Inadequate At Best!

I have recently blogged about the new Bible Fellowship Group (BFG...Sunday School to most of us!) that Anita and I are part of. Our friend Ron Hewitt and I are teaching the class. Yesterday was one of those Sundays that I had the responsibility of teaching. The previous week, Ron had presented a lesson titled, "The Purpose of Christmas." I wanted to tie into that lesson and bring us to the Advent season, so I taught a lesson entitled, "Why Is Christmas Important?"

As I usually do, when preparing to teach, I intensively study the Scriptures and material I intend to teach from. After the class, as usual, I am left wondering if anything I said actually made a difference. You see, one of the things that frightens me to death when I teach is the thought that something I say will lead someone to a false understanding of my Father! One of the things that I suppose every teacher of God's Word must wrestle with is that in order to bring glory to His name, we must make sure we present His true character. In fact the word "glory" comes from a Greek word that means "to give a correct opinion of." In order to give glory to the Father, we must make sure we are truly and accurately presenting Him to a world that is lost and dieing. There is really nothing that I do in my life that is more important than that.

When I stop to think about it, I actually feel that it is a real blessing that I do feel inadequate. It reminds me that the responsibility for handling the Word of God rightly is truly a weighty one. I pray that He would always inspire my awe with His truth!

Thirty-five Years Later...

I am an Aggie! If you cut me, I will bleed maroon and white. In August of 1973, I left for College Station with my good friends, Steve Burch and Roger Freeman. Steve and I went on to become "old ladies" in the Fightin' Texas Aggie Corps of Cadets...but that's a story for another day. In November of 1974, I formed up with the rest of my outfit, Squadron 12 (Trojan 12!) and marched for what was my last time, into and around Kyle Field. I did not realize it would be my last march-in, but the following fall, finances forced me to transfer to UTA, where I received a B.S. degree in Limnology. I suppose, had I known that it would be my last march-in, I would have drunk in the sights and the sounds and tried to freeze them in my memory. I would have captured the sounds of the Corps and the steady, rhythmic beat of left heels hitting the pavement in time with the bass drums of the Fightin' Texas Aggie Band! I would have frozen the smell and the sounds of the horses and riders from Parson's Mounted Cavalry. But most of all, I would have locked away the amazing feeling that I got as we entered Kyle Field. I can almost hear the command, "Eyes...Right!" and see the snap of the guidon as it is raised and then snapped forward. If I had only known!

However, as Paul Harvey would say, "Now for the rest of the story!" Anita had a dentist appointment with Steve Burch...yes he and his wife Troie moved to Allen the same year we did and he has been our dentist for the past 29 years. Steve asked if we would like to drive down to College Station for the game on Saturday. She said she would talk with me and we would call them back. Steve then said, "If Clint would like to march-in with the Former Corps of Cadets Association, he and I can do that." When Anita asked if I would like to do that, it took at least a second to answer, "Yes!" As I have thought about it this week, I am so thankful that once again, I will get to experience the thrill of marching into Kyle Field with the rest of the Corps. As the poem, The Last Corp Trip, says, "Form up boys, we'll march in behind the band!"

For the uninitiated let me tell you several things about Texas A&M -

• It is the oldest public university in the State;
• Texas A&M has provided more military officers who have served this country, than all three service academies combined;
• Texas A&M has produced more Medal of Honor winners than any other college in the U.S.;
• Texas A&M manages the largest engineering and agricultural extension and education program of any in the world;
• In terms of practical, hands-on applied science and engineering, Texas A&M stands alone.

I am sure this means little to most people. In fact, I like to say that for those who do not understand what it means to be an Aggie, nothing I have said will make you understand; however, for those of you who do understand, I need say nothing! There really is only one word...WHOOP! Gig 'em Aggies!

Another Sign of The End Times

Recently, the Toy Hall of Fame added it's newest member/toy to the ranks of the best toys ever! (See the link http://videogames.yahoo.com/events/plugged-in/game-boy-makes-the-toy-hall-of-fame/1371311) The background noise you hear is the sound of Western civilization crumbling! In what universe does a stupid little electronic weasel of a toy beat out some of the greatest toys ever created like Hot Wheels cars, Transformers, playing cards and sidewalk chalk??!! I am sorry, but there has never been any electronic video game that can compare with toys that actually stimulate a child's imagination. One of my major pet peeves are video games! I believe they come straight from the liberals or from communists bent on the ultimate destruction of the United States! I perhaps am overstating the case, but you get my point...right?!

Seriously folks, who would ever put a Game Boy in the same class as "the ball" or a Big Wheel? How many times have I watched a little boy or girl at a sporting event or the zoo or...you name it, playing with a Game Boy instead of enjoying and participating in the activities surrounding them? Do we really think that a glorified electronic babysitter deserves a berth in the Toy Hall of Fame? I think not! Give me a ball and bat or some sidewalk "chaunk" (according to Mark Garrett it is chaunk, not chalk) any day! The best part of real toys like the ball and sidewalk chalk is that you might actually be forced to play with your child or grandchild. Call me old school, but as they say: "That's what I'm talkin' about!"

How Much Do I Miss?

Lord,
You are awesome and holy and you fill the universe with Your majesty! I fall at your feet in reverence. How often do I miss what You have for me? How often do my plans and my agenda take precedence over what You would have me do or say or be? Once again today, you have shown me that first and foremost, You do not need me to bring about your will and that so often, I just get in Your way. But, Lord, thank you for being so gracious to me and allowing me to just touch the very hem of Your garment.

Today, Lord, in the middle of my busy-ness, you brought a man named Gaylon into my life. Gaylon called and wanted to look at a chair that we had listed on Craig's List. I gave him directions and in about thirty minutes, he showed up at our door. Gaylon was a soft-spoken man who had recently moved to the area from Oklahoma. He was retired and was obviously lonely. He had been a widower for the past 15 years. He mentioned that he had not really met anyone to talk to (apparently he has tried a lot of angles here, including the construction foreman at the apartments being built in his neighborhood!) He liked the chair and immediately said he would take it. However, as he continued to talk about everything and nothing, Lord, you impressed on me that he was lonely and that nothing I had planned or on my really important agenda was more important to You than this 74-year old man! I am so grateful that You saw him through Your eyes, Lord, instead of through mine! As we continued to talk, Lord, You revealed to me exactly what You were about! Not only was he lonely, but he needed a Savior and You were about to let me see You work! As we talked, Gaylon said he had lead a good life, but he wasn't sure it was good enough to get into heaven. By this time, the conversation had moved to the front yard, so I asked him back into the house and we walked through Romans and we reached the point where Gaylon, said, "So it's not really about how good I am, it's about how good Jesus was?" Lord, I couldn't have said it any better! After we prayed, Gaylon asked if I could write these verse down for him, so he could look at them as he put it, "all the time." We talked more about what next steps he should take. As he left, he said, "I came here to buy a chair and I am leaving with something worth a lot more than any chair!" Again, Lord, I couldn't have said it better.

Thank You that You do not let me get in the way of Your plans! And thank You that even in my foolishness and my human weakness, You let me be part of those plans. Lord, teach me to see what I miss and to be open to You!

Believe It or Not!

I am not a theologian, nor do I play one on television. However, I do believe I have stumbled upon an amazing theological truth...people either believe the Bible or they don't! Profound, isn't it? I am often amazed when people tell me that they do not believe the Bible, until I begin to ask questions. What I generally find is probably typical of most non-believers:

• The Bible has many mistakes and I just can't believe its true! - Of course, when asked to point out a single one of those mistakes, I have yet to meet anyone who can do so.
• Much of the Bible is really poetical or allegorical and was never intended to be taken as truth. - Again, I have yet to be shown any real evidence that would support this conclusion.
• Most of the Bible is true, but parts are not! - This is an interesting argument, because it allows you to pick and choose what you accept or reject. This way you can accept a loving God, but reject a Holy and righteous One.
• The Bible has been through so many translators, it just can't be true! - I guess the fact that there is more manuscript evidence for the accuracy of the Bible than any of the plays of William Shakespeare does not matter!
• The Bible is just one way to reach truth! - This argument is a difficult one to accept, because the Bible itself argues against this. So either the Bible is, as it claims, true and it is the only way or it is not!

I have finally reached the conclusion that for those who do not believe the Bible, it really comes down to a choice. It is the same choice that satan made in Isaiah 14 and the same choice that Adam and Eve made in Genesis 3. It is the choice to set ourselves up as God! In the end, there is really only one choice: do I believe God and will I obey Him or will I shake my fist at Him and tell Him that I reject His truth and I will be my own god!

Once In A Lifetime Love!

One of my favorite songs is by Alan Jackson. It is the song that Anita and I danced to at our daughter's wedding. The words go like this,



"Some people have it, some people don't,

Some people never will...

