10/15/2019 (and yes, I know I skipped the 12th—not a good day for writing.)

“In the Sweet By and By” ? Is that saying we don’t know when that is or is it saying we don’t know where it is or is it saying we don’t know what is going to happen? Perhaps all 3, but it was the SIMH today. I had in my mind, an intro to this song by a very high soprano voice, singing just the chorus. That’s all I could remember. She was on a recording of this and other songs which my friend Mo Rector gave me about 20 years ago. The total song was sung by an all male choir from Dallas, I believe. Very good.

But, I wonder about the writer’s vision for the song. Sanford Bennett wrote this in 1868, just after the civil war. Mr. Bennett was from Illinois most of his young life and served with a Wisconsin unit in the war between the states, living the last 30 years of his life as a druggist in Elkhorn, Wisconsin. His lyrics sound as though he was resting from the conflict, in search of that permanent rest. I understand that. But, why a “land that is fairer than day” and “we shall meet on that beautiful shore?”  It has often not made any sense to me that we were leaving this sin-cursed world one day to go to another land, yet a beautiful place to dream about. In the poem which became this well-beloved hymn, how can a “shore” fit into this place we go? A shore implies we get there by boat. Sorry, that does not compute. (Sort of like crossing Jordan to get there…hmmm, sounds like some were teaching we are part of, or a replacement for Israel. Not so, folks, not so.)

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When the rest of the world looks at an event or a speech and commences to castigate the perpetrators, do you automatically side with them? or can you take the time to examine the worth or validity of their claim? Using the resources which have rapidly fulfilled the notion that we have in our hands an information super-highway in the internet (especially having added “Siri” and other voice activated answer-intelligentsia) we can check something out for truth in a matter of moments. If we are to manage our lives solely by ourselves (obviously the safest way to live), we need to concentrate on mastering the tools to do this. We learn to “Google it!”

If we do not, we will play into the hands of whichever becomes the strongest “rumor mill” in our community, be it a small town or a metropolis. Falling prey to the “mill’s” soundbite will convert into massive mistakes, misgivings, and mis-applications of everything imaginable: from who stole little Johnny’s lunch money to a president’s promise not to lie to the people!

This brings me to a question about myself: I can see this need, and I desire to measure up and acquire the skill to learn it all, and I can buy the electronics. But, can I mentally and physically employe myself into the performance of it? Somehow, it seems, I must. Everything must be examined and investigated because few people’s word is any good any more. You know, maybe it never was. Or perhaps that was so long ago that now it is no more than a fond recollection from an old movie script. “My word is my bond,” they said. 

My good friend and long time confidant, used to be fond of saying the definition of a “yeahbbit” is the long-eared hare which pops its head up whenever reason is about to prevail and says “Yeah, but” what about this or that or what if this or that or, worse: what if they, or what if they don’t, etc., etc. Many times in my life I’ve noticed he was right about this definition and how often it seems to occur. However this reality seems to be absolutely essential in todays cock-eyed world. Because when the “yeahbbit” shows up, someone goes and checks the deep fact-well on the super-highway and low and behold, the idiot interfering with common reasoning is right, and once again, we find ourselves clear out in left field with our debunked opinion.

I’ve been a strong proponent of all things internet since I first heard of it almost 30 years ago. Yet, today, I find myself wondering if it has been worth it. Would we have all been happier if we had never attached our daily lives to the ‘net? or would we have just become complacent and empty of new ideas and new factoids and new industry, and on and on the thing goes…….Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and many other such, all the way down the social media (there’s a new concept) to the little startup called MeWe: could we have done without them till now? Or would we be just sitting around watching reruns on TV or reading in a library, our own or public, while learning and believing our “news” from the TV networks, and vicariously living other people’s lives and experiences? 

Guess what has stayed the same for all of these 30 years of the internet? You are correct: the Word of God. He never changes what He completed through the Apostle Paul. He never will. Just like He promised the “seal of the Holy Spirit” would last till our redemption, He promised the word of the Lord will endure longer than the world. This, my friend, is the better dependence: trust The pure word of God.

Thanks for reading, the Elder

10/10/2019

Our Northern relatives have arrived safely! Our second son Brian and his lovely wife Dana got here last night about 9:15. It is wonderful to have them visit us. They drove a long day—13 hours or so, and though tired, we had a great visit with them till our eyes drooped. It’s good to have all 3 kids and some of the grandkids around us for several days. We were reminded of some funny events during our first couple of hours of visiting and, inevitably, more will follow. More mentions of these remembrances will appear in this column soon. 

