“Choose and Use Words Wisely”

Ever remember your mom and dad going to wash your mouth out with soap for saying something despicable, or choosing a word of poor taste to speak. “If you ever say that again I’m going to wash your mouth out with soap”, mom would say. After some thought about her threat, I wonder if she really believed that would make the word or words I had spoken go away, or somehow, when I spoke again I would seek a better choice of words to speak? I suppose, in reality, once their spoken you can’t clean them up, or take them back. Did you ever have your mom to spank your butt for saying the wrong thing, at the wrong time and in the wrong way? “I’m sorry mom, I want ever say it again, I take it back!”  In reality you can never take it back, if someone heard what you said, because it is forever stored in their computer bank called, “the brain”. It would be nice if you could make certain things you have said in your lifetime just disappear into thin air, but no way; can’t be done. Saying good wholesome and nice things to folk do the same thing, because their stored in their  human computer, called the brain. Hear me now and believe me later, folks cauterize the bad thing you have said to them into their memories. So here’s the moral of the story; When grandma told you, “if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all”, she knew what she was talking about. The bad things you have and will say cause enmity, and the good, empathy. So if you seek peace, tranquility, and friendship in life; then speak kind, loving, and forgiving words. If you seek grief, misery, and hatefulness in your life, then speak words that are hostile, and demeaning. One can bring you bliss, the other blisters.

Was Jesus Blowing Smoke?

When I was a boy my folks taught me that I must take up for myself and not let people run over me. Whatever that means, I fought my adversaries like a mad man, and at times ended up in a whole heap of trouble. When anyone became offensive towards me I just naturally retaliated. My thinking was this: “If I allowed someone the opportunity to overpower and abuse me, then they would continue  abusing me on a regular basis.”  My family was law abiding, God fearing, church going people, and when we went to church each week I heard another message, “turn the other cheek, and forgive others for their trespasses. Now this is and and was confusing because it went against all that I feel in my heart, and all I was taught in the home. I have decided to follow Jesus, I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning turning back. Jesus has taught me to love those who do not love me, abuse me, and say all manner of evil against me; am I  wrong in turning the other cheek or am I right down naive and stupid? Is it possible to follow Jesus’ teachings or are they only noble ideas that sound good.  Was Jesus’ just blowing smoke or did he give us a game plan to follow that leads us to kingdom living, and ultimately eternal life. Give me some feedback on this one folks?

“A Bald Head, Blue Jeans, and a Tee for Me”

I’ve always thought of myself as a down to earth guy, and surely not out to impress others with pomp and circumstance. I’ve always tried to be the same old me whether in the company of dignitaries or paupers. I’m a blue jean and tee kind of guy who likes motorcycles, and sports (college football), but most of all craves conversation and building lasting relationships. The latter most of all, because my dad once told me that you can always make more money, and then spend it (money is fleeting) but a good friend is something  that will last for a life time. I wear my robe in church on special occasions (makes me feel like a judge), but not my cup of tea. I would feel much more comfortable in blue Jeans and a tee. I Samuel 16:7 says: “for the LORD seeth not as man seeth ; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”  I’m sure glad the Lord approves of bald heads, blue Jeans and tees, because it’s a bald head, blue jeans, and a tee for me.

“Roller Skating Through Life”

Ever hear of the Roller Skating song by Melanie?  The song came out in 1971 and was #1 on the charts in December 71, and January 72. Here is one of the lyrics in the song: “I got a brand new pair of roller skates, you got a brand new key. I think that we should get together and try them out, you see.”  I remember my first pair of skates had a key, and if you lost the key you were up the river without a paddle. For you younger folks, a skate key actually locked the skate to your shoe which was on your foot so you could roller skate. These skates had a metal frame, and metal wheels which would ride quite roughly on any surface. I guess they were the dinosaurs of today’s skate boarding, because kids would ride these up and down sidewalks, or any other paved surface they could find. Just like the roller skate key holds the proverbial “key’ to successfully roller skating down the street, so does loving  Jesus hold the key to roller skating through life as an effective Christian. “O’ I’ve got a brand new pair of roller skates, Jesus’ got the key, we should get together soon, and then I will see, life as good as it can be. Now I’ve got joy unspeakable, and Jesus is the key.”  Good song huh?  I love roller skating through life with Jesus, don’t you? If you catch yourself humming this song in your head all day, blame it on me!

“A Little Peace of Heaven in West Virginia”

Riding back through these mountains is a little piece of heaven on earth, so it seems. Is it really? Will there just be trees galore, and distant meadows far below in heaven, with a few wild animals straying about to mix it up a little?  Want there be lots of people in heaven, just like myself? That’s the key; if there just like me it will be a wonderful place to exist, huh? Almost heaven West Virginia is just a song I suppose, because other than the quietness of being in the mountains on the back roads in solitude, West Virginia is like the rest of the world, full of hatred, violence, and derision. “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us” is ringing in my ear telling me that forgiveness and reconciliation starts with me in order to have a little piece of heaven on earth. Try forgiving and reconciling with your adversaries today and your life will be a little piece of heaven in West Virginia, Virginia, and the world.

