I am pretty good at taking other people's advice. I am not very good at taking my own advice. I trick myself into thinking, "I know better".

I wasn't very good at taking care of things my parents gave me. For example, I received a new bike for Christmas one year. I decided to spiff it up. I painted it with house paint, a bright orange as I remember. It was ugly, I didn't want the bike anymore but I was stuck with it. My father told me not to paint it. I did anyway. From there the bike went down hill. I didn't bother with it. I bent the spokes in the wheels, I messed around with the brakes until I didn't have any. The bike became a wreck but I still had to ride it.

I was out one day riding around a construction site and came upon a sewer hole that had been lined with concrete. I rode up to the edge of the hole thinking I could stop but I didn't. My front tire hit the lip of the concrete and I went head first over the handlebars into the hole. The hole was at least 7-8 feet deep.

I remember picking my self up at the bottom dusting myself off. My hands and arms were bleeding from the scrapes and cuts I received on the way down to the bottom. There were medal prongs sticking out of the concrete which I snagged on the way down. I used the same medal prongs to climb out of the hole I accessed the damage to my body and decided it wasn't all that bad. I rode home . I never told my parents what happened. I figured better left unsaid. It was a hard lesson I survived.

Now as I look back in my old age, I realize that we give ourselves hard lessons because we don't listen to others, we know better or we just plow ahead not thinking. I now realize God had a hand in this somewhere. He saved my life that day in spite of my stupidity.

I want you to know God has a hand in our lives as He does His best to guide us. We seem to be determined to make our own way and it becomes a hard lesson. If I had listened to my father that day, if I had been a little more responsible for my bike, I wouldn't have scars on my hands reminding me of what happens when I go our own way.

With Jesus choosing the Cross he was willing to bear the scars of life for us. We end up making His love a hard lesson because we think we know better. Thankfully, Jesus offers us grace hoping our hard lessons become life saving, not only for ourselves but for others we love. It is the least we can do to listen and learn from God's example of unconditional love. God wants us to avoid the hard lessons of life. God Loves You!

The things I did as a kid. They wouldn't fly today. Of course they wouldn't fly any day, but I didn't think about that at the time. When I was a tyke I lived in west Dayton, I attended Residence Park Elementary school. I and a buddy hung around together on weekends finding things to do, not necessarily good things, but things.

Walking in the neighborhood by the school we decided to break in. We walked around the back of the school and I took a big rock and broke one of the windows. The sound of glass ricocheting off the school walls surprised me. My buddy lifted me up and I crawled through into the empty room. I went around opened a side door so he could come in. We searched and pilfered not knowing what we would looking for.

I remember being scared, excited, afraid of being caught. But that didn't stop us. So what loot did we grab? Thumb tacks mostly. We left and ran all the way home. So on the way home since we had nothing else to do we took the thumb tacks and threw them out on the street. Our thoughts were, Let's cause flat tires on cars going by. Duh! What else could we do? We didn't have time, we had to go home, it was getting dark.

Today, every time I hear glass breaking it takes me back to the window that I shattered in the school. Somewhere in my life I finally realized it was way wrong what I did. I am fortunate the law didn't catch up with me. I escaped punishment. I was too immature to think about the consequences of my actions. I didn't care unless I was caught.

I have discovered as I have grown into old age maturity, we deal with different kinds of broken glass. The broken glass of failed relationships, the broken glass of being fired from your job, filing bankruptcy, loosing a child, the death of your spouse. While all of this is happening, I am keenly aware I stand in the need of forgiveness by God. My prayer each night starts with asking for forgiveness. Lord, forgive me for the broken school window, trying to cause harm to other people, forgive me for being me.

We all need a prayer of forgiveness. A prayer that turns into thanking the Lord for the Grace that He provides me daily because He knows I am going to be me. We all could use a little more Grace because of who we are. God Loves You.

Noooo, I am not talking about the hit song by Billy Joel although it is worth a listen. I am remembering a man in my life who had a lot to do with influencing me to allow Jesus to hang around with me.

I am not sure I would call it a love/hate relationship but I have always been in a wrestling match with Jesus. That is until a met Keith Tonkle. I was attending a weekend Methodist Youth Retreat because that was where my girlfriend was. It turned out to be a great weekend for a whole other reason.

On Sunday afternoon before we returned home we had a bit of a concert. Keith Tonkle was introduced. When he started playing I was immediately struck with how great his music and voice sounded. I loved it. I didn't even care if it was religious. It was cool and I decided he was a cool man. I found out later he was a preacher man. He introduced me to a whole different Jesus that I have never forgotten. Some 4o years later, I am still in awe of Keith Tonkle, his music and introducing me to the Jesus I wanted to know. His profound influence helped me find my way in a world that felt cold.

I hope there is someone in your life that makes the idea of Jesus in your life more acceptable. For me, the man named Keith made Jesus acceptable as Jesus became my friend. You never know the affect you you may have. Because of Keith and his music it became ok for me to give my heart to Christ. No fanfare, no major announcements, no
boasting. I am the same but different inside. It brings a smile to my face.

I hope you can smile today because Jesus is waiting. God Loves You.

 This Lent we reflect on the words of Christ from the cross. Continue to explore last week’s message with these scripture passages and questions that offer a meaningful way to deepen your faith.

Going Deeper
"Paschal Family"

1. Standing at the Cross

Read: John 19:25–27

Who is present at the cross, and what does their presence reveal about devotion and courage?

Most of Jesus’ disciples had fled (Matthew 26:56), yet a few faithful followers remained near the cross.

Reflection:
Why do you think these individuals stayed when others ran?

