Sleeping Through The Storm

Scripture

“Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”

Ephesians 5:14, NLT

Quote

Indifference is the strongest force in the universe. It makes everything it touches meaningless. Indifference is more difficult to conquer than hate and hostility.

~Image Quotes

Sleep is often used in the bible as a symbol for spiritual laziness, apathy and lethargy. Jonah would have slept through a tempest had not he been awakened by the ships captain. Matthew Henry said of Jonah, “The devil had rocked him to sleep in carnal security.” The disciples slept on the Mount of transfiguration and again in Gethsemane.

How could Jonah sleep through a tempest? How could the disciples sleep while Jesus was in deepest agony? How do we sleep while America continues to kill babies by the millions? We sleep through the storm because we are indifferent; spiritually, we are lethargic. Comfort is more important to us than morality.

What would it take to wake a sleeping church? A voice perhaps. My father use to wake us up with Isaiah 60:1, “Rise and Shine.” He also jerked the covers off and grabbed your big toe. Deprivation can awaken us. I go to bed hungry in order to control my weight but get up around 1:00 am for a Klondike bar, then about 3:00 for a cheese and cracker or some pickled okra. Deep hunger can awaken us. How bad do you want a REVIVAL? Catastrophic events like earth quakes and tornadoes can wake us up. The destruction of the World Trade Center was a wake up call but we rolled over, hit the snooze button and went back to sleep.

You may have heard the story about the mom waking her son on Sunday morning:

Mom: “Son you need to get up.”

Son: “Why?”

Mom: “Because you need to be at Church.”

Son: “Why do I need to be at church?”

Mom: “Because you are the pastor.”

• We received word that Carmen Livingston passed away yesterday evening. I was on the road and did not get in until 9:30 last night. June told me to look at my phone and the message was there. I visited Carmen last Sunday evening. He said he was tired of living and was ready to go but I did not expect his departure to be so soon.
• This has been the busiest week of my life and I am exhausted. The reason there was no Blog yesterday was that I was exhausted when I got home on Monday night. I had to sit on the front pew last night and rest a few moments before driving home. My nephew offered to drive me but I couldn’t let him do that.  Bro. Tim called and talked me home. They had one Profession of Faith last night in a JBS. This has God written all over it!
• I think several people have forgotten that I will not be a DBC tonight, I will be finishing up at Sardis Springs. Shohn needs a van driver and it cannot be me. Joe David has his plate full and it doesn’t need to be him. If you can help, call Shohn.

In A Quandary

Scripture

Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.”

~John 13:7, NLT

Quote

“If you’re not confused, you’re not paying attention.”

~Tom Peters

A quandary is a state of perplexity over what to do or say in a difficult situation. I think it is safe to say, “I’ve been in a quandary the past two weeks.” With this thought in mind, I was reading through John 13 yesterday when verse 7 leaped from pages and penetrated my cerebral cortex.

Think about how perplexed and confused the disciples must have been when Jesus laid His robe aside, girded Himself with a towel, grabbed a basin of water and started washing feet. No one in the room had a clue as to what He was doing or why. When Jesus came to Peter there arose a slight debate: LORD, are you going to wash my feet? Peter was humiliated and ashamed and was not going to allow Jesus to wash his feet.

This is when Jesus said, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.” Are there things going on around you that you don’t understand? Do you have everything figured out so that it all make sense? I have an aunt who is as gentle, kind and sweet as anyone on the planet–she has stage four cancer. I have a friend that I thought was getting better when in fact, he was getting weaker each day. I have a nephew that made his fourth trip to HH last night after having surgery in December.

To be honest with you, I don’t understand any of it but Jesus does and someday He will make it all clear. In the meantime, I must live like father Abraham–by faith, one day at a time.

• Fuzz Dobbins got to come home from DGH last night. Gary Garner was resting peacefully. My nephew Heath was readmitted to HH. Continue to pray. I can’t explain it but I believe every prayer helps. My neighbor and landlord Ray Edwards has been sick this week also.
• We’ve had some computer problems at the office but we got things sorted out yesterday and we are able to change the sign. Shohn did a fabulous job on our Swamp John Tickets and 13 are already sold. That leaves us 187 to sell Sunday.
• Sunday night is LIFE CHANGING BIBLE STUDY CLASS PARTY NIGHT. Childcare begins at 5:15 and goes to 7:45. I need two nursery workers and we will pay. If you know anyone interested, give me a call.