A once in a lifetime love, a love like we've all dreamed of.

It may go disguised right before your eyes,

A once in a lifetime love."



I can tell you that I met my once in a lifetime love over 35 years ago. It was not love at first sight, but rather the beginning of a friendship that would grow over the coming years and would become the basis for a once in a lifetime love. In 1975, our friendship became more, aided by homemade peach shortcake, squash casserole, fried okra and other foods that no self-respecting Texan could ever pass up. That summer evening in June, I asked the former Anita Horton to marry me and to my utter and profound amazement, she said yes! I will never understand why or how she loves me, but I thank God for that love every day.

Over the years, she has supported me and our children and now our son-in-law and daughter-in-law and our grandsons with a truly unconditional love. She is indeed the wisest woman I know and the most godly. She has an overflowing of faith and grace in her Lord and Savior. I do know this, one day when she stands before our Lord, she will receive a crown that has many jewels and I also know that she will look forward to laying that same crown at the feet of her Savior. In short, she is my hero and my once in a lifetime love!

Happy birthday, sweetheart!

I love you,
C

Sometimes Moving On Is Hard

Most of you know that for the past 23 years, I have taught pre-schoolers. I love pre-schoolers and everything about them! I love their wide-eyed innocence, their curiosity and desire to learn, and mostly, I love their open and child-like faith in a God they cannot see and a Savior who loves them. This Sunday will be the last Sunday that I teach pre-schoolers for awhile. You see, God has another place for me to serve Him and give Him the glory and honor He is due! I guess you could say that I am being promoted. Beginning in November, I will begin to co-teach an Adult Bible Fellowship Group. Anita and I will be helping to start a new class for the 45-55 age group. I will tell you that this is a hard move for me, as well as Anita. Part of the difficulty for me lies in the fact that I care so much for those little pre-schoolers. However, I know God will bring someone else into their lives...I am just sad that it won't be me! You see, I was very comfortable with pre-schoolers and I think therein lies the rub. God is more interested in my character than my comfort! He knows I need lots of character building!

There are other things that make this a hard move for Anita and I. We have been associated with our current BFG for over 5 years and have known most of the couples in this class for going on 20 years. As I thought about our "move", I realized that it is very much like moving away from family. In fact, I can tell you that the friends in this class are truly our family and even though we will see them every Sunday, it will not be the same. No longer will there be the weekly, intimate sharing of God's Word and prayer needs and praise every Sunday. However, we will develop this same intimacy with a new "family." And best of all, the intimacy we have grown to love here in this class will one day be the ultimate fellowship for eternity...and that's worth waiting for! We love you Boyd Bible Fellowship Group!

The Great 2008 Teal Hunt or How to Blow Up a Shotgun Without Even Trying!

Most duck hunters who reside in north central Texas or Oklahoma do not consider the opening of early teal season as anything more than an opportunity to make sure all the gear that will be required for the "real" opening of duck season is hunt-worthy and ready to go. It reminds me of the days when I was much younger and viewed the opening of archery deer season as an early tuneup for the "real" opening of deer season. Now that I am older, I understand that archery season has much to offer on its own merits! In the case of teal season, I have also realized that it offers much to appreciate for those willing to brave mosquitoes that are often larger than the birds themselves, snakes of all variety, temperatures that are often close to triple digits while wearing clothes that could keep a guy warm in sub-freezing December weather and lastly hurricane force rain and wind! Opening day of the 2008 teal season was one the I had looked forward to for several months. It was going to be the first time to take my son-in-law, Tim Williamson, on a duck hunt. Tim is the Weapons Officer on a US Navy submarine and was moving to a new duty station. He and my daughter and grandsons were spending a few weeks in Dallas attending his sister's wedding and equally important (sorry, Lindsy!) participating in what we call the Great 2008 Teal Season Opener!

We planned to hunt in Oklahoma, with a friend of Mark's named Luke Dunlap. Luke is a great hunting buddy...well, he is pretty much a great guy and the hunting part makes it even better. Now one of the things that none of us counted on was the fact that the women in our lives...my wife (and mother to Mark and mother-in-law to Tim), my daughter (and wife to Tim and sister to Mark) and Tim's mother would find anything amiss in the plan to hunt opening morning of teal season. Coincidentally, teal season corresponded with Tim's sister's wedding day! I assume most of you can see where we failed to appropriately plan here? Anyway, as we got closer to the actual day (teal season and Lindsy's wedding) the weather forecasters began to make evil prognostications about some minor storm in the Gulf of Mexico named Ike. The forecast was for gale force (45-50 knot winds) and heavy rains as far north as Oklahoma and Arkansas. Being the hale and hearty hunters we are, the weather did not frighten us at all. Therefore, 3 A. M. that morning found Tim and I driving to Oklahoma to meet up with Mark and Luke. We met and headed to the spot we had chosen for our opening day salvo. Arriving at the boat ramp, we loaded up and headed for the lower end of an old Red River oxbow lake. We had decided that Luke and Tim would hunt together on the lower end of the lake and Mark and I would hunt together on the upper end. After dropping Tim and Luke off at their blind, Mark and I set up on the upper end and got decoys arranged and got the boat hidden and settled down to wait for what we knew would be a morning filled with the duck world equivalent to World War II dive bombers...teal! The weather was muggy, foggy and hot, with no rain or wind! It took Mark and me about an hour or so to get our limit of teal. After that we sat and talked, waiting for Tim and Luke to finish up their limits. As we listened to the shooting from their end of the lake we realized that the shooting seemed much more sporadic than we expected. At about this time, Mark decided that he should take the boat and check on Tim and Luke. In the meantime, I would gather up our decoys. About 45 minutes later, as I finished gathering up decoys, I heard Mark pull up with the boat. He killed the motor and hopped out of the boat to come give me a hand. I noticed that neither Luke or Tim had much to say. Mark grinned and said, "Dad, I have good news and bad news!" I said, "Okay, give it to me." Mark laughed and replied, "Your son-in-law is alive, but your shotgun is dead!" After expressing my happiness that Tim was okay, about 5 0r 6 seconds, I asked what happened to my shotgun. At this point, Tim holds up a twisted piece of wood and metal that one time passed for a nice Spanish-made over and under! Now to this day, Luke and Tim have yet to confess completely what happened. I guess duck blinds are like Las Vegas...what happens there stays there! I suppose the other thing this all proves is that I apparently do love Tim like a son, because only Tim Williamson or Mark Miller could get away with destroying my shotgun and still hunt with me! Oh, about the wedding? Turns out we made it back in plenty of time for the wedding. And that nasty little storm in the Gulf? It dropped about 7 inches of rain on the wedding, but it turned out to be a great wedding and we all love Lindsy's husband!

I Knew Those Scouts Were Bad News!

I remember when I joined the Cub Scouts, back in...well, it was a long time ago! There are two things that stick with me after all these years. The first was that my brother so wanted to be a Cub Scout, but he was too young; we made him our official mascot! He was pretty cool then and is still pretty cool! The second thing I remember most about the Cub Scouts was getting my very own Scout knife! I guess it is a good thing that I grew up when I did, as opposed to today! You see if you want to find out what would have happened to me in today's world of vicious first graders go the article in the N.Y Times (not my usual source of material, but...!) http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/12/education/12discipline.html?no_interstitial

It seems that young Mr. Zachary Christie has run afoul of the "Zero Tolerance Police!" And what foul deed you may ask, did young Mr. Christie commit that would land him a 45 day sentence at the NYC Public School Reform school? He committed the dastardly deed of bringing the official Scout camping utensil, you know, the one that can be used as a fork, spoon and gasp...a dining fork to school. I am sorry, but somewhere Robert Baden-Powell must be turning somersaults in his grave! However, I am sure that the folks at Homeland Security and the TSA are wondering if they should raise the terror alert to red or at least to orange!

Does anyone else wonder where we lost the ability to think for ourselves and to use common sense? I think the big problem with common sense is that it is not neither as common as we want to believe nor is it found in as many places as we would imagine! Well, Zachary Christie, in my opinion should be receiving an award for his actions and the NYC Public School Discipline Committee...not so much! Mark and Luke, you will never be in trouble with Papaw for something like this! I guess it is too much to hope that we will ever take back this country from the liberal educators and law professors! The next thing you know, we will be banning the Taco Bel "spork!"

What Would You Give?

