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For the past few weeks, we have been bombarded by political commercials, polls, promises, debates, mudslinging and fighting. We will all have our fill of politics by election day next Tuesday. I have been studying the word politics to help me better understand this whole process and have found this interesting definition. The word politics comes from two words, “poly” and “tics.” “Poly” means many and “tics” means blood-sucking creatures …. Well, it may not be the right definition, but we might all believe this is true by election day. Ser...
King David's plea in Psalm 85:6, “Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?” echoes with urgency. The great warrior king was witnessing a nation drifting from the Lord, and his plea for revival was not a casual request, but a desperate cry for a spiritual renewal. Words written over 3,000 years ago are still relevant today. Our families, churches, country and world are in a rapid descent from God, and the need for spiritual renewal is more urgent than ever. Our wor...
Most mornings, I try to play with our dog before I head out the door. Dogs can teach you a lot about life. I had her favorite treat this morning, and we were working on her tricks. As soon as she heard her treat bag, she jumped and ran in circles because she anticipated the treat. When I pick up her ball, her bottom jaw quivers in anticipation of fetching the ball. As soon as she hears my truck coming into the drive, she is at the back door anxiously waiting for me to come in. Anticipation has been a constant companion in my thoughts these...
In Matthew 25, Jesus describing the end time judgment stated: Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Those standing before the Lord were confused and asked when they did...
It is a challenge today to raise a family today. It is the hardest and scariest thing I have ever done. I know myself. I can take the simple and make it complex. I can take the functioning and create dysfunction. I know this feeling all too well when considering my father's role. I remember when I launched out my last child. As I drove back from dropping her off at college, all I could think about was the untaught lessons, my mistakes and the deep desire that she would do well despite me. Now, I look into the faces of each of my grandchildren...
Imagine Thomas' condition. A week earlier, he had watched Christ die. He had placed all of his hope and all of his life on Jesus. Jesus was everything to him, and now he was dead. Three days after the cross, Thomas could still not join the other disciples. He had lost too much, and the painful memories of his Savior's battered body haunted him. The disciples came to find him to tell him the joyful news: Christ had Risen. Peter, James, John and all the others affirmed to Thomas that Christ had in...
Many search and look, often without success, for simple true love. True love is defined as a love that demands action. It is not only expressed in words; it moves to action. If you love someone, you will not only say it but act. Love always manifests itself in action. Soon, we will celebrate love. We will send flowers, cards, and candy to those we love. We will express our love to those who are precious to us. Valentine's Day is a wonderful time to demonstrate our love in action. It is often tru...
Christmas is almost here. If you are like me, it has been a busy time throughout December. No one experiences many quiet moments as Christmas approaches — parties, shopping, cooking, greeting cards, always a lot to do this month. Then there are the countless interruptions of life to go with the busyness of the month. The phone rings as we are trying to eat. Coworkers interrupt your work to talk. Our children have a sudden emergency. Some are unwelcome, some are just a nuisance and some are cherished. Remember the last telemarketer or r...
With the arrival of colder temperatures this week, fall is certainly in full swing, and winter is on its heels. As fall concludes, we find ourselves moving into the holiday season. Thanksgiving and Christmas are almost here. We can practically smell the pumpkin pie, hear the noise of family enjoying time together and the never-ending wave of Black Friday ads. The challenge every year is that Thanksgiving is being swallowed up in the rush to find the hottest deals on junk we probably do not...
Our church is finishing up our Vacation Bible School this week. This year is special because it is my wife and my 30th VBS. We have seen so many children create all kinds of crazy themes and have had a great time each year. VBS is a treasured week each year, although it seems to get a little more exhausting as we age. I really enjoy working with children and teaching them about the Lord and His Word. Nothing is more beautiful than seeing a child embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ. Now I have adults that remind me that their relationship with...
John M. Davis was a wealthy man. His wife had just died and he did not like any of her family. He was an orphan and he had no children. To prevent his in-laws from getting his wealth when he died, he spent his entire fortune on an elaborate memorial to his wife and himself. Several statues were made, one of him and his wife dating, one of his wife, one of him in his later years, and one of him sitting by an empty chair. One statue depicts Davis placing a wreath on the tomb of his wife. Mr....
Talk to any farmer, and you will see the growing concern about the drought we are currently experiencing. Driving around, you will notice the dried-up ponds and browning wheat fields. It is a very concerning thing for all of us. The current decline and crumbling of our economy and an increasing drought become a formula for an economic collapse that we, as Oklahomans, are all too familiar with from past experiences. Many look to science to find the sources of drought. Scientists point to climate...
The older I get, the harder I find it to keep up with new terms the younger generation creates. I find myself using Google to understand what new terms mean. One such new term I recently came across is "ghost or ghosted." So, if you find someone much younger than yourself using this term, here is what it means: “Ghosting – when someone cuts off all communication without explanation – extends to all things, it seems. Most of us think about it in the context of digital departure: a friend not r...