Totally Committed

SCRIPTURE

 But I don’t care what happens to me, as long as I finish the work that the Lord Jesus gave me to do. And that work is to tell the good news about God’s great kindness.

~Acts 20:24, CEV

QUOTE

True greatest is to serve unnoticed and to work unseen.

~Chip Ingram

MY THOUGHTS

Do you consider yourself a devoted follower of Christ? We humans are driven by instinct and possibly the strongest instinct is self-preservation. I was debating with an older gentleman who had been voting for democrats. I explained their position on abortion and homosexuality: I said, “You do not support these two things do you?” He said, “No, but the republicans will cut out my social security and I have to live.” I said, “That’s where you are wrong, you don’t have to live.” For the record, this is where America is wrong.

Do you see Christ call and purpose as being greater than your physical life? Do you consider yourself expendable? Texas would be speaking Spanish today had it not been for the heroic exploits of the brave men at the Alamo. They believed in a cause worth dying for: they saw themselves as being expendable.

On February 23, 1836, the Mexican army of General Antonio López de Santa Anna, arrived in San Antonio  and surrounded the Alamo. The next day, Lieutenant Colonel William B. Travis, leader of the Alamo’s defenders, sat down to write a letter addressed to “the People of Texas & All Americans in the World.” Travis appealed for help, but expressed no fear or despair at the ever-mounting odds against his men [25 to 1]. Instead, he vowed to “never surrender or retreat,” but to fight to the death. As we all know, help never came and Colonel Travis and his men died courageously but their sacrifice was not in vain. They heroic efforts was the key to Texas winning their independence.

Once a man commits himself to a cause greater than himself and sees himself as being expendable, as did Paul; he becomes a walking dead man who can wreak havoc on the enemy because his life has no sway over him: he is ready to die for the cause.

The Disciples of Christ were not martyrs when He called them. They were young, inexperienced, green, ambitious and very insecure. Jesus forged them into a fighting force, men of courage who came to view themselves as expendable. They laid down their lives for Jesus and changed the world in the process.

• SCHEDULE FOR TODAY: Deacon’s meeting at 8:15, LCBS at 9:15, Worship at 10:15 and 6:00. Band Practice at 3:00, First Priority Pray meeting at 5:45 [at the three schools].
• Great response to the plea to pray for Gary.
• I got a record number of HAPPY B’day Text yesterday: thank you for that outpouring of love. I forgot it was my birthday until June mentioned it and reminded me that we where going to Hannah’s for breakfast. It is hard to believe, I am 63 years older than Chloe. I don’t want to go back but I would like to have a 40 year old body. Yes, I would try to take better care of it than I did this one. A lot of birthday’s yesterday: Bill Wood, Jean Narrell, Courtney Nichelson, Mike Trout, Keith Carradine, Kohl Sudduth [41] Mel Tillis [82], Connie Stevens [76],  and Dustin Hoffman [77].
• This is BLOCK PARTY WEEK and there is nothing like it. June says they are predicting cooler weather–wouldn’t that be great. Actually, yesterday wasn’t too bad. I have never seen a year go by as fast as 2015.
• I slap dab forgot to tell you NASCAR fans that Richard Petty was on the ship with us and I bumped into him in the elevator, he and two beautiful young women. I guess it was daughters or granddaughters. Probably daughters because they were in their prime [40]. He was as nice as he could be: I looked at him and said, “You are Richard Petty, right?” He said, “That’s right and stuck out his hand for a shake.” We chatted briefly. I told him that my wife was going to kill me for not having the camera and he said, “I’ll see you later and you can get a pic.” I didn’t see him again. He didn’t have on his cap or sun glasses which I understand is rare. I would have forgotten it but June reminded me.

A Rose Among Thorns

SCRIPTURE

Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour?