On a recent ordinary morning, I went about my regular routine of working out at the indoor pool. As I was finishing up, one of the "regular" exercisers stopped and asked me how I was doing. Having just gotten over the H1N1 flu and having a sore knee and ankle, I responded rather flippantly that I was okay, but had certainly been better. As I looked into her face, she quietly said, "I've been much better." She them asked if I heard what happened to her daughter (she assumed that I had heard, since she also goes to church with us). I explained that I had been sick and so, I did not know about her daughter. She explained that her daughter, who was 47, had cancer three years ago and had been cancer-free until August. In mid-August she experienced some intestinal tract problems that they could not clear up. The end of August, doctors performed exploratory surgery and found her cancer had returned . She died last week, only a few short weeks after going to the doctors. As she fought back tears, while telling me this story, she said she never thought she would be burying a child. She then made a comment that struck me so strongly, that I knew I needed to write it down...to remember. She said, "You know I have a lifetime of things and there is nothing in all those things that I would not trade for one more day to see my daughter."

As I have thought about the events that lead her to that thought, I realized that most of us would respond to that comment the same way I initially did. Of course I would give up anything I have for the chance to sit and look through old pictures with my wife, to sit around a campfire with my dad, to fish once more with my Papaw, to watch ducks land in front of a blind with my son, to see my daughter smile knowingly, as she wrapped me around her finger one more time, or to read a bedtime story to my grandsons! However, the thought then struck me that even as I said this, I realized that each of us is asked this question everyday and every moment! The difference is that the question is usually disguised in the camouflage of the mundane. We are asked to prioritize on a daily or even hourly basis. Can you let that big project wait another day at work, while you go see a child's ball game? Can you spend a Saturday afternoon pulling weeds in the flowerbed with your wife or do you need to go to the hardware store and take care of that rusted gate latch? Is it more important to get your car washed than it is to go to the park with your grandson? Each of those questions can be answered either yes or no and either answer can be right. However, when looked at through the eyes of eternity, it seems to me that the real question is really this, is your relationship with the ones you love more valued than possession or thing that you have? It is my prayer that the next time I am faced with choosing between urgent and important, I choose important...the people I love!

Birfday!

Two years ago, I was standing at a pay phone in Malindi, Kenya, receiving the news that my second grandson, Luke Patton Williamson, had been born. It is hard to imagine that it has been two years since this little one came into our lives. He is so special and so precious to his mom and dad, his brother, his Mimi and Papaw and Uncle Mark and Meghan. Luke is one of those children that is rough and tumble, but gentle and compassionate. He is intense, but laid-back. In short, he is exactly who God made him to be, Luke Patton...my grandson. He has already brought so much joy to his family!

This morning I called to wish him a happy birthday. When his mom put him on the phone, I said "Who is having a birthday?" He answered excitedly, "Birfday! Birfday!" He then proceeded to sing Happy Birthday to me! We have a little work to do on the concept of birthdays!

Luke, I want you to always remember, no matter what happens, you have a Papaw who loves you and even more importantly, you have a Father in Heaven who loves you more than you can know! However, today, justy know that it is your birthday and I love you! Eat a cupcake for Papaw!

My Little Girl

In every life there come those life-changing moments - moments that unexpectedly come, no matter how well-prepared we think we are. Some of those moments are breath-taking and leave us filled with awe and wonder, while some take our breath away and leave us filled with an emptiness that makes life hard to face. No matter which moment it is we are left changed in a profound way. In my life, one of those moments came on September 24th, 1978, in a hospital in Laramie, Wyoming.

One of the things that Anita and I knew from the beginning of our life together was that we wanted to have children. In fact, we began trying to conceive soon after we were married and we waited anxiously each month to see if we were pregnant. Finally, after about 18 months of trying, we discovered that Anita was pregnant and that we were expecting a child in the fall of 1978. Over the next nine months we did all the things that expectant parents do. We attended birth classes, we re-finished furniture and made a nursery and we thought about names. At every doctor's visit they told us everything was normal. At the time, I did not realize that this would be the last time we would use the word 'normal' in our family for the next 25 or 30 years! I even pushed Anita from the front seat of a Suburban, into a ditch while she was 8 months pregnant (in my defense, it seemed normal!) The really amusing part of all this is that we actually thought we were prepared for the life-changing moment we were about to experience.

I can tell you almost everything that happened the night/morning of your birth. However, I can sum it up by telling you that at 11:18 AM, on September 24th, the most beautiful little girl was born and placed in my arms. As I looked down at your face, you pushed your little lips out and your little chin quivered and I knew that from that day forward, I had no heart left because you carried it around with you. I will confess to you that I fell in love with you at that moment and there are only two moments in my life that mean more to me...one was marrying your mother and the other was being saved by the grace of Jesus Christ!

Over the years, I have watched you walk into Reed Elementary carrying your balloon lunch box and my heart; I have dropped you off at Ford Middle School, Allen High School, John Brown University and Indian River Middle School and yes, I have shed a tear or two every time; I have seen you marry a wonderful husband and I still see you in that pure, white dress dancing with me and telling me "This is everything I ever dreamed for my wedding...it's like a fairy tale!" I could go on with all the memories I have of you.

It's hard to believe that the same little girl who wore her hair in pigtails and had her daddy wrapped around her finger is the same little girl who is now a beautiful young lady, godly wife and mother. I still believe you were the most beautiful baby ever born, although my two grandsons were pretty awesome and run a close second! I can never put into words the joy and love you brought to your mother and me...all I can say is that being your dad has been life-changing!

Happy Birthday and I Love You!

Happy Birthday, Buddy!

This weekend marks a special day. Four years ago, I was in Boston and received a phone call from my son-in-law while watching Monday Night Football (turns out he and my daughter were watching as well....in between labor pains!) Tim called to let me know that my first grandson had just come into the world and that his name was Mark Garrett Williamson.

I had always hoped that I would be blessed with grandchildren. I have such amazing memories of my grandparents, especially my Papaw. As the song goes, I thought he walked on water and I wanted to have the kind of impact on my grandchildren that he did on me. However, I had no idea how I would feel when this little guy was born. I met Mark Garrett about three days later, when I traveled to Norfolk. I remember walking into our daughter and son-in-law's home and stood in awe as my daughter came over and placed Mark in my arms. I had often wondered whether I would feel the same way about my grandchildren as I did abolut my own children. That question was answered at that moment. I tell people that grandchildren are somehow different than your own children. I think a big part of that is that as you are a mom or a dad to your own children, you are often so invested in the "busyness" of life that it is very easy to miss some of the wonder and magic of a child growing up. I also think that as we reach the time in our lives when grandchildren come along, we are at the same time beginning to see the headlong rush of our own lives towards completion and for most of us it changes our perspective. In short, I fell in love with this precious little baby and to this day, I can look at the picture Anita took of Mark and me as I held him that first time and I get a lump in my throat!

For the past four years, we have gotten to spend holidays and routine days with Mark; vacationed at the beach; ridden trains to New York City; played in Central Park; ridden a carousel; gone to the great State Fair of Texas (twice!); taken him on his first fishing trip; eaten cookies as big as his head. I thank God for the blessing this little boy has been to me!

We make life very complicated and complex, but in reality there are really only three things that matter - that my wife, children (that means you too, Tim and Meghan!) and grandchildren spend eternity with their Lord and Savior! Beyond that, its all good! I love you Buddy and I know you will have an awesome birthday...maybe even with "black Mickey cupcakes with instruments and sprinkles!"

Papaw

Happy Birthday Bud!

One day last month, when I woke up, it seemed that he was in his crib. Then last week, he was going off to college and then moving to Colorado for his first job. Then only yesterday he brought the girl of his dreams home to meet his mom and me. And now today, he is 29 years old! How can that be?

I have watched him grow and learn. I have laughed and cried with him! I have spent many days with him in the woods and fields of this country just enjoying God's Creation. I have watched his competitive spirit, but also his compassionate heart. I have spent hours on my knees in prayer for him. I have seen him with a tear in his eye as he held his namesake nephew in his arms for the first time. I have seen the love in his face when he looks at his new bride. I would never trade a single moment with him for all the money and treasure on this earth.

It has been said that a child is someone who walks around carrying your heart in their hand. Mark, you have had mine since that September morning in Laramie, twenty-nine years ago! I love you and I hope you have a great birthday!

Love,

Dad

Ghosts

I am haunted by ghosts these days. These are not the ghosts of horror movies, but the ghosts of days past; days that were spent in woods and fields, lakes and streams. I am haunted by these ghosts when the scorched, white-hot days of August give way to the promise of fall and eventually the chill winds of the first blue norther. You see these are the days I have spent in the field as a hunter. I remember every hunt as if it were yesterday. I remember a day in early December, in 1964, when I went on my first deer hunt and sat in a tree stand through a Hill Country ice storm. I remember another hunt that took place over a rainy weekend in South Texas. I remember a hunt with my Papaw, when he made a pot of venison chili that still makes me want to break out my spoon. I could go on but these ghosts probably interest no one but me and maybe some of the good men who were part of those hunts too.

