What if? What Are You Scared Of?

 

Students love to play the game of “What if? Especial when they don’t want to do the current assignment. It has its place. Looking at all the possibilities and having plans B, C, & D is not a bad thing. But if it just becomes a form of worry, it can lead to fear, which can be paralyzing.

What if it breaks?

What if it fails?                      What if I fall?             What if the rope breaks? 

What if my parachute doesn’t open?

Admittedly, there are things I’m not comfortable with. I will probably never go sky diving purpose. I just cannot see the point of jumping out of a perfectly good airplane. Bu skydiving is more on the extreme side. Are there normal things you avoid because of what ifs? I know people that avoid going out in public because of everything they hear in the media. You might get shot in a movie theater or at a fast food restaurant. Someone might have a disease that you can catch. I don’t go for walks because there may be dogs running around.

We all have fears, and that’s ok. Some I don’t quite understand, but in the end it’s a personal thing. When we first started working with the homeless, I’ll admit, I had my reservations. Now we hug, fist-bump, and share the stories of their lives. My wife has even had the opportunity of leading several to Christ. It comes down to this: Do you trust God? You are just as safe in the “Hood” with him watching over you than in a fancy house with a high tech security system. I’m not advocating running around in reckless abandon. Wear your seatbelt. Climb with a safety rope. Put your kids in a car seat. What I am suggesting is, to find what God wants you to do, and do it fearlessly. It’s not always easy at first, but it’s the safest place to be.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?  Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.  Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?  So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:25-34 NIV

 

Fences

 

Fences, to me, are a delightfully enigmatic concept. They can exist as rigid impassible barriers or as mystical electrical fields. The can be made of wire, stone, wood, or other hard materials. They can be electrified or have razor sharp edges of barbs to help get their point across. They can be used to keep things out or to keep things in. They can be pretty, dainty or cute. They can be huge, ugly, and intimidating. They can be tall, short or in between. They can be a totally invisible wire hidden underground, yet still extremely effective. Just ask my son’s dog. (Well, you might have to ask my son. I don’t think the dog talks.)

Even their placement is often an exercise in logistics. Should they be placed directly next to, close to, or ten feet away for whatever has merited a fence in the first place? All things that take deliberate thought.

One commonality of fences is that in some form or another, they are meant to protect someone or something. For the most part they do their job quite nicely. They keep people from falling off cliffs, habitat areas safe from being trampled, and our precious children and pets from running into traffic.

So if fences are meant to keep things away, why are they such a draw? Children (and some adults I might add) seem to be drawn to climb or even sit on fences. I’ve even seen some individuals that totally ignore the barrier, often to their own peril. It’s the reason for multiple signs, paint colors, and even guards in some places. I suppose it may stem from our innate desire to explore and investigate, but I suspect it has more to do with the rebellious nature of our fallen condition. We humans do seem to hate being told what to do, even if it’s for our own good. Still, for my part, I’m good with fences. They keep me out of trouble and it definitely makes a good place to lean your fishing pole on.

The Daily Grind 2: Time for Chimes!

Watching the gears move on a grandfather clock can get very boring, hearing the tick-tock, tick-tock, of the mechanism over and over again. The gears seems to spin in endless circles, going nowhere. When I was a child, I loved investigating the workings of the larger clocks. But it didn’t take long for my attention to drift. At least until it got to the top of the hour. Westminster Chimes has always made me pause. You listen for the tune, and then count the bells for the hour. It brings a smile to my face just thinking about it. The big show was at 12 o’clock. Each clock has its own surprises. The clock at Small World in Disneyland is one of my favorites. No kid can resist the magic of the hourly clock parade.

It’s these special moments that make the “daily grind” worth all the effort. During Spring break we got to take three of our granddaughters to Disneyland. My wife made princess dresses for them to be made up as Aurora and Ariel in the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. The littlest one was just pure cuteness no matter what she wore. Seeing their smiles, hearing their laughter, and even seeing tears of joy makes all the hard work before seem trivial. Who doesn’t want to hear, “Best Day Ever!” from their grandchildren. There were even some tear from the adults when memories came flooding back during parades and the evening night shows. It was a weekend to cherish.

