Column "Until then" written by Tim Hobart Mills

Valentine's Love

2012-02-17T20:54:00.001-06:00

On this week of Valentine’s Day there have been many different types of demonstrations of love. When I was in grade school this week meant that you would spend time filling out little Valentine Cards that you would give to all your school mates. Everyone exchanged cards and as little kids we would always giggle and laugh when you gave out the card that said, “would you be my Valentine?”
I am not real sure but I haven’t seen those little cards in quite some time. It would be neat to me if kids still gave out those little cards in grade school. For couples celebrating Valentine’s Day that included a dinner, flowers and a card for those wanting to make a real statement of love. Yet, the right card can also present the perfect expression of love too. For parents of children the gift of a hand written card saying “I love you” becomes a cherished childhood heirloom that parents will hold on to throughout their lifetime. Love is a word that says the very best of everything.
If I flip the coin of love for just a moment, the usage of the word has also been minimized in importance because so many use it so loosely. Some individuals will tell someone they love a person after a first date. In counseling I always share that if you “fall” in love, then you can easily “fall” out of love too. Love is not a feeling, yet so many people tie emotions with the word not thinking about the real definition of the word. A demonstration of love includes both words and actions that complement each other. One of my personally held definitions of love is: It does not matter what you tell me I will still love you. This definition I developed after witnessing people tell folks they love someone to only see them change their feelings when that person no longer did what they wanted them to do. That is not love, rather it is manipulation. The ultimate definition of love for me is the demonstration of Jesus Christ and His example of His love for me, you and all who would believe on His name.
The Bible says that Jesus demonstrated His love toward us that while we were yet sinners, He died for us. I personally know individuals who have done for others and their sole motivation for giving or doing was because they expected something in return The helped out only to see if there was some way they could personally benefit from being involved. While this is the case for some, and I am confident that we all know people who have acted this way in the name of love all for themselves, this was not the actions of Jesus. The demonstration of His love for us before we respond to Him is still amazing love to me. The fact that you can reject Jesus, and never accept His love for you will still not remove the fact that He loves you and died for you. The opportunity to experience His love, which equals forgiveness, is the ultimate example of love.
This month, one year ago, I preached the funeral of a church member I had the honor of serving as his pastor. The death of young people is always challenging and heart breaking. His mother and I had a conversation over the phone in which she said the most amazing thing I had ever heard from a mother who had lost a son. As we were talking about her son, his life, and his friends, she said: “Until I lost my son, I had no clue what it was that God felt when He sent Jesus to die in our place”. Immediately I knew from our conversation that she had a renewed sense of the Love Jesus had for her and for others. It was a powerful moment and this example of her witness and testimony will live with me until I meet my maker personally. She said, “I wouldn’t want anyone to have experienced what I felt, but to know that Jesus died for me has a whole new meaning”.
This Valentine’s Week what definition do you hold for love? When you think of an example of love what comes to your mind?
We could consider that Jesus Christ has given each of us a card this year, in the Bible. The Bible is His personal words of love written just for us. We could consider that Jesus Christ has given each of a meal, in the last supper. This supper is a unique opportunity to celebrate the gift of Jesus and his sacrifice for us. We could consider that Jesus Christ was the perfect flower, as the Rose of Sharon, given to us by the Father. If you wanted a card, dinner and flowers this year for Valentine’s Day, you can still have the best Valentine’s ever, just except the Love Jesus has for you.

Until then

Haiti - The road to Haiti begins in Kentucky - (Series- Article 4)

2012-02-02T06:41:00.003-06:00

For the past 4 weeks I have be writing a series of articles about Haiti. I wanted to write this series and highlighting the 2 year anniversary of the devastating earthquake of January 12, 2010. The first two articles were informational about Country of Haiti and the people whom are so easy to love. I described the conditions one finds in Haiti and about how great the need is there for the most basic of human services and resources. Last week in my column I wrote about the call to service and about the role we can play with one simple question. What role will you plan in responding to the need in Haiti?
We all like a first person witness. We want to hear from someone that knows what they are talking about. I would not call myself an expert on the Country of Haiti, the politics of Haiti or the people of Haiti. What I would call myself an expert on the Love of Jesus Christ. His love is real and it is a forgiving love that removes all our sins. I am also an expert on His plan. He has a plan for each and every one of us. Scripture calls it an abundant plan too! He calls me and every other Christian to be an Ambassador of His love and His plan. I am not afraid to call you into His service. We have a draft in place, if you will. He calls and we answer. Isaiah 6:8 is very clear about how the draft process works. Our response is simply, “Here am I, send me Lord”.
Haiti is a country in great need. The people of Haiti need our help. Kentucky has been blessed with one organization that began with a simple trip that changed one man’s life, then mine, and now I pray you are next. Arnold Lemke was called into service when asked by his pastor to go on a short term mission trip to Haiti. Arnold answered that call, not with the slightest hint of what God was up to. One of the beauties of Jesus Christ is that you and I need do nothing to prepare for His call on our lives, except make ourselves available. Arnold discovered on his visit what all see when visiting Haiti. He saw the devastation of starvation. USAID, (United States Agency for International Development) released this fact you should consider. 80 out of 1,000 kids born in Haiti will never see their first birthday. Arnold began to feed twelve children after that first visit and today the Kentucky led organization, Children’s Lifeline, feeds over 7000 children a week. Serving as the Chairman of the Board, Arnold Lemke is one man that God has used to make a difference in the lives of thousands in Haiti. If we look at his impact from a much broader perspective that impact is multiplied by thousands over when you figure all those that have traveled on a short term trip as I did.
Children’s Lifeline is headquartered in Clay City, Kentucky, and located on mission in Archaie Quest, Haiti. The mission is a small compound that contains a work shop where ladies in the community and village work making items with fabrics donated. These handmade items then become sellable products creating income for them and their families. Remember, the average yearly family income is $450.00. The compound contains a medical clinic, a church, a school with classrooms and most importantly for many reasons, a soccer field. The one item I have waited to write about last is the yellow neon painted cross sitting atop the hill overlooking the soccer field and the mission compound. While it seems appropriate for a church, a mission or a Christian organization to have a Cross, this cross would become the most important symbol identifying the community on that fateful day the earthquake hit on January 12, 2010. Not just the city of Port Au Prince was impacted by the earthquake. The countryside was also in ruins and with road ways out the connecting link for food, which is beans and rice, the devastation of the quake, was felt by the entire country and people of Haiti. It is at this point the story of the cross begins. Outside relief organizations and other countries such as the United States were all looking for places that helicopters could land with shipment of medical supplies, food, water and personnel. The soccer field of the mission and compound had plenty of room for landing, but no identifying characteristics which could direct pilots to their make shift runway, except for one. The Cross.
The Cross worked perfectly in Haiti and the cross works perfectly every time, if only we would look to find it where we are. You can make a difference in Haiti, and the beginning point for that journey is located right here in Kentucky. Children’s Lifeline…..will you help?
Until then

Haiti - And you will help....right? (Haiti - Series Article 3)

2012-01-26T08:43:00.002-06:00

I began writing a series of columns this month about the Country of Haiti. I did so to highlight the 2 year anniversary of the earthquake that occurred on January 12, 2010. By writing this series I hope to engage a new group of people to see their role in making a difference in a country and for a people that so desperately need our help. In our world today we can find people on the street corner asking for help, people on the other end of the phone asking for help, people sitting in front of us at church asking for help, it just seems like everywhere one turns there is someone asking for help. I am not disagreeing at all with the assessment we see, feel, or have experienced. On the other hand I am agreeing with you totally that there are a lot of folks calling out for help. I believe that the bottom line truth is that because there are so many causes requesting help, pleading their case and asking for donations, we have become immune to the reality of the call. The biggest reason for the immune status is because we are also aware of the great waste and fraud of so many systems, programs and efforts. With good intentions we have set out to review and investigate people and programs before we contribute telling ourselves all along, “this is what God would have me to do”.
I appreciate reservation and investigation; it too has a proper place in the picture of things. There is also a proper place and time for immediate action and response. I think the worse excuse anyone can hear for not getting involved in the needs of people would be “let me pray about this”. Before you send off cards, letters and emails telling me you cannot believe I said it is an excuse to say “let me pray about this”, let us be very honest with the truth. Many times that expression is used to make one person feel spiritual or even better than another by giving the suggestion that after prayer we will have a decision about the question or need we see. Prayer is great if it is needed but there are many things that Christians do not need to pray about at all. To save a lot of words and character typing let me share this as the perfect example for “no prayer” required. Let us go and witness! Who was the last person you shared the Gospel with? I have heard many people request prayer in church prayer meetings on Wednesday and church services on Sunday for individuals by name that had never made a public profession of faith in Jesus Christ. We hear the prayer request but our prayers have no action other than these public words which other hear. Our prayers have no feet. Our prayers have no hands. Our prayers have no ears. Our prayers have no arms.
Haiti is a country where the people are living in shacks of plastic. Haiti is a country where its people have no safe water for bathing. Safe drinking water is not even in the Haitian vocabulary.
In the mountains of Southeastern Kentucky we all have an image of a shack. Our image is the same as those in Tennessee or anywhere that poverty has gained a strong hold. A rundown house could be one image with age having taken a toll creating a need for lots of repairs. In Haiti the affect of the earthquake left not only 300,000 plus killed by the quake, but thousands upon thousands homeless who now live in what is known the world over as “Tent Cities”. Plastic shacks are hard to explain but let me try. Image a plastic tarp that has been spread out to form a ceiling or a wall to protect those who call that location home. In “Tent City” it could be any number of individuals, from 5 to 10, all squeezing in together to call this type of living condition their home. No sanitation, no running water, no place to hang your clothing to dry, no place for a space to think, no protection from criminal activity life robbery , rape and yes murder. No way to protect any of your belongings, but lets us be very frank. In Haiti, your personal belongings most often you are wearing. There are no other possessions.
Testimonies are first person accounts of things witnessed. My testimony is very simple. Jesus Christ came into my heart and saved me from my sins. My testimony is very simple. Haiti is a country where the most basic gift of a towel or a bar of soap by us, makes a world of difference there. I want my testimony to by clear. I don’t even need to pray and ask God anything about this. It is clear. To whom much is given much is required.

Until then

Haiti - I am unprepared and changed forever by one single moment

2012-01-19T10:50:00.000-06:00

The mention of the country Haiti brings what to your mind? It is easy to understand without some experience or attachment it is possible that nothing of impact comes to mind. We as American’s are a custom to not having an opinion or thought unless it affects us. This is not the recommended path I would suggest for anyone, but this is often sadly the way many live their lives. As a Minister of the Gospel since 1982, I have had the experience of many moments that I cannot shake from the memory of my mind involving people, and situations.
The most impacting moment of my life happened while I was in Haiti this past Thanksgiving 2011. Sometimes it is the unexpected that catches you so off guard and unprepared. It is for me not the lack of knowing what I was about to experience or see but rather the actual experience itself that touched my inner most being. I have been called by many families to attend to a hospital bedside or to an accident in an attempt to minister God’s love in a crisis. The biggest crisis many ministers attend to is during the hour or time of a death. The loss of a loved one, family member or friend can be challenging not just for those that loved and cared about the one deceased, but funerals are also significant challenges to ministers. Finding the right words to say is not always easy but I believe the most significant challenge for those leading such a service would be keeping their emotions in check.
While in Haiti serving our mission team had daily activities we were attempting to complete which included everything from feeding children, busting up rocks for new construction and our work as a team also included trips to different orphanages where we delivered food, conducted programs and loved on people. My moment of unpreparedness came when we visited the mass gravesite for the victims of the January 12, 2010 earthquake. I am not sure where I was or what I was doing when the announcement was made that we would be stopping at the mass gravesite but for whatever reason, I was caught off guard. I was at the front of the bus talking with our driver when he made the turn to go up a gravel road toward the mountainside. It was at that moment when I asked where we were going that I learned our destination. Here in American after the attack of 9-11 there has been millions of dollars spent building memorials to honor those that were killed. Not only millions of dollars but the projects have taken over 10 years to complete. All the dollars and time to honor 3,000 lives and what I was about to see was to honor over 300,000 lives. What I saw was what left me unprepared, and speechless.
In Haiti over 300,000 lost their lives in a single earthquake on that January afternoon and our bus made its way up a dusty gravel road that had no road markers, no road signs, and no monuments. There was no parking lot to get out of the bus and walk over to a viewing area that allowed for the hallowed ground to remain in a memorial state with honor and dignity. There was no historical marker describing what had happened, how the Government of Haiti had to dig a mass grave and that they placed the dead bodies of her citizens here as a final earthly resting place. No mention how the men, women, and children buried here had been removed from their homes, buildings and the streets and brought to this place as the government’s only solution to the staggering death toll from the quake. Yes, I was totally speechless to see only black wooden crosses that once stood lying on the ground. I was unprepared to know that cattle walked and grazed over this mass cemetery. There was no fence, there was no official marker to say anything….not a single word written to honor those that once lived and died because of the earthquake. Without thinking I took my camera out of my pocket and I began to take pictures, and honestly I found myself wanting to take 300,000 pictures, but I knew it wasn’t possible. I wanted to somehow honor the lives of those I was now standing over, looking at, and with my mind racing with the thoughts of a hundred cemeteries I had preached at and conducted services at, I knew this one was different and I would never be the same.
You may never have been to Haiti. You may not know or have ever met a single Haitian. You may think that what has happened over there is of no concern to you. You might have never thought for a second is there something you can do, but there is.
Until then

Haiti - Remember Jan 12, 2010 to make a difference in 2012 (Article 1)

2012-01-13T06:30:00.004-06:00

November 2011 marked my return to the Country of Haiti. This was my third visit and my first visit since the catastrophic earthquake that occurred on Tuesday, January 12, 2010. I have had the privilege to serve as a visiting missionary to several different countries in the world. There is no greater experience to participate on a mission team or to lead a group with the focused purpose of going to serve people in the name of Jesus Christ. My first two visits to Haiti were eye opening experiences. Yes, I saw poverty, yes I saw great need. The worse experience was to see with my eyes a country whose political leadership served not the people but themselves. Those first two visits revealed the citizens of Haiti struggling for the most basic of human needs.
My visit the week of Thanksgiving 2011 placed me personally at a loss for words, and even now I struggle with this series of columns I am compelled to write regarding Haiti. It was at 4:53pm 2 years ago this month that a 7.0 magnitude earthquake devastated the Capital City of Port-Au-Prince and the surrounding area that extended over 18 miles. I want you to understand that I thought Haiti was in dire straights before the earthquake of January 12th. It is very difficult to describe in words what happen to the people of Haiti, their homes, and their families much less describe for you what it did to the infrastructure of their Country. One thing that you must know is that Country of Haiti needs the help of the Government of the United States and the Citizens of Haiti we as individuals must help without any delay! I am beginning with this column a series regarding my experience in Haiti, what you can do to help, and by highlight the needs of Haitians I pray we as individuals, churches, families, and companies of the “world of citizens” will be called to into action.
We must understand the basics of the history of Haiti and we must look at the facts surrounding this devastating event of 2010 as we begin this journey. You maybe surprised to know that Haiti is the world’s oldest black republic and the oldest republics in the Western Hemisphere. Christopher Columbus visited the island in December of 1492. The slaves of Haiti rose up and fought for their freedom and the people won their independence from slavery and gave birth to a Nation in 1792. That year should ring a bell for Kentuckians because it was also the year that the Commonwealth of Kentucky was born and joined the Union of the United States of America. It is hard to look at Haiti today and realize they were once the leader of black independence as a Nation and once they were also the wealthiest black Nation on the earth. Today, Haiti is one of the poorest and least developed countries in the world. The down fall of Haiti from her historically rich history comes at the hand of wicked leaders who served themselves and who even pledged and dedicated Haiti to the devil and the country is surrounded with the practice of Voodoo even today.
The earthquake on the 12th day of January 2010 continued with over 50 aftershocks for several days. The quake left over 300,000 who laid dead on the streets, sidewalks, in their homes, and yes, even in the Capital Building of Haiti. 300,000 more were injured with absolutely no medical help and over 1,000,000 (1 Million) people found themselves immediately homeless. It is estimated over 30,000 businesses, commercial buildings, including the Capital Building housing Haiti’s Government, not to mention the Embassy of the United States of America. Today Haiti is the home to over 500,000 orphans. On my mission experience I saw many orphans first hand. There were in villages, and in schools. These were considered lucky, even if that meant one or two adults attempting to care for 15 or even 30 kids who had literally no one else.
It was these things that I witnessed and these facts which cause me today to invite you to journey with me to Haiti through this column. Come walk with me through this series of columns in January. I am confident you will see at least one way you can help make a real difference right from where you are, while some of you will make the real journey with me to there.

Until then

Scripture Selection 2012 - 2 Peter 1:3

2012-01-06T06:45:00.000-06:00

With the arrival if each New Year all the talk is about resolutions, goals and plans. As a minister I have experience many great moments that have changed my life. Serving the Kentucky Baptist Convention as the Collegiate Campus Minister at Union College in Barbourville provided for one of those lives changing moments. I led a group of students one year to a conference where we heard David Nasser speak. He challenge was in the area of memorization of God’s word. He question to us as participates was how much to we have memorized and his assumption was that most Christians have very little of God’s word memorized. I focused on his challenge and thought about all the folks I know that study God’s word. In conversation sometimes you will hear people say, “This is my life verse”, and it refers to a verse of scripture that is their go to verse for motivation and vision. My life verse is Acts 4:12. It sums up for me all the courage I need to keep pressing forward and to believe.
Accepting David’s challenge for me involved a yearly focus on a particular scripture. One verse to think about every day, to memorize, to learn about and from this focus be able to apply it to my personal life and the situations I see others facing. Deciding to select a yearly verse of scripture to focus on each year has made a huge difference in my life. I’ve always had a sermon ready to go at the drop of a hat, but from this intense focus and study I have learned how to have a more direct conversation and application of God’s word. Learning the situation of the scripture, what the motivations were and how it relates to other scriptures, has allowed me many opportunities.
The first opportunity is one that affords me knowledge to help others. Now I certainly don’t know all the answers, but I’ve learned in life that if you start with the right foundation, you success rate will be higher than just guessing in the dark. I have learned that life is very short and we really don’t have a lot of time to figure things out the hard way. I accept the experiences from others as my learning tools too. Helping others has always been a number one focus in my life. Personally I accept the experiences of my life, including the hard knocks and easy runs as long as that experience is one I can use to help others. Being able to identify is important in some circumstances, but having a clear direction to turn to is an important step.
The second opportunity is all about me. Yes, I just wrote that I want to help others, but the most difficult lesson in life is that in order to help others, you must first examine yourself. Removing the “mote” from our eye, or correcting the mistakes allows us a clean slate to work from, and that is the most important step. Studying scripture allows me the opportunity to let God’s word change me. It gives me the opportunity to learn more about Him. His ways and His methods. I experienced tremendous growth in my Christian walk when I first realized that something’s I thought were in the Bible were not! Discovering what Jesus really said and did opened up the flood gates of learning compared to the often practiced method by many to just listen to what the preacher said and do what everyone else is doing.
I have been participating in a small church group study of God’s word for the past 4 years. We meet on Wednesday and are hosted in a different home. Our focus is on the previous Sunday sermon with questions designed to challenge and get the thinking block going. Every two weeks a friend of mine leads a Bible study on Tuesday and the practice of that meeting is a verse by verse scripture study. Two months ago I joined a study group that meets the first Monday of every month. This small group has committed to complete the P2A (Passion to Action) study. It is all about discovering God’s heart, your purpose and how to best serve others. It has been quite a challenge I must tell you. It requires 45 minutes per lesson and that is an intense 45 minutes too. In one of our studies I ran across a verse of scripture that after reading it I immediately knew it should be my 2012 Scripture of the Year.
2 Peter 1:3 “According to His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue”.

Until then

The Class of '83 - Robert Burnett and today Andrew Burnett; Jackie Oslonian and today Peyton Hisel

2011-12-31T06:41:00.000-06:00

The Statler Brothers introduced the world to the song, “The Class of ’57”. The chorus simply says that The Class of ’57 had their dreams. Well The Class of ’83 had her dreams too. Dreams about the careers we would pursue, the families we would build, and the difference we would make. Our teachers taught us that we could make a difference by simply being ourselves, working hard, and thinking about others first. I must say it would be nice if every bought into this dream too, but nevertheless The Class of ’83 has made a difference. That year the Maroon and White Bobcats of Bell County High School selected Jackie Oslonian and Robert Burnett as the Most Athletic in our Senior Superlatives. Our children grow up looking like us for the most part, acting like us more than we will admit and we pray achieve more than we did. Peyton Hisel, Jackie’s daughter, and Andrew Burnett, Robert’s son have both made their parents proud and have moved the dreams of the Class of ’83 to the next level.
Jackie Oslonian was without a doubt a great student athlete and when I asked her what she felt knowing her daughter signed to play in the Ohio Valley Conference at Jacksonville State in Oxford, Alabama she said, “I feel blessed and thankful on many different levels. My daughter has the opportunity to play at the next level, and she earned it”. Peyton is finishing her senior year of high school at Tates Creek in Lexington, Ky. Her statement and thoughts about playing at the next level are quite simple. “Competition is all about getting better and this is a challenge I welcome.” She was recruited by Eastern Kentucky University, and the University of Tennessee-Martin just to give you a glimpse of who was interested in her talent, skills, and determination. With a NCAA Division I full scholarship to join the Gamecocks Women’s basketball program at JSU Peyton will make a difference from the classroom floor as she seek an academic career in the area of nursing and or sports medicine.
Andrew Burnett has defied all the odds as a Brentwood Tennessee High School Senior.
He signed to play NCAA Division I Lacrosse at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut. “You could be the best player in Lacrosse in the State of Tennessee and no would care”, Robert Burnett shared with me when I spoke with him about his son’s accomplishment. “There are 60 Division I teams in the Nation and only 10-12 kids per team and my son sought out his dream and he did it”. Andrew is what is known as a Faceoff specialist. His winning percentage at this position is 59.8% winning 255 out of 376 faceoffs. For those not familiar with Lacrosse, Andrew plays in a position that requires hard nose, totally aggressive and a mental toughness to get the ball in a one on one battle. Andrew does this with exception skills and technique. Getting the ball puts your team on offense and this is the position you want to be to score first and win your game. When asked about his thoughts of signing to play Lacrosse at the Division I Level Andrew said, “This is hard to explain because all the odds were against me reaching my dream. I took one skill set, winning at faceoff and it turned into my opportunity”.
Parents who watch their children succeed at their dreams are parents who are also blessed to remember their own goals. They become parents who now watch their dreams (their children) with even greater wonder than their own hopes when they were elected to the highest honors we could give back in our day. Peyton and Andrew you should know that there are many members of the Class of ’83 who applaud your success and who applaud your ever basket, great defense and faceoff win and score that you each achieve. Your grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and yes, even your grandparents friends and folks you may never meet celebrate your success too. One of the great traits of mountain folks is that we get excited when folks show us a picture or tell us a story of your success. On behalf of the Class of ’83, please allow this columnist to say congratulations and that you have more fans than you know from here in the mountains of Southeastern Kentucky.

Until then

First Christmas In Heaven

2011-12-24T06:04:00.000-06:00

Christmas is a time of that year that brings solemn thoughts as individuals reflect upon this Christmas, their First Christmas, without a loved one. I first published this poem in 1998 as it was used to minister to me in the loss of my grandfather. Each year at this time of the year I publish it again in my column with the prayer that this poem gives each of us hope through faith in Jesus Christ. There is nothing that will replace the loss of a loved one, but the comfort of their presence in Heaven with Jesus does provide me with peace, especially at Christmas.

My First Christmas in Heaven

I see the countless Christmas Trees around the world below
With tiny lights, like Heaven’s stars, reflecting on the snow.

The sight is so spectacular; please wipe away the tear
For I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I hear the many Christmas songs that people hold so dear
But the sounds of music can’t compare with the Christmas choir up here.

I have no words to tell you, the joy their voices bring,
For it is beyond description to hear the angels sing.

I know how much you miss me, I see the pain inside your heart
But I am not so far away, we really aren’t apart.

So be happy for me, dear ones, you know I hold you dear
And be glad I’m spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I sent you each a special gift, from my heavenly home above.
I sent you each a memory of my undying love.

After all, love is a gift more precious than pure gold.
It was always most important in the stories Jesus told.

Please love and keep each other, as my Father said to do.
For I can’t count the blessing or love He has for each of you.

So have a Merry Christmas and wipe away that tear.
Remember, I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

Until then

Horse Creek Road Baptist Church - Thanks for the difference!

2011-12-10T18:07:00.000-06:00

Now that you have visited with family and friends, and no doubt had a plate if not two plates full of food, have you turned the page to Christmas yet? As you know, I am in doing my own tradition that I began several years ago. Forget the fluff and pomp of most holiday traditions. Mine is very simple. I just spend the time leading up to Christmas being thankful for the blessings I have experienced, the friends that have made a difference in my life and the situations that have changed me because I was there. Over the years I have personally been amazed at the responses to my thanksgiving tradition. Let me say thanks now for your emails and phone calls. Appreciation is something that I would say one must work at. Learning how to say thanks is easy. Most folks allow thanks to fall from their lips with total ease, the only problem I hear most of the time is the lack of genuine heartfelt thanks when they say such. It is like when you hear the expression, “I will be praying for you”. Now if this is a challenge to you, then so be it, but you want to believe folks will do what they say especially when it involves prayer, but for some reason I think many people use those words because they make us feel good. Many times folks don’t know what to say, so we say spiritual and religious sounding phrases that make us feel good and hopefully will present us in a respectable and positive view by others.
Having the privilege of serving a congregation and a community as pastor is a most humbling opportunity and gratifying position. Horse Creek Road Baptist Church in Corbin, Ky., was the first church I had the privilege of serving as pastor. I could write that I am not sure what they were thinking when they did such, but looking back to 1992 it wasn’t so much what they were thinking or what I was thinking. It was really all about what God was doing! My spirit of thanksgiving continues remember what God did at Horse Creek Road and three special deacons that God used in my life. C.C. Pope was the first voice of association with HCRBC. C.C. was calling me to see if I would be willing to help fill the churches pulpit on Sunday’s while they were looking for a pastor. A very small congregation, Horse Creek is located in the Sweet Hollow Area of Laurel and Knox County as the church was founded in September 1884. Just 20 years ago it was very easy to imagine the Sunday scene. Folks riding to church on horses and mules, using the trees that filled the church property to tie their livestock to I can see clearly still. I can imagine the foot paths used by those early settlers as the church bell rings down the valley signifying it was church time.
Deacon Bill Blankenship, Phillip Howard and C.C. Pope were the forces of faith, hope and change. I had just returned to Kentucky from Fort Worth, Texas and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary when I accepted the call to be pastor of Horse Creek Road. These three deacons had been faithful to Horse Creek. Serving in the role they too had accepted and with a deep love for the community they each filled various leadership positions. Through the years they had seen lives be changed by the love and grace Jesus Christ gives to all who ask, and they had also witnessed change. Some of the change was just reality of a small church. The Bible says that His ways are higher than ours and that He does exceedingly above and beyond what we ask or think. HCRBC was an example of just that and served as a changing force in the lives of so many. Galatians 6:9 says that if we don’t grow weary, in due season we will reap if we faint not. C.C., Bill, and Phillip witnessed that truth from God’s word as did all of us who came, attended, participated and even watched from a distance.
A young man called to serve as Minister of Youth was Mike Wilson. He later served the largest SBC church in Tennessee, Two Rivers in Nashville and now he leads MYlifeSpeaks and directs an orphanage in Haiti. The blessings of a committed time continue as the current pastor, Scott Williams was also a product of that specific time and faith of three deacons who believed Horse Creek Road Baptist Church was a special place. And it is indeed. My thanks is overflowing for His work.

Until then

Thankgivings for Prayer

2011-12-03T01:25:00.000-06:00

I am easily still within my “Season of Thankgivings” in which I am attempting to bring reasons for thanks to each of us as we have been blessed throughout the year and for many, year after year. One of the big thanks that gives me reason for smiles, hope and encouragement is prayer. Praying is one of those things that a lot of folks talk about doing, and it is a subject that maybe many individuals do without any clear direction of who they are praying to. Me, I know in whom I believe and His name is Jesus. I have discovered that He listens and that He also responds, which has kept me coming back to His throne time and time again.
Prayer is a powerful tool and the fact-of-the-matter based on Christian Scripture is that Christians can pray for anyone and that individual can be the blessed person because of the prayers of another even though they might not have even asked for prayer. Yes, the Bible says that the prayers of the righteous avail much. Considering the subject matter of prayer the Bible is also very clear about what happens when two Christians get together to pray and gather in His name. Positive things happen because two Christians agree and because they agree for God’s Will to be accomplished and not theirs.
There have been thousands of testimonies of God’s Hand-i-work accomplished in the lives of individuals who were given news of no hope and even advice to make preparations because of the exhaustion of medical procedures and treatments. News as this is never what you want to hear and sometimes not what you are prepared for or expecting either. People pray about lots of things. We pray for our children before they are born, as they are growing up and in some situations the children we pray for are those that come into our lives at different age levels and circumstances. Prayer is something we implore when we are facing decisions about work, or situations that require us to lead a group of people toward a goal too. Maybe the most common prayer would be for medic al outcomes, tests, results, surgeries and procedures. I say this is the most common prayer because of my experience over the past 29 years of ministry. Most folks want to pray when they are up against a wall or are facing trials they never imagined a way out of prior to that moment. There is absolutely nothing wrong with praying in emergencies either. I strongly encourage all to pray when such times arrive in our lives. It is often in these types of moments that we realize there is someone that cares and there is a peace that seems to exist when we practice faith. Jesus has the unique ability to hear a million prayers at once, well, actually all the prayers of the world which would include some 6,840,507,000 and counting every second. Not sure how he does it, but he does and I’m for one just thankful that He is able!
I am assuming that those reading this column will be able to admit we have all prayed at some point in our lives, the most precious prayers to the ears of Jesus are simply two. The most important prayer Jesus wants to hear from us is the prayer that comes from our heart where we ask Him to come into our heart and to forgive us and to fill us with His plan and purpose. The second prayer that Jesus longs to hear is the one of praise. If one spends time praying over situation after situation then you would think it would be natural to praise Him like no other when the answer comes, right? But so often that is not the case. The Bible tells of the one who returned to say thanks while everyone else went on their way without taking time to come back and praise the giver whose touch made the change they had been seeking. Finding the courage to express thanks is not only the right thing to do, but it is the example we should all follow as individuals who are grateful. Churches should never have a problem in finding someone to testify about the blessings of God but sometimes the praise is either shorted lived or never even spoken at all. I personally thing this is a great day and time of the year to live a life of thanks and a life of prayer.

