2/22/2019

Many parts of the country are suffering from these Winter storms, be it heavy snow or thunderstorms dumping rain. I sure hope we don’t have other areas in a dry Winter or drought, because a vast amount of salt-free water is going to be wasted, along with topsoils in simple runoff and melting snow and Ice. I’ve seen a lot of odd weather events in my time, and perhaps even things this strange. And, we always seem to overcome the damages. But, for some reason this (all rain, where we live) seems worse than many other phenomena. 

Do I think this is a sign of something biblical? No, but it does seem to be a sign of some mis-management of resources, everything from locating garden plots on the wrong side of the property all the way to cloud “seeding.” We, as a race of peoples, do many things with and to and on our soil that even 50 years ago, we wouldn’t allow the thought of doing. Then again, for more than 80 years, farmers “turned” the soil every year in preparing to plant. Turns out there’s a better way to prepare for most crops. (We don’t see many bottom plows used today.) As I said, we always seem to fix our mistakes, usually coming by some odd circumstance not unlike this weather. Makes me wonder what farmers who are in tune will come up with as a good change to make now. Also, I wonder if the Farmer’s Almanac is still a reliable guess for figuring out what to do come Spring.

For many years, I have spoken out against farm subsidies as being a bad interference by the federal government, blaming it for everything which turned out bad or wrong for farmers. I was laboring under the mis-(or lack of)-information I was taught in the political world while I was too young to know exactly what was going on. I recall being told in about 1955-57, in junior high, that President Eisenhower, with Secretary of Agriculture Ezra Taft Benson, were responsible for farm subsidies. I’ve been wrong all these years, I have denigrated their names. It wasn’t them who started farm  subsidies, it was the old liberal himself, Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1933!

You might say, well, he didn’t have any choice, the Great Depression, you know. As farmers always know, and we should know, there is always a choice. Left alone, the agrarian society of hard working Americans would have figured it out. Just look at what has become of us since. We’ve fought in nearly endless wars, claiming victory in the world war, then, entering into a part of the world to fight in 40 plus years since we had “victory.” Fighting and “winning” a cold war which has not yet been won by anyone. Today, arguing wildly and incessantly against a man who wants to do something about it, while our central government (originally powerless without our permission) runs roughshod over just about everyone and everything. And, by the way, even he can’t see any other way to help the farm industry without subsidies (oh, here’s a thought: farming became an industry? I thought farming was just another part of the community.)

So, am I blaming FDR for this plight? Nope, 20 years before FDR, another unreliable president sold the nation to a cartel of 9 bankers and persuaded congress to do two things: selling them on the notion of giving up its constitutional responsibility of issuing currency (giving that privilege over to the 9 bankers) and instituting an unlawful tax on the personal income of every sovereign citizen of the United States. In the long run, these two things have stolen away individual states’ rights to any form of sovereignty and that, in turn, diminishes the individual rights of people anywhere, being made subject to anything the federal government does or says. If you don’t believe me, try being independent of the federal influence, you’ll see.

If anyone in the new candidacy list for president should happen to win, the new man or woman would expand the feds, confiscate other industries the way the health insurance industry has been subjugated, bringing us closer and closer to the disastrous methodology called socialism. Is that where you want to be? 

Farmers? is that you? Preachers? is that you? Small town bankers? Is that you? Public school teachers? Is that you? Entrepreneurs? Is that you? I hope none of you, nor any other profession believes the feds know best! Just take a look at things which they now purport to run better than the private sector! There is nothing which is run better by bureaucrats than by individuals who are provided an incentive to do all things well.

So, do I blame Wilson? or FDR? or Ike? how bout LBJ? Carter, Clinton, Bush x2? or Obama? No, they’ve all been used by THE enemy (he’s bigger than any government except One.) Even though, as Reagan said, “the 9 words to fear the most are, I’m from the government, and I’m here to help!” No one or two presidents, or even one political party is to blame. It’s just history repeating itself once again. 

The only way out of this mess is to go way out with the One; the Lord Jesus Christ, even so, Lord Jesus, come on down and get us. We’re ready, right? If not, “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved”—ready.

Thanks for reading, the Elder

2/18/2019

SIMH: “Years I spent in vanity and pride; caring not my Lord was crucified, knowing not it was for me He died, on calvary!”

“Mercy there was great and grace was free, pardon there was multiplied to me, there my burdened soul found liberty, At Calvary!”

….and then my favorite verse:

“Oh! the love that drew salvation’s plan, Oh, the grace that brought it down to man, Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span!, At Calvary!”  What a wonderful song to awaken to and to keep in my mind all day long. (I might have done this already on the blog, but it cannot be repeated often enough.)