I am reminded of the advice a business man once gave our group while I was on summer tour with a college Gospel Quartet. “Work hard; play hard.”  I didn’t understand it then, but it has come in helpful as an adult. I know some people whose idea of vacation is doing absolutely nothing. Now that may work for them, but I would rather get out, explore, adventure, and see new things. Sometimes I need a vacation because of vacation, but that’s the fun part. Work hard; play hard. It can make the daily grind that much more fulfilling!  

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9 NIV

The Daily Grind - Making a Difference

This Year will be 40 years of teaching, mostly in the Christian School environment. There have been many times where I have questioned how much I was really accomplishing. Indegene.com mentions that, “Research on the forgetting curve shows that within 1 hour, learners forget an average of 50% of the information presented; within 24 hours, they forget an average of 70% of new information; and within a week, they forget up to 90% of what they "learned.”¹ Month after month, year after year, we do the same labs, projects, worksheets, etc. On the surface, it could get very discouraging. 10 %? That’s not very much bang for your buck. Yet occasionally, we get to see the effect of the ripples that we send out every day. A student comes to visit and says “you’re the reason I went into medicine”. And they really are doing a good job. They blame you for other good things they have learned. And you keep going. Because you made a difference.

Since 2019 my wife and I have been helping 2 nights a week and Wednesdays at a place the helps feed and clothe low-income and homeless individuals. At times it gets grueling - sweeping & mopping floors, unplugging toilets, and picking up trash outside. If you only look at the unending list of things to do, it can become a chore. It can get frustrating or even depressing. 

But then you focus on the people. The once grumpy old man who now smiles when you arrive as he helps the children learn verses so they can get a Dollar Store gift card. He’s even shared a short message in the service. The group that used to talk during the worship songs who are now singing along and refer to it as “church”. The young homeless man you helped with clothes and a Bible who you haven’t seen in 2 months, who now shows up and tells you he found a place to live and a job. The lady who smelled so bad no one wanted to sit next to her, who is now singing praise songs because she gave her life to Christ. Receiving fist bumps & hugs, and high-fives from thugs. It doesn’t get any more real. And for that reason, you get up, wind the mechanism, and let the gears grind for yet another day. Just like a set of gears, one turn here may only equal ½ turn there, but that ½ turn can turn into two turns, then 4, and on, and on.  Because making a difference in just one life, is making a difference.

 

1. 6 ways to overcome the forgetting curve. Chartwell Content. Accessed September 13, 2021
https://medium.com/@CWContent/6-waysto-overcome-the-forgetting-curve-354151c355c

 

The 21st Century Caveman

 

Recently a student equated one of my magnificent classroom wisdoms to “something from a 16^th century caveman”. I assume he is referring to it being old and outdated. Seriously,  1500’s? I don’t think you could call Da Vince a caveman. I mean, were there even cavemen in the 1500’s? Do peasants count as cavemen? Do they have to live in real caves? Truthfully, I’m really not even sure what he meant. Still, as usually happens, it got me thinking about cavemen and in particular, cavemen of the present era. So just what is a caveman?

The Oxford Dictionary of languages says;

cave·man – noun

1. a prehistoric man who lived in caves.

2. a man whose behavior is uncivilized or violent. "You can't change my mind by caveman tactics”.

 

I personally do not know anyone who lives in a real cave. I think we’re all too spoiled with running water, indoor plumbing, and electric appliances. It is definition #2 that makes me pause. Lately I have seen both uncivilized & violent behavior, which can often go hand in hand. I only drive 4 miles to work, but I would say I see exhibitions of uncivilized behavior and/or violence several times a day. People yell that you are “to slow” or “in the way”. At sporting events, parents get violent with referees during their child’s games because they didn’t like the call. This week I found out one of our local Walmart stores has closed the self-checkout lines because of rampant theft. Hardly a day goes by without a report of someone attacking another person.  It might be road rage, an argument over a parking place or even someone just being tired of standing in line. I would say these all count as uncivilized. It has, unfortunately, become ridiculous. So are they all really 21^st century cavemen? Well, not really. You see, violence and uncivilized behavior is nothing new. It started with Cain and has continued to the present day. It comes standard in the human condition. So what is the cure? We must be changed on the inside. We must love the unlovely. We treat others the way we want to be treated. We overcome evil with good.  Caveman or New Man? It’s your choice.

 

 

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV

 

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21 NIV

 

Do Miracles Still Happen?

