Words Have Power!

“And He was saying to them, “Take care what you listen to.  By your standard-of-measure it will be measured to you; and more will be given you besides.  For whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him” (Mark 4:24-25).

Hey Gang: Are there any Rooster Cogburn fans out there?  Rooster had two very serious problems, one, he tended to like to take more than a nip on his jug, which loosened his tongue, and tended to keep him in deep water with his traveling companion, Kathryn Hepburn, a missionary traveling with him who acted as his conscience.

Once when he was especially boisterous, she related the following ditty to Rooster, “A wise old owl lived in an oak; The more he saw the less he spoke; The less he spoke the more he heard, Why can’t we all be like that bird?”  There is an old Dutch adage that says the same thing in a different way; “It is best to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt”. 

Jesus gave a stern warning when He said, “But I tell you that every careless word that people speak; they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment.  For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matt. 12:36).

Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians put it this way, “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear” (Eph. 4:29)

Solomon, a man filled with the wisdom of God wrote, “Words from the mouth of a wise man are gracious, while the lips of a fool consume him” (Ecc. 10:12).

Our challenge for the day, as we put on the full armor and head out into the mission field, should be “Let the words (every word) of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer” (Psa. 19:14).

So, my young friends, what words will you utter today?  Will they be words that bring honor to your heavenly Father?  As the old hillbilly once said, “Choose your words wisely for you may have to eat them.”

Blessings,

Gramps

Amish Proverb: “An unkind remark is like a killing frost – no matter how much it warms up, the damage is already done.’

The Most Fabuous Words Ever Spoken

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”.  (I John 1:9)

Hey Gang:  I went to the doctor the other day to get my ears cleaned out and came home with the flu.  I then gave it to my bride so the date planner was washed clean and we have been confined in our agony to the couch and chair.  But it has not been a total waste of time, I cleaned off my desk for the first time in months and am nearly prepared for having our taxes done.

But I have also learned that it is at those times when I have felt the presence of the Lord more closely.  Eric, the Village chaplain, has been focusing on John this month, so I have been following along in support of his teaching and this month he has focused on chapters 17 through 20. 

At the conclusion of reading this powerful and tragic story, I found myself is awe once again with the question, ‘How He did it? I don’t have a clue, for I lack the understanding to truly know the depth of God’s love for us.  It would have been totally unexpected and unnatural from anyone else; but Jesus, the victim in this awful passion play, was ever the victor!

 “Father, forgive them.” Three simple words- powerfully summed up the reason for His life on earth.   The bridge from God to man was paved with Jesus blood and built on the foundation of forgiveness.  His birth in Bethlehem, childhood in Nazareth, baptism in the Jordan, His miracles, and teachings, and the Last Supper with His disciples were all scenes leading up to this moment. 

They all built steadily and relentlessly to this climax: “Father, forgive them.”  How powerful are the words “He could have called down ten thousand angels but He choose to die for you and me”. 

Did it have meaning?  Yes, many around Him found forgiveness. The thief on the cross, the centurion, Peter was forgiven for his denial, as were the other disciples.  I suspect there were many in the cut-throat crowd that fell on their knees that day; perhaps even some of the religious leaders. 

And then there were 3000 who found forgiveness at Pentecost.  Later the message of forgiveness was taken to cities all over the known world of the first century.

And the story of forgiveness has echoed through the centuries, since it was uttered on Calvary and is very much alive today! Hallelujah!

I have been a recipient of that forgiveness - Jesus prayed for me on the cross.!  I am deeply ashamed for the part I played in placing Jesus on that hideous tree. When He said “Father, forgive them” He included me and He included you!  

Blessings,

Gramps

And the Devil Smiled!

“Even though I walk through the valley and shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me; You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies” (Psalm 23:4-5).

Hey Gang:  The following message came arrived from Franklin Graham and I felt it worthy for your perusal.  

 

Fox News Todd Starnes makes some great points in this piece he wrote – "The Devil Smiled." Take a minute to read it and let me know what you think...

Another American high school has been turned into a killing field. And the nation wonders why.

Well, I’m going to answer that question for you. And the answer may leave you a bit unsettled. You see – I believe there is a God — but I also believe there is a Devil. And I see his hand at work here.

We’ve raised a generation to believe that truth is relative – that there is no right or wrong.
And the Devil smiled.

They kicked God out of public schools – banned Bibles and prayer.
And the Devil smiled.

We’ve destroyed the traditional family – broken homes raising broken kids.
And the Devil smiled.

There are no consequences for bad behavior – no personal responsibility.
And the Devil smiled.