~Matthew 26:40, NLT

QUOTE

There is something so pure and frank and noble about Jesus that to doubt His sincerity would be like doubting the brightness of the sun.

~ Charles Edward Jefferson

Socrates taught for 40 years, Plato for 50, Aristotle for 40, and Jesus for only 3. Yet the influence of Christ’s 3-year ministry infinitely transcends the impact left by the combined 130 years of teaching from these three philosophers who have to rank among the greatest in history. I have been in Matthew 26 for a month or so: yesterday we were in the Garden of Gethsemane and last night we walked through the mock trial at the palace of Caiaphas. Jesus shines like a diamond on black velvet: He is noble, everyone else is ignoble. He is pure and the rest or polluted. Jesus is sinless, all others in this human drama are sinful and hopelessly depraved.

Run through the list of characters in Matthew 26: Peter’s denial, Judas betrayal, the disciples fleeing in fear, the rabble that the priest sent to arrest Jesus with their torches and clubs, Caiaphas the high priest [what a joke], the teachers of the law, the Sanhedrin, temple guards, the false witnesses, and the servant girl who taunted Peter. There is not one noble, upright person in the list. Everyone in Matthew 26, other than Jesus, deserves death and hell. Yet Jesus voluntarily took the blame for our sin. He took the abuse, the rejection, the condemnation and the death which we deserve. Hallelujah, what a Savior!

• Hey, I found out we have 49 followers, not 19 and as we mentioned before, only two of them attend our services so the blog is a bit of a recap of yesterday’s messages. I writing this on Sunday night and I am tired so a rerun for Jason. Sorry about that!
• TODAY WE PRAY FOR MISSIONARIES AND MINISTERS: Remember Joe David as he travels [Seminary in Birmingham]. Remember our four Asian Missionaries who read the blog. Speaking of M’s, Ken B is coming home some time this Summer. We look forward to seeing him.
• GREAT DAY yesterday {March 15}. Check our facebook page, Beth and others were going to post the pics. We had one baby dedication and three precious baptisms: Ellie Mae Tucker, Bree Tyson, and Libby Jones. The house was not full but with the children coming in for the baptisms, it was close. Best crowd in a long time and we had a great crowd last night. What about the praise and worship yesterday morning? Wow! Double Wow! Haley and Charity knocked in out of the park and then David and Tyler hit another out with the invitation. I didn’t want to leave for the baptism because I was enjoying the music.
• Continue to pray for our Youth, Keri and Kane. I think Kane is going to get to come home for 10 days.

Dread And Anxiety

SCRIPTURE

“I have come to set the world on fire, and I wish it were already burning! I have a terrible baptism of suffering ahead of me, and I am under a heavy burden until it is accomplished.”

~Luke 12:49-50, NLT

QUOTE

“The load will be too heavy for us if we carry yesterday’s burden over again today, and then add the burden of the morrow before we are required to bear it.”

~John Newton

I was reading Luke 12 last Sunday morning and came across the above verses where Jesus shares His burden with His disciples. Of course, they turned a deaf ear which made the burden more difficult to bear. I am not accusing Jesus of anxiety but He certainly dreaded the cross and longed for it to be history.

Anxiety is created by emotional stress when we feel pulled in two different directions at the same time. Anxiety divides the heart; it keeps us from being integrated and disturbs our peace. What Jesus said comforts me, “I am under a heavy burden until my mission is accomplished.” I know I have read this verse 100 times but Sunday morning it gave me a comfort to know Jesus experienced our feelings of being burdened. I do wish His disciples had been sympathetic but true sympathy is hard to come by in this sin cursed broken world.

• TODAY WE PRAY FOR THE WORLD. Ken emailed me about a new plan to get the gospel to unreached people groups. Lets pray about this new initiative. It will be possible for us to sponsor a project directly without sending the money to Richmond. We do need to finish the TASK.
• Kenny got his N-G tube out and he was thrilled. He gets his med through an IV port and it can do it himself. His middle son Brad came in from Texas yesterday evening around 4:20 and he was excited about seeing his son. He did not feel as well yesterday as he did the day before. Do not stop praying for Kenny.
• REMEMBER THE RULES OF ENGAGEMENT ON THE CHURCH DIRECTORY. If for any reason you cannot make your appointment, call Mandy ASAP.