One of my students recently ask, “Do miracles still happen?” I love the thought processes of teenagers. According to Oxford’s English dictionary a miracle is defined as: a surprising and welcome event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws and is therefore considered to be the work of a divine agency. In other word, it’s a God thing. So are there miracles happening today? I believe there still are (see The God of the Impossible ) but not as frequently as before. There are several reasons for this.

1. The early Church saw many miracles used as signs to the believing Jews.

2. The early Church was in its formative years. Many of the New Testament scriptures were still being written. The Holy Spirit had been given and needed to be manifested evidently.

3. There was great need.

Honestly. I think this is the main reason why we as modern American Christians do not see many miracles. We don’t really need anything. We have all the modern conveniences and then some. We have more food than we can use. We have extras of everything. We have Amazon to drop anything else right at our door. We don’t have to rely on God because mostly, we rely on ourselves. Unless you are jobless or homeless you have an over-abundance. When you look at conditions in other countries around the world, even our homeless aren’t doing that bad. Google Haitian Biscuit for an eye-opening revelation into true poverty.

We live in relative peace and safety. There will always be crime, but we don’t usually go to bed in fear of government roundups, drug lords extorting money from us, or being attacked in the grocery store over a squabble for the last loaf of bread. We have a Constitution, Due Process, and other laws to hopefully guarantee our safety.

4. Our sight are set to low.

We often just let things happen. There is very little prayer and almost no desire to see God do above and beyond what we see on a daily basis. We are sadly, content. We have what we need and spend far too little time even thinking about the needs or afflictions of others.

Do you want to see miracles? Put yourself where there is true need. Busy your time with helping those who are desperately in need of a solution. Pray for miracles in tough situations. I do not wish tragedy, despair, homelessness, or extreme want on anyone. But it is there that you often see God’s finest work.  When we reach the limits of what we can humanly do, there we find that Devine intervention.

… You do not have because you do not ask God. James 4:2

Take My Advice…

Have you ever ask anyone for advice? Was it helpful? Did you follow it? I remember a time about 4 years into my teaching career, back when dinosaurs roamed the Earth, when I was looking for direction. I wanted to teach, but I also wanted to do church music. Most people claimed that you can’t do both. I had a good friend who was a music  minister for a large church with a well know pastor (well, at least in my circles). I had mentioned that I was going to go ask the pastor for advice. My friend gave me a word of advice of his own. He told me that this person was accustomed to people doing everything he said. My friend’s advice was, “Don’t ask advice from him unless you planned to do exactly as he instructed”. Anything less would result in essentially an “excommunication” from help and support. I took my friend’s advice and didn’t ask the Pastor for his advice. Incidentally, I got to do both teaching and Church music at my very next ministry venue.

 Moses showed us a better way.

Moses' father-in-law replied, "What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people's representative before God and bring their disputes to him. Teach them the decrees and laws, and show them the way to live and the duties they are to perform. But select capable men from all the people--men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain--and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied." Exodus 18: 18-23 NIV

 When his father in law came to him, he gave him advice, but prefaced it with “If you do this and God so commands”. Now there was some good advice! Advice is a great thing. Proverbs 11:14 says, “For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers”. Get good advice, but reason through it. Most importantly, find out what God say about it!

 

What Do You Have That I Would Want?

 

As a summer State Park employee, one of the great perks is free camping. Pismo State Beach is one of my all-time favorites. We love the beach; I love fishing for surf perch. At some point in the week we will walk to the Pier and visit the shops. One of the things on my list is to have fish & chips. I even have a favorite spot. On one trip, the group decided to try a different restaurant, something that was not to my liking. We ordered our meals and I was sitting there half tired, half moping, when one of the managers walked buy. “Why so glum? He said. I just kind of shrugged it off. “I hope you find your happy place”, he added as he smiled and went on to another table. My meal came and it was worse than I had feared. Not only was I not at my favorite spot, but they had brought a marinara sauce instead of tartar sauce. Could it get any worse? Being the patriarch of the group, I decided to suck it up and make the best of it. When I tasted the sauce, my taste buds began to tingle. My nostrils flared. (Ok, I know that is probably not an appealing visual image, but work with me here.) They had mixed horse radish sauce into the marinara! It was incredible! I soon found myself at the counter feeling reminiscent of Oliver Twist. Please sir, may I have more? It just so happened that the server was the manager form earlier. He smiled at me. I had found my happy place. It turns out, he had what I was looking for; I just needed to experience it. The taste was all I needed.

