Author: preacher/elder

Hi, I'm Jerry Lockhart. I've been a preacher of the gospel of Christ for 43 years. I served as a pastor for 36 of those years. Now I preach or teach classes regularly and by request. My wife and I have been married 59 years and counting--we just might make it. I hope you enjoy or gain some insight by reading what I write.

Thoughts With Reason

March 28, 2025

Sometimes while driving on a trip or when taking a long walk in our neighborhood I have extremely long thought patterns about what to write here in this blog. Then, when home and relaxed those interesting subjects which were so clear before seem to have gone away. Not sure what I should do about that or if there is anything I can do about it. Is it simply because I’m aging? Or are the thoughts things I probably shouldn’t write about? Or am I afraid I would just bore you to death and sort of,, “nobody wants to read that!” Off I go.

One Day Trip

A couple of days ago, Barb and I drove to Berea, KY to attend the funeral of her cousin, an adult-lifelong resident of the beautiful town of Berea. By all accounts, he was a fine Christian man, a top-notch plumbing contractor, good father and a man devoted to and hard working in his church. It was a blessing to meet many people in his family. 

But the city of Berea still captivated us! Though we had only a short visit we marveled at how the little town had become somewhat larger than when we were there several years back, yet still is centered by Berea College, some 1600 students strong who pay no tuition to attend! Other expenses for being there for the year are as low as about $4,000, rising according to the family’s income up to possibly about  $12,000. The no tuition has been true since it’s inception about 130 years ago. 

When I say “centered” by the college I mean centered—the beautiful campus is in the center of the town! And 15,000 people abide it and love living there. Quite a remarkable community. If you’ve never been, please go see it, dine there, stay a couple of days and enjoy its atmosphere. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

Our Hydration Renewed

Further current prominent thinking of another involvement of mine is along the lines of why there are not more genuine alkaline water stores in America. Why am I wondering this  you asked? (You did ask, right?)

For multi-millennia humanity has survived best by drinking high alkaline water, first from wonderful wells of natural springs gushing forth the greatest tasting water from aquifers deep under the earth’s surface, then hand dug, then drilled wells to accommodate where we peoples decided to live, and so forth. 

Then, a few centuries back more massive collectives for living called “urban areas” began to believe water should be gathered in reservoirs to be piped into homes and other useful entities. Then because that created a new problem, these reservoir waters began to be treated to stop collecting bacteria or other such pestilent properties. Treated with chemicals which, though they halt the bacterial problem, they can bring long range problems to our bodies and, besides that, the water tasted bad, often with malodorous presence. Here we remain today, en masse. 

So, knowing this and desiring to get around the continually recurring problem caused our eyes to look earnestly for a “how-do-I-fix-for-my-family” solution, and just like that! the answer knocked on my door.

[A noteworthy addition before I get to the answer: about 32 years ago, I had become addicted to a diet soda, it was about all I drank; a little water, a little coffee — nothing else. Our family was visiting the San Antonio Zoo on a very hot September day and upon leaving we were all very thirsty. At a convenience store, my daughter-in-law brought me a huge paper cup full of my diet soda. I took a look at the size of that thing and at the liquid I was about to swallow…and said to myself, “There is nothing in this cup that resembles food or anything I should be putting in my body, especially not this much of it.” From that day forward I have not drank any of the phony soft drinks (an occasional root beer, but not diet.)]

About 15 years ago, a friend walked into the church I pastored and gave me a gallon of water and showed me a brochure to tell me how that water was manufactured…in a machine that set on the kitchen cabinet, hooked up to the cold water at the sink, and for a mere $4,000 I could get Alkaline water any time I wanted it. I said, “Mike, I’m sorry, but I don’t have $4,000 to buy this.” He said, “Jerry, show this to all your members and they’ll buy one and you’ll be paid a huge commission!” “In the first place,” I said, “we don’t have members. And if we did, I would’t introduce a scheme like that to them in a building dedicated to the Lord’s word and the gospel of Christ.” He understood, and on departing he said, “I’ll pray for you to get a way to get this water.” 

In just a few days, another friend walked in with a box and said of its contents, “for $250 you can have Alkaline water through his water pitcher.” I bought it. That was the basic methodology we still use today for thousands of people in retail stores now and expecting more rapid growth in this area, everywhere in America. After I retired from being a pastor (not retired from preaching, don’t know how to stop that) and with the help of our partners, we help people build alkaline water stores using our version of the simple technology of filtering out the bad stuff from our water supply, then running the water through the proper natural minerals allowing the water to leach from the minerals all it takes to become the best water can become. —-“Water the way it’s meant to be!”