These days spent with my dad, my brother, my son, my father-in-law, my nephews and friends have played a large role in shaping who I am. Being a hunter is not really politically correct these days, but it has been quite some time since I have been accused of being politically correct. The days I have spent in the field enjoying Creation have proven to me that there is indeed a Creator and that we owe Him our worship and adoration. Perhaps the great naturalist and hunter John Muir said it best when he said that each petal of each flower was a window through which to see the Creator. Amen!

So, do not feel sorry for me because I am haunted by ghosts. Just let me enjoy the haunting and remember days that have past and gone, but have left their mark forever!

A Beginning or An End...You Choose!

I love pre-schoolers! They are so open and they are like little sponges, ready to soak up life and learning. I guess that is why this week has been a very special week. In the area where I live, almost without exception, it has been the first week of school. It also was Promotion Sunday at our church. I had the opportunity to observe a brand new group of Kindergarteners who experienced a deluge of "firsts" in their lives this week. It was the first time many of them attended the adult worship service and on the following Monday, most of these same children were entering a neighborhood elementary school for the very first time as a student! I can easily predict what happened almost universally in kindergarten classes across the country!

There were a few tears...more shed by Moms and Dads than by children. There were lots of smiles and giggles and a few anxious moments, but all in all the transition from "baby" to child went smoothly. As I thought about it, I remembered back to a time more than 25 years ago, when my little girl and later my son both had their first day experience. At the time, I recall thinking that somehow this was the end of something and it somehow made me sad to be sending those two little ones out into a world that could be dangerous and scary. However, mostly I was sad for me, because I knew that this was only the beginning of what would become a long period ending finally when they completed college and "were on their own." Being a parent is one of the few tasks in life where you practice your skills over and over and when you finally get the hang of it, you find yourself standing on the curb waving and watching your child drive away to follow their dreams!

As I thought more about it this week, though, I realized that as with most things in life, the end of one thing lead to the beginning of another. And with the end of "babyhood" begins a time when that "baby" is learning to interact with others and is hopefully learning about the love of a God who knows them individually and personally! It is the beginning of "the turning loose process" and just like the butterfly, until that child turns from the captive caterpillar to the beautiful butterfly, he or she is not what God intends for them to be! So, Mom and Dad, do you want to see the first day of school as the end of you "baby" or will it be the beginning of a life filled with learning and growing into the person that walks with God and yes, that becomes not only your child, but your friend! You get to choose, but I offer one more inducement for you if you are still uncertain...eventually those children will grow up and nothing you can do will stop that, but when they are grown up they give you grandchildren! So, think about it ...and you choose!

How Many People Do You Know In Heaven?

One of the top-selling novels several years ago was titled "The Five People You Meet In Heaven", by Mitch Albom. I will confess to having never read the novel and to having no great insight into Mr. Albom's theology. However, the title is intriguing on it's own! Last night, I was reminded of the title to the book, when our pastor, Chad Selph, was talking about a funeral he was preparing to conduct. He made the statement that as he looked at his life, he had begun to realize that in the not too distant future, he would know more people in heave than he knew on earth. As I returned home, I realized he was right. Over the past 55 years, I have had the privilege to know and love more people than I could ever have deserved. These people have had a profound impact on my life, as I hope I have had on theirs. However, as I contemplate the people I have known, I realize that many of these people have gone from this life to the next and that Chad was right...I might know more people in heaven that here on earth! As I thought about this, some of those people were drawn to my mind. I thought I would share a few of those people that I am looking forward to seeing on that day that I journey from this earthly life and into the next.

One of the people I know in heaven and I look forward to seeing is my grandfather, G. E. Miller. He was my Papaw and I have missed him everyday since that day in August of 1973. He took me to my first State Fair of Texas and fed me my first Fletcher's corny dog! He took me on my first fishing trip and always let me drive the boat. He made the best chili ever made and he always ate it with Hydrox cookies (for the uninitiated that was Texas-made cookie that was exactly like an Oreo...only better!) But the main thing he did for me was to show me how a grandfather should love his grandson. I want to see him and tell him all about my wife, Anita and his great grandchildren, Alicia, Mark, Tim and Meghan. I want to tell him about his great-great grandsons, Mark and Luke and watch him smile when he hears all about them.

I will also get to see a man named Jerry Ray. Jerry was an evangelist who had a heart for lost people and for discipling God's people. He is the man who lead me to the Lord. Jerry died when before he was forty years old and left a family and friends to ask why. I still don't know the answer to that question, but I know the God who holds that answer and all others and I trust Him. I want to tell Jerry thank you!

I'll get to see a little girl named Kristen Kirk. Kristen only lived a few short years, but she touched the lives of an entire church and community. Her trust in a God she knew was waiting for her shamed all of us. At the end of her life she met her Savior with open arms. I have always prayed for the same grace we saw in Kristen and I want to tell her how much we all loved her.

There are so many others that I will see again. There will also be others who come after I am gone. However, the one person I look forward to seeing more than anyone else is my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! I doubt that I will even have words to speak at that moment. I want to touch His hands and look into His face and know that I will spend eternity with Him!

As I think about it, I realize that the real objective in our lives should be to tell the good news of Jesus Christ to as many lost people as we can while we are here. And if you think about it, that will only increase the number of people you know in Heaven! So, who do you know in heaven?

First Leg of International Travel

Well it is 2:45 AM in Dallas and 9:45 AM in Frankfurt. In the first 12 hours I have proven definitively, that: 1) It is very hard to leave Anita for 3 weeks on the other side of the world; 2) Yes, it was hard to leave her at the curb without a few tears (mine, not hers!); 3)International travel is hard even under the best of conditions. Most of you know that I will not be allowed to openly share my faith in the country where I am going. However, I thought the flight legs would be great places to share. From DFW to Frankfurt, I sat next to Guenther. Guenther was about 35 years old and as we made small talk, I asked him if he had any knowledge or beliefs about Jesus Christ and God, He snapped back in his chair and informed me that religion was for weak women and men who could not make their own lives work! I let this sink in a few minutes and then went to work destroying his world view. He eventually agreed that his worldview of what happens at the end of lif is one that leaves no hope for anything beyond life and death. However, Guenther could never get to the place where he understood that his standard of "goodness" will never get him into the presence of the Lord. As we left each other, I gave Guenther my business card and told him to email me and we could continue our discussion. Pray for him and so many more like him in post-modern Europe. I doubt that Martin Luther or John Know or Calvin or St. Augustine would be able to recognize the church in Europe and much of the world.

I will write more as my travels continue!

See You Later, Buddies!

Dear Mark and Luke,

I am sure Mommy has told you that Papaw is going to a country called Saudi Arabia to do some work. Saudi Arabia is a long way from Georgia and even farther from Texas. I will be building a college over there. I probably will not be able to call you every day the way I usually do, but I will think about you every day and I am taking some pictures of you both to look at when I think about you. I just wanted you to know!

I would like for you both to call Mimi often and check on her while I am gone. She will be lonesome, so it will be up to you and Mommy and Uncle Mark to make sure she is okay! Be sure and take care of your Mommy and Daddy too! You are both growing so fast that sometimes I would just like to stop time and keep you small like you are right now! But I know that is not possible, so I will just have to keep my memories of you both as you are right now. The best part is that God gave us a heart that can hold as many memories as we could ever put in there, so I will be able to remember you as you are now, but also as you grow!

You know what the best part of my trip will be? When I come back to Texas, you and your Mommy will be here at Mimi's and Papaw's house in Texas! In fact, you will come to see us and the very next day after you come to Mimi's, Papaw will return from Saudi Arabia! We will have some fun then. I have a lot of things I want to do with you two little guys. We can plant some grass and we can go over to Uncle Mark and help him with some of his building projects and maybe we can even find time to go out fishing in Uncle Mark's boat! How does that sound?

Well, remember that Papaw loves you both more than he can tell you and I will see you when I come back!

Love,

Papaw

It Will Be Your Favorite, Papaw!

There is a place that every child looks forward to visiting from the time they are old enough to understand about it. It is Disney World, aka "The Happiest Place on Earth!" Now, I am not sure that statement is somewhat hyperbolic, but there it is, nonetheless. This past weekend, our daughter and son-in-law took advantage of their proximity to Orlando, to visit Disney World with our grandsons. Mark Garrett was so excited that for at least a week, he could think of nothing else. In fact, I think he then got Luke hyped about the trip, even though neither of them had a clue as to what "Disney World was really all about!"



I believe they had an awesome time...at least according to Mark. He called me to tell me all about his trip and was he wound up! He explained to me that his favorite rides were the "parking lot tram", the monorail and the "Farmstormer (that is The Barnstormer, a kiddie version of a roller coaster for you uninitiated!) I think his mom and dad thought the parking lot tram was a bit of a waste, but as they say, "You can tell a three-year-old, you just can't tell him much!" Mark explained to me that, "The Farmstormer goes very, very, very, very, very fast, Papaw! It was my favorite! It will be your favorite too, Papaw!" I am sure it will be, Buddy, and I look forward to going to Disney World with you in the not too distant future. I love you and Luke!