Contrast this with one of the saddest experiences I have ever had while teaching. One of my colleagues was trying to share the Gospel with a senior young lady who’s family was from another faith. Her words were bitterly piercing, but true. “What do you have that I would want?” She replied. Some of your model Christian kids swear in the locker room. I don’t. Other cheat on tests or assignments. I don’t. What do you have that I don’t have.” It was a devastating condemnation of our current “Christian” society. So many Christian’s walks do not match their talk. So how about you? What do you have that someone would want? If they spend time with you, will they desire the peace, love, and joy that you have in Christ? If not, what is the point of it all?   

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16  (NIV)

“Hey, Are You a Christian?”

Have you ever had a stranger ask you if you were a Christian? It happened once while we were camping. Another family was struggling with something (no can opener, no matches) ok, I really can’t remember, but that’s not the point. They ask if we were Christians. We found out they were also. Their reasoning was that we were “way too nice”. It’ nice to think that it shows now and then.

Lately at dinner our family has been binge watching cooking shows, most notably, Gordon Ramsey’s “Next Level Chef”. He can often be heard admonishing them to add more salt. A dish that is under seasoned is underwhelming.

The Bible tells us to be salt & light (Matthew 5:13-16). One way salt is used is as a preservative. It slows down spoilage. Have you ever had someone change how they are speaking because you walked up? Do they notice that your speech is always with grace seasoned with salt? (Colossians 4:6)

Salt also boosts natural flavors. God wants to speak through us. And yes, sometimes he want us to use words. Do your words and actions enhance what God is trying to say with our lives?

Our light can either be a warning, like a lighthouse, or a way of illumination like a flashlight. Do your life help warn others of the dangers of sin and the riches in Christ? Can people see things more clearly as they follow your walk with the Savior? It takes a little work but it pays great dividends. Matthew 5:47 admonishes us to go above and beyond the norm – to be different, in a good way. Here’s some way you could try to be salt and light.

1. Let someone else go first.

2. Find a way to help those who have nothing to give you in return.

3. Buy someone who is struggling a coffee, and then sit down and truly listen to them.

4. Pay it forward.

5. Give a kind word, a sincere compliment.

6. Pray for/with them.

7. Pick up trash that isn’t yours. (Be sure to wash your hands afterwards)

8. Find someone who’s homeless and take them hot soup.

9. Give smiles generously – they’re free after all.

10. Thank the janitor where you work. (Learn their name!)

Salt and Light - Let’s help flavor the world with God’s love for all to see!

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:13-16 NIV

That’s What He Said…

 

February has always been an emotional month for me. My grandmother, who I once spent a week taking care of, died in February when I was still in Jr. High. Thirty years ago, February 8^th, my Father passed away. Two Weeks later my youngest son was born. My dad left a lasting impression on me. One of the greatest things he left his children was the concept of Doing the right thing, even if no one is watching. It has put me in good stead many, many  times. He also had many other more down-to-earth sayings. Some came from signs he had in his workshop, like the one to the left. Others, well, I’m not really sure where they came from. Still, even after all that time, my dad’s many sayings are still with me. They were always given with a wry smile, so we never took them too seriously. I thought it might be fun to revisit some of them again.

 “If your brains we dynamite, you wouldn’t have enough to blow your nose.”

“You couldn’t pour water out of a boot if the directions were written on the heel.”

“I buy you books, and buy you books, and you still can’t read.”

“It’s ok, they’re only half trained.” (Usually about how someone fished.)

“It’s hard to soar with eagles when you work with turkeys.”

"You can't get blood out a turnip."

“You may beat me, but you’ll never whoop me.”

" If you do that, they'll put you away so far they'll have to shoot you biscuits with a slingshot." 

“We never had this when there were beatings.”

And my all-time favorite funny quote:

“If you do that again, we’ll both have to go to the hospital – to take my foot out of your behind.”

Seriously, the best thing he ever said to me happened when I was helping him on a service call a few years after we had moved to California. Our first daughter had just been born, and we had gone back to Illinois for them to meet her. While we were out driving, I asked him if he ever regretted me moving so far away. He looked at me like I had just said that I thought the moon was really made of green cheese. He then asked me two questions.

Are you where you are supposed to be?

Are you doing what you believe God wants you to do?

I answer “yes” to each. He response was both freeing and life affirming. He looked at me, smiled, and said, “What more would I want.” He gave me words of support; words of Love. That what I remember my dad for the best.