Thanks for reading, the Elder 

Winter: Then Onward, Slowly

2/4/25 A slightly longer blog

Coming to the end of the first month of 2025 has happened to fast. Well, too fast for getting things done, but not too fast for getting rid of Southern Winter. Tomorrow (30th) will be the last of days wherein we have under freezing temperature , at least for the foreseeable future—probably not any in February which will be nice. I need many days straight of not being too cold to walk my 1+ miles per day. I need to lose about 12-15 pounds and walking is the best exercise for me to facilitate that. Looking forward to getting that done. 

Well, it’s now February, we’ve seen the sorry Groundhog, and Spring seems well on it’s way here in North Alabama. (Who knows how long we will say that—-might be crying about the cold in a week or so.)

To start, yesterday Barb and I went to Gadsden and after breakfast at the downtown spot known as The Coffee Cup, who make a big thing about actually making Pancakes on Saturdays (they were good!), then we walked through the two closed-to-traffic blocks in downtown talking with people who were there to make their own chili for a “best chili” trophy. We didn’t stay long enough to taste or see who won, having just eaten breakfast, but she looked at some stores and I talked with some of the booths and learned some things about how this contest boosts downtown. Maybe 2 dozen booths total.

Some booths were restaurants who regularly sell chili and were just there to brag and boost sales—why not?! Some others, though were booths sponsored by some company to get their name out and the person or persons making the chili were just friends with good chili. I think that was a terrific public relations gimmick. One company doing that was a new Title company in town not trying to sell, but to tell people how they can serve them when buying or selling or just serve them on lost titles, etc. A very vibrant and friendly staff, probably worth much in PR over a sort of hidden amount of time. 

Another was sponsored (I think) by a law firm whose contestants were two neighbors who’ve collaborated on chili till their whole neighborhood tells them it’s the best they’ve ever tasted! I now wish I knew who won.

One booth on each side of the street was serving all sorts of drinks, from coffee all the way to Bloody Mary’s and Mimosa’s — it was the city staff, especially the mayor’s office. Drinks were made and no charge except a donation of your choice where they had a “donation” box with all proceeds going to the downtown business organization! What a super idea! I don’t know how often they do something like this, but that’s a good idea! 

Started on Feb. 1, a plan about walking as an exercise, increasing a little each day thru the 27th day, and morning of the 28th I will weigh to see if there is a good loss for the 4 weeks. Let’s just say this will be a bellwether for the rest of the year. The hopeful good effect on my body is easier achieved this way for a standard than any other way. Can’t think of any interferences in this except my own laziness, which needs a lot of work, anyway.

In January on the Wednesday night bible class (6PM Central time) on Facebook page and on Zoom, and about 8pm it is recorded on YouTube channel, Brother Jerry Lockhart, I started what I think will be a year or more study about everything which biblically pertains to obeying the Apostle Paul’s strong admonition concerning Scripture: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needed not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Tim.2:15

You see, to study the word of God is imperative to knowing Him. Subsequently, studying various parts of the bible shows many things about God’s will for mankind to get to know Him more as time passes. Yet, for purposes of using God’s word as an holy text for the lives of each of us we must come to realize, times to the Lord are not our times, they are His!  

Most of what churches teach as most important is found in the life of Christ upon the Earth. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John all teach us who He was, how He taught the 12 Apostles, how He used the first 39 books of the Bible to admonish those to whom IT had been written to, for and about—and that was those who had become the nation of Israel.

In fact, Jesus Christ was very emphatic about this very thing: “But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto thelostsheepofthehouseof Israel.” -Matt.15:24, (and story repeated in Mark 7:24-29)   saying this also to the 12 when He sent them out: These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. -Matt,10:5,6.

Christ began His concluding statements to these people (the lost sheep) in Matt.21:23. It is a long read, but if you read from there till the end of Matt.25, you will see His dismissal of the old nation and the promise of the new nation (as is found in Matt.21:33 thru 43) and how they are brought into a new position called “kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world..”-25:34. Of course, then He was crucified, buried, then arose from the dead.

But, He never left the world without witness. He did, indeed, send the 12 Apostles out to do what He had taught them to do throughout this whole book of Matthew and concluded after His resurrection with the famous words in chapter 28:19, 20—“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto  the end of the world. Amen.”

As the 12 went forth in Acts 2 through 7, thousands of Israelites believed. Then came horrible blasphemy against the Holy Ghost filled peoples, and the perpetrator of these blasphemies must be stopped—his name was Saul, you can count about 5 times he blasphemed the Holy Ghost filled people and the Lord stopped him and called him to a different place than what he was headed toward in Acts 9.

Looking back into the middle of Matthew and seeing what the Lord said about that blasphemy in ch.12:31,32, it is easy to see that this fiend Saul, whom the Lord called to something in Acts 9, could not become an added one of the number up to that point. If you don’t see that, take another look remembering that God cannot lie…..So, Saul was called to another place, another peoples, with another method of telling people how to be saved eternally.

wow. I mean, WOW!!, Yep, and now for the rest of the intentions of God.  (A few paragraphs at a time.)