This was to be the blog in which I discussed the retailers who use hired help to run their business, but I will reserve that till the next one. This is about the electronic world in which we live. Yesterday, my friend, Alex asked me if I was still doing Monday night live bible class on Zoom. I answered yes and he suggested I do Facebook Live in addition to open up the message to more audience. Several others do their Sunday and/or Wednesday messages on FB Live, so this wasn’t new to me as a platform, I just never have availed myself to it because of my innate fear of things which go wrong when I touch electronics. But I thought about it and took a swipe at it and—good grief! it really was simple!.

So, last night at 7pm, Engineer Jerry actually started both Zoom (live with people who can talk back to me or ask questions) and FB Live (a social media) at the same time. Less than a hundred years after a sitting president spoke for the first time to the entire country on national radio! (In 1924, Calvin Coolidge was urged by his political compadres to go on radio and speak to the nation about his being elected to a full term as president. He finally relented and said he would. His speech was something like this: “My fellow Americans, this is your President, tomorrow: go vote. Thank you and goodnight.” Modern day POTUS wannabes should take note: he won.)

Last night, live action videoing on the two media available to me, I spoke a lot longer than the 1924 president did. Probably some who heard and saw me wish I had been as brief as Silent Cal, but I wasn’t trying to get elected. I was trying to point out some things hard to get across without an hour, or so, to get it said. What amazes me more than the  fact that someone would watch me for an hour is this: The media—both Zoom and FB are flawless on both video and audio. And my hope is (of course) that I didn’t do anything that would be a detriment to people seeing and believing the truth of God’s word. but, if it can be done on these two media well, then I shall attempt it each Monday night as long as I can. I really appreciate the feedback from all you who responded on both last evening and hope you’ll continue to be blessed by the effort.

I’ve seen the rise of TV from 9” round tubes, 1949 Crosley, to semi-round RCA Victor, to horrible color (1956 World Series—Don Larsen’s perfect game), to what network’s referred to as “living color” in the ‘60s. When color was a more universal feature (late ‘70s), the phrase was coined for Americans, “recliner chair, six-pack of beer, and a color TV—what else could a man want?!” Then, sound without pictures came back with the huge rush of stereo and “quadra-sound” and towers of sound-making features piled high in cabinets came in, followed closely by exceptional quality stereo in head-phones. 

When cell phones first came into being, very few people would have ever guessed what was going to happen in that industry. (My son worked in IT in that industry and he saw the “handwriting on the wall,” telling me just after the turn of the century that soon, no one would be paying for “long distance calls.”) When the takeover was accomplished by cells, the “smart phone” came along and taught us all how really dumb we were. Now, less than two score years from the cell’s invention, not only do we all carry phones for which we pay monthly fees higher than the old long distance bills, the phones have us being bombarded with media, from old TV shows to current news broadcasts from a plethora of networks, carrying everything from games to our entire bibles with reference systems in our hand held electronic devices.

30 years ago, I was playing golf with two Jr. High boys who began talking about swinging like Jack Nicklaus taught on his videotapes. I ask were these tapes they owned? “Yessir, Mr. Lockhart,” they said, “they don’t cost much and you can play and rewind and play and rewind till you learn it, you just have to be careful swinging the club in front of the TV.” I shook my head and said, what did we do before VCRs. They said, “when was that, Mr. Lockhart?”

Thanks for reading, the Elder

2/16/2019

Howdy. or, if you like, H’lo, folks. We’re enjoying Saturday morning and not having to be somewhere. We didn’t even go out for breakfast, Barb made some very good gluten free pancakes. (She treats me much better than I deserve.)

I did, indeed, have a SIMH this morning: Kenneth Bell/Larry Henley wrote a song for Randy Travis which has very funny lines, even though it’s as typical as you can get for country music—“Is It Still Over.” You know, “since my phone still ain’t ringin’, I assume it still ain’t you.” Cute song, we heard this in the car on Thursday and there it was in my head this morning.

Go figure.

Retailing is on my mind today, I’ve been trying to frame a way to show how to avoid failure. Many retailers who do not “make it” are using techniques which push their actions in the store into a less than desirable pattern. I know, there are many factors which enter in to a failed result, such as bad products, or bad product presentation, or poor location, poor lighting, etc., etc. 

But, the number one largest problem in retailing is the people. Every day, proprietors of their own business go to work with the expectation of making a good day out of it. Customers come in, buy, go out happy—that’s the goal. But, many days go like this: something isn’t “right” in the store and the proprietor is the only one who can fix it! Right away, his attitude takes a turn toward less than perfectly positive. What he must learn is to not be affected by the issue. When a customer walks in, the proprietor must go right back to his first-thing-this-morning-face! And he will be holding himself and his store to the highest positive presentation of his products. 