Thanks Dad. Can't wait to walk on the golden shores and get to talk again. Save some fish for me.

 

 

Who Am I?

 

Identity is an interesting concept. Many spend countless hours struggling with the concept, while others rarely give it a thought. It can be crippling; It can be amazingly freeing. In Western society especially, cars, sports teams, and occupations are among the major identity markers.

 My father helped me with cars. He would always say, “A car is simply a tool to get you safely from one place to another”. We’ve owned many over the years. Yet I really can’t say I miss any of them that much. Although there was that black Nissan Sentra that seemed to run on oxygen, but that’s another story. Recently, a few of my students told me I should get a new car. I admit, I decided to play games with them. I ask them what I should get. They recommended a BMW. So I ask them, “I’m supposed to go into debt to drive 4 miles to work just because it looks better than my paid off, old faithful Toyota with 250,000 miles on it. Hard pass on that one.

Others try to identify with a sports team. I see flags flying from windows, trailer hitches, and even in front of houses. The diehards may have a license plate cover (on their identity car) with their favorite team. They even say “we won!” when the contest is finished, even though there is probably no one on the team that even knows they exist.

Men especially, may use their occupation as an identity marker. “I’m a teacher. He’s a doctor. Over there is a plumber. Wives may even succumb to the charm of being a (fill in the blank) wife. I remember someone in Bible college asking Pat (we were still engaged) if she was called to be a “teacher’s wife”. I loved her answer. She replied that she was called to be his wife, no matter what he did. It’s only one of the many reasons I was totally smitten with her.

So where should we get out identity? I don’t know about you, but time has taught me that, on my own, I am nothing special. Every accomplishment, every trait that others may appreciate in me is a gift from God. Value comes from many directions, rarity, individuality, condition, or even beauty. I am none of those. But, I am loved. Sometimes something is priceless because of what it means to the owner. I have value because I am loved by God. I still like saying that I’m a teacher, I’m a father, I’m Pat’s husband. But my real worth comes from being loved by the creator of the universe. And I’m just fine with that. 

Did Jesus Have Lemons?

 

Often the simplest question can spark interest in the young mind. Recently the question came up, “Did Jesus have Lemons?”  I have no idea what thought process produces this, but just for fun, let’s run with it.

It turns out, after some research, that the answer is most likely, no. As far as we know lemons came from Asia and didn’t get to the Mediterranean area until about the second century AD. They started being cultivated in Europe in the mid-1400s and made it to the Americas with Columbus.1 So, unfortunately, Jesus would probably not have said “If life gives you lemons, make lemonade.”

So what is my point? I’m glad you ask. (I mean one of you did ask didn’t you? Come on, humor me.) I have always tried to keep learning something new. It could be a new hobby, caring for a new animal, growing a new vegetable, or just learning new information, like the history of lemons. A lover of learning is called a “Philomath”. I like the sound of that. I want to be a Philomath. I never want to stop learning. Years ago, I had a student refer to me as a modern-day Renaissance man. While I think he was slightly exaggerating, I love the idea. If we want to be relevant and not get stale, we need to continually pursue new information and ideas. Always stay curious. It helps keep you young. It also give you things to talk about to total strangers on 5 hour flights. (Ya, not so much of a priority for my wife.) So make it a goal to learn something new this year. The world is your oyster. Hey, you might as well start there. Do you know where pearls come from?

¹ (Julia F. Morton (1987). "Lemon in Fruits of Warm Climates". Purdue University. pp. 160–168.)

Music That Touches the Heart

 

If I had to describe my music preferences in one word it would be eclectic. The Oxford dictionary defines eclectic as: deriving ideas, style, or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources. I probably have a different style for relaxing, meditating, worship, working, fishing, and even grading papers. Sometimes they have lyrics; other times I need only instrumental. I especially love movie soundtrack, even if I have never watched the movie. Music can paint pictures, bring back old dusty memories or even put us in the mood to dream.

Yet one person’s music is another person’s noise. My wife and I don’t always agree on what we find relaxing or entertaining. I enjoy classical music, Motzart and Bach especially, for the complexity and patterns that play out. She often finds it harsh or grating. My son loves country music. I can only stand to listen to it for about 30 minutes without it affecting my mood. Yet we both can listen to good bluegrass, especially banjo for hours.