Life Application:
Where in your life is Jesus inviting you to remain faithful even when following Him is costly or uncomfortable?

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2. Jesus Builds Family in the Middle of Suffering

Read: John 19:26–27

Even while dying, Jesus creates a new family connection between Mary and the beloved disciple.

Theological Insight:
Early church fathers like St. Augustine saw this moment as symbolic of the church being born at the cross.

Reflection:
Why is it significant that Jesus’ concern in His suffering includes relationships and community?

Life Application:
How can suffering sometimes deepen our relationships with others rather than isolate us?

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3. The Cross Redefines Family

Read: Mark 3:31–35

Jesus expands the definition of family beyond biological ties.

Reflection:
How does Jesus redefine belonging in the kingdom of God?

Life Application:
How can the church today become a place where people truly experience spiritual family?

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4. The Meaning of “Paschal”

Read: Exodus 12:1–14 and John 1:29

The word Paschal comes from the Hebrew Pesach (Passover).

Theological Insight:
In the Passover, the lamb’s blood protected Israel from death. The New Testament identifies Jesus as the ultimate Passover lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7).

Reflection:
What connections do you see between the Passover lamb and Jesus’ sacrifice?

Life Application:
How does understanding Jesus as the Paschal Lamb deepen your appreciation of the cross?

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5. The Church as a Household

Read: Ephesians 2:19–22

Paul describes believers as members of God’s household.

Reflection:
What does it mean for the church to function as a family rather than simply an organization?

Life Application:
What practical steps could help your church grow into a stronger spiritual family?

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6. Caring for the Vulnerable

Read: James 1:27 and Acts 6:1–7

The early church organized systems to care for widows and the vulnerable.

Historical Insight:
Roman historians noted that Christians were known for caring for the poor and abandoned children when others would not.

Reflection:
Why do you think caring for the vulnerable became such a defining feature of early Christianity?

Life Application:
Who are the “widows and orphans” in our society today?

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7. The Cost of Real Community

Read: Romans 12:9–16

Real family requires humility, patience, and sacrificial love.

Reflection:
Why is authentic Christian community often difficult to maintain?

Life Application:
Which of the commands in Romans 12 do you find most challenging in relationships?

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8. Healing Broken Family Systems

Read: Romans 5:6–11

The gospel reveals that Christ entered a broken world to restore relationships.

Insight from Psychology:
Family systems theory notes that change in a family often begins when one person chooses a healthier response rather than repeating old patterns.

Reflection:
How does the cross empower us to break destructive relational cycles?

Life Application:
What is one relational pattern in your life that God may be inviting you to change?

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9. The Witness of Love

Read: John 13:34–35

Jesus said the world would recognize His followers by their love.

Reflection:
Why is love such a powerful testimony to the reality of Christ?

Life Application:
How might sacrificial love within the church become a witness to those outside the faith?

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10. Choosing What Kind of Family You Will Be

Read: Joshua 24:14–15

Joshua calls Israel to make a clear commitment: “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Reflection:
Why is intentional commitment necessary for building a Christ-centered family?

Life Application:
What would it look like for your home, friendships, or church to intentionally become a Paschal family centered on the cross and resurrection?

I grew up hating the words, "Making Do". My memories tell me I was always making do with the things that I had. Kids grow up wanting to be like their friends, having the same things. When my buddies got a new bat, a new glove, a new baseball cap or new clothes I would go home and tell my parents. I wanted the same thing. Usually their
response was, "You're just going to have to "make do with what you got".

For me "Making do" became synonymous with being poor. My parents would often say, "we can't afford that" or "we don't see any sense in that". Even today I cringe when I hear a parent tell their child, "I don't see any sense in you getting that". Bam! how awful. That is just how I react.

"Making Do" is not a compatible phrase when it comes to my faith. My father would tell me, "you should "make do" with just reading scripture and not fill your head with all these other educated thoughts. "You will end up not believing in anything"

The whole "making do process" feels very narrow minded to me when it comes to my relationship with Christ. I have come to believe the more I know about Christ and His life, the deeper my faith.

You may not agree with this, but Christ hated religion. Promoting religion begets narrow minded thinking with a making do attitude. We end up defending what we believe. My faith in Christ Jesus is ever flowing, changing, expanding, being inclusive with people who are different than me.

My challenge to all of us today is, don't settle with just "Making do" with where you are in life. God presents us with a whole world that is worth exploring. The exciting thing is, "you never know where you will end up with God". God calls us to step out, don't settle with "making do", be God's explorer. At the end of the day, you will say, How did I get here? You are here because God loves you!

One of the men hanging on the cross next to Jesus asked that he be remembered when Jesus comes into His kingdom. Jesus promised on that day that the man would be with Him in Paradise. One of the most important requests in life, to spend eternity with Christ, to be remembered. Nobody wants to be left behind.

I called a friend in Arkansas just to say hi. He remembers me as Chaplain David. He stated, I remember you chaplain, "you're the one who rebuilt the chapel here at Little Rock AFB. Not quite true, I had a lot of help. It's nice to be remembered for something positive I did.

I renewed a friendship with a mother who had lost her son to leukemia. She remembered me as being there in her darkest hour. She said, "I will always remember you". It is great when you can help others.

We all strive to be useful, to be good to others, to make a difference in someone's life. To be remembered. I strive to live my life in such a way that I remind them of Christ's promise. Jesus calls us to make a difference in this world. There are many people in my life that I want to remember.

Today Jesus provides us hope even if we feel we haven’t done much in life.

