A Balm in Gilead

If I were to ask if you'd like to sign up for a hospital visit and stay I am figuring your answer will be "not interested". When it comes to hospital visits many will hear the call of care and concern when our friends and neighbor's are in for a procedure, surgery or recovery period, but even then, our plans are to make the visit short, encouraging and did I write short? Quick visits to family members and friends who are hospitalized might see rude but the healthy truth is that if you are in the hospital it is for a reason and I'm confident rest is vital to a heathy recovery. While no one wants to be admitted to a hospital for any reason, unless it's to give birth to a child, the fact remains we try to avoid such institutions as much as humanly possible. There are many things that you can count on while participating in your 'patient status'. 1) Expect to receive shots, required to swallow medications, and answer a lot of questions. 2) Expect to be in a bed where getting comfortable will be totally out of the question. 3) Expect to hear good news, bad news or answers that will require additional follow-ups. As a minister often the duties or services that have been necessary required up early in the morning, out late in the evening or night and lots of explaining with a encouraging hope that God has a plan. The task is not only daunting but exhausting physically and spiritually. There are many songs about Jesus as the Master Physician and scripture speaks of a Balm in Gilead. We sing of this Balm from the African American Spiritual, "There is a Balm in Gilead". The search for healing has been a journey traveled by many, even Edgar Allan Poe. In the last stanzas of his poem The Raven: "Prophet!" Said I, "thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil! Whether Tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore. Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted - On this home by Horror haunted - tell me - tell me - I implore - "Is there - is there balm in Gilead? - Tell me - tell me, I implore!" Quoth the Raven "Nevermore" Hospital visits, hospital stays, all this not forever more but rather just until our Savior and the sweet release of the 'Balm' that does last forever more. Until then

Is life a test or an opportunity?

There are many milestone identifiers used by those evaluating and observing our lives as to our character and substance from which our lives derive both purpose and meaning. Milestones are those clearly visible moments, events, statements or actions which define us as an individual. It could be said that life and the living of life is a challenge and that every step of the journey is a test. When the words: challenge; journey; or test; are written, these could trigger an array of different reactions and or individual responses. A challenge by my definition is something that causes everything within me to get ready. Whereas a journey, I would describe as a trip that could end up landing anywhere, it has no set location goal. Along the journeys of our lives we leave markers indicating we were once here. Each of these milestones can be highlighted differently. Sometimes the achievements in our lives are bright shiny signs that leave lots of information about how our journey brought us to this point while others dictators of our travels would be best described as clues leaving those observing the responsibility of putting the puzzle pieces together. There are individuals who live life as if it is like a basketball game which provides network tv timeouts, you can call your own team time-outs, others teams can call their own time-outs and you've even got an extended break at half-time to recover, re-think and even re-evaluate your 'life' game plan. If you are the type of person that likes to be in control then living your life through the trust of faith will never be easy. Letting go, (or more clearly written so there is no misunderstanding in my meaning of 'Letting go', means you have released your grip and you no longer are maintaining any control) and you are facing every challenge and life not as a test, but all the unexpected things in life as an opportunity for you to live another day of your faith in the view of others to evaluate and observe. Until then

All the dots coming together

There are many questioning today the power of the church. Actually the question might best be understood by asking what is the relevance of the church in today's society. After all the power of the church resides in the omnipotent power of God and the church is a unique tool for the assembling, equipping and sending mechanism for followers of Jesus to go and make a difference. Surrounding the local church today is the questioning by society as to its importance, value and even relevance in our daily lives. This question has encompassed the work of the church because so often the church seems to be out of step with society, and stuck in a cycle of tradition and ritual that just doesn't have any impact or relevance. This lack of influence by the church seems to be a given especially when one considers how fast the world moves today with all her modern technology, advances in communication and fast breaking news that can happen in any remote location yet known around the world in minutes. To accept the fore written as a valid truth is easy for many because the questions surrounding, encompassing and considerations of the churches value is being asked by many of our neighbor's, co-workers and friends. Our lack of answers or relevant examples of the important work of the church that does impact and change lives seems to be, in many congregations, non-existent. Nevertheless even without a response from us God's love and plan are in play, active and alive for every individual on planet earth. The power of the church today is best witnessed when Christians are actively involved in sharing the impact of God in their lives because of the personal relationship shared with the creator of the Universe. The church with the founder Jesus Christ is the one resource that provides meaning to life, value to existence and answers to questions. And when all else seems to be void the gifts of faith and hope rule as guides in our lives with the fact of His love, the greatest gift, providing the connecting point, bring all the dots together. Until then

