While preparing to leave a home I was visiting for the church, I noticed a turtle underneath someone else’s car. I told my friend Scott who was with me that I needed to move that turtle. He shrugged his shoulders in not so positive affirmation but I went ahead to rescue the turtle. The car it was under was small, so I got down on my stomach and crawled underneath the car for my attempted mission of mercy. I reached with my hands on each side of the turtle… When I did,the turtle stuck it’s face and neck out at my face…it look like one of those 3D Movies where the creature jumps out at you from the screen! About that time some friends of mine came out of the house and witnessed this unusual confrontation between man and beast. I could hear them laughing as I tried to drop the turtle, dance with the turtle, and somehow wiggle backwards as I continually bumped my head on the bottom of the car! My only previous experience with turtles was with the benign box turtle, not the ferocious snapping turtle!
Somehow, both me and the unfriendly snapping turtle survived that trumatic ordeal. This reminds me how some things seem like a good idea to hop in and help, but if you aren’t properly equipped or don’t have the right information, it can be disastrous. The Bible encourages us to be careful, that ” it is not good to have zeal without knowledge.”- Proverbs 19: 2 (NIV). Sometimes, it is best to wait and get all the facts before committing to do something. If possible, to take some time to pray, think of all the options, and get good advice. I haven’t always done that, though I strive to be more wise and cautious about major commitments in my life. May God grant you and me wisdom today as we make decisions…and yes, watch out for snapping turtles too…

“God cares for you, so turn all your worries over to Him” – 1Peter 5:7 ( CEV)

Have you ever noticed how all kinds of people are attracted to rocking chairs? Little children like them as well as Senior Adults. I have even had them in my office. I observed when people would come for a counseling appointment they might be uptight or stressed about some problem…yet they would relax as they sat in the rocking chair…It had a calming effect. In fact, research indicates that it lowers blood pressure and stress, also it is good exercise for the mind, body, and spirit.
My good friend Charlie Caudle at my home church in North Carolina used to sing a little song when things got really busy and hectic: ” I’m going down to the river, going to carry me a Rocking Chair…and if the blues don’t leave me, I’m going to rock on out of here.” Sometimes it is good to stop a few minutes and take a break to relax and recharge yourself. I have tried a little Yoga, Yogurt ( I liked the low fat frozen chocolate the best! ) and Tai Chi ( and also Nacho Cheese)… But I still prefer some time in a good rocking chair to really relax for a while.
Spending some time in a rocking chair gives you time to clear your thoughts and think about what is really important in your life. Many times, I have done this to refocus my attitude and my actions in the right direction. It is also provides us an opportunity to pray and reflect things and people we are so thankful for in our life.
At my parent’s old house on Stoney Mountain Road in Hendersonville, NC; there were some rocking chairs on the front porch. I used to like to sit there and watch a thunderstorm come over the mountain or listen to the birds in the trees. My mom’s favorite bird was a cardinal. She said God always sent one by her house to check on her everyday and to remind her that He was watching over her and cared for her. After my mom’s funeral, I went back by the house. I was just sitting in the rocking chair reflecting on what a great mom I had and what a tremendous blessing she had been to me and many others. Then, a cardinal flew up onto the porch and stood right beside me and the rocking chair. It stayed a long time there just staring at me…my wife Linda came out on the porch to check on me and she saw it too. We both thought the same thing…It was as if God had sent a little message to us from Heaven to let us know mom was ok and that we would be too because God cares for us.
Jesus said: ” Look at the birds in the sky. They don’t plant or harvest. They don’t even store grain in the barns. Yet your Father in Heaven takes care of them. Aren’t you worth more than birds?” Matthew 6:26 (CEV)