I Like The Sound of That!

Most of you know that our son, Mark is getting married this summer. You also know that he is marrying a young lady, named Meghan, who is perfect for him. She is smart and sweet and has a beautiful spirit. She is also adored by Mark's two little nephews, who think she is awesome. They compliment each other so well and we are excited that Meghan will be part of our family.

We have been helping Mark and Meghan with remodelling the house they just bought, that will become their home after they are married. It has been hard work, but also a lot of fun. Last week, Meghan was laid low by a severe kidney infection and did not get to come work most of the week. On Thursday, she was feeling better and came over to continue working on the house. She met Mark and me at The Home Depot where we were selecting base moulding and bathroom fixtures. I was talking with her and mentioned that I had seen a wedding invitation on their counter that was addressed to Mr. and Mrs. Mark C. Miller. I laughed and said they were a little premature, but Meghan grinned and said, "I like the sound of that!" You know, I do too!

No More Doubt!

One of the most famous idioms in the English language revolves around an event that occurred only eight days after Easter. We use this idiom to express doubt or skepticism in a person, by calling them a "Doubting Thomas." In fact, Wikepedia defines this idiom in the following way, "Doubting Thomas is a term that is used to describe someone who will refuse to believe something without direct, physical, personal evidence; a skeptic." We seem to relegate Thomas to the position of second-class apostle because he had doubts about the resurrection. I am fascinated by the story of Thomas. It is told in the Gospel of John, in the 20th chapter. The story is a familiar one. On the day that Jesus was resurrected, it seems that Thomas was not with any of the disciples when Jesus made His appearances to them. Later, as they explain to Thomas that Jesus is alive, just as He said He would be, Thomas makes perhaps the most famous skeptical statement of all time, "Unless I see in His hands the mark of the nails and place my finger into the mark of the nails and place my hand in His side, I will never believe." A pretty strong statement, but I can't say I blame Thomas. Think about it, Thomas saw with his own eyes the death of his Lord, on a Roman cross. We don't know for sure, but Thomas was probably huddled in desperate sorrow with the rest of the disciples, as they watched what they believed to be the end of the story. He had no reason to believe that things could be different than what his eyes told him was true. Most days, I am very much like Thomas! However, the story of Thomas is one of love and grace, not sorrow, doubt and defeat! Verse 26 tells us the rest of the story, as Paul Harvey used to say. It goes like this, "Eight days later, the disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, 'Peace be with you.' Then He said to Thomas, 'Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.' " Can't you see the love that Jesus had for Thomas? He knew that Thomas doubted His resurrection and He could have done what we do...write off Thomas and his doubts. After all, He had a room full of disciples that had seen Him and believed that He was alive. He didn't need Thomas to believe, but Thomas needed Him! And that's where grace and love overtook doubt and disbelief! Jesus made a special point of coming to the disciples specifically to meet with Thomas. And what was the result of that meeting? The same result that has happened countless times with other doubters! Thomas looks at the Lord and verse 28 says, "Thomas answered Him, 'My Lord and my God!' " In reality, when you meet the risen Saviour, there is only one true response and that is the same one Thomas had. So what happened to Thomas, after he saw the Lord? Tradition has it that he travelled to India and spread the Gospel there, ultimately giving his life as a martyr. Not too shabby for a doubter!

The story of Thomas always reminds me of one of my favorite Scriptures, found in Isaiah 49:14 -16. This is a word from God through the prophet Isaiah about the nation of Israel after they have been sent into captivity. The people cry out and ask God if He has forgotten them. It goes like this, "But Zion said, The LORD hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands;" This passage also foretells the type of death that Jesus would die and the fact that He would bear those nail marks for all eternity, not only for Israel, but for you and me. I have a lot of things that I want to see and do when I reach heaven, but there is one thing that I will do first. I will find my Lord and Saviour and I want to take His hands and feel those nail scars and I am sure that I will respond as Thomas, "My Lord and my God!" I hope you are there too!

Know What You Believe!

Over the past few weeks, there has been some interesting news that has come out of the 2008 American Religious Identity Survey ( for the summary survey report go to http://www.americanreligionsurvey-aris.org/ ). I use the term "news" rather loosely, because to anyone who has been doing more than just using up oxygen and space in this country, the results of the survey tell us nothing that we have not been observing! In addition, the latest issue of Newsweek magazine has a cover page article entitled, "The End of Christian America." You can click on the following link to read the article http://www.newsweek.com/id/192583?GT1=43002 . It makes for interesting reading, but again, it is not new. Apparently, there are fewer Bible-believing Christians in this country than ever before. To me, perhaps the most startling thing that came from the survey and the article, is the fact that there are more than 75% of the people in this country who claim to be "born-again Christians." The startling thing about this is that you would think that if more than 150 million people in this country were Christians, we would perhaps be expected to live that fact out in our lives. However, there is the rub!

Apparently, you can be a "born-again Christian" and not believe in the Deity of Jesus Christ. And here I always thought that belief in Jesus Christ and who He claimed to be was one of the foundational doctrines and truths of Christianity! The concept of "original sin and the total depravity of man" is also an option for more than 75% of all "Christians." Also, most American Christians (over 66%) were absent the day Jesus talked about hell, because they don't believe in hell...heaven, yes; hell, not so much! And the coup d'grace, over 50% of American Christians do not believe in the resurrection! To use my son's favorite comment, "I have no words!"

To me, the most disheartening thing about all of this is the fact that many of these doctrines that "American Christians" either do not know or understand are the same doctrines of truth for which early martyrs willingly shed their blood rather than renounce their beliefs. Today, we don't even know what we believe much less die for those beliefs. I believe when we meet some of the early church leaders in heaven, they too will be amazed at our lack of knowledge as to what we believe. I also believe there will come a time, in the not too distant future, when our beliefs will be questioned and we will be called on to stand for those beliefs in the face of persecution. In Hosea 4:6, the prophet speaks a word from God, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee..." Know what you believe!

Not Me!

Well, another Easter celebration has come and gone and as always, I am amazed at the love God demonstrated to us when He sent His Son to this world as a baby and to live a sinless life and to die on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins! And then wonder of wonders, He raised Him from the tomb and defeated the power of death and sin! The empty tomb really does say all that needs to be said about God's love.



As usual, I taught a pre-school Sunday School on Easter. Anita and I attended the early worship, which was really great and then I taught 4-year olds. The weather was very cold and rainy, so attendance was very low. This resulted in a very small Sunday School class, which was nice because I was able to interact individually with the children. I am a firm believer that children are never too young to learn Biblical truths and to begin to understand the basics of the Gospel. So, Easter is always a great time to talk about the resurrection and yes, the crucifixion. I am always careful not to be overly graphic about the agony of the cross, but I do explain that Jesus had to die on the cross for the "bad things" we have done in our lives. Yesterday, as I talked about this, I made the statement that we had all done things that were not right and had disobeyed God. As I let this sink in, one little boy cocked his head and looked at me and said, "Not me! I've never done anything wrong!" Now, coming from any 4-year old, this would be quite a stretch. However, this particular little boy is 100% boy and I suspect that God got quite a chuckle over this! Obviously, the Holy Spirit has a little more conviction to do on this one!

Ooops! I did it again!

No, I am not referring to the horrific title of the alleged song by the alleged singer Britney Spears! I am referring to what inevitably happens when I watch the "children's video" portion of the wedding video made at our daughter and son-in-law's wedding. I am known as the crier in our family. I generally can be counted on to shed a tear at graduations (kindergarten through college), weddings, funerals, most sermons, patriotic events, family gatherings, good-byes, when the circus comes to town and when the circus leaves town! I blame this on my children and grandchildren. You see, I never cried before they came along. However, I digress!
Anita has become quite adept at producing videos from still photographs and adding appropriate music. She has produced several very professional quality videos for her parent's 65th anniversary, for my parents anniversary and for family graduations. I am very proud of the job she has done on all of these. She has been working on a "children's video" for my nephew's wedding and also for our son's wedding this summer. Last night, she wanted to see the video from our daughter's wedding, to refresh her memory about the special effects, etc. So, I popped it into the DVD player and we watched Alicia and Tim grow from babies through their engagement! Yes, I did shed a tear...again. Then to make matters worse, we decided to watch a video she had compiled for my parents and for her parents that showed Alicia, Mark, Mark Garrett and Luke through the years (or year as the case is for Luke!) The music on the video is perfect and really reflects the love she put into it. It starts with Twila Paris' "Your Whole Life Long", a mother's prayer that her little one will follow Him their whole life long and eventually ends with a song by Michael Minor, called "Let Them Be Little." All in all, it is guaranteed to make me reach for the Kleenex.
I know some people would be embarrassed to admit they shed a tear over things like this, but I count it as a blessing to have been given a heart that is so soft for the ones I love and care about. So, if it is all the same to you, I will continue to shed a tear...for joy, for sadness, for love and family!