ROY MIMS

CELEBRATION OF LIFE service for Roy Erskin Mims, 78, of Moulton will be Thursday, January 15, 2015, at 11 a.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Jack Bailey, Dr. Lee Hartselle and Rev. Tony Smitherman officiating. Graveside service will be in Martin Memorial Cemetery in Clanton at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday. Visitation will be tonight from 5 to 8 at the funeral home.

Mr. Mims died on Sunday, January 11, 2015, at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He was born March 8, 1936, in Chilton County to Ocie Mims and Inez Mims. He was saved and attended Danville Baptist Church. He was best known for the Dari Delite Restaurant and his famous chicken fingers. Roy taught school at Jemison for 12 years, where he coached basketball and football. He loved the outdoors, hunting, fishing and golf, and was a member of Burningtree Country Club. In his early days, he and his father raised produce and he was always a worker. Roy was a registered Brangus cattle farmer. He was preceded in death by a son, Todd Allan Mims; sister, Mary Mims; two nephews, Don and Frankie Mims and his parents.

Survivors include his wife, Beverly Mims; two sons, Kyle Dewayne Mims of Clanton and Camron Tye Mims of Hartselle; three daughters, Rhonda Scott of Boca Raton, FL, Traci Patrick of Clarksville, TN and Regina Tetreault of Gulf Breeze, FL; two sisters, Ruby Dean Driver of Clanton and Betty Gorrie of Biloxi, MS; 11 grandchildren and four great- grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Camron Mims, Kyle Mims, Casey Mims, Brandon Mims, Keith Driver, Jeremy Tetreault and Scott Coffman.

In lieu of flowers, family requests that memorials be made to the Hartselle Animal Shelter and to Alzheimer’s Research. 

 

Unconditional Love

SCRIPTURE

But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when you will be scattered, each one going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me.

~John 16:32, NLT

QUOTE

Whatever the reason for your broken intimacy with God, there is good news. Jesus waits to embrace you now in the arms of unconditional love.

~Charles Stanley

Jesus was preparing His disciples for His departure. He told them plainly, “I am leaving this world and going back to the Father.” The disciples affirmed their faith by saying, “We know that You know all things and you don’t need anyone to tell you anything; this makes us trust that You came from God.” “So now you believe,” said Jesus, “In just a little while you will be running for cover, each man looking out for himself and you will leave me alone.” [JEV]

So, Jesus knew in advance that His disciples could not be counted on; that they would surely fail and yet He never stopped loving them. Can God the Father love us as much as He loves His only begotten? One thing you must remember: the degree of His love is not determined by anything you and I do or do not do. We have no influence over His character or attributes. He is who He is and we have nothing to add or subtract. If our behavior determined the degree of His love: it would exalt us and diminish Him and trust me folks, this is not going to happen.

Junior Hill wrote me a note of encouragement a couple of years ago and I remember the first line and the first line only: “Dr. Jack, I love you and there is nothing you can do about it.“

• Today we pray for Ministers and Missionaries.
• It was good to have Allen Blackwood with us yesterday. He is about to transfer to a school in California. I sure could use his technical assistance. He is a computer wiz.
• Pray for Kenny Holladay: he did not have a good day yesterday. He has been in constant pain and discomfort: so much so that the family has asked me to encourage you to pray but not visit. That window has closed. I hate to be the bearer of bad news but he does not feel like having company.
• I was getting ready for our LCBS party last night and I put on my leather boots and was doing a little tap dance in the kitchen while June was getting ready in the bathroom. She said, “What are you doing?” I said, “I’m doing a little tap dance.” She said, “You need to lose about 75 pounds if you’re going to tap dance.” Oh my that hurt: I ate only one Reuben sandwich at CB last night because I was so upset. I weigh 215 minus 75  would put me down to 140 which is border line anorexia. I weighed 140 in the 9th grade. This is the same women who told me just a few years ago that I was “Pear shaped” and a candidate for a heart attack. Also the same woman who told me on our first date that I did not know one musical note from another. Willard and Jason would agree with her on that one. I cannot question her friendship, she is brutally honest. She said that she was putting me on a diet next week and I said, “Sure you will and then you will bake a cake to test my resolve.”