Difficult? Yes, it is. How, then, shall a mere employee look at his/her day when they are the one walking in and finding something “not right” and they are the one instead of the owner who must deal with this and wait on the customers? Doubly difficult. 

First, the owner: It has long been my opinion that the owner of a retail establishment should charge him/herself with their task by making sure they were amply early—be it 15 minutes, 30 minutes or an hour early in order to take away the possible disruption of treatment of their customers. There is nothing worse than an owner who doesn’t want to do this. They are doomed to failure. One might say, “Well, I can’t always know when something is going to disrupt normalcy.” True, so let the attitude urge you to be there early enough. The incentive is all yours. If it is your intention to own a successful business, and it is within your power to erase or lower costs and create the success you look for, always think far enough down the road to set the attitude of success, even before it comes to you. 

In thinking ahead, owners should look at several “bellwethers” for their hopes and dreams coming true. First, if time spent with each customer is not producing the strength of sales you wish, examine the product line(s) you sell answering the question, “how can I get a higher dollar amount per sale?” This may lead to product expansion or change in the quality of products or prices, whichever way will result in getting more dollars per customer which is paramount to growth.

Secondly, the most important hope for tomorrow is the repeat customer. Certainly, presentation and attitude during presentation makes people wish to return, even if on this day they do not buy, or buy less than one might hope. Every successful owner knows how to treat a customer to make them want to return—treat them like you would hope to be treated; don’t rush them even at closing time, don’t cause them to decide your way unless your way is the absolute best to keep them from regretting a different purchase and always, treat them all the way to the door as if they had bought the most expensive thing in your store and you’re looking forward to their return.

Owners will take care of the things pertaining to ownership; care of the money, local, regional and federal tax issues, pay the utilities, etc. but, owners have to learn to remind themselves to be good customer relationship people, filled with all the knowledge available for their products and an eager, productive way of letting all that be known. (Remember, an owner’s education begins with the suppliers’ product information and whether it’s easy reading and understandable for teaching.” Owners should force suppliers to be good suppliers.)

Be a good owner. Next blog: the employee.

Thanks for reading, the Elder

2/14/2019

Greetings, friends! I had an SIMH this morning and it went away rapidly, if it comes to mind again, I’ll write about it. They come, they go. I wanted to start with that tidbit because I’m always saying a song is rolling around every morning—and it is—but if I don’t start writing quickly sometimes they just fade. Or a different one shows up, which would then be a lie to write about it being “on my mind” when I awoke…Oh, the dilemma of being honest!

A lady asked on Facebook this morning, “does anyone know how to start a grace believing assembly in an area where there isn’t one to attend?” I’ve got some thoughts about that. I don’t necessarily think “my way or the highway” here, but I’ve been to lots of places and helped several people in that predicament.

The first thing I believe should take place is prayer for the right man; a man willing to be used of the Lord, a man who will trust the Lord in his life, a man who believes the King James Bible is the final authority on all things, a man who wants the “office of a bishop.” (Before going any further, I am not telling women they would be wrong to start an assembly or class. But, God will honor that work most when His man shows up. So, pray for that man!)

The next thing that should be done is start. Schedule it, whether you are the only one, or you find only one other, or 3 dozen: start. If only one man comes, and he is not inclined or know how to teach, use the electronics available, You Tube is loaded with bible classes from a multitude of “rightly dividing” preachers: there’s the Lockhart brothers (both of us), Brian Sipes, Steve Atwood, Jerry Sanders, Steve Gotberg, Jan Wilbourn, Ryan Poe, Sam Gearhardt, Obed Kirkpatrick, Alex Balingit, Byron Wiggins, Mark Rumfello, Ted Lindbladt, Mike Schroeder, Mark Gabert and many more (those are just from six southern states.) Their videos cover a multitude of doctrines and practices all centered around the gospel of Christ as the power of God unto salvation. Even so, pray for the Lord’s man to show up.

These men all preach the gospel correctly. They may not all believe the same about lesser things, but they all believe in the simple gospel, “how that Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures, and was buried, and was raised again the third day, according to the Scriptures.” Accordingly, they all teach the eternal security of the believer, the soon coming of Christ for the calling out of the church, that the church is the Body of Christ, we live in the dispensation of the grace of God, that the church is not Israel in any form, nor have we taken any of God’s graces afforded the once and future children of Israel. 