Bad Advice From an “Occasional” Moron

Valentine’s day is right around the corner; and what more could she want? Here I am in living color! It’s not a good idea to give thy self as a Valentine gift. Here are some more blunders I have made over the years. Buy her Valentine candy the day after Valentine’s Day, it’s half off. Take her to McDonald’s and Super size it. Here’s the best one! Amnesia. I forgot it was St. Valentines Day. One time I went with my dad to the drugstore, and he asked me if I had bought Deb anything and I told him No, and I didn’t have any money on me, so he bought a box of candy for my wife. That was cool until my dad told her he had bought the candy. That was a bad day on the ranch.  My all time worse blunder was buying her a set of bathroom scales for her birthday. What can I say: “Ignorance is bliss?” Why couldn’t or wouldn’t I listen to Paul’s good advice: “Love your wife as Christ loved the church and gave himself for it.” I have a wonderful, loving, and caring wife. Her only downfall was marrying me, an occasional moron. Like fine wine I have improved with age, but, believe me when I say; “I was an occasional moron.” God have mercy on my soul.

“The Normal Christian Life”

It’s not my brother, not my sister but it’s me O’ Lord, standing in the need of prayer. Not so much prayer in order to face life’s adversities, but rather, much prayer in order to live in obedience to Him. Jesus requires me to love and pray for my adversaries; and even more difficult He requires me to forgive them of their trespasses. No more eye for an eye and tooth for tooth, for it has been replaced by Jesus with forgiveness and reconciliation. How far does He call me to go with loving and forgiving? All the way! This way and only this way can the wars that rage in the recesses of my mind be extinguished where peace prevails in my life? I must be obedient to his call on my life to forgive and love, even to the point of putting my feelings on the back burner, so His grace can reign supremely in my life. Nothing else can work to give me normalcy in life. This is the key to living a “Normal Christian Life.”

If You KISS, Depression Is Avoidable, and Joy Unspeakable Is Attainable!

People who need people are the luckiest people in the world. I need people and it’s nice to know that people need me also, but in the midst of my otherwise self reliance, sometimes I forget both, and try to go it alone. One is the loneliest number that I’ll ever do, because in the long nights of winter, depression sets in for a longing that’s unattainable; though it seems. It’s good to know and experience that I need my church family and my church family needs me. It’s good to know and experience that I need my wife and she needs me. It’s good to know and experience that Kay Dee, my little white poodle, needs me and I she. Last but greatest; It’s good to know and experience, emphasis on experience, that Jesus is my loving Lord and God. I use the KISS system to keep life interesting and enjoyable! KISS, “Keep It Simple Stupid!” I allow myself to be loved by Jesus and then I love my wife, friends and neighbors as He has commanded. If you KISS, depression is avoidable, and joy unspeakable is attainable! I love a big KISS, don’t you?

Most Are “Sitting On the Dock of the Bay Wasting Time”

It seems that people are so spread out across the country and world today; it is hard to keep up with one another. Seventy years ago 85% of all people in the US died with-in 15 miles from where they were born; today it is less than 10%!  Not only this, but everyone seems to be constantly on the go, so families are spending far less time together than ever before. It seems that church families today are having the same dilemma. Most people did not bury their roots deep enough in the gospel for it to sustain them in their move from home into the broader world. Millions of people call themselves regular church goers if they attend one Sunday a month, and very few attend more than one time a week. I remember, as a child receiving Sunday school pins for perfect attendance during the year. My oldest sister Judy had a string of them many years consecutively. Buying award pins today would be a futile exercise and a waste of money. Here’s a statement to ponder on: “If you are continually to busy for the Lord, then you are too busy.”  Most of us have purchased shake and bake items to save time yet we seem to have little time for Jesus. The bottom line is this; “People usually do what they want to do, and apparently they don’t want to waste their time on Jesus, and the church. Most are sitting on the dock of the bay wasting tiiime. Amen!

“Am I My Brother’s Keeper?”

It seems that when we have bible studies in the church today, there just that; a bible study without an objective or goal to accomplish, and by the time one study is past we wait for another, not even remembering what we have studied the week before. Learning just for the sake of learning is really a futile attempt at doing nothing. God’s word should be active, alive, and busy about accomplishing God’s mission in our lives and the world. If we read the whole bible from cover to cover and didn’t internalize it to transform our lives and the world around us, it would be a futile accomplishment. Even the great tempter, Satan knows God’s word and trembles at its great power. Starting on Sunday, January 29 at Grace UMC, and Wednesday, February 1, at Johnson Memorial we will start a new study named: “Am I My Brother’s Keeper?” For the first ten weeks we will be reading the book “Unconditional” by Brian Zahnd. We will read one chapter each week. We will also be accountable for our actions and words in real time each week, and we will share those things each week with one another. These will include our failures, victories, as well as being responsible for being our brother’s and sister’s keepers.  The cost of the book is $12.09; Kindle Edition is $9.99 at Amazon.com. If everyone orders the book together it is free shipping which saves a great deal of money on the whole order. If you choose, the Christian book store in Ronceverte has the book for around $15.00. Get ready, get set, go, Jesus is about to take us on an adrenaline filled adventure where mighty walls are torn down, and strong holds conquered.