Let All The People Thank YOU!

SCRIPTURE

God! Let people thank and enjoy you. Let all people thank and enjoy you.

~Psalms 67:3, MSG

QUOTE

It is not happy people who are thankful: it is thankful people who are happy.

~Anonymous

When Jesus sat down to eat the Passover meal with His beloved followers, this is what He said, “You have no idea how much I have looked forward to eating this Passover meal with you.” [Luke 22, MSG] Wow, can you believe this? The Son of God looking forward to sharing a meal and some time with us. The disciples also enjoyed the company of Jesus. There was no dread in hanging out with Jesus. Yes, He was perfect but He was also filled with mercy and compassion. He was also very funny and pleasant.

This Thanksgiving do more than acknowledge your blessing; the unbelieving world can do this. This year spend some time with Jesus, enjoy His presence and thank Him personally. It is not enough to be thankful for the gifts; we need to spend quality time with the Giver of the gifts and thank HIM personally. If you cannot enjoy spending time with Jesus here on earth, you would be miserable in heaven.

• Today we pray for the WORLD. Why don’t we pray Psalms 67…O God, in mercy bless us; let your face beam with joy as you look down at us. Send us around the world with the news of your saving power and your eternal plan for all mankind.  We pray that everyone throughout the earth will praise YOU Lord!  How glad the nations will be, singing for joy because YOU are their King and the giver of true justice to people! We pray for the whole world to praise YOU! May all the peoples of the earth give thanks to YOU and peoples from remotest lands will worship him.
• Shohn and I will be working a half day: remember, no services tonight but the Thanksgiving service tomorrow. I am fairly certain it is the next to last. Its always a good service, one of my favorites.
• I know some of you don’t believe in angels but I saw one yesterday morning. I was in the office slaving away at the DIGEST and this beautiful creature suddenly appeared, she was dressed white; well a white top with blue jeans. The lovely creature handed me a caramel pie and a pecan pie. O my, my, I do love pie.
• Remember Bob! One of his rules was…”It is easier to beg forgiveness than to ask for permission.”

Jesus On “Greatness”

SCRIPTURE

At last, they came to Capernaum where they gathered in a house. Jesus: “What was it I heard you arguing about along the way?” They looked down at the floor and wouldn’t answer, for they had been arguing among themselves about who was the greatest of Jesus’ disciples.

~Mark 9:32-33, The Voice

QUOTE

As long as a man puts his personal interest before others, he has his back turned to the kingdom of Christ. If he wants to be a part of the kingdom of Christ, he must turn completely and face in the opposite direction.

~William Barclay

The disciples got into a heated argument about who among them was the number one disciple. Who did Jesus love the most? Who did He trust the most? If He were absent, who would He put in charge? The Great Physician quickly diagnosed their illness: they suffered from pride so He gave them a doze of humility, He sat a child on His knee and said, “To be great in My kingdom, you must become like this little child.” There is a tradition that says this child was Ignatius of Antioch who became a great servant of the church. One thing is crystal clear: their definition of greatest was in conflict with Jesus definition.

By the world’s definition: Jesus was a failure. He never earned a degree. He never wrote a book, not even a pamphlet. He never traveled more than 200 miles from the place of His birth. He never owned a home. He never held any political office. He did not amass great wealth. He never dined with kings. As a matter of fact, the only possession He had at His death were the clothes He was wearing when they arrested Him. He was born, lived and died in poverty. Yet this Jewish carpenter son of a Jewish peasant changed the entire world forever. I think our world is confused when it comes to greatness. I’ll not argue the point: You know that Jesus is great! Actually, He is greater than great: He is the Son of God.