I have a friend who makes bad decisions. He can’t seem to get ahead. He can’t keep a job. He owes money that he can’t pay back. He goes from one disaster to another. He drives with expired license plates. The list goes on and on.. It’s costly to be his friend. He deserves to be where he is, Rock Bottom! The cross he bears is one of depression, loneliness and desperation. But he goes to church, he believes in Jesus as his savior. Even as he carries his cross of bad decisions be pleads with Christ to remember him. Somewhere in his life he is waiting to hear the words, “young man today you shall be with Me in paradise.” Jesus assures us that we will be with him in paradise where we are in life. All we need to do is ask. God loves you.

On my faith journey I have discovered that there are 10 words that are central to my relationship with Christ.

When I finally heard the call to go into ministry I didn't realize I needed to learn more. So to seminary I went. 3 years of biblical studies, preaching courses, language course in Latin, religious education courses and field placement for experience. While all of these requirements were important they have made me an over-educated cleric.

At this point I will make an honest confession. "I Don't Care". I have not read the Bible all the way through. I purposely have not memorized scriptures. I don't care to get into heavy discussions about the meaning of scriptural passages. I have not read many works by our church fathers. I have not read the Methodist Discipline completely. I am not particularly interested in how religion is structured. What I am interested in is how people live out their faith as they look toward the cross.

Pastor Alistair Begg preaches a sermon about the Cross. He tells the story about a man who approaches the gates of heaven. The angel stops him and asks, What are you doing here? The man responds, I don't know. What do you mean you don't know? I don't know said the man. Well, said the angel, what are you qualifications to get in? The man again responds, I don't know? The angel asks, Have you been to a bible study, have you been baptized, have you been sanctified by grace? The man says, I don't know what you are talking about. The angel is speechless. Well then, what makes you think you can come in? I don't know said the man. All I know is THE MAN ON THE MIDDLE CROSS SAID I COULD COME!

10 words that will change your life. It changed my life. Yes, I know all this religious stuff that the seminary taught me. But there is nothing more important than those 10 words. Regardless of where you are in your faith journey, take those 10 words to heart.

I have listened to a lot of religious lectures, learned men who have a deep understanding of scripture and theology. But nothing is more clear about my acceptance of Christ and His acceptance of me. THE MAN ON THE CROSS SAID I COULD COME. That is all we need to know. God loves you today!

Authority was a bad word for me as I grew up. It seemed I was constantly in trouble with authority figures. A teacher slapping me in the face because I wouldn't listen to her. A school principal I would visit on a regular basis for violating rules. As a result I would have to bend over and receive 5 swats with a strap which would make
me smile because it really didn't hurt.

My most feared authority figure was my Phy Ed teacher. I got in trouble during one of my P.E, periods for running up behind other boys and pulling their shorts down. That earned me 2 wacks with a wooden paddle. Now that hurt, I didn't do it again. There are other examples but I sure you got the picture.

I never saw myself having authority. I was always the victim. So you might wonder, why did I ever join the military (AUTHORITY)? I don't have an answer other than, I didn't know what else to do. I felt rudderless, going no place fast. I had no clue. God had a clue.

While I was ignoring him He put me where I needed to be. It wasn't long after I had joined the Army I was introduced to 2 concepts of authority. Vested Authority and Earned Authority. Vested Authority is what is given to you because of your rank or position. The title, boss comes with Vested Authority. You are the decision maker, write evaluations on people who work for you and you can spend money. Then there is Earned Authority. Authority given to you out of respect and display of character. Leadership, listening, sharing, giving respect to others. As it has been said to me, "It's a two way street".

Christ came into this world as a humble child, poor, and a nobody. It was His Father who provided Him with Vested Authority, "The Son of the Living God". Christ earned authority with loving and caring for those He came into contact with. There was no beating over the head with a hammer approach. Christ offered what His Father had given Him. As one without authority Christ came into this world to touch you.

Do you have trouble with authority? Try Christ, He will surprise you. You can accept Him, reject Him or just walk away. But He will be quietly waiting for you when you decide. God Loves You.

The Air Force in all of its wisdom decided I needed to be assigned to a northern tier base, so I was sent to F.E. Warren AFB, in Cheyenne, Wyoming. There is a saying in the Air Force, "There is no such thing as a bad assignment". Don't mention that to my wife, Ann. She thought we were being sent to Siberia. It turned out to be one of my best assignments according to me.

F.E. Warren is a missile base. It managed missile silos in and around the region. The chaplain's responsibility was to visit the personnel assigned to the silos. Our travel could be as close as Sheridan, Wyoming or as far away as North Dakota, out in the middle of nowhere.

While the visits were routine, they were nothing but routine during the winter. We were required to make a visits with teams of 2. We were required to have winter gear with us. Winter parkas, winter boots, extra heavy duty gloves, and blankets. We were to have enough food and water to last us a week. The thought was you didn't want to get stranded in the middle of a blizzard without an emergency survival kit. In my pea brain I thought, "Who is going to get stranded?". And Oh by the way, it was before the use of cell phones.

On one of our winter trips we did get stranded about 30 miles from Fortuna, North Dakota. My first prayer was, "Oh God what are we going to do now?" The temperature was hovering around 15-20 degrees below zero. No houses, no gas stations, no towns.

God had a way of getting my attention. I wasn't a praying person until then. Since I am writing this I did survive.

This winter has been an especially cold winter. It has brought back memories of nearly freezing to death near Fortuna. Fortunately we had what we needed to survive. We were required to be prepared.

In my faith I don't leave home without being prepared spiritually. I take God with me. Whatever mess I get myself into, with the help of God I find a way out because I allow Him to lead me.