It has been about a year since my Aunt Laura passed away, yet her impact and influence upon my life is timeless.She was known as “Mama Bearcat” in my hometown in North Carolina.. She acquired that title for her love and support for the kids that went to our local High School, where we were known as the Hendersonville Bearcats. She loved kids and loved sports, so she attended all the games. She help raise me and scores of other children at her home and at the preschool ministry of First Baptist Church. She also ran the local miniature golf park for the city recreation department. In fact, they ended up naming the park in her honor.
When I think of the amazing impact of her life, I am drawn to how she lived her daily life to the upmost. She was never seemed to be in a hurry but yet got so many things done and still always still had time to talk and share with you. Abraham Lincoln said: ” And in the end, it is not the years in your life that count. It is the life in your years.” Laura accomplished both.
She really knew how to enjoy life and make the most of each day. She knew how to have fun along the way. I remember one time in particular, when she went to the beach with my family. The family was tired except for Laura, who went for a late night walk down on the beach. After a while, my mom and brother got concerned for Laura and went looking for her. It was very dark and hard to see much. They heard this noise..Ooooooh…They looked up and it was her, sitting in a lifeguard stand making the scary noise! She could have fun anywhere or anytime.
She and I had a special bond with our love for people and having fun each day. There are many life lessons I learned from her that have greatly influenced my life. I would to share two in particular:
PEOPLE ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN THINGS
She put a higher priority on people rather than accumulating things. She loved people. She took time to talk with you and when she did, you had her undivided attention. It was if you were the most important person to her at that moment. She would remember specific things about you and ask questions because she really cared about you as an individual. She thought material things were to be used as little gifts for other people. She had that special knack to give the perfect gift or card that was unique for you. In a world that is growing more and more selfish…she was so unselfish. This world would be a better place if we could learn from her life that people are more important than things.
DON’T LET YOUR DISAPPOINTMENTS CONFINE YOU OR DEFINE WHO YOU ARE
Laura, my Mom and my Uncle Kenneth grew up during the Great Depression and even had to live in an orphanage for some time, while my grandmother who was a single mom went to find a job up North. Aunt Laura faced a lot of disappointments and health issues during her life, yet she refused To let it change who she was as a person…Most people would have given into discouragement or despair but not her. She always somehow adapted and kept going inspite of the circumstances.
She was a great person that God used in a special way in my life. I am sure you have people like her in your life too. Maybe they are no longer here like my Aunt, but we can be thankful that their impact and influence lives on in our hearts today…

I ran into the popular Christian writer Beth Moore one day at a bookstore…(actually it was her book display with her picture I ran into by accident).I felt so stupid and insecure as people watched me pick up the books…then I noticed the title of her book: “So Long Insecurity”… (by the way, it is an excellent book). The truth is, we all have those times when we feel so insecure about ourselves.
It is so important for us to place the ultimate source of our security into our relationship with with God. Hebrews 13:5 states that God will never leave us or forsake us. That is one of many Bible verses where God encourages us as we put our trust in Him. Here are some more to reflect on:

– “My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him. He alone is my rock and salvation; He is my fortress, I will never be shaken.” Psalm 62: 1&2 (NIV)

-“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.” 2Peter 1:3 ( NIV)

-“You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [ both it’s inclination and character ] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to you, leans on You and hopes confidently in You.” Isaiah 26:3 ( Amplified Bible )

-“People who do what is right may have many problems, but the Lord will solve them all.” Psalm 34: 19 ( NLT)

-“Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6 ( NIV)

May God grant you that amazing grace today as you base your confidence in Him …

“The mountains are calling…and I must go” – John Muir, Legendary Naturalist

“See you at the top of the mountain” is usually what my friends say to me when we go hiking. They know my pace is much slower. I have been so blessed with friends and family that share my love of the mountains. I have always enjoyed hiking and taking a break by getting away from it all with a quiet walk there. My aging earth suit ( body) has placed limits on me, but I refuse to let aches and pains to keep me from enjoying God’s beautiful creation. John Muir was a key influence in the formation of our national parks. He wrote in 1912, while camping in what later became Yosemite National Park: “Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to the body and soul.” That is still so true today.
Two of my favorite Bible verses always come to my mind when I visit the mountains.” Be still and know I am God” ( Psalm 46: 10) reminds me the importance of focusing on the majesty of God. Isaiah 30:15 states: ” In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength.” It is in a quiet place, free from distractions that our strength can be renewed. This isn’t limited to the mountains. It could be by a lake, stream, ocean, or your own backyard watching the sunset. It also doesn’t always require a whole day or afternoon, sometimes just a few minutes will encourage you.
We are all on life’s journey. Please take time to enjoy time with the Creator of Heaven and Earth…