Until then

Season of Thankgivings - Here am I Lord, send me

2011-11-24T07:25:00.000-06:00

While Christmas is an important time of the year, we as Christians should not limit ourselves to one weekend of thanks for those that have helped to shape and mentor our lives. I wrote last week that we are often impacted by folks we don’t even know personally. These are individuals that followed their passions and the lead of God in their lives who by doing so, touched and changed ours. I am pretty sure that I will never get over the Season of Thankgivings that have impacted me. The Bible has so many answers and motivations for us as Christians about why we should go and by going grow.
This is the week of Thanksgiving and for many they will be spending that time traveling and attempting to rush in one weekend visits to family members, and eating a meal on a time schedule as you can’t spend all day at one place, family duty calls to visit two families for most Americans. While I write this article I am extremely mindful of those that will also be spending this time alone. There are many situations that create this setting. For many it will be the death of a loved one, or children now removed from the home community and not able to gather around the family table. For some it is because their loved ones are serving our nation in the Armed Services. As I write this I am thinking of especially Erik Wesley Thomas and his friends who are serving in Iraq this Thanksgiving. I wrote in a letter to him on Veteran’s Day that I was rather confident his family looked at that day differently as this was their first experience with their child, brother, grandson and nephew who are in service to our Nation. I shared that it often takes experiences like that to change our minds and to cause us to reflect upon a Holiday such as Veteran’s Day differently. It is not a bad thing just that most of us don’t often count the cost of freedom on a regular occasion and we miss that blessing until it comes home to us.
Yes, there are many things that bring Thankgivings alive and well within us.
Thanksgiving is a perfect time for Christians to express thanks through service. In all our communities there are things that we can be involved in that will make a difference. Time doesn’t afford all of us the same opportunities but time does afford each of us the chance to make a difference. As I write this column I am in Haiti. I will be returning to the United States the day before Thanksgiving. I am in Haiti serving 8000 kids a deal meals as one of my personal efforts to make a difference. Haiti is the poorest country in the world. The hurricanes and the last earthquake here have left shanty shacks on the ground and millions with no place to call home. This is my third trip to Haiti and each time I have visited I have been reminded of the blessings I have. My Thanksgivings now are for folks that I never met personally. It is because of Individuals who believed that all the children of the world, red, yellow, black and white deserve an education and food to keep them from staving to-death I am here. The vision for these orphanages and these schools are the product of folks who believed they could make a difference. I pray my coming here encourages their family members as their vision lives on through folks they too have never met. When I return to the United States I will be preparing and serving Thanksgiving Meals through the church. Feeding folks here at home and I pray this too makes a difference.
There is much for us to do, and the fact is no one can do it alone. However, if just one person decided to walk along side another, the impact very well could last for generation upon generations.
This Holiday has passed, and while there yet remains days in the calendar month, there is always December if you too would like to make a difference. Right here at home. Volunteer with a group from a church, call up an organization you know cares about those who need us to care for them and volunteer. You can make a difference and you can find a spirit of Thanksgivings within your own life if you will only say “Here am I Lord, send me”.

Until then

Mark Robbins - First Priority Season of Thanksgivings

2011-11-18T13:58:00.000-06:00

Season of Thanksgivings. Yes, it is not a typographical error; this is the Season of not one item of thanks but rather a Season of many thanks for me. For the past several years I have taken this time of the year to express the impact and thanks of my heart for individuals that made a difference and situations that cause my heart to give thanks. I love Thanksgiving and I have learned to put out of my mind the commercialized season that brings ring ring to the cash registers of retailers. I am not sure that the Christmas season begins sooner every year but I know that Thanksgiving is as fundamental to the Christian faith as Christmas even if retailers, families, individuals and churches quickly move through the Holiday. There are individuals in each of our lives that have brought about a positive impact. Some of these folks we maybe able to name personally, others are folks that because of what they did brought necessary change to our way of thinking or simply influenced a situation that made all the difference. Robert Frost talked about this in his poem, “The Road not Taken”. For Christians, we too make road choices that should bring a sense of peace to our lives even if no one travels that road with us.
The Tri-State and the Tri-County area of Southeastern Kentucky is blessed with the impact of vision, determination and leadership through the long time Executive Director of First Priority, Mark Robbins. Mark was the person tapped by the national leadership of First Priority to begin the movement and empowerment of young people to follow Christ and to exercise their constitutional right of assemble, prayer, praise and worship all in the name of Jesus to our middle schools and high schools. When First Priority began it was a simple call to action, where churches were encouraged to get behind young people with their financial resources, energy and volunteerism as students developed leadership skills and the practice of their faith and for thousands, those who came to believe in Jesus Christ because someone dared to tell the story of Jesus and His love.
Today, First Priority has grown in Southeastern Kentucky to two different areas of focus. At the inception it was a Claiborne County Tennessee, Bell, and Harlan County movement. Once that organization proved itself, and with the spreading of the word about the success students were having in schools and the difference churches were seeing because of the impact of First Priority on students, soon the network grew deeper into the State of Tennessee and neighboring counties and in Kentucky too. Knox, Whitley and Laurel Counties also heard of the results and impact and the network continued to expand reaching thousands of students every week, many of whom never walked through the doors of a church on regular bases or had never professed a belief in Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. The amazing thing to me as a pastor about First Priority was that it sought the influence, support and connection of the local church too. Many organizations want to be stand alone but not First Priority. First Priority aggressively pursued the church as the real connection and began to build bridges to connect students with churches that believed Jesus was the answer.
Mark Robbins is an individual I admire and appreciate for taking this vision to heart and for committing himself to the cause of students and First Priority. Working with Mark to build the network and expand the impact of churches in the lives of students and our educational campuses has been and remains a top priority of my life and one of those rewarded blessings of God that has impacted and also changed my life.
Today, the Tri-State First Priority Network is lead by Junior Minton and the Tri-County First Priority Network is lead by Tim Bargo. I am most thankful for the leadership of these men in the lives of our students. Our communities are different because these guys lead the networks and our students in school are able to exercise their constitutional rights because of the due diligence of these men who work to secure volunteer leaders, raise funds and press toward the prize of God and His calling on their lives. As I begin my Season of Thankgivings, it begins with Mark Robbins and it is easy to see what happens when one person does what is right. Others follow. Thanks Junior and Tim for continuing to build a foundation that others can build upon.

Until then

Elections-Responsibilty-Duty

2011-11-12T04:42:00.000-06:00

Kentucky has just experienced another statewide election. All elections are important and I take a sense of personal pride in knowing that I have never missed a single election process. Be it a special election, primary or general election, I have enjoyed exercising my legal right and what I also consider a personal responsibility to vote. I have friends that do not take very seriously the responsibility and privilege of voting in America. I have struggled and will continue to struggle with attempting to understand what individuals think that do not vote.
I can think of many issues that would cause me to desire to exercise my right to vote. I enjoy praying, and I don’t believe that right should be removed as a free choice and exercised right. The United States of America is a Nation that was founded upon the Bible, God’s Holy Word. His name is inscribed on the buildings of the United States Supreme Court, and throughout the historical documents his wisdom has been invoked, sought after and prayed for. Our Presidents take their oath of office with their hand placed upon the Holy Scriptures of Jesus Christ yet, no longer can a school district have a moment of prayer before a sporting event or program. Yes, all these concerns and others reasons serve me as motivation to participate in democracy.
The frustration as to why folks don’t want to be a part of the mess of politics I understand. Yes, things are a mess, but I would suggest they are a mess because good folks have stood by and done nothing. Individuals have decided best just to not get involved, and then been chief complainers once something was done. In my opinion that’s not the way we should be. Are we always going to agree with each other? No. Are different opinions and points of view important to hear and consider? Absolutely they are. Should status quo be maintained just because this is the way it has always been? Again, no to this question too. Being involved in the debate of issues is important and being involved in the lives of individuals is most important for those who profess the name of Jesus as Savior and Lord. Making a difference is not about just putting out a position paper, sharing your belief or telling someone this is what they should do. Involvement is a personal decision about sharing ourselves, our struggles and successes so the wisdom of experience can be properly applied to the next decision we are about to make.
The elected politicians of today can learn from Jesus. We constituents are in this group that can learn too. Jesus may have had a different opinion but he never closed the door of conversation, even with His enemies. Jesus saw someone in need and looked to see what He could do to make a difference and He did, without thought to His own life first. Jesus saw the possessions He had as working tools and if used properly they could help to built up another man’s life and family. Jesus told the truth. He didn’t tell the truth in a mean spirited way but He told the truth out of love and concern. Imagine what would happen if the political figures of today had that type of genuine spirit toward others. Jesus was never afraid to get involved. An individual who was hurt and lived in pain He was interested in. Someone who felt harmed or wronged He would hear them out. Jesus was no electable to public office, no He was put to death by lying testimony, judges that acted cowardly and unruly mobs. Yet, through all that, He still believed the positive side of folks even when they were showing their worse.
Voting may not be important to you but it is to me. As a Christian I feel compelled to vote and to do my best with what I have. I believe the lack of voter turn-out in Kentucky General Election is a disgrace to the men in women who have fought and continue to fight for democracy. For Christians who are not involved we have a duty and responsibility for the cause of Christ to do our part as He did his for us. This election has come and gone, but more elections are on the way. We won’t know if any hearts have been changed until we see you in the voting booth.

Until then

College creates a gratful heart

2011-11-05T06:10:00.000-05:00

Class reunions or as academic institutions like to refer to them, milestone marks, can be a lot of
fun. In this column I have written many times on the speed at which time seems to pass. Things just fly
by as you get older and there appears to be no control switch to regulate the pace at which things in life
arrive. If there were to be such a knob I am quite confident that we would never be able to settle the
debate of when to turn the speed of things down, yet, extremely confident we would all want things not
to pass so quickly. A 25 year college reunion is one of those events that “officially” give you the
distinctive status of getting older. When began to think about college I really only considered two
colleges. Because of the influence of Dr. Harold Wortman as my long time music mentor, Cumberland
College in Williamsburg had the edge by a mile over Georgetown College just north of Lexington. The
influence at Georgetown was Dr. Dudley Pomaroy who believed strongly that Georgetown was the place
for me. Both of these Kentucky Baptist Institutions would have served me well I believe, but I decided
to become a Maroon and White Indian over a Tiger and as Robert Frost wrote, that has made all the
difference for me.
Deciding where you will attend college is filled with pressure like: you need to attend a good
college or university; you need an excellent education to make it in the world; you are led to believe
with the right seal on your diploma you will land a high paying job; Lots of these thoughts I heard and
many of these same lines are used today when students begin to think about under-graduate degrees. I
know folks who studied here in the mountains from Union who went to Princeton and I know folks from
Cumberland who went to Harvard. With those facts it can be said you can get to anywhere from
anyplace if you want to. Looking back 25 years there are some things you will not know when you begin
the journey. #1 you don’t know it yet, but some of your best friends in life you will make in college. #2
exposures to ideas and concepts are vital for a solid academic education. From these exposures you will
be able to test the theories of your belief system, the values you say are yours, and the character you
think you are will be challenged. These experiences are building blocks from which will build upon the
foundation that we received from our parents. The pursuit of an academic degree is not for everyone.
If your child landed this fall on a foreign land of higher education then I know there were fears of just
how much they are going to change along with the realization that your little one is not little anymore.
For some, this past fall landed them on a job field, or in a career zone. This too is a foreign land.
Hopefully they learned in high school how to be instructed, how to take orders if you will and hopefully
they learned that life is a journey. Best advice at this juncture for encouragement would be the thought
of Christian ideology. It is not how you start but how you finish that is most important.
In college I was introduced to practical skills I needed and that I use today. Some of them are
pure academic learning moments that do apply to life. Mathematics are an important understanding to
a person who loves to cook, as is science to a police officer or investigator. Growing up there is
difficulty in seeing how any of these things relate, but they do, it just takes time, sometimes.
My learning from the Historical Cumberland College now known as the University of the
Cumberlands is one I am thankful for. I appreciate the moments I thought I learned nothing and learned
everything. I appreciate the friendships I made and cherished. I value the new introductions and
moments of memory that cause reflection about people, places and moments locked in time. I applaud
David Bergman, Director of Alumni Relations, and my long time friends Jimmy Huddleston and Melanie
Mackey Evans for their efforts in making Homecoming #25 special for me.
The biggest applause for the weekend goes to the Master of Direction and the Guide of Life. I
am so glad I learned to trust in Jesus, for He and He alone has made all the difference in my life.
Following Him has not always been easy, but it has always been fruitful. Thanks Jesus for the way you
have directed my life and created so many opportunities, Cumberland College being one.

Until then

Favorite Things - Homecomings & Reunions

2011-10-29T12:07:00.000-05:00

the song because of the idea of things we all enjoy. Things we cherish. Things we want to hold on to
and things that make a difference. Things like white copper kettles and warm woolen mittens. All of
these and so many more are just a few of my favorite things. A part of my personal collection of
favorite things includes homecomings, reunions, and good ole get-togethers.
Homecoming for me as a Baptist means one image, one memory comes to my mind ahead of all
others. Homecoming in Baptist life means preaching, singing, and eating. Please allow me to focus on
the eating for this column! The food at a homecoming is like no other time in the yearly life of a church
and her fellowship schedule. Everyone who cooks brings their best dish or two and everyone knows
whose food was prepared by whom just from the look. Yes, you just need to ask, where are Aunt
Dorothy’s dumplings’ and everyone there are can show you which bowl is hers. Real homecoming
events have real fried chicken too. Now I realize the Colonel is important in Kentucky, but that is not
exactly the real fried chicken I am talking about. I am thinking Grandma Stella’s fried chicken, now that
is real! How about Aunt Mert’s friend green tomatoes, and Lord only knows no one could fix enough
fried potatoes for such an event, but when someone does, they don’t last very long in the line that is a
fact for sure.
Reunions are a great time too. Seeing family and friends from time to time reminds all of us of
the memories we’ve shared and the great time we enjoyed growing up at all phases of life. The one
thing about reunions that I really enjoy is the photos of each family. In my personal family tradition that
is the one that that I always look forward to. My family always starts with the oldest child of those we
gather in memory of and we introduce folks and have what I call “mind history flashes” as we see
everyone. Plus it is a lot of fun to see how we change from year to year too.
Good ole get-togethers are a favorite thing as this is sometimes the unorganized event that just
happens when you find two or three folks in the same place at the same time and you walk away
saying “man we have got to get-together more often”. These get-togethers are also planned with due
notice mailed, emailed, texted, or called. Normally we meet at a restaurant when this is the case and
those who come often bring things that really remind us all of a day and time we just hung out and lived
life. I just recently got out my high school letterman’s jacket and the biggest shock was that there was
no way I was fitting into that jacket today. So, there will not be any such occasion that I will be showing
that off at such a gathering anytime soon. It is crazy in a way how we grow, how our body takes on
different shapes and the clothes we once wore just don’t seem to fit any more.
Favorite things are awesome to reflect upon. Favorite places can easily be included in such a
list. Today, Whitley County is host to such a favorite thing for many people including myself. It is
Homecoming at Cumberland College. I know, some will say, “Tim, it is the University of the
Cumberlands”, well I know that, but my diploma says, Cumberland College and I was an Indian and not a
Patriot, so if all is ok with you, I will live in History for this weekend and reflect with my friends on the
days of Cumberland College and Dr. Boswell. That time period sure brings back a lot of memories and
the leadership that Dr. Bowell gave to Cumberland should always be remembered by those of us who
had a chance to experience his leadership style and love for students. Certainly today, the University of
the Cumberlands looks like a totally different place then when I first arrived on campus. Dr. Taylor has
done an outstanding job of bringing change to the campus, updating facilities, and simply making the
place beautiful. It very well could be the most beautiful campus in the south.
As I visit Williamsburg and the campus this weekend for homecoming I am certainly looking
forward to enjoying the renewed friendship of friends that I may not have seen in 25 years. There is no
doubt as I return to Cumberland College for homecoming I will be thinking about Ms. Mac; Harvey the
campus mascot at the time; The old grey brick building, which isn’t gray anymore; Dr. Harold Wortman
my friend and mentor; Vic Edwards; and Mr. Shaw. That man who kept the campus in shape back then.
Lots of things floating in my mind for this college homecoming and I am just glad they are all a part of

my favorite things, thanks Cumberland.

Until then

Prayer; Tradition; Change; (Bell County High School Football Prayer before games)

2011-10-22T06:29:00.000-05:00

Sometimes when we see problems we see them from a very small window. We look at things as if we are the only person that is dealing with such and we feel isolated and often in the position of one against the world. This situation develops because we are unaware of the many other things happening around us in a much larger picture. There is no doubt that issues specific to us have the potential of having a greater impact on us, rather than someone just out in the general public. Nevertheless, there are many things that impact each of us in different ways and just because we may not have direct involvement it cannot negate the opportunity and possibility of an impact at many different levels.
Prayer is a subject of much conversation here in the mountains of Southeastern Kentucky currently because of the threat of a lawsuit against the Bell County School District from the Freedom from Religion Foundation. The Freedom from Religion Foundation, an organization that is located in the State of Wisconsin, notified the Bell County Schools of the legal action they were going to pursue against the school district if they did not cease having prayer before their football games. After the Bell County School District consulted with their legal counsel they ended the long standing tradition of prayer before games.
I have written prior to this column that in the mountains we don’t “take to well” to outsiders coming into our communities to tell us what to do and how to do it. Community standards are what attract each of us to where we live. When we ask someone what you like about this area, it is easily understood from their answers what makes our community special. I would say that prayer, and more especially public prayer is a part of our tradition and one that is and has been enjoyed throughout our communities, and not just Bell County. As a sports official for the Kentucky High School Athletic Association, I have heard prayers before games in every sport, and I consider this to be a strong tradition in Southeastern Kentucky, and one that we should be proud of.
The Freedom from Religion Foundation, on its home web page, states that they are “the nation's largest association of freethinkers (atheists, agnostics and skeptics) with over 17,000 members.” I myself am a freethinker and I applaud all such freethinkers. This is one avenue for development of ideas, goals, and to see dreams become reality. I also respect those that are atheists, agnostics and skeptics. Atheists deny the existence of a deity. Personally, I acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord, Savior, and Creator of the Universe. I believe without Him, nothing was made and without Him, the real meaning of our purpose on earth is missed. If you want to live as if there is not God, you will not hear me complaining about your position. This position is one that I gained from Jesus. Christianity allows you to make your own decision up about what you believe about Jesus if you choose to believe anything at all. Agnostics are those that I would define as folks who are stuck in the middle of believing and knowing. They want to believe in something, but choose to believe in nothing unless they are able to define it and place their finger on it. We all know what a skeptic is. They simply doubt it all and claim no position relative to matters of faith or belief. Now if you are one of these three or another type of individual outside of these realms, you too have my respect.
When I prayed in the Chambers of the House of Representatives in Kentucky back in 1998, Kathy Steins, a Jewish lawmaker from Lexington, unleashed a verbal attack against my prayer. I simply ended my prayer in the name of Jesus. When asked why I did this, I said I was a Christian Minister, and there was no other name for me to pray to as my faith was based upon Jesus. There is plenty of room in Southeastern Kentucky for those that pray and those that do not pray. Respecting the position of each is important as we continue to live lives of faith and for some, no faith at all. Traditions are an important aspect of our lives in Southeastern Kentucky. Change is something that also doesn’t come easy.

Until then

Rehounds & Bobcats Pray - Corbin Times Tribune

2011-10-15T06:42:00.000-05:00

There are few subject matters that can be written about that gets the blood of folks boiling faster than a discussion of their personal loyalty to their local sports team. If you are a Colonel, Yellow Jacket, Wildcat, Jaguar, Cardinal, Panther, or Redhound, then you are more than likely ready to take offense if I were to write against your team or in any way write something negative. We bleed no other color than our own and we wear the t-shirts, ball caps and jackets to show just who we love too. A sport has a way of bringing out the best and the worst in us, I suppose.
I love competition and goals, direction, team work, and winning are things that do motivate me. For every athlete I know the desire to push yourself outside of your limits and safe zones are one of the aspects that has individuals signing up for their first teams and trying out to make teams everywhere. For many, there is also the love of being involved with something that you could not complete by yourself. My local loyalty to teams has been altered due to my involvement in sports as a registered official. It is difficult to be personally involved in cheering on a team and also officiating their involvement in that sport too. I have on the other hand learned to appreciate the efforts of student athletes and I enjoyed my part of their competition as such When you are in high school it is all about your school, but as adults we learn the bigger picture of not just sports, but life.
Last night the Corbin Red Hounds traveled to Log Mountain in Bell County to play a little football. In one aspect, nothing is out of the norm. The band is packed and ready to go, cheerleaders are excited and ready to cheer, parents may have taken off work early or made other arrangements to eat dinner early or to even go out and eat before or after the game. Sports officials are excited, they have made all their travel arrangements with plans to arrive a hour and a half before kick-off, and school officials and volunteers are getting the concession stands up and going, ticket booths manned and the programs ready to sell. All a part of Friday night football in the mountains. Last night was different in the unique opportunity that each side of the football field had an opportunity to participate in. While normally a Corbin Redhound and a Bell County Bobcat would rather just meet on a field for action, the real action for life took place in the stands and before the football was kicked to being in the game, and actually the real action took place even before the officials and captains met on the field for the coin toss.
Redhounds and Bobcats had the opportunity to pray together and that is real news and real action. If you are a Christian, then you believe that prayer is a direct and real communication with the creator of the Universe. You have no doubt personally experienced the practice of prayer on many different occasions in your walk with Christ. This experience is unique because it is a student lead organization known as First Priority and they are responsible for planning the reciting of the Lord’s Prayer at each game. Unique also is that fans and Christians from different churches, denominations all have a united participation in seeing the successfully practice of the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America. There is no doubt that the exercise of our faith is important.
All across the Nation, the Freedom from Religion Foundation is filing complaints and yes, even lawsuits against school districts for sponsoring public prayers. The law on this matter is quite clear and with all due respect for the law of the land, individuals should be exercising their personal freedoms everywhere before that too is attacked and removed as fundamental rights we have still have today. Go Rehounds and Go Bobcats, I say.

Until then

Pineville Sun Column - Corbin Redhounds & Bell County Bobcats Unite....in prayer

2011-10-13T05:42:00.000-05:00

If there is any subject I could write about to get the blood of most individuals heated would be the discussion of sports or our teams. Now personally I must confess I grew up in a time when Bell County had lots of sports loyalties. Once upon a time Bell County had three high schools. Bell County; Lone Jack; and Henderson Settlement; Bell County was also the home and continues to be the home of two other independent districts, Pineville & Middlesboro. I am going to add one more team to my list and that is Red Bird. Yes, Red Bird has always been a part of Bell County especially for those living in the southeastern part of Bell County.

Lots of different mascots one could follow back then and lots of loyalties too. It was 1976, the Bi-Centennial Year of our Nation that Henderson Settlement closed and then in 1984, the Lone Jack mustangs and the Bell County Bobcats consolidated together. Me, I have always been a Maroon & White Bobcat and I suppose I always will be. I could write a list of my friends who when to Lone Jack, Red Bird, Pineville and Middlesboro. I never felt the need to develop a “hate” like I saw witnessed in some because of their loyalties. I guess it is probably true that some folks carry such an attitude still, but that type of mind set has never been a part of my life. Maybe it was because Coach Bill Adams from Pineville was always so nice to me and it never seemed to bother him that I lived in the County. No misunderstanding here, I know he loved Pineville and bleed maroon and gold, but it never seemed to cause him to mistreat me or wish me ill in any form. There was no greater fan of the mustangs than “Stick” Overton or Coach Wayne Walters, and I always felt welcomed and liked among them too. Each full of passion and love for their schools and personally I appreciated and respected that then, and still today.

Sports brings out the best and the worst I suppose, and our emphasis should always be on the best, believing in excellence, rejecting the negative and applauding the efforts of all who participate on and off the field.

This Friday night, gathering on Log Mountain, will be Bobcats of Bell County and the Redhounds of Corbin. Bobcats claw and Redhouds howl. I am sure the fans will fill the stands to push, pull and yell for their teams. One aspect that will be most unique at this game will be the united effort of the visitors during the moment of silence. Reciting the Lords Prayer in unison is unique and it can be a powerful statement of united efforts by students from both schools as they work together to pray.

The First Priority Clubs of these two regions are both active and the student leadership of both clubs have the legal grounds to believe in prayer and to support prayer. I applaud the work of these students and I encourage all the parents and adults how attend such events to also encourage and support the student leadership as they exercise their legal rights as students. The First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America is important, and it is important to practice our rights too.

Until then

Barbourville Advocate Column - Knox County/Exciting Times

2011-10-13T05:39:00.000-05:00

What exciting times to be writing as there are so many different topics and things happening everywhere we turn. Nationally there is the great discussion of who will the Republican Party select as their Presidential candidate. Nationally we have much to debate about with respect to our Country. Are we in a 2nd recession, what must be done to get the economy going again, and how should we view the crowds gathering in are larger metropolitan cities that are protesting everything from Wall Street, mortgage companies, banks to our elected officials. At the top of the list locally we have a wet dry petition that is being circulated not to mention the on-going issue of drugs that continues to plaque Knox County. So much to write about a so few words within the scope of this column.
I write that this is exciting times, and I believe that these are. It is exciting because I believe that the answer for our communities will be found within ourselves. Yes, there are always going to be outside influences and organizations that promote one position over another, and for this writer, this is exciting. Each of us has the opportunity to be involved and make a difference. When I talk with folks I see the leadership skills, the vision casting capabilities possessed by so many, and we can look around and see great successes discovered when people work together. We have the new wellness center that is a shining example of what happens when people decide to make a difference for everyone. Everyone in Knox County and even the surrounding counties will benefit from the new aquatic opportunities that were created because of that vision. The general health and wellbeing of our citizens now has a new opportunity to take personal responsibility for their individual health, because civic leaders, elected officials, and citizens decided to make something happen.
Yes, exciting times indeed, but certainly not without debate and disagreement. When I think about Barbourville-Knox County I think about all the good that is within each of us to make a difference by being a friend, giving a helping hand, listening with a clear conscious and first and foremost working to the benefit of others over ourselves. Sometimes we individuals have the ability to overlook the important things, and the previous sentence is a key to making our home the place we each want it to be. “Working to the benefit of others over ourselves”. One of the most negative impacting actions anyone can take is to remain uninvolved. Not taking a stand, not sharing your opinion, not giving of your resources, not extending a helping hand is a mistake that individuals often make. Sure, no one wants to be rejected. No one wants to have their thought discarded or their belief not taken seriously but all of these experiences are a part of getting involved and creating a dialog that gives the opportunity for a difference to be made.
Meaningful relationships are one key to making a difference. Yes, we can all do things out of devotion and duty, but that is not what I am writing about. The Bible instructs us to go one mile, and we can do that simply because the Bible tells us to, but the key to making a difference is going the second mile. This is where most of us miss the opportunity to make a difference. We go one mile and then call it quits. We give up because no one listened, or seemed to care. It can be frustrating when we are passionate and believe what we are thinking, and again, that is exciting, and that is a part of the answer.
Until then

Daniel Boone Festival - Knox County Rich History

2011-10-09T07:50:00.000-05:00

This weekend is the perfect time to travel to Barbourville-Knox County and the Daniel Boone Festival! Of all the events that happen in Kentucky Communities, nothing is more historical then the Daniel Boone Festival. This event honors the history which led to the discovery of Kentucky and the history of the people before we became a Commonwealth in 1792. Our Community is rich in history that includes not just the discovery of a new land, Ken-tuck-ee, as the Indians pronounced it, but the discovery of the Cumberland Gap by Dr. Thomas Walker and his journey to Barbourville in 1750, truly opened the gateway for the thousands of settlers who would cross The Gap, most notably because of his efforts to forge on, would be Daniel Boone.
Knox County has a rich tradition of family, heritage, and community. Those characteristics are still cherished values set us apart then and today. There are many communities throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky that have been forgotten because of the fading of landmarks and the failure of those remaining to remember the history from which we began. Our rich history here in Knox County includes remembering little country stores that dotted our landscape that served as the post office and community information centers. Our rich history includes the one room school houses that educated our grandparents and parents and most importantly the rich history of we the people. Our history includes the first settlers that traveled on a path to Flat Lick, made friends and peace with the Indians who where here before us, and decided to make this land home. That historical site in Flat Lick marking the “Warriors Path” may not seem like much in the history of America today but there would be no Cumberland Gap Parkway without our fore-fathers who walked that very trail, cutting back brush as they went in search of new lands. Many discovered their dreams here in this land flowing with milk and honey.
With plenty of big game to hunt and soil rich for planting this land was a dream that became reality. Today we can still hunt big game. There are plenty of elk filling the mountains today because of the efforts of conservationist and the Department of Fish and Wildlife. Yes, we even Black Bear too.
Barbourville-Knox County has a strong community history because of the churches that were established in these local settlements that became the base for community activities. When you walk the booths of the Daniel Boone Festival today the young may think of each different and individual church as the perfect place for chicken and dumplings, another for burgers or cornbread or deserts. Their participation in the Daniel Boone Festival has a real historical value because of their involvement in the settling of Knox County, Kentucky. Churches in Knox County have always served as a gathering place for worship, but there were the first establishments or institutions of learning. Many of our churches served as the first schools for reading and writing and the corporation of our educational school systems and our churches share a rich history of being a willing partner in assisting one another. This historical tradition of mutual aid to one another remains in place today here in Knox County. First Priority is a perfect example of the cooperation between churches, young people, and our communities today.
There is much to be proud of in Barbourville-Knox County and the Daniel Boone Festival is a shining gem of the history of this area. Remembering those that came before us is not only important historically, but it is also fun. Enjoy seeing the friends you’ve missed because of the hustle of life and enjoy the laughter of stories as you mingle the streets this weekend, but most importantly remember that “this land, our land” is an important part of not just Kentucky History but American History.

Until then

Bell County High School Prayer before Football Game

2011-09-28T12:52:00.000-05:00

Not sure if you have ever been to Wisconsin, but I traveled there in 1982. It was a part of the Bell County 4-H Teen Club exchange program. It was a great experience and I learned all about cheese while I was there. That was 1981; 30 years later it appears that Wisconsin has come to the mountains of Southeastern Kentucky. I would like to say it is a reunion and a welcomed visit, but that is not the situation. The visit from Wisconsin comes in the form of threat of legal action against the Bell County Board of Education unless it ended the mountain tradition and school districts approved practice of prayer before Friday night home football games.
August 23, 2011 was not a good day for local communities nor local traditions. Growing up one of the characteristics that has made America great has been the individualism that each of our communities, counties and cities has held as its own traditions and values. I certainly believe that the mountains of Southeastern Kentucky is welcoming to visitors, we love folks to come and sit a spell, and while we may not always agree with the position of those around us, we understand diversity and its value, but for folks in Wisconsin to object to our way of life, tradition and value that does stink. If some local lawyer wanted to take the case, fine, if local folks don’t agree with prayer, fine, but for a group outside of our community to tell us what to do, well, that just doesn’t sit well!
I prayed in the Kentucky House of Representative in February 2000 as the House Chaplain and I ended my prayer saying, “in the name of Jesus, Amen”. It set off a political firestorm within the media as one legislator complained about my prayer and my use of the name Jesus. My response to the media was that I was a Christian and as a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ that was the only name I could pray under. I certainly respect the right of folks to pray or not to pray. No one can make anyone bow their heads as is the tradition of most Christians when praying. I respect the right of individuals to not believe in Jesus and I respect their right of folks to worship any god they want to or no god at all if they so choose.
We live in a democracy and that doesn’t mean that the majority rules and whatever they say is the law of the land. Living in a democracy means that we respect the rights of all and we protect those most venerable of abuse or neglect. This responsibility of democracy I take very serious. Why?, because I have found myself in the minority on issues in my lifetime. I have fought for the underdog and I don’t regret for one second taking my public stand for what I believe. Has such decisions come with a price sure, no one ever said if you do what’s right it would be popular or that you would be applauded. The opposite is really true, do what is right and you will more than likely find yourself all alone.
Next Friday night, September 30, students are planning on reciting The Lord’s Prayer in unison. No public address system will be used nor should it be needed. This collective action of uniting into one voice sounds like the perfect thing for students and those attending to do. Exercising individual rights is extremely important and practicing your faith is even more important all the time! The United States Congress opens each session, each day in prayer. The President of the United States of America has a constitutional duty to call upon our Nation to pray as legislated by Congress. The Kentucky House of Representatives and the Kentucky Senate open their duties in prayer and we inaugurate the President, our Governors and swear into office elected officials under the oath, “So help me God”. Our Pledge of Allegiance reminds us that we are a Nation Under God. It might be that you don’t like these facts at all, and I respect that fully, I’m just glad that you have that protect today to disagree and not participate at all if you so choose.
It might be that prayer ends all across the land officially, that our citizens remove every reference of God from all things public but that will never remove Him from my heart. For the record, I think that if Wisconsin can come here and complain about our prayers then it is time to go to Wisconsin and complain about cheese!

