deep sleep they came. They filled the front lawn, then the trees, then they filled the yard as they spread their wings to fly. In short order their songs began to fill the air. Fast forward seventeen years, May 22nd 2008, Thursday evening. I had just finished a day of yard work and was taking a stroll around the front of our house inspecting some newly planted flowers. At first I didn’t notice them, then a noise, a crackling noise began to draw my attention to the ground, then I saw them. They were everywhere, thousands, millions even, emerging from their deep sleep they came. They filled the front lawn, then the trees, then they filled the yard as they spread their wings to fly. “Sounds familiar huh?” Now as I write to you, their songs fill the air. It’s creepy really, like walking through an underground passageway with Indiana Jones ankle deep in insects. “You Indie fans will get that” You can’t walk across my front yard right now without sounding like you’re steeping on a bag of pork rinds!
You’ve got to visit my blog to see the pictures! Yet with all that said, God’s handy work is amazing eh? That’s what came to my mind actually. As I stood there in my front yard that Thursday evening a little creeped out. All around us every moment of every day is God’s creation. Everything was made for a purpose even though we don’t understand why, in this case for me, CICADA’S!
According to my friends at Wikapedia, The cicada is an insect, with large eyes wide apart on the head and usually transparent, well-veined wings. There are about 2,500 species of cicada around the globe, and many remain unclassified. Cicadas live in temperate to tropical climates where they are among the most widely recognized of all insects, mainly due to their large size and remarkable acoustic talents.” Depends on what you define as talent!” Cicadas are sometimes called "locusts", although they are unrelated to true locusts, which are a kind of grasshopper. Some cicadas produce sounds up to 120 "at close range", among the loudest of all insect-produced sounds. “I can testify to that!”
So, what kind of God lesson can you derive from this experience Tim? Well I’m glad you asked. What has been on my mind for the past week since “the invasion” as we like to call it is first of all just how little I really control of what goes on around me. It’s easy to think I am just a little bit invincible at times. Oh I know you never feel that way, but there have been moments in my life that I thought I could handle anything that came my way. But I gotta tell ya, standing there in my front yard last week I realized just how helpless and vulnerable we really are. We need more help and strength that we can give.
Secondly I was reminded of the fact that God in His creative genius has a plan and a time for everything, and He is always on time. Regardless of what popular opinion tells you, remember God says what he means and means what he says. I don’t care what other belief systems or churches teach, what the polls say or even what the church of Oprah believes, God is still in control and still on schedule. Listen to the apostle Peter’s words in closing…. “This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” So who’s in control of your life? Someone is, and it isn’t you. My prayer is that God is at the controls of your heart……

What’s that noise, oh never mind!

THANKS JUST NEVER SEEMS ENOUGH….

Memorial Day is an official holiday in most states of the United States. It was observed on May 30 until 1971, when for federal employees, the date was changed to the last Monday in May. With the exception of Louisiana, all states observing Memorial Day adopted the change. It is also known as Decoration Day. The custom of placing flowers on the graves of the war began on May 5, 1866, in Waterloo, NY, and Waterloo has been recognized by Congress as the official birthplace of Memorial Day. In 1868, Gen. John A. Logan, then president of the Grand Army of the Republic, declared that May 30 would be a day to decorate with “flowers the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion.” After World War I the day was set aside to honor the dead of all American wars, and the custom was extended to pay homage to deceased relatives and friends, both military and civilian. The most solemn ceremony conducted on Memorial Day is the placing of a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns located in Arlington national Cemetery.
(Pictures below from when Terri and I were there a few years ago during January)
Just saying thank you has always seemed a little inadequate to me. This is especially so when it comes to the level of sacrifice some have reached. Abraham Lincoln called this sacrifice for ones country giving “Ones full measure of devotion”. How true that is. A few days back I was blessed to spend some time with my good friend Vance Huston. Col. Huston Served 23 years in the United States Marine Corps. He served in the Vietnam conflict as well as a Marine One helicopter pilot for Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy and Johnson. He shared again the story of the first landings on the White house lawn with the president as well as other Memorial Day memories. As a pilot for Marine One he recalled, there was a problem that developed with the White House groundskeepers because of the large indentations the wheels of the aircraft lift in the beautifully manicured lawns. The solution was to place large sheets of thick painted plywood on the ground for the wheels to land on. This as well presented a problem for the wheels of the helicopter are situated in such a way that the pilot can’t see them while at the controls. They remedied this by placing two lines of tape so that the pilot could line up with a tape to his front and to his side enabling him to perfectly land the craft. Vance has shared before with me the incredible spiritual lesson he learned from this incident. Not only do we have to line up with God’s word and his will to make a safe landing ourselves when our vessel comes to the end of this life, but we are laying tape with the life and example we live that is giving to those that we influence the direction to follow. What an amazing thought. Jesus said it this way….. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. May we be remembered for laying tape in the right direction, so that we may correctly guide those that follow.
In talking with Col. Huston he spoke of a recent trip to Washington DC and a visit to the Vietnam Memorial with his grandchildren. What an incredible place that is. If you have never gone, you should do so at least once in your life. He talked of looking up a dear friends name on the wall that he has served with in that conflict. He found the name of a dear friend by the name of Ralph Caspole with whom he had served in the Presidential squadron with He also shared of standing by the wall looking at the name of a dear friend Ralph who was killed on his last mission in Vietnam. With tears in his eyes my friend recalled standing before that wall, looking at the name of his friend and then seeing his own reflection looking back at him from the wall itself. The thought that came to his mind was that his friend Ralph Caspole died that he Vance Huston could be free. May we never cease to remember those who have given that full measure of devotion that we may enjoy freedom. In 1915, inspired by the poem "In Flanders Fields," Moina Michael wrote:
 We cherish too, the Poppy red, That grows on fields where valor led, It seems to signal to the skies, That blood of heroes never dies. Memorial Day is not about division. It is about reconciliation; it is about coming together to honor those who gave their all.