But for now, “Desperado—why don’t you come to your senses? You been out riding fences, for so long, now….” was the SIMH today. Basically, this great song about getting one’s life together properly, is a compilation and collaboration of all the Eagles. They said when they heard it as it was being put together that it sounded like Ray Charles to them, but I couldn’t find where he ever recorded it. Several people have recorded it (the Eagles on two albums, but never as a single) and it is very good by most of them. Besides the Eagles, the one’s I like the best are Linda Ronstadt and Clint Black. Bringing the lyrics back to mind makes me sad. The inspiration to write such lyrics just screams of the many, many lives which are on the trash-heap of life in general, not having a clue about how to get things straightened out before it’s too late.

Emotional roller coasters often are an extension of things which have befallen us in our quest to live orderly and peacefully. An unexpected illness of a young man who is dear to us has all of us conscious of the work it takes to keep things on an even keel. We must be aware of the top priority in life, the health of those close to us, and at the same time be able to continue to do what has to be done. But, in our present case, having been confronted with changes which have to be made concerning store location (forced, not elective) and that coming about almost concurrently with a literal changing of where we live, has heightened the possibility of the roller coaster effect showing up. So, we step back inside ourselves, depend upon the “author and finisher” of our faith and apply the peace from God to our very own peace with God to be able to receive from Him the benefit (notable is our “partaking of the benefit”) as we walk in peace, no matter what. When this precarious situation concludes is not yet known. The young man is very ill.

What we do know is “God is able to make all grace abound toward (us), that (we); always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.” The verse is 2 Cor. 9:8, and is about not letting obstacles or perceived lack of something get in the way of seeing it through to the finish: He is able to provide whatever it takes.

For prayer, and praying with us, may we suggest the formula for prayer found in Phi.4:6 & 7: Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

In today’s vernacular, “worry about nothing, pray for what comes to mind to desire, and thank God for anything that happens.” That will be peaceful to you.

And let me add, thank you for remembering us in prayer through this (hopefully) short, but troublous time.

Thanks for reading, the Elder

10/8/2019

On Saturday, I mentioned going to be in North Carolina at the Charity Bible Church, with Bro. Brian Sipes and his group of precious saints. More about that further down, but now I want to tell you about my journey to get there. 

When I put the destination into my map-app, it gave me two routes from which to choose. One was how I’ve always gone, through Knoxville, then East on I-40 to Statesville, then North to where I stay overnight. But, to my surprise, shorter by about 45 minutes was from East on I-40, take I-81 all the way into Virginia (where it turns mostly East) to meet up with I-77, then South to my destination. 45 minutes faster? Didn’t seem possible. So, away I went. It’s true, once again the map-app proved smarter than me. And, it gave me more new things to see. (I’ve been on this route, but either in the Winter or after dark.)

It was a very enjoyable ride, even though I chose to take a “shortcut” off I-81 and go through some country towns, one of my favorite things to do. I had plenty of time, so I meandered up and over and down a mountain to go through Sparta, NC. Neat little mountain village of about 2,000 folks, plus all those who live on the sides of the mountain—probably hard to really know how many people live there. The country side was beautiful and easy to look at. One other side note to this detour: It was about 82-83 degrees when I left Bristol, VA and 30 miles later and up the mountain and it had dropped to 50. I’m driving along in shorts and a T-shirt, so I didn’t get out and walk the streets in Sparta.

On the down slope of that mountain, headed toward Elkin, NC, it warmed back up a bit, but a wonderfully cool evening was ahead. I had dinner and a great time of fellowship with Brian and June and their granddaughter, Brianna. Good food and good company makes an enjoyable evening, don’t you think?

Sunday morning offered more wonderful conversations with more interesting people. When I was ready to leave my room it was time for the lobby to have coffee ready, so I grabbed my computer and went to get some. I sat there, nodding “hello” to several people while reading stuff on the ‘net. Then, a woman said “g’morning” in a way that said to me, “we need to talk more, got time?” (If you don’t know that tone of voice, you’re not as gregarious as me.) So, soon she was telling me some of her life story and I was telling her some of mine. When we got to the Lord, she was willing to let me talk enough to preach the gospel of Christ to her. It was a good conversation for the sake of Christ, and an interesting one to remember. She has her professional singing career, some of it online and I gave her my teaching online info. Hope something good can come from it. Her husband, who didn’t come down for coffee, didn’t come up in this part of our conversation. I make no judgment that she was either a lost person or a saved person, but lean toward her having simply trusted Christ. She has had that de-emphasized over the years by a strange assortment of life’s interruptions , but still remembers the day and place. It’ll be an interesting expectation to wait for a next contact.

On to breakfast with a beautiful young family. Some of you Texas friends might remember George Barlow who came to Berean Bible Church in NB while he was enrolled at Texas State. He now has a wonderful family; lovely wife Jill and a delightful pair of youngsters—Jack and Charlotte, who are all great conversationalists. We had a very enjoyable hour before going to the Charity Bible Church for two more hours of great fellowship.

The group was pretty good sized at the church building and though I wouldn’t care to evaluate my own messages, no one threw anything at me or booed or hissed! Good to see some of the older friends and some young families I don’t believe I had met before. I thank the Lord for the opportunity to be there with the saints and for the fellowship, although it would be better if Bro. Sipes being ill was not the reason for me going. 