Thanks for reading, the Elder

A Little Winter, A Little Politics

Jan. 21, 2025

Winter, Must We? I mean, every year? So it seems. We have these seasons—Summer, Winter, Seedtime and Harvest, cold and heat—I know that because the Lord said so, just after the flood of Noah’s time. (Gen.8:22.) Was there no seasons before Noah’s flood? Very doubtful it seems to me. Hmm, no seasons.

When reading the description, brief as it is, the Lord gave us of the Garden of Eden, it seems to say there was a certain “mist  from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.” Then, as Eve was being tempted of the serpent in the Garden, he told her God didn’t want her to become “as gods” which seems to perhaps emphasize they might have known what “becoming as the gods” would look like (Gen.3:5). The other passage which lends the Garden of Eden and even the whole ground in that day, being watered by that mist instead of rain is found in 2Peter 3:5, “…that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water.” (Sort of  brings our minds to think dome-like—-could be wrong, of course, it isn’t specific enough to be certain.)

But, remember, the four seasons as we know them, are spoken by the Lord to be there after the rains came. For 1600+ years from Adam to after the flood, they had not rain as we know it. But Noah’s progeny were going to be faced with rain, sleet, snow, as well as heat, drought, and as the first used Scripture (above) says: the four seasons. Like I said in the first line or so, we are going to have Winter whether we like it or not. And I don’t.

[A point-to-ponder: Gen.1:1 says God created the heaven and the earth. Notice both created things are singular, not plural. But 2 Peter 3:5 & 7 both refer to heavens (plural) just as Gen.2:1 spoke of the completed work of the Lord.Now, considering these things, at what point did there become more than one heaven? When the Lord caused the dry land to appear.  Then a firmament came into being, a Heaven as God called it, but not the same as Gen.1:1, so heavens could be written in plural form in Gen.2:1]

When I grew up in Indiana, I thought cold was up there — only the North country. When we moved to Illinois, I saw that cold was over there, also. When we moved to Alabama many years ago, “Winter” as we knew it stayed up North, like it should! After about 5 years we moved back to Illinois for 18 months. That 18 months included the famed “Blizzard of ’78” and once again, showed me that Winter belonged up North. 

But now, after 45 more years, sitting in beautiful Northeast Alabama, we’re faced with the next five days (at least) of grievous Northern weather! The expected high for this period of time will not reach freezing, mostly going to stay in the low teens! Two reasons this isn’t gonna work: 1st, nobody knows how to tolerate or drive in this kind of weather! 2nd, we don’t have enough plumbers to handle all the busted pipes which people don’t know how to correct!  It’s a dilemma, folks. If Winter is going to invade Alabama, some of us must migrate to the South! And just now, my wife is telling me the snow is staying to the South of us! What!?

Ah, well, …. the weather; everybody gripes about it, nobody does anything about it.

From this subject, we’ll turn to what I saw yesterday (Monday) on the around the world TV I have at my fingertips. I saw one side of the political world celebrating wildly and “just so excited to see my President back into the office!” (and, yes, I am glad he’s there, too,) all the way to read the unfathomable reasoning for one former president’s wife to give the reason she didn’t attend the functions. She said she could never put on a phony smile when she faced the politics she hates. Hmmm, that’s funny, her husband, an almost equally hating man was there with his best phony smile, sitting in the place of honor through it all. What is wrong with a person who says she could never put on a plastic smile —every adult person in the world puts on a false front smile almost every day! No, she stayed away because she wanted the opportunity to make a statement of her own for reasons not yet revealed, though suspicions arise. And she thinks trump is a “danger to our democracy”? He should be, since federally, we are a representative republic, and not a democracy. Could be she doesn’t know the difference.

Every state, including Canada and Greenland will be a democracy. But, as a union we have representatives at the elected or constitutionally appointed level which do not come about from the popular vote, but by those whom they represent in the central government which, by the way, is multiplied millions larger than the originators could see yet still equally cast in the roles it takes to fulfill the desires of those who formed her. Bureaucracy be hanged; we are championed by secretaries!

By the time Spring has arrived, let’s talk more about politics, doesn’t that seem like a good time to make an assessment of progress? Too soon? Summer, then? Fall/Harvest time? No? Ahh, now we’re back to the Winter! We never will get this right!! “Tis the Season to be ……..”

Thanks for reading, the Elder

THE MORE NEWS I READ

started 1/4/25

THE MORE NEWS I READ………the more I think I got a lot better news coverage for a dime a day when I was a kid.

I got a big 8 page 8 column giant headlined front section (the news) with pictures and statistics. Then, another 8 page section all about the people who lived within a 30 mile radius of Indianapolis, part of which usually had a section of celebrity news. A third 8 page section was sports-in-season with photos and stats. Last, but certainly not least, a 4th 8 page section of classified ads, legal information right down to who’s getting a divorce. Then, the best part of the whole thing: the funnies, also known as the Comics,,,,and boy! were they great!