They all also believe that all the above doctrines and a few dozen more are found in the biblical writings of the Apostle Paul—Romans through Philemon, and that Paul is the Apostle of the Gentiles who was taught by direct revelation from Jesus Christ our Lord in Heaven. Moreover, these things are all revealed mysteries, kept secret from the foundation of the world until revealed to, through, and by the Lord’s chosen Apostle, Paul.

Here’s some things not important to a new class: Where you meet or when you meet(do what is convenient in these two things.) Do all things decently and in order, but there is no need whatsoever for an organization, no need for a treasury, no need for recorded membership nor anything resembling all this—you are not starting a club. Names and phone or address suffices for getting in touch about changes in meetings, etc. 

It is vital to agree to the authority of the King James Bible and consequently be prepared to give or lend to those who do not have one. Prayer is essential, but not long or tedious public prayer nor a sharing of personal and/or emotional needs of individuals in the group. Don’t bring on a belaboring, get on with bible study. And pray for that man the Lord is preparing for your group.

If all this sounds a bit rough and unfeeling, it isn’t. You will soon learn to love one another and care for one another’s concerns in a way you wouldn’t have thought possible till it occurs. These are your brothers and sisters in Christ. Remember to do good unto all men, “specially to those that believe.”

Now you know what I believe it takes to start a bible class or an assembly. It is really very simple and should always remain simple. And when the Lord provides that man, it isn’t anyone’s ministry but his. The Lord will charge him for it and with it. I’ll pray for whoever you are who desires one of these groups, and the Lord’s man when he shows up: support him.

Thanks for reading, the Elder

2/13/2019

Morning! This is only the fifth blog I have written this month. (I haven’t seemed inspired), but I want you to know I’m not done. It has been an interesting group of mornings. My routine has not been exactly the same and definitely not the same thought patterns as previously. It isn’t anything big changing in my life, just interesting interruptions to normalcy: having to leave early, or having to be up later, some different sleep patterns, etc.

But this morning I awoke with a SIMH and I remembered I should write a bit. The song is “Take a Chance On Me”—Abba, one of my favorite groups. I know, it probably seems odd, but I like their music. I once bought an orchestral arrangement album of 12 of their hits, just to listen to their music! Unison with only minor harmony just seemed to please me. Their styling/arranging worked really well for a full orchestra, also. (My opinion.)

We’ll be attending a funeral tomorrow for a long time friend in Chattanooga. She and her family were attending the Grace Bible Church when I first went there in 1975, I believe. I know they were there in 1980, my next visit. She will be greatly missed. She had a great testimony of salvation and will be a part of the glory of God and Christ’s Body forever, I believe.

This coming Sunday, Feb. 17, Brother Steve will be in a conference in Florida and has asked me to take his place for both hours at Grace Bible Church. Pray for the truth to be heard and be profitable to all who hear. I like preaching back to back messages because I never really get done. I don’t want that to sound strange, just know this: it is the Lord’s Word which we speak, and it’s never the Word we tire of, it is just the weariness of our flesh that makes us stop.

Many years ago, I think in 1979 and 1980, at the Pineview Bible Camp, which was located on a farm just East of Plantersville, AL. In these two particular years we didn’t have very many “grace” preachers in the area. One of those years, I believe  ’79, It was Bros. EC Moore and Dusty Rhodes (a Calvinist), and once or twice Bro. Dave Reese (a somewhat rightly dividing Baptist), and me—for 10 days, at least 3 messages in the morning and 2 or 3 at night. I believe Bro. Rhodes preached 4 messages, Bro. Reese 2, and Bro, Moore and I preached the rest. When you preach that rapidly in succession and with few breaks, it will either teach you how to preach or make you walk away! 

In 1980, (I think) Bro. Atwood joined us, Bro. Reese preached once, but basically a 3 man rotation, almost a relief to Bro. Moore and me to have to only preach every third message. Bro. Atwood was a great addition. When I think back on that era, I wonder what I sounded like, knowing so little. Makes me glad none of those messages were recorded. I know I didn’t measure up to what those other gentlemen were able to teach, but they endured me, anyway. So very thankful to have had those times and for the memory of them. If I hear someone new to preaching, I think back to those days and how gentle, yet painstakingly corrective Brother EC Moore was to all of us. So, I never intend to criticize young preachers without knowing the Scripture to use.  

Bro. Moore was not known for patience or toleration of errors when he heard us make errors. But, there was a day when, after being harshly corrected, I had to reason with myself and ask the Lord for the strength to take criticism. My decision was this: “take the criticism, buddy boy, you’re the one in error. Don’t get angry or embarrassed because he is trying to teach you—he was sent from the Lord to be a teacher, and he’s yours!”