• What about that crowd last night: 110 in AWANA, 46 in YOUTH, 5 in Nursery and 32 in preaching…grand total of 193. AWANA gets an A, Youth get a B and Adults, we can do better. Record turn out for supper with 98.
• Extra quote: We should stop looking out for our own interests and instead focus on the people living and breathing around us. [ The Apostle Paul– I Corinthians 10:32]
• Today is our day to pray for the sick: those undergoing TRIALS.  Kenny Holladay, Jackie Steele, Larry Garner, Patrick Lee Dubbins, Bill Wilbourn, Floyd Bailey, Angie Blackburn, Dee Eady, B.R. Sessums, Daphne Hutto, Carylon Suthoff, Tracey Gillies, Minnie Grace Baker, Dale Shedd, Beatrice Freeze, Linda Dutton, Bonnie Moore, Matthew Battles, Clara Miller, Steve Tanner. I would say that 75% of those on the list are being treated for some type of cancer.
• I’ll probably forget it before Sunday but after service Sunday morning, I would like to get a pic of all our school teachers and Seniors 75 and above. I think it will enhance our prayers if we see who we are praying for.
• I keep forgetting to update you on the rails for the handicap ramp in the FORTE. Jason tells me that Michael Hembree is on the project…Way to go Michael. I had already put in the bulletin that Jason was on it: I’ll change that today if I think of it.
• Currently I am reading The VOICE and I love it. My goal is to read every English Translation. I have not read one yet that was not helpful. I use the NASB as my basic text but BLUE LETTER BIBLE enables me to check the Greek on any verse. I like the Holman but not as well as NIV, ESV or NRSV. The NKJV is a lot like the NASB and I loved it. I also loved the Moffatt translation. I absolutely love all the easier reads like ERV, Good News, CEB, CEV, NCV, MSG, LB, NLT, WEB, NET, KNOX, God’s Word, Williams, J.B. Phillips. The Amplified Bible is not an easy read but I enjoyed it also. I have great respect for any preacher who uses the one he thinks is best. Lucado always uses the NCV. Joe David always used the NASB and I generally use NLT and occasionally the NASB or NKJV. Personally, I don’t think the ESV has anything to do with the Reform movement. A key verse is Galatians 2:20 and the ESV is right on target. The 20th century hayseed Calvinist used nothing but the KJV which mistranslated Galatians 2:20. They went to seed on Salvation by the faith of the Son of God. I heard them say more than once, “You are not saved by your faith, you are saved by His faith.” This is pure ignorance, Jesus is God and He always has been God, He needs no faith, He has perfect knowledge. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things unseen. Jesus saw it all. He lived in two worlds at the same time. Faith is for those of us who have incomplete knowledge.
• I was out late last night and I am still battling a tooth ache and the tooth has been pulled but I am planning to be in the office some. I will probably go back to hospital some time tomorrow. Shohn will most likely not be in today. I rarely answer the office phone when I am there alone, call my cell if you need me.

Evil

SCRIPTURE

As soon as day came, the elders of the people, the high priests and the scribes assembled and brought Him back before their council, and said, “Tell us if You are the Christ.”

~Luke 22:66, Williams

QUOTE

At the heart of the story stands the cross of Christ where evil did its worst and met its match.

~John W. Wenham

The cross exposes our depravity. The disciples acted in weakness and cowardice. One betrayed Christ, another denied Him and all abandoned Him.  The Jews were driven by envy, hate and murder. The Romans were cold, cruel, callous and careless. The women were the best of the lot and even they were helpless. I read Luke 22 in Williams yesterday and jotted down these characteristics of evil that we see in and around the cross.

1. Evil is persistent: The religious Jews never let up, they were determined to destroy Jesus.
2. Evil is driven by envy and hate.
3. Evil is disguised by pretense: the Jews pretended to be acting in God’s behalf.
4. Evil is diabolical, it loves the cover of darkness. They waited for daylight to pass the verdict but they did the dirty work during the night.
5. Evil is always antichrist.
6. Evil is present in us all. What sins are not evil? Is pride, prayerlessness and indifference not sins? Why do we pretend?
7. Evil is defeated in the end. The Jews thought the cross would put and end to Jesus but instead it put an end to the reign of sin, Satan and death.