All that for 10 cents…..I don’t even want to know what the cost of all that is today, the way it all comes to me in emails, individual subscriptions and business magazines- – Electronically.

Indianapolis News (or Star), where are you!

Indianapolis had 3 newspapers in the ‘50s, the News, the Star, and the Times. Times was the weakest and it and the News were both afternoon delivery. The Star was a morning delivery —  but usually too late for my Dad to read before leaving for work, so we chose the Ne between the other two. The News- – all the news that was the news, all you needed to read, some you didn’t want to read, and some you didn’t understand!

Every day, from my Dad down to me (and that was a long line) the Headlines, the Editorial page, the Sports or the Comics produced conversations and opinions which would get started in the living room and carry on through supper, some even lasting into the bedrooms…… What an education tool! We all grew up knowing how to differ and not hate, how to laugh at each other’s mis-pronunciations, even how to bemoan “our team” defeats, and gloat quietly when our team one and a brother’s was defeated, and stay a strong family unit.

All that for a dime a day— the whole family.

My Dad had only a 3rd grade education yet, if he could get to it before one of us boys did it, he worked the crossword puzzle every day. After we were all gone from home (1960) he worked every day’s puzzle till he passed away in 1987. Still ringing in my memory is him asking any one of us, “What’s a 6 letter word for am star?” And most times we would reply, “Got any letters yet?” He says, “R is the last and T is the 3rd.” Then, usually more than one voice from all over the house would say, “Arthur!” – for instance. (Oh, if you don’t know who that is, it merely proves you didn’t yet live in the 50s.)

We learned as much at home from each other, the comics, the news and the editorial pages as we did in school, I think. Well, probably not in the basic 3Rs capacity, but how to get along in the world, how to argue without a fight, how to absorb all sorts of slings and arrows, wins and defeats, happiness and sadness, ad infinitum. 

About the 3rd grade education; Daddy told us when we were little they had to burn the school house down to get him out of the 3rd grade! The truth was after his 3rd year in a one room school in a tiny town in Kentucky the school caught fire and burned, probably by a lightening strike. There was no school board to petition for tax money to build a new one, so only the well-to-do families took their children elsewhere. My grandfather “reckoned,” he said, “that a 13 year old boy could just go to work!” (No, he wasn’t a 13 year old boy, but he knew his numbers and how to read, what more did he need from a school house?) Smartest 3rd grade graduate in the world!

After I told my parents about getting saved at home alone one night, Daddy encouraged me to read the bible, of course, and told me he learned to read better by the bible. When my mother gave me Daddy’s grandmother’s bible, published in 1885, she said Daddy told her his grandmother read him the bible by fireplace light every evening after supper (he lived with her for about 4 years between 8-12, I think) and that’s when he really learned to read. It’s interesting to note the font size in that bible is so small I have a hard time reading it with the best of lighting and wearing corrective glasses. By the fire light. Wow.

About the 3Rs—I heard from an early age that someone like Abe Lincoln, or Mark Twain or even maybe Will Rogers said that the 3Rs were “readin’, ‘ritin’ and ‘rithmetic.” Today’s Google search gives nothing of the sort (although, strangely, several references were made that people referred to them as Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic), and that it started in the 1950s by an Agriculture professor.

When I was about 25, a college student friend working part-time for me said that his professor told the class the original 3Rs were Reading, Recollection and Rhetoric. That always made sense to me, but that Google search never did turn up such a thing. What about you, where did you hear that came from? — the 3Rs

One last learnable thought from all that: my great-grandmother read to my father, yet he learned how to read because of it. How many of you had a teacher who read to you? I had two really good (teachers) readers, and I read to my kids who, of course passed me up at a really young age—Phap!

Thanks for reading, the Elder

Happy New Year, Hi 25!

To the new year, 2025

I put the words below on Facebook last night about 8:50pm. I’m wondering if they will stay on….I guess I will know soon enough. I did promise some folks eternal life.

Jan.1, 2025

After thinking over things for the new year, I think I will also join it, as I have for the last 82 years.

Join in the fun, join in the trials, join in the not-so-fun. There may be successes, I look for them. There may be triumphs for the Lord, I do so want them. There almost assuredly may be sorrows, I can endure them. There may be disappointments from those we expected to bring victory. People will sometimes let us down, but we already know that. 

The world we live in has a not-so-nice ruler over the events here in this lowly place. Our bible calls him “the god of this world;” also refers to him as the “prince of the power of the air..” — Plainly he is known as satan, the devil, Lucifer was his Heavenly name until iniquity was found in him. Now, he’s attempting his final try to usurp the power of God our Saviour.