Emotions or Fact!

Well this will be my third or fourth post about Easter and the resurrection story. You might say I am obsessed with it...and that's a good thing! However, today my post is really about the picture of Easter that we get in many churches and certainly in the world in general. As I have had the opportunity to hear a number of "Easter sermons" on the radio the past two weeks, I began to think that in many of them, there was something missing. Oh they were nice talks about how Easter is a "second chance", or a time of rebirth, or a time for hope and from most of them I walked away, feeling a little better about myself. However, the one thing that I did not do was walk away from them with a deeper understanding of the reality of the gospel message. You see, the problem with most of those sermons I heard is that they are heavy on the emotions of Easter, but light on the reality. It is almost as if, like most things in our world we have traded in the Gospel for Gospel Lite - a gospel that doesn't confront us with the real awfulness of sin and the price for that sin and the holiness of God. The real problem, is that we want the gospel and the Easter story to be all about us when in reality it is about a holy God and a sacrificing Saviour and the grace extended from them to us. My pastor often says, "It's not about me!", and that is the truth.
In the early days of the church, believers knew that the Gospel was a reality. It was a historical fact that was recognized by all. The Jewish leaders tried to make it go away and the Gentiles denied it, but there were over 500 witnesses to the fact that Jesus Christ came out of the grave, alive! Historians of that time record the event just as historians of our day recorded the attack on the Twin Towers in New York. The facts of the event were never in doubt in the minds of most people. The phrase, "He is risen!" and "He is risen indeed!", were not just "Easter" catch phrases. They were significant statements of truth! In fact, they state the single-most important difference between the Christianity of the Bible and all other religions of the world - the tomb of our Lord is empty and the others are not!
So this Easter, as you contemplate the Easter story, I hope you will see that the Easter story is a factual event that does not rely on emotion or self-help sermons but on the solid foundation of Jesus Christ and Him crucified and raised again. And remember, while Easter is emotional, it is even more importantly, factual! I pray that you would be richly blessed by the grace of our Lord this Easter!

I Will Have Papaw All To Myself!

After almost three weeks, my wife returned home from a visit with our daughter, son-in-law and grandsons. She had a great time and enjoyed the visit very much. She did her very best to provide Luke with his own personal Mimi and to help keep Mark Garrett on the straight and narrow. Luke decided that having Mimi at his beck and call was pretty awesome. On her last day there, she and Mark decorated cookies together. Mark told me that, "We did a really good job and they were very good!" As they worked together, Anita was talking to him about the fact that she would be going back to Texas that afternoon, but that he would be coming to Texas soon to visit Mimi and Papaw. He looked at her and very calmly said, "Mimi will stay with Mommy and I will have Papaw all to myself." I later asked him if he would share me with Luke, to which he responded, "No sir, he will stay with Mimi!"



He was my first grandson and he sure knows the way to his Papaw's heart! I love you, Buddy! And you too, Luke!

They Are Always Watching

I love children. Anyone who knows me understands that I love children and have a passion for teaching them about God and His love for them! Sometimes, it seems like I have been teaching forever, but it is always a fresh and new experience when I get into that classroom. I began teaching pre-school Sunday School back in 1987 and have taught every year except for a few, when business had me out of town on many weekends. People often tell me how wonderful it is that I feel called to teach these little ones. They don't understand that I am the one who receives the blessing. It is very seldom that I do not come home with a story of how a child said or did something that really touched my heart. This week was no exception.

This year I am working with four-year olds (probably my all-time favorite age group!) One of my little guys' (we'll call him Johnny) father is on a mission trip. I asked Johnny if his daddy was gone to Russia and he said, "Yes! He's telling people about Jesus!" I told Johnny that I was really proud of his daddy, because I had known him since he was a very young boy. Johnny looked at me and said, "I'm really proud of him too, Mr. Clint. He even told someone about Jesus when he was on the airplane!"

I thought about the godly example that father was setting for his child and how much that means to a young child. I am no educator nor am I an expert in raising children, but I do know this...they are always watching! A child watches his Mom and Dad and other adults in their life, from the time they are just a few weeks old until the day their mom or dad pass on. Whether they are a very young child or an adult, they still look to their mom and dad for the encouragement and guidance we all need. I know I still look to my mom and dad for their encouragement and their blessing. So as adults, how can we live a life that is a guide to the children in our lives? Here are a few things that I have learned over the years:

• Live the life you preach - Children notice everything. I have so many pre-schoolers tell me things that they have observed at home or school and I am confident that many of these things were never said, but they were communicated by a parent or a teacher's actions as loudly as if they had been shouted from a PA system!
• Remember to be positive - Children need positive encouragement. The most heartbreaking children I have worked with are those who have no confidence in anything they do, because they have been told that they "can't."
• It takes time - Many parents tell me that their goal is to spend quality time with their child, rather than quantity time. The sad reality is that most of the time, those parents know that deep down in their heart, they are not doing what they should be. A recent study by Focus on the Family (www.family.org) indicated that the average father spend less than 12 minutes a day in interaction with their child. Moms fared slightly better, by spending about 20 minutes with their child. The average 10-year old child watches 2.5 hours of TV and spends about 7 hours at school. I wonder where the biggest influence on that child will be?

Every person must make their own life journey and there is no way to see into the future and know what that journey will be. As parents and teachers, we often want to take that journey for our children, but we can't! However, we can be the compass that points them to the truth and to the ultimate journey...a walk with Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior!

Beautiful Scars

As I have mentioned before, I am currently reading the four Gospel accounts of the last days of Jesus' life here on earth as a preparation for the celebration of Easter and His resurrection. I had just read yesterday, one of my favorite passages of Scripture. In the Gospel of John, we read of the encounter between Jesus and the apostle Thomas. This is the story of Jesus telling Thomas to feel the scars in His hands and side, to demonstrate His resurrection and the fact that He is who He claims to be. Well, last night as I was driving home from my son and his soon-to-be bride and their new/project house, I heard a song by Steven Curtis Chapman, called Beautiful Scars. The song made me think about the passage in John that I had read earlier, as well as my life and the people I love. I realized that so often, the people we love are made even more beautiful to us because of their "beautiful scars." Those beautiful scars are often the result of wounds that we have given them and yet, they love us still. I think about my wife and my children and realize that they are even more precious because of the love they demonstrate to me, in spite of the hurts and disappointments that I have often brought them. And that realization brought me back to the ultimate beautiful scars...those borne by my Lord and Savior!

I have often shared with my children and wife, that one day in the future when I leave this earth, I will stand before my Lord in heaven. When I do, there is one thing that I want to do before anything else. I want to look at those beautiful scars that Jesus will bear for all eternity and to place my hands in His. I do not know for sure what my response will be, but I imagine it will be like Thomas, "My Lord and my God!" How could it be any other?

If It Is A Contest, I Won!

My son and his fiance' closed on the house that will be their first home after they are married this summer. It is a nice house and with some work, it will be a great first home for them. As seems to be the norm in our family, I am helping Mark and Meghan with things like building shelves, removing vinyl flooring, putting down tile, landscape renovation, removing wallpaper, and painting. Today, as we were working, I got a phone call from my daughter Alicia. About five years ago, I spent almost a month helping her remodel the first home that she and my son-in-law, Tim purchased. The question she asked me today was this, "Whose house required more work, hers or Mark's and Meghan's?" I immediately said that it was her first house. I was thinking about all the painting, flooring and hard wood floor refinishing that we did. We worked at least 10 hours a day and usually went to bed exhausted! However, after some more thought, I realized that it has been a blessing to help both of my children and their spouses (or soon-to-be spouses) with the work needed on their first homes. In fact, it has been a greater blessing than they can know. First, I have been blessed to have been taught how to do basic remodeling and construction by my Papaw, my dad and my father-in-law. The time I have spent during my life, with these three men has been something that has shaped me into the person I am. Second, I have been blessed to learn that hard work is a good thing! God's Word tells us this, but sometimes we ignore that truth. Lastly, I have been blessed to be able to work alongside my daughter and her husband and my son and his fiance'. And in case you wonder, my wife, Anita, was right there working away as well! So, if it really was a contest, then I will let them all in on a secret...I was the winner!