If you find yourself stranded, remember God provides survival gear, in His promise, His faith in you, and a never ending love that is always with you. You can rely on Him for that. Because He loves us we are never stranded.

One of the least favorite things to do while I am in Haiti is to walk the road at night. Between villages there are no street lights. Except for the occasional car that might pass by, the road is pitch black. Other than the light from a full moon you must make your way in total darkness. In all the years I have been traveling to the country, I have never gotten use to it. It scares me to be walking along the road and not knowing who I am going to meet on the road.

That is the way it is with my faith. I take to heart the scripture, "Christ is the light of the world. In Him there is no darkness".

My family gets upset with me sometimes because I will turn all the lights on in the house, even if I am not in the room . Why? I just do. Am I afraid of the dark? Not really, unless I am in Haiti.

Once you experience the light of Christ, darkness is not a friend unless you want to hide. As a boy for punishment my mother would make me sit in a dark closet. It wouldn't be for every long but it was long enough that I would be grateful when the door was opened.

In walking with Christ, I am rest assured that He will show me the way. I might wonder off the path occasionally but Christ leads me back through the light that He shines to show me the way. I am like others, sometimes I think I can find my own way back but end up getting lost. I then wonder around until I give in and ask Christ to help me find the way.

Whatever you might be facing today that brings darkness to your life rest assured Christ will help you find the way if you ask. He will always get you where you need to be. You can trust him for that because God Loves You!

One of the things Ann and I enjoyed doing while traveling the world be to go site-seeing. One of our favorite places to go was London, England. There, we would head out to the "Eye". The Eye is a huge Ferris Wheel that sits on the bank of the River Thames. As the wheel would turn, you would reach the top and you could look out over all of London and the surrounding countryside. A panoramic view of God's creation and handiwork.

There is a verse in Ephesians chapter 2, that tells us, "For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do". God has charged us with a purpose. The challenge for me is to make my life meaningful. To make it worthwhile. To make a difference.

I was privy to a midnight conversation between 2 Drill Sergeants when I was a young recruit. They were having a discussion about me. The 1 Sergeant thought I wasn’t smart enough and I was not going to make it. It was the other sergeant that spoke up for me, saying, “Give him a chance, he’s going to be Ok”.

It turned out I was ok, and I was smart enough. The sergeant who spoke up for me made a difference in my life. I am where I am today because of his belief in my potential. Never sell someone short, the world is full of surprises. Remember, “We are God’s Handiwork and He wants us to do good works.

As I write this thought I am looking out the window watching my neighbor plow my sidewalk and my driveway. He just shows up and does it. He makes a difference in my life. He is a kind and thoughtful soul who makes a difference in the neighborhood.

You are God’s handiwork, God calls you to find a way to make a difference in someone’s life. Our purpose in life is to answer God’s call, “To love one another as He loves us. I am going out to thank my neighbor so I leave you with these thoughts. God Loves You!

With just one shot, I killed a turtle. It was a long, long time ago but the memory still lingers.

Being a typical boy I would take my 22 rifle out in the woods and pretend to be the great white hunter. I would shoot meadow larks in the fields, I would ping black birds at the garbage dump near home. I would shoot anything that flew out of trees, thinking I was a great shot. I've come to realize that killing is pure evil. I didn't know that at the young age of 11.

The events of today's world constantly remind me of how people can do bad things. The protesters fighting in Minneapolis, the existence of ICE, the killing of a young mother. Where does it stop? I shot the turtle for no apparent reason. I happened upon it, it was hissing at me, I shot it. End of story!. But I didn't realize the story just started. I didn't think about it much while I was young. Since then, I have gotten older and wiser?

There is not a week or sometimes daily I don't think about that turtle. What I did was ended an innocent life. I carry regret and I have asked God to forgive me. I am sure He has but I haven't found my way there yet. I asked the question, Where does it all stop?

It stopped for me at the foot of the Cross. I discovered the Prince of Peace, the man who forgives, the man who loves regardless of what you do.

Over time I gave away all my weapons. My shotguns, my trusty 22, my BB gun. To this day I will not allow a weapon in my home.

If you find you live a life with regret, there is a Prince of Peace out there waiting for you to discover Him. I can't undo what I did, I live with it every day. I use it as a reminder of how badly I need to place my soul in God's hands. That is where I find redemption, forgiveness and most of all love. We can use a little more of that in today's world don't you think?

God Loves You.

I get bored easily. I am aways needing a project, something to do. Sitting around one day I decided to learn to fly. I was living in Columbus at the time. I was between quarters as a student attending The Ohio State University. I got the phone book out, looked up a flight school. I enrolled and started ground school the next week.

Ground School was learning the mechanics of flight, regulations, medical qualifications and certification. When ground school was done, the practical side kicked in. I went flying with an instructor, learning the characteristics of the airplane and practice, practice, practice.

The day came as I and the instructor were taxiing to the runway. The instructor told me to stop short of the runway, got out of the plane and said, "You are ready to solo. Fly the plane and do 3 take offs and landings."
An incredible feeling of responsibility. My first thought was, "I am going to die”. Well, I am still here, I received my license and still take care when I fly.

I thought it would be good to get my instrument rating. That was a whole new ball game. As I and the instructor took off from the airfield, he familiarized me with the instruments, especially the horizontal indicator which tells you if you are flying level in reference to the ground. I was instructed to fly into a cloud bank. Of course I had no reference to the ground. I had this sensation I was upside down. The instructor made an important statement. "Learn to trust your Instruments no matter what your mind tells you." Following that advise saved me on more than one occasion.

