A living fatith from my Great-Grandfather Nasby Mills & my Grandfather C.H. Mills

Death is the sort of topic that will all due diligence we attempt to avoid discussing. Recently I posted on Twitter (@THMills) that "When you can face death in front of your family it gives ministers a living faith to share when you are gone". This statement I believe to be true because in my personal life I have been able to use the confidence and trust I witnessed family members demonstrate when they faced death. The truth is without them sharing with me their stories of belief and how they decided to follow Jesus Christ I am confident that at their hour of death I wold have been a person most miserable and lost without faith. My great-grandfather Nasby Mills became a Christian sitting in his barn, on a wagon seat, in Stinking Creek at Mills, Ky., in Knox County. This decision for him was one made late in his life but he said, "I knew this was my time and I prayed to God". My grandfather C. Hobart Mills came to my father's home and we talked and he shared that God had been speaking to him all throughout the night and we knelt and prayed in my father's drive-way. Hearing him ask Jesus Christ to come into his heart, in his own words, is a most precious moment I am thankful to God for experiencing with my grandfather. Precious Moments are those in which I find my heart over flowing in "thanks" "giving". The opportunity to witness, observe and share in the life of individuals coming to faith in Jesus Christ is a powerful moment that creates life long memories and eternal forgiveness. Knowing the confidence individuals have placed in the promises of Jesus has been the life chord when life here on earth has ended and our appointed time has arrived. It is in these moments when we have an opportunity to share our faith while living, that in our deaths life can be shared because of our testimony even though we are no longer here. Give your life a living faith today by sharing your "thanks" for the "giving" of God's only son for our sins. Until then

Happy Thanksgiving 2015

The gobble season has finally arrived so it is now time to officially say Happy Thanksgiving! During this holiday many will gather with more people sitting around the tables, standing around the stoves talking and eating than we might be able to count. For those cooking it might have been weeks in the planning and after everyone is gone the cooks will no doubt find a quite place, or any place for that matter, and pass out! Thanksgiving is that time of the year for a grateful people to celebrate the blessings of God. Thanksgiving is a celebration of the gathering of the harvest and a time to look back at progress and see the hand-i-work of God in our lives. Certainly the early explorers and settlers gave thanks to God for His blessings on their endeavors which included not only a harvest and preparation for winter time but a harvest of good for trading and a harvest of new friends too. Giving Christopher Columbus credit for discovering America is in part correct. He at least connected two different worlds with this new land already occupied by the original settlers, indians who called this land home and the Spanish and Europeans who established St. Augustine, Florida in September 8, 1565. The Mayflower Compact which was the first written document establishing a government for America was not signed until November 11, 1620. "Thanks" "Giving" is a unique time as I official acknowledge individuals, moments and organizations that have impacted my life but this season should be unique for each of us along the same line of thought. If we pause from our busy schedules and reflect I am confident that even if the past year has been filled with illness, death, challenges, difficulties and "everything at once", we should still be able to find the silver linings. Looking for good things, positive moments or people might require some digging, but I'm confident that no matter our circumstances we can each find good things from our lives and moments that have made us a better person and people too. "Thanks" is that which results from thinking about our blessings and "Giving" is that which results because we see others in greater need than we do ourselves. If you add both of these together I believe your life will be a positive influence on others and the world will be a better place. Happy Thanksgiving! Until then

"thanks" "giving"...to my parents

To often in life we allow the "what should be said" to be the "unspoken" in our lives. When I was born medical science had not advanced to the point where the sex of your yet unborn child could be known in advance of their actual birth-day. My parents said on the day I was born the doctor assured my parents that I was not on my way so my father decided to go have a pizza and beer while my mother would remain in the hospital for observation. Little did the doctor know he was wrong as I was on my way and my dad would discover himself to be the father to a boy when he returned. My parents have shared that they didn't care "what I was" as long as I arrived into the world healthy. I can assure you my parents love me, no doubt, but they certainly got more than they were asking for too....just as my parents and siblings. They might say they wouldn't take a millions dollars for me, but I think if someone offered them four or five thousand dollars, in cash, there would be some serious thinking taking place. Parents are those folks that even if you fight, disagree, or never talk, they still love you. I'm sure there are exceptions but parental love is that which is given from the heart and it doesn't really matter if it is a true blood connection or that which just happens to be because of life's situations. I remember waking up one day in the hospital asking my mom what day it was, where I was, and didn't she have to go to work? Her response was "she had been looking forward to retiring and she wasn't going anywhere until I did". My father just as committed to caring for me, and being a helpful aid to whatever fatherly duties required. All I know is that it is difficult to find a better love than this. On this season of my "thanks" "giving" I must salute my parents who have never left my side. Until then