Our movies and music and games glorify violence and gore. Marriage vows poisoned by pornography.
And the Devil smiled.

What happened in Parkland, Florida is about wickedness – a war with the forces of darkness – good versus evil.
There is no doubt our land is wounded, her people suffering. But we have turned our backs on the One who promised to heal our Land.

The politicians and pundits would have you believe this is not about God, it’s not about righteousness. They would have you believe it’s about politics and mental illness and gun control.
And the Devil smiled.

“You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows.  Surely goodness and lovingkindness will flow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the Lod forever”.  (Psalm 23:5b-6)

Thank you Jesus!

Blessings,

Gramps

the Joy of Memory -part two

Gramps Bible

“Give, and it will be given to you.  They will pour into your lap a good measure – pressed down, shaken together, and running over.  For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return” (Luke 6:38).

Hey Gang:  In our work with children and families Galatians has always been a key in opening the door to the truth of the Word.  Paul wrote, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will reap” (Gal. 6:7).  

Now, one does not have to be an Einstein to see the truth in Paul’s words.  If I fill my body with rot gut, I will, one day, pay the Piper for my indiscretion.  If I lie and cheat, then one day need the help from those I lied to and cheated, my chances of getting help is very slim.  It was very easy for me to share this irrevocable law of God with our youth and families for their lives, at that moment, were living examples of this principle.

Paul goes on and tells us we have a choice: Sow to the flesh and reap the dividends of the flesh or sow to the spirit, which kicks into effect another irrevocable law, “We will reap dividends in the same measure that we give”.

Luke gives us the second step to what I call “The Seed Planting Principles”: “Give, which is followed with a promise “and it will be given to you”.  How much?  A whole barn full – “…it will pour out into your lap”.    Now, look at the next phrase and notice who controls the giving!  “By your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.”

Paul addressed this issue once again in his second letter to the Corinthian’s:  “Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully, each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (9:6). 

Wait, don’t move on yet.  Paul gives us the really-good news of a healthy giving attitude in the next verse, “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed.”  

Is Paul saying we have control of the harvest?  It sounds that way and it is not restricted to giving.  Matthew 7:1-2 tells us the principle applies to judging; and in Romans 12:3, faith.  The one that might hit our hot button in this age of electronic devices is given to us by Mark: “Take care what you listen to.  By your standard of measure it will be measured to you; and more will given you besides” (4:24). 

So, my friends, would you listen to an older- than-dirt, grey-haired man?  I have heard it said that we are not to test God but Malachi 3:10 tells me: “Bring it all into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this.”  Now notice the fringe package that goes with this command from the Throne Room: “Then, I will rebuke the devourer for you”.

Is that not an awesome promise in this day when everything that can be shaken is being shaken? 

Blessings,

Gramps

   

The Joy of A Memory- part on

 “...For God sees not as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”  (I Sam. 16:7b).  “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). 

Hey Gang:  I am 84 years of age and have not been back to the place of my youth for more than sixty years but, in recent years, my memory bank keeps digging up the neat memories that greatly impacted my life in those years deep in the Appalachian Mountains.   They used to say we lived so far back in the sticks they had to pump sunshine to us, and the hoot owls wore knapsacks.

In the back country of the Appalachian Mountains they referred to their place of residence as living in a ‘hollow’ (known as ‘hollars’ to the hill folks).  I lived in “Hunky Hollar”.  My entire life was wrapped up around the three coal-miner families, who lived in our tiny community of “Deane”.

 I was far too young to realize the hardships that the families of our community were going through.  Coal mining was a very hard task- with pick and shovel the method of digging out the coal.   It was the winding down period of the depression but hand-to-mouth eating was still a way of life for the back -country folks.

Since folks did not have money for what was called ‘the finer things of life’, people were more wrapped up in people than they were in things.  In other words, people really got to know each other and deeply cared for one another.  Story telling was a wonderful was time and stories told of folks who had passed through ‘Hunky Hollow’ over the years.

I don’t recall many of those stories but one has always stuck.  The ‘hollar’ next to where we lived was called ‘Mesquite Hollar’ and the only resident who lived there was an old man who was referred to, as you might guess, as “Old Man”.  He was often the object of harassment on the part of some the roughens from the other ‘hollars’.   Their favorite was to throw stones up on the “old Man’s” metal roof.  Most of time the only sign of life seen around the Old Man’s beat up cabin was smoke from the chimney.

And then one day the chimney went cold.  The hour glass had passed, ”Old Man” by.   A man from the bank often visited the Old Man.  The question was why? He certainly did not appear to have any reason to see a banker.  After his death the banker visited the cabin and in looking around one last time, he found a glob of very soiled papers under the Old Man’s bed. 