Our faith in Jesus is like that. Learning to trust Him no matter what our minds tell us. All our religious training prepares us for TRUST. Going to church, being taught scripture in Sunday School, what Jesus says on the cross. Like anything else our Faith needs practice. Not only to be hearers but Doers until it becomes second nature.

My advice this day, if you need something different in your life, enroll in God’s flight school. Learn what it is to fly with Christ, learn to trust Him and if you do He will see you through to the other side.

Yesterday, when sitting in church, it occurred to me that when it comes to people, "I am Colorblind". I thank God for that. Here is how it happened...

I grew up in the south. I lived in a little southern bubble. I went to a segregated school, segregated church, ate in segregated restaurants and lived in a segregated neighborhood. My father, when he needed
extra help on his construction job, would go over to the black side of town and pick out one or two boys looking for day work. For me, at that time, that was the way life was. "It was normal".

One of the smartest decisions I ever made was to leave home. I didn't want to live in a "nowhere town becoming nobody". My parents had already moved back north to Ohio.

One morning out of the blue, I decided to join the U.S. Army. God was shaking my tree and old rotten fruit was falling to the ground. While the Army was a hard adjustment for this immature boy, God was hard at work opening my eyes to the rest of the world. I remember most of the time being afraid. Afraid of strange people, strange places and not knowing what I was really doing. "I was just doing".

Couple all of this with the fact I wanted noting to do with God I had been forced fed most of my young life with conservative judgmental religion. God finally got ahold of me and showed me a much better way to live. Part of that was to make me colorblind to people. I don't see people of color, I see people who belong to God just as I do. There is so much others have to offer me as I experience the Holy Spirit in relationships. This didn't happen just overnight. It is something that has just evolved over time.

If you are questioning why God doesn't make things better in your life, allow God to make you colorblind. See the world in a whole new different way. Enjoy life, God's way. I left home not knowing what was going to happen to me but I was open to change. I know for a fact God wants to make you a better person. We all need to be better people in this world. It is God's world because he loves you.

I have not given much thought about being in a Community until recently. Ann and I live in a really nice community. We have lived in this Community since 2005. It's the longest place we have ever lived having moved constantly in the military. Obviously we like our Community. It is safe, it is quiet, neighbors mind their own business but we support each other if someone is in need. I call this a living Community. A place to call home.

I recently was reminded of another Community. A Community that provides love and care, a Community that provides acceptance. One of the most important things about a Community is how people live out their faith-walk.

I have a close friend who often reminds me of a scripture in the New Testament book of James. "Be doers of the word, not just hearers". Personally, I believe that faith without
works is an empty faith. I am surrounded by people of faith who demonstrate how faith directs their lives. I also live in a faith Community. I have friends who sit with me during dark times. People of faith who send cards of support and good wishes. Food that shows up on my door-step from people who are doers. Even faithful people who leave me alone when I need to be
by myself.

A long time ago there was a faithful Community led by a prophet named Jesus. His love and care and sacrifice changed the world.

Because of this man called Jesus, he changed my life. While I live in a Community that provides life, I also live in a Community where Christ comes alive. A Community of prayer, of hope, a community that welcomes everyone. The bottom line is I have come to rely on this Community to provide me the connection I so much need in Jesus Christ. When I am with this community I feel the presence of Christ, not so much in what they say, but what they do.

In the name of Jesus do something for someone today. You can change a life.

Each Christmas my daughter, Kate, and I have a discussion as to what I want for Christmas. My response is always, "nothing sweetheart, I have everything I need." I tell her if she is home for Christmas and mom is there that is all I need. Kate’s response usually is, “Get serious Dad”. Then we go back and forth arguing.

This year I want it to be a little different. For my readers out there, if you are a parent, a grandparent or a great grandparent, I want you to give your children a hug and tell them you love them. I have always thought that is the perfect Christmas gift. Do it now, even if it’s over
the phone or letter.

I am a little sensitive this year. As a pastor/chaplain I don’t always get to see the good stuff. I was on duty at Dayton Children's last week and received a page to respond to a Alpha-trauma event in the emergency room. I will not go into the details but the outcome was not good. An
in-home accident took the life of a child. As a chaplain, I was there along with Patient Service, Social Work and Medical Staff. There was nothing we could do other than to be present. The young parent’s grief was deep and inconsolable. All I could offer was my presence. In the midst of her tears, the mother asked me to pray for her daughter. I did.

I have come to believe that there is no perfect gift other than giving yourself. Yes, I know, we have presents under the tree, but that is not the same. I have read somewhere that what children want the most is the attention of a loving parent or grandparent. All else falls away.

So if you are not sure of what to give this year, give of your time and tell your family your love them. Write a letter, hang it on the tree, and read it on Christmas Eve/morning.

Even though we suffer through devastating losses in life, Christ still comes in the morning. He comes for you, He comes for me and He comes for all of mankind. He comes for these young parents to share in the grief, to provide His Holy presence.

Hug/tell your children, grandchildren or those you love. Make Jesus come alive this Christmas season.

God Loves You!

Long before the convenience of scheduled trash pick-up my family used Burn Barrels behind house. No Waste Management or Rumpke for us. They didn't exist anyway.

Anytime we needed to take the trash out my mom would gather it up, take it out to the back edge of our yard and dump in in the barrel. Then she would burn it. Me being me, I couldn't leave well enough alone and decided to "play with fire". I got a long stick and was stirring the fire in the barrel. Well one thing led to another. I managed to flick the embers onto the ground next to the barrel. Before I knew it, the grass caught fire and it started spreading.

Well the problem was, there was a woods sitting next to my yard. Before I knew it, the woods caught fire. By the time the Fire Department came most of the woods was on fire. The firemen quickly put the fire out as I faded into the background. Of course my mother grabbed me by the neck and used a willow switch on me. Nothing else was said.