“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,” has provided words which we can say and the usurper can never remove their power, never negate them nor bring them to nought. When God gave these words to the Apostle Paul by revelation through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, He bestowed them to us who believe—“..how that Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures,                                                                                                                                 And was buried, and  that he was raised again the third day, according to the Scriptures. “
Then Paul, being led continually by the Holy Spirit, reiterated those words with all the wisdom God had bestowed on him. such as, “He was delivered for our trespasses, and was raised again for our justification.”   and  Oh, the power which rises to the fore when these words are repeated in the ears of unbelievers !!

 So we can speak the words of eternal life to all we come in contact with during the coming 365 days. We can assure them that Christ has paid the price for every sin we have committed and the ones we will, no doubt, commit during this coming year, ad infinitum. We don’t need to count them, nor recall them the at the Lord nor to another human. He has already received the payment, the sacrifice of His own Son, with His own blood and proved it to all of us by resurrecting Christ and Him showing Himself alive to those who worshipped.

Leaving us with sacred words we find in our King James bible, words which never denigrate His name nor His finished work. Did you hear? That’s the truth, the gospel of your salvation. If you will just believe these words, and place your eternal life in his finished work, God will save you, eternally.’

Trust Christ now.

At least, here on the blog I pay for the privilege of writing what I want and what I believe and leave it only to be brought into question by the Lord Himself, or you the reader. If you think I said those things in error, please tell me why and what. I will not ignore you, I will not belittle your thoughts, and I will answer you with god’s written word. 

You know, the Lord knew that people like me, and hopefully you, are just simple enough to believe simple things and thereby be bestowed with God’s greatest gift! The Apostle Paul worried over the Corinthian Church, that they might get drawn away from the “simplicity that is in Christ.” He worried over them because he knew the subtlety which will be used by satan—that dude will try to get people to think God needed their help in saving you. But, you know, don’t you, that He charged His own Son, Jesus with the total cost and Jesus paid it all!, (as the song says.)

Back to the new year; just a couple of thoughts. Woke up this morning with my bed mates 3: my wife, our dog, Bessie and our new addition kitten, Tilly. All 3 of them wanted me to wake up and be ready to start the year, I guess. So, let’s go!

Hard to start a new year with a loss, but an almost life-long good friend from my hometown in Indiana passed away. He and I go way back and if I write about growing up, often it includes his family and their parallel to my own. He was a bit older (7yrs.), but a great friend. He received Christ as his Savior at about age 30, I believe and after I started preaching we had some really good annual fellowship. Our plan for this week was to go to Indiana for his memorial service, but weather tells us, “no, don’t drive up there.” So, much as I hate to admit it……I often pray for others in his family which have spoken to me negatively about Christ, and now when I remember him, I will still pray for two remaining brothers.

I have many hopes and expectations for 2025 as I’m sure you do, also. Hey! Let’s do some of them together, whaddya say?!

Thanks for reading, the Elder

NEW YEAR & NICTOBIPHASIA—

As the year comes to a close, once again we take a sort of inventory of things wanted, things which developed, things not completed or perhaps not even started and measure our comportment (failures, frustrations or successes) toward each end. It isn’t important that we rehash item by item as the year’s activity belies our degree of satisfaction, not a need to be publicized. It is, however, important for deciding the new year’s applications and the slating of old business and new. I enjoy facing a new year with those things in mind, but this year I choose to just mull it over in my mind and not draw anyone else (especially you readers) into my thoughts.

Well, another Christmas has come and gone. What is the most memorable time you’ve ever had at Christmas on the day, or in a season? I ask that, not to entice you to write me, although I would no doubt enjoy the variety of memories. But, most years when this question arises in the family setting those who recall, being dependent on their own memories, may wind up getting “corrected’ by a sibling’s better memory — and not that it’s really better; more like, not as funny, not as much fun as the first recaller thought. Or made worse or funnier than the teller held it. Hmm, that makes the story telling a bit embarrassing, right? Here’s a better subject to end the year with as well as plan a new year around, perhaps: NICTOBIPHASIA

A few years ago, in earlier writing here as the Elder, I wrote about a rather phenomenal thing which took place for more than 200 years, an event in which I find myself indulging, and that causing me to wonder why it ever stopped being common. Today, as I looked over the several electronic replacements for a newspaper and editorial magazines which crowd my email pages I once again found this old societal event being discussed: A pause ___ in a night’s sleep and it’s common use. Some Insomniac treating Doctors (do they have a “specialty” category) seem to believe it is very healthy and helpful to those who do it, not as a rule, but as it occurs by whatever might bring it about.

When I first found the short history of this event wherein one awakens for a 1 to 3 hour episode in the middle of the night and either lies awake and thinks deep thoughts or arises and participates in more normal activities. Before today I found society referring to this as “Middle Night” or “First sleep-Second sleep” and one group in the southern states saying “from first to last sleep.”