It turned out to be “Old Man’s” Bible and it was filled with little pieces of paper that said things like: “Sally, leg surgery”, Harry, glasses, Pete, teeth repair, Mary, college and many, many others.  As he collected all the pieces of paper, the banker remembered the many times that suddenly, when someone who was in dire need of a visitation by a Good Samaritan, they would find a pearl of great price under their door or in their mail box or a paid in full notice on a debt they could not afford to pay.

The “Old Man’s” funeral wasn’t who believed in the great commission to be much – probably no would come, but the word of “Old Man’s” pieces of paper began to circulate through all the ‘hollars’. and on the morning of the funeral people began to arrive.  To make the long story very short – they had to move the funeral to the local park due to the massive number of folks who wanted to say thank you to the person they never met, and many had never seen but lived the great commission and took care of ‘the least of these’’ (Matthew 25:40).

There is a very special word in the Bible that I have taken to heart.  “The word is measure’.  Luke used it right after he listed the beatitudes.  I have shared it with every boy and family I have had the privilege to provide a shirt-tail to hang on to’.   Tune into the next blog and let me share a word that carries great power to those who want to be obedient to God and His word.

Blessings,

Gramps

God Does Meet Our Needs When We Ask.... With a Sincere Heart

Early staff families and children 47 years later!

“Be Anxious For Nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication and thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Phil. 4:6).  “And My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19).

Hey Gang:  Summer Camp was ended, we looked forward to the arrival of parents, relatives or court workers who would pick up their young folks.  A few days of basking in the sun was on the calendar- before tackling the many things that were placed in the hold file while we cared for the camping needs.   “ BUT”, a word that became very common -even over used in the months to follow -as we made several transitions in just about everything that we had on the docket. 

As he last car pulled out, we discovered we had a problem --- six campers were left!  No problem!  I will call the judge, five of which were sent from her court and make arrangement for pick up tomorrow.  It was then we learned that we should remove the ‘no’ from ‘no problem’.  We had a problem, five kids and no license to have them in program.

 The sixth youngster required a Sherlock Holmes approach; we could not find the mother but after much searching located an uncle who would take the boy home when mom could be found.   Mom showed up at camp three days later looking for her son!

Bad news, the Judge had no temporary placements for the five boys who were waiting for the residential program to open and, on top of this dilemma, the Health Department showed up on the day we closed camp and condemned the water, sewer and kitchen.  

I then made a decision that I thought was brilliant – I would find some homes in the local community that would take the boys until Starr Residence was completed.  Two homes were located the three boys placed.  The building used for the kitchen in camp was rearranged and the two remaining boys were placed there with our two young counselors;  a high point of the coming months- who was mom and who was dad! 

And then the mud hit the fan! I wrote a letter to those folks who had provided the funds and things from their garage to meet our emergency needs of camp. I advised them that we had our first residential kids in house and three in foster homes.  The gentlemen assigned to provide State overview to this rogue program heard about this, while in Escanaba, and burned up the phone lines letting me know I had come close to committing a capital offense.  

This was the first such call from this seasoned veteran of the Licensing wars, but there would be many others to follow. I might add that Jerry became a solid support person for our work and provided a tremendous amount of support and council. When he arrived on campus, he then tacked yet another temporary license on our kitchen wall. BUT, the true significance of that license-- we were now a three program mission- Camp, Foster Care and Residential Treatment.

I was now locked into Isaiah 41:10: “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will up hold uphold you with My righteous right hand”.  Although I confess that I said, on a fairly-regular basis, “Are you sure God?” 

Now I want to share a neat aside here: I was privileged to speak again in Chapel recently and it was filled- side to side and fron to back with beautiful faces of youth and staff.  There are no words I have to describe how I felt as I looked over the group at that moment.  God truly is an Awesome God who creates miracles out of limited material. 

We were now building a twelve-boy housing unit that grew to sixteen shortly after opening, running a Foster Care Program, doing some week up follow up- and I do not have a clue how we funded it.  

We were blessed to have donors, mostly from Midland, who provided the needed funds to purchase the property, build and furnish Starr Home, but we were woefully underfunded by the State in our Residential and Foster Care Programs and had to raise the needed funds for camps. Week-end and family programs.

I learned very early in my tenure, of being God’s legs, in developing this miracle called Eagle Boys Village, now Eagle Village, that I was totally ill-equipped to shepherd through the developmental years.  I said many times, “Lord, why did you chose me?  My resume is so very empty.”  His response, “Yes, that is the way I made you so that you would be obedient to Me”.  I love the “I Will’s’ and promises in the Word”.  I believe with all my heart on Paul’s words, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13) .

