God Don’t Give Socks for Christmas

Have you ever had one of those times when the Lord gave you something unexpected? Something that He used to show you that He is near and He cares. Driving in my old pickup, that I affectionately call Williford, I noticed how nice it would be to have a sliding glass rear window. Seeing I have no AC and not likely to pay to have it fixed anytime soon. I could almost feel the wind on my neck from the air blowing in. Well it was a nice dream. I did not ask for one, and it was not on my list of priorities to get. Many other things, besides a truck window, was on my NEEDS list and that was a WANT. So I removed it from my mind.
Then one day as my wife and I where coming down our neighborhood street. This was odd in itself since my wife rarely accompanies me in Williford. Then she tells me to stop and turns around and says,” There is a window beside the road that is unbroken.” That was a strange thing to hear and I did not see it. I am usually the one who sees things beside the road and have to fight to keep from picking it up. So I turned around and after she pointed it out, I saw it not in the ditch, but lying on the asphalt beside the road. I saw it and it was a rear window that had sliding glass doors and tinted. I had forgotten my desire for a window like it for my truck and immediately thought it might sell at our ministry thrift store. But when we got it home we held it up to my rear window and it was a perfect fit. I got happy that I had a window for my old pickup. I thanked my wife and I thanked God. The chances that a window for my ’89 Ford pickup was laying in the road in my busy neighborhood, unbroken, was indeed a gift from God.

We trust in the Lord to provide for our needs. They are supplied daily and sometimes get’s to be so common that we do not acknowledge them. But the Lord promises to always provide these needs as our Heavenly Father. Wants, is another story. Just as a boy loves gifts at Christmas, because it is a want that makes it special. Socks and clothes should be given during the year. And a Christmas gift is a gift of Grace. We do not deserve the gift, it is from our parents. Forget Santa Clause and the naughty and nice list. In reality children do not have to do anything to receive gifts during Christmas. Because it is a way to show children they are special and loved. Likewise God has a way of giving us gifts of Grace that we did not need or deserve. Just His way of saying, I love you and I’m here for you.” Socks are good and needed, but it’s the gifts that show us a Holy Father that goes beyond promises.

Review of "Blue Like Jazz" by Don Miller

I held off on this book. I usually do not read new books when they come out. I wait till they hit the thrift stores or someone trust-worthy recommends it. My son recommended it and I found a copy in our Church thrift store. It turned out not to be what I expected. It was not another seeker-pleaser church-bashing book. This book reads like a journal. The author leads us through his personal spiritual immaturity. At the end we see some growth. It has some good ideas on community and some bad.This book offers to show us a little immaturity in ourselves. I know even though I've followed the Lord for 30 years, I saw some in myself. I believe this is a book for the believer and the non. When you start on it, give it a chance all the way to the end. I read some things I did not agree with but there was a lot I did.

Bookcrossing ID 11138469

Mother's Day Thought

On Mother's day tomorrow there will many sermons and thoughts in our Churches and on radio programs on the virtues on motherhood and praise for worthy Mothers. But for years I've wondered about those who sit and listen and were not blessed with such a Mother. So here is a little quote for those.
"Love and honour given to a good Mother is your gift to her, love and honour to a bad Mother is your gift to God."  Wayne Brooks

By Way of Appomattox

 I left my home in Alabam,
To fight with the boys of the 60th.
Like other natives of Pike County,
Who too fought against invaders galore.

 I never knew if I would make it back,
To the place I loved and called home.
Or like others, be buried in a burlap sack.
But now I’m on my way, by way of Appomattox.

We spent some time at Chickamauga,
And picnicked at Snodgrass Hill.
The main course was Union lead,
And canister shot was dessert.

I never knew if I would make it back,
To the place I loved and called home.
Or like most, be buried in a canvas sack.
But now I’m on my way, by way of Appomattox.