When I left the church, I decided to go home by the same “northern” route as I had come. This time, though, I didn’t cut across the mountain through Sparta, rather I stayed on the I-77 to I-81route. (Some beautiful mountain passages I had not seen before which, of course, makes me want to go back.) I stopped in Abingdon, VA, for a bite to eat. That’s a neat story. 

On my way Saturday, I stopped at the Virginia welcome station on I-81, went into the welcome area where they give away information (I’ve always picked up the old style road maps at these places.) Over in a corner was a young man with a display of Olive Oil with various flavors. I walked over and was looking at it all and he said, “Let me give you a bit of ice cream with olive oil—gonna make it taste like a dreamsicle!” Oh, I was surprised and he said, “It really does” and handed it to me. And it did!! He had several flavors or combinations of flavors to choose from. We talked awhile, he gave me information about his olive oil and where his business was located. It was in Abingdon! The conversation then turned to the city which is his home. He said they had won some sort of recognition last year as having the highest quality and number of restaurants per capita, or something like that. And, although only 7,000 people live in Abingdon, the restaurants have made to a “destination city” for visitors (they get far more than their “share” of tourism. They are not on a lake, nor near a park, nor do they have entertainment venues or state historical sites. Yet the people go there in great numbers for the food choices, it seems.)

So, on my way home Sunday, I stopped in Abingdon for lunch. I saw several of the notable restaurants, most open on Sunday afternoon, and could see why the draw: they were pretty well done in decor, looked inviting and the one I finally chose was very clean and efficient. My choice was a family owned pizza and Italian food spot which has been open for 54 years. The pizza I had was exceptional, not the same old cardboard with sauce and cheese with toppings from a can. I asked the waitress about the town and its restaurants and she said Thursday through Sundays were always busy in all the restaurants she’d been to in her (young) life. The rest of the week, she said the breakfast/lunch restaurants were busy. I asked her if she was part of the family who owned it and she said, “I wish!” 

Another in the long list of unique places we have found to eat—you really don’t have to settle for the same ol’ hamburger. And, we have more reasons to stop in Abingdon, VA when we go that direction.

Remember the Gatlin Brothers? One of their hits was the SIMH this morning. “Love is Just a Game—that everybody plays. Winners keep on laughing, losers cry, Deal Again” Larry wrote many songs and many artists have recorded many of them. He wrote this one in 1977, in the time when several of his songs were on the chart. This is one of my favorites of his.

Thanks for reading, the Elder.

10/5/2019

Placing the em pha’ sis on the wrong syl la’ ble causes much confusion, much delusion, much mistrust and many mistakes in just about every area of living, of community and in societal habitation. I’m talking about removing the main thing and placing the kind of emphasis on lesser things while believing in change for change’s sake. Question is, can I now tell you what I mean? Maybe. Maybe not.  

Let’s start with the political scene thrust before us every day of our lives: What’s wrong with this picture? (Easy answer is, everything.) Hmm, let’s not bother with this, it would take waaaay too long and could not possibly solve anything! Have you been watching?

So, the opening statement problem: let’s talk about religion, when we get that one straightened out, it’ll be a much more stress—free life. All will be peaceful and calm. We’re going to need the Lord’s intervention on this one. The way I see Him? or the way others see Him? The way the Catholics call upon him, or the way the snake-handlers call upon him? Hmm, this could take the rest of our lives and not get it figured out. Ever looked at the number of wars fought over this? Maybe we ought not bother with this one!

Let’s just take the emphasis off of anything that causes trouble, that way we can be like Ogden Nash suggested:

See the happy moron, he doesn’t give a damn

I wish I were a moron: My god, perhaps I am!

All the above fits a big portion of our world, does it not? As a society, we worry about our little clique and very little else. We’re more concerned with how we might be entertained than we are with the important things of life. We spend more time and money on sports and entertainment than our grandparents could ever have imagined. Even inside of these larger issues we circle the wagons, closing out those people or things we don’t like, huddling up with our “chosen few” and only allowing in the ones who conform to us. But, the reality shows that we are all just alike. 

Whether we are in the Western world, Europe, Africa, Asia, or in what’s called the Middle East, before the Lord of the Universe, we are all just alike. Members of Adam’s race. Young or old, rich or poor, smart or not so smart, Jew, Gentile, man, woman, black, white, brown, or some shade not yet procreated, we’re all the same. Why is it, segment by segment, most of us never agree with what I just wrote, except when we see it written like this or hear it in public and don’t want to embarrass ourselves by disagreeing? 

