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
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Lots of thoughts......
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
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
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Final
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
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
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Happy Birthday to YOU~!
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
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
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Just a lttle Jesus is a great start
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
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
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Hymn #150 please
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
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
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