Until then

Political Correctness or Real love for Country

2011-09-17T07:01:00.000-05:00

If you are one that enjoys the new social medias such as Facebook and Tweeter accounts to name just two, you have seen this question asked at least a thousand times, “What were you doing on September 11, 2001?” There were many questions on this topic asked over this past week and folks were posting and re-posting these types of questions as a means to express themselves. As I looked at some of these I felt a sense of what I would call a “robotic American” response. Here in the mountains of Southeastern Kentucky we have always appreciated genuine people. Genuine people are those that say what they mean, mean what they say, are straight shooters in conversation and treat people with respect and honesty. There remains another trait of mountain people that we trace back our roots all the way to the American Revolution. We are a people that are willing to volunteer and to serve our Nation through enlisting and serving our Country in her Armed Services.
Mountain Families have always been a ready supply with their young sons who have answered the call from the Civil War to this latest 10 year undeclared war, called initially the War on Terror. Our Nation united at the experience of 9-11!
In my lifetime, this was the second experience in which I thought the United States of America and her citizens were united in her efforts and sacrifice to serve one another and mankind. In 1976 our Nation was celebrating her 200th Birthday and patriotism. Love for our country was easily seen and there was a sense of pride in where we had come from and excitement about the future of the USA. The world was not exactly a beautiful place, there were wars and rumors of wars and Palestine wasn’t paradise. For those of you who clearly remember the year here is a personal flash back, Barry Manilow wrote “I write the songs” and it went all the way to #1 on Billboard Top 100!
On 9-11 the citizens of our Nation were united because of an act of terror against our citizens like we had never before experienced. The Iranian Hostage Crisis in 1979 that involved the Ayatollah Khomenini . 55 Americans were held hostage for 444 days when the American Embassy was captured but it didn’t have the same impact. 9-11 was in the homeland and not across the seas and around the world as it seemed. The December 7, 1941 attack by the Imperial Japanese Navy at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii was an attack against our armed men and women who serve in our military forces. Unlike 9-11, which was a direct attack against our unarmed civilians, 9-11 galvanized the patriotism of our Nation which was genuine, but ten years later, for many it appears to have faded and become a “robotic America” response.
Political correctness has no place with respect to Patriotism. People should stop at the singing of the National Anthem through respect and appreciation for the bombs that did burst in the air. We should stand at allegiance and attendance in response to the passing of the colors of the United States of America because the stars and bars represent the freedom our country represents and stands for across the world when those colors fly. I am confident that we all know how to read folks and we all understand the spirit of our friends when they say things or when we observe their actions.
The United States of America is the greatest country in the world. We present freedom and democracy and even with our current economic struggles. the USA is still the greatest financial institution in the world. We are a super power no matter who we elect as the President of the United States and love for country should not be highlighted once a year or during a highlighted memorial. Love for country and appreciation for America and all she represents should be lived out in each of our lives daily. Love for our country is found in the symbols our democracy and it lives in our attitudes and commitment to her causes. Sacrifice is a part of freedom and Jesus is a great example for all of us. In Christianity He paid it all.

Until then

Labor Day -- the workers are few

2011-09-02T15:21:00.000-05:00

Holidays will begin to fill the calendar as we approach the last quarter of the year. Labor Day is a celebration of the American work force and it was born out of conflict. The action taken by Congress was an attempt to relieve tensions between the government and organized labor. Many Americans look at Labor Day as an end to summer, but that is not the purpose of the holiday, it was designed as a means to recognize and celebrate the organized work force in America.
For those that have been employed by Labor Unions and who have worked for organizations where the employees were associated together through their employment or interest celebrating this weekend will be easy. There was a time where if you had a Union job you were set! In the big cities we think about automobile unions and labor organizations. Electricians and plumbers come to mind, not to mention steel workers, all playing big roles as members in such organizations. Here in the mountains of Kentucky, we think about the UMWA, United Mine Workers of America as a union we all recognize, but there are plenty to go around. Organizations range from teachers unions to individuals who are employed by either the state or federal government.
When I think about the word Labor I also think about things from a Biblical point of view. The Bible encourages labor….and there are great songs of the faith that also encourage us to “work for the day is coming”. There is also that New Testament scripture that lets us know that the harvest is ready, but the laborers are few. This scripture seems to be in a total contrast to the idea that there is a work force that is ready, willing, and up to the task of spiritual labor. When you consider that there are churches on what seems like every corner and normally when you find one, you will discover a band of churches all located in what appears to be a “hotbed” of spiritual activity, why are there few laborers?
Again, from the image of things it looks like we have it going on. We normally have great buildings. Normally they are brick buildings too, they we’re built for specific purpose and for use by the congregation it appears. We have gyms, worship centers, children’s areas and the list goes on. Churches today spend money on radio and television programs and when properly presented with a rightful cause congregations will give money to that purpose to demonstrate their support. All this sounds good doesn’t it, but on a spiritual labor side, things are not so good. Why build buildings that we only use one day a week or at best on a Wednesday and Sunday only. Why do we feel good about having buildings that are members can use but we seldom open them up to the community. Oh, no letters please, I know we don’t open things up to the community because it cost money to build such buildings and it takes money to maintain them too. Yes, I understand, I am just thinking that if we are not using such buildings to win individuals to the Kingdom of God, what good are they and wow, what a good job we have done to convince ourselves we have done and are doing the right thing. Remembering all along, the God’s word says the Harvest is ready, but the laborers are few!
This is Labor Day Weekend, and no doubt there will be many individuals who identify themselves as Christians who will be off to one place or another. For the record there is nothing wrong with Christians taking vacations, going on trips, and relaxing. The is nothing wrong with Christians enjoying themselves but there really is something wrong if we are not a part of the Labor and yet are expecting to be a part of the Harvest.
Our churches are filled with people who can make a difference if they would only be willing to step into the field of services. Our churches have individuals who have been touched by tragedy and have a story of faith to tell, if they would only speak up and share. Our congregations are filled with sinners who can relate to darkness and lost ways, if only we would see ourselves as part of His answer for a lost and dying world. This Labor Day, ask yourself the question what have you done to rest from your labors and then ask what must I do since the laborers are few and the Harvest is ready?

Until then

James & Bernadine Mills 55 years of Marriage

2011-08-20T15:24:00.000-05:00

Personally I don’t have any problem admitting that I use my fingers to count. Mrs. Engle (First Grade), Mrs. Carter (Second Grade) and Mrs. Hoskins (Third Grade) I think they would be proud of me today, after all, I am using the skills they taught me in grade school after all these years. My reason for counting is that my parents are celebrating their 55th Wedding Anniversary this week and I used my fingers in tens to count the years. I am smiling thinking who is most exciting right now? My elementary school teachers because of their effort to teach me to count, or is it my parent’s because I have actually remembered their special day? Either way, I used my fingers to count, and doing such reminds me of a day that seems so long ago, and yet just like yesterday.
Grade school does fill our memory banks with people, places and events. Like when Arjay Elementary got a new teeter totter, now that was exciting! Schools today can’t have teeter totter like we had, they were metal, steel, wood and had nails and bolts that kept the seats on so you could have fun for all the time recess would allow. Certainly they were not child proof because I had plenty of splinters and busted knees from hitting the ground and playing way to rough. Come to think of it, I am not even sure if there was a child protection agency for toys back then, if there was, I cannot recall having even heard of them back then.
Thinking about children and parents, if I had been born in this generation my parents would no doubt be in jail from all the moments of corporal punishment they dished out to me. We all know spanking children is against the law now, and discipline is illegal, or at least so it seems. Funny how things change in life, and what once work has been discarded for a new method. Now I am not sure what the newer method is, but I know it normally means kids get what they want, when they want, and no one says anything to them, its just the way it is. Well, one thing I know for certain, that wasn’t the way it was around our home growing up. If I got a whipping at school when I got home I would get a whipping by mother and then one by dad too…..not sure what that method is called, but it sure seemed to work.
When I think about my parents and their celebration of 55 years of marriage I think about a much different time. Two love birds growing up on Stinking Creek in Knox County and they drove to New Tazewell, Tennessee to get married. Now, just a funny side not for me personally. When I look at their pictures from 1956 I see the signs that say New Tazewell from their wedding pictures and my mind gets to thinking that someone needs to change the sign….New Tazewell is not new anymore. We’ve got Tazewell, and New Tazewell, let me see…maybe Newer Tazewell for now? It is amazing, everything seems to change, but then somethings never change. My parents like many got married in Tennessee, visited Devils Garden and traveled 25E when it was a winding two lane road that somehow even now fills the memory with cherished moments of life back then.
The Bible says that Children are a blessing of the Lord, and that is a good blessing for parents, because if you were anything like me, Lord knows it was only Him that kept me alive and being beat to death by my parents! Being a child and knowing that God looks at us and tells parents they are blessed puts a lot of pressure on kids to live up to God’s word. One fact for certain, I am thankful that my parents married, brought three of us into existence, and have raised us in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Not that we always followed it, but that they did it. There is something that needs to be said for a 55 year commitment and from this baby child the thing that keeps jumping out at me is that I was the one who was blessed.
Thanks mom & dad for all your love and congratulations on 55 years of marriage. You are a great example!

Until then

Wildlife Dinner - Greenland Baptist Church, Corbin, KY

2011-08-19T07:22:00.000-05:00

As a minister serving churches there are always moments that you just really appreciate. Often I have shared the humorous line that we pastor’s make our congregations happy 100% of the time. The punch line is that we make 50% of them happy when we come to the church and the other 50% happy when we announce we are leaving. One of the moments that pastors and ministers appreciate is the invitation to come back and visit with the church. Sometimes this invitation is to speak at a revival, a homecoming service or some other dedication or special event. This type of moment is appreciated because it allows us an opportunity to reconnect with individuals and families that we loved, serviced and share connections with because of the ministry.
This weekend, August 20, 2011 the Greenland Baptist Church located on the Falls Road in Corbin, Ky., will be hosting their Annual Wildlife Dinner at 6:00pm. Greenland Baptist is filled with folks who love the outdoors and hunting. They are also filled with folks who can cook, which makes for the perfect combination to host and sponsor a Wildlife Dinner. They have been working hard throughout this past year fishing and hunting to fill this event with food, food, food! Now I am not sure which church friend or member has gone out and killed the Bison, but I am confident that Buffalo will be on the menu and I for one will be excited no matter the method. I am leaning more toward the fact that the Buffalo meat may have just been purchased instead of a big hunting trip, but again, I’m excited either way.
Deacon Terry Akins is the guy who had the vision for this event. I really disappointed him while I was serving as their Interim Pastor. He had this idea for a Wildlife Dinner and he approached me with the thought and I said yes. I was thinking it was a great idea to bring new folks into the church, I was thinking it was a great idea to attract hunters and folks who love the outdoors, I was just thinking it was a great idea and didn’t realize I should have said in a “conservative tone” this is a crazy idea and churches don’t do this type of thing. Sorry Deacon Terry, but my youthful pastor nature had the best of me and I know that all the folks who have visited and enjoyed the churches hospitality and this event over the past years are glad I wasn’t thinking too….yes, I’m laughing and smiling big time right now! When churches think outside the box of what they have always done that is the time one needs to step out of God’s way and allow him to use people and to make a difference in all our lives.
The Bible says that Jesus Christ came to seek and to save that which is lost and that you are I as Christians we are called to go into the highways, hedges and by-ways compelling them to come in. Not sure what your latest actions have been on the “search and rescue” course of God’s work, but I am fully confident that He is expecting us to have not just a plan with emergency equipment properly packed and stored, but He is expecting us to be in a 5 alarm status now using our resources today. The church is a light house and our light should be shining in all directions with the warning that God’s love is available and a decision needs to be made today. The Bible says that there is a broad road that leads to destruction and that many are traveling that road. Finding the narrow road of faith takes the helping hand of a good neighbor. Arriving safely at our journey takes the help of trusted friends who speak truth into our lives and are solid encouragements and examples of a life changed because of Jesus.
Greenland Baptist Church is sponsoring their Annual Wildlife Dinner August 20th and I am honored to be sharing the story of my “Big Hunt” that evening too. I want to invite you to come and visit with us Saturday, enjoy some great game and meet some new folks that I have discovered to be great friends.
Until then

Darin S Wilson - Union College A.D. to lead Georgia Gwinett College Athletic Program

2011-08-07T22:56:00.001-05:00

There are many ways in which to celebrate change, accomplishment, and success. Generally resignation is not the word we associate with such an announcement but it is the proper word to describe the decision made by Union College Athletic Director, Dr. Darin S. Wilson and his announcement and that of Georgia Gwinett College to his selection and acceptance to serve as their Athletic Director in Lawrenceville, Georgia.
I have used many difference names in speaking with Dr. Wilson over the years of my association with him. We first met when I served as a collegiate sports official umpiring baseball and supervising officials at the N.A.I.A. level. I simply referred to him then by his baseball jersey number “5”. Later when he became the assistant coach of the Union Bulldog Baseball Program that adjusted to the proper title of “Coach Wilson”. That title continued when he became the Head Coach of the Bulldog Baseball program. While our on the field friendship was solid and strong our friendship grew in other ways too. I had the honor and privilege of leading Darin in believers baptism and he also served as the Minister of Music for the Horse Creek Road Baptist Church in Corbin, Ky. He is an excellent soloist and his Christian Faith is strong, and vibrant. I was able to serve he and his wife Patti as an officiating minister at their wedding ceremony, which was an honor for me.
It is amazing how our friendship has grown over the years. With his resignation announcement it is amazing how fast 18 years has passed. One moment he was walking onto the diamond as a player and then a blink of the eyes and he has lead the Union Athletic program to achieve unprecedented growth and accomplishment with Championships and team achievements some might have never even dreamed possible. How did he do it, you might ask? Simply, he has lived a life of excellence, believes that pushing for the prize is not only a Biblical call but one that we should each strive for as individuals and collectively as team members too. It is not everyday that we as observers can witness individual change in people but watching Director Wilson it becomes obvious of the leadership skills he possesses and his personal characteristics of excellence shine.
He leaves Union College after having proven his abilities and as he leaves for Georgia Gwinett College, he does so to lead them in establishing their athletic program. Building a program from the ground up is exciting and filled with challenges that Coach Wilson is excited to tackle. When I think about the task before him, hiring coaches, establishing fields, securing contracts, and building a cohesive and comprehensive Athletic Department is going to be another great witness experience. Great witness for Darin as he demonstrates his Christian commitment and leadership and a great witness experience for us who will be checking in and watching from a distance.
Serving him and Union College as the Sports Chaplain for 10 years has been a blessing beyond words. I have known Dr. Darin S. Wilson by many names. Our experiences over the years have been awesome. When I think about the best descriptive for our time together I think it is best summed up simply by saying it’s been a great journey….friend.

Until then

The real Debit Crisis of 2011

2011-07-30T06:48:00.000-05:00

Debt Crisis is the word for those of you who have been traveling outside the United States and had no contact with any news source for the past two months. Now that we have that dreaded day in August arriving all the politicians seem to be in a mad rush to get something done. There is no doubt that Washington D.C. is in a three way battle. The Republicans, Democrats and the Tea Party make up our modern day fiscal war. Yes, I specifically left out the President of the United States because my academic civics taught me that Congress is responsible for writing laws, passing laws, and creating and passing budgets. It seems easy to pass the buck in today’s political climate, and seems like our elected officials only know that process. While this Debt Crisis issue roars I am sure Congress will continues until the last minute and then each party will take credit for sparing us of the crisis. True is, this crisis will not pass come August 2nd. This crisis will not pass until the government of the United States lives within her means. Overwhelming debt can be quite a burden and it can leave you feeling totally helpless or at least feeling as if you will never see the “light of day” again.
There is in each of our lives a debt crisis that requires our personal attention. That battle involves only us and the outcome is based totally upon our actions and decisions. While passing the buck seems to be the system to know, understand and practice, it will not work in our personal debt crisis as a solution. In our personal lives we like to explain our actions with a phrase that we hope changes the subject and removes our responsibility. We love to live by the expression personally when doing wrong, “the devil made me do it”. Yes, let’s blame it on the devil! He is the perfect guy to give the credit too…oh sorry forgive me, She is the perfect girl to give the credit too…oh no, who do I blame this on and be politically correct? Now I have a real battle on my hand. Is the devil a guy or a girl? Attempting to be politically correct is not easy. Maybe I should just quite writing because I will surely make someone mad with every stroke of the pen.
Just as I have done in this article, it is easy to get side tracked and off in left field without staying focused on the issue at hand. Yes, our Nation has a debt crisis. We are spending more than we are bringing into the storehouse and eventually this will stop and our government will get on a plan that can turn the situation around. Personally, we are each in a debt crisis of sin also. No we don’t want to talk about this nor do we want this making the headlines either. Who wants to talk about a sin debt? Who wants to talk about being stuck, who wants to admit they are not a light of hope, or like salt is to flavor? The good news is that there is an answer! We are not stuck, we are not without hope, we are not without help. Yes, the debt is too big for us to pay off, yes, the debt requires more than we have in our personal assets or could pool together with others. Our sin debt can only be resolved through the shed blood of Jesus Christ as our Personal Lord and Savior. It is only through Him that we are able to find relief and a new beginning with complete and total forgiveness.
I am not sure what will happen with our Nations debt crisis, but I know what I have done to take care of my personal debt crisis. I invited Jesus into my heart and I surrendered all I have and all I will have to Him. Accepting His actions as the perfect plan was the first step in my recovery and trusting Him no matter what comes my way is step two. Unless you are a member of Congress you will not have a specific vote on our Nations Debt Crisis but you are fully in charge of your personal debt crisis, and Jesus is the only answer. Acts 4:12.

Until then

Carnes Family Reunion - Walker, Ky

2011-07-17T06:57:00.001-05:00

History here in the Mountains of Kentucky has always been an instrumental part of who we are. Two things that have slipped away from old heritage with our modern day families would be work longevity with one company and a big family. Most of our forefathers were farmers and for those that had other jobs they went to work for that company and worked their entire lives as a loyal employee. They were also proud to say, “I’ve been here 35 years”…something that you just don’t hear from our generation when we talk about our employer. Those in the field of education have best chance of making that statement, but the rest of us will see 7 to 12 career changes in our life time, so the statistics say. As for big families, well, I’m smiling as I type this thinking about all the families I know. Particularly I am thinking about the one child families I know. No family heritage in that size family in Kentucky. I often share with folks that our grandparents, great-grandparents and great great-grandparents all had been families because they needed workers on the farm.
This Saturday, July 16, 2011, my family is having a big reunion at the Walker Baptist Church in Walker, Kentucky. Directions are simple, just drive up Stinking Creek and stop at the church. Walker, Kentucky is home to the Carnes’ and I am most thankful for the heritage our family represents. George Carnes, Sr., was my great-grandfather and Mossie Carnes, or “Big Mom” as she was affectingly called. My grandfather we simply called “Pap”. A name I love myself and when the blessings of my life tell me they love me, I transfer some of that love to “Pap” and the meaning he had in my life. He and my great-grandmother had 10 kids, and they raised them all on Stinking Creek.
My grandfather, Alonzo Carnes was the oldest of the Carnes Children, followed by my uncles Cloyd; McCoy; Flem D; George Jr; Lee Roy; and the baby was Uncle Raymond. My aunts were Edna, Dorothy, and the baby on that side is my Aunt Evelyn. Ten (10) children is what I would call a big family and if you could still see the house where they were raised you would have asked how? There is something to be said for the generation of my great-grandparents and there is something that must also be said for the generation of my great aunts and uncles too. They had a determination to serve our Country in time of war and they became teachers, farmers, working in factors and they all left home at some point to help support the family they left behind. Jobs in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio were necessary and whatever it took, they were willing. Those family traits are not easily seen in the families of today, but they were back then.
When you look at the off-springs of these 10 children you can see how our families have also mirrored in part the heritage that was passed down to each of us. Personally, family has been and will always remind a vital part of my life. We’ve all got a few cousins down the line that we would like to change or fix. If you are thinking, not me, then I might suggest you look a little harder at your family line…yes, I’m smiling and laughing and guessing you are to. The truth is the truth, and as folks often say, that will stand when the worlds on fire. I was taught by my parents to love my family. After all we moved from Michigan to Kentucky so we could get to know our family heritage and to the best of my abilities I have tried to know and cherish each and every one of my immediate and extended family members for who they are.
It is not always possible to make every family reunion, but it is certainly possible to love your family when you see them and as opportunity presents itself to make you best effort to not forsake the assembling of oneself at that special occasion. Some extended family members are thinking, “no one will know me if I show up, but I would sure like to go”…well, there is no time like the present and don’t worry about remembering everyone’s name that you meet….that’s what name tags are for. Happy Reunion to my family and yours!

Until then

Illustrations you can use.....from your driver's seat

2011-07-03T06:10:00.000-05:00

Illustrations in life are most often easily understood by those listening but not always discovered that way. If you want to test this position, just think of a topic and select a story or object to illustration your point. This can be a quite a challenge when you want your words to have impact and relevance. Speaking, and attempting to motivate audiences and groups has always created nervous moments for me. I wish at some point I would grow out of this, but I don’t believe that is going to happen. One thing I am thankful for is that fact that I have always seen lots of illustrations throughout life.
In ministry I prefer to use real moments that have made a difference instead of finding some “Google” story to illustrate my point. Early in my ministry training I was given the advice to preach what you know and tell people what you understand. If you get outside of that range you will find yourself in a mess no doubt. For me, ministry has always been simple. Jesus loves you and me so much that He was willing to die in our place, if we would only accept His forgiveness for our sin. The second aspect of ministry is that you and I are to help others discover that He has a plan not just for my life but for theirs too.
When it comes to life a couple of illustrations I enjoy sharing are from an automobile perspective. When you are sitting in the driver’s seat of your auto, what do you see? Folks will answer with things like the dashboard, and if you ask what else, they will begin to get very detailed about what they see. They will list the different parts of the dashboard and console, all the while missing the biggest thing they see from the driver seat, the windshield. It is so obvious what we see that we over look it immediately. There is only one thing that is attached to a windshield, and that is a rearview mirror. This little tool is valuable. We use it to check what’s happening behind us and if we are driving backwards it is the main key to successfully parking or driving in that direction. The point of illustration is that with these facts being undisputable, why is it that most folks will spend most of their lives looking in their ”rearview mirror” instead of looking out the big wide open unobstructed windshield to move forward? I am suggesting that the best way to advance is to see and look ahead and instead of focusing on what’s behind all the time.
Another driving illustration I like to talk about is road signs. They are there for a reason and if we take notice and are observant they are of great assistance. The issue most of us have with road signs is that while we are driving we are not looking out far enough in advance. We are no longer in scanning mode seeing what’s happening around us or what could happen if someone else is not paying attention. A curve sign that is marked 35MPH is because that is a safe speed to safely make the maneuver and a safe speed to also stop in the event that became necessary. My favorite sign of all signs is a stop sign. When you see a stop sign up ahead or maybe you don’t see the sign but you’ve traveled the road enough to know that a stop sign exist, you are preparing to stop as you approach. The one life lesson from every stop sign is that throughout our life’s journey we are going to be stopping a lot, and we need to be prepared now to also go again. I know a lot of folks that just want things to stop without any thoughts about starting again.
Life is not easy. There are many moments in which we will be shifting gears, changing lanes, and even taking a highway exit to re-fuel, check our tire pressure, or even our engine fluid levels. All a part of the experience we call life. Today is a perfect day for you to make a decision about what you see from the driver seat of your car. It is also a perfect day to ask yourself, are you ready to go when you see the next stop sign? Being confident that God has a plan for you will help you as you move forward and looking out at life can also be an encouragement if you will attempt to see God speaking to you in all that you see and in all the places you go. Find your own life illustration today, and share it with someone you know that needs to hear a word of encouragement on their journey.

Until then

Real Father's

2011-06-26T07:17:00.000-05:00

There are many things to notice about life as we travel along it's highway. For instance, have you ever notice what we say after a holiday? At Christmas we say “Merry Christmas” leading up to Christmas Day and then we have a mind shift and “Happy New Year” becomes the greeting of choice. We say “Happy Thanksgiving” and “Happy Valentine's Day” with relative ease of flow in conversations without any real attachment or personal thought. The phrase that carry's all the meaning of personal stories for most is when we say “Happy Father's Day”.
This day is highlighted by stories of buying a new tie for dad or some other trivial matter on the surface but the meaning behind the gift is significant! While not everyone has an attachment to their father, and not everyone has pleasant memories the personal meaning and relationship for many of Father's Day is one day each year that we make sure we acknowledge that most impacting individual in our lives.
When folks say how was your Father's Day, many are only thinking about individuals who are biological father's and often times we forget about those that assumed the role for the benefit of a child without consideration for themselves. They became “Dad's” because they saw themselves as someone who could a difference if they just gave. Marriage creates lots of step-father's and in some of these instances there is a real love and relationship that is built, developed and shared by both child and parent. Yet, in other relationships it is a matter of no legal obligation, or family history or association. It is simply “what it is”. A developed relationship between an adult and a child that was nurturing, caring, provided not only the basics but most or many of the extra touches of life too. Those relationships are often looked over during this time of the year by some who consider themselves to have an earned title of “Father” and for whatever reason they do not consider those other guys to really be father's, but actually they are.
Being a father is about working to see there is always a light shining on a darken path so a child can make it through the dreary of night. Being a father is about sacrifice. Honestly this part is not about a single moment, but it is about a life time of putting yourself somewhere else on the list so that you can enjoy a big smile and happy spirit that is moved deep inside you witness the accomplishment of that child you love and care for. Being a father is about a lot of not hearing “thanks” in the early years, but prayerfully the latter years are filled with that expression for a truly grateful heart knowing the difference that was made.
Yes, Father's Day has passed for 2011, but the role of Father's continues pressing forward, moving along without a hitch or a bump in the road. They were up fixing breakfast this morning, or out warming up the car or turning the air conditioner on as the case maybe. Real dad's were making a phone call to just check in or dropping of that something special that always makes you smile. While the day is young and time is opportunity I would encourage you to acknowledge those you know that have earned their cards on Father's Day. Those that have never flinched in giving of themselves or have never looked back in making sure the real need of life was met without any fanfare or parade.
It takes a lot to be a father and for those that are known as “old man”, “pops” or “dad”, I salute you! Thanks for making a difference and for assuming a the bedrock role of every family and the foundation from which life is grown. A strong, undeterred, resolute dad that loved.

Until then

Don't ya think it's time?

2011-06-19T06:34:00.000-05:00

Questions are a wonderful way to explore what we believe and questions are a super way to learn too. As soon as children are able to talk and our little ones get past the “repeat after me phase”, the most basic and natural expression we hear from them is in the form of a question, why? Children ask why to everything. Now as adults, we tolerate the question why but only for a moment. We will gladly accept the question why if the other party hears our answer and accepts it fully of course, but if explanation is your goal, that’s a no, no. I have no idea where we gathered this practice from but it is a widely held and practiced tradition.
Consider the practice of our traditions alone is enough to get almost any argument started. I wanted to write discussion and not type the word argument, but in most church circles a disagreement is a fight! As I prepared for this column I was considering all the practiced traditions of leadership our church congregations permit to operate. Most churches will allow the pastor to do almost anything, as long as he agrees to hang for everything. Deacons in many church settings are financial advisors and their practiced tradition is to only step in when things are bad or there is a perceived need on their part to show power and authority.
I remember a church situation in which the congregation wanted to remove someone from their church position and the lesson they learned was that normally when you remove one dictator you allow for 3 more to arise. If you are smiling as you read that sentence then you understanding fully where I am writing from but if you are mad at this moment, then you maybe the dictator or the child of one. Take a good look at your church and begin a list of all the great things you see happening. If you can complete this task quickly then this is your first indicator that your church is lacking in purpose and vision. Power and authority is whatever one wants, but normally their goal for such is all about themselves and not to the Honor and Glory of God and His Kingdom.
The next time you are a part of a disagreement in your church I challenge you to ask “why are we in a disagreement?” Then without a seconds hesitation say, “will you kneel and pray with me about individuals we know that would love to find a church filled with love and forgiveness”. If you were to do this be prepared to be called a Holy Roller and to be thought of as snobby and a self centered hypocrite. Of course I am attempting to call to our attention examples we all know right, but why? People who live and work all around us are lost and without a witness about the Love of Christ, that’s why. God designed us to do something but most Christians are committed to doing nothing! We witness church splits and we observe families that are mad at each other and may attend the same church but never speak. Surely you see there is absolutely nothing Christian about that type of attitude. We all know individuals who attended our church at some point and while we know they don’t attend church today, we have been afraid to ask the question why?
In a world of strife and confusion, it is time for the church to be peace and direction. In a world where individuals are selfish and bitter, it is time for Christians to be giving and loving. In a world where everyone has a motive it is time for us to tell about the motive of Christ. He loved us so much, he died to take away our sins and to give us a new life through Him. To be purposed is what our communities need today. To be forgiving is what we need to blow the minds of our enemies and leave people thinking we are crazy. The Judds sang, Love Can Build a Bridge, between your heart and mine, don’t you think it’s time? The only question I would ask is why is this not the time for the church to rise up like a might army and be what the world has never seen before? Don’t you think it’s time?

Until then

The Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival

2011-05-22T20:03:00.000-05:00

The Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival, the mountain festival of pageantry is in a class all by itself. There is absolutely no other event like it in Kentucky. The City of Pineville in Bell County is filled with selected candidates from the area high schools whom the festival recognizes as her Princess Candidates. These beautiful young teens represent their high schools, family and friends which fills each of their lives with the memories of a life time that only leaves them waiting for the most unique opportunity to be selected by their attending college or university as a Queen Candidate to Kentucky’s Oldest Festival, second only to the Kentucky Derby.
The Festival is lead by local citizens who work tirelessly year round in making contacts, setting up schedules, arranging for performances, and managing details that provide each individual who attends the KMLF as an attendant, participant or just a visitor taking in the parade or other events that have filled the week. The Festival is managed by Directors who oversee the general planning and funding through their contributions and ambassador representation of the festival throughout their travels, associations and personal promotions.
For children no doubt the memories of the Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival are filled with the activities of the carnival, musical showcases, street events and the parade of course. The dream participation is experienced by the Princess and Queen candidates and their escorts. The private receptions, teas, dinners, meets and greet alone provide experiences that will never be forgotten and even greater highlights through the introductions of people representing not just locations from across Kentucky but throughout the United States and even the world. One of the unique aspects of the festival each year is the gathering of people who return each year to unite with friends, and enjoy the beautiful of Bell County as the Home of the Mountain Laurel.
The Queen Candidates and their escorts have unique moments too as they represent they respective colleges and universities. As an official representative and Queen, their selection for some involved interviews and panels from representatives of all areas of leadership within their academic communities. The real beauty seen in each of these participates is their characteristics witnessed as they mix and mingle among the directors, the families that host them, and their reactions to the events and practice that make the Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival the special pageant it is.
To all who will be traveling to the festival I want to say Welcome to the Gate Way to the West, Cumberland Gap and the Narrows of Pineville. I pray you will experience the beauty of the mountains and see the crown gem of God’s creation, you and I.