From what I could gather at that time, it made sense to me that it would not be unusual to awaken if the house became too cold to be comfortable, and therefore, the awake one would rise to stoke or rebuild the fire for the rest of the night. It would be irresponsible to just simply go back to bed without regard to safety from the newly built fire in a stove or fireplace, so busying oneself to fill that time would make sense. Or, and especially in the South, when warmer weather came for the long season, it was very common for folks to retire as soon as the night breeze would pickup, cooling down the bedrooms for comfort’s sake. Then, as the night wears on the breeze would abate, causing enough temperature increase to awaken the household who would seek a cooler place — like a front porch or a lawn swing, etc. That was my reasoning.

What appeared to be more common though, were the differing accounts of the activities of these awakened folk. Many would hale their neighbors to come over and help finish the evening meal’s dessert, or just have a cup of tea, or perhaps a short snort of something a little stronger. There were even reports of more than one family playing “mid” night parlor games. Then reading today of the antics of our favorite Uncle….Uncle Ben Franklin, I find a bit more astounding. He, it is often reported that upon awakening, would strip down naked, throw open his windows and wind-bathed his skin! (Bear in mind many old stories get exaggerated the older or more notorious the participants!) …..

Mid night awakenings! Two_Interval Sleep habits.  Let’s do this again. Make 2025 The Year of the__ -Here’s the new descriptive term: Nictobyphasia: nicto—a reference to night or something related to night and biphasic, as having two phases. Nictobiphasia is a word coined by Jerry Lockhart. Congratulations, Jerry! You are now a known Wordsmith! (Segmented sleep, you are now a lost term.)(Isn’t this how new words appear in someone’s dictionary?)

Seriously, I hope 2025 will prepare you for the will of God to come to life in your every endeavor and be pleasing toward His will for your life. Then the results next December will make for glorious reading!

Happy New Year!

Thanks for reading—the Elder

The Holidays, Again 11/28/24

Aaaah, the “holidays” are upon us again. Perhaps the purest and most serious of all holidays is THANKSGIVING. You know, the reason for all of us being here (and I do mean all) is about survival of the forefathers. Wherefore they gave thanks collectively. Therefore it’s about soberly remembering who and what we are; how and why we’re here; then, on to deciding the discernment of and the importance of things in this life because we must live it! Some things I write here may not come across to you as having a clear understanding or awareness of our heritage compared to our present situation, but perhaps the Spirit of the Lord will help us see things we need to see on this holiday in order to better serve Him. 

Of course, not everyone will think about serving the Lord while serving ourselves to turkey & dressing, potatoes, cranberry sauce, then a pecan, custard and pumpkin, maybe blueberry pies, and —-does it seem to you the desserts are a longer list than the real food? Uh, I was just trying to get across my preferences, I guess. But the thankfulness seems to begin with the food (as we learned in the loose history depictions of both school and churches of our past…the pilgrims and the native Americans ate together? Well, so they say.)

But, to the more serious thoughts: Phi.4:4 says, “Rejoice in the Lord alway…” Have you thought recently about the difficulty in being able to do this? ,,”alway?”  “alway?” Without the s on the end of this word, it has a more continual implication—like saying “through whatever, no matter how long or how bad things are.”—Rejoice!. That can be a tall order. So, we must remember all the words of the verse, most importantly the “in the Lord” part. The Lord knows the kind of world we live in, He is not asking us to look at what goes on around us or the sicknesses we go through and just be giddy and delirious all the time. But, when we think about Christ, our Redeemer, Christ our Savior, Christ who will come for us at His appointed time! Thinking on Him should make us rejoice, no matter what else is going on in our lives, or even to those we love.

Paul wrote in Gal.6:14 “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ…” Glorying in the cross is easy to be entreated down deep in our hearts because we believe what He did, what He does, and in what He will do. Amen? What about unto those who do not believe (or trust) in what Christ did, do not know what He does, and therefore are not waiting in anticipation for what He is going to do? In what do they glory? In what do they rejoice? I suspect practically all who read this has close family members somewhere on the chart of belief/unbelief; some who totally do not believe, and some who can’t get it all taken in or settle it “down deep,” as the Lord said. Now, back to our rejoicing where those loved ones are what do we seem like? Know-it-alls? Do we seem self-righteous to them? Does it seem to you they cringe a little when you talk to them?

In the midst of our rejoicing in Christ, we must take note of what we sound like, yea, even what we look like to them. Why you might ask?  Because our job is to be an ambassador for Christ. Take a moment to re-read 2 Cor.5:14-21KJB before reading any further.