So ended crisis numbers__ !!!!!

Blessings,

Gramps

Wide Angle Vision - What Do You See?

“For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His”.    (II Chron. 16:9).

Hey Gang:  How many know that mother’s have wide angle vision.  As a lad growing up I believed my mother had eyes in the back of her head.  Just when I thought I had gotten away with something, she would, in her on subtle way, let me know I had been ‘had’. 

That, like tar, stuck to me and became a solid rock in my interviewing of potential staff.  I found that asking questions was, to a degree, informative but often found there was a disconnect between what I was hearing and what surfaced in actual practice.  I heard an interviewer recently make the comment there is no greater recommendation for a potential employee than in their own words  in the interview process or on their resume. 

I found that a walk through the campus was far more beneficial than going through a long interview or placing a great deal of trust in the printed page.  After walking and chatting for an hour or so, we would return to the office, have a cup of coffee and sit down for a wrap up.  My question, “What did you see on your trip through the campus?”  If their description was narrow in scope, the interview was over but, if they painted me a picture of all the wondrous things they saw, I knew I had a potential keeper. In other words, were they narrow in their views or did they have wide angle vision?

I believe God also walks with us and asks us that very same question: “What do you see?”  In Psalm 34:15 we read David’s words, “The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and His ears are open to their cry”.  In Proverbs 15:13 Solomon declared, “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, Watching the evil and the good”.

It has always been bothersome to me to sit under the teaching of a narrow-vision pastor or teacher;  one who takes a verse out of context and preaches a sermon on it.  It is my sincere opinion that verses and concepts to do not stand alone but are part of God’s intricate road map that leads us from ‘Generations to Revolutions.  There is no greater joy than to take a trip through the Bible following the travel agenda that God provides for us.

So, my friends, my challenge to you - memorize and follow Paul’s formula for living a truly effective life for the Lord found in I Thessalonians 5: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.  Do not quench the Spirit, do not despise prophetic utterance, But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good, abstain from every form of evil” (5:16-22).   Now that leads to “Wide Angel Vision!”

Blessings,

Gramps

They Were Just LikeYou and Me

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.  For by it the men of old gained approval, by faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible” (Heb. 11:1-3).

Hey Gang:  When I get down on myself, one of the chapters in the Word I turn to is Hebrews eleven.  The first Godly principle that stands out in this the Faith Hall of Fame is- all were just normal people just like you and me.  I once heard a Pastor use the analogy that when God had something He wanted done, He looks for a broken vessel and smashes it and molds it into the image He wants.   

Each of those mentioned here are just like you and me.  They had doubts, fears and, I suspect, were discouraged at times.  Gideon had them.  When God came to Gideon and said, “Gideon, you mighty man of valor, I want you to take an army out and beat the tar out of the Mideonites,  ”Gideon’s response was, “You want me to do what?”  

He was not alone.  Moses, the greatest leader of all time who lead a million or more grumbling, complaining people for 40 years in the wilderness, also had deep doubts. I would suggest he had more than enough discouragement to go around. 

When the angel told Sarah that she would have a bambino, Sarah laughed -  perhaps hysterically- for she was far beyond the child-bearing time in her life.  Isaac lied to the king, Jacob was called a deceiver.  David murdered and committed adultery.     

Since retiring from the roast beef, mashed potatoes and peas speaking circuit, my notebook of endorphins has remained in mothballs.  As I reread the faith chapter the following story demanded that I include the following story in this epistle.  It is s story with a tragic beginning but a very clear message for you and me.

The Pastor, who happened to walk by, asked the little girl why she was standing outside the church door sobbing.  She said she could not go in because she was told it was too crowded.  Seeing her unkempt appearance, he quickly realized the truth and took the girl by the hand the took her into the church.

That night, as she lay on her bed, she thought of all the children who could not go to church because there was no room.  She asked God to help her make a way so that every child could go to church.  Two years later the girl died. As they were going through the few things that were special to her, they found a crumpled red purse.

 It looked like something she had rescued from a garbage can and in it was a 57 cent love offering with a note scribbled in childish handwriting: “This is to help build the little church bigger so more children can go to Sunday School”.   

A newspaper learned of the story and published it.  It was read by a wealthy realtor who offered them a parcel of land worth many thousands of dollars.  When the pastor of the church which had very little money asked the price, his response, fifty-seven cents.

As people learned of the story, they began to send in gifts- some small, some large and others very large.  Soon more than a quarter-million dollars had been given, a huge sum for that time.  Her unselfish love had opened the hearts of many. 