A Wow Moment

Today, I met a young man named Jorge. I am doing some minor renovation for a friend's daughter and I went to the day labor center in Plano, to hire someone to help me with some of the work. I ended up with Jorge. He was a friendly young man, about 20-years old. We arrived at the house and I showed Jorge what I needed him to do. After a couple of hours, we took a break and were sitting in the shade drinking a bottle of water. Jorge looked at me and asked, "Do you know Jesu Cristo?" I told him that as a matter of fact, I did. He got a really big smile and told me, "Esta bueno!" I asked Jorge to tell me how he came to know Jesu Cristo. He told me that some missionaries came to his town in Mexico when he was 17. An American missionary told him about Jesus and his need for Him. He became a Christian and about three years ago, felt called to come to the United States and minister to Spanish-speaking people who don't know our Lord. He and his wife came to Texas and shortly after that, she was killed by a drunk driver. I told him how sorry I was and he looked at me and said, "Yes, it is sad, but she is in heaven now and I will see her again." He continued to tell me how good God is! This is a young man who makes $60 per day and yet he counts it as a blessing because it allows him to continue to minister to people who need the Lord. This young man takes the DART train and gets to West Dallas and then spends all day Saturday and Sunday going from door-to-door witnessing to Spanish-speakers.

Once again, I am in awe that God used that missionary to impact the lives of this young man and so many more. I am even more awed that He let me have this WOW moment. I am humbled!

Resolved

I love the Gospel of Luke! Luke had classical training as a scientist and doctor and, as a result, he provides a Gospel record that is rich with details that are often left out of the other Gospel accounts. As I have been reading and contemplating on the last days of our Lord while He was here on earth, I am struck by so many things. However, one of the things that really jumps out at me is found in a short verse in Luke chapter 9. In verse 51, the writer tells us, "When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem." This verse is so very powerful to me because of the resolve we see in our Lord. Jesus has just come down from the mountain where He was transfigured with Moses and Elijah. We know that Jesus knows and understands what is going to happen to Him when He reaches Jerusalem. His disciples don't yet understand all that will transpire in Jerusalem and all that Jesus will suffer. Like me so often, they didn't have a clue! But Jesus knows and fully understands the agony of the whole ordeal that is to come and yet, Luke tells us "He set His face to go to Jerusalem." The phrase "to set one's face" implies a steadfast resolve. In fact, one translation uses the term "he resolutely set His face to go to Jerusalem." I wonder what I would have done had I been in Jesus' place. My guess...no wait, I am sure that my first reaction would have been to procrastinate and see if there was another way to get this done. However, Jesus' response was to resolutely set His face to go to the very place where He knew this would all take place. As the hymnist says, "Did e're such love and sorrow meet?"

What are the things I need to set my face toward. Well, I need to make sure that my face is always set toward the New Jerusalem. My home is not here on this earth. I need to make sure my face is set on an eternal perspective, not a temporary one. Lastly, I need to make sure my face is set to take the Gospel message to as many people as possible!

What's In A Name?

Dear Mark and Luke,

Last night, as I was reading a book about the history of Scotland, I began to think about names of people and places. As I did I began to think about the meaning of your names. You see every name has a meaning behind it and when your mommy and daddy named you, they thought about the names they gave you.

Mark Garrett, you know that you were named for your Uncle Mark and the name Garrett came from both your daddy's family and from your mommy's grandfather's family. However, both of those names have special meaning. The name Mark means valiant warrior and was the name of one of the early church leaders, a man named John Mark. He is the one who wrote the Gospel of Mark. It is amazing to me that when he was young, John Mark went on a mission trip with Paul and later turned back and went home. That doesn't sound much like a valiant warrior to me, but then the Lord gave him renewed strength and courage and we later read about him boldly preaching the Gospel and even writing one of the Gospels! God can do amazing things when we let Him. Your middle name is Garrett and this means "he rules with a bold spear." Do you realize, Mark Garrett, that your whole name means "valiant warrior who rules with a bold spear?" It is my prayer for your life that you always be a valiant warrior for the Lord, with a bold spear that is the Truth of His Word! Remember your name little one!

Luke Patton, your name is very special too. Your name comes from your daddy's side of the family and also has a special meaning in the Bible. The name Luke comes from a man named Luke, who was a doctor and a leader in the early church. Luke wrote one of the Gospel accounts and the book of Acts. Luke's account of Jesus' life and the history of the early church are two of the most detailed, accurate and powerful accounts of those days that are in existence. They form much of the foundation of what we know and believe about the early history of Christianity. Luke travelled with the apostle Paul and was with him when he wrote many of the letters found in the New Testament. In fact, between Paul and Luke, the two of them wrote more than half the New Testament! The name Luke means "light." I believe that is an appropriate name for him and I pray for you. The name Patton is also very special and means "from the town of warriors." Your whole name means "light from the town of warriors." Luke, it is my prayer that you will always be a light that brings the true Light of the World to others as boldly as if you came from a town of warriors!

So when anyone asks, "What's in a name?", you can tell them what's in your name!

I love you,

Papaw

Take Care Of Mimi

Dear Mark and Luke,
I know you two guys are really excited because your Mimi came to visit yesterday. She was very excited to be able to come and see you too! I am always a little sad when Mimi leaves to go somewhere to visit because it means that she is not here with me. You see when you have been married to someone as long as I have to Mimi, almost 33 years, then you really miss them when they are gone. The first day or two she is gone are always the hardest. I often walk around and start to say something to her and then remember that she is not here. I usually don't eat as well as I should or take care of myself as well as I should when she is gone.

There are a few things you should always remember about your Mimi. First, she loves you no matter what. She loves you when you are good and when you are bad (although she prefers it when you are good!) Did you know that there is nothing you can do to make her love you more than she does right now and there is nothing you can do to make her love you less either? You see, God is the same way. He loves you no matter what and He always will and because of that love, we love Him and want to obey Him. Mimi understands that love is patient and kind and that love is faithful and that describes your Mimi to a "T."

Second, Mimi is the wisest and most godly woman I have ever met. Probably the only silly thing she has ever done was to marry me and I am really glad she did! If you listen to your Mimi, you will always get good advice about life and about how to live life.

Third, did you know that Mimi prays for each of you everyday? She does! In fact, Mimi and I pray for you both to grow up healthy and strong, but most of all we pray for you to follow the Lord your whole life long, as your "night-nights music" says. We have prayed for you even before you were born...that's how much Mimi loves you!

Fourth, Mimi loves dessert! She loves red Sour Patch Kids and Gummi Bears. She loves strawberries and milk. In fact, I can't think of anything with sugar that she doesn't like! And she will always share with you two!

So you guys help take care of Mimi while she is there visiting you and give her lots of love and kisses. I miss Mimi and you two very much!

Papaw

Slow Down

For the past 6 weeks, our pastor has been preaching a sermon series entitled "One Month To Live." It has been very convicting and like all the sermons Chad preaches, filled with God's truth. One of the things that Chad mentioned severeal times was the fact that we all suffer from "Someday Syndrome." You know, "Someday, I'll take the kids fishing." Or "Someday, I'll take my dad hunting." "Someday, I'll take my wife on that romantic getaway!" Well, you get the picture and if you are honest with yourself, you will have to admit, like I did, that there are too many "somedays" in your life. It was no coincidence that my wife received an email about this very subject on Monday and forwarded it to me (I think she was telling me something; her spiritual gift is prophecy!) The email went as follows:

Too many people put off something that brings them joy just because they haven't thought about it, don't have it on their schedule, didn't know it was coming or are too rigid to depart from their routine. I got to thinking one day about all those women on the Titanic who passed up dessert at dinner that fateful night in an effort to cut back. From then on, I've tried to be a little more flexible.

How many women out there will eat at home because their husband didn't suggest going out to dinner until after something had been thawed? Does the word 'refrigeration' mean nothing to you?

How often have your kids dropped in to talk and sat in silence while you watched 'Jeopardy' on television? I cannot count the times I called my sister and said, 'How about going to lunch in a half hour?' She would gas up and stammer, 'I can't. I have clothes on the line. My hair is dirty. I wish I had known yesterday, I had a late breakfast, It looks like rain.' And my personal favorite: 'It's Monday.' She died a few years ago. We never did have lunch together.

Because Americans cram so much into their lives, we tend to schedule our headaches. We live on a sparse diet of promises we make to ourselves when all the conditions are perfect! We'll go back and visit the grandparents when we get Steve toilet-trained. We'll entertain when we replace the living-room carpet... We'll go on a second honeymoon when we get two more kids out of college. Life has a way of accelerating as we get older. The days get shorter, and the list of promises to ourselves gets longer. One morning, we awaken, and all we have to show for our lives is a litany of 'I'm going to,' 'I plan on,' and 'Someday, when things are settled down a bit.'