• Baptism today at the conclusion of our worship celebration.
• Deacon’s meeting at 8:00, LCBS at 9:00 and worship celebration at 10:15.
• We have a very pressing schedule: prayer appreciated.
• We have them headed in all directions: to the beach, on cruises, camping and only the LORD knows where else. We’ll have church with whoever shows up. Going to be some more changes today. I know how much you love changing.
• The Sanctuary will look a little different: it is set up for the 2:00 PM memorial service for Clayton Clemons.

Piling On

SCRIPTURE

We are now on our way to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the teachers of the Law of Moses. They will sentence him to death, and then they will hand him over to foreigners who will make fun of him. They will beat him and nail him to a cross. But on the third day he will rise from death.

~Matthew 20:18-19

QUOTE

Mercy requires love and understanding: the ability to put the interest of another first.

~Anonymous

COMMENTARY

Matthew 20 is a very interesting chapter. Jesus is about to leave Jericho and head to Jerusalem where a cross awaits Him. Jesus has a heavy heart and He shares His burden with His disciples but it is like water off of a ducks back. Instead of showing some understanding and compassion, the mother of James and John approaches Jesus and asked that her boys be given preference in the Kingdom. This leads to jealously among the twelve and an argument. Just what Jesus needed, right? He’s hurting on the inside and the guys are arguing about who among them is the greatest. Jesus gives them a brief lecture on greatest and then they began walking out of Jericho headed for Jerusalem. A blind man sitting beside the road begging hears it is Jesus, he goes to crying out for mercy. Long story short: Jesus shows him mercy. The tired and burdened Savior ask the man, “What do you want Me to do for you?” The man said, “I want to see,” and Jesus restored his sight.

As I read through this chapter a few days ago, it hit me…everyone wants Jesus to do something for them but no one would show compassion and mercy on Jesus. Instead of sympathy and understanding, they keep piling on with I want this and I want that. I got a little angry on the inside as I thought about these people be so insensitive? Surely I would listen to Jesus, console Him, tell Him how much I loved Him and pray for Him. But I know the truth, I am no better than the disciples, I am worse. I’m sure they looked upon Jesus as a Super-Hero: the invincible One who needed nothing. I really believe Jesus was crying out in His own way for understanding and He got none. Folks we can’t glory in a thing: Jesus wrought our salvation all by Himself: we were no help and that’s a shame.

EXTRA

• Preston Grammer came through surgery OK. I didn’t stay because of the snow storm. Janet Fields got snowed in and will try to get out today. We will go back on Thursday. I know today will be a hard day for Preston. I didn’t get to see Dana Segars because the snow came so fast and the streets were bad when I left Princeton so I made a dash for North Alabama. It was touch and go until I got to the Hanceville Exit. There were a lot of wrecks and a lot of stranded motorist.
• Ken and Christy  Tapsott have a new grandbaby, Christopher Miles [8lbs and a few ounces] born about 5:00 yesterday evening. The LORD is good: Bailey and Chris are tickled pink, the entire family was elated.
• Paul said, “In all things give thanks because it is God’s will for those of us in Christ to be thankful.” I want to give some thanks: I am thankful for the two things above but I am also thankful that I do not live in Siberia, Alaska, Canada, Michigan, New York, Antarctica, or the North Pole. I don’t know if this cold weather is killing the bugs or not but it is making me thankful for Spring. Hey, I might get thankful for Summer before it’s over. How many single digit nights have we had this year? A bunch! I never remember school being out [I think this makes 5 days] for cold weather. An NO, they should not have to make them up. We need to do like Hoover and refuse the federal money and run our own schools. Have Swamp Johns every Saturday night. I’d be willing donate extra just to have the freedom to have what we want for lunch. Can you believe it, the Northeast Liberal bureaucrats tell us what we can have for lunch. It is the same group of idiots who believe in evolution. You can’t be reasonably intelligent and believe in evolution. Folks, it is time to take our schools back.

Saw A Lot Of This

And This…

…and this…

I didn’t see this but it was taken yesterday.

Celebrate Jesus