Our journey through life can often become so busy and distracting that we forget some of the most important things of our journey. Sometimes our journey is jarred by events that make us realize the more important things in life. Monday night was such a moment. We were all shocked to watch Damar Hamlin collapse on the football field and to see medical personnel performing CPR on him. Suddenly the football game did not matter anymore. Suddenly the fuss over prayer did not matter, and many on the...
Remember the Charlie Brown Christmas Special, Charlie Brown? How about the part where Charlie Brown is frustrated that he cannot figure out what Christmas is all about? Charles Schultz wanted the true meaning of Christmas to be reflected in his Christmas Story. Being a Christian, he wanted the truth of Christmas to be the central part of this TV episode. Against the advice and pleas from TV executives and producers, Charles Schultz had Linus come out on stage and read the account of the...
The first of November is always a welcome sight. Trees turning, the first batch of homemade chili on a cold night, and the approaching holiday season with loved ones. The only difficult part of November is the second Tuesday of the month. By now you are sick of political ads, phone calls, and loads of junk mail from candidates promising things they can never deliver. Every year it seems to get more toxic, and I am often left wondering why these are the best candidates possible! Don’t get me wron...
Thorns are painful. They are a good deterrent from gardening and landscaping! The Bible uses thorns as a metaphor for adversity, pain and trials. Adam was told that thorns would be a part of his life until his death. All of mankind struggles with thorns. They can be a simple poke or a deep wound. We all experience pain. We all experience thorns. People often become desperate in their pain. Many try to comfort themselves with addictive behaviors. Some turn their thorns into anger toward their loved ones and often toward the Lord. What if I told...
How do you mark the end of summer? Some look at Labor Day, others when it starts to cool. Some look at the start of school, and some hold to the official date. For me, it begins with the end of VBS, school starts, the county fair, and then the annual car show. I always like the change of the seasons. When people ask me what my favorite season is, it is always the in-betweens. The changing leaves, the first snow, the budding of Spring, and the first dip in the pool. I guess I enjoy change. Life is like a series of changing seasons. One person de...
I hope you and your family will have a great holiday this weekend. We can all use some much-needed family time and a great BBQ. Monday night, I hope all your fireworks go off and are loud and bright. Usually, after a great meal and a day full of family time, we enjoy watching Alva’s firework show. All the celebrations drift to the background as I reflect on our nation. I am very grateful that I was born in this country. The freedoms I enjoy were born from a group of godly men who desired a f...
A few weeks ago, I experienced one of the loneliest times of my life. My wife had just gone into surgery, and I was sitting alone in the surgical waiting area. After almost 30 years of ministry, I am used to hanging out in surgical waiting rooms. I have spent countless hours sitting with family members as their loved ones were in surgery. Covid has drastically changed this ministry. For the past two years, pastors have not been allowed to sit with families during these difficult times. In fact, most hospitals are limiting families to just one...
What makes Christmas time so special? When I was a child, it was the wrapped presents under the Christmas tree. As a teenager, it was getting out of school for a few weeks. When I became a father, it was watching my kids open their presents. Now that my children are grown and have their own families, it is getting everyone back home and together as one family. Maybe for you, it is the baking, the lights, and the decorations. Perhaps it is the first snow. Maybe the Christmas movies. We all have...
Last November, I started down the journey into darkness. I was tired. Covid had beaten me down. Pastoring in a pandemic is hard, as it was with all pastors and churches. My wife and I still had residual effects from the disease we had contracted in September. There were also other conflicts. As Christians, especially those who are pastors, I know we are never to worry. I was "concerned" about my family, my flock and my nation. Weariness, worry and wariness create an environment dangerous to the...
Ask anyone in retail if they have had customers treat them unkindly. After spending almost 20 years in the retail world, I can attest to it. All three of my children worked in retail while they were in high school. More than once, I would have to comfort my teens when they came home and told me of being harshly treated by a customer. Our stressed-out world today has definitely forgotten how to be kind. After a long year of lockdowns, quarantines, and worry, people have forgotten the words of...
I am sure that your mother was the same as mine. We lived on a farm and I had 40 acres to run and roam. One thing was a must. If Momma called, you best be making your way back to the house. Sometimes it was a call to eat or to go to town. But even as I type this, I can hear it in the dusty bins of my memories; Mom would sometimes call me by my full name. When I heard my full name spoken, it meant one thing, just as it probably meant to you: I was definitely in trouble. Funny thing, I wasn’t near...
There is no doubt that this has been a challenging year. By February, our nation was starting to face a pandemic that seemingly will not go away. Within nine months, we have learned to wear masks, social distance, refrain from handshaking, and accept the "new normal." Nothing has been easy this year. Now that we are entering the holiday season, we are encountering situations we never thought would be an issue. Many are fearful of having large celebrations; many decide not to travel or host...