After that, I never worried when, as I finished a message, I would hear his throat clear and he would say, “Bro. Lockhart, do you mind if I ask you a question?” …deep breath, and say, “no, sir, what did I do wrong?” And he answered with Scripture, every time. Every time.

When I think of the years between 1974 and 1980, I think he was an exceptional teacher of the things of the Lord. Many times he would learn more himself and always correct himself by the word of God. I had a particular set of circumstances during that time in which I was privileged to spend several hours a week (with an 18 month period out for when we so temporarily moved back to Illinois) with him that other young preachers were deprived of, hours that now I cherish, and sometimes I want to call him and ask him some questions. There are (roughly) 70 churches or bible classes ongoing which were directly the results of his teaching ministry. 

Bro. E.C. Moore. Just a farm boy from Coffee county, AL.

Thanks for reading, the Elder

2/10/2019

Some weekends are not as good as you wished. We just had one of those.   It seemed like a good start, going to Chattanooga to visit a friend in a convalescing state and dinner with some friends. We started home and about 45 miles away from our destination, the battery light began to blink and intermittently continued for several miles. Then, getting more steadily staying on meant to me we were losing power and soon we would be beside the road. 

But, as we got closer it looked like we might make it to where our truck was parked. As we left the interstate at an exit close to the truck, the car died and had no power to start again, sitting smack in the middle of the exit lane at the stop sign. I called AAA, they were gathering my information while I was waving more exiting cars away from our car. Then, a young man stopped and began to try to help me, all the while me telling him I was calling AAA. He kept insisting, thank the Lord, and from what he checked he said if the battery would receive power, he could follow me to where we needed to go and leave it. He put jumpers on and in a few minutes, it had a battery powerful enough to start the engine, and a few more minutes with a policeman showing up to stop traffic we got the car out of that lane and a mile around the curve to where our truck was parked. Barb jumped out, got in the truck, and followed me in the car and the young man in his truck down the street about 10 blocks to the garage I wanted to leave it at. 

I thanked the young man, all he would take, and we drove home, frustrated and tired, but safe and sound, we thought.

A friend had parked next to our truck on Friday and had called to tell me the right rear tire had a nail in it, but it was still full of air. The tire sensor had already been telling me the left front was low, but just a bit. However, knowing we were not going to have the car to drive to Chattanooga on Sunday morning, and I had told some friends I would be at church, on Saturday morning I took the truck to get the two tires fixed. My tire place of choice and who had put the tires on the truck when new, was very busy, making me have about a 3 hour wait. But, they said they rotated the tires and fixed both tires with the problems.

So, this morning, off we go to Chattanooga in a heavy rain. Just after passing the Trenton, GA, exit, the left rear tire blew (formerly the left front that was low and supposedly repaired.) I pulled off the pavement and proceeded to call AAA. The first person I talked to was in Texas someplace and she transferred me to a “Georgia operator” to speed up my service! What a joke that turned into! After a rather long wait, the GA rep, wanted to know my exact location. I told her “on I-59, about two miles north of Trenton, GA” and that the Trenton Exit number was 11. Somehow, that seemed to confuse her. She asked me if I was in Alabama or Georgia. (??)

I told her again, I was in Georgia on I-59. She told me “I-59 is a long road!” But, I said, not in Georgia. and told her again where we were. She then, put me in a holding state and came back after several minutes and said the Tow Truck would be there in an hour!!! I said OK, and we waited. We were good humored about it, and thanked the Lord for the safe stop and warm truck to wait in. In just over an hour, the tow truck driver called to ask where we were. I explained it to him and he said, with a groan, “Oh, I think I’m about 12 minutes away, sorry.” He came after about 25 minutes and it wasn’t a tow truck, it was a “light” service truck (a pickup) and he was very apologetic. He showed me where the instructions told him to go and it was no wonder he was late. (That poor lady still doesn’t know where we were. She sent him off I-59 and onto Hwy 11–I shouldn’t have given her the Exit number!)

But, he did have the wherewithal to get the spare on and we arrived back in our town at noon. We didn’t get to Chattanooga nor go to church, but we made it home safely. What a weekend! Now, to get both vehicles back into road worthy condition, if possible, tomorrow.

Incidentally, the SIMH this morning was “Some Day Soon”—by several artists, all women, talking about some day soon running away with a rodeo cowboy: in my head (SM/LOL.) But it reminded me of berea’s song by the same name, partly written by me with filler words by Scott Mitchell. I enjoyed remembering that one and glad I was a part of it.

Looking forward to a great week, and to forgetting the frustrating moments of this weekend! Hope you have a dandy, as well.