My criteria for choosing music has evolved dramatically over the years. I used to have a long set of rules. Now it has been pared down to a choice few.

1. Is it scriptural? I think this one explains itself

2. Does it bother someone around me? In this day of wireless headphones, sharing should be a thing of the past, but alas, it still can be a problem. Please be considerate, especial in cars!

3. Does it bring be closer to a worshipful spirit toward God? This applies to both worship and what some call “secular” music. Does it lift my spirit? Does it cause me to be a nicer person?

I guess I’m getting “more mature”. (Older is not in my vocabulary.)  Sometimes the simplest melody can bring me to tears. I cry at happy endings. I have begun to cherish simple, organic worship over the larger productions. One of my favorites has begun to be older (let’s be real, ancient) hymns with a new melody or instrument style. I leave you with one of my favorites.

Here is the link for How Deep the Father's Love (Official Music Video) | Celtic Worship on Youtube. I hope you like it as much as I do.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfhRs5g5t8M

 

The Little Things

 

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)

 

I have always tried to teach my children about prayer. We have even prayed for parking spots. Yet God needed to teach me a lesson that nothing is too small for prayer.

I was visiting a good friend in southern California and we decided to take his children fishing. We were on one of the local piers in the San Diego area. Because they are heavily fished, most of what you see caught is on the small side. We had been there for about ½ an hour or so and really hadn’t caught anything. Suddenly his youngest son got a bite and reeled up a tiny little surf perch. “We prayed for that”, he beamed. Sure, you prayed for that. A fish that can be caught anytime on these piers. Still it kind of nagged me that I ended up being “skunked” that day. No bites, nada, not a one.

A few weeks later I was at my old haunt in Half Moon Bay poke-poling for monkeyface eel. I had covered the whole area and not seen a thing, which for me was very unusual. While pondering this dilemma, a though floated through my thick head. “So, you don’t have to pray for fish, eh?” Now maybe God doesn’t talk to you in your head, but he and I have had some really interesting conversations. I tried to ignore it for a while, all the time catching NOTHING. Finally next to a big rock by the shore, I knelt in my waders on the sandy beach, acknowledged my pride and unfaithfulness, and prayed for fish. I returned to the normal circuit that was my usual pattern, and ended up with a sizable bag of eel, rockfish, and crab. I can never walk past that rock without smiling. God does have a sense of humor. It has now become a must, even when fishing with strangers, to pray before we fish. Funny, no one seems to object. I guess they figure they need as much help as they can get. I know I do.

Sometimes You Just Need A Good Shove. (Remembering Evangelist Gary Gillmore)

 

    This week I found out that Evangelist Gary Gillmore pasted into eternity in July of 2023. Even though you may have never heard of him, he has had a profound influence in my life.

    The summer of 1978, was a very tumultuous time. I had just graduated from high school and was trying to decide what to do with my life. I was looking at 3 career possibilities. Part of me wanted to go to diamond appraisal school and make my fortune. Part of me was considering a musical degree/career as a song writer. Another part was considering a science degree working toward a career in the CDC tracking down strange and unusual diseases. Then there was the part of me that was running from God.

    I ended up finding a new girlfriend, and having surgery on my leg. The surgery I needed; the girlfriend was connected to the running from God thing. I remember a week late in August, where not only was I discouraged because I was hobbling around on crutches, but my parents made me go to evening evangelistic meetings every night at our church. Each night was worse than the previous night. I don’t remember what was said, but do I know I was uncomfortable. My brother was already in Bible college and I know my parents “expected” me to go also. Each night brought a feeling in the pit of my stomach not unlike the felling of the first big drop on a high roller coaster. It is a feeling that I do not cherish in the least. By Wednesday it was constant and I found myself taking sinus medicine just to take the edge off. By Friday night I couldn’t stand it. I remember sitting in my bed, contemplating the present, the future, and all the various scenarios. To this day, I cannot tell you where it came from, but I knew I needed to make a choice.  I could keep going the direction I was headed (I’ll spare you the details of a life spiraling out of control) or I could give in to the will of a sovereign God. If I kept on the present path I somehow knew I would be dead in 6 months, probably due to my own devices. It was in that moment that I arrogantly told God, “All right, I give up. Go ahead and ruin my life.” The roller coaster stopped.