If you happen to be in Philadelphia sometime, be sure and drop by the Temple Baptist Church with its seating capacity of three thousand.  While you are, there be sure to look up Temple University. And, Oh, yes, stop by Good Samaritan Hospital and a Sunday School building that provides the needed space so that no child need stand outside sobbing because there is no room!

In one of the rooms is a picture of a sweet faced little girl whose 57 cents, so sacrificially given, made this remarkable story a reality.  Dr. Russell H. Conwell, her Pastor, who rescued her from the closed church door that day wrote a book “Acres of Diamonds”. It is the true story of what God can do with 57 cents.

If God were to write an addendum to chapter 11 of Hebrews today, would your name be included?   Bruce Barton wrote, “The greatest proposition in the world is to put a bet on a child.  You invest a few dollars in his character and education and you do not have a clue how far he or she will go”.  

Blessings,

Gramps

Just Seventeen Inches!

“Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord?  Behold, to obey is better than sacrifices, and to heed than the fat of rams.  (I Sam. 15:22).

Hey Gang:  Early in this New Year I want to share a story that has been in my archives for years; if heeded may put some grit into your decision making.  It is the story of an old grey-haired ,very successful baseball coach who was invited to speak at a conference of baseball coaches.  He was asked to share some of the things that made him successful as a coach.

As the old coach was introduced to the 4000 plus coaches, he shuffled up to the podium and was greeted with a very loud outpouring of respect for his accomplishments in the baseball world.    He was simply dressed in jeans and faded blue shirt -but what got the immediate attention of all the conference attendees was the home plate on string around his neck, pointed side down. 

After making a few introductory comments, one could hear the buzz among the audience wondering what was significance of the object around his neck.   He addressed the buzz by saying, I suppose by now you are wondering why this home plate around my neck.

 My purpose for speaking to you today is to share with you the most important lesson I Learned in my 78 years of life, which included many years of guiding young men in the joys of playing baseball.   He then asked, “Are there any Little League coaches here?”  Several hands went up.  He then asked the same question to each level of coach - Babe Ruth, high school.  college, Minor or Major leagues, “How wide tis home plate?”  They all in unison agreed it was seventeen inches.

“SEVEN-TEEN inches” he confirmed. "And what do they do with a Big League pitcher who can’t throw the ball over these seventeen inches?”.  He gets a ticket home!  They do not say, no problem, we will make the base eighteen or nineteen and, if necessary, twenty inches; and, if you can’t hit that we will make it twenty five inches."

“Question, coaches?  What do we do when our star shows up late for practice or violates curfew?  How about if he uses drugs or alcohol?  Do we hold him accountable?  Or do we change the rules to accommodate him? Do we widen the plate?”

He then took out a sharpie and drew a picture of a house with door and two windows on the plate.  He then said, “This is the trouble with our homes, our marriages, with our discipline, with the way we parent our kids today, accountability has disappeared! No consequences have become the code of the jungle =which many homes have become.  In other words, we widen the plate!” 

  

He then added an American flag to his picture saying, “This is the problem in our schools today, the equality of education is going into the dumpster.  Why?  Because we have taken away the tools needed to teach core and fundamental truths to our kids.  We are allowing head-people, who have credentials behind their name who have never spent one minute in the front of the classroom of kids in a teaching mode, to set the standards.

He closed his dissertation by saying, “If I am lucky you will remember one thing from this old coach today.  If we fail to hold ourselves to a higher standard -standards that were set by our Founding Fathers, standards anchored on the Word of God, we will join all the other civilizations that went before us who also allowed their standards to become putrified.  Simply stated, we will become “dead meat”.

This blog is a wee-bit out-of-the norm for my contributions but I believe it needed to be said.  I believe our nation was blessed by God with a reprieve, when Donald James Trump was elected President, against all odds.  The reason, I am a firm believer that it was God who placed him in the Oval Office, is the tremendous fight Satan is doing and will continue to do until the Believers in this nation  “…humble themselves before he Lord, pray diligently, seek a deeper walk with the Lord and put away the nonsense of the world” (1 Chron. 7:14). 

I wonder if the floods, the tornadoes, the hurricanes, the tremendous fires and even the horrendous freezing temperatures and howling winds that we are experiencing now are a warning from God saying, “Wake up America and repent or you will join the ‘dead-meat’ brigade from the past. 

I do not have a care whether you are for or against our President; as Believers in Christ, we are compelled to pray FOR the leaders of our country.  (1 Tim. 2:1-2).

Blessings,

Gramps