For several years our family, while sitting around the Thanksgiving table have spoken candidly of the things we’ve been blessed with in the year thus far. Each of us can say whatever “blessing” we’re remembering has been special, or most endearing, or most important. Sometimes it’s new, sometimes it’s an old wound cured, or a new friend, a new place to live, even a new possession or new job. Whatever comes across as a blessing we heretofore didn’t have. We’ve had some years where this took only a few minutes, we’ve had years where one thing or another lead to long table conversations. But, (and I say this hopefully) always it is to our betterment that we all hear each other. It builds the family camaraderie. Even that is a blessing from the Lord—He invented families.

What this discussion here on these short pages is about is this: remember it is a Thanksgiving Day, not an evangelical call, nor a guilt trip on anyone’s thankfulness about anything. Think of yourself (in the Ambassadorship position) as a guest who would never insult or cause to belittle any person present but see them all as the host or hostess and yourself as a guest—even if you are in your own home! Sound radical? It isn’t at all. It’s just practicing the call to be what the Lord wants us to use for our rejoicing! 

More on the holidays coming soon.

Thanks for reading, the Elder

The Holidays, Again

November 28, 2024 Thanksgiving

Aaaah, the “holidays” are upon us again. Perhaps the purest and most serious of all holidays is THANKSGIVING. You know, the reason for all of us being here (and I do mean all) is about survival of the forefathers. Wherefore they gave thanks collectively. Therefore it’s about soberly remembering who and what we are; how and why we’re here; then, on to deciding the discernment of and the importance of things in this life because we must live it! Some things I write here may not come across to you as having a clear understanding or awareness of our heritage compared to our present situation, but perhaps the Spirit of the Lord will help us see things we need to see on this holiday in order to better serve Him. 

Of course, not everyone will think about serving the Lord while serving ourselves to turkey & dressing, potatoes, cranberry sauce, then a pecan, custard and pumpkin, maybe blueberry pies, and —-does it seem to you the desserts are a longer list than the real food? Uh, I was just trying to get across my preferences, I guess. But the thankfulness seems to begin with the food (as we learned in the loose history depictions of both school and churches of our past…the pilgrims and the native Americans ate together? Well, so they say.)

But, to the more serious thoughts: Phi.4:4 says, “Rejoice in the Lord alway…” Have you thought recently about the difficulty in being able to do this? ,,”alway?”  “alway?” Without the s on the end of this word, it has a more continual implication—like saying “through whatever, no matter how long or how bad things are.”—Rejoice!. That can be a tall order. So, we must remember all the words of the verse, most importantly the “in the Lord” part. The Lord knows the kind of world we live in, He is not asking us to look at what goes on around us or the sicknesses we go through and just be giddy and delirious all the time. But, when we think about Christ, our Redeemer, Christ our Savior, Christ who will come for us at His appointed time! Thinking on Him should make us rejoice, no matter what else is going on in our lives, or even to those we love.

Paul wrote in Gal.6:14 “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ…” Glorying in the cross is easy to be entreated down deep in our hearts because we believe what He did, what He does, and in what He will do. Amen? What about unto those who do not believe (or trust) in what Christ did, do not know what He does, and therefore are not waiting in anticipation for what He is going to do? In what do they glory? In what do they rejoice? I suspect practically all who read this has close family members somewhere on the chart of belief/unbelief; some who totally do not believe, and some who can’t get it all taken in or settle it “down deep,” as the Lord said. Now, back to our rejoicing where those loved ones are what do we seem like? Know-it-alls? Do we seem self-righteous to them? Does it seem to you they cringe a little when you talk to them?

In the midst of our rejoicing in Christ, we must take note of what we sound like, yea, even what we look like to them. Why you might ask?  Because our job is to be an ambassador for Christ. Take a moment to re-read 2 Cor.5:14-21KJB before reading any further.

For several years our family, while sitting around the Thanksgiving table have spoken candidly of the things we’ve been blessed with in the year thus far. Each of us can say whatever “blessing” we’re remembering has been special, or most endearing, or most important. Sometimes it’s new, sometimes it’s an old wound cured, or a new friend, a new place to live, even a new possession or new job. Whatever comes across as a blessing we heretofore didn’t have. We’ve had some years where this took only a few minutes, we’ve had years where one thing or another lead to long table conversations. But, (and I say this hopefully) always it is to our betterment that we all hear each other. It builds the family camaraderie. Even that is a blessing from the Lord—He invented families.

What this discussion here on these short pages is about is this: remember it is a Thanksgiving Day, not an evangelical call, nor a guilt trip on anyone’s thankfulness about anything. Think of yourself (in the Ambassadorship position) as a guest who would never insult or cause to belittle any person present but see them all as the host or hostess and yourself as a guest—even if you are in your own home! Sound radical? It isn’t at all. It’s just practicing the call to be what the Lord wants us to use for our rejoicing! 

More on the holidays coming soon.