Thanks for reading, the Elder

2/6/2019

It’s a little late in the day for me to start a blog, but, you know, when you have something to say…. Just a word or two about the world we live in: we will not improve this world in an overall sense. I’ve been following the political strivings since 1956 (maybe a couple of years earlier) and I see no hope in the patterns of things being done by any of the politico du jour. 

Eisenhower is known for the fantastic highway system in America (and it is great), but his administration started what has become thought of now as  a necessity: the farm subsidies program. A horrible waste of taxpayers money, yet I don’t know a farmer who could get along without it. It is everything from “pay to not grow” all the way to “drought insurance.” Makes no sense whatsoever.

Kennedy was great in his approach to many things, so “they” killed him. 

Then, we got Johnson-he started a 12 year massive war in SE Asia, and the explosion of the “military-industrial complex” which Eisenhower had warned of.

When he decided not to run, Bobby Kennedy stepped up, made too much sense in his approach, so they killed him before he ever got into office. 

That gave us NIxon—great about one or two things, horrible concerning “price fixing”?? Are you kidding me! Then, he opened trade with China—look where that has us now? And, of course, resigned the presidency.

Ford was a good man, used veto power to gain his program, but lost to the farmer.

Carter was a good man, but a bit overwhelmed with the job, was beaten in 1980, and has worked for the common American ever since and is well loved for that.

Reagan gained the White House in 1980 and was terrific for a couple of years, so they shot him—didn’t kill him, but it was like someone else’s agenda for the remaining 5 years. (Had a great tax reduction package, negated by the 3 years leading up to leaving the office.)

The first Bush was next and he fostered a horrible legacy by proudly introducing a “new world order” for us to digest. He was right in the goose-step pattern his “nwo bosses” pushed him toward. 

Follow by Clinton who had no chance to do what was right because it didn’t seem to be in his heart. Second term only improved because for the first time in 40 years, the Dems did not control the house!

The second Bush in the WH was confronted with the 9-11-2001 tragedy and no matter what you believe about it, it shaped the terrible oughts (0s). By the time the two terms were over, the idiocy of the federal government had come out completely: they were bailing out banks and automobile companies because they were “too big to fail!” Good grief!

Obama comes in, probably not a natural born citizen, probably a closet Muslim, and definitely the most liberal president ever (including FDR and WW.)

Which brings us to where we are. Trump has done what he said he would do in several areas, yet gets no credit from the left and the moderates because they don’t like him. He will continue on his own route, something the two prominent generations of Americans have never seen and it irritates them and scares them at the same time. Whether there is any noticeable-to-all improvement when he leaves office is up for grabs. But, this I know: for the first time in the 55 years I’ve paid any attention at all to politics, this is the best opportunity we’ve ever had at fixing anything, or returning to the values that made the country great until 1913. 

Integrity demands, but cannot enforce. For the moment, we still make our own decisions, but if momentum runs toward the socialism side, we’ll not be independent at all. Many of us saw the result of the failed USSR and the despair in the hearts and attitudes of their people. The entire Balkan states “war” was the result of a lack of leadership and direction toward open economics and constructive growth. We’ve seen the demise of the Nicaraguan nation and its wealth, etc. Surely, the youth of this nation will turn away from socialism. 

Sorry this is all political. I’d rather talk about the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanks for reading, the Elder

2/4/2019

Well I’m leavin’ on a jet plane, but I hope I know where I’m going. I’m going  home. I get into Atlanta about noon, drive to Fort Payne, and take a nap before teaching online bible class tonight. At least I hope I get a nap. Talking with Barb earlier this morning I find out she has completed her painting project while I was just foolin’ around in Houston, Lake Charles and Austin/Round Rock. She’s somethin’ else! She painted my home office! It has been the only room in our house not painted since we’ve been there and it had its problem spots, but I never would have payed any attention to it. Barb notices all these needs and has always been in charge of how things look in our home, so she just takes charge (she’s the “keeper of the home,” according to the bible) and she’s made living very comfortable for these 58 years. Thank you, Barb!

The trip has been very eventful but not overwhelming. The most important part was the fellowship with the Baker family and friends at MaryEllen Baker’s memorial service and the luncheon which followed. Almost 4 hours from greeting to leaving the restaurant(more on that place later), all of it pleasant, friendly, loving people. We did this on Saturday. Sorry I didn’t get to see all of the family; some were sick, some caught in the Northern deep freeze, but I certainly enjoyed my time with the others and am thankful for the privilege.