Late one night, I heard a lot of noise in our garage and then I could smell the distinctive odor of a skunk. A skunk had somehow got in our garage and saw our black cat and evidently mistaken it for another skunk. As I jumped to my feet and headed out the door ( still half asleep),my wife handed me a spray can of deodorizer. I was now armed and ready! The next thing I know, I am chasing the skunk around our yard attempting to spray it with deodorizer! Then I became fully aware of my ridiculous course of action. The skunk left, the cat had escaped to a tree in our yard. It didn’t want anything to do with me either. I knocked on the door liked Fred Flintstone in the cartoons ” W-I-L-M-A (in my case L-I-N-D-A) …let me in!” … I couldn’t, because I now smelled like a skunk. I had to take an impromptu shower with the outside water hose first.
There are some experiences we encounter in life for which we are not prepared and feel very inadequate. Part of that isn’t necessarily our fault, we are just human and we live in an imperfect world with skunks, etc…How we respond is the key. I didn’t respond well that night, but it wasn’t due to lack of effort. Some times I think we are too hard on ourselves and others expecting everything and evybody to be perfect in our world all the time. I know one thing though for sure, I will not every go skunk hunting again…especially with a terrified cat and a can of deodorizer….

“The choices you make determine the oneness you enjoy. Isolation is Satan’s chief strategy for destroying marriage. Your marriage is deeply influenced by the culture in which you live, and much of that influence does not encourage oneness . Most couples have not adequately prepared for the gravitational pull of difficult adjustments on the marriage relationship.” – Dennis Rainey

The world we live in is full of built in distractions that can pull us away from the relationships that matter the most to us. We have to be intentional about keeping our primary relationships healthy. We can stay connected by Organizing our schedule around priorities instead of pressures.
This done by seperating and distinquishing our OBLIGATIONS and our OPTIONS in our schedules. One of the best ways to do this process is to take some time to ask some questions to clarify your priorities:
1. What are our 5 most important priorities for our family?
2. What some things we are currently doing that are keeping us from living by our priorities?
3. What are some things we can eliminate or cut back in our schedule that isn’t that necessary?
4. Put your Priorities in your schedule and on your calendar.
It is important to decide on a mutual time to discuss weekly schedule, maybe Sunday afternoon or evening, just before the week begins to adapt and adjust to last minute changes.
It is also important to Continue to “Date” your mate. Be creative, don’t get into a boring routine.
Develop a list of things you enjoy doing together, things you can do locally that are simple and inexpensive. It will not happen on a regular basis unless you put your date on your calendar. It will keep other things crowd intonyour time together.This also prevents your spouse from feeling that they are unimportant to you and not just get the “leftovers” of your time.
We also stay connected by taking time to Listen to each other each day . It is best to do this without distractions if possible. During your talk, be sure to ask follow up questions. This way you will find out more about really going on in their world that day. This often only takes a few minutes but it is time well spent. As you talk and listen to each other , do so in a way that honors the God who blessed you with a family. Psalms 19:14 (CEV) describes in this way: ” Let the words and my thoughts be pleasing to you, Lord.”
In staying connected with your children, take time to ask them about their day. It is also good for you as a parent or grandparent, whenever it is possible to take time to volunteer with your kids activities at church, school, sports and other things.
Staying connected with your family is worth the effort…

I have received some unusual gag gifts, such as a biscuit with tin foil in it (way too much fiber and crunch) and a trophy which said ” Last Place” (that made me feel good)..but there are good gifts too, some that cannot be found in a store or a box.
“Every day is a gift”…this is one of my favorite sayings. It really is true. In my work as a Pastor, I am often visiting hospitals, being with the family when someone is close to passing away, or praying with someone who is really facing difficult situations. All of these experiences remind me how precious and fragile life really is every day. We take so much for granted, assuming it will ” never happen to me” attitude or that we are so preoccupied with being busy, always in a hurry to somewhere out into the future and do not appreciate the here and now. How can we look at each day as a gift?
The most important thing is to realize it is a gift from God. ” This is the day the Lord has made, and I will rejoice and be glad in it” ( Psalm 150:6).I have always felt that this last verse in the book of Psalms teaches us, that as long as we are breathing we have a purpose in life and that is to praise the Lord.When we do this our focus is more on God more than ourselves. It helps us to look at our day through God’s eyes and not just our own point of view.
It also has a positive impact on our attitude and good influence on others. Psalms 118:24 states that “This is the day that the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” When we count our blessings it reflects our faith. A highly respected Christian leader,Dr. J.I. Packer challenges us when he said ” We dishonor God if we proclaim a Savior that satisfies…and then go around discontent.” Don’t miss the opportunities today to see that God is working in your life and to be a blessing to others, because the best gifts are the ones we share with others. By the way, everyday is a gift… with or without ice cream