Thanks for reading, the Elder

Lessons, Letters & THE BOOK

Pensacola, FL 11/1 to 11/3— That’s where I was from Friday afternoon about 1pm to 1PM Sunday. Each year for the last 10, or so, Pastor Byron Wiggins and his “Bible Believer’s” assembly from Pace, FL, hold a Bible conference weekend here. It was a real privilege for me to attend and speak. Pastor Byron never tells us ahead of getting there when or if we are a speaker; it’s just a “be prepared” sort of schedule. This year my speaking time was last on Saturday evening. The congregation at this particular event comes from parts of South Alabama and the Florida panhandle plus a few from far away places—Illinois, Nevada, Louisiana, and this year some folks from Wyoming! What a diverse group! Most stayed through Sunday which is always better for fellowship, though some things “back home” take precedent and cause some to leave early.

You can see the messages preached there on FaceBook — Grace Believers Bible Study Church page. All the messages will contain two extremely important aspects: 1.) how does a person go from being lost with no hope of salvation into eternal life; and 2.) how does a saved person become more in line with God’s will for their life.

In support of Paul writing the simple words concerning whether one might get confused (“..as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ”) our avowed purpose in preaching/teaching is to be clear in our “clarion” call and then read references in the way it is easy for all to gain Scripture support when we relate what we’ve learned.

Answer to number 1.) hear the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation— it’s this: “…how that Christ died for your sins,… he was buried,…and God raised Him from the dead…”—believe it —Trust that work of Christ to be good enough with the Father to save you; or, as Silas and Paul told the jailer, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.” Since Christ died for our sins, Paul related in Acts 13:38,39 that THE forgiveness of sins was preached and then, when he wrote 2 Corinthians 5, he stated that God had “reconciled the world unto himself, not imputing their transgressions unto them,”—thereby God is no longer angry at anyone. We preach Christ’s cross and His resurrection for people to understand trusting His work will be enough in God’s eyes for Him to grant us His righteousness as a gift for our belief.

Answer to number 2.) “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth  not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” That’s study…not work, not do, or don’t do, not strive to be busy, and certainly not get religion-ized, none of those things. But, to study by rightly dividing the word of truth.

I know you can do that for two reasons: the bible is written in about 7th grade grammar and it is in orderly and non-confusing divisions so that all God’s people can find themselves and His will for them by study. Study.

It will bless you beyond your wildest expectations to look at Scripture in the obvious manner it is put together.

To wit, Genesis to Malachi (OT) is all about God’s chosen people before the coming of Christ—all past events. Christ came and said point blank: I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel-Mt.15:24. Then it is best to see and believe it, even if we might desire it had said something different. Subsequently, all of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, as well as the emphasis in the first 12 chapters of the book of Acts — all that is also to, for, and about God confirming His covenantal commitment to them, not to the world in general. (see Rom.15:8)

So then, looking to the end of all things, we see the last 9 books of the bible being to, for, and about the fulfillment of God’s promises to the Fathers—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who begat the 12 tribes of Israel. Hebrews, James, 1 & 2 Peter, 1,2, & 3 John, Jude and Revelation, all 9 of these show the manner in which God fulfills all the rest of His promises He made in the named Scriptures to the peoples of Israel.

Sound very one-sided to you? It should, because it is! He is God, His way is not our way, His plan is His and His alone and He knows it comes out just right. He cannot be usurped by man’s (His creation) thoughts or plans. Besides, you probably noticed I left out those 13 books (85-100 pages in your Bible, depending on the size type with which your book is printed) found in the middle of what we call the New Testament (NT). 

That would be Romans through Philemon—our Apostle Paul being the writer of the inspired revelation which the Lord Jesus Christ from heaven gave him. Look up (in the King James Bible) the word mystery and see how many times Paul used the word in these 13 books. You find “mystery” or “mysteries” used 20 times by Paul. (Christ used it 3 times, John, in Revelation, 4 times)

Paul wrote about a mystery kept secret since the world began. Then, if it was kept secret since the world began, when he spoke and wrote of it no one knew it ahead of him, did they? He also explained a mystery which had been “hid in God from the beginning of the world.” 

If you look up these two phrases which I highlighted you will find reasons to read what all 20 passages wherein Paul used the word mystery or mysteries is telling you and me about how God our Father, Christ the Son our Savior, and The Holy Spirit our teacher has given us our hope, our redemption, our inheritance with Christ —-We’re His Body! Believing the words written TO US, as opposed to trying to figure out how the words the Lord spoke to others in His grand plan can “fit” that for which we’re chosen will prove very settling and completely fulfilling. Oh, all the Bible is written FOR US, just not all written TO US. (Like letters in our mailbox—some for one person, different ones for others, though we’re all family and may know all the mail, But, someone sends us a specific bit.)

Oh, by the way, I’m glad you’re reading! Thanks! The Elder