    At church on Sunday I (more at my mom’s urging that anything else) told Rev. Gillmore that I would be going to Bible college. Instead of the ol’ “atta boy” I got, “I’m not sure I believe you. I will be at that college in September. Come see me if you make it.” You have to admit, he didn’t mince words.

    Fast forward to September and this young man is standing in a line of dewy-eyed students waiting to meet the visiting “evangelist” and get their Bible signed. When it was my turn he held his hand out for another Bible, and only looked up when he noticed nothing was placed in his hand.

    He peered up at me and asked, “Can I help you?” “Do you remember me? I asked. After a long pause he admitted he was stumped. I told him my name and the name of my home church . I reminded him of what he said. I saw a smile slowly spread across his face. I really didn’t think you would make it”, he murmured.

    Fast forward 4 more years to graduation year, 1984. Rev. Gillmore was visiting college for the day and spoke in chapel. I stood in line, just like last time, only this time he remembered me. I just wanted him to know I made it.

I did have the chance several years ago to track him down through email and let him know I was still teaching Christian school after all these years. I thanked him for giving me the shove I needed all those years ago. His grandson was glad I had let them know. You may have never heard of him. But without his influence, you would have never heard of me either. Gary, I thank you for your love and service.

      In Loving Memory of 

   Gary Lawrence Gillmore    

August 20, 1940 - July 26, 2023

The Daily Race

 

In 2022, we spent a week in Kauai for our 40^th anniversary. One of the iconic sights there are the feral chickens, a holdover from Hurricane Iniki (1992). The islanders’ chickens got all mixed up after the coops were destroyed and they ended up with these birds. I asked one of the native islanders if they eat them. He said, Yes you could, but most would rather have the famous Costco Rotisserie chickens instead. The native chickens are tough, stringy, and gamey tasting. It’s too much work for too little effort to make a meal of them. Still people feed them just the same.

Have you ever felt that way about carving time to ready scripture? I’m not referring to my three friends who can hop out of bed, sans coffee, and jump right into the morning. Hey, for all I know they might even be part alien. I’m talking about the daily grind; trying to read tiny text through triple progressive lenses, while constantly adjusting the focal-arm length. The struggle is real. I am still resisting the larger print edition. I can change the font on my app anytime I choose, thank you. I tend to do mostly audio Bible anymore. It’s less work on the eyes, and I can cover more ground at one sitting.

One of our dearest friends has recently been promoted to “Family Life Pastor” at her church. We got to visit them and their church over the New Year’s break. The lead pastor, Ryan Nuñez, does a daily podcast every morning. The podcast originally started during Covid, and really never stopped. It’s called “The Daily Race”. It’s just long enough for the drive to school and a little time to meditate on what you just heard. Kind of like having someone make breakfast for you. It is a good way to start the morning. If you struggle in the morning to get going, I suggest giving it a try. You will be surprised how it will change your morning attitude.

If you are interested in listening to the Daily Race on Youtube, here's the link.

https://www.youtube.com/@thedailyrace3405

I’m not sure why, but I’m Grateful…

    This year for the holidays we took a trip to Texas to see my daughter’s family, with a side stop in Arizona to see more friends and family. As road trips go, it was one of the most relaxing trips we have taken. We were worried that we would be driving through rain the whole trip, but instead, a bubble of good weather seems to follow us. I have never seen the roads so free of traffic and moving so smoothly. The car ran great and we had comfortable stops at each place. We even got to stop and look at Native American art and souvenirs as we travelled through some of the local reservation land. I’m not sure why we had it so easy, but I’m grateful.  

    We got to spend several days with three of our nine grandchildren. We played games, went to a movie, watched Christmas specials, and ate very well. I found out that my grandchildren loved to watch me play Pokémon Go. They made sure that Papaw remembered that in Pokémon you “got a catch ‘em all”. The loved to snuggle up close and see what I caught next. They loved spending time with Memaw and Papaw. Honestly, I’m not sure why, but I’m Grateful.

    I got to rest and refresh, and even see butterflies flying around in late December. I took walks with my grandchildren. I slept in. I didn’t have to do anything I didn’t want to. I’m not sure why, but I’m Grateful.

    God has been so good to us. We’ve raised five children and now have nine precious grandchildren. Most of the time that was on a single salary. We have always had everything we needed and many things we just “wanted”. I truly have a blessed life and have received much more than I ever deserved. I’m not sure why, but I’m Grateful.