Please allow me to close with a few portions of President Ronald Reagan’s speech delivered at the site of the U.S. Ranger Monument at Pointe du Hoc, France June 6, 1984 on the 40th Anniversary of D-Day. “Behind me is a memorial that symbolizes the Ranger daggers that were thrust into the top of these cliffs. And before me are the men who put them there. These are the boys of Pointe du Hoc. These are the men who took the cliffs. These are the champions who helped free a continent. These are the heroes who helped end a war. Gentlemen, I look at you and I think of the words of Stephen Spender's poem. You are men who in your "lives fought for life . . . and left the vivid air signed with your honor……Here, in this place where the West held together, let us make a vow to our dead. Let us show them by our actions that we understand what they died for. Let our actions say to them the words for which Matthew Ridgway listened: "I will not fail thee nor forsake thee.'' Strengthened by their courage, heartened by their value [valor], and borne by their memory, let us continue to stand for the ideals for which they lived and died.” Amen!

FACING THE MUSIC

I have a confession to make; I have been guilty of listening to classical music. I know I know, you can hardly believe it. Refined and cultured I don’t resemble in the least, but alas here I sit early on Monday morning listening to Yo Yo Ma playing Bach’s Cello Suite #1 In G joyfully writing this column. Growing up surrounded by music I have learned to appreciate all styles of music including classical which I often listen to while reading. So a few weeks back I was thrilled when my daughter Stephanie called and shared with me that she would like to take me to the Columbus Symphony where the world renowned Yo Yo Ma would be performing with the orchestra. The evening was wonderful; of course if you know me you know how I miss seeing my little anyway. So here we were seating in the beautiful Ohio Theater in downtown Columbus listen to the musicians fine tune their instruments, suddenly the lights dimmed and the hall grew silent. Nothing happened, not a sound until out of the curtain walked a small man, well he didn’t walk, he actually jogged onto the stage to the applause of the audience. Still yet, no beautiful music to fill the air. It wasn’t until this man raised his hands and begin to move them did the wondrous melody fill the air. The instruments were ready and tuned, the musicians were poised and capable but until the maestro began to direct the house was silent. So it is I believe with our lives. Until the great maestro is directing our lives we exist without the music that was intended to fill our souls. It might be a good time to consider the question, who is directing my life? To whose hand do I look to for direction? May we always be directed by the Master and creator of our lives Jesus Christ. By the way, it was by the artful direction of the Maestro that the entire evening was remembered by, as should it be in our lives as well. The music that’s made, the beauty of our life’s melody should bring credit to the director of our life.
Next came the featured soloist Yo Yo Ma. He joined the Columbus Symphony for Haydn’s concerto in C Major for Cello and orchestra. How beautifully the gifted Cellist blended with the whole of music to touch the heart. After his part of the evening was apparently over I was amazed to watch him pull his chair from the front of the stage to the back section of he orchestra where the other cellist’s were seated. To the applause of the audience this artist who had performed for Presidents and Kings took his place with the rest of the musicians to finish the evening as unassuming as possible. He played without drawing attention to himself, turning the pages of music for other performers, and encouraging everyone he interacted with. My eyes were fixed on this scene. What a lesson. What an example. He could have been escorted off the stage and relaxed in the green room I’m sure for the remainder of the evening and no one would have uttered a word. Yet for the love of the music, for the joy of being a part of something bigger than himself he chose to lay aside the attention and just do what needed to be done, and enjoy it all the while. While many illustrations flood my mind one rises to the top of my thought process. I want to be a part of the music. I want to see the big picture at all times. Thought I may speak to lot of people each week, what’s most important is the mission. It’s not about the event, it’s about the call that God has placed on each of us to participate in this grand design he has for His church. To be a part of accomplishing the great symphony called the great commission.