So, now: does the “cute little story” of Eve tempting Adam with an apple seem so little and cute? No, it was as the Lord depicted it in John 8, when he referred to the devil as “a liar, and the father of IT!” You see, there is only one lie and the serpent in the garden is the same dude who said, “I will exalt myself above the Most High.” The same one whom the Apostle Paul described as “transformed into an angel of light.” This enemy is so formidable that he has made a world full of people think they are all “children of God” when what we’ve become as a people are the pitiful product of the first sentence in this blog: always placing the em “pha” sis on the wrong syl “la” ble.

We can become wiser than we are toward the common menace, but first we have to admit he’s real and here, though we have no eyes that see him. His influence on the people of the world never stops, and he is a chameleon. His three main thrusts which we can only answer by the word of the Lord are these: he never sleeps, he does not care who he hurts, and he’s smarter than us.

So we need the word of the Lord to overcome what the adversary invokes upon us, making us religious about all the wrong things. Impress upon us to spend our resources on the wrong things, making us think we’re doing it all right, when all the time he’s laughing up his sleeve about it all, believing he is going to win in the end.

Sorry if this seems like such a downer. As always, Christ is the answer.

On the road today, going to North Carolina to be with the folks at Charity Bible Church tomorrow. Please pray for the other folks on the road..some of them are crazy drivers!

Thanks for reading, the Elder

10/3/2019

How well do we know ourselves? How well do we want to know ourselves? Some mornings when I awake with a particular SIMH, I wonder at the song, the content of the song’s message, what was the initial gathering of that song into my memory bank, etc., and if I dwell on that a few minutes, sometimes I learn something else about how I got “from there to here,” so to speak. Take the song today: “It is Well With My Soul.” This enduring and lovely, peace-filled soul-searcher music was put together by Philip Bliss and Ira Sankey in or around 1876, was not one that I remember from my youth. Perhaps I heard it, I can’t remember. But, when it became a part of my memory was after I was saved. 

Somewhere between 1964 and 1972, while Barb and I were singing in the choir at Ridgeview Baptist Church in Danville, IL., this song was practiced and sang in such a manner as to embed in me the reason for my peace. Later, about 1975, after a couple of years of bible study in the correct manner, I learned through a biography of  D.L. Moody about Mr. Ira Sankey. I learned he had travelled with Mr. Moody to England to sing in what they both thought was going to be English churches at the behest of an English aristocrat sponsor. As they disembarked from their ship, docked in London, they were informed of the death of their sponsor and that his heirs had no intention of continuing the tour.

Mr. Sankey (it is written) turned to Mr. Moody and asked how shall we be able to continue. Mr. Moody said, “We’ll find permission to do so, and you will sing and I will preach.” They went to a hotel with about enough resources to have a night or two and a few meals. Mr. Sankey ask Mr. Moody how they could formulate a plan and Mr. Moody assured him that he was willing to just trust the Lord. Mr. Sankey wrote down the words to songs he knew and songs he wrote and Mr. Moody (told later to his nephew) prayed the whole night through. The next day, a man who worked at the dock told them they had permission to preach on the dock, but they couldn’t ask for donations. Mr. Sankey sang, Mr. Moody preached. A crowd gathered the second time they did that and some people sang along with Mr. Sankey if they knew the hymn, and some people gave Mr. Moody an offering after his sermon. The dock-man checking to see if Mr. Moody asked for money, listened to the message and was converted. 

A few days of doing this brought another interesting development. One of the often listeners to these messages (both in song and sermon) approached the two ministers and offered to be their printer, printing up Mr. Sankey’s songs as well as out of copyright hymns in a book form which, they had learned from the converted dock-man, it was ok to sell the books. They then, “sold” the songbooks for whatever the people could pay and this enterprise provided for the two ministers to stay in the British Isles for more than two years, honoring the Lord and those who believed on the Lord without being a burden———Remind you of anyone in the bible?

After my reading of this biography of D.L.Moody and through it, seeing the beliefs and integrity as it grew in Mr. Moody, I was heartened by it in this manner: We had stepped out of organized religion, believing there was no call on our lives to be a part of or “belonging to” any sect. (If we belonged to the Lord, why would we want to belong to anyone else?) We also came to know the King James Bible is the word of God to today’s English speaking people, as set in comparison with others’ attempts to re-write it called “versions.” Study of such showed them to not be versions, but perversions of no use. We had also learned what was meant by “rightly dividing the word of truth” as we studied God’s word.

I could see in Moody’s biography and through many transcribed words from his messages that he taught the word in sermon form, teaching the salvation by grace through faith which the Apostle Paul preached and wrote. I found out that Mr. Moody would send men from his Chicago “Sunday School” (which he taught on Sunday afternoons—long before football) to Northwestern Indiana to where Mr. John Nelson Darby was teaching in the Plymouth Brethren churches. Mr. Darby was “one of the influential figures among the original Plymouth Brethren and the founder of the Exclusive Brethren. He is considered to be the father of modern Dispensationalism and Futurism.”—wikipedia. Mr. Darby, of course, did not start dispensational teaching, the Apostle Paul did. But, Mr. Darby, through the men sent, did teach Mr. Moody many biblical truths which did enable Mr. Moody to refute and refuse the invitations to either be baptized or join an organization. 