Until then

Focusing on Him

2011-05-15T20:09:00.000-05:00

I am not quite sure if I should be writing an article about winter, spring time or what? With all the rain that has fallen and all the flooding taking place, that would certainly be an easy enough subject to write about. With Easter, Mother’s Day passed and Memorial Day on her way I am finding myself checking the weather several times before I leave home each morning. Not that I’m sugar or anything, I’m not expecting to melt if it rains that’s for sure, but I would like to be protected if I can.
The wearing of a good hat could work, but my struggle there is do I wear a straw hat or a felt hat. A good straw hat works great for the wind and sun, but if it’s raining I shall find my head wet no doubt. The weather has been crazy and the happenings of life have been in a fast spin. One minute we are fighting a war on terror and the next minute the President of the United States is announcing that Osama Bin laden has been killed. It is amazing how long 10 years can be isn’t it? Just think, there are children that have never known a world without hearing that name daily. Yes, the United States has plenty to keep it occupied for the remaining day of 2011. I am sure there will be new developments but we’ve got plenty of old stuff to keep us going without any effort at creating new moments.
In each of our lives we all face these fast pace moments and changes in a twinkling of an eye. Today we are health, bright eyed and bushy tail, and tomorrow we can just as easily be struggling in a hospital room fighting for our lives. Today we can be full of spirit and dreaming to the highest heights, and tomorrow have lost all our get up and go for living and making a difference. Yes, strange how we each respond to the happenings around us and we never know until we are called upon to react just how we will respond.
Today there are some things for certain that we can know that could provide us peace throughout these ups and down if we would be willing to believe. Battling the down side of life is never fun, but scripture tells us there is ONE that will walk beside us each step of the way. Now if you are anything like me, I have been known to be having a conversation with someone and my mind goes totally out the window, so to speak. I’ve been with people at a table and lost my place in what’s happening around me to where I couldn’t recall what was just said. Given these truths that could and have probably happened to each of us at some time or another, it is just as possible that He, Jesus, is walking beside us and we are totally unaware.
Scripture tells us that He loves us. It is always nice to talk about love, but to experience it is the real key. When was the last moment you were at a spot where you just felt like not taking another step forward because no one cared, and someone reminded you that you mattered and they cared? I am reminded of Jeremy Hollingsworth is one of those type of reminders. Jeremy was just a young child in children’s ministry when I first met him. I am so grateful God place me at Bethlehem Baptist Church of Dorton Branch. There I was able to experience Jeremy and his heart which is filled with innocence and genuine love. So blessed was I hear him say, “Brother Tim” and be reminded of at least one life changed.
The Bible gives you and I plenty of encouragement. Scripture not only comforts but it also challenges us to believe and see outside of ourselves. He loves us, and that’s what really matters. He has a plan for us, and that’s what really matters. He never leaves us alone, and that’s what really matters.
The world is ever changing and the world stage is revolving faster than you can sometimes hold on. But, if we fix our eyes on Jesus, even as the world spins we should not become ill but rather discover the things of this world growing strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.
Until then

Helen Keller.....Vision

2011-05-08T20:11:00.000-05:00

The spring of each year fills our lives with the so many adventures. The color of the trees and the blooming of flowers catch our eyes and imagination. Yard work and gardening reminds us of the accomplishments that we reach through effort and dedication. Taking time to cook a meal and eat outside gives us time to reflect looking at things from a different table and point of view. Change is all around us but we are more able to see the immediate effect during this time of the year. With all the rain fall we’ve experienced it is easy to see the river rise and the lakes filled to high levels. With the winds that have traveled across the country it is also easy to see devastation that can change everything in a second too.
These adventures and so many more help to expose and broaden our own understanding and horizon of things, people, place and perspective on time. When helping people we always want to talk about positive things. We are afraid that the mention of negative aspects might give the impression we are a half empty instead of half full kind of person. The adventure of people in our lives is a challenge both welcomed and dreaded. If you’ve ever thought, “oh, do I have to talk to them right now”, then you will clearly understand the challenge. I love people and I love talking, but I have my times where I need and want to be left alone. I don’t want to give advice, because I need to hear advice instead. I don’t want to smile on the outside yet I have often fought through that storm to see the expression of thankfulness on another face. People are the greatest and most unique creation on the earth. God designed us with the ability to use His talents and skill in our lives for the benefit of others. This blessing from Him to us makes us unique. We can touch and change lives by giving, doing, and listening all in His name. The adventure of places gives each of us a memory bank filled with moments of laughter and wonder at the sights we see across the travels of our lives. These travels are not the records of journeys across the seas and around the world, but sometimes these adventures are just miles from our homes. Today is defined in many ways. It could be a simple and straightforward as today is today. Meaning this specific day of the week, yet sometimes today means this week, or when speaking in a general sense it could even mean this month or this year.
Each of our lives has the opportunity to be filled with adventures. The use of feeling, hearing, seeing and three senses and that change our lives for sure. One of my favorite quotes is my Helen Keller. She was asked, “what is worse than being blind”?, her response was” having sight and no vision”. Each time I read that quote or am reminded of her answer I am so challenged and so moved in my personally being. The Bible talks a lot about time, specific and general and today, I believe it is the perfect time to explore new adventures this spring.
There is a journey I want to recommend. It involves spending time in prayer asking God to strengthen you for the roads yet traveled ahead and it involves reading His word to discover the daily answers for our lives. The travel of our individual hearts takes us up big mountains and down into low valleys. The course of survival is one that has plenty of light for each step of the way and the element of pure faith when we have no sight yet required to press ahead. I am confident of this fact. No matter the spring in your life Jesus is a ready and able friend if on Him you would call.

Until then

National Day of Prayer 2011

2011-05-01T20:14:00.000-05:00

This week, Thursday, May 5, 2011 our Nation will celebrate National Day of Prayer. The gathering of thousands across the United States will be occur at Court Houses, churches and places of worship to name just a few, but this day will also be marked by students in their schools, business associations and organizations will also pause for a moment to highlight prayer. All of these events will help mark the importance of a single action that calls upon the Creator of the Universe, Jesus Christ.

During an Easter service this year President Obama said the following: In the words of the Book Isaiah: "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." This magnificent grace, this expansive grace, this "Amazing Grace" calls me to reflect. And it calls me to pray. It calls me to ask God for forgiveness for the times that I've not shown grace to others, those times that I've fallen short. It calls me to praise God for the gift of his Son and our Savior”. In my life time I have only heard three U.S. Presidents use these types of words and phrases. Presidents Carter and Clinton identified themselves as Christians and I am delighted to have heard these same type of expressions from President Obama. I am additionally delighted to have learned that when a Judged declared through a court ruling that the National Day of Prayer was unconstitutional, President Obama ordered an appeal of the ruling to the 7th U.S. Circuit Court to preserve the Law that Established a National Day of Prayer in 1952.

The Freedom from Religion Foundation filed the paperwork that won an initial court ruling and they have been the organization that has filed countless such lawsuits including one to have the words, “In God We Trust” removed from our currency. The attack of our religions freedom has been an ongoing process by organizations attempting to limit our expressions and even more specifically to deny our heritage as a Nation. While it is my personal prayer that everyone would come to knowledge of the love and plan Jesus Christ has for each of us, I am also respectful knowing that not all will call upon His name. With this understanding, it is important for those that do profess to be a follower of Jesus Christ that you, we, us, that we all practice our faith and conviction.

On Thursday, it maybe that you will not have an opportunity to gather with other believers but you certainly have an opportunity to pray no matter where you might discover yourself to be on this day. Prayer can be conducted with our eyes open, standing, sitting, kneeling or even laying prostrate on a floor. It might be you will pray for several minutes or it could be a short prayer that you offer, but the power of your prayer joined with the attitude of other Christians the world over will have a powerful impact that we are yet to even know how to gauge. His response to our prayers is measured in many different ways. Sometimes the response is quick and clear, while at other times it maybe slow in developing as we attempt to understand His will for our lives and His answer to our prayers.

I know what I will be doing on Thursday and one of my prayers on this day of National Prayer will be a prayer of Thanks for the leadership of President Obama and a prayer of Thanks for the clear courage and thought process of the three Judges of the 7th Circuit who ruled the constitutionality of the Declaration of the National Day of Prayer 2011.

Until then

Come follow Him

2011-04-17T07:32:00.000-05:00

The past series of columns about the Church, Christians and how we demonstrate our love and devotion to Jesus Christ has been a challenge. There is a need for evaluation constantly in our individual and collectively as we walk as believers. Evaluation is without question one of the most difficult task we ever undertake. As a minister are my sermons relevant and timely is often a question to consider. Are the words people hear out of my mouth thoughts that leave a positive impression of the difference that Jesus can make in them too. Being an attractor or a distraction is a work in progress for me personally. To admit failure is difficult and to accept a struggle to deal with can be miserable at times and rewarding once you have made it through. Miserable because Jesus never promised we would not have to walk through valleys and be required to climb mountains. Rewarding because of the confidence we gain in having learned to trust Him and to continue to step forward even when there appears to be no light to shine the way.
The Church is the greatest instrument of organization, purpose and blessings. Organization because we have one leader, Jesus, who has also provided a spirit for our daily walk He has given us clear direction throughout scripture as to our purpose. To go, teach, and make other disciples. The church is the vehicle He gave us to use as we work together as followers. It is designed to be the instrument by which we build up God and edify each other.
Christians are the designated key factor by which the Will of God is completed. Christians are the vital link for observation by others and the viewing of our lives should mirror the actions and love of God and be his instrument of service as directed by the Holy Spirit. This is not an easy task, following Him that is. Consider that when Jesus called James and John to follow Him, the instructions were to leave their nets, leave their boats, leave their careers and just follow. For some Christians there will be a total and complete change of direction in their lives, while for others, it will be a learning process of how to use where they are and what they are currently doing to His glory and as a demonstration of our commitment to follow Him.
Evaluating my life as a minister I can easily become sidetracked by focusing on a singular event or experience. When I feel like I’ve been hurt, I can easily become bitter; want to quite and even plan to give up. Missing the bigger picture because of our narrow focus reminds me of that moment when Jesus and the disciples were coming down from the mountain being on such a high note they were missing all the hurting people they were passing as they walked down from their spiritual high. I have often found myself in that same position, and I’m not proud of that fact. Yet, it is amazing to watch Jesus. Just one simple touch of the treads of His garment and He ask, “who touch me?” The disciples were quick with an answer that made good sense. There were many people reaching out, how could it make sense that Jesus would recognize one individual touch? Simple, He made us in His image. He designed us with his chosen skill and talents and He knows all about us, even before we know ourselves…that’s why!
Today is the day, are you in?

Until then

Who would Jesus love? Who will we love? A challenge -- thanks Ray Botlz

2011-04-03T07:14:00.000-05:00

For the past several weeks I have been writing a series of columns about the church, Christians and the opportunity we have to follow Christ making a real difference with our individual lives. Conservative and liberal are words some like to use to describe folks. Personally I am a Bible Conservative. I believe the Bible is God’s word and it is the road map for our lives. I am also a Bible Liberal. I once had a sin debt that was heavy and it chained me down. Because Jesus came into my life I was set free and now I am at liberty in Him. It is amazing to me what seems to upset folks and I am always disturbed when folks discredit God’s ability to use anyone and everyone.
Recently a friend of mine shared his status on Facebook by saying he was listening to his favorite CD of all time, “Honor and Glory” by Ray Boltz. In his update he said, “throw judgments if you want”, “I believe God was in his music”, he shared. I agree with my friend, there is no doubt that God has used and continues to use the music of Ray Boltz to touch and change lives all for the cause of Christ. I know his music has certainly stirred my heart in offering praises, thanks and considerations. Watch the Lamb is a challenging song when you consider the position of those that observed the crucifixion of Jesus on the cross or even those that participated in that event. The post my friend made yielded some 22 responses. I am not sure why Christians find it necessary to be the Holy Spirit, but some have no confidence in the Holy Spirit to work in an individual life. It reminded me of the old mountain saying that states, “Don’t throw out the baby with the bath water”. Ray Boltz has certainly been used by God and my personal experience with Jesus leaves no doubt in my mind of His ability to love us, forgive sin, restore individuals and yes, even provide grace and mercy despite the fact of our ability to understand. Most of us want God to work in the way WE think no matter what He thinks. Consider one of Ray’s new songs entitled, “Who would Jesus love?”

I used to wear a bracelet asking “what would Jesus do?
All my faith and my promises quickly fade from view
I tried to do my best, but what I did was never enough
Then I asked the question, “Who would Jesus love?
Would He only love the one who look the same as me?
Would He only offer hope if he saw similarity?
Would He leave the others waiting like a stranger at the gate?
Would He discriminate? Tell me who would Jesus love?
Now I can buid a bridge that can reach from me to you
Or I can buld a wall instead if I don’t like the view
Cause I make the decision on how to follow through
I don’t need a bracelet to know what He would do

There is no doubt what I am called to do. There is no theological education necessary to follow Him. 1 Cor 13:8 is quite clear. Love is the greatest thing and if we are going to make a difference for Him, then our actions, words and demonstrations must reflect the love He gave on the cross of Calvary just as the Bible says. “For God so loved the world….He gave…” The only remaining answer to give is will we give as He gave?.

Until then

We are the answer...if we will only act

2011-03-27T07:05:00.000-05:00

Lately I have been on a theme about the attitude of churches, the actions of Christians and the disconnect that seems to exist between them and the average person we know and like that doesn’t have any involvement in church. I have chosen this topic for my column because the scriptures says that Jesus came to seek and to save those that are lost, and in another scripture we read that he instructed us to go to the highways and byways and to compel them to come in. Yet many who claim His name have no plan to lead others much less seek them out, and many churches have been so stationary in their activities they do not even realize they are not moving.
When you consider the mission of Jesus, which for the record was to save that which was lost, our best demonstration that we are a follower of Jesus will be discovered in our commitment to telling His story. Fear is maybe the biggest factor some find themselves stuck in even though they will never admit it. It’s not fear of saying Jesus has made a difference, because anyone who is a Christians knows first hand He does. It is not fear of explaining how Jesus has touched your life and changed your heart, rather it is fear that folks will not believe or that they may altogether reject us because we shared.
As a pastor and minister who has practiced my faith by telling His story through the events of my own life, I too had to learn to over come the fears just mentioned. When you are challenged by someone about what you believe, the first thing you want to do is fight back. One of the tough lessons to learn is that is not what Jesus did at all. He simply loved people and He let His love for them to all the talking. Now those that know me personally now I love to talk, I love telling stories, I enjoy sharing, and talking is a lot quicker than actions, but our real talking is best demonstrated by what we do and best complement when actions and words match up together.
Jesus was challenged nearly at every turn in His life. Take for example when he was a child in the temple, He was asked what He was doing. To me, that’s a silly question to have asked but it was not really a question but rather a statement the religious folks were placing as a weight. That attitude in and of itself is a total opposite attitude of Jesus. He didn’t come to place weight or burdens on folks, rather He came to free us of those things that hold us back, keep us down and have us locked up. If there is anything I hope my Christian witness stands as my attitude I pray it is that He wasn’t about bondage but freedom and He sets us free through the gift of His mercy and grace. I must say this is a difficult concept to grasp because most people enjoy seeing other struggle. Many individuals like seeing people craw and being knocked down, but not Jesus. He was all about lifting up, cleaning up, helping us to get in the right lane, choose the correct gate. He is all about helping us to become a light for travelers looking for a light and He is al about helping us to become a sweet flavor and a saving ingredient in the lives of others
There is an answer for the issues and challenges Christians and churches face today. It’s not about a specific program, event, or a series of topics addressed from the pulpit. The best connection available today is the one we offer when we go in His name and reach out because we know what He has done for us, He will gladly do for others.

Until then .

Now it is time for the church to make a decision

2011-03-20T07:25:00.000-05:00

The very mention of the word church creates a lot of different reactions and responses. For those not afraid it will be a word that strikes friendly thoughts of times spent maybe as a child or a teenager hanging out with friends or participating in youth group or church activities that made an impression. Church can also be a word that is not welcomed in any form by those that had a bad experience with someone who described themselves as religious. Often individuals view a church as an outdated institution that is self serving and not relative with today’s happenings or issues. The last consideration to share would be that church is thought of as something for children and kids to attend and participate in. Folks with this attitude would also say that they find value in church for that age group and they believe this is the place everyone should start, but that save value doesn’t transfer into adult years.
For Christians who love attending church and enjoy the worship services conducted through their services and events they will not like anything I have just written. I can understand how they might be upset by these thoughts but the coin could be flipped easily and I could say I don’t understand how anyone could not see clearly these are the considerations of many. Some of these “many” will never attend our churches and some might come when their grandchildren are participating in a program or a special friends child has invited them to come and what them at church. Either way, you can see there is a clear disconnect between the church and church members from those that drive by looking at the buildings and from those that could never be involved in church life of any sort because of what they perceive. Church members and those who attend church have a lot of decisions to make in 2011 and the leadership and membership of churches have tough decisions to make about what they really believe is true about church, especially theirs.
The size of your church has a huge determining factor in what you hold to be true about the practice of church. For large attended churches the perception if often held that the bigger the number of folks who attend worship, the larger the number of teenagers and children participating in church and even the number of programs, special events, and concerts will determine the value and effectiveness of church. Truth is, that large numbers have no bearing on reality of an impact a church is having in a community nor more than saying, if you eat chicken you will become a chicken. Chicken is good and I love chicken but there is a lot more to being a chicken then just the name. Small congregations consider themselves to be handicapped because of their size. They don’t even attempt some programs, events or worship because they don’t believe it will be possible based on their size. It is funny to me, a bigger church should be making it happen and a small church is forgiven for not leading simply because they are small in number and group.
The church is disconnected from most in society, but that doesn’t mean that Jesus is disconnected. He is alive and well and the time for churches to decide what they will stand for and what they will do is now. People are dying everyday because of starvation.. They are also dying because they have shut God off from their heart line and position of influence. The time is now to make a difference for Him and the church is so perfect for a demonstration of all He has to offer. I pray you will decide to allow Him to change you and make a difference if you will only believe and act.

Until then

The church attenders of 2011 have a deicsion to make

2011-03-13T22:39:00.000-05:00

The Christian world of church is under a revolution of challenge and change. The average Christian world of Church consists of a gathering for worship at least twice on Sunday and another meeting normally held on Wednesday of the week. The mid-week meeting normally is divided up by age groups. The children are in one location, youth in their own area and the adults gather for a Bible Study. Wednesday night services could resemble a Sunday service with music, a choir or some special music, but that is not the norm in most situations. Someone could write a book and name it the Evolution of Church and no doubt there would be leaders who would buy the book but I do not belive it would make the top seller lists.
Traditional church leaders don’t believe in a changing of the pattern of church worship that is experienced in most church. Traditional church leaders build their services to specifically include a designated moment of welcome, a time for prayers or sharing of congregational concerns, an organized choir which provides a specially prepared song for the service. A traditional service could easily include someone singing a song in place of a choir anthem but normally not both in a single service, it is one or the other, with the focus of the gathering on the preaching and not music in a traditional service.
Modern church leaders will not be buying a book about the Evolution of Church because most will consider the title and say there is no evolution, considering the average church is stuck in a position and cannot get out. Modern church services will not provide the attendees an order of worship which will be a problem for those who attend traditional worship and the perceived freelance spirit of a modern worship service would be an issue for traditional church goers too. Modern worship attendees will have their issues going to a traditional service for a couple main reasons. First, they will view traditional services as stiff and stifling to the moment of the Holy Spirit and secondly they will have an issue with the lack of emotion or perceived public participation.
If you not attend church you will be reading this column thinking Christians are in a mess and you would be correct. Traditional Christians will be offended I have even written the previous sentence and they will consider all I will think, write, or speak to be an offense. Modern leaders will be glad I’ve pointed out the difference between the Christian world of church that plays out each week in our towns, and communities.
I am not writing to the point, counter-point or advantage of either. I have served as a pastor of traditional churches and preached in traditional buildings of churches that house modern worship experiences, if that helps you any? The church of today has some issues that need to be addressed. Personally I can enjoy many varied aspects of worship and I like new things and old traditions too. The real issue for both churches I have written about today that church members and those attending should ask is quite simple. What are we doing inside our churches that are having any affect on the people outside our churches? If you do not have an immediate answer for that question then I believe that is a strong indication that it is time for a Bible evolution. These are tough issues for the Church of 2011 but the answer is very clear. Following Jesus wasn’t easy for the disciples when they were learning His ways but once they understood His method they were willing to die for the cause. What would you say best describes your reaction to the love of God?

Until then

Cloyd Carnes - A Heritage of Faith passed down

2011-03-07T01:11:00.000-06:00

Remembering the value of an individual is best honored with the way in which we live out our lives. Living with their practices and characteristics salutes them in a memorial that continues their reach and impact. Born in Walker, Kentucky and raised on Stinking Creek in Knox County, Cloyd Carnes began his life journey on December 23, 1915. His brothers and sisters all found their own journeys too, each with a drive to succeed and serve. His mother, Mossie Bargo Carnes was born on the March 4, 1887 and his father George Carnes was born on June 5, 1890. Cloyd Carnes lived 95 years touching lives through his sweet spirit and genuine desire to be honest and fair with all he met on his journey. A goal he achieved that always unveiled a smile along with his humble spirit that touched my life certainly.
He married Rosa Carnes and she was the perfect companion and life mate and together they touched the lives of all they encountered. Cloyd was a student of the Bible and he loved to share God’s word. He loved his family and believed the joys of life were further extended by his grandchildren and even the addition of great grandchildren to his family heritage and linage, He was never shy in talking about those extra blessings in his life but also mindful of the enjoyment others had too in listening to them share about their families. To have witnessed that on many different occasions reminds me of the special care he gave to making sure everyone had a chance to touch lives in talking about family accomplishments.
Cloyd Carnes was a brother to my Grandfather Alonzo Carnes. His wife, Fannie Bingham Carnes passed away at 19 years of age. Aunt Rose and Uncle Cloyd were faithful in filling a parental gap and as a great-nephew I felt his love as a Grandfather who never allowed a single moment to pass without expressing his love. The times he and Aunt Rose came to listen at me preach or sing will also be cherished memories of a part of their expressions of care for me. When my Grandfather Alonzo passed away it was Uncle Cloyd who sat next to me during his funeral and it was Uncle Cloyd who spent extra time sharing with me family history, the difficulties of growing up in hard times, surviving the Great Depression, and the importance of forgiveness and love.
A man of quite words, yet when Rev. Cloyd Carnes spoke, his words was filled with powerful meaning. He and Aunt Rose attended the Whetstone Christian Church and Williamsburg and Whitley County was home. Highway 92 always had a special meaning in my travels. His brother Lee Carnes served as Pastor of the Greasy Creek Baptist Church in Bell County and with Uncle Cloyd on one end of Highway 92 and Uncle Lee on the other end I always felt like I was in the family fold of help and care.
I have been given a rich history of character and practices. The hats I wear today remind me of people I have loved and it is my inner tribute of their impact on my life. I pray my Christian Faith stands as a public signs of a Heritage of Faith I have been blessed to witness too.

Until then

Continuing to grow as a Christian?

2011-02-27T08:47:00.000-06:00

As a Minister of the Gospel celebrating 29 years this September I have had many counseling moments. From these varied moments and situations I have learned from listening to those who came seeking help, as much as I have shared from my experiences and scripture. When I first surrendered to God’s call I thought I knew so much about Him, His ways and what I was to do as His ambassador. I must confess the past 29 years have taught me so much about myself, Him and how I can best use my talents and skills.
Learning has not always been at the top of my list. In the beginning of my walk with Jesus as my Savior I struggled thinking I had a better grasp on what He wanted me to do than I actually did. I have really learned over the years of my need to be totally dependent upon Him and of my need to forgive myself and accept His grace and mercy as the answers for my life.
It is amazing today as I consider my previous position as a youngster in the faith that I could have ever thought I was able to stand on my own once I became a Christian. I believe this is a real issue that every Christian faces, but it could be an issue we are not willing to admit. Many individuals become Christians after they have exhausted all their own means and they find themselves upon their back or into a corner with seemingly no other option than Jesus. Now I have no problem whatsoever the condition we find ourselves in before we turn our lives over to Jesus. I know some in religious positions that believe you need to be someone who has changed your life prior to coming to Jesus, but to quote the words of a great hymn; Jesus wants us to come to Him “Just as we, I, you, are”.
I have discovered the older I am in my Christian walk with Him how precious that he accepts us as we are and that He doesn’t require any change to come to Him. You don’t have to look a certain way, you don’t have to talk a certain way, you don’t even have to speak a certain way. All you must do is come to Him, asking Him to coming into your heart and asking Him to forgive you of your failures. Coming to Jesus is easy, the difficult parts are asking Him to enter our inner most part, our heart. It is also just as difficult to admit our failures or to confess our sins, but it is necessary and a requirement for His forgiveness.
One of the most quoted verses from the Bible I believe would be John 3:16. “For God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” I personally find it funny that I would ever think that His love was unique and just for me. Now it is true His love is unique and His love was with me in mind but not me solely. On His mind was everyone in the world. Red, yellow, black and white, they are all precious in His sight. It is sad that all who bear His name as Christians do not practice the same love He has demonstrated. One of the changing moments in my life was when I realized that His love was for everyone and it was my calling to love everyone and to show them His care through my actions and my words.

So what will your actions be and what words will we hear from your lips. And even more challenging will you be listening or talking for now?

Until then

Knowing what to say.....

2011-02-20T08:09:00.000-06:00

When faced with difficult questions by our friends or listening to the situations they are experiencing we often are at a loss of words. We have this sense of helplessness sometimes because we don’t have the confidence in our answers or suggestions so we share nothing thinking we would not be correct. Who wants to give advice when you have that feeling of doubt? I went to Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth Texas, and there I had classes in both homiletics and hermeneutics. These words are ones that you will not hear often, if ever, from the pulpits of your church I would think. Not that they are bad words but rather because they are topics that generally are not discussed or shard from the pulpit, but are rather discussions from a classroom setting or small group gathering.
Homiletics is a class that teaches ministers about the application of Biblical theology. For me personally, homiletics is a favorite discussion and class of learning. I often write about the application of the Bible and if the words of Jesus do not apply to my life then I am one that questions why I would need Jesus at all. My Christians faith has a fundamental foundation that believes we must be able to apply His teachings or it makes no sense. Hermeneutics teaches pastor’s, ministers and Christians in general about how to interpret the Bible from a historical perspective using scripture as the bases for that interpretation. These types of studies are great keys to properly interpreting God’s Holy Word and I use their practice daily when talking with friends, family members and even those that I just meet or have been referred by others.
Giving advice is both scary and challenging but I have learned from reading the Bible daily and from learning how to recognize God’s voice in my ear and heart has helped me in helping others. Knowing who Jesus is and learning what His characteristics are has also helped me to help others with confidence that the advice I am sharing is actually not my opinion but His and that changes the advice we give totally.
We each have folks that we come in contact with daily, or weekly in some situations that we know are struggling and facing big mountains to climb. In stead of feeling helpless and without a advice you can share, why not simple share what you have found confidence in and let that be our answer or the help you share. I often say, I am not sure what to do, but this is what God’s word says, and I share the scripture or the passage that relates and I let the Holy Spirit do the rest.
To often we feel like we must provide a 3 step plan or a beginning and ending picture of what will happen before we share and that is not at all what the Bible says. Scripture teaches that it is no demonstration of faith if the requirement is that we must see to believe and for every situation I have ever dealt with the first issue is one of love. Feeling loved, knowing we are loved and demonstrating love to others comes from one source and one source only. “For God so loved the world” and that is the source I use and strongly recommend when faced with issues and situations that leave us hurting personally and that we see our friends and family members facing through this journey called life.
Faith and Love are two of the three greatest gift the world has ever know. It is not democracy or freedom of speech, it is the touch of the Master’s Hand and I am confident that is the only touch required to make the difference in your situation today.

Until then

How to explain life...even when you want to die

2011-02-09T07:02:00.000-06:00

How to explain that feeling like you want to die is a part of life is not an easy task. Some will say that such a feeling has no place in life and that you should not think about such things. For those who live in the real world, knowing there are such times in our lives is very much a part of life. Life can be demanding. Life can be challenging and life can be a serious strain at times. Having a plan in place to easy the load when it seems to be crumbling or collapsing is a must to survive what could be the worst feeling you will ever experience on this journey we call life. Yes, I believe feeling like you want to die is a part of life, but not an action we take to end life.
Elijah had experienced life under the rule of the wicked King Ahab. Jezebel, was just as wicked. They promoted the worship of idols and of all the Kings of Israel, Ahab was the most wicked to ever rule over the people. I think we would all agree, this is not the best of times and giving up or quitting could seem like the right thing to do. Surrendering under distress should be understood given the circumstances right?...wrong!
God held back the rain on the land for 3 years and a great famine broke out as a just two more aspects of the difficulties faced that could lead one to think there is no way out. I Kings chapter 19 tells the story of great challenges followed by unbelievable successes that Elijah had including the killing of 450 prophets of Baal. Yet, a part of life would involve great depression following the successes and power of God clearly experienced. Elijah sitting under a juniper tree prays for God to take his life.
Understanding how one could want to give up on living is easy for me to understand, because I’ve been there. I understand how the hardness of life can leave you feeling empty and worn out. The delay of fruits from your labor or not experiencing the harvest can be a discouragement that drains you of energy and spirit. Watching folks who are wicked prosper is difficult to accept and struggling when your integrity is challenged or your honest is quested is no fun at all.
Wanting to die seems so unreal but it is a very real feeling but we should never live our lives on feelings. Rather we should live our lives on facts. Facts like, God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life. Facts like Jesus came that you and I would have an abundant life experiencing grace and mercy as the keys to abundant mindset. A fact like forgiveness comes from God and our practice of His demonstration toward others sets us free inside and out.
Life is not an easy journey, but never the less I have found Christian faith as the foundation in my life. It gives me hope and joy in every situation. Marilyn Simpson, wife of Dr. Leon Simpson then President of Clear Creek Baptist Bible College shared with me in 1985 a rich nugget of life I’ve never forgotten. I was in a wheelchair suffering from arthritis and my medical future was dim when no medical solutions in sight. It was during this very low ebb in my life she said, “Tim, this isn’t Heaven yet”. It was a startling reminder that life here on earth is not my final destination. This is just a land we’re I am passing through. Her reminder of truth also taught me that I needed to be viewing life from the proper position, God ‘s view.
Life is worth the living, Because He lives and we must find our confidence in Him. In that He will complete that which He has begun if we will but allow Him time to do it well on His schedule.

Until then

What Goes Around...comes around

2011-01-30T23:14:00.000-06:00

That old saying, “what goes around comes around” has not been a motto that I have lived my life by. I have no desire in seeking vengeance as that is best left for the Master. He is suited for that type of work. There are different understandings one could have from this motto. I am best trained to listen and follow His call, letting the chips fall as they may. The scriptures are filled with wisdom for dealing with crises, choices, and responses to situations and experiences. I have known individuals who have repeatedly acted the say way expecting difference results. That mindset may provide you with the sense of being a “positive thinker” but it is all false senses. Without corrective actions in our lives, and thoughts we are set to repeat the same experiences without change. We can make adjustments, we could tweak our reactions and we could set out on a new course, if we would dare.
I announced 1 John 4:10 was my scripture for 2011 and I have begun my studies in learning more about Jesus and His will and plan for my life. One of the keys to making a difference is for us to individually understand why some things are as they exist. “In this act we see what real love is: It is not our love for God but His love for us when He sent His son to satisfy God’s anger against our sins.”
Have you battled within yourself to make changes while all along remaining on the short end of the stick not able to accomplish your goals? It is an understandable assumption that if this describes you and where you’ve been, then if could be you have missed the key to a turning your life around totally. It would be great to say “I made a change”, “I have worked to resolve this”, “I fixed this, I, I, I, & I”. Most of us miss the answer we seek because we are looking for the answer within ourselves. Recovery from old habits involves us making one confession. We are dependant upon God and His gifts. It is His work through us that makes us able to lead in the area of change and to survive the most challenging of situations that will seem to max us out.
The recovery I am writing about in this column has everything to do with us tapping into His resources. Jesus has provisions and His grace is sufficient for our every hour. The problem some find themselves battling is that they have no patience for His timing and their demand for an immediate response removes not just opportunity from Him but ability too. My yearly scripture I selected clearly states what real love is, and in my journey this year I have already learned that in order for me to live a life filled with promise, hope and faith, I must practice love in restoring broken relationships so the cycle of “what goes around comes around” in a new way. I have already learned that having fellowship with believers is also most important to our healing and new vision for our lives. Real Christians will automatically demonstrate the love we are so in need of and without even asking, God will be meeting our needs through the obedience of others. In every fashion of phrasing and understanding, this is the type of “what goes around comes around”, I want.
Now this first month of 2011 I have been reminded that Love is the Key to Life, just as the Scripture says in 1 Corinthians 13: It is not everyday we begin the right searches in our lives, but I am confident this is one search I don’t want to miss.