My friend "Patti Mac" - Patti McDonald Adams

Life offers through the course of its journey the opportunity to meet people at all of the different stages and travels from our lives. Some of these opportunities to meet people will be growing relationships throughout our lives while others will be for a specific time period that will never be forgotten, always celebrated and remembered with fondness. There is another category of opportunities and people that is very difficult to explain. It is that friendship from life's journey that is filled with random re-connections that have this magical element of "picking up exactly where you last left off and your conversation and friendship continues on without ever missing a single moment". Patti McDonald Adams was a friend of impact in the lives of countless numbers and was a golden gem and treasurer to her family. If standing around having a conversation or simply over hearing a conversation between others if you heard the reference 'Patti Mac', your face would instantly be smiling from ear to ear and you were eager to interrupt and join the conversation because you held in common a friendship with one of the all time great's who was always smiling and whose personality was the life of your laughter. The journey we are each on in life has many twists and turns. Sometimes the roller coaster of life is a blast to be on and we have our arms and hands extended waving in the air without a care or fear. Sometimes the roller coast ride is shifting us side to side and the beat and the bangs are a welcomed stop at the rides end. The friendship Patti and I enjoyed became one of randomness because of relocations, work, and travels. Uniquely it seemed at each of my journeys Patti Mac would show up. When I moved to Nashville, Tn., one of my first conversations was, yes with Patti Mac. I had walked into the home of Shannon and Melissa Bunch with the phone being handed to me with the instructions "Tim Hobart" the phone is for you. On Sunday, January 24 when I walked into Patti's room she opened her eyes, began smiling and said "well hello Tim Hobart". That was the Patti I knew and she blessed my life through our friendship. To me she is best described as one of a kind, indeed! Until then

Leap Year 2016 and the day 29

Hello 2016! At the close of every year individuals make resolutions, setting in motion plans to achieve their goals. When I read or hear the word resolution I always think of being 'resolutely resolved'. To be resolved is firm in your commitment, steadfast and determine. To be resolved implies a debt paid in full, the balance released, a loosening of restraints and resolved also implies final. These descriptions help us to fully understand what we are saying and with what amount of force and belief we extend in our statements. Resolutions include decisions like loosing weight, exercising to maintain health, the discipline of sitting down to read a book, to begin writing and journaling your thoughts, stories and experiences. Resolutions could also include decisions to end a relationship, change our attitude or our quickness to dismiss the opinion of others without listening first. Reconnecting with family or friends would be a great resolution as would forgiving others for their actions which may have been intentional or maybe they still remain without a clue as to the impact of their actions on others, you more especially. Any or all of these sound like they would be positive resolutions and proper steps for the beginning of a new year any year. The fact that this year is a "Leap Year" many might not even be aware of at this point. Come February everyone is going to discover the how and why this year's February will have 29 days and not the normal 28 days. With 366 days to work with in 2016 what have you decided resolutely? This year the God Lord above has uniquely give us an extra day. Will you use it wisely? Will you decided to treat Feb 29th as just another day? Why not do something special and use the day to advance the cause of "Making the World a Better Place"? If you have procrastinated on making any New Year Resolutions seize this opportunity to 'resolutely resolve' to intentionally use God's extra day, February 29, 2016 as your day to make a difference in the life of another. If you want to be really creative why not use the 29th of everyday this year to make a difference in one life. You've still got time to plan....January 29th has not yet arrived. Until then.

Remembering Vic Morris from Cumberland High School, Harlan County, Ky.

In the eastern coal field of Kentucky "we mountain folk" are proud of our family name and from where we hail. Who we are and the character we cherish is often the direct reflection of the heritage, values and experiences we shared with our parents, grandparents and even great-grandparents. The name Vic Morris is one that is immediately known to the residents of Cumberland, Kentucky, Harlan County and even more so to sports fans in the Commonwealth. His notoriety is such because there isn't a single person who walked the halls of Cumberland Elementary School, Cumberland High School or played basketball or baseball that didn't realize, in time, that Vic Morris was indeed unique. As a student himself he was a stand-out baseball player who went on to play baseball as as an "Indian" at Cumberland College in Williamsburg. While at Cumberland he became the First All-American in Baseball History. His children, like their father, all were athletically inclined. Even his grandchildren have excelled in their athletic pursuits. After college Vic returned to Harlan County beginning and finishing his educational career impacting lives by simply living out his Christian Faith and by striving to make a difference. What made Vic Morris unique as an educator was that he could be and often was firm, tough, and a no-nonsense kind of teacher, but that was not the totality of Vic Morris. What made him unique and even extraordinary was alongside his firmness was a genuine care to see everyone succeed. He believed that young people could succeed and that the role adults played was to believe, support and encourage students to dream and dream big. As a student growing up I knew when someone really wanted the best for me and when their words were from their heart and life of experience. I first met Vic and his wife Lunelle 33 years ago while attending Cumberland College in Williamsburg. Because of Richie and our friendship I met Lewis, Amy and Daniel too. I am grinning ear to ear as I write that my life has never been the same either! Real friendships are few and building such a relationship takes time and commitment. Vic and Lunelle Morris were a special couple for many reasons. As husband and wife they complimented each other. If one of them was talking with you the other one would soon be there to say hello with a handshake, hug and a smile. Like many parents if you loved or liked their kids then they loved and liked you back. What you might not be expecting was the second part of that love and liking. It also meant that they would substitute for your parents, keeping you in line and watching out for your well being too. I can hear Vic now seeing me and greeting me with a big "Hobart". It was the sound of friendship that now is a precious memory. Until then