At the point of ashes and soot what could be said?

In my spiritual journey, I discovered a better way of playing with fire.

Somewhere in that journey I happened upon the story of Moses and the burning bush. I discovered the Spirit of the Lord. My Sunday School teachers would tell me I ought to catch fire with the Spirit of the Lord. My relationship with God is full of ups and downs. I carry a fire extinguisher of sorts for safety reasons.

That is how I wrestle with my creator.

I don’t expect you to go out and play with fire. I share with you that catching the fire of the Holy Spirit is life-giving. It is God saying to us. “Catch fire with me. I will walk with you, talk with you and be your companion in your journey.”

With God there is no need to call the Fire Department.

God Loves You,

Just a Thought, Not a Sermon.

I read a story once about a little boy who was sitting on a park bench enjoying the afternoon. He still had an active fantasy world. It was a place where he dreamed of things that could be. He was actively fantasizing playing a cowboy. He was always one of the good guys in
in cops and robbers.

As he continued to sit on the bench he took a break eating a snack. Over the course of a few minutes he became very quiet. He discovered he was no longer able to fantasize. His play world had disappeared. It was his time to enter the world of reality.

His life had changed in a matter of seconds. He was hit head on with the responsibilities of going to school, home work, mowing the lawn and "Being the man of the House." All of a sudden he didn't live in a perfect world.

My fantasy world disappeared a long time ago. A world where I thought everyone was a friend, where every afternoon was carefree. One of the things I most wanted to do was to become a Boy Scout. I wanted to belong to something bigger. My father use to pick me up after school. I told him I wanted to join the Boy Scouts, but I didn't know where the meetings were held. I begged my father to find out and take me to a meeting. After a couple of weeks he did. I was all excited as he dropped me off.

As I joined the group, I was trying to fit in. All I remember was 2-3 boys started talking to me. They shared with me they didn't want me there. I didn't belong and don't come back. I went and sat down on a bench by myself feeling rejected and alone. I never told anyone what happened and never went back. While I know it's wrong, I will not have anything to do with the Boy Scouts even today. My perfect world was gone. I have discovered as you have, we don't live in a fantasy world. The world is not perfect. My dad use to say, "Get over it."

The point to this story is somewhere along the way, I found a perfect savior. He accepts me as I am. He invites me in. He wants a a relationship with me. He loves me. How about you? Do you need someone in your life that loves you unconditionally? It's not a fantasy. The reality of it is Christ is real. There is always a bench available to sit down and think on it. God does really love you.

Just a Thought, Not a Sermon.

A question I ask is, "Have you ever had a mountain top experience?"
An experience you embraced wholeheartedly, coming out the other side
you were completely exhilarated. The experiences are hard to come by
but we certainly remember them.

I am not an overly athletic guy. I jog, I lift weights. I don't
over do it. While I was the Wing Chaplain at Misawa Air Base,Japan
I had the opportunity to join the Catholic Mens group from the chapel.
They had decided to travel to Tokyo and go to the base of Mount Fuji.
The goal was to climb the mountain. There were a couple of guidelines
we had to follow. One, stay together as best we could. There was a
certain point we had to climb to. If we were not at that point by 2 pm,
we had to turn around and come back down. No one was allowed to
spend the night on the mountain.

So at 7 am in the morning the trek began. A long slow difficult journey.
Not impossible, but not easy. As we got higher on this 12,389 foot
mountain, breathing got more difficult as the air thinned. We had to
stop more often to catch our breath which we never did. Two hours into
the climb, we started seeing some members in our group turning around
and heading back back down. Somebody forgot to tell us fighting
altitude sickness was part of the climb. I made it to the top around
3 pm. I sat there completely satisfied and exhausted. I did it, I made it.

I made it to the mountaintop. I rested looking out over Tokyo and the
valley below. After about 30 minutes, I decided to make my way back
down to the base. Even getting down from the peak took 2 hours, but I
had my mountaintop experience.

In our walk with Jesus I have discovered that mountain top experiences
can come when you least expect them. God calls us to serve others.
Walking with God you can change a life, you can save a life. You can
share a one of a kind experience of loving someone else.

By doing so, you discover the experiences God gives you are, "One of
a Kind". The kind that will change your life. God loves You!

Sometimes I will have a discussion with someone about getting older and they will inform me that God is not done with me yet. Events in my life have proven that true. Yes, God is not done with me yet. One of my tee shirts I wear has the logo printed on the front,
"Sometimes I look back on my life and I am seriously amazed I am still alive".

A couple of events in my life prove God is not done with me yet. Earlier in my life I would travel with my mother to go see my grandmother. She lived near Steubenville, Ohio. My mother would drive a hilly and twisty country road to get there. On one trip early in the morning as we were making our way to grandma's my mother fell asleep at the wheel. The car left the roadway went over an embankment, rolled 3 or 4 times until a tree stopped us. I was asleep at the time but was shaken awake by the tumbling.

We were able to get out of the car, climb the embankment to the edge of the road. My mom flagged the next car down to give us a ride into town.

Another event was when we were spending a couple of days with my aunt. She had a lot of bad luck in her life, she didn't make a lot of good life choices. She ended up being an alcoholic, married two or three times to alcoholic men. Never a good scene. Spending the night with her one night, I was sleeping on the couch in the living room. I was startled awake early one morning with glass bottles being thrown against the wall. Her husband came home drunk, he was upset because he couldn't find what he wanted. He came into the living room yelling and
screaming. Fortunately, my older cousin intervened and stopped him, but not before he drew a pistol and started firing it into the ceiling. My cousin wrestled the gun from him and held him on the ground until the police came.