Until then

The first decade of 2000 is past

2011-01-23T21:54:00.000-06:00

The first decade of the new century has passed and if you are like me you could be wondering where the first 10 years of the 2000’s went? Y2K didn’t end the world as was predicted and I guess I will hold on to those books in my personal library for a historical perspective and wonder in the eye of those that will look them over in the future years to come. They will no doubt be wondering how this was ever a crisis in the United States and the world with both a smile and laughter.
I have found myself facing a new problem in this year of 2011. Never before have I had such difficulty in writing the date out numerically until now. I keep writing 2010 instead of 2011 when I am writing the date on nearly everything. I’m not stuck in a time warp but for whatever reason my fingers just don’t want to write 2011. I really laugh at myself when my friends, co-workers and family members point out I have written the wrong date. It is a serious issue with legal contracts and documents that require the correct date for binding and authentication. Even on submitting my newspaper column I’ve catch myself struggling with the correct year when attaching the date of publication to my submissions. I’m glad that folks haven’t called the authorities to report me having lost my mind. Although if there was some time of payment I could receive from such a revelation that might not be a bad think all together….yes, I’m laughing at myself and smiling ear to ear as I type this out.
Considering time there are many scriptures in the Bible that make reference to time. Scriptures says that “He does all things well, in His time.” The Bible also reads that “there is a time for everything”. When you read that scripture in Ecclesiastes is records that there is both a time to remember and a time to forget. Learning to wait on time is not an easy discipline. Sometimes in cooking fried potatoes I find myself not wanting to wait, rather I opt to eat as I go when helping to cook at my parents home on holidays. The biggest problem I have at that moment is keeping my brother Jim Jr, and my sister Bridget’s fingers out of the frying pan. Wow, wouldn’t life be great if that could be the biggest problem I had? Life has it challenging moments and waiting upon the Lord is difficult. The reward for waiting upon the Lord is that He will renew our strength if we will only allow Him His time.
With the speed of passing days the time is certainly now that we seize the moments we have and use them to honor and glorify the Lord with our time and energy. I normally say Happy New Year to folks until at least Valentine’s Day arrives. I have occasionally had folks ask me if I’m stuck at the beginning of the year when I give that type of salutation. I believe it is certainly reasonable to celebrate the New Year for at least the first month of every year but from the rush of some folks they press on for another day quickly. When you think about the last days of the life of Jesus it appears that He didn’t rush through the time, but allowed with great patience a process to be completed that he personally didn’t want to experience. Only once did he tell someone to go quickly. He instructed Judas to go quickly but history records the patience Jesus practiced even in that situation. My prayer is that I can only be so willing to wait and to allow the proper time to arrive when it is best and not when I want such to be completed. Rushing time could very well set us up for a bad experience. Allowing things to move at their own pace is difficult but we are best served by learning to practice this mentioned trait from the Bible.

Until then

A Christian Response to the Arizona Shooting

2011-01-17T00:01:00.000-06:00

The shooting of Congressman Gabrielle Giffords at her Congressional Community Gathering in Arizona at a local grocery store has shocked and stunned a Nation. For me it is impossible to write about this moment in American History without sharing the names of those that were killed: Gabe Zimmerman; Federal Judge, John M Roll; Christina Taylor Green; Dorothy Morris; Phyllis Schneck; Dorwan Stoddard; The loss of human life is always a tragedy but the senseless extinguished life leaves you empty and filled with questions.
Political correctness is something that those seeking public office and those serving the general public are concerned about. It means your comments and actions are welcoming and not offensive to individuals being mentioned or not hurtful regarding subjects and topics of discussion. As a Christian I believe in respecting people. This includes not intentionally hurting folks or acting out of improper motives that might include jealously, or selfishness. Christians must speak truth in love and there is no doubt that Biblical positions by themselves cause division of positions and ideas. I see no reason why people cannot disagree and still remain friends and cherish the varied opinions held but for some this is a battle and struggle.
Health Care is not an easy subject to discuss. If you have health care through your employer you are blessed. You might not agree with the coverage or the deductible but you still remain blessed. All you need to do is talk to someone who once had insurance but today is uninsured. I have a very close friend whose total income was $12,500.00 in 2009. With a mortgage his life allowed for not even the basics, much less added necessities. 7 jobs in one year is not exactly the career path he would have selected, rather it was the life that was handed to him. Talk with a diabetic who needs insulin and cannot afford the strips to test their blood sugar levels. That is not the position anyone wants to find themselves in, yet it is a reality for many.
There are many issues for which debate should be conducted and I’m confident that there will be many disagreements with folks divided by gaps of differences and thoughts but nothing that should ever lead to violence for any reason.
I believe that those of us that call ourselves Christians have a role to play in our Nation and the call to service and action is being sounded loudly. What can we do? As Christians we can help ease name calling and divisions by treating others with respect and by permitting differences of opinions all along respecting others to hold different views. We can treat people with love and our motivation for this is quite simple. The Bible says the greatest gift is not Faith, or Hope, but Love. I can only imagine what would have happened if someone had listened in love, helped in love and been involved. It is most important that Christians and Churches are involved in individual lives and in families. We all have neighbors that live next door, across the street and down the road from our home. We must move from our pews to become an active Army of God’s love and heal a Nation by beginning with the folks we go to school with, work with, see at sporting events and we must begin today. Love can build a bridge and God’s love is the answer even when folks don’t know that what they are looking for. Let’s help by demonstrating the answer without them even asking.

Until then

2011 Scripture Focus of the Year

2011-01-16T18:39:00.000-06:00

The selection of a yearly scripture to focus upon is a great way to memorize God’s word and to learn how to apply scripture to your everyday life. I have said on many occasions that the Bible without application to our lives would be just another book to read. Instead, it is the guide book for decisions, value and goals just to mention three. The scripture I selection for 2011 is 1 John 4:10, it reads, “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent his son to be the propitiation for our sins”. Today in society there are so many questions being raised about life and love. Life for many is based upon what a person has in possessions. Things are important, no denying that but the value we place on those “things” along with our interpretation of their value hands us the struggle that is not easy to overcome. I know folks who believe the automobile they drive is the most important thing, while others would say it is the type of home they live in. Could be you would say it is where you live or maybe your educational achievements are the king of your list. My parents always said the gift of possessions is what you do with them. As a Christian using our possessions as a gift makes perfect sense and using them in service to others demonstrates the love of God. With love as an issue to address again we see the answer based upon the point of view and our interpretation of what love is. Some folks believe love is all about happiness while others might chalk love up as it was in the 1970’s…remember the phrase, “love is……” and you were left to fill in the blank. There is a great need for caution in using this method to define love. For a teenager, love might be that that special someone or possibly playing on a sports team. It could be achieving a standard of recognition that seems to complete. Adults are no different than teenagers; the focus of what we love just changes with our age. From the scripture 1 John 4:10 we see a light for our definition that can help us to clarify what we hold about both life and love. The Bible says that in Jesus we can find life, not that it just comes to us, but rather we must seek after Him and in doing that we discover real value and purpose. The best example of Love is found in John 3:16, while the best application and definition is to be discovered in 1 Cor 13: Reading and understanding might be difficult for some but I believe most would agree that the difficulty would be apply those things we’ve learned and understanding By no means do I think I have the knowledge of the issues of life or love, but I am confident that by focusing on 1 John 4:10 for this year I will have a better understanding of what Jesus did by obeying the Heavenly Father and how his decision to following a plan He didn’t fully understand applies to me. In the Christian faith we talk about taking steps of faith and while sometimes it is only one step I might see before me, nevertheless it is a growing step to continue to press forward. 2011 could be just another year if you so choose or it could be the year of a lifetime that provides answers to your questions if you began the journey. Ric Todd Edwards in Birmingham, Alabama is always talking to folks about taking the journey, which means reading the Bible. Not sure what challenges you are accepting this year, but learning to apply God’s word would be a great start if you are ready to make a focus on His word.
Until then

My First Chrstmas in Heaven

2010-12-22T07:05:00.000-06:00

I first published this poem in the Corbin Times Tribune in December 1998. Each year after the column is published I appreciate the cards, notes, and the emails you send. Your stories and comments of how this poem impacts yours memories and thoughts our loved ones is such an encouragement personally. A friend reached out to minister to me by sending me this poem after the passing of my grandfather, C. Hobert Mills, and for the past 12 years I have reflected not only about his first Christmas in Heaven, but that of family and friends who have passed this year. My prayer is that during this time of the year you will find a reason to smile through faith, hope and love, found in Jesus.

My First Christmas in Heaven

I see the countless Christmas Trees around the world below
With tiny lights, like Heaven’s stars, reflecting on the snow.

The sight is so spectacular; please wipe away the tear
For I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I hear the many Christmas songs that people hold so dear
But the sounds of music can’t compare with the Christmas choir up here.

I have no words to tell you, the joy their voices bring,
For it is beyond description to hear the angels sing.

I know how much you miss me, I see the pain inside your heart
But I am not so far away, we really aren’t apart.

So be happy for me, dear ones, you know I hold you dear
And be glad I’m spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I sent you each a special gift, from my heavenly home above.
I sent you each a memory of my undying love.

After all, love is a gift more precious than pure gold.
It was always most important in the stories Jesus told.

Please love and keep each other, as my Father said to do.
For I can’t count the blessing or love He has for each of you.

So have a Merry Christmas and wipe away that tear.
Remember, I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

Until then

Thanksgiving - a deliberate action; Scott Thomas; Gary Minton; Jimmy Leach; Dennis Goodman;

2010-11-28T07:29:00.003-06:00

My practice during the Season of Thanks is to write my personal expressions of thanks to individuals who have made a difference in my life, because they gave. I began this practice simply through an effort one year to share my appreciation through the action of honor and remembrance. Over the years I have been humbled by the responses from those I have mention, their families and even folks who never knew them but some how through this column they thought and remember others who had touched their lives. For all of those I want to say thanks. Your encouragement has made a difference in my life. Your actions were unexpected and today I must say thanks as I write this column of thanks, beginning with you.
The different periods of my life I have attempted to mark with no order or system in place. Simply remembering each year folks from childhood to adulthood is the only plan. Regrets I have a few. Helen Martin was an individual I would have loved to have seen before she passed. She was a lady of Catholic faith that gave me my first cross of memory. I always wanted to say thanks and compare my childhood reflections with an adult perspective but she died before that opportunity ever availed itself. My regret is not being able to say thanks for the memories she created that I’ve cherished all these years.
In college I had many different stages and periods from which to reflect. Judge Pleas Jones from Williamsburg, Ky., is one individual I am grateful for. Having been diagnosed with Sero-Negative Arthritis at 21 years of age was not in my plans, but Judge Jones was a friend in deed because he helped a person in need-me. A wheel chair is not the way one wants to get around, and thanks I owe to many. Jimmy Leach from Middlesboro, Ky was a willing hand to push a guy around. Scott Thomas in Florence and Gary Minton in Somerset, Ky make my Hall of Thanks too. There is no doubt that you can discover real friendships from the struggles and battles of life. Fighting to live may seem like an over aggregated given my current ability to walk and run today, but had you been there back then you could understand my commitment to thanks now.
Dennis Goodman served as a Youth Extension Specialist with the University of Kentucky and served thousands of youth through Kentucky 4-H. Dennis was an adult who believed that youths had ideas, opinions, and he valued their considerations just as important as his own. He believed in enabling youths to explore both their skills and talents. That desire to help young people success is a unique characteristic that embodied Dennis totally. He impacted students in all 120 counties of Kentucky. He was raised Episcopalian, lived as a Methodist and I joked at his funeral he expected a Baptist to get him all the way into Heaven. I am most grateful for his influence and I credit him as one of those adults who shaped my life into who I am and what I believe. If your child was a part of the Kentucky State 4-H Teen Council then Dennis Goodman is a name you too appreciate.
Thanksgiving is a most special time of the year and the author of thanks has provided each of us with this opportunity to highlight the lives of others by saying thanks to those that have molded us and given of themselves. Now it is time for us to give of ourselves to the benefit of others.

Until then

Thanksgiving - A Season to Appreciate

2010-11-21T07:28:00.000-06:00

I have written for the past several years during this season what I have entitled my season of thanks. Thanksgiving has long been my favorite time of the year because of the changing of the colors outside, the cold wind that begins to blow and the ever green that highlights the trees that are bear of leaves. I enjoy pumpkins and seeds. I love the idea of thanks and the reflection of things given by others, like time, advice and friendship. The holiday season of Thanksgiving is short lived in the market place, surrounded by Halloween and Christmas, but I refuse to short change a season that allows me a change to honor individuals, show respect for times past, and say thanks to the influence of many in my life.
For those shorting changing Thanksgiving Season, it could be described as a “quick meal before the rush of Christmas and the arrival of the new year.” As a baby boomer I’m young enough and old enough to remember the way things once were compared to the present celebration of the season. Thanksgiving was always big around my family home. It was a time for sitting on the porch, rocking in an old green rocking chair at my grandparents, observing and participating in the killing of a hog that would be covered with salt and then placed in the smokehouse to season as just a few of the old memories I cherish today. I’m young enough to have witnessed the changing of the guard from then to now too. I never remember a Black Friday sale growing up. That was something for the big cities. In our small towns and communities stores were always closed during Thanksgiving as families were together. It was a time for going to the woods to a favorite tree stand looking for the perfect buck to pass. Of course when I was growing up, the great Cumberland Gap Parkway was know simply as 25e back then and the four lane was only from Corbin to Turkey Creek. You will not hear anyone saying thanks to Governor Julian Carroll for that effort, but one section at a time is progress for a region that is slow to change. Pineville had the Golden Bell and Martin’s for shopping, and Barbourville had the best men’s clothing store in southeastern Kentucky, Sowder’s Men’s Store. You could buy the best suit and a hat all right here at home.
Traveling to Corbin met going to the biggest showing center around. Belks, JC Penney’s, who could have asked for more back then? Don’t forget Corbin had the movie theater and a Pizza Hut too. Ok, for those reading who young and believe I just had a misprint I didn’t. I remember very well the day Pizza Hut arrived in Pineville and Barbourville. Of course, Pizza Hut in Middlesboro has been around forever but traveling to Middlesboro over Log Mountain before 25e was like going to Corbin. Just not something you did unless you just had to.
Change is an interesting event in our beloved mountains and thanks is a corner stone of our character as mountain people. Remember those who once walked among us giving and sharing of their time, talents and energies is a trademark of our people too. Today we have stores in all of our towns from Williamsburg to Middlesboro, with malls and strip malls dotting our landscapes and before Halloween was even here, Christmas items and markdowns were hitting the shelves eliminating Thanksgiving almost all together except for a Thanksgiving Meal Deal that allows for the choice of a turkey or a ham.
All I know is that the Season of Thanksgiving is far to important to be delegated to a single moment of our lives that includes a meal and a couple hours of family time. It maybe you will not see your family at all on Thanksgiving Day, but that doesn’t mean the reason for the season is missed in the least

Until then.

Larry D Hammonds - "we were blessed"

2010-11-04T07:49:00.001-05:00

During this election season it seems most appropriate to ask what drives an individual to run for political office. A thought to consider of equal importance is what values do we cherish in those that we vote for and work to elect? Honesty should be at the top of our list as voters, but that trait seems not to be in the action of many elected officials. Straight answers are seldom heard today from the courthouse to the White House. Most politicians struggle to address issues that require compromise, working with others, and ethics that treat everyone with respect. Character should be a value we look for in those seeking public office but it can be a difficult find. The best way to discover character is to look at the local community where an individual lives and see what they have been involved with, the activities they have participated in, and the effort they have given to serving others. Family is another key to review. Observing the work ethic of their spouse and children is a good way to determine what values they were able to see in others, their ability to make decisions and what they have been able to instill by example and relationship.
I would like to write that it is easy to find individuals to serve the public, but it is not. It is hard to find individuals that are not a part of some political machine, and most importantly that wants to serve and understands sacrificing a part of their self to make a difference for the benefit of others is a part of leadership. Finding those types of servants is difficult. Those individuals are rare, but they do exist and Larry Hammonds, Jailer of Knox County, Kentucky was one we seek to find. Larry Hammonds was a policy maker, so yes he was a politician, but his political manners came from a heart that was based on a life filled with service, respectful thoughts and considerations of others, with a genuine handshake and smile.
His decision to seek public office was a good personal decision and the residences of Knox County were well served. Larry served all the people of Knox County with dignity and he treated those incarcerated and their family with every courtesy the comes from a lifetime of seeing value in people. Credit for that leadership goes to his parents who lived and taught Christian values and credit to Larry who through his personal relationship with Jesus Christ practice Christian virtues. As a volunteer fire fighter, sacrifice and responsibility are a part of the call to duty that requires a response to help, that he answered. His commitment as a church member was witnessed by his church in his election as a Deacon at Turkey Creek Baptist Church. His friendships from childhood to adulthood earned him respect and his election as a law enforcement official serving the Office of Jailer.
Mary, thanks for sharing your husband with all of us. Jennifer and Jamirae, your father gave his very best to you, and now you have the honor of continuing his tradition by sharing his influence with your families and continuing the rich history your parents have provided to each of you. My prayer is that during this season of election we will each elect to allow Jesus to touch our lives as He did your fathers.

Until then

The challenge of errors and mistakes

2010-10-24T07:51:00.001-05:00

Of all the challenges we each face, the biggest challenge to overcome is correcting the errors or mistakes we’ve each made in life. If you happen to be the sort of person that has never made a mistake then this column will not have much meaning. I assume to you, it will be just an interesting opinion that was written for everyone else. Self realization can be a difficult challenge in and of itself. Admitting our short comings is not the type of thing we grow up having conversations about. You will not attend a conference or a workshop sponsored by your employer the helps individuals to talk about their mistakes. Thus the difficulty at hand is how we deal with our errors-or the wrong decisions we’ve made.
For the record, there are some organizations that talk about mistakes and issues individuals face but these are all confidential settings and those sponsoring organizations are groups like AA which is the biggest that comes to my mind. For those that have never made a mistake, it is easy to judge individuals who would attend such a group and consider those participating to be a sub-type that doesn’t comparing to you. The Bible has some great advice for those willing to step up to the challenge and over overcome their individual mistakes. I personally have always been challenged with the Bible recommendation to remember that any fault I see another person facing, that could just as easy be me. When you realize that the only difference between you and others is the answers we accepted or gave this is a start. I have shared with individuals many times in counseling conferences that I understand what drugs are and when I was asked if I wanted any I always said no. That decision doesn’t make me any better then those that said yes, but my answer provided me greater opportunity instead of limiting my options because of my decision. Remembering that the situation we witness others in could just as easily by yourself creates a sense of understanding and a taste of mercy that makes you want to share it with others.
The next step in correcting our errors and mistakes is to learn from those situations. The desire to experience mercy and understanding is something most folks don’t have any problem with requesting. We want judges in district and circuit courts to dismiss our tickets and to forgive or mistakes. We want teachers and professors allow us to turn our papers in late and not on time. We want our parents to help us, and if they punish us, we want them to change the discipline after we serves some of our “time out”. Forgiveness once, we can easily agree with as a good practice but what about request, 3, 4, and 5? If we are continuing to repeat these types of moments, it’s pretty clear that we are not learning from our mistakes how to correct them; we are only learning to keep asking for another chance.
Correcting the errors in choices we’ve made or decisions we elected are neither always easy nor fun. One thing is for certain. If we remember and learn as we go we are miles ahead in reaching the ultimate destination and Jesus is a great friend for the journey.

Until then

The Art of Conversation

2010-10-17T07:42:00.000-05:00

The value of conversation could almost be considered a lost practice today in this age of emails, voice mail, text messages, and instant messages. Many things are changing around us. There was a time individuals had to pick up the mail everyday from the post office if you expected to receive your bills and more especially receive payroll checks or maybe benefits from the government. Well those days are almost gone as companies use direct deposit to pay employees; even the government uses debit and credit card systems for benefits. Those monthly bills that once grew into a stack on desk and tables in our homes have been replaced by green friendly billing. Who imagined that we would go to an inbox and not a mail box to receive monthly statements and invoices? Even more imagination would have been needed thinking that just 20 years ago we would be paying our bills on-line from internet banking systems much less just going to individual website and placing our personal and sensitive information out there in the air waves of the untamed internet?
Lots of changes have been occurring. I’m not saying that any of these mentioned and bad or not useful, I’m only saying “wow, things are really different from just a few years ago and the pace of new arrivals in methods and techniques are at flood stage.” There is one art that we must recapture and that is the art of conversation. When I think about the problems that are faced by some families and individuals it is easy to ask the question have you spoken with anyone about this? The shock is in the answer that most have not talked with anyone about possible answers or solutions and thus the art of conversation and the value of listening and observing others is slipping quickly from a practice that is fundamental to interpersonal development.
Having helped and worked with individuals facing the issue of drug abuse, listening is vital to hearing the truth, and for many individuals finding folks to just talk—yes, small talk is a difficult task. In our pace as movers and shakers it is sad to see folks not willing to spend any length of time in just hearing someone out, or listening to their position on a subject. I would encourage everyone to find someone to talk with, someone to express ideas to, and someone to share moments with that build and strengthen relationship, all because of time shared talking.
It could be that you are reading this column and thinking, I don’t know anyone to just sit and talk with. Could be you have discovered a silent period in your life where no one is engaging you in questions which makes for a guaranteed time of loneliness and quite. I would suggest there is a friend who listens well. I’ve discovered in Jesus Christ that someone. Not only does he listen well but He speaks back in profound ways that make a real impression and sometimes shake me to my inner core. The art of conversation is a treasure that needs to be recaptured in our lives and if you have no one to talk with please allow me to recommend my friend Jesus. You will discover strength and courage from sharing and listening, give it a try today.

Until then

Thinking before the fact

2010-10-10T07:59:00.000-05:00

Of all the personal struggles any individual will ever face is the surprise announcement that you have been terminated from your employment. For those who have experienced this moment in life, even if you had written warning and verbal acknowledgements regarding performance or actions, that single moment is still a shock and immediate setback. The bigger self-attack is that unexpected office meeting where you had no fore warning or hint of the ambush you were walking into. There are many situations we will naturally bump into throughout life that we don’t need to have pop up events to keep us always hopping around life as a game of hopscotch.
While you are considering what you might do with the release of such news as “you’re fired” the first I advice is to practice this moment before it happens. I know this may sound a bit out of the norm but it is really good advice to be prepared. Rehearsing responses to various types of possible situations is a great way to hear what you’re thinking aloud and a great way to practice what you should say even when you’d like to just sound off and say what you are feeling at the moment. At the outset, that sounds like good advice too. It’s only when you stop and think about the later impact of just saying what you think when you realize that most of the time “running off at the mouth” is never good. I have a full list of people, places and comments that many wish they had never said, and wish they could take back from the ear memory of those that heard.
Best advice one could ear hear today might be from President Abraham Lincoln, when he said, “better to be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt”. I smile when I quote that to myself often, because I know of things I wish I would not have said, but did. Learning to listen and thinking (practicing) before you speak is a great beginning to handling situations that just pop up in life. Death is a greeting of life that hands surprises. If we thinking about the moment of death before it arrives we can be prepared, no matter the hour. Why not have discussions with a funeral director sharing your wishes so others can find you’re planning as the perfect answer for their unexpected announcement of your death? One thing that I can share is that if you begin with this type of conversation now, you will more than likely discover the answers you are looking for through mature listening, thinking and planning.
So you have a job loss tomorrow when you arrive at work. You are unprepared and have made no thought about tomorrow, what’s next? Why not let your answer be I’m not totally ready, but because I’ve thought about this before, I am able to lower the lingering affect by preparation.
I often hear folks say, I’m not sure what I need to do about a relationship with Jesus Christ. They plan to do something someday, but do nothing in the mean time except to say, I’m planning. Additional advice for being prepared for life begins with a personal conversation with Jesus. You don’t have to invite Him into your heart during the first conversation but if you listen and take the beginning step or an additional step now, you will be at least one step closer to the perfect final destination.

Until then

Questions are a difficult question to ask

2010-10-03T07:53:00.000-05:00

Questions are a most difficult question to ask. Sorry I had to have just a little play on words. Asking someone to re-explain something they have just said and presented is intimidating for many folks. Questions that are asked in a probing way to discover information can certainly be a challenge for both the individual asking the question and the person providing the answer and explanation. As a child before one has developed the skill of speech adults, brothers and sisters asked little ones questions and we accept a head shake one-way or another as the provided answer. With personal growth and maturity, as adults, we look at others and expect them to be able deliver an answer with specific details that in essence brings our question to a conclusion.
In the Bible there are many examples about questions. Brothers James and John asked if they could sit on the right hand of the Father. That was a bold question! Other Bible questions include the question of who sinned in probing the wonderment of why one might not be perfect in everyway. Now that is a question folks still ask today when looking at others and wanting to place blame for one reason or another. There are many examples of questions not asked in the Bible that are presented in such a way that require us to develop a pattern for research in our wondering. Those types of questions also require a growing relationship with the source of help when seeking answers. If you are a student writing a thesis in high school or a undergraduate student writing a position paper you will need to develop a relationship with the library. That will need to be a growing relationship too. We lead first and second grade students into the library for the first times in their lives to begin their relationship by introducing them to that quiet place. Later we show them how to find resources and we explain the various categories and how things are shelved by topic, and author. We hope that these steps and assistance will create inside of every child a love for learning and the courage to go and seek out answers and experience things through reading, looking and listening.
I wish I could give myself credit for the next statement I’m about to share but I cannot. I wish I could write who or where I was when I first heard the statement but I can’t recall either. I’ve quoted this statement as advice to others for years. I’ve shared it with many as encouragement and today is marked as just one more opportunity. If we could spring forward in our lives 20 years we will discover that the we will be the same person then that we are today with four exceptions. Four things that will make a difference are: 1) The books we read; 2) The places we go; 3) The experiences we have;4) The people we meet; The great idea behind this thought is that at any age we can begin the process of becoming different from just these consideration. How about asking for a recommendation of a good book, or asking a question about a location to visit from a trusted source? How about asking a friend a question to share about an experience that has changed their life and how about asking someone to sit and talk even if you’ve never met them before?
There is a lot to discover if we would only be willing to step outside of our world and be willing to see what is outside of what we know currently. In a relationship with Jesus Christ I’ve discovered the opportunity to really be challenged is up to me.

Until then

Nasty Taste or Perfect Mix

2010-09-26T08:56:00.000-05:00

The bitterness of life has a nasty taste. It can be further stated that the aftertaste can remain for a long time on the taste buds too. There are many things that offer up the unsavory things of life. Some of these ‘meal creations’ we create on our own. When my grandmother Stella Mills would whip up some of her biscuits or even better yet some homemade syrup all I can say is it was great! But that great taste came through years of perfecting the art of throwing flour, eggs, salt and other ingredient together and mixing them with her unique fist roll. I am extremely confident that grandmother’s cooking was not always so great. I can imagine as a little girl she watched her mother and my great-grandmother cooking as a child, observing the process. Gradually I suspect they began to hand over a few details until grandma could prepare a meal all by herself.
As a child I know my first love of the kitchen began to really grow when my mother would be mixing up a cake. I always made sure I had frequent stops in the kitchen when that was happening so I could hear my mother ask if I’d like to lick the spoon. Now we are talking right? If you are not smiling as you read this you must be allergic to cakes or never been asked to clean up the cake batter mix with your finger. I guess there must be something that separates all of us apart from the other and if that childhood experience is my stepping stone I’ll accept it gladly knowing I also have the extra pounds to show just how many of those special clean up jobs I’ve taken care of.
Focusing on the toughness of life is another experience that no doubt sets people apart. One fact for sure, we’ve all had some bitter tasting moments that we had rather not experienced. I could wager my left foot that all of us know of moments that just make you sick because of things that must be dealt with. Tasting the moments of life individually I personally would not recommend. It’s like tasting the individual ingredients that make up biscuits. Buttermilk alone could be good but I never could drink that all alone. I love a fried egg but raw I never could stomach. Salt is ok of course but that’s just one item out of several, which is much like life. When we are experiencing tough moments we should not try to swallow all of it at once. Chocking was never a favorite experience of mine either. Life sometimes is like trying a new food. Taste just a little and see what you think before you take a big ole bite. In cooking all the good cooks always taste their food as they prepare the meal. Adding just a little of this or pinch of that to create the perfect dish for enjoyment.
Today you could have experienced a perfect day in your books, but tomorrow heartache maybe just around the corner. The test for our skills tomorrow is to remember yesterday was a good day and this bad today we are having will be over in a few hours and we have a new opportunity with the next sunrise. Many individuals will let a single bad taste or experience keep them from ever trying something different or believing that a bunch of single “not so great tasting items” mixed together can come out right, but it can.
Romans 8:28 says that “God works all things out together to the good, for those that love Him and are called according to His purpose”. You may not always like every moment of every day but one bad day a week is nothing. One bad week a month is nothing and even one bad month a year is a small fraction of time when you look at the big picture. Don’t give up, keep pressing on and give a little time for everything to mix together and then you may find yourself going back to the kitchen waiting, watching and looking for the good stuff.

Until then

Lots of thoughts......

2010-09-19T07:13:00.000-05:00

This past week I had a big moment, in my mind at least. I was listening to talk radio and the discussion was all about the November elections and who would control Congress. News forums are all talking about the Democrats losing control of the Senate and House of Representatives if the Tea Party candidates win and are seated as Republicans in the new Congress. The Republican Party issues are that those who just won their primaries discovered their biggest opponent to be the Old Republican Party and the Tea Party Moment appears to be the New Republican Party which includes lots of debate and unrest. In the radio commentary the statement was made by a Member of Congress that he believed in what he was doing and he wanted to represent all of the people of the United States.
Listening to that statement being said struck me as most interesting. My big mind moment was don’t we elect our individual Members of Congress to represent our specific districts? Maybe my Civic teacher in high school left that lesson out and we never had a discussion about that issue, but I remember well, we did. Congressman Harold Rogers could in a general way, say he represents all the Citizens of the United States of America, but his primary focus and his energy should be in representing the people of his District. Kentucky’s entire Congressional Delegation should all work together for Kentucky’s good as a whole, yes, that’s general, but that is an interested shared in common that is easily understood. I would agree that you don’t hear or see that taking place unless everyone’s in the same political party and affiliation. That would mean elected officials see the good in each other and see the value of others over a political party idea, position, or platform. That would be corporation if that occurred but because of political unrest and continued indifference even within the specific political parties nobody seems to want to help anyone except themselves and no one believes in appreciating any opinion that is different from theirs.
Now I am a Christian and I believe in Biblical principals. I feel quite strong about my beliefs and I am firmly committed to those positions. Yet, I realize I often fall short in my witness of Christianity and there are many questions that I’d love to have answers to right now, but that’s not so. I am a Maroon and White Bobcat. No disrespect to the Blue and White Bobcats of Bell County today, but I love a different color. In Bell County I had great friendships with students who went to Long Jack but I know others who hated people just because of one school over another; In Knox County I had a great experience teaching at Lynn Camp High School. My parents both graduated from Knox Central and the gym is named after my cousin Don Bingham. Opps, I forgot, Danny Green at Lynn Camp and he is an old high school and family friend, who am I to support? Maybe I should not write anything and just be quite? No doubt -- I could be upsetting someone for sure and some will think I’m picking sides!
Not sure when doing the right thing whenever and wherever was lost, but it’s clear it is missing in many situations, organizations and opportunities. In today’s world there is one connection I can suggest that still has a singular focus. The leadership is truly about putting others first and the plan works. For God so Loved the World He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes shall be saved. Now that’s different!