Many years ago, a man wanted to play in the Imperial Orchestra, but he couldn't play a note. Since he was a person of great wealth and influence, however, he demanded to be allowed to join the orchestra so that he could perform in front of the king.
 The conductor agreed to let him sit in the second row of the orchestra. Even though he couldn't read music, he was given a flute, and when a concert would begin, he would raise his instrument, pucker his lips, and move his fingers. He went through all the motions of playing, but he never made a sound. This deception went on for two years. Then one day a new conductor took over the Imperial Orchestra. He told the orchestra that he wanted to personally audition all the players to see how well they could play. The audition would weed out all those who weren't able to meet his standards, and he would dismiss them from the orchestra. One by one the players performed in his presence. Frantic with worry when it was his turn, the phony flutist pretended to be sick. The doctor who was ordered to examine him, however, declared that he was perfectly well. The conductor insisted that the man appear and demonstrate his skill. Shamefacedly, the man had to confess that he was a fake. That was the day he had to "face the music."
 Many of us go through the motions of life. We say all the right things. In reality, though, we are fakes. A time is coming when all of us will be called to stand before the Judge of heaven and earth and "face the music." No one will be able to hide in the crowd. But it needn't be a scary experience. You must first met the maestro and know Him personally then equipped with the talents and gifts He has given you take your place in the great symphony called the Kingdom of God.

FOR THE LOVE OF ATHEISTS EVERYWHERE!

I have met them from time to time but not to often, those that claim to be atheist. Some probably just toss the title at me to try and push the conversation away from the topic at hand, which often has something to do with Jesus. So the title atheist is used just to as a shield or excuse. In all my travels I have only come across one person that I would classify as a sincere atheist. (Not sure about the guy I met in Detroit last week at the Henry Ford Museum, Picture below) Allow me to share some definition of the subject at hand before going any farther. According to Wikepedia Atheism, is an explicit position, either affirms the nonexistence of gods or rejects theism. When defined more broadly, atheism is the absence of belief in deities, alternatively called nontheism. In practical, or pragmatic, atheism, also known as apatheism, individuals live as if there are no gods and explain natural phenomena without resorting to the divine. The existence of gods is not denied, but may be designated unnecessary or useless; gods neither provide purpose to life, nor influence everyday life, according to this view. Historically, practical atheism was considered by some people to be associated with moral failure, willful ignorance and impiety. Those considered practical atheists were said to behave as though God, ethics and social responsibility did not exist; they abandoned duty and embraced hedonism. According to the French Catholic philosopher Étienne Borne, "Practical atheism is not the denial of the existence of God, but complete godlessness of action; it is a moral evil, implying not the denial of the absolute validity of the moral law but simply rebellion against that law." During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, ... The term 'atheist' was an insult. Nobody would have dreamed of calling himself an atheist. Interesting overview isn’t it. So why even discuss it?
I gotta tell ya, my heart literally breaks for those who have been blinded by Satan and his tactics for infiltrating the minds of our culture. The minds of those we know and live by the way. Listen to Paul’s words to the church, “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.” I sense a measure of compassion and genuine concern in those lines don’t you?
Many of the problems facing our culture today (terrorism, disease, injustice etc…) aren’t the fault of God as some like to list as the reasoning for their unbelief, but the result of godless society. Charles Colson writes, “Have you not heard of the madman who lit a lamp in the bright morning and went to the marketplace crying ceaselessly, "I seek God! I seek God!" There were many among those standing there who didn't believe in God so he made them laugh. "Is God lost?" one of them said. "Has he gone astray like a child?" said another. "Or is he hiding? Has he gone on board ship and emigrated?" So they laughed and shouted to one another. The man sprang into their midst and looked daggers at them. "Where is God?" he cried. "I will tell you. We have killed him--you and I We are all his killers! But how have we done this? How could we swallow up the sea? Who gave us the sponge to wipe away the horizon? What will we do as the earth is set loose from its sun?" Friedrich Nietzsche, 1889. “Nietzsche's point was not that God does not exist, but that God has become irrelevant. Men and women may assert that God exists or that He does not, but it makes little difference either way. God is dead not because He doesn't exist, but because we live, play, procreate, govern, and die as though He doesn't.” I was intrigued by an article I read recently in Relevant Magazine by Phil White, “Book releases such as God is not Great: How religion poisons Everything by Christopher Hitchen and God Delusion by Richard Dawkins are making the New York Times best seller lists. There has also been an increase in atheistic dialog on university campuses across the country. So how should Christians respond to the New Atheism discussion? Writer/speaker Alistar McGrath of Oxford offers this: ‘We can reach out to new atheists in Love and break their stereotypes about Christians. It’s our responsibility to show the grace of Christ’s presence to atheists. It shouldn’t be a vicious back and forth exchange, because we must hold ourselves to a higher standard-God’s standard.” I strongly believe that every soul longs for a personal relationship with their creator. Pascal said there is within every person a "God-shaped vacuum." He's right. Historians Will and Ariel Durant observed in their summery volume, The Lessons of History, that There never has been a significant example of morality apart from belief in God." It doesn’t matter, whether atheist, or simply a non-believer. Whether prostitute or drug addict, whether a skeptic or just plain apathetic. God longs to embrace you in his Love, forgive all your past and give you hope for tomorrow!
Let me close by saying to you who fall into the category of atheist or non believer, there is a God in Heaven who Loves you more than you can know even if you don’t believe, and a Christ follower here on earth who does as well!