Yep, over my life span, I discovered God is not done with me yet. I am sure you have had events in your life that have given you pause. Now that I am older I realize God really loves me. I have got more to do. God will tell me when it's time. Until then, I give credit
to God for all things. How about you? If you are here He is not done with you yet. Give thanks to God for each day and do sometime for him. That is the least you can do as a faithful follower.

Just a Thought, Not a Sermon! 

As Max Lucado writes in “Next Door Savior, most families keep their family secrets secret." A few years ago, Ann and I had the opportunity to travel to Israel to tour the sites. I was especially impressed with the Garden Tomb. It sat outside the gates of Jerusalem. A garden among rocks. While there we were given the opportunity to take communion. A total of 43 pilgrims had traveling together. People from FL, OH, IL, NJ, CO, AR, GA, and CA. Part of our group we had 3 ladies from South Africa. Their histories spoke of struggles of Apartheid and becoming Christians by the grace of God.

As we stood around the communion table, I reflected on where everyone was from. I asked the question of everyone, "What did it take for you to be here, in this place, near the tomb of Christ. I gave them a moment of silent reflection. We have all been shaped by
important events, important people, things that allowed you to arrive here in this sacred place. As Jesus says, "I have been there". We are all apart of the Tilted Halo Family."

My journey starts with being born in a Unwed Mothers Home, adopted, juvenile delinquency, bullied on the playground, and joined the military for structure and discipline. Some of the things that make up my life. By the grace of God I stand at the foot of the tomb. I stand at the foot of the Cross. I stand amazed that God has been my unknowing companion through the years even when I wanted to walk alone. Christ is certainly my Next Door Savior. As Popeye would say, I yam what I yam. Thank God I am Yam!

We are in this together, not only as friends, but also as Christian brothers. I am glad you made it here. Think about that. The events and history in your life were directed by God. Sharing a Next Door Savior let’s enjoy and share the journey that God has set before us. God is waiting for us to step out and hold His Hand.

Just a Thought, Not a Sermon.

SANCTUARY
October 3, 1941-December 7, 2014

If my memory serves me right, Jim started attending Southern Hills United Methodist Church about the same time I became the pastor there in 2007. At that time, he really did not draw attention to himself. It was
when Jim met Cheryl that I became more aware of him as he asked if I would marry them. I gladly did and I slowly got to know Jim more.

My story with Jim really begins somewhere around 2012.

The more I got to know Jim, the more I became aware that his life was a struggle. When he showed up at Southern Hills he was seeking sanctuary, he was seeking grace, he was seeking forgiveness, he was seeking reconciliation, he was seeking acceptance. These things were very fleeting for him because he knew they could be snatched away at any second.

My real story with Jim begins one night in 2011 or 2012. He called me late one evening and felt it was urgent to talk with me. We arranged a meeting at McDonalds. I didn’t have a clue what was on his mind.

As we sat down together, he stated he was going to have to leave the church. Of course, being a pastor, my thought was how did I offend him? Did I say something, did I do something to upset him? Nooo—he just said he was going to have to leave the church. He couldn’t stay there any longer.

"Jim, at least tell me why?" I said. "Have I done something to offend you?" He responded by saying, "I can’t outrun it and if people find out, they will want me to leave, so I am going to leave before that happens."

I thought what could be so bad that he needs to leave? Unpaid traffic tickets, bad checks? Jim said, "It’s really bad." I said, "OK, tell me." "I spent 23 years in prison," he said. I will say, my jaw dropped. It certainly wasn’t speeding tickets.

OK, I repeated my question, "Why do you need to leave the church?" "Because eventually I am going to have to when people find out," he said.

"Well, Jim, I am not going to make you leave," I said. "As a matter of fact I would be very disappointed if you do leave."

"I can’t control what other people say, or do, but I will tell you that God wants you in this church," I continued. "I want you in this church. There is absolutely no reason to leave."

Over time, Southern Hills became very important to Jim and to Cheryl. He found a spiritual home when he didn’t have one. As a pastor I wanted him to have a chance to have sanctuary, to find grace, to experience some sort of reconciliation in his life.

Jim was a tough man who had to learn to fight to survive in prison, but he was soft at heart because somewhere along the way God touched him. So, we settled the issue, Jim was staying, I would back him up, if any questions arose. Upon authority as a pastor of the living Gospel, I gave him permission to call Southern Hills home.

He became part of this church, because it became his home.

His secret was no longer a secret to me, I took him at his word, I gave him trust, and he trusted me. With God’s help his life was a little fuller, a little more complete.

Communion — He felt he didn’t deserve it, but I wanted him to be first in line because that is where God wanted him to be.

He found what he was looking for. He shared what happiness he had with those around him. God was very important to him. Sitting in the pew, he found sanctuary. He found acceptance. He found grace to be real as he took God’s word to heart. Jim became a tree that bore fruit and discovered love.

Jim died in 2014 suffering a heart attack. I was privileged to perform his memorial service. I came to love the man.

We too, can become trees that bear fruit. We just need a little acceptance and love. It’s what Jesus would want you to do.

Just a Thought, Not a Sermon

My father bought me a new bike for Christmas when I was 10 years old. It was a big deal since I had never had a new bike. My cousin and I were out taking turns riding it one day and we decided it needed to be painted. We took a can of house paint and brush and painted the bike a bright orange. The bike looked awful. I realized what I did, but there was no Do-Over!