Some great notes about some very strong and determined men of God! And a great song to start the thoughts. More than a few influences to who we become may often get tangled in our minds. I’m glad these things came tumbling out of the memory banks this morning. Let’s try to untangle some more.

Thanks for reading, the Elder

10/1/2019

It’s another new month, the mornings are cool and beautiful, but the afternoons are still hot here on the mountain. “They” say in 3 more days the 90degree weather will be gone. Next week will be cool, they say. We’ll see, we’ll see. Good news is next week our son from NY and his wife are coming to visit! We and the other 2/3s of our offspring always enjoy that time we can all be together. We have great fun, never argue (because they all know I win all arguments! not.) Truly, it is most enjoyable and never lasts long enough. 

The SIMH today is a doozie! Anybody remember “I Gotta Brand New Pair of Roller Skates, You Got a Brand New Key!” Actual name was “Brand New Key.” If you haven’t heard it, I’m pretty sure I can’t explain it to you. If you remember it, you’re probably pretty old. Why it showed up this morning is a complete mystery. Written and performed by a folk singer named Melanie. That’s all, just Melanie. I don’t think she had another hit, but this one went around the English-speaking world in 1971-72 as a #1 for quite some time. I guess maybe Melanie didn’t need another hit, she just retired.

Sometimes the rush of memories of my home town, Trafalgar, IN, come to mind so fast I cannot keep them separated. I will attempt to tell 4 short stories here about 4 “characteristics” of my town, and why it was such a character-building hometown.

In the middle of the business section of our town was  a couple of pretty unique things. Heading East on Pearl Street, and approaching what we called “uptown,” you would first pass one of the 3 churches, the beautiful brick Christian Church (still there), followed by the school where I spent 12 of the finest years of my life (not still there.) Next was the drugstore (Patent drugs only) with a soda fountain, low bar stools and a juke box. But, then came two houses, right in the middle of the businesses. Across the street were three full blocks of business buildings, but on the Northside, two houses. It always seemed odd to me. Considering the real oddities of Trafalgar, that now seems silly.

A merchant: Next after the two odd houses, was an auto garage (it had a neon sign the outline of a car!), run by a man named Ilaf. He suffered us kids a lot. We always had a basketball which was low on air. It just seemed like we always had lost the air and needed it pumped up. How come that would have been? I don’t know. But, what I remember is that we didn’t need a needle if Ilaf was open. He had an attachment for his air hose that was a tiny orifice and we could get him to pump up our basketball free without a needle. I bet no other little town had that! And Ilaf was a very patient, peaceful man who never seemed to mind doing it. Oh. one more thing about this merchant: he sold gasoline and the pump was actually on the town main street—it was sitting on the right of way, and nobody cared.

A Banker: The next business after Ilaf’s garage was a small bank (when I was growing up it had become Union Trust Co., I don’t know the original name.) We had two managers while I lived there, the second being Mr. Pilcher, I can’t remember the first. My father would call the bank and tell them how much money he would need for his next contracting job and Mr. Pilcher would tell him to go ahead and write checks, stop by and sign the note, then pay the bank when the job was done. (I could still do that with my banker in Danville, IL as late as 1970.) I don’t think any bank operates that way today. 

A teller once gave a farmer too much money when he cashed a check. He stopped at the door and said are you sure you gave me the right cash? She assured him she had counted it twice and knew she was right. When she closed her window for the day, she was $200 short and realized what she had done. She called the farmer and told him and asked him, could he please bring in the $200. He replied, You assured me vehemently that you were right, I took you at your word, seems to me you lost $200! She was heartsick, she would have to make up the loss. Before Mr. Pilcher left the bank that evening, the farmer brought back the money, saying he hoped the teller had learned enough of a lesson. I remember that teller: she was much friendlier to everyone after Mr. Pilcher told her what the farmer said. Oh, neither she nor Mr. Pilcher told that story. I remember that farmer,  he did.

A Pool Hall: Oh, the shame of it all! The Smyser brothers bought the old pool hall and kept it going! I was warned by my parents, “Don’t you go in that place! It is a devil’s den!” Naturally, as all the town gang did, I figured out how to go in there without being detected. Learned to play pool there. Also learned to play Euchre, a 24 card 4 hand quick-play version of Bridge. It was fast, it was intense, it was judgmental, it was loudly competitive, and generally, the beholder of grudges. But, it taught some truly valuable life lessons. It taught instant decision-making because it was fast-paced. It taught the consequences of decisions because you cannot take a card back once you lay it down. It taught self-control, and most of all, it taught how to rid yourself of grudge-holding (There is no value in it, the next game was already in progress.) It also taught me that for the most part, very few things are worth getting angry over. 

Playing pool trained my eye to see small things, it trained my hands to be gentle, and taught me how to be a good loser….and my folks thought I shouldn’t go there, hm. 

Thanks for reading, the Elder

9/28/2019

A word or two about my trip to Texas, whirlwind that it was! I drove just over 1600 miles from Tuesday till Friday afternoon and was astounded how well everything went, from my body taking the drive, to my words for the Lord at the memorial service, to visits with the owners of a terrific new Blue Jug Alkaline Water and Health Market, and visiting friends in their new business venture: Cocktail Creamery! There, that’s a few words! 

However, there are a few more words I will indulge in about some of the events on this trip. First and foremost, the memorial service was truly a celebration of a young lady’s life which ended, tragically, too soon. She was about 40, way too young. Though she lived a troubled life and hastened her death in some ways, I have never witnessed such an outpouring of love and respect for the life of someone. The crowd was exceptionally large, and it was the second of the memorials for her. The organizers were my two grand-nieces who were friends with her nearly all their lives. They did a marvelous job decorating, programming content, (which included my part), and also limiting the speakers to 10—I think there could have been a hundred if time permitted it. 

One more thing about this: the young lady’s mother and her friends were Jehovah’s Witness and, as such, would have been defiled if they had listened to my “sermon,” so their group waited till I had spoken and then entered the auditorium. But, they seemed to not read the program well: After my initial short sermonette, there were the 10 speakers and the playing of 6 songs accompanying the slide show of her life, all of which took about an hour. Then, I closed with the preaching of the gospel and reminding everyone if they had a hope of seeing their friend in the future, they would need the same Savior, and left them with the truth of the gospel (hopefully) ringing in their ears AND the JWs were caught in the room and had to listen! Thank you, Lord Jesus!

My visit to the newest Blue Jug (opens Monday, Sept.30) was in Greenville, TX, a beautiful town of about 28,000 folks. The brothers Artzberger are doing a terrific job; the store is neat, clean, bright and shiny and their water production is perfect! They have our finest system and the taste and presentation of it is grand! I wish them well, and of course, we at Blue Jug are as close as a phone call away to help them at any turn. 

I must say, they are the kind of people we hope all our store owners can be: entrepreneurial, industrious, yet ever learning and applying the “new” things brought in to play concerning Blue Jug. (We remain a unique business model with a unique product for which most people do not understand they have a need.) Mark, Mickey and Marcia understand and have a passion for it. They will do well. If you look at bluejug.com, you’ll see a locations tab. Clicking it will show our 12 stores and clicking Greenville will give you their information.

The first night, after my arrival, I had dinner with some dear friends Gary and Pauline, (I almost called them “old friends” but I was afraid they would think I meant they were old—no, I’m the old one.) It was a great time of recalling others in our mutual past as well as great fellowship on the things of today, too. Then, the second night, I drove to a town about 45 miles away to visit more friends (Ted and Sharyn) and seeing their new business. He came up with an idea about serving ice cream, with just a touch of alcohol in it, a flavor touch unlike any other thing. It’s catching on pretty fast (been open only about 5 weeks) and he is really enjoying it. I did, too—in case you didn’t know it, I like ice cream! (I’ve often said, if it were not for ice cream and bread, I would only weigh 120#.)

When I walked into Ted’s new business, he was explaining things to a young lady, who offered the personal information that she believed the King James Bible was God’s word. He turned to me and, after an initial greeting, said, “got a bible study in ya?” I said sure, the young lady and I sat down and began to discuss the bible and her belief in it. So, I showed her on a napkin, the timeline of the bible which gave her a clear picture of where she was on God’s timeline and where she could find the doctrine for her life, ie Romans through Philemon.

In the process of our talk, it came out that she was homeless, had no money for food, was staying in a shelter which provided for only a place to sleep, etc. In a short period of time, she was given some money (by another believer whom came in), was driven to where she could stay, told by a guard that she was too late, but he gave her more money, then she was given more by the one who drove her, who then took her to the grocery store and to the lowest priced motel in the region which gave her a room for about 1/3 the money she had received. Did this all come about in order for the Lord’s word to resonate in her and perhaps benefit her changing needs? I don’t know. Eternity will probably let us know. It did, however, make for a very interesting and informative evening. We pray for her to overcome in a godly mannerly, her current situation. May the Lord rich bless her study of His word.

Oh, by the way, the SIMH this morning was a song which was sung by a lot of churches back in the 60s and 70s, not so much today. However, by the time I got around to writing this, it has left my mind. When, I once again think of it, I’ll write it down, so as to put it in the next blog….(and off he goes into mumbling about his memory……)

Thanks for reading, the Elder

9/26/2019

Upon awakening this morning (actually, the 25th), I thought of the SIMH and just shook my head. What a wacko mind I must have. “Run, Run Away!” (Here I am, 700 miles from home and that song comes into my head. I have run almost as far as I can go. Tomorrow, I turn around and head back home! I was remembering the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain’s version and this may not be the correct title (just a phrase at the end of the chorus, or something.) I tried to find it, but couldn’t, so who cares, right?

This is going to be a full day in Greenville, TX and this evening visiting friends in McKinney, TX—just up the road a ways. Had a great dinner, last night with more friends and I’m sorry to say, I am going to miss seeing other friends. Hmm, so many friends here, maybe we should have moved here…. Naw.

It’s now Thursday. Wednesday (25th) went really well with the new store owners in Greenville, TX. I believe this is going to be a wonderful Alkaline water store, becoming very helpful to the residents of the area and beneficial to their health. The water coming out of the system is extremely good—good tasting, good alkalinity, good anti-oxidant value. This means people will love drinking it, which means they’ll drink more and their bodies will react well to it. )That’s why we do this folks, water is our #2 need for good health, so we make the good(est) water we can!

“Don’t confuse me with facts! My mind is made up!” When I first went to a bible class in 1974, someone used this cliche to explain why others wouldn’t listen to how the Scripture explained things. If a person has learned their religion takes a particular stand or establishes a tenet which is not truly provable by Scripture, when they are confronted with Scripture to the contrary, this becomes their cry—don’t confuse me with facts, my mind is made up. So, they will prefer their particular religion to the bible, saying, in effect, “Well, you believe your way and I’ll believe mine!” If you think about that just a moment, can this conclusion be OK with the Author and Finisher of our faith? No, it cannot. Perhaps, they’ll come up with another reason to cling to something non provable: like, “I think you’re taking that out of context!” 

So, let’s examine everything we believe for its validity and verity. YOU say, well, that’ll take a long time! Take all the time you need (eternity is a long time to have been wrong about some vital point, right? OR, you say, well, my church “fathers” surely wouldn’t be wrong about this, they’ve been believed long before you and your belief came along—so many millions  (the number of members of your church) can’t be wrong! (Millions, even billions follow a man named Mohammed about what’s in a book attributed to him, but which he did not write and which is filled with more hate for the  race of man than any other thing and has not worthwhile content at all.) OR, you say, I’m just not going to talk with you about this anymore. Well, OK, this isn’t about me and you. This is about truth, cannot feelings and personality be removed from the examination of the truth? Shall we succumb to our emotional position as though it represents us? When we ultimately face the righteous Judge, shall His conclusions be based on our successful emotional reaction? or on our indifference? or our choice to ignore? 

Come on, people, let’s face some things: 1.) Our mortality, we are going to die and there will be judgment about our lives. 2.) The God of Heaven and Earth did indeed write the guideline in a book for us to use. 3.) There will be an end with a verdict at this judgment. Not funny, not happenstance, nor circumstance: judgment. We will not be able to say, “yeah, but I didn’t know, or I didn’t look at the guidelines, or I listened to this expert or this church father or my favorite preacher didn’t tell me…..” In Romans 14, the bible plainly says “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” You and I will face this Righteous Creator and there will be a consequence. 

If you, as I, have placed your trust in Jesus Christ as your Savior, believing He died for your sins, was buried, and was raised again for your justification, you are saved eternally from what awaits non-believers. But, there is a judgment of all things in your life from the moment you trusted Him till you go to be with Him, as to those things in agreement with His word or in disagreement. And, there is a consequence.

Well, the rest of this day, I will be in Dallas for the memorial service and then, as far as I can get on the road toward home. Pray for the Lord’s will to be obvious in each situation (and pray for all those people on the road — some of them are not as good a driver as I am, the might do something wrong—chuckle.)

Thanks for reading, the Elder

9/21/2019

“Oh, Island in the Sun, willed to me by my father’s hand….” Harry Belafonte’s title song of his 1957 movie “Island in the Sun” was the SIMH today. Interestingly, he was never a favorite singer of mine, though he had an excellent voice, great talent. Likewise, I never really liked the movie, either. But, somehow, those two things never kept that song from bouncing around in my head at 4am today. I went back to sleep wondering if it would still be in my head later: it was the same at 6 as it was at 4. Doh!

I watched, as perhaps some of you have, an autistic and blind 22 year old young man play the piano and sing a song on a YouTube version of America’s Got Talent, this morning. He was very good, and it is obvious he is exceptional and being made to understand he can do much with his life. However, the judges (who bestowed highest honors) fawned over him a bit too much for me, but especially one judge, as she hugged him and said, “You have changed the world today.” That’s just not true. Great talents have shown themselves all around the world on thousands of occasions, evoking great accolades from tens of thousands of admirers without making one iota of change in the world. 

That he was exceptional? Yes.

That he will influence many? Yes.

That it was a real treat to see and hear him? Yes.

But, change the world? No. Remember the Beatles song, “Nothing’s Gonna Change My World”? Well, nothing is going to change this world until the Lord’s will has come for the next prophesied event to become a reality. We will do well to remember and study out what will cause the next prophesied event to actually happen. Here’s what it is: “The Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. (1 Thess. 4:16-18)

That’s what is next, and that’s what will change this world. We have no clue as to when to expect this to happen outside of today. It is the only day we have. We will not stop it from coming, nor will we speed it up. He, the Lord Jesus Christ, already knows when it is going to occur. Until then, there’s a couple of things to remember: we support and furnish that which will bring this event about. When we preach the gospel of Christ, the “power of God unto salvation,” we allow for the fulfilling of this time to come. People anywhere, anytime, while this world-changing and expected event has not yet occurred, can be saved and a part of that “departing” I just quoted, simply by trusting the finished work of Christ. So long as others are going to trust Christ, we shall remain to preach it—“It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” Obviously, it’s that they believe what is preached, so we preach “how that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and was raised again for our justification” over and over and over again. 

Secondly, according to 2 Thess. 2, something is keeping the “anti-christ,” “that wicked one,” from showing up and taking over. But, there is another “He,” who is in the way of the anti-christ, He will be taken out of the way so that ol’ dude can do his thing. As far as I can tell, the church, which is the body of Christ, a He, is the only thing with a plan in place to be removed from the earth. When we go, all hell is gonna break loose on this earth, especially in the land that the Lord put His name on. So, “nothing’s gonna change (this) world” until these things occur. As I said, we only have today. It could happen today. “Yesterday is a cancelled check, tomorrow is a promissory note. Today is all the usable cash we hold.” Note: several people get credit for some version of this saying. The Apostle Paul said, “Today is the day of salvation.” Nuff said.

It’s going to be a busy next 17 days in my world, Lord willing. the Chattanooga Conference is under way, and the fellowship is grand. Looking forward to our bible class at our home tomorrow and hoping for more guests. Then, next Tuesday, I will go to Texas, first to see our newest Blue Jug in Greenville, TX, then attend and preside over a memorial for the dear friend of my grand-niece. Arriving back home on Friday. 

Sunday, Sept. 29, I will be doing both hours at Grace Bible Church, Chattanooga. Then, Saturday, Oct. 5th, I will go to North Carolina to fill in for Bro. Brian Sipes as he is recuperating from a pretty harsh illness. 

I love being this busy, just hope I don’t hit any snags along the way.

Thanks for reading, the Elder

9/19/2019

In case you were wondering about this (it must mean something, right?), today at 9:19:19 (in just a couple hours from this writing) the moment in time will be 9/19/19, 9:19:19—just thought you needed to know—same thing in the pm. Oddities can cause more oddities to occur! 

On a more serious note: one of my grand-nieces (I think—my brother’s granddaughter?) has called and talked with me about a memorial service for her best friend who has passed away, a very untimely and early age death. It remains in the undecided column as to whether I go or not, but I’m putting together some Scripture for my grandniece’s husband to use if he conducts the service. In our conversation, it struck me as to the worth of Scripture in a memorial service setting. It’s the authority.

Most of us of some age have been to funerals or memorial services which are a set pattern, put together by some theologian somewhere for some religion or another to perform as a ritual, rather than be what the service should be: a call to remembrance of the individual who has passed, and build a reason to have the hope of seeing them again in eternity.

What a funeral or memorial is not should be carefully considered. It is not a “revival meeting” followed by an “altar call” or “invitational service.” It is not a long drawn out “what I loved most” speech by one person, nor a public speaking opportunity to all who knew the deceased. It also, is not a church service designed to make the attendees want that particular religion to become their religion (that’s a horrible form of proselytizing.)

The difference in a funeral and a memorial is this: A funeral is to give closure to the body and put it in burial, away from the eyes of those who remain. A memorial is to remember, after the body has been interred or cremated, to remember the life of the individual, more in a celebration mode than a funeral. You may disagree, we won’t count off for that, but this is how I see the finality to a person’s life.

Funeral’s may have very humorous and poignant parts and memorials may have very sad and weeping moments. However, the two services must have a usefulness and a framed out time for the authority to speak! And that, of course, is Scripture, which is the final authority in all matters of life and purpose. So it seems I have now placed myself in the position of using Scripture in that light. Or a strong suggestion that others do the same and give them Scriptures to use for it. We’ll see how that goes. Maybe I’ll relate them to you. You may use them or suggest them or just set it aside and never use them this way. Let me think about that for a few minutes.

Well, I got some things written down for the memorial service. I hope it is useful and brings a proper end. The Scripture which I suggested is most of Job 14 and the last 3 verses of 1These. 4. Also, I placed the words of the gospel of Christ in the reading part of the program.

It is truly a relief to come to the knowledge that the Holy Scriptures as we find them in the King James Bible, are the actual authority we are to have over us in this life. Not a church, nor a “para”-church, and certainly not a