Later on Saturday, I met and interviewed a young couple interested in putting a Blue Jug store in a section of Houston which needs a good place to buy the “Water the way it’s meant to be” with alkalinity we offer. They were delightful. We met without knowing one another as I walked into a Starbucks from one side and they from the other. Quickly I sized up their appearance this way: a beautiful young (probably 23,24 years old) lady, and the man, maybe 34,35 years old and slim and trim. As we talked, he told me he had been in a certain business since 1992. I immediately knew I was wrong about his age, so I asked. He said he was “almost 50!” Good grief, I was way off. I said to him, “wow, you really robbed the cradle, didn’t you?” and looked at the young lady. She smiled and said, “We have 8 year old twins.” I think my mouth was dropped open. She said, “I’m 44.” 

I promise you, I’m not that bad guessing peoples ages, they were a remarkable young-looking couple. The rest of the 2 1/2 hour talk was more serious, but I’m still in awe of how young they appeared. We hope for a good future together in the business. I’m sometimes too optimistic, but this could I am very hopeful of. they’ll be a good addition to the stores.

My trips to the two existing stores was fruitful, I think. But, I have mentioned them a couple of days ago. The more days to think about them, the more days to come up with more suggestions, so I’ll be back in touch with them soon as time allows.

Sunday was a day I had nothing to do, had to take the extra day because the “cheap seats” were all taken for coming home Sunday, so I stayed till this morning. This gave me yesterday to drive over to Round Rock and visit Bro. Steve Gotberg’s assembly and fellowship with them. He asked me to speak so I spoke about two subjects that have recently come up which I feel rather strongly about. If you disagree with me about them, I shall not die, neither be angry with you. But, I will scratch my head in wonder. I’ll write about that when I’m not sitting in an airport—maybe tomorrow.

Back to the restaurant which hosted the fellowship on Saturday. It is connected and part of a place called Brookwood,  

A God-centered educational, residential, and entrepreneurial community for adults with disabilities.

What a place! Look up brokkwoodcommunity.org and read about it.

Thanks for reading, the Elder

2/2/2019

Beautiful Houston, that’s where I am this morning. Today starts my 3rd day in the great Southwest. I went to Lake Charles on Thursday, having left home at 4:30am to get to the airport in time, then spending most of the afternoon in the newest Blue Jug store. Wow! what a great opening. Keith and Liz have built a beautiful store which took an enormous amount of patience. The “authorities” poured it on, but they just patiently complied with some of the most stringent rules for a store such as you can imagine. (After several of these being put together in various towns, I concluded we’re slightly different and the various departments which have to sign off on our owners to get a store open, just don’t understand what we do.)

After the store closed and I was in a motel room, we had our quarterly online store meeting. This normally is one hour long, but this one took longer because it was well attended (100% of store owners participated), new things were introduced, some product updates, etc., so that the meeting lasted an extra 40 minutes or so. That made for a long day, had my mind all keyed up and sleep was a little hard to come by. I’ll try not to time my next trip the same way.

Yesterday, I was at The Woodlands store, another delightful time with the owner and customers who frequent her beautiful store. So glad we get to associate with Kaylynn and Rick. What a wonderful and joyous attitude they possess. I’m sure they’ll prosper in the water business. Also, while in The Woodlands, I had the pleasure of lunch with my niece and her husband, Shani and Chad with their youngest—Asher, he’s a little over 2, with long, beautiful, red, curly hair. He’s not yet had it cut (momma says it’s too pretty to cut!) 

Today, I will be at the memorial service in Brookshire, the reason for my trip. I love this family, having had fellowship with them for 20+ years. In that time, I’ve participated in three memorials for the family and performed three marriages. This is a celebration of the life of the mother/grandmother and great-grandmother of the family. She was a precious friend.

For the first time in quite some time I had a long conversation with a person steeped in a harsh religion, one that teaches people several wrong doctrines and dozens of wrong practices. We talked for about 2 hours total, mostly about things we differ on. Some of it was of adamant speech and might have looked like we were arguing, but it was all friendly, and though neither convinced the other of any imminent changes, I think the Scripture has a chance to prevail about some things and I’m very thankful to the Lord and His word for this opportunity. Witnessing to someone is not about winning or losing: it’s about being true to the Lord’s word and not to a religion. The authority is the living Word of God!.

Back to being in Houston: this is the most sprawled out large city in the country, I’m sure. When my day was over yesterday, I was a long way from where I wanted to sleep, so I started on roads with which I was familiar, headed West, then South. Soon I was confronted with Toll Roads, which I couldn’t do. (I’m not opposed to toll roads, it’s better than raising property taxes to build roads, but my rental car didn’t include the key, so any charges would have been high) deciding I knew how to do this without tolls was a real challenge. I travelled a long time, just to get from the North side of Houston to the West side of Houston. The East/West traffic (I was driving South) was constant and heavy on 4-lane streets that seemed an endless number I was crossing. I found a Southbound road I knew from years past(no tolls) and I was shocked at how many more 4 lane crossroads there were! My straight-shot to I-10 was tedious. What used to be 20 minutes was an hour and 20 minutes!