My father had a tool shed, which I loved to look around in and tinker with the tools. One day I found a new 5-gallon bucket of roofing tar. I took a wrench and managed to punch holes all the way around the top lid. There was a whipping but no Do-Over.

One year my mother saved money for Christmas presents and bought me 2 pair of Jeans. They were too long to wear without rolling up. I didn’t think that was cool. I begged my mother to let me cut the legs off to fit. They didn’t fit after I finished cutting. They were way too short. My mother was disappointed to say the least and I was made wear them to school all year after she sewed the severed legs together. There was no Do-Over.

When God created us, we were made perfect. There was no need for a Do-Over on His part. God loved what He made. We often think that we need to have Do-Overs to make ourselves better! We forget that God made us perfect in His sight but then we go screw things up when we think we can improve the model that God made.

Why is it that we think we are like Ford? “We have a better idea!” God created us in such a way that he allows for our mistakes. Spiritually, we have Do-Overs if we continue to fall short. God allows us to pick ourselves up and try again. Through God’s grace we have as many spiritual Do-Overs as we need. It is who God reminds us that we should try to make our next spiritual Do-Over last. We never know if we will have a chance for another one.

Just a Thought, Not a Sermon.

Some years before I decided to enter the military Chaplaincy I decided I
wanted a year’s worth of clinical pastoral training in a psychiatric
setting. I figured it would be a cinch, after all I had spent almost 4 years
in a psychiatric/social work setting in the Army. On my first day of
training I was given a briefing, a set of keys and the task of finding some
patients to talk with. I thought “REALLY is that it?!” I was immediately
out of my comfort zone. Under my breath I was screaming HELP! don’t
leave me alone with these crazy people. I might be able to offer Jesus,
but the patients certainly had nothing to offer me. After all, they were
crazy, they lived in a mumble-jumble world that didn’t make sense to
me. They didn’t make sense to anyone, that’s why they were residents
in a psychiatric hospital.

In my wandering the hospital grounds one afternoon, I encountered a
young lady who was sitting on a bench by herself. I thought it would be
safe enough to just sit there with her and strike up a conversation. After
some uncomfortable moments, she finally told me her name, “Dorothy”.
Dorothy would talk for a few minutes, give me a big smile, then pass gas,
then she would laugh. She would talk some more, doing it all over again.
In layman’s terms, she certainly was crazy, never making sense. You
know after a while she became a good friend. REALLY! Dorothy had
become institutionalized having been there over 20 years. Her parents
placed her in the hospital because she was always misbehaving.

Some months later, I received a call from the medical unit, Dorothy had
been hospitalized with congestive heart failure, she didn’t have much
longer to live. I went to see Dorothy, expecting the “crazy Dorothy” I
had come to know.

As I stood next to her bed, Dorothy looked at me with a clear mind and
said, Hi Chaplain. I was surprised! I was not in the presence of “crazy
Dorothy” but a beautiful young lady, a Dorothy, who had a pleasant
smile.

I offered to pray with her as I held her hand. She asked me if I thought
God loved her? She wanted to know if she was going to be able to meet
Jesus in heaven? I told her she would be holding hands with Jesus
today, and we prayed. She held my hand tightly and after the prayer she
didn’t want to let go. I was her connection to Jesus. Dorothy passed
away later that evening.

The lesson I have carried with me all these years has been that
sometimes people need to hold your hand because you are the only
connection they have to feel the presence of Jesus. Touching is life
giving, if not here, then in the presence of Christ. REALLY!!

Just a Thought, Not a Sermon

“BISCUITS”

Biscuits, Coke-Cola, Tennessee and an “Ole Baptist preacher led me to find a relationship with God. No kidding it’s a part of my spiritual journey.

As families go, I didn’t know my grandpa on my father’s side. He wasn’t a feely, touchy person. I can remember sitting next to him on the couch one time. He sat ramrod straight, starched white shirt, black pants with suspenders, black pointy shoes that he would wear on Sundays. He had a white handlebar mustache. He reminded me of the portrait of the farmer in American Gothic. He was stoic and humorless and I thought he was always staring at me. I remember him most for his love of chewing tobacco.

His favorite was Days of Work. As I sat next to him would cut off a plug and pop it in his mouth. I vividly remember the smell because the tobacco was laced with licorice.

My dad would make an annual visit to Elizabethton, Tennessee to visit grandpa. He lived in an old tin roofed farmhouse siting on a hill overlooking the main road. There were chickens in the yard for Sunday Dinner, a swing on the front porch and a well in the back of the house. When you went to bed at night there were chamber pots in each bedroom. Still, the worse part, my father had 17 brothers and sisters. Never remembered them all ever.

The bad deal, my father felt compelled to visit each one. It meant half a day at each house. We would always be fed and the central staple was homemade biscuits. Oh Boy, every time we moved on to another brother or
sister, more biscuits.

One of my dad’s sisters (Viola) married a Baptist preacher. In turn when we would visit their house I would beg to stay because I loved the man. Uncle
Hubert was his name. He had a sense of humor. When greeting him as he sat on his front porch, we asked him what he was doing. His response would be, “I am taking care of my wife’s husband” with a big smile on his face.

I would love to spend the night with them. Breakfast was an adventure. In my mind. At the table he looked at me and would ask, “What would you like?” before I could say anything, he offered me a Coke-Cola and a biscuit.

I’d never heard of that before. Being a religious man, he never talked about God. God came through his humor, his warmth and his outward love. Over the years I discovered God became relatable to me in a good way. Hubert helped me see the joy in being a God-Person. He didn’t have to preach.

I am thankful for Hubert’s life as a God-Person. Find joy today. Be a God-Person.

Just a Thought, Not a Sermon.