When anyone calls my 'seize the moment' friend, she is open to adventure and available for trips. She keeps an open mind on new ideas. Her enthusiasm for life is contagious. You talk with her for five minutes, and you're ready to trade your bad feet for a pair of Roller blades and skip an elevator for a bungee cord..

My lips have not touched ice cream in 10 years. I love ice cream. It's just that I might as well apply it directly to my stomach with a spatula and eliminate the digestive process The other day, I stopped the car and bought a triple-Decker. If my car had hit an iceberg on the way home, I would have died happy. Now...go on and have a nice day. Do something you WANT to......not something on your SHOULD DO list. If you were going to die soon and had only one phone call you could make, who would you call and what would you say? And why are you waiting? Make sure you read this to the end; you will understand why I sent this to you. Have you ever watched kids playing on a merry go round or listened to the rain lapping on the ground? Ever followed a butter fly's erratic flight or gazed at the sun into the fading night?

Do you run through each day on the fly? When you ask ' How are you?' Do you hear the reply? When the day is done, do you lie in your bed with the next hundred chores running through your head? Ever told your child, 'We'll do it tomorrow.' And in your haste, not see his sorrow? Ever lost touch? Let a good friendship die? Just call to say 'Hi? When you worry and hurry through your day, it is like an unopened gift....Thrown away..... Life is not a race Take it slower. Hear the music before the song is over.

Good advice for all of us. If you would like to listen to the sermons series click on the following website and enjoy! http://fbcallen.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=15848

A Sad Day

Today marks a very sad day in our country. For the past eight years, under the leadership of President Bush, we have held in check the forces that wish to destroy unborn babies. Abortion funding was reduced and to a large extent eliminated in many areas. The rights of the unborn baby were held up as equally important to the rights of the parent. In addition embryonic stem cell research was limited to those strains of stem cell that were in existence at the time and no new lines were allowed to be harvested using federal research funding. However, with the stroke of a pen, President Obama has erased these protections and mandated increased federal funding of abortions and renewed federal funding of embryonic stem cell research, including harvesting new lines of stem cell, harvested from unborn babies who were killed in their mothers wombs.



I refuse to argue with those who want to claim that life does not begin at conception. The only people who make this argument today are those who simply refuse to examine the scientific and medical evidence. It would be more intellectually honest for those individuals to simply acknowledge that they choose to arbitrarily say that life begins at birth or in the case of some people, some time after birth, than to try and argue against all medical evidence and Biblical truth. However, the "big business" and the politics of abortion and embryonic stem cell research continue to try and convince Americans of the fantasy that embryonic stem cell research will do everything from allowing individuals with spinal injuries to walk again to creating the mythical fountain of youth. The facts hardly bear out the gross exaggerations and complete untruths these people preach. For a very fair and scientific examination of the truth about stem cell research and its potential go to http://www.stemcellresearch.org/polisci/index.html .



From my viewpoint, we have a president who has chosen to completely disregard his oath of office. You know, the one where he promised to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. One of the guiding and fundamental principles of the Constitution is the protection of the rights of those most vulnerable members of our society. If unborn babies do not meet this criteria, then no one does. In 2007, when a democrat-controlled Congress tried to pass legislation to increase federal stem cell research funding, former President George W. Bush made the statement when he vetoed the legislation, "I will not allow this country to cross that moral line." Apparently, our current President does not see that moral line or he chooses to completely disregard it. Sadly, I believe he and many of those who voted for him will one day have to answer for their choices. Let us continue to pray for our nation and our president!

Questions

Life is filled with questions. Many of these questions are simple, with no real significant long-term impacts in our lives. Questions like, "What will I eat for breakfast?" or "What color socks will I wear? (This is simplified even more for me because I only have blue, black or brown!) Some of life's questions are complex and have long-term, even eternal impacts in our lives. These questions include such things as "Who will I marry?" or "What career choice will I make?" However, there is one question that was asked almost 2,000 years ago that continues to be the most significant question ever asked.



As Christians all over the world begin to focus their hearts and minds on the upcoming Easter season, I have begun to read all four Gospel accounts of the last week of Jesus' earthly life. This week I read from Matthew and I came across the question that always stops me in my tracks. In Matthew 27, we read the account of Jesus' trial before Pilate. After Pilate has agreed to release the criminal, Barabbas, he turns to the crowd and asks, "What would you have me do then with this Jesus the Christ?" I suggest that a more profound question has never been asked, in all of history past or will ever be asked in the future..."What would you have me do with this Jesus?" There is not a person who has ever lived, or is living now, or will ever live that is not faced with this question. The life, burial and resurrection of Jesus is the hinge point of all history. Every event in time either points forward to the cross or back to the cross! The life of Jesus demands a response.

As we prepare to celebrate His resurrection, I pray that the response you will have to the question, "What would you have me do with this Jesus?", will be the same response the apostle Thomas had...to bow in adoration and thanksgiving and cry out, "My Lord and my God!" There is no other answer to the question.

Banana Splits and Wednesday Fellowships

I will never view a banana split the same way after my evening serving them at the Wednesday night fellowship at church. I had no idea that Baptists could be so assertive! I am convinced if we preached the Gospel the way we went after banana splits, the Lord could just go ahead and return because we would have reached all the unreached people groups in the entire world.

In a more serious vein, I love Wednesday nights and the fellowship and prayer time that we share at our church. It is a great time to visit with friends and members of your Bible Fellowship Group (that's Sunday School for you uninitiated!) However, the best part of the evening is the time we spend listening to and praying for the needs of others. There is a great blessing in taking the needs of others before the Throne of Grace. For one thing, as our pastor said this past Sunday, if we focus on the needs and problems of others it takes the focus off of ourselves and puts it directly where it should be...on our Lord and Savior. Another blessing we get to share when we pray with and for others is that we get to see the answer to prayers! When we intercede for others we are reminded that God is sovereign and He is still on His throne. One of my favorite lines from a movie comes from the movie, "Rudy", when the Catholic priest tells Rudy that, "In my forty years in the ministry, I have learned two things...there is a God and I am not Him!" I am always reminded of those two facts when I have the privilege of lifting others to the Lord in prayer.

If your church offers a prayer time on Wednesday evenings or any other time, I highly recommend it! And if they offer a fellowship meal, what could be better? Banana splits and prayer...as we say in Texas, "It don't get no better than this!"

Sometimes An Old Hymn Says It Best

Over the past two years, I have been trying to start a construction management and development business along with two Christian friends that I met in my previous job. We prayed for a long time about it and really feel that God was calling us to do this. We have great plans for what we would be able to do in the kingdom! However, over the past several months it has become obvious that things were not going well financially. We have several projects that have been put on hold due to the tightening credit markets and as a result, we felt it was necessary to "do something else" until some of these projects were funded by the lenders and investors. We had been talking with a large engineering and construction company about doing some contract work in the Middle East and had agreed to start rotating back and forth between the States and the Middle East. In fact, I had a flight itinerary and a detailed travel schedule for the next several months. This was going to allow us to pay off some of the debts we had piled up and hold on with our business until one of our projects got started. However, as usual my plans were not necessarily those of God. Just about 24 hours before I was set to leave the country, the project was put on hold due to contract issues. I have to confess that when I received the call informing me about this, it made me physically sick. For most of the day, I sat in my office in a state of shock. I called Anita, who was out of town visiting her parents and told her the news. Then I also called my son and my daughter. Everyone was so concerned about me and how I was doing. Late in the day, my son wrote me one of the nicest emails I have ever received. Then I received an iTunes gift from my daughter and son-in-law for a download of a collection of hymns called "All I Owe" by Matthew Smith. I can tell you that receiving the email and the hymns were the best things that happened to me in the midst of a great outpouring of love from friends and family.



As I contemplated the day, I realized that even in the middle of this struggle, I have been blessed beyond belief and certainly beyond anything I deserve. As I listened to the hymns that Alicia and Tim sent, I really homed in on a hymn that was written more than 200 years ago, by a man who knew and understood the undeserved mercy and grace of our Lord, John Newton. Yes, the same John Newton who wrote "Amazing Grace" also wrote a hymn titled "The Lord Will Provide." I had never heard this hymn, but was struck by the truth of the lyrics and comforted by the peaceful melody. The words to this hymn were exactly what I needed to hear. The last verse of the song goes like this:

When life sinks apace, And death is in view, This word of his grace Shall comfort us through: No fearing or doubting With Christ on our side, We hope to die shouting, The Lord will provide.
I love to sing choruses and praise music and I love to hear Southern Gospel and Gospel Bluegrass music. However, I am more and more convinced that the old hymns written by people like John Newton, Horatio Spofford, B. B. McKinney, Fanny Crosby, Martin Luther and others, sometimes offer a deep truth and comfort that comes straight from the Word of God. I guess that sometimes an old hymn says it best!