Until then

Final

2010-09-05T08:19:00.000-05:00

There is one word that I believe most of us do not want to hear. Final is a word that could be positive without a doubt. In grade school the teacher would often say, “use that word in a sentence”, and I can. It is final, we have accomplished our goal. Now that’s positive but there is an aspect of the word final that is not so welcomed. There is a popular television show where the question is asked, “Is that your final answer”? Certainly if someone is asking us that question there is some weight that goes along with our answer because it sounds as if the next action means a change with no correction.
Final is a difficult word to embrace. In attempting to understand how we get to that final moment we should establish a couple points that we can agree on.: 1 – There are many steps to reaching a final decision; 2 – A clear understanding comes with a statement like, “we are in the final stages”. We can clearly hear the additional steps even in a final stage; 3 – The last moment often arrives and catches us off guard even while we know the presence of difficult things, or a day that approaching that is final.
Attempts to recapture moments that were so awesome once often are unsuccessful. For something to have been so positive and valuable we find ourselves only able to cherish it as a memory. We can give good faith and effort to be the same type of person that helped create that great moment but in honest truth, that moment has a final element in its character and we remain with only the pleasure of having been there to experience it. I’ve been in final moments of life many times with families, couples, employment and even friendships. Finding a new connection after a decision has been made is often challenging and the moment provides us with many questions about our decision that leave us wondering what we have done, or experienced.
In the Bible scripture says that we can be confident of one thing. If we believe that God started something, then we should just relax and trust Him because He will finish the task. That sure seems pretty final. Scripture also instructs us to press forward toward that goal, and that sure seems like a lot of work, but there is another scripture that also says that you and I can do anything through Him. Hum?, seems like a pretty final statement about outcome if I will only work, press and believe.
Today I am confident that many who are reading this column are facing some final decisions. Some are final decisions about financial matters, relationships, medical choice, and these decisions could include what we believe, or what we accept. No one wants second best, we all want the very best. Folks don’t wish people some success, and folks don’t pray that people will experience a little faith. We wish BIG and we pray BIG. We want a complete miracle before us, we want the wish to actually be bigger then we can dream so we can be totally overtaken when it arrives. We humans are funny in our way of thing and we are no doubt greedy in our expectations of all things, except final things.
The Bible says there is a day that the Savior of the world will return and He is returning for his Bride that will be ready. WOW, I’ve been in enough weddings to understanding last minute task, and rushes that create headaches and stress. For some reason I just don’t believe that’s the way He is expecting to find us, on his final return.

Until then

Happy Birthday to YOU~!

2010-08-29T08:17:00.000-05:00

I hope you are ready for a readers quiz because this week I’ve got test time on my typing finger tips. The test question is: What song is the most sung song in America? Depending on which reading arena you find yourself in, you will have a different song for each of the segments. Rock n’ Roll maybe Elvis or Michael Jackson, for Easy Listening, James Taylor would be an artist with plenty to choose from. In the church arena I am thinking Amazing Grace will be the number one song selected there, but I believe the answer to the question of #1 song sung in America-----Happy Birthday!
There is not a single day that this song is not sung in multiple languages including signing and the words of the song are sent “as singing” in text messages, and emails thousands of times everyday. If I asked the church arena why Amazing Grace is so special you are going to hear all kinds of different answers, but what’s the deal with the Happy Birthday song? Some maybe thinking there is nothing special about it other then it’s the day you were born and we sing the song because it is the National Anthem of Birthdays. Now I’ve not conducted any special research into how the song even came about but besides a tune that sings well for even those that cannot sing we all smile when we do it. There is something about that song but what is it?
When we are at a local restaurant that sings and claps we always watch or look over, why? Is it to watch someone be embarrassed, well that could be but I doubt that is the real reason. A birthday is not about anybody else, except you, which makes it special. One could ask why at birthday parties we don’t tell the birthday celebrant their parents did a great job? Why?...because we don’t honor the person whose birthday we celebrate where there were born, not to whom they were born, or even who was there when they were born. We don’t even thank the doctor or hospitals were the miracle of birth occurred…hum…why not? It does seem appropriate but it is not our standard or practice to do that, our standard is ice cream, cake and the singing of America’s favorite song.
As a Christian I think that singing Happy Birthday is or could be a very spiritual moment actually. With explanation and emphasis a birthday celebration could be some kind of way to honor the hand-i-work of God. Consider first that we should mention your earthly parents because the Bible says that Children are a “Blessing of the Lord”, doesn’t say anything about born inside or outside of marriage, just a “Blessing” directly from the Lord, now that is something! Consider the fact that each person that celebrates a birthday was created in the image of God. Now that could be scary for some based upon looks, but nevertheless, being created in the image of the one that created all things, that is something! Consider that each birthday celebration is honoring an individual that has also been uniquely gifted with talents given by God. Consider that the person celebrating a birthday was so loved by God that He died for them long before they even arrived just because He loved them!
There is a lot to consider when singing a simple song like Happy Birthday. Personally I am not sure what your selection is about the #1 song sung in America, but I certainly do hope that the next time you sing Happy Birthday, you will at least remember this column and the thoughts to consider about how special it really is to have a birthday!

Until then

Just a lttle Jesus is a great start

2010-08-15T07:24:00.001-05:00

In good law enforcement fashion, stating the facts as they are and evaluating the scene and evidence gathered are always good things when attempting to come to a conclusion or a position. Discovery is a nice legal word that an attorney may use when preparing a case and he wants to talk about a time period that is important in reviewing information. Our lives as humans could certainly use some old fashion law enforcement techniques from time to time. Building a strong foundation of character is not easy. I enjoy the television insurance commercial where you walking into that special room, just name your coverage and it happens, all you’ve got to do is say yes! Wouldn’t that be great if in building our own lives with character we could do something like that? No one would mind if the world watched either.
I doubt seriously if most folks think about law enforcement and the image of lights and the sound of sirens blaring doesn’t come to thought. I’m not sure why, but flashing lights is fun, unless they are in your rear view mirror. In thinking about our individual lives sometimes we need an emergency situation to cause our attention to focus or to bring us to a slower speed or even a stop on the road of life. When I think about such moments in my life the first thought is that flashing lights is not always a bad thing. It could be flashing lights on a sign that are there to simply provide warning of a possible condition or even danger that exists. It is the sound of that yelp or wale that really catches our attention, but if the siren passes us by we naturally express a sigh of relief thinking of guilty and then relief that it’s not us being pulled over, then your mind flashes wondering what’s happened, is there an accident ahead, what’s the emergency.
Facts can be difficult because of required explanation. Gathering evidence can be time consuming and exhausting. Not exactly the things we want to hear but certainly conditions that are true. If we embrace them as parts of the process the system may not take as long to deliver an answer as the wait seems or appears. I believe it is in the discovery that you and I learn to shine or we just continue to polish away. Wouldn’t it be easy if we could reach the perfection of life we desired and that became the facts that remained forever? It would be great to have one big battle knowing that at the end all things were final, but life and our character isn’t that easy. Yes, life is a battle, we have challenges that may cause you to shout Hallelujah or it’s possible that you might just feel like cussing up a storm! Again, I wish I could write a couple simple steps to many things in life with us building our personal foundations of character being easily solved by those steps, but that’s not that case.
Many will never travel a journey to see what can be discovered through a journey of faith because they think all the facts have already been gathered. Sometimes we are quick judges and have settled all things in our mind, thus another possibilities or opportunities are closed by the negative trait or condition of narrow minded behavior. Isn’t it amazing how we could claim to be so open yet so shut off to thoughts? We love flashing lights of color like a disco but we want to be in control of the switch that turns them on and off.
Life is never easy. Mistakes in the average life will be many and the one trait that will set the difference and the distance between all these written discussion will be our response to the final facts. Can we be startled and over react to things, yes, and it’s just as easy to ignore or act like you don’t really hear or see things too. The key to life is exposure and I would recommend a little bit of Jesus to get you started.
Until then

Hymn #150 please

2010-08-08T07:20:00.000-05:00

Watching and scanning through my local cable providers available channels I am amazed by all the game shows that are currently running. “Back in the day”, game shows were always seen during the daytime, except of course for Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune. I am amazed at all the different types of game shows and I confess the host of evening shows to watch is quite entertaining and I find myself upset when the Master of Ceremonies, or whatever title it is they hold to, announces we will see what happens “when we return”. Ok laughter is a good part of entertainment and suspense works too. Thinking about all these shows has my mind thinking about all the things I remember that have made a difference.
In 1981 I became a big fan of the television series Hill Street Blues. Thursday nights at 10:00pm you could set your clock on me being in front of the television watching the greatest police series ever produced. Just imagine watching a series today that doesn’t have a city you can identify? The greatness of Hill Street Blues was that watching the show you thought you knew the city and you were sure you understood the characters portrayed and that’s why folks loved the series including me. If someone wants to make my Christmas I would love the DVD series, lol!
The memories of shows and people are all the things that provide richness to our character. It takes time to officially grasp and understand the impact of television shows we watched as children and teens but given the opportunity of time all things will show themselves. Religious program was not always a part of weekly television and just as I can recall my Thursday evening show of preference, there is no doubt that Sunday mornings the Mull Singing Convention with Lady Mull and her man were a must for viewing and anyone witness them through black and white television, has equally a memory of their sponsor Cas Walker.
With the flashing of my memory bank regarding television shows, I had just such a moment in church that activated itself because of a positive and real impact upon my life while growing up. When I was a child attending my junior days at the First Baptist Church Pineville the location for Christian education occurred on the third floor of their educational building. The memory flash was the little blue Junior Hymnal that we used to sing hymns during our open assembly before dividing up into various age group classes. The hymn was # 150 and the song was My Jesus I Love Thee. When the Music Minister announced that he wanted us to sing a love song I wasn’t sure what song it would be, but as the words appeared on the projector screens in our sanctuary I thought immediately, this is a great love song and I know the page number even if we don’t use hymnals anymore.
There are many changes in life and there are many moments that create thoughts for each of to reflect upon. I will be praying that this week you will have a moment like I’ve experienced that will create a heart overflowing experience filled with love too.

Until then

History--ours to write today

2010-08-01T06:13:00.000-05:00

In the mountains of Kentucky we love history. We love the heritage of the land in which we call home. The communities that were once filled with homes and families we respect as places were our forefathers lived, and raised their families. We look upon our community churches as strong holds of faith that represent the sincere efforts of our families search for inner meaning and even our personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Kentucky State history is about our independence as a Commonwealth and about our continued work to be neutral and get along in harmony. Let us not forget our State Motto, “United We Stand, Divided We Fall”. The work of our pioneer families, the vision of those early settlers who established mills for grain and stores for trading all serve as the foundation for out towns and even our way of life. The rich history of our families we share in the stories we tell as the pride factors of the distance we’ve traveled and the destination we seek in our future sight.
There are many elements and factors that are involved in our make character and development but three that must not be over looked. No matter the successes we have experienced or the achievements we post as evidence of our advancement we each remain created in the image of All-might God. With positive strokes in life’s steps it is easier to admit this Biblical statement as fact, but when the character witness by others is not so bright in light, nor positive with respect to influence and impact, it is then very easy to not recall the Creator in whose image we represent. No doubt finding the light in darkness can be a struggle and the journey of that search a stumbling experience over all kinds of things that in given light would be easy to walk around. Watching people who do good toward others and witness folks who serve and give it is easy to see the beauty of God, but watch those who take, use and never offer the slightest thanks or appreciation, we categorize those very quickly and have no problem distancing ourselves from their association or even acknowledgement of “once a friend”.
The rich history of who we are should be stamped throughout with the words and actions of faith. The history of who you are is now your responsibility as a family members walking where your family once stood and moved. Even if you moved into this area once as a stranger, welcome now as a new pioneer sharing your traditions that can enrich our own history with new values and appreciation because of where you’ve come from and the stories of your family and the road they have traveled.
Along this journey we have the opportunity to cling to outside sources of strength called faith and hope. These two traits will add much to the history of our traditions and the value of our lives to others we may never even meet. The one resource we have that provides us with a complete new chance for experiences, foundation reinforcement, and courage for new steps is a thing called love. Love can certainly be independence and branch out extending in all directions in addition to being neutral, listening, caring, and waiting for you to move first because it is the proper step.
A history has been written already by those before us, but a history remains to be written by those of us who remain.

Until then

A real Minister of Music. speaks honesty and truth

2010-07-25T23:53:00.000-05:00

The challenges of church is truly an across the board experience for staff and members. Honesty in church is often seldom heard as most are afraid to make a truth statement because of the way it will be viewed by those observing. In church last week I heard a great statement of truth that touched my heart in a very refreshing way. The Minister of Music has been asking for, recruiting, and seeking out new members for the choir. This week he announced how happy he was for those who had recently joined the choir and he expressed his public thanks. Any one who has ever been a church choir member knows that it is special when others join that particular ministry. It’s encouraging for those who have been singing their hearts away from the choir’s position because you feel the value of your ministry and service is seen by others and the importance of your work is valued and others want to help. Not a bad feeling for any church member involved in any church ministry.
The statement made by our Minister of Music was that he was “so excited about the new members who had recently joined, and he decided to pull out some old music only to realize that the new members didn’t have clue and those plans would need to be scrapped for the moment”. Now, I’m smiling deep inside as I write because those types of comments are just not typically shared on a Sunday morning in worship. It was very refreshing however.
It’s refreshing because of the honesty involved that included the great news of exciting involving others who are stepping up and the honesty of the situation that with growth new challenges develop, even for staff members who lead. So often in church, when we talk about growth and change, we think about it from only a church members position and we hardly ever consider the changes involved for the staff that are leading the effort.
Have you ever consider the challenges facing a new staff member that has just joined your churches leadership team? The adjustments from moving ones family is more then enough challenge for the average family, add on to that, the new friends their children must begin to develop and having to establish who you are again, what you believe, and let’s just add on to the list of challenges saying goodbye to all your favorite things and attempting to build new traditions is no easy journey.
Sure we can be friendly, we can offer assistance and we can even provide answers, and take them to our favorite spots, but still the real test is one that only time can provide. Seldom do we consider the change that we as church members can levy against our current leadership when we offer our suggestions without anytime for consideration or input from their point of view. Even when our church leadership has been around for sometime it is easy to forget that they too may need time and planning.
The honesty and straightforwardness of the testimony of my churches Minister of Music has me in the biggest smile. In Southern Baptist life, most folks don’t really look at the Minister of Music as a real Minister. They will describe them as the “music leader” or even as the “song leader” but rarely as a Minister like the Pastor. Personally having filled both roles I know this from first hand experience, but I also know as a Pastor when the entire staff is seen as the Representatives of Jesus, His servant, and His leadership, a church can really rock. I’m glad I heard the encouragement of the day, from the spoken word of God’s Music Man!.

Until then

Growing Faith....with a horse

2010-07-18T08:21:00.000-05:00

Struggling issues of religious faith can often be either a motivating factor in an individual’s life or that same issue could be the final step in a journey looking for answers. Faith, the Bible says is to believe without seeing. Faith in others is most often demonstrated after it is observed through patterns of actions and words matching up. It could be that you are reading this and in some fashion of honesty admit to yourself that you have not only held others to these two different positions of faith, but maybe you can even admit you have practiced both for all the world to see too. If the latter is you, then you have an inner struggle of faith that maybe we can work on that will not be an end to all, but rather a step in your continuing journey of faith.
Those who read this column regularly know I write and share from not just my heart but from my own experiences. It is never an easy thing to open up your personal life for review and critique by others but I have discovered that great Biblical truth that “truth will set you free”. For those that are at the current status of about to give up on religious faith, the easiest thing to write is “hold on” but maintaining a handle on things can be a stress upon our fingers, hands and wrist. I’ve never been much of one for arm wrestling. I’ve had folks tell me it’s all about leverage and position, in addition to the mindset not to allow your wrist to bend. Exerting muscle strength with focus and determination is no easy task. Risking the chance you may end up with a broken arm that will just snap under the pressure is not the way I want to spend the next 8 weeks either, so I’m tempted to never even enter the contest.
Experience can be a great tool for evaluating situations and conditions. My youngest niece, Morgan Alexandra Mills, wanted a horse to ride. The purchase was made and with a tender gentle horse what could go wrong, after all Lady had perfect traits rights? The evening was perfect for a horse ride and with my encouragement and assurance; my niece went for her first bareback ride. The only condition I had not prepared for was a barking down up from the creek that would spook Lady and with a jump not seen before, off my niece went, and old Uncle Tim could not keep her from falling which resulted in a broken arm right off the bat! Not the vision I had reviewed in my mind for the perfect memory that would last a life time. Rather I had to carry her with a visible broken arm that was first spotted by my father. Truth is, facing my brother and sister-in-law was much easier then my own dad. It was not the moment I had planned. A visit to the emergency room, a cast, not to mention the expense my “trust Uncle Tim” created.
This could have been the set back of all time for riding horses or loving animals on the part of my niece, but she didn’t let that happen. Now she’s never went riding with me again, but she did blame me either, which was nice. Rather she blamed it on a barking dog and she gave no negative credit to Lady either. For me, it was an experience I don’t want to repeat with those results. It is now a part of the journey we have shared together in life and we grew through. The best advice for religious faith is, “Don’t let one kick knock you out forever, and don’t let one victory set you up for the next fall”.

Until then

God Still Moves

2010-07-11T08:53:00.000-05:00

In today’s high tech world, we’ve got gadgets for just about everything. If we don’t have a gadget then I’m sure we have an application that we can download onto our portable cellular devices that will allow us greater mobility and control of our lives right?
We’ve got widgets too….how could I almost forget about the resource that helps us put the other resources we like to use most at our finger tips for greater convenience. You can call yourself really high tech when you have yourself a special device or tool that enhances your already special stuff to the next level!
When email first was introduced, who would have imagined it could have been enhanced with so many special features that we just could not live without. Consider life without an “office assistant”, and all the special things we can do like planning ahead to provide you with an announcement we are unable to respond or I enjoy the ability to recall an email I’ve sent out. Sometimes I do that to my friends just so they will ask what I sent or what I needed. Life is so filled with things it’s hard to imagine the simply lives once lived just a few short years ago.
I was looking at the church hymn the other day, God Moves in Mysterious Ways. Reading the words reminded me of the beauty and power of God in a way that was refreshing in this modern time of sophistication and electronic equipment for staying in touch.

God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform
He plants His footsteps in the sea, and rides upon the storm
You fearful saints, fresh courage take; The clouds you so much dread;
Are big with mercy, and shall break in, blessings on your head.
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, but trust Him for His grace,
Behind a frowning providence, He hides a smiling face.
Blind unbelief is sure to err, and scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter, and He will make it plain.

Words of comfort that provide a real inner peace are so often hard to find. If your cellular phone doesn’t work, you must call an 800 number where you will be pressing buttons for a while, and if you don’t have your serial, model and warranty number handy with fax capabilities, then you might not even get to speak to a live operator for assistance.
In our fast pace world today there is a sure fact that is good to have as an anchor for a weary spirit. God moves in mysterious ways and if you and I will be still long enough to know Him, I am confident we will see clearly in time.

Until then

Mae Bingham - remembered for her faith and love

2010-07-04T07:32:00.000-05:00

I find myself as I grow older reflecting upon my own life through the eyes of impact of others who have influenced me. Writing about people and their lives because of faith has become a task I enjoy and the comments of readers are certainly encouragement for my efforts in the goal of making our world a better place because of our faith in Jesus Christ.
Writing the name William Boyd Bingham, Jr., and mentioning a church known as simply Binghamtown, creates immediate name recognition and identity with a mountain pastor who served for 54 years proclaiming the truth of God’s Word. His faithful companion of life was his wife Mae, who never left his side, drove him thousands of miles and supported her husband in his calling to serve people in the name of Jesus. Family has always been extremely important to me, and Uncle “W” and Aunt Mae made a difference as a team and individually. In honor and memory of her passing on Friday, June 25, 2010, I want to share in celebrating her life of impact through this column.
As a child I remember being at Uncle “W” and Aunt Mae’s home riding ponies. Not sure why they had a pony, but I remember loving the opportunity to ride it. Actually I have a picture of my sister Bridget, my brother Jim, Jr., and I all on that pony riding around the church parsonage in Middlesboro. The fun memories of a child are never lost with age, and the love expressed by adults to children are also never forgotten. Aunt Mae will be remembered by many as the devoted wife of Preacher Bingham, but she was much more behind the scenes to so many, sacrificing for others, and exercising her Christian faith too.
Aunt Mae filled the shoes for children who had no parents treating them just as her own children, if not even better. My Aunt, Imogene (Jean) Mills, stayed with Uncle “W” and Aunt Mae when they lived on Walnut Street in Pineville. Uncle “W” ran a grocery store where today stands the Bell Whitley Building before he became Pastor at Binghamtown. She lived with them in Middlesboro while attending Business School. Aunt Mae’s children at the time were Conley, Bonita, and Gary but one more was not a problem. Aunt Jean told me, “Timmy, Uncle “W” only made $225 a month and Aunt Mae would take me to school and pick me up everyday.” My mother’s memories include visiting the grocery store and presenting her glass of cracked walnuts and Uncle “W” always giving her a $1.00 upon every visit. “That was a lot of money back then”, my mother shared. During a revival at Young Grove on Road Fork in Stinking Creek, Uncle “W” was preaching and my mother started crying. Aunt Mae moved next to her and said, “Bernadine what’s wrong?” Mother said she realized she wasn’t a Christian and she would never see her mother and she wanted to become a Christian. It was Aunt Mae that went to the altar and prayed with my mother as she became a believer through faith at 15 years of age. My grandmother was only 19 years old when she died, my mother was just weeks old and Aunt Jean was 3 years of age. My heart is full of joy and thanks because my Aunt Mae lived a life of faith and she wasn’t afraid to be a supporter or to step out and lead.
Personally, Aunt Mae always encouraging me and her impact will never be forgotten. In eternity one day I will see her sweet smile and feel her soft touch again.

Until then

Imagination....from childhood to adulthood

2010-06-20T19:01:00.000-05:00

Growing up as a child who reading this had any trouble imagining? Why any good 6 year old can imagine flying an airplane and most children at 8 years of age can prepare a meal and set the table using nothing but their imagination. It is easy to dream about driving a truck or even setting up an office where you are writing out business cards, or as my nieces often did, they would give you a meal check for the dinner you didn’t really eat. Using proper imagination you could make noises and pretend to eat with imagination. Makes you want to go back to that age again doesn’t it? Having fun, and nothing was real except spending time playing enjoying life in first class style as a child…using your imagination.
I was reflecting about church and worship. As a child we hear the story of Jesus and we latch on, believing His love and accepting His word as truth. As adults today it appears there is a real need to return to the use of imagination as we sing songs of His love and songs of our commitment to the cause. It appears our ability to visualize how our faith is to be put into practice has been lost with our advancement in age and years of faith. You would think just he opposite would be true. Because we believe and have experiences with Him as Savior and Lord, our faith is strong, our imagination of his purpose and plan for our lives grows and we move forward with action and words.
How about the song, “He Touched Me.” What is your imagination with this song? For me, first I recall the moments and situations in my life that he has actually touched me, and as I face all of the unfolding events and situations of life my imagination kicks in and I cannot imagine a single event He can’t help me with. Think about the song, “Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus.” When was the last time you used your imagination regarding this action? I confess it will be difficult as an adult to use your imagination of standing up against something if you’ve never had that experience. Children imagine fighting the world with stick they imagine as the most powerful weapon the world’s ever known. Children stand up fighting an enemy using their imagination because when knocked down they get back up and continue the fight even though it appeared they were just hit by the bullets of the enemy. WOW, don’t you want to be a child again? Sure we do, but it’s not necessary, we are adults and our imagination should be just fine with the successes we can experience because we walk in faith, talk in faith, and are willing to stand up for Him.
Not sure if there was ever any luster in serving Christ, but I can clearly remember some older folks of faith that didn’t seem to have any problem imagining that Jesus Christ really wants to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we could ever ask or even think. Why not use our imagination to believe that He does work all things out, if we would only love Him and serve Him in His purpose. Maybe it is not possible for you and I to see ourselves as salt and light to those around us even if we used our imagination. Why have we stopped believing and why have we stopped acting? I’m thinking we’ve not only lost our imagination but we’ve lost the faith we demonstrated as a child. It’s time to rediscover our inner faith as a child for these adult days.

Until then

What is your list of dreads?......

2010-06-14T00:10:00.000-05:00

I know a lot of individuals who enjoy working cross word puzzles. Personally I have worked a few puzzles but cross word puzzles are not one of the types of puzzles I’ve enjoyed over the years. It could be that since spelling is not a strong suit of mine, I have a built in button that just rejects the idea? It’s always recommended when listing a negative share a positive too, so I will say a strong suit I have is the usage of words. Expressing myself through adjectives and adverbs and relating the meaning of words to others and using words to motivate and challenge is rewarding.
Over the years I have written this column I have shared several list on many topics and themes, but one list I have never created is a list of things we dread. For those of you that love cross word puzzles maybe this list will help you one day when you are stuck on a word. My list includes both personal dreads and those that I’ve heard from others from conversations and through experiences. Here’s a short list of five for discussion: #1-Receiving a traffic citation; Now I can name a 1,000 people that enjoyed not receiving a citation, but it is unusual for someone to be genuinely thankful for a citation; I know of individuals cited for driving under the influence or cited for drugs and even a few written for speeding that credit that moment for helping them to change their behavior but normally folks are not thankful for such experiences. #2-Death of a loved one; I wish I could write that with preparation this type of occurrence has it stinger removed but physically the hurt is real and over coming this loss takes time. The stinger can be spiritually removed because of the practice of Christian faith but even when our loved ones have suffered and we desire them to no longer be in pain, even then it is still difficult; #3-Failure at a task or goal; Most of us dread that idea, especially if you are goal driven and you enjoy succeeding. This dread requires us to rethink and regroup over coming the obstacle through persistence and commitment; #4-Rejection; This dread doesn’t have to be about personal relationships, but often we think of rejection in that form more then others. Rejection could be notification that you have not been selected for admission as a student in higher education, or a denial letter of a grant or idea can also be a set back. #5 Performance of the responsibilities that are not pleasant or enjoyable. I have a friend that is a pitching coach in professional baseball who loves his job. The one aspect he doesn’t enjoy is that dreaded conversation of having to release a player from the organization. Sometimes the things we dread have been in the works for weeks and a specific time frame must pass before the announcement is released and that’s not enjoyed no matter the explanation even when correct.
There are other dreads that can be listed and each of us have personal specific dreads that others may not relate to, but nevertheless, they are real, they exist and we can identify them. One of the keys to success involves creating list. List of issues we have struggles with. List of situations we want to seek to avoid. And list of characteristics we find complimentary and encouraging that we are drawn toward.
The biggest dread I did have in my life was answering for me and my actions to Jesus Christ as the creator. When someone loves what they do, they put their all into it. Certainly Jesus Christ loves us and He put His all into even His death, for me and you. I may have some dreads here on earth, but on the spiritual side of life, I’ve eliminated the biggest dread and you can too!

Until then

The Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival

2010-06-06T13:59:00.000-05:00

It has been said that when things “go off without a bang”, that’s a good thing. Well I must say that’s not true especially when it comes to the Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival. The bang was exactly what was missing! It has also been said that you never know what you had until it’s gone and that statement can be true too. I am someone who has written a lot about people that I am thankful for and I’ve written a lot about individuals and organizations that have made a real difference in my life and others.
On Saturday morning of the Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival I was listening for one particular sound at 10:00 am. It was the sound of the firing of the cannon to proclaim the historic start of the Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival. Certainly the parade got “off without a bang”, but it was missed. I have thanked the members of the Pineville Lions Club for their efforts in years past but now I must make my personal appreciation public and in prayer that next year that tradition will return. With Brother Earl Hurst and Richard Peace having been the main leaders of this experience for all those attending the parade for more years then I can recall their absence was felt. Appreciation for volunteers more often then not goes without public recognition but that shouldn’t be the average course of response. Acknowledging the work of the Pineville Lions Club and their efforts in cooperation with the Lions Club International should cause all of us to see them at work and to hear their work too. One aspect of the work of the Lions Club through their members is their efforts in making a difference in the local community. Small clubs can have big impacts and their consistent work throughout the years has accomplished that here in Bell County and Pineville.
The Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival as an organization has many volunteers too. Volunteers who served in organizing and directing the parade, volunteers who handed out programs, greeted guest, or worked in an office putting together packets or making sure chairs were out for concerts and events. Volunteers who put up banners, made phone calls, or worked to secure housing for the escorts and queen participants. All these plus hundreds more that we may never see their name in print yet, volunteer to do a task or complete an assignment for the enjoyment of others. To all of you who volunteer let me be one that says thanks and allow this thanks and that of others to be an echoing applause you remember.
The firing of one single cannon may seem like a minor event, but that one element added with other single events make for a great program we love called the Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival.
In review of history it is easy to see the success of Biblical wisdom. One lays a foundation so another person can build upon that foundation. Understanding the missing bang of the Pineville Lions Club cannon also provides for a good understanding of a Biblical view of His return as Savior and Lord. The scripture says in the twinkling of an eye—change. In a single moment He will return to claim His bride. The best position to be in would be one that sees the change before it’s called to our attention after the fact.

Until then

Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival - Knox County

2010-06-06T13:01:00.001-05:00

The representation of Knox County in the Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival served as shining stars of beauty and grace in the Princess Coronation held on Friday night of the festival each year. Bethany Bargo represented Knox Central High School and Danielle Brooke Green represented Lynn Camp High School.
Participation in the Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival Princess Event is about beauty, style and personality, but for us a community it is really about corporation with our neighbors and celebrating who we are as a people and individual communities. Our neighbors in every direction from Barbourville are important to us as a city and county. Our relationship and inner action together as a whole speaks volumes about our willingness to see others be successful in their individual efforts.
The Daniel Boone Festival is a highlight of Knox County, as the Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival shines a spot light on the City of Pineville. These two festivals are different in nature but similar in effort and design. The Daniel Boone Festival shows our history and expresses the heritage we as a people hold. The Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival has history as the oldest festival in Kentucky only second to the Kentucky Derby. People come and participate from all over the counties showing off their goods through tents and venues and of course what would any festival be without food and lots of it.
Being a representative of their individual schools, as Bethany and Danielle both did was just one of their duties. Their biggest task at hand was representing Knox County , each community and all of us as a people. It almost sounds like the job of an elected official, but the real work of any county is always accomplished by those who live, work, go to school and serve the interest of other before their self. One interesting fact I would love to learn from all those that participate each year in our festivals is the number of community hours they have volunteered or given to the benefit of others. I would suspect we would be surprised by the number of hours our young people are giving to others. Some of their efforts through church, others through high school clubs and yet others through their involvement with athletics or other extra hour activities like 4-H or First Priority.
Giving to the benefit of others is not always the first trait one sees in someone else. Certainly it is not a characteristic that jumps out of you as a child, but there are signs that if noticed early on and encouraged, will make a lasting impression as they develop in their teen and early adult years.
Our representatives to the K.M.L.F. are good examples of those types of characteristics and traits. You and I as adults are well suited to attempt to catch up in our efforts if we are behind in making a difference by giving our effort and energies. The best example I know of such service would be that see in the action and words of Jesus Christ. He wasn’t noticed in those developing years but given the right time, after solid training when His moment arrived He was able to step up to the plate, or cross, and follow through.
My encouragement having watched these ladies step out of their shells during the Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival is for me to continue my journey of being a light that others will see shining for His glory. After all the scripture says for us to let our light shine so others will see your good works and glorify the Father.

Until then

The search for Peace

2010-05-30T08:14:00.000-05:00

With all the different events taking place in our world currently there is a search for inner peace in all of our lives. Not sure what brings you to the spot where you are able to relax instead of “running around like a chicken with you head cut off”. For those who are wondering, yes, chickens can and do run when their heads have been cut off. The expression comes from mountain life when someone has just “rung” a chicken’s neck or cut it off in preparation for stewing or frying up the hen. Having witnessed this activity there is no sense in a chickens running or flopping around, it just goes until is yields itself over to the greater cause of being eaten.
Life can put us as human in that type of crazy spin too. Pressure from our jobs at work, or a stressed personal relationship can bring on lots of stuff that can easily get out of control in our lives. Searching for peace when those moments seem to have control is not easy. We never want to surrender our commitment to press through such moments but the weight of the issues sometimes can sure bend us into shapes we thought our emotions and bodies could not bend to or experience.
The Bible talks about peace and while for some it is hard to place your finger on peace when you are just learning the ropes of your new personal relationship with Jesus Christ but for those of us who have years of walking and talking with Jesus we should be a more stable pillar during the storms of life. One of the great moments of personal growth for me is recognizing in the midst of my storm that He is there. It is difficult to explain the feeling when things are going wild yet you are calm and are able to see beyond the present moment to the future in trust through faith. I know a pastor today who was forced out of his place of service and after a year and a half of waiting he found the next door of opportunity. He said, “it was so peaceful talking with the leadership of the church, I knew this was the right place for us to move to”. Who likes being fired, no one I know, but peace can still be found. The loss of a loved one unexpectedly can shake us to the core. I recent discussion with a friend whose husband had just died, leaving her to raise 4 daughters is a daunting task, but yet, she is finding peace even in the challenges she is facing. Not the types of issues we want to talk about, but perfect issues for us to individually find peace through if we walk with Him in faith.
I seldom give direct personal advice in this column, rather I write most often about options and positions of faith but in this column I want to share some specific locations for peace you too can find. Music has always been a source, from the harps of the Bible to the piano and guitar of our day, there can be a refuge and strength if we will let the melodies fill our heart. Poetry is always encouraging even when we probe for an answer that causes us to read it over and over again. The memorization of scripture, a verse that was shared by a friend with their explanation of peace in its meaning can be a ray of sunshine in a dark day.
The option for peace is available but the discovery is not at the lucky find at the end of a rainbow. Peace comes because of a commitment to a relationship built on trust and respect. Peace comes because of our exercise of discipline and action to help others before ourselves. Peace comes through listening and waiting, not rushing and knocking things down or over to find your answer. Often times we don’t have peace because we demand to remain in charge.