“O Lord, hear me as I pray; pay attention to my groaning. Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for I pray to no one but You. ” – Psalm 5: 1-2. (NLT)

I once saw a Christian being interviewed on a TV show. She was asked “Does God always answer your prayers?” She responded: “No, not always and I ‘m thankful because if He had answered every prayer as I wanted, I would have married the wrong man 7 times before I met my husband! ”
Have you every wondered why doesn’t God answer your prayers concerning something that seems so important to you? Is it a lack of faith? Am I not using the “right words” when I pray? Am I praying with the “right motives”?
We have all had those thoughts at one time or another. It is important for us to know what God’s Word teaches us about this important topic.
Several things to keep in mind:
1. God created us and knows what is best for us. Psalms 100: 3 describes our relationship with God this way: ” Know that the Lord is God. It is He who has made us, and we are His. We are His people, the sheep of His pasture.” Sometimes God says NO because He has a better plan in place for us that we cannot see right now and what we want is not in our best interest long term.
2. God’s delays in answering our prayers are not necessarily His denials. God is not limited to time and is more interested in the right timing…and there is a big difference. Sometimes we are praying for the right thing but it isn’t the right time for it to happen in our lives. When this occurs, we should keep on faithfully praying and not get discouraged. Waiting patiently for God is not easy but it can build our relationship with God and be a positive example for others who know about our situation.
” I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the mud and mire. He sat my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new son to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what He has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord” – Psalm 40: 1-3(NLT)
3. God looks at things through Eternity and we tend to look at things just through the present time. There are a lot of things that just doesn’t seem right or make sense in this fallen and imperfect world that we live in today. That is why God had the answer for you and me through what Jesus did for us on the cross and gave us forgiveness and eternal life. Some things will not make sense to us this side of Heaven and that is ok…We can trust Him inspite of when prayers seem to go unanswered. If you & I could figure everything out, we wouldn’t need to have faith in God.
” For we walk ( live our daily lives ) by FAITH not by sight ( what we can see and understand ). ”
– 2 Corinthians 5:7
May God give us strength today to live by faith… even when we don’t understand everything…

Years ago, I dressed up in an “Elvis” costume to share a children’s message at church. I waited outside the worship center until my time to enter the service. While I was waiting, a man walked up and asked to speak to a minister and that he needed some help. I told him I was a minster…he said he didn’t know Elvis was a minister… I told him I wasn’t Elvis but was a minister. He seemed very confused at that point…mumbling something about being ” all shook up” (name of famous Elvis song).We talked about his need (gas for his car) and I prayed with him and as he left…he turned to me and said he didn’t think his family wouldn’t believe our encounter but he was grateful for the prayer and the help. I just couldn’t resist saying: ” Thank you, thank you very much”…I wondered if I would see a tabloid newspaper later with some story about his personal encounter with Elvis at church…
Then I went into the worship center to do my children’s message. I started by asking the children about what they thought makes a good imitator. My message was about us being imitators of Christ or a positive example ( I Corinthians 11:1 ). When asked the question, one little boy raised his hand and said to me: “You are the fattest Elvis I have ever seen!”. It was all down hill from there, but everyone seemed to enjoy the moment.
Later that day I lip sang ( imitated) some Elvis songs at a church fellowship party. I had practiced some spin moves at home. The big difference was that at home I practiced on carpet but the performance at church was on a stage made of finished and highly polished wood …So when I went to do my spin move I couldn’t stop sliding. I look like a spinning helicopter with no place to land… I slid from one end of the stage to the other and ended up barely hanging off the front of the stage on the last note of the song…the crowd went wild . I was hurting in places on my body I didn’t even know I had before that moment! I saw people laughing so hard that they had tears in their eyes…
Afterward, one of my friends commented: ” That was a good performance but if I was you I would not give up my other job.” Amen. I agreed. I felt like I was at “Heartbreak Hotel” ( name of famous Elvis song) or I was “Nothing but a Hound Dog” ( name of another famous Elvis song) and I had “Lost that Loving Feeling” ( yet another famous Elvis song). I think I learned a valuable life lesson that day, it is good for me to follow God but not imitate someone else at church or anywhere else …