Tim H Mills, my personal "thanks" "giving"...one year later

Not sure if you have ever stubbed your toe or not, but if you have, you might not be so immediately ready to express "thanks" for the experience. You might be more in the mood of 'bite your tongue' status than "thanks" "giving". Stubbing a toe seems like a silly thing, after all we should all be looking where we walk to prevent such, correct? As for an explanation as to how it happened most of us would rather just move on to the next life experience quickly thinking this too shall pass. Murphy's Law is easily described as "whatever can go wrong, will go wrong" and that is exactly what happened from my experience of simply stubbing a toe. Reflecting back over the past year and one month of my life I am honestly still in a state of confusion, disbelief and shock at times. I'm confused how one Sunday I am preaching in church and by the next Sunday I am in the hospital battling gangrene. I am in disbelief realizing that so quickly a year plus of my life has vanished in a blink of the eye. Four months of my life I find myself in memory loss unable to recall what was happening, who was there or any of the details of the medical situation I was facing. The details seem lost in space and time. As I reflect and look forward I am at times in shock and to be totally honest at times I am in totally shock. Two amputations, medical expenses including one single day billed at $82, 718.32. Monthly prescriptions over $6,000.00 a month with $4,480.00 of that expense being two of the 18 daily medications prescribed. Medical Illness and disabilities can become overwhelming extremely fast and life has a way of closing in while the limitations seem to calculate on an adding machine. Yes, a stubbed toe has a way of complication life and a way of changing your life forever, who would have ever considered?...certainly not me, until now. This same time last year my life turned a flip and now I am left holding the pieces, so it seems until I remind myself that I am not holding anything together, it all Him. Frustration is not fun to deal with at all. I find peace when I reflect that everything has a purpose and there is a time for everything too, including this experience. I also find peace when I am able to say "thanks" to God for the opportunity to share my story with others who are in questioning life's experiences and God's plan. The "giving" of this challenge is mine to use for His glory. I am praying I will not miss a single opportunity. Until then

Shannon Bunch - since he was 5 yrs old

This weeks column in the series "thanks" "Giving" reminds me that I first met this person when he was 5 years old. He was a little boy playing the piano and yes, he feet were not touching the ground, he was helped up onto the piano bench to play. His fingers went to walking over the keyboard creating music and out of his mouth came a voice that you knew immediately was unique and one of a kind. This little boy appeared to be destined to share his musical talents which could only be described for a 5 year old as gifts from God. With hundreds of thousands of miles driving and flying under his belt and with thousands of concerts and venues playing host to his talents, Mark Shannon Bunch has served his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ non-stop playing the piano, singing and even preaching with each mile logged in his journey to be a disciple of Jesus. Friendships are an amazing gift from God, so I believe and I confess that when I first saw him playing and singing as a child never did I imagine the friendship that would have grown from then to now, over the past 30 plus years. Shannon, as he is known to audiences and his friends is gifted in more than just music. My "thanks" this season goes beyond his obvious talent but to the heart of his character and being. "Thanks" Shannon for being a great listener. His gift of listening is not in one year and out the other, but rather an intent listening to hear what you are really saying. This talent is not held by all and for most listening is just an act. Shannon is a "giving" person whose heart is touched by the experiences of others and he puts his thoughts into actions, something also lacking by many who assume the role of bystanders in the crowd instead of becoming a leader from the pack. Each spring I begin to assembly my thoughts of individuals and organizations, young and old that have made an impact. Sometimes there is a carry over from the previous year where I just ran out of weeks in which to acknowledge the difference others have made by sharing their lives with others. Our friendship, the one Shannon and I share has grown with each year and with each new days experience. Geographically from Barbourville, Kentucky to Nashville, Tennessee and now even the State of Texas, our friendship covers some land. Our experiences together include his wife Melissa and their daughter Emme Blu. What laughter we've shared and memories we've all built all because as a 5 year old Shannon was already doing what he loved. In friendship trust comes from trying and confidence comes from confiding. Shannon Bunch has impacted countless lives through his ministry and while I'm saying "thanks" "giving" I know what Shannon is saying..."To God Be The Glory". Until then

Don't miss an opportunity to say "Thanks" for others who are "Giving"

"Thanks", "Giving" is my personal way of sharing the stories of the people who have impact my life. Over the years that I have been publicly expressing my "thanks for the investing, "giving", of others into my life I received many comments. A few of the individuals have been caught totally off guard while others have continue to encourage me but only after providing me with instruction to select others, all the while saying thanks too. I began this personal tradition because after the passing of a friend I had wished I had said more during our lifetime as friends. A lost opportunity because we failed to take the time to say "thanks" because a major moment in our lives when we simply planned on expressing "thanks" for their impact or importance to us and then they are gone and we live with the regret. Death has a cruel way of creeping up on us and stealing from us plans and dreams. Medical issues, sickness and disability have a way of also stealing from us repeat moments of fun, sharing and plans. These heartaches can become a serious problem if we don't correct the behavior of prolonging, putting off, and procrastinating. (Yes, those three "P's" I just used are a preachers prerogative). Often I've had people share with me that they are scared to share their feelings or to express their thoughts. It can be scary. Rejection is the last things we want to experience but it is not our responsibility to make sure that others understand our motives. It is important however for us to express our hearts and gratitude, especially among our friends. Will people think weird of us, possibly? Will our friends think we have a secret motive, possibly? The truth is that the answer to both of these questions could be answer yes because they are true. We are weird. Think about it, most folks don't say thanks anymore. There is an attitude of you owe me going around and yes, we do have a secret motive. We want people to know they matter to us and we have learned from them and we want them to know it. I see no wrong in having the motive for saying "Thanks" and for "Giving" back so others will know their lives matter and you appreciate them. I assume no responsibility for others feeling uncomfortable with receiving praise, honor or thanks. I do assume full responsibility for my words and actions and I want no missed opportunity of following my heart. Until then