Until then

The real election...time to vote

2010-05-23T08:03:00.000-05:00

The primary election has concluded, and the votes have all been counted. For the news outlets and for the reporters who cover political events it appears to be easy to say who has won and who has lost. For the determining factor of such news reporting the individual with the largest number of votes is declared the winner, and with assumption, it will be professed as good news.
Even after the general election votes have been counted in November I believe announcing the winners by total number of votes cast may not provide us with the real answer. Could be we constituents are the loser either way if those elected do not serve the people. In the Bible there was a desire for a great election with the answer coming down to one vote. The mother of James and John ask of Jesus is her sons could sit on His right and left. Now that’s an election of popularity and convenience. Self serving to the highest levels, but rejected and refused by Jesus. His answer was so not politically correct. Today’s politicians would have explained the need for a committee to be appointed and for a vote of approval by the board before confirmation, but that wasn’t the answer Jesus gave. His answer was simple, this is not a decision that is mine to make, but one reserved for the Father in Heaven. No, Jesus didn’t put the blame on someone else, Jesus did not refuse to be involved and Jesus did not act like he did not understand the question with a later rebuttal and press conference to explain what He really intended to say. Rather, He placed the decision where it rested, with the Father. He did give a suggestion later to provide an answer for the Father. He suggested that if you wanted to be first, become the greatest servant of all. Wow, talk about not be politically correct again, that was not the answer folks were expecting to hear.
The Bible speaks plenty about leadership, elected officials and those who hold appointed and elected offices. The key to success is service and the key to making proper decisions is about following Biblical wisdom and Holy Spirit discernment. Helping others is a Biblical principal, just as Jesus came from His Father’s throne to help us. We found ourselves in a mess of sin without direction and hope and He stepped into His to provide the way, truth and life. Today we are in need of leadership that is connected with a resource that provides hope, answers and direction. Our County, State and Nation deserve leadership that is servant orientated. Will you be hurt serving others, yes. Will you experience frustration and disappointment in attempting to give your very best for the benefit of others before yourself, yes, but that does not provide excuses or reasoning that allows us to assume another course of action.
We all become winners when those elected to serve and those being served are appreciative and respectful for the dedication given and the practice demonstrated to the betterment of all. Someone must speak for those who cannot, and someone must help those without sight cross the intersections of life. The best election to participate in is the election of the body of Christ. I choose to follow Him.

Until then

So what's your thoughts....about God?

2010-05-16T07:58:00.000-05:00

There are many things to wonder about from life and with good assumption I am guessing the thought of if there is a God is as good a question as should be pondered.
When you consider all the things people wonder about why not explore the idea of God and just who He is, if He’s real. The realization of Jesus Christ as God is a discovery that has been on going in my life since I ask Him into my heart. I have heard some say what is the gain or loss without a relationship with Jesus. For those who believe in faith that is a simple answer. You have everything to gain and everything will be loss without Him. I’ve also heard some say what if in the end of our existence we discover that Jesus wasn’t real, and that faith was nothing, what then?
For me, at the end of life is Jesus isn’t real, I will be surprised, and if possible I will write a column from that point in life sharing what I have discovered. I doubt realistically if that will happen, but as a good friend to many I would want to give a “heads up” if such were true. On the discovery and wonder of God I have had several pivotal moments in my life that confirm my thoughts and have given my faith additional legs to run on.
When I asked Jesus into my heart I did experience a change. I felt something inside of my being that had not been there before and it was a completing me feeling too. As Jesus and I have become friends I have learned more about Him that supports my belief and cleared up any doubt about if there is a God. Witnessing life and death has opened my mind in understanding the delicate creation we are as humans. We are different because of our soul. That being inside of us that challenges and instructs removes my doubt about His existence. Another turning point for me personally is the answers I have received regarding questions that I have raised. If I could have figured it out myself I would have no doubt, but there are some situations that you must go to the source for help with. An owner manual we all receive with small appliance’s we purchase and with every cellular phone today you must give the owners cd a look to explain all the options, benefits and features. Turning to Jesus has proven to be the owners manual in my life and time over and over again He has directed me to the proper steps that fixed my issue and explain the application.
Some folks don’t like to give God a name. They prefer to speak in general terms, so as not to offend anyone with a different point of view. Personally, I respect different points of view and I know many that do not believe that Jesus Christ is the Lord of lords or if it helps, the God of gods. I have friends of other faiths, and I’m not talking about different styles of Christianity, but rather different gods they worship and believe. In a small world view protestant believer like to debate their particulars about styles of worship, clothing, words and actions. In a big world view I think things are very clear and I for one am grateful. The Bible says, “for God so loved the WORLD that He gave His only begotten son”….and according to world records that demonstration of love for each of us can only be found in one man…his name was Jesus.

Until then

The Word and thought of Mother for discussion

2010-05-09T07:29:00.000-05:00

The focus and attention to words creates great conversations. With the celebration of Mother’s Day this past weekend Mother is a great word for discussion. For most of us honoring our Mother’s takes very little thought. Our actions are moved by the care we received and the nurturing we experienced. Loving Mother, especially on her national day of recognition is something we wouldn’t dare miss. I am mindful of the fact that not everyone has enjoyed the relationship of a mother that cares, is sincere and takes her responsibility seriously.
I believe it is very important to acknowledge the loss some reading my column experienced as a child growing up. It is unfortunate for those whose Mother passed prior to their ability to really remember them and it is equally unfortunate for those children whose Mother was absent by choice and who left Motherhood to another for their child. One of the great aspects of focus and attention is that we can learn that while some facts are sad and true, these matters alone are not the ultimate determining factor for happiness and appreciation. The word Mother can be used as a noun, verb or adjective. As an adjective I could say, I love Detroit as my Mother homeland, or I could say my good friend Sarah dreams of being a Mother, using it as a verb. One fact for certain, the verb usages of the word create a special warm feeling in ones heart when we experience the best of Mother. Even with limited experience the opportunity to be cherished, tended to, spoiled, and fussed over is a good feeling that leaves lasting impressions always loved.
April 4, 1977 Southeastern Kentucky experienced a raging flood from Mother Earth and 33 years later, on May 4, 2010, Nashville, Tennessee awakens to flood waters she never dreamed possible either. Imagine the same Cumberland River flowing from Pineville to Nashville jumpers her banks to announce there is no control when Mother Earth decides to unleash her force.
A single event of life or the combination of events often hand to each of us both challenges to accept and obstacles to over come. There are many steps in overcoming these new moments in all our lives. It could be a simple reflection of great memories or moments in which multiple situations require the assistance of others who must step up to answer the call and provide assistance as a good Mother.
The great answer for every conversation that deserves our focus and attention would be the inclusion of Jesus Christ. He was a ever present force in 1977 and He remains the same in 2010. There are many things in life that require adjustments. Changes in jobs, relationships with friends, varying responsibilities or duties with family are just a few that require change. Yet, the every present constant force of peace that fills an inner spirit only comes from a relationship with Jesus Christ. When the waters of life roll out of her streams and the mud of the creek seems to remain we need to be reminded that the forgiveness found in Jesus Christ creates in us a new birth that establishes us as children of God—joint heirs through His love.

Until then

Legal..what a word for discussion

2010-05-02T07:42:00.000-05:00

The great debate is on….”who is legal?” Of all the words we can use there are a handful of words that can create great debates and legal is one of those. Given the current political climate usage of the word today yields to one conversation. It describes those that have entered our country illegally. Not sure what your held political position is regarding this subject matter, but I believe there are very clear Christian positions.
I strongly believe in the melting pot image I was taught regarding America. We are a Country that should have welcoming boarders and under our law we do permit certain percentages and numbers from all across the world to the America through legal request, work permits, visa’s, and yes, even the opportunity to Pledge Allegiance to The United States of America.
Three years ago I met a family that had sought legal entry into America and this past fall became legal citizens of the United States. Their pride in taking the pledge is a badge of honor for them and for their families. El Salvador is a place on the globe ridden with war, strife and civil unrest. To sit and listen to their stories of watching family members being killed through illegal coups and of their dream and journey to America will create a grateful heart for the unique privilege I was born into as a Citizen of the U.S.
In grade school and high school I was taught rules and regulations. I was taught to believe that these were guidelines that kept things on a even opportunity field, yet hard work and commitment would always outshine those that just stood and waited for the “lucky spot” of life. As a Christian I cannot find any where the Bible supports luck, or that attitude that so many seem to believe and hope in today. In life, I have met many people in many different living styles and conditions. Only in America have I really discovered that to have more means you are a better person in comparison to many. Go to Brazil and you will not discover race an issue in that country. Go to Haiti and you will discover happy people even in the midst of their disaster. Visit our own country, go to Louisiana and you will find folks still without a house, yet something keeps them going and smiling through it all.
As a Citizen of the United States I believe in working for a living and I also believe in providing for those that are unable to help themselves. As a Christian I believe the principal of the Bible, no work, no food too. We all know individuals who are milking the welfare system and I have built into my life a certain percentage for that, knowing that sometimes you must give to those that don’t need in order to reach those that do. Does this mean I support wasteful abuse, obviously not, but life is about the gray. From the earliest memories of my life I had chores. Things to do that supported my family. I grow up doing things like going to grocery store for my family, or picking up an item that was needed. It is very common today to hear child who do nothing for their parents when they provide answers like, “I don’t want to, you do it”. As a Christian I was taught to honor my parents and to respect others around me, which included doing what I may not want to do simply because I was asked, or it was the proper thing to do.
My love for America is unwavering. My love for my Savior is stronger then unwavering. It is battle proven and has survived the storms of life.

Until then

LIke Him or who?

2010-04-27T08:41:00.000-05:00

Considering what to write about in preparation for this column is often times challenging. Writing this column is a personal opinion piece. It doesn’t represent the newspaper or the editor, yet I strive to always write something that the editor will find appropriate, timely, and of interest to the subscribers. I have addressed local topics that are a “hot button” for some and I’ve had readers who disagreed and took issue with a position I shared. There are so many things to write about that need a voice or a shout from the back of the room. Sometimes in life we simply want to get along, make no waves, and just mind our own business. Yet if you live long enough you realize that to remain quite all the time is a path of least resistance that may make those around you happy, but it will not create change that is so necessary for advancement.
Had Jesus never turned the tables over in that great Bible event, I wonder what our opinion would be about those money changers that cheat others through deception? Had Jesus not written in the sand would we think that our demand for justice is always right? Had Jesus not taken time to stop the pushing crowd to ask who is was that had touched Him, would we believe a simple touch has no importance? Or finally what would we think today had Jesus taken no time on the cross to tell his co-convicted that he would be in paradise today?
I am of the opinion that these single moments make a difference today. It could be that some reading will not know any of these situations I’ve recalled while others will know exactly the characters involved in each story. In either case it doesn’t make you a good or bad person, and your knowledge and ability to remember doesn’t elevate you to a higher position of respect from the community. I have been asked questions before by others who like to show off their knowledge by saying things like, “that’s what the Bible says doesn’t it preacher”. Personally I am always slow to answer such statements because most folks don’t quote scripture very well at all. We are good however at twisting words to satisfy our conscience and position.
Cheater is fighting words. If you don’t believe me, just tell someone you are dealing with next time you believe they cheated you and see how mad, angry and fight ready folks get. Doing wrong to others isn’t acceptable in my world, but then again not everyone plays by the same rules. Selfishness is always easily seen in others yet for us to just remain silent and allow time to prove integrity isn’t in our standard way of thinking.
The power of believing is vital to the pursuit of hope, but to finding individuals who encourage others to reach out for that which they believe is hard to find in the open.
There are many things that should not be ignored by those of us that identify ourselves as Christians. Simply being a friend to others doesn’t cost a lot, but if you believe what others say behind your back is valuable then I doubt you will ever been seen where you need to be when friends are in need.
When I think about Jesus talking to those that hung on their cross with Him at His crucifixion I am reminded that I have a long way to go to be like Him.

Until then

Barnyard Learning

2010-04-18T08:01:00.000-05:00

What do you call someone who attends events but seldom is observed taking a role that others clearly see? How would you describe someone who is fluent in the language of the culture and through words, phrases, and actions appear to be engaged and knowledgeable? Thinking about clothing and accessories do you think it is safe to say you would have a good idea of where someone has been or what they are involved in based upon how they look? Honesty is one of those self evaluating traits others will see in us especially when we exhibit good judgment and understanding about others and the position and condition they might be experiencing. Caution, just because the truth maybe known doesn’t always mean we should express it publically. Yet, working through the areas of black, white and gray will demonstrate respect we have for others and confidence they will build in us.
I know individuals who sit on porches to observe to see who is driving up or down the road on Sunday and based upon the clothing folks are wearing we attempt to confirm our suspicions as to whether or not someone is headed to church. If you see someone with a Bible in their hands we think they must have been to church, or they must be a preacher. After all, we know only preachers and evangelist carry Bibles, right?
Listening to someone that quotes a Bible verse or tells a Bible story is all the evidence necessary to confirm if someone is a Christian, right? Honesty is always tough, but I’m confident most of us would agree that we can spot a Christian by the clothes they wear and their actions and mannerism right?
Many individuals would say I don’t judge people that way, but if we were to be honest with ourselves, we must say yes, we know folks that do. The expressions “going to the chicken house doesn’t make you a chicken and going to church doesn’t make you a Christian”. A true expression, so a good question to ask is what does make you a Christian. Certainly if you look like a chicken, lay on your eggs and eat scratch feed, you are no doubt a chicken. I guess we could say the real test is to “ring your neck” remove the feathers, clean you up and after cutting you into pieces and frying you that would prove if you were a chicken or not for sure.
When it comes to Christianity there are many different signs one should look for, but the real evidence of your heritage is when your actions and words match up. I remember as a child running around after the chickens in my grandfather Hobert’s barnyard. I would chase after the chickens up to the hog pin, into the barn where the cattle were, and even on the front porch where my grandmother Stella and I would sit in her green chairs. One fact for certain, even though the chickens had been chased into a lot of different places there remained chickens.
As a Christian we should be reminded in watching others that the place folks become a Christian is in the heart. It would be nice if everyone that confessed the name of Jesus allowed their heart to speak in actions and words, but it’s not always the case. I remember watching my grandparents chickens walk among the cows and even the bulls in the field and stalls, seemly unafraid of a kick or being stepped upon.
Today, the world could use some folks who can be distinguished for who and what they are, no matter where they are. Life is a big farm with lots of different characters doing their thing, as they should but with a clear self awareness of who they are in the picture of things. A cow is a cow, a chicken is a chicken and a Christians should be a Christian.

Until then

Sally Elizabeth Hale - Remembered in Love 08-05-1935 - 04-01-2010

2010-04-11T08:52:00.000-05:00

If I were asked to name one characteristic about mountain folks that I believe set us apart from all others in the world that answer would be simple. It is the manner in which we view our families. My world view changed in 1971 because my parents made a decision to pack up and move from city life in Warren Michigan to mountain life in Arjay, Kentucky. To be more exact, my parents loaded up the Pontiac Bonneville and down Interstate 75 we came. Leaving behind family members who years before had also made the journey, as my parents did, from Stinking Creek to Detroit for jobs.
The City of Detroit has remained home for many including my cousins, Gobel and Sally Hale. Now I don’t have the word space in this column to explain first cousin, and second cousins once and twice removed, but that’s what I love and admire about mountain folks. Fact is most of us in the mountains view our families all on the same level. We don’t care if they are 3rd Cousins or 4th Cousins, we claim them and generally speaking, we are proud to call them all family. That makes us very unique as a culture and it also provides us with a rich history of individual and family accomplishments to share with others when we explain where we are from and who are family is.
Gobel was raised at Mills, Kentucky on Stinking Creek and Sally was raised on Road Fork. Simply turning left at the Dewitt Baptist Church in Knox County and you will drive straight to her family home place. She was born on Monday, August 5, 1935. Her parents were Garrett and Lena Allen and she two sisters, Carmen Allen and Shirley Hampton and one brother, Rex Allen. Gobel and Sally made Warren Michigan home and they added three girls to a growing list of cousins: Denise (Centers); Elizabeth (Bay); and Sally (Pauls);
On Thursday, April 1, 2010, Sally entered into eternal life leaving behind a large extended family to support her family and to morn her loss. Sally and Gobel would have been married 58 years in May. There were partners on a successful team as parents and as husband and wife. Sally had always encouraged me. She enjoyed being a part of people’s lives and she believed that you could be successful in life no matter where you were from or how hard “times were” when you were born. Sally was someone that was proud of her heritage and while Michigan was home, in her heart Kentucky was home too.
To quoted Edith Mason Cawood from Middlesboro, Ky: “Love leads the way; Love soothes the soul; Love marks the path; Love sets the goal; Love casts out fear and love makes us brave; Love is the ship that scans the wave; Love brings sweet peace; Love makes us calm; Love brings us joy; Love gives a song; Love is the theme for life’s brief story; Love is the way from earth to glory;”
Of all the things we could demonstrate in our lives love must be king. As a Christian the most important characteristic must be love. 1 Corinthians 13: says now abides faith, hope and love and the greatest is love. Being able to share His love with people is a great honor and being able to tell His story of love with our family is a privilege we should not neglect. Honoring our parents, grandparents, great-grandparents and long list of great cousins that grows with every generation should be clearly marked with our story of heritage and faith.
I believe every road and every turn of life is an opportunity for each of us to smile, make a difference in the lives of others and contribute a verse to the powerful play of life. One day when I have passed into eternal, I pray my story will include the fact that He Touched Me, and that I sang How Great Thou Art in tribute to the mercy and the Amazing Grace He showed me.

Until then

History verses Today

2010-04-04T07:23:00.000-05:00

Not sure if you have ever considered the battle of history verse life, but I have discovered it to be quite a subject for review. Christians love to talk about growth in our churches, we like to share about all the happenings and activities, but what about our personal growth as a Christian?
As I consider history and this past Easter Weekend celebration it is amazing how things change and how we allow things to be played out different with the passing of time. Consider the last week of Jesus’ life. He had that great entrance into the city with the waving of palm leaves, the gathering of people, the shouting of praises and honor, yet in days He was crucified. Consider that historical fact with our response today of becoming a Christian by asking Jesus to come into my heart. When I was a child you would always get a new outfit in the spring and you would wear it for the first time on Easter Sunday. Last week that still occurred including folks with new hats, and a big family meal or a buffet somewhere no doubt, but what about our public stance as observed by those watching our parade of actions. Interesting how historically the crucifixion of Jesus was an event that sent the disciples hiding in fear, but today here in America we have no fear of being associated with Jesus at all. There is no thought that occurs that we could be arrested for following Him. There is no thought that we will experience reprisal for bearing the name that would cost us anything we cherish or possess. Historically for the disciples of Jesus there was an extreme cost they paid once they stepped out of that upper room but what is the cost for us followers today?
It is interesting and certainly worthy of discussion to ask how the historical event of the death of Jesus and His resurrection impacts us today. Today do we have urgency because of His experience on the cross for us? His mother was certainly moved with excitement after her encounter with Jesus as her risen Savior. Thomas was a doubting following and I would think many of us could identify with a time in our lives that we questioned and maybe decided to stand still in a defiant position. If we no longer believe or if we refuse to see beyond the experience of the moment, then we may forever remain in a stale status that would render us useless to the kingdom.
Easter Sunday is for many, it appears today, a once a year event that will set the record for another year that we are a follower of Jesus, but I don’t believe history will judge us that way. Historically writing it is clear that the followers of Jesus were motivated by His actions once their minds grasped His teachings, and they pieced together His actions He was authenticated as the Son of God.
In our modern age, what have we pulled together from our personal hearts witness of the power of God in our individual lives? What have we decided should be our action plan because of what we have witnessed in the lives of others? It could be you are looking for a special Sunday or maybe a new parade to signal a new direction that will ignite your Christian fire of service. Not sure if that recognizable day will come, so why not make this coming Sunday that day and make a historical impact that will help change the lives of people today?

Until then

In difficult times....Galatians 6:9

2010-03-14T07:33:00.000-05:00

The last three columns I have wrote about life in difficult times. I could guess and say that most folks don’t want to talk about difficult times. We had all rather focus on positive things, happy times, and not the trying moments of life. Difficult times get the “bad rap” and the assumption is that nothing good can come from difficult events, or difficult situations. Most people accept as fact that peer pressure is bad. I don’t believe that to be true but nevertheless many would agree with that statement that peer pressure is bad without ever considering that peer pressure can be positive too.
For example, inviting someone to church is pressure and calling to ask someone to join you in attending a women’s conference or a men’s meeting is peer pressure, but its positive pressure. We think of peer pressure as negative and most examples would be asking someone to drink alcoholic beverages, taking drugs or jus staying out a “partying” all night long. It is generally accepted as fact that if you are out late at night it cannot be good. You are up to mischief, or simply said, “no good”. While this could be true, the opposite could also be true, but this is not the considered possibility.
Changing our thoughts and positions is not easy, but giving way to possibilities is important and being willing to look at things in new views is also a key to being able to press forward through difficult times. The scripture says that “all things are possible through Jesus Christ”, and I believe acceptance of that position give us a chance to change things. I’ve mentioned change and that’s a bad word in most churches not to mention the other bad language, looking at things differently. A famous quote from Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is: “If you do what you’ve always done, you will get what you’ve always gotten”. When it comes to truth in statements, I don’t know how you can spread more truth or honestly in a single statement. Yes, we want things to change, but we are not willing to do anything to help that change happen. We all want to see the best occur in our lives, but we don’t believe this can happen unless it happens the way we want things to happen. Talk about being narrow minded, hard to be more set in a negative way then this huh?
Writing this column, addressing this issue of difficult times is not easy. I feel qualified to address this subject matter because of the experiences I have in life. I believe I make life look because I smile and I am not someone that generally complains. I must share that life is good because I have hope and faith, and this causes me to be able to smile and not complain. Have I experienced difficult times, absolutely. Have I had crushing moments and situations, yes totally. Do I believe I have always been treated fairly? No, and forgiving is not the easiest Christian trait to practice. I can say that forgiving will set you free and that freedom allows you to stand back up after being knocked down.
Difficult times will eventually make it to your door steps. Difficult times will arrive via the mail or through a phone call. Prepare today for challenging moments that will stretch and pull your emotions, and beliefs. When you wonder what the best answer will be I can make a suggestion that has proven true for me. In difficult times Galatians 6:9 works for me. “Don’t grow weary in doing good, for in due season you will reap if you faint not”.

Until then

In difficult times....go back

2010-03-07T08:05:00.000-06:00

In difficult times there are many considerations that must be made. Making decisions and choosing directions can become complicated without a base to measure all things against. Witnessing the choices of individuals is not always easy. Every choice has a reaction by others and all our decisions have consequences. Sometimes people believe that their life is theirs to live and they do so without respect to anyone around them. Others live their lives with high regards as to what others think and believe, yet they still find themselves held in low regards and respect by others.
Finding the base in which one can measure their decisions from is not easy with all the options available today. We can use our friends, or we can value theories and philosophies for just a few of our available options. The problem I have discovered in my search for that foundation to use for measuring decisions against is the failure in those choices to even pan out. That failure causes you to stop believing and it creates an atmosphere that leads you to believe the negative side of life is final and the only choice is to just survive and accept things as they are.
If you have discovered yourself in this condition of accepting things without hope for a change that would bring about your dreams and hopes, then please continue to read…there is a safe base. Most people who consider themselves to be on the downside of life and her experiences don’t like to talk about spiritual things because they already feel let down. Often they believe Jesus was going to fix everything that was wrong in their life, or that Jesus was going to deliver them from some experience they dreaded and they have never forgiven Him for that happening. Most people who consider themselves to be on the upside of life, with all her many pleasures consider they actually are a benefit to Jesus because of who they are, and in so doing they miss totally the only base we can truly trust.
Ministry has been a blessing for me. It’s the daily opportunity to share my experiences and to help others who are attempting to discover that base from which we can spring board our lives forward. The greatest thing I discovered in my base line of faith is that Jesus Christ provides me with options of restoration, grace and mercy. This I have not discovered in my other options I once thought to be the savior—if you will. The difficult times we have in life is that we are automatically going to make errors and wrong decisions that will have consequences and reactions that we would wish to avoid. That is life, but there is an answer and it can only be found in the only sure base from which we can positively evaluate our lives from.
In difficult times…the answer is Jesus Christ. When you have lost all faith and hope you must revisit the base that you believed once worked. The great news is that the spot where you last remembered His presence, He remains there still. Your journey is simple. Just go back to that spot and you will again discover the base you need is still working.

Until then

In difficult times...who do you trust?

2010-02-28T08:27:00.000-06:00

When I think about all the questions I have been asked in life, one question comes to my mind as more important then others. That one question is, “In whom do you place your trust”? There are many great politically correct answers an individual could share. Depending upon the context the questioned is asked would have some barring as to the answer. Just imagine you are facing an unknown path. Imagine you have been struggling for help looking for answers but you have yet to discover what you believe you are looking for. So who do you trust in those types of situations?
I answered that very first question with a very simple three letter word, I said God. God to me is Jesus Christ. He is the one I trust when I don’t know the direction to go or turn and He is the one I trust when I am standing still listening for the answer to come. Jesus Christ is the one I place my trust in when I have been butting my head up against a wall because everything I do seems to be wrong and nothing I do seems to ever work out. This situation can be frustrating and it may very well make you want to quit, stop believing and just go and hide. The discipline of placing your trust in Jesus is easy at the beginning of that relationship with Him, but when you get some of life’s adult experiences under your belt and you get that bitter taste in your mouth that’s when the question becomes one that matters for your daily steps of faith.
As a pastor and minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ I know that not everyone likes me. Not everyone likes positions I have taken on issues, or things I believe should be the daily practice of those professing the name of Christ. Sometimes you don’t even have to say a single word as some individuals will not like you because of where you are from, who you married, or even the friends you have. People don’t like others because of the types of automobiles someone else might drive, or there maybe dislike because you just simple heard something and you base your entire opinion on that ‘hear say’ as the final evidence you needed before you planted in concrete your disposition.
In dealing with people remembering that folks are human is important. 28 years of ministry has taught me that most folks that will not forgive another have a difficult time sharing the name of anyone they have ever personally forgiven. They live and walk their lives in a bitterness that robs them of peace and the ability to smile. Trusting people is a practice we must exercise. Will you experience let downs because folks are human, absolutely. Are there consequences because of our actions, yes. Can we expect that we will hurt people, totally. Will such moments be easily identified by ourselves, sometimes but not always. What is the best approach to living life and who should people trust? My advice: Live life that allows you to experience hurts and to see failures as those moments that occur and that require us to work diligently to minimize. Live life loving people, working to the good of others believing that God has an abundant plan for each of us always, in every situation. If this is or becomes your position you too will be able to say when asked in whom you believe, you can simply say, in God.

Until then

Jonathan Bundrick; Ken Fritz; Dorothy Eagle; BOOKS; PEOPLE; PLACES: EXPERIENCES

2010-02-21T08:05:00.001-06:00

In attempting to motivate people in life, I have often used many different resources in pursuit of that goal. Not sure if everyone sitting in a church pew would describe what they hear from the pulpit as positive motivation or not, but the minister’s, pastor’s and friends that I have would want to believe, as I , that our messages are good motivations for those that tune in with their hearts and minds wanting to be encouraged and motivated.
Speaking to different settings and groups of people I have shared some of the same thoughts over and over throughout the years. I’m not one for repeating the exact same message over, but certainly the same thought lines with different emphasis has been a practice over these past 28 years of ministry. One of the recommendations I have shared over the years has been this challenging and motivating thought.
“You will be the exact same person you are today, 20 years from now, with these four exceptions: the books you read; the people you meet; the places you go; and the experiences you have;”
Over the years I have often asked individuals what is the last book they read? Currently I am reading Bounce Back: Overcoming Setbacks to Succeed in Business and in Life, written by John Calipari. I have long practiced trust in friendship and when my friend Ken Fritz made the recommendation I purchased the book. Books you read will make a difference. Meeting people is easy for me, but you don’t have to be an outgoing social person to meet people nor does it need to be a celebrity, politician or a name that everyone would recognize. I’m writing about people you meet that have an impact, that create change in your life because of who they are! My first grade teacher, Mrs. Dorothy Eagle, she changed my life. She was tender, and compassionate. Amazing what you remember from an early age. Places you go will challenge our views. It allows us an opportunity to see different things, done different ways, in different styles and formats. Jonathan Bundrick served as an intern with me in ministry here in Southeastern Kentucky. He attended Wofford College then New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He also served our Country as an officer in the U.S. Army. He has been to a lot of places, but who would have thought coming to serve in Southeastern Kentucky first, would lead to service in Southern Africa? That’s where he serves today as a missionary. Experiences you have will make a difference. Before leaving to serve in Africa, Jonathan wrote this: “Seminary has been an incredible experience and a benchmark that will define my life from this point forward.” This is what I call motivating!
What experience have you had that is a positive benchmark that has changed your life? Books, people, places and experiences! If you could go out and buy this set of four you would have everything you need in one day. I wish I could write that it is that easy, but I can guarantee this. If you start today, you will be one step forward in being the person the world needs you to be tomorrow. 20 years will come quickly, let us not delay.

Until then

Christians and love - or just Valentine's Day?

2010-02-14T22:29:00.001-06:00

If you mention the subject of love and special days, no doubt the first thought that comes to the mind of most folks will be Valentine’s Day or a wedding anniversary. I noticed this year the promotion of Valentine’s Day began in January and stores and shops were selling roses weeks before the 14th of February arrived. Celebrating love and remembering anniversaries that honor commitments and marriages is a milestone that deserves noting. I’m not worried at all about the advertising skills of corporate America, they seem to be in tip top shape, but I am worried about the promoters of authentic love and our skills in advertising and promoting.
The Bible is quite plain about the greatest gift in the world today. 1 Corinthians 13:13 states that faith and hope are great gifts but the greatest gift is clear, its love! As a Christians I know that the author of love is God, and it was best demonstrated in that he provided us His son to die in our place so anyone who wanted could experience forgiveness of their sins. For those that do not believe in faith this concept is foolishness and I respect those that believe differently then I, but it doesn’t change truth no matter what we accept or believe. As for hope, it is what most folks would say keeps them getting up in the morning and smiling throughout the day. Thoughts of a better day coming, we call that hope. Dreams that stimulate our thinking and cause us to see the best in ourselves and others, that is hope too. Yet, the greatest gift is love.
Again, as a Christian, I know the author of love and His name is Jesus Christ. I know Him personally and He has changed my life. Yes, it is because of faith that I discovered Him and yes, it is through faith that I too have discovered hope as a positive force in my life. However, I have learned that both faith and hope are products of love and one can only experience real faith and hope because they have first experienced real love.
On Valentine’s Day it’s all about buying a card and sending flowers for most folks, and if that’s you let me share this new advertisement that you might have missed. The commercial begins with a picture of a young man who grows throughout the 60 second commercial and is old age by the end. The commercial shows his attempt to discover the meaning of life and his hope of finding true love through his experiences of many things. In the middle of the commercial the music softens and in the stillness of the moment the individual who is the focus of the advertisement realizes the inner calling he has often heard himself was Jesus Christ calling out to him, by name.
For those who really enjoy Valentine’s Day, I would suggest that as a Christian you can celebrate that moment everyday, but especially at two different moment each year. First at Christmas, since that’s when love came down to us and then on Easter, because that’s when love arose for us.