Present at Knoxville’s siege, Gracie’s boys in reserve.
We watched Ole Miss fall,
while General Braggs stood alone.
We never should have left his side.

Not knowing if I would make it back,
To where my loved ones back home,
Or would I be buried in a burlap sack.
But now, I’m on my way, by way of Appomattox.

When General Longstreet saw the mistake,
We rushed off to join with Braggs.
The enemy tried to stop us at Bean’s Station,
We paid their toll at a mighty high price.

 I never knew if I would make it back,
To the place I loved and called home.
Or be buried in a burlap sack.
But now I’m on my way, by way of Appomattox.

Wounded in a skirmish around Richmond,
Caused me to sit out Drury’s Bluff.
Then returned to Company A,
To fight our way to the courthouse.

I knew then that I would make it back,
To the place I loved and called home.
I did not die or get myself buried in a burlap sack.
But now I’m on my way, by way of Appomattox.

It was a long, long walk from Virginia to Alabam.
Caught a train and wagon when I could.
The cause was dead but I was alive.
I prayed I would make it back to the ones I love.

Making it back to my loved ones dear,
Remembering the trials the Lord had brought me through,
Knowing He also walked a long, long way to the cross,
Made my walk seem not near so hard.

Now I’m fighting another battle, One I know I’ll win.
Because He won the fight on the cross to set me free.
Now I’m on my way home to the Savior I love so dear.
Not by way of Appomattox, but by way of Calvary.

 In memory of: Private Edward Y.Martin
60th Alabama Regiment. Company A, 3rd Battalion Hillary’s legion.
And all of those who made the long trek back to their homes after the Civil War.

Should You Use the Bible to Prove the Bible?

What I've Learned in Class This Term About Voting

What I have learned in Busn and Personal Finance class this term is that our economy has a regular cycle. It Peaks, then contracts, then bottoms out, then recovery, then growth, and then peaks again. The hope is that each time it peaks that it will be better than the last time it did. The bottom out or "Through" is not as bad as the last time and the recovery time is shorter. But all in all the economy is suppose to make this cycle without fail. So I have been wondering if this is true, then why all the fuss during election time. Was the Bush administration not at fault, they were just in the wrong cycle? Do we just need to keep things as is and let the cycle work it's magic? Who do we vote for or does it matter. The Cycle has chosen. So if this is true then we need to turn and vote for who we believe is the most moral of the bunch. Who can we trust the most. If a person has no compassion for the unborn, do they really have compassion for the born? If they have lied in congress, will they not lie in the white house? This is just a thought. The cycle be praised!
Figure from Kelly/McGowen BUSN 4th Edition c.2012 South-Western, Cengage Learning

Book Review: God Chasers by Tenny

The God Chasers: "My Soul Follows Hard After Thee" by Tommy Tenney








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Recommended Read: From Jerusalem to Iran Jaya by Ruth Tucker

From Jerusalem to Irian Jaya: A Biographical History of Christian Missions by Ruth A. Tucker

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Great book for any person interested in missions. Church history students would also enjoy.



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For Whom the World Was Not Worthy

I would like to take this time to honor some fallen soldiers. Not the ones in brown with body armor, but those only wearing spiritual armor. Two Texas missionaries were brutally murdered in Mexico on February 2, 2011 . They were John and Wanda Casias of the First Fundamental Independent Baptist Church in Santiago. They had been serving there since 1979. Drug cartels are blamed for this crime. It seems we are losing our elder warriors at an alarming rate. Where are the younger generation that we here that are on fire for the Lord. Will they rise up to battle or are they content to stay in their contemporary Church services with their casual dress and contemporary worship? We need some with the old time religion of these devoted saints.

I also just learned of 59 year old Nancy Davis who was also gunned down in Mexico last January 27,2011. Here is a snip from a youtube video of her and Sam, her husband.

Let us remember these sanits and all the others that serve the Lord. Not just will to die for Him but to really live for Him in the fullest.