This a big place. Whew. I’m glad most of my trips here sort of skirt around most of it. It’s even more obvious today why people in large cities “community-ize” where they live and, except by necessity and work, they don’t go to other parts of the city. I have new respect for the reluctance to go very far to get to a bible class. It’s hard driving, especially after a day of stress filled work, as so many go through. Some of you know I’m saying thank you for your support with a view of how difficult it was for you to come to class.

Hope this day is warm and bright and starts a great weekend for you all. I’m looking forward to the day, with tomorrow offering more opportunity to spend with some old friends in Austin/Georgetown area.

Thanks for reading, the Elder

1/30/2019

Yesterday, the 29th, was my father’s birthday in 1901. He lived until Sept, 1987, almost 86 of the most history-altering years the world has seen since Christ was here in the flesh. I played 27 holes of golf with my dad about 10 days before he died. Walking. The very next day, we played 18 holes with two of my brothers and it was the only time he ever rode in a cart playing golf. 

He never played golf until he was 65. Three of us took him to a little used golf course and “we” were going to teach him how to play. So, on the first hole Pete and Ken said, “go first, Jerry.” I promptly stepped up and with every technique I could remember I approached the ball, swung, and dribbled the ball about 40 yards down the right side of the fairly. Ken was next, he used an archaic style though he played pretty good golf, his shot hooked over to the left and behind some trees. So, exasperated with mine and Ken’s failures, Pete the golfer (by our family standards, Pete was superior) stepped up with a smug little grin on his face. His looong drive tailed into a slice about 275 yards down fairway—out of bounds. 

Daddy stepped up and with no help from his hapless sons, and with his baseball grip on the shaft, hit a drive about 285 yards down the middle. He quietly stepped back, began looking for his tee, and said, “I thought I was supposed to go down the middle, I hope that’s all right!” End of golf lesson. We laughed for 3 holes! (Although he played a lot till 9 days before his death, he never really got any better than us, he just loved playing. I never had a round with him I didn’t enjoy.)

Once, when I had been preaching about ten years and he and I were no longer suffering too much from differing doctrines, I went to visit and away we went to the golf course. After we teed off on #1 and his ball went to the right, mine to the left, we walked a little ways, then he veered his way and I toward my ball. After several steps I turned and looked at him (he was walking up hill) and as I did, he stopped and yelled across the fairway, “David said to his brothers, “Is there not a cause?”” I knew the passage in the bible he referred to, so I nodded and we went on to play the first nine, no more being said about the bible or David. 

It was hot and we were thirsty, so I went in the clubhouse and got us a soft drink to have while we waited our turn. (I bought and brought the drinks outside because he didn’t approach a bar that served beer.) As we sat there, he quietly said, “Trouble today is, son, preachers don’t know what the “cause” is all about.” I agreed. He said, “we need to read more and know more than ever before.” Again, I agreed, end of conversation.

At the visitation when my father died, I related that story to the man who had taken the pastorship of the church my dad had built and pastored for a long time. As I got to the part about  “preachers today” he interrupted me and went into a long dissertation about “he was right, men today don’t preach about all the sin in the world! why don’t men fight the sin habits, blah, blah, blah!!” He was one who didn’t know what the “cause” was. 

The Lord Jesus Christ took care of the “sin problem” by dying for the sins of the world in 33 ad, being buried, being raised from the dead 3 days later, all of that for our redemption, our atonement, our security in Him. Daddy knew, I am sure of it. The cause is to “make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery” of how can we (you and I, sinners that we are) be saved: by trusting in what Christ has already done for us. Go back and read the words David said to the giant (with a sling and 5 smooth stones.) He wasn’t talking to the giant about himself or the Israelite army, he was talking to the giant about who God was and how God could win this battle. Well, God won the ultimate battle for our eternal life at the cross, and His power in resurrection.

It’s cold here, how ‘bout where you are? 14 degrees when I got up, now all the way up  to 19—not as bad as many other places, but I’m done with it, it can just go away and allow heat to prevail for a few months. Our snow yesterday almost all melted away, just a few spots which were protected from the sun. Our roads are all dry and the cold is crisp and they clear. If it is worse where you live, stay safe and warm—one last quote of my dad’s: “If you keep your head and your feet warm, you probably won’t get sick!” He was probably right about that, too.

Thanks for reading, the Elder