Until then

Haiti in perspective.....to us

2010-01-31T08:28:00.001-06:00

It has often been asked by folks attempting to understanding a situation that things be put into a proper perspective. This is not always the easiest task but nevertheless it is a tool that helps individuals to grasp a true picture. The death toll in Haiti is now estimated to be at 150,000 individuals. This death toll number includes children and adults killed by or deaths that are the results of the earthquake that occurred on January 12, 2010.
To understand the impact of these deaths just imagine if everyone in the following counties where suddenly killed. Bell 29,055; Knox 32,810; Whitley 38,668; Laurel County 57,586; Harlan 30,783; Total 158,119 deaths! If this happened here at home I believe it is clear the ciaos that we would leave behind. Just imagine no ambulances to come to our aid, no law enforcement officers to help secure things, and no medical services because there was no place safe to house those injured and no medical professional to render aid because there too were killed. No local church pastor’s or staff members to pray with us, no local elected officials coming out to survey damages, and those that survived find themselves at the total mercy of assistance from those in our surrounding counties. Lee County, VA has a population of 23,448 they could help some, Clairborne, TN has a population of 31,461 and they could help a little more. Moving north looking to Madison with 82,192 residents they could help and our best resource would be Fayette County with a population of 282,114. Given these facts, their close location to us would help in response time, but still they would need time to gather the necessaries required just to come to our aid.
Imagine all that to be true and think how it must be in Haiti facing the number of the dead and the condition they now find themselves in because of this earthquake. It seems hopeless right, and if that status isn’t correct, then we could certainly agree it would seem overwhelming for sure. Thinking about these conditions let’s just consider the added fact that you were the only surviving family member of your entire family, and you had no immediate cash or items of monetary value to sell or trade for goods or services. These conditions are hypothec for us today here in Southeastern Kentucky, but this is not a made up scenario for the people of Haiti, it’s reality.
We are thousands of miles away but we can help. If this type of catastrophic event happened here Southeastern Kentucky we would expect help from our neighbors and it is logical for us to understand the task would be too enormous for them alone. We would pray the State of Tennessee came to our aid, and that the Commonwealth of Virginia step up to send aid through the Cumberland Gap to assist us in our great hour of need. I cannot imagine being a Christian and not thinking I too must act. The time is now.

Until then

Mike Wilson - Haiti one life changed, Tia

2010-01-24T08:19:00.000-06:00

The devastation of the January 12th 7.0 magnitude earthquake in Haiti has left the world scrambling to find ways to make a difference for a country that has so little. Actually among all the countries of the world, Haiti is the least of them all. Not sure who is due credit for the often quoted saying, “do what you can while you can”, but it is true. So often people put off things believing that tomorrow will better fit into their schedule instead of taking action immediately and putting steps on their plans today.
Michael Wilson grow up in Knoxville, Tn. My friendship began when he was a student at Cumberland College in Williamsburg, Ky., and his first church staff position would begin in Corbin, Ky., at the Horse Creek Road Baptist Church as youth minister. Having the opportunity to be the first pastor a minister will serve under and be mentored under is special. HCRBC was a unique setting and a great first experience for Mike too. I have in my mind a picture of him in overalls as we celebrated “Old Fashion Days” along with other friends that were there too that brings a smile to my face even now. He would later serve Two Rivers Baptist Church, the largest SBC church in Tennessee and a Sunday that I made an unannounced visit, I saw him in the waters of baptism baptizing followers of Jesus. There is no greater feeling knowing that having been a part of someone’s life, seeing them leading others to give you that complete circle of accomplishment. Doing the right thing may not always be easy, but it is always best. Today, Mike and his wife Missy are ministry partners with Brent Gambrel Ministries in Nashville, Tn. They have been working with a Orphanage in Carrfour, Haiti that houses 40 children. It is there that they met a little girl name Santia. They call her Tia and she is 5 years old. Mike and Missy’s heart would become fixed on doing their part and the adoption process began a year ago to rescue this French Creole speaking child from the ravages of poverty and the orphanage home she’s known for 4 years. When the earthquake hit on Tuesday morning, Mike knew he had to be on a plan immediately to Haiti to begin his search and to bring Tia home. With the help of the U.S. Embassy, his Congressman and the Haiti government the adoption process was streamline and finalized immediately. There are others who also had adoptions working through the process of the Haiti government before the earthquake who are praying for such success too.
Haiti today is faced with destruction and the death toll beyond description. Orphans flooded the country prior to this disaster and now that number will create even a greater need for God’s love to be shown to the least of these. “Doing what you can, when you can” is most important. To adopt a child today from Haiti is not possible. The government has suspended all such processing as there is no means in place to handle such request. While the need is so great and the numbers are overwhelming there is no immediate answer at this moment as the priority list is already established. It’s the basic of life that are needed on the ground in Haiti to just provide the most essential such as emergency care, and assistance with removal of the dead lining the streets.
The action of Mike and Missy that began a year ago will not solve all the issues facing the people of Haiti that need God’s love, but their action has made all the difference for one! Changing one life at a time is the answer and Mike and Missy have made the difference serving Christ doing what they can, while they can.

Until then

Haiti $400. per year is the average income---we MUST help!

2010-01-17T08:46:00.000-06:00

There are many privileges enjoyed as citizens of the United States of America. The political truth is that there are many privileges enjoyed by those that are not citizens but that conversation shall be held for another column not this one. When I consider all the privileges I have enjoyed a particular privilege that has taught and exposed me to life has been the privilege of the opportunity to travel outside of our country. The greatest teaching tool any of us has in life is the tool of experience. Counsel that comes from experience is always valuable and when we use our experiences from life to adjust our way of thinking that too is valuable.
The privilege of the opportunity to travel in others country’s and nation’s has impacted my life in many ways. To begin with, let me say it has changed the way I view other people, circumstances and even my “old ways of thinking.” Scripturally thinking it is more blessed to believe without seeing, but when you actually see things with your eyes in proper context you cannot help but be changed, especially when it comes to how you view America, our role in the world, and our blessings to call the United States home.
In my last visit to Haiti in January 2008 I was again reminded because of travels how blessed I am and how different our country is because of our practice of democracy, personal rights granted by a constitution, free enterprise and developments through an entrepreneurial spirit encouraged by our government. Here in America the two major political parties talk negative about the other but the Republican Party is not conducting secret meetings to over-throw the government. Yes, they want to win Congressional Elections but their efforts are legal and within the guidelines of our democracy. Haiti is a country filled with issues that has her citizens at a disadvantage for the most basic enjoyments of life that are take for granted here in the U.S. One trait that is evident among the people of Haiti is their smile. I am always amazed at the ability of people to smile, be positive, and seemly enjoying life, when they have so little. Of course the opinion that they have so little is based upon an American point of view that has so much.
Today, Haiti is in extreme need! The need for the basic essentials of life. The ability to find their lost loved ones who are crushed underneath a load of walls and destruction as a result of the earthquake. A basic essential of drinking water or clothing would speak a language of care during this crisis. Our government responding can help to further stabilize their government, which has been filled with corruption and practices that have kept the people down. Crisis is a perfect time to build and strength relationship that will make an impact on the citizens of Haiti, who were also created in the image of God and who too deserve to know He cares for them. Our actions will make a difference and as a Christian Nation and the Leader of the free world, we must respond.
My privilege of opportunity to travel, see and learn is now my privilege of opportunity to give financially, support and pray earnestly for a people that are at a total disadvantage. The average yearly income for a citizen is Haiti is $400.00. Anyone in the United States living on $400.00 a year? I think not. We provide at least $2,400.00 per year for families in food stamps alone. That is 6 times the total income in Haiti. I have not even mentioned all the other programs we have for those in the U.S. that gives money and support. Yes, there is a crisis in Haiti, and as a Christian I must respond, the opportunity to make a difference has arrived.

Until then

Barbourville Advocate - Dr. Leon Simpson made a difference

2010-01-10T08:10:00.000-06:00

The amazing impact of influence is not always necessarily the direct touch, but rather sometimes, the amazing touch is the indirect experience of such influence. Clear Creek Baptist Bible College while located in Bell County, and not here in Knox County, has certainly provided an experience and direct benefit because of the mission of Clear Creek. That mission has served our pulpits with students over the years who have came to study and then were dispatched to other locations. We’ve been directly impacted by those that came to learn, and were called to stay, and have remained as our pastors, and ministers.
While 1926 seems like a long time ago to us, those days have been but a simple blink in the eye of God. The service of individuals is what makes the advancing cause of the Kingdom of God an impact upon us each day of our lives. Here in Knox County our churches are filled with the influence of our neighbors just south at Clear Creek Baptist Bible College. The training of ministers to some, is not necessary. Others see the education of religious matter as an additional resource that provides deeper knowledge and even experiences that enhances our understanding and abilities to serve God in more effective ways.
Dr. Leon Simpson was chosen by the Board of Trustees in 1982 and elected as the 3rd President of Clear Creek. The passing of the mantel of leadership from Dr. D.M. Aldridge to Dr. Simpson was to bring about more of that direct benefit, indirectly. The recruitment and promotion of the school through Dr. Simpson’s leadership began a new era of opportunity with changes in class schedules, opportunities for night classes, and even conferences designed to help the average pastor who worked in addition to serving a church congregation. Dr. Simpson had served at Cumberland College in Williamsburg in the development of the Religious Department and he had served Dr. W.A. Criswell at First Baptist, Dallas Texas as his Assistant Pastor. Those experiences provided a rich history and served as valuable resources that made a difference for us here in Southeastern Kentucky especially. I venture to say there are not many Baptist Churches here in Knox County that have not experienced contact with students from Clear Creek and we’ve seen that ever growing skill set and talent among students continuing to improve.
The history of presidents at Clear Creek show individualism of leadership and vision. I’ve had the pleasure of knowing the current and past three president in varying degrees personally. Dr. Aldridge was that friend who talked about me having raw talent and skill and who always encouraged me to grow. Dr. Simpson was the friend who pushed me to see outside the box, challenged me to excel and who shared insight into the opportunities for education and the possibilities because of such training and said go. Today’s student at CCBBC will not know of the age limits that once existed because those barriers are now removed. Not to mention the fact single students were not permitted back then. It is amazing how things change, and it is amazing how that is accomplished because of leadership and vision.
Dr. Leon Simpson entered into eternal life on October 27, 2009 and his teaching to allow God to use you at every opportunity and at every turn makes all the impact, directly and indirectly. An impact not missed by this friend and columnist.

Until then

Corbin Times Tribune - Dr. Leon Simpson, CCBBC

2010-01-10T08:09:00.000-06:00

On October 27, 2009, Dr. Leon Simpson finished his earthly course of life while serving as pastor of the Firelands Church in the Florence Township in Ohio. Dr. Simpson was in his 14th year as pastor at the time of his death. A headline announcing this happening could be easily missed without a reminder of that connection and his influence here in Southeastern Kentucky.
Dr. Simpson’s family roots were in Oklahoma and the Panhandle of Texas but his leadership touched the lives of students, ministers and churches throughout Kentucky and especially us here in Southeastern Ky. Dr. Simpson began his first mountain connection when he was a professor at Cumberland College in Williamsburg. Building the Religious Department there as a vital instrument of service to the students of the institution is certainly note worthy and an impact that continues to make a difference. His influence and example of leadership and vision would also be experienced by us as he served as the 3rd President of Clear Creek Baptist Bible College in Pineville, Ky. There are few Baptist Churches in the Tri-County Area that have not had members who became students, graduated from Clear Creek, or congregations that were served by students trained and educated there. Many pastor’s in the area knew Dr Simpson and his love for education and for preparing individuals to serve God in their calling.
To look at an individuals life as a resource may seem improper and not respectful, but I in no way want to imply that toward Dr. Simpson. What I want to convey is that he used his life and experiences as a resource and that brought much benefit to me personally and to countless thousands of ministers serving churches and on the mission field. The resources Dr. Simpson tapped into where not just his experiences at Cumberland College and Clear Creek, but his experiences while serving as Assistant Pastor to Dr. W.A. Criswell at First Baptist Dallas were great resources that enhanced Dr. Simpson’s leadership while at Clear Creek. His contact with Theologians and PH.D. Scholars added to the development of our area and the growth of our churches and discipleship. It was after all his resources that so developed our own causing me to remember with reverence the free sharing and giving he provided.
Dr. Simpson after completing his tenure as President at Clear Creek Baptist Bible College went on to serve as Editor at Lifeway Christian Resources in Nashville, TN. His writing, skill in Hebrew and Greek has touched the lives of millions who learned from reading the materials he directed as Editor at Lifeway.
When I think of benefits I often think of that which we see and know immediately. The real surprise of benefits is the discovery of memory and learning that we seem to have forget until the every present need arrives and refreshes itself with answers. Celebrating the New Year is a perfect time to remember to celebrate the lives of impact that may have passed now into history, but whose impact will never be forgotten because they choose to give of themselves to the benefit of others, willingly.

Until then

Dr. Leon Simpson, President Clear Creek Baptist Bible College

2010-01-10T08:07:00.000-06:00

A celebration of the New Year begins with a positive reflection in my life of memories and impacts that must be shared. Dr. Leon Simpson entered eternal life on October 27, 2009. His wife Marilyn of 45 years, and his children Douglas, Timothy and Noelle certainly had the benefit of complete access and twenty-four hour a day opportunity to learn from a true visionary who step into leadership roles and made every situation better because of his involvement.
In the mountains of Southeastern Kentucky we understand pride in your heritage and we respect a rich history of pioneering spirit. Dr. Simpson came from humble beginnings in Oklahoma and he had great love for the Panhandle of Texas. He was a master at using his own experiences to connect with individuals and their backgrounds, be they varied and different. My introduction to Dr. Leon Simpson was when he became the 3rd President of Clear Creek Baptist Bible College. Clear Creek at the time was not an accredited college, the buildings and property had served well, but were in need up updating. Dr. Simpson brought to CCBBC a great vision of forward thinking and progressive leadership that has continued because he dared to push forward with a dream to make ministers the best prepared with the best resources. Updating sewer systems, replacing the campus phone systems, upgrading the cabins, building the family life center and seeing the college to accreditation are no small steps. These directions from his leadership changed the campus life, increased enrollment and brought change and impact to thousands of churches across America and even the world because he led.
Dr. Simpson enhanced the staff and leadership at Clear Creek through his service as President. Dr. H. Leo Eddleman, and Dr. H.C. Chiles were just two professors that came to serve at his invitation. Dr. Simpson believed there was no replacement for academic ministry preparation, and he believed the students that came to Clear Creek deserved the best and he recruited from his seminary connections to meet that goal. That leadership and foundation laid then has brought unprecedented benefit to today’s student while they may only know the name of Leon Simpson if that. This fact alone is a testament of the nature of Dr. Simpson. He never did anything with the vision of a personal legacy in mind, only the vision of what God laid before him and all to be done for the glory of God. I am humbled to even type such words thinking of Dr. Simpson, and those that also knew him know this was his character.
Clear Creek Baptist Bible College is the institution it is today because of the foundation laid in the vision of Dr. L.C. Kelly when he was Pastor of the First Baptist Church Pineville, Ky. Dr. D.M. Aldridge followed with his vision of building upon the dream to education and prepare individuals for ministry and service. Dr. Leon Simpson brought his expertise and vision which laid the next foundation to be built upon. Dr. Bill Whitaker followed in the steps of vision travel and today, Dr. Donnie Fox lays a foundation that will also be followed in due time.
Thanking God for faithful men is appropriate, and honoring Dr. Leon Simpson for his impact is a must for me and proper for all who have experienced the blessing of his impact. Laying a foundation that another can build upon is not easy, but is truly Biblical. Dr. Leon Simpson did that at every stage in his life and CCBBC was s solid foundation.

Until then

From Y2K to 201`0

2010-01-03T07:52:00.001-06:00

2010…it’s one of those dates that I honestly believe most folks wouldn’t have thought would never arrive, or that we would survive to arrive. All throughout 1999 the talk of the year was about Y2K. The predictions of how the computer world was going to crash, how cars were going to stop running and even planes may fall out of the sky if that special computer chip that dealt with dates was not replaced. My library has several books dealing with Y2K and how to survive if food shipments ended, what to store, and even how to store it for a long time until the greatest computer crisis was fixed or the world ended with the return of Jesus Christ.
On New Years Eve 2009, I spoke at the Macedonia Baptist Church in Owensboro, Kentucky at a youth event they had planned to bring in the new age of 2010. A part of my introduction began by asking them where they were 10 years ago. It was funny to hear the answers that ranged from I was only 4 years old and I have no idea, to teenagers that were 10 at the time and remember watching the ball drop in New York on television. For me, I reflected that 10 years ago I had organized a New Years Eve Event at the Pineville High School Gym to celebrate the arrival of Y2K, or simply the year 2000. The theme Southern Baptist had was Celebrate Jesus 2000, and as pastor of the Bethlehem Baptist Church of Dorton Branch I couldn’t think of a better thing to do, so we planned, promoted and enjoyed ringing in the New Year. Other area youth joined and we invited First Priority Clubs from all over to also participate with dramas, skits and musical selections. Truth is we had a great time, I remember it just like yesterday even though it was 10 years ago. It is amazing how time races forward and then we stand looking back at the decade just past.
The scary moment of the evening came right at midnight and the changing of the year when an electrical breaker blew her fuse. You could hear a pin drop when that occurred and the funny moment came when a gentleman from the breaker room yelled, “it’s a fuse”. I guess for a moment we were not sure if the computer crisis had arrived and power grids in Southeastern Kentucky had failed and their ability to produce electricity was lost. Funny how you can laugh and be scared at the same time, but we managed to do both and to develop our Christian Faith through both events. The lesson in the end was that He is still in-charge no matter the experience.
The truth is that we are all on a journey called life. Each of our journeys provides a different experience and each has their own individual moments of crisis, challenge, and consideration. We have options as we travel along that include everything from traveling alone to running with a pack. Our options include acting in accordance with trust in faith or you could opt-out for no faith at all if that be your choice.
Myself, I have had many different experiences from life that I pray I am able to draw from to share in this column encouragement and shelter for the storms of life for you. Writing is one of those parts of my journey that I had never planned on. I never had a moment prior to landing my first column with “Until then” that I thought this is what I wanted to do or had an interest in. Today, I can write that I absolutely believe this is something I should be doing. Writing, sharing, and attempting to be a positive part of the journey of others is a worthy task and one I am both grateful for and humbled by the journey. Thanks for reading this column and 10 years from now in 2020, I pray I am still providing a smile for your steps and a helping hand for the road.

Until then

Christmas....really....what option

2009-12-27T07:49:00.000-06:00

The traditions of the Holiday can almost put your life into a frenzy. It’s Christmas Cards that must be mailed out, using last years addresses from cards you received….only to remember that you never ever wrote down any of those addresses from last year, so that’s out. Maybe it’s a gathering of friends that you just haven’t seen in a while, so why not have them over to the house, what a great idea, right? Only to realize that once you finally got around to inviting folks two days before you wanted to have your social gathering that everyone was already committed to other things…that’s a bummer. How about attending a Christmas Play or a Parade…that will work, but not writing down the starting time will make for horrible seating inside, not to mention bad parking outside, and if it were to be raining, just double the negative experience that you wanted to be so positive?
I am pretty sure that I have mentioned some truths that folks can relate to reflecting back over Christmas 2009. I know I did a few things different this year to keep me out of the frenzy of the moment. For instance, I went to a shopping mall just to see if I could keep count of all the people that got mad because I was just walking inside the mall and not running over folks like they were. I will share that I also found it interesting to see how many people wouldn’t hold the door for someone with arms full of packages, or to just be nice and simply hold the door as a kind gesture. What I witnessed was when someone would hold the door folks would just keep walking in and out and no one would say thanks to the guy holding the door or replace themselves with their kind gesture allowing him to walk through the door he was opening in a good spirit. It was always interesting when that guy finally just quit holding the door that someone in his family would always gesture with a like “why did you do that, you should have known no one would be nice“, sorry I can‘t help but smile and laugh just a little. I don’t know what makes up Holiday Fun, but it seems like a lot of folks just don’t have any fun during this time of the year. Seemed to me most folks were mad that they had to buy a gift or upset that they didn’t know what to buy. Given those circumstances I’m not sure if I would be buying any gift, but then again, I’m not like most folks.
Holiday’s should be enjoyed. Sure it’s nice to have a schedule and a plan, but to be all bothered and worked up into a frenzy is not my plan. For instance, the family Christmas meal didn’t happen on the time mother wanted it to happen and I simply said, hey, if people don’t want to wait and can’t understand why it’s late, sorry about their luck. Of course I figured no one in the family was leaving to go eat some place else and if they did, that would leave more for me, and I would think that would be a good thing! Ok, I’m really smiling now, but I believe you should have enough thoughts to pull together the real picture we should have for our lives. From time to time rushing to accomplish a task is fine, but if that rush is created just because we kept putting things off and off, no, it’s not so good. Having to think about what people would enjoy or could use in life should be a great thing. Thinking about folks you care about shouldn’t be a negative chore.
I guess this is what happens when you forget about the real meaning of Christmas and the Holiday’s….Lord help me to always stay focused.

Until then

"First Christmas in Heaven"

2009-12-20T09:31:00.000-06:00

I first published this poem December 1998 after the passing of my grandfather, C. Hobert Mills. For the past 11 years I have continued to resubmit this column each year not just because it is precious to me, but over the years I have received hundreds of emails and notes sharing how it has also touched others lives too. This year I am looking at pictures of loved ones and friends that remind me of great moments shared in life while here. My pictures are covering ages from 98 to 17. Having Christian Faith is a blessing that provides me with peace and comfort at this time of the year and I pray that you will find that same joy even with the loss of your loved one.

My First Christmas in Heaven

I see the countless Christmas Trees around the world below
With tiny lights, like Heaven’s stars, reflecting on the snow.

The sight is so spectacular, please wipe away the tear
For I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I hear the many Christmas songs that people hold so dear
But the sounds of music can’t compare with the Christmas choir up here.

I have no words to tell you, the joy their voices bring,
For it is beyond description to hear the angels sing.

I know how much you miss me, I see the pain inside your heart
But I am not so far away, we really aren’t apart.

So be happy for me, dear ones, you know I hold you dear
And be glad I’m spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I sent you each a special gift, from my heavenly home above.
I sent you each a memory of my undying love.

After all, love is a gift more precious than pure gold.
It was always most important in the stories Jesus told.

Please love and keep each other, as my Father said to do.
For I can’t count the blessing or love He has for each of you.

So have a Merry Christmas and wipe away that tear.
Remember, I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

Until then

Santa Clause....hum?

2009-12-13T08:39:00.000-06:00

The song says, Santa Clause is Coming to Town, and the encouraging words instruct us that Santa is checking his list to see who is naughty and nice. Some thoughts that need exploration are items like, when does the list or recording keeping begin? Could it be that Santa starts his list on Christmas Day, especially since he comes on Christmas Eve? Or maybe he doesn’t start until the first day of Summer. This would give him time to regroup things at the North Pole pulling together all the players necessary to make such a one day sleigh ride possible.
Considering that most children don’t begin writing letters to Santa until the day after Thanksgiving, there is a lot of work to accomplish in a short time for the man in red and his helpers. Not sure when Santa starts keeping his list or how he organizes but the song states without a doubt that he is putting all of us into one of two list…bad or good.
One item that needs some investigating from the song is how you can move from the naughty and not receiving gifts to the nice and Santa is packing up something just for you.
When one is young you might thing for days about what you are going to put out on the table for Santa to eat during his visit to your house, and I believe most are not even concerned about the presence or absence of a chimney. I’m not sure if most children are thinking by leaving some goodies for Santa to eat that it’s the last ditch effort to win Santa over so he will leave more gifts or not, but that’s a question and thought worth wondering about for conversation sake.
Seems like everybody at this time of the year is trying to be nice so we can receive maybe our own wish list on Christmas Eve. If one doesn’t take a good inventory of themselves at this time of the year it is easy to see by just asking questions how we can begin traveling down a road that is not at all about the real meaning of Christmas.
The real news of Christmas is that whether naughty or nice, there is an answer that provides hope and the free gift of a lifetime. Gifts at this time of the year fall into the “I just want” and that means it could be something you want to play with or just have, or the other category “I should could use”, and it could be items you use all the time that are not only practical but useful and needed, not to mention your brand choice too.
Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem and he would die at the place of the Skull called Calvary. His gift to the world is one that for some it is easily seen and the need is felt inside our hearts, just knowing that something is missing in our lives. Accepting His free gift is an amazing experience. While you receive everything Jesus offers when you ask Him to come into your heart immediately, it does take time to get to know Him, learn His character and see His patterns and how He works in our lives.
Not sure about Santa and his list and nor when he begins, but one thing I know for sure. When ever you ask Jesus to come into your life, He begins to work immediately, He is just waiting on you to accept His gift for you…so why not this Christmas?

Until then

Regina Roaden Tye

2009-12-06T09:00:00.000-06:00

In ministry, one fills their life with dreams and hopes of all the things you believe God has called you to do. Following God’s Call on your life has a lot to do with programs, events, and always having something to preach on a short seconds notice. I believe most in His service also want to impact people, but the one conversation no one ever shared with me at the beginning of my ministry, was how much I would personally be impacted by the people I would serve.
Churches provide many opportunities for personal growth through meeting people, walking with them through various circumstances and standing beside them during times of questions that seemingly produces no answers. Those opportunities also include celebrations through weddings, birthday days, graduations, anniversaries and moments of professional accomplishments too.
Serving the Greenland Baptist Church in Corbin has provided me a rich history of all the things that make for great memories. Regina Roaden Tye was an impact not only on me and my ministry but her life has impacted thousands. As a wife, her devotion to her husband Tim, and through his service as a United States Marine, Regina touched the lives of countless wives as a devoted Christian wife who offered faith and hope to those she encountered. As a mother she had devoted her energy, talents, and experiences of life as sweet counsel to her two blessings of life, Abby and Zach.
For Christians, faith in Jesus Christ offers eternal life which provides the foundation for celebrating a life that never ends. Wednesday December 2, 2009 is a date that now reflects her perfecting as a child of God. The Bible says that we become joint heirs with Jesus through Faith. The celebration of Regina’s life begins with the amazing gift of forgiveness of sin. The celebration of Regina’s life begins with a hope that teaches us to press on toward the prize. The celebration of Regina’s life begins with confidence that He who began a good work in us will complete it.
To me, Psalm 103 says, I will bless the Lord with all my soul not forgetting His benefits. My personal reflection of benefit from Regina’s life is the benefit of a friend who was an encourager. A friend who believed doing the right thing was the only choice. A friend who in nodding her head in affirmation said keep going, and a friend whose smile assured you God had just used you. To Regina, Psalm 103 is the realization of her faith. A Savior who heals all her diseases. A Savior who makes her young again mounting up new wings to soar with the eagles.
Battling cancer is not the plan any would choose for anyone. If a magic wand could be waved we would all be in line moving our arms back and forth. Truth is that cancer is a part of our lives. Some receive their healing here and for that we rejoice. For others various stages of remission occurs of which we are thankful. When faced with surmountable odds I have witnessed many rest in a peace and assurance that comes only from a personal relationship and faith with Jesus. “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.” Psalm 116: 15; And in faith years Regina your family and friends now sing, I will meet you in the morning.

Until then

Christmas Faith in Difficult Times

2009-11-29T10:16:00.000-06:00

The news reports are all in. “Black Friday” sales were up from last year, so that was good news for the economy. The second half of the report shared that while spending was up, the individual spending limits were down. For individual responsibility I am going to say that too is good news. It’s not everyday that from media reports we are able to hear and see good and bad news and in the end both reports are good.
Finding a spirit of gratitude provides two sides for reflection as well. In a moment of illness or a situation that provides with more questions then answers it is easy in providing care to others to find your own reasons to be thankful and appreciative, yet finding yourself unable to change a circumstance through your many good intentions or efforts can be frustrating and challenging. There are things that we each know about ourselves and I know that my spirit is one that finds great satisfaction in helping others. In 1984, I began a personal battle with a crippling form of arthritis. When you find yourself addressing such issues as a young person is not the dream we think of growing up. When challenging times knock on our personal door in life, many emotions will fill your life. Not immediately able to gleam great wisdom at the arrival of such, there is one thing I know as a Christian. The passing of time will prove the reservoir of spiritual life. While emotions are a part of life, emotions cannot be the guiding source of our decisions. The Bible talks about Faith is the substance of things not seen, and that blessed are those that believe who have not seen. Personally I had to come to my own understanding with my Savior, Jesus Christ. I had to come to terms with His plans for my life and not my own. I had to face never before asked questions about what I believe, not what others have told me, nor what I had heard. Learning to drop my bucket into my own well and drawing from that source is the place I found that “peace that passes all understanding”.
When the challenges of life hand us the unexpected it is natural to feel completely caught off guard, but we should not feel abandoned. Pausing to stop and slow could be the exact action that will allow you time to reflect, regain your composure and draw from your spiritual reservoir of strength. This source will be overflowing once we connect and convince ourselves we have the strength to pull the bucket up from our well. The hopelessness that seems overwhelming has a remedy. The solution is the practice of faith and thanksgiving. You will discover the need to walk to your well often. Could be your walk will be a crawl. Or even still, you may feel that you are being pulled or dragged along the wayside by a friend who is repeatedly saying, they care.
Once scripture for these good and bad news days that will allow us to be positive no matter the report is Hebrews 13:8; Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forevermore. Keeping a shining smile on the outside of your heart will help you to express the confidence of the inside. Trusting the scripture that says, “He does all things well in His time.”

Until then

Thanksgiving Day!

2009-11-22T08:22:00.000-06:00

Thanksgiving Day! The weekend of this celebration is here. It is hard to define what a normal Thanksgiving Day experience will be, or is. For many, it will include a meal that is prepared for those of the family that have joined. Just as difficult as it is to describe the normal Thanksgiving, it is just as difficult to describe those of the family.
For individuals who have lost their remaining loved one a singular season can only be filled with the memories of what you have spent building a life of experiences, places, things, and people. This does bring comfort during a time of loneliness, but yet still not filling the empty inside experience. Some on this Thanksgiving will be thinking of those that cannot be home, yet wish they were. Possibly children who are away in service to our Country how are missed by their parents, or even children missing the absence of a parent who has responded to defend freedom. Individuals are everywhere on this day. Some are in the hospital recovery from surgery, some are driving on highways because of deliveries that must make a docks call on Saturday.
Family is defined by most in America as a husband, wife and children. While this is a good definition, any couple that has planned, worked and prayed for children who has never had the experience of what The Bible says is a “Blessing of the Lord”, in my book this too is a family. Two individuals do make a family, but this is not as widely held or appreciated. For unmarried folks, some who have left their growing up community to move as a result of employment can find themselves without the comforts of their own family, and they create a new family setting, that includes a friend or two, maybe a co-worker and this is a new family to those on this day.
One goal that can be accomplished no matter the status of family, or the location of your disposition. We can find it a most appropriate time and place to say thanks. Thanks begins with remember what has entered our lives and touched our heart strings with meaning and purpose. With no employment, no insurance, and difficult times, one can still find great thanks to express. With loss of friends or acquaintances whose paths we’ve crossed, even still, there are many thanks to be expressed.
The task may involve writing things down, making a list for review, or looking at pictures or videos to remind and refresh our mind of memories. Family and friends, school mates and people who were there in days past that we had totally forgotten about, until the gentle reminder of a time well cherished.
Helen S. Rice said that she didn’t believe in “Happen Stance”, that being just the luck of the moment or a great draw. Rather, she believed that God could take any experience, any situation, and any condition and work it to a benefit if we would love Him and seek His face. When it comes to seconding a motion or agreeing with a position, I will raise my hand in support that God has a plan. Sometimes we don’t know it, sometimes in the midst of it we cannot understand how, but in ourselves we must find the faith to press on, keep believing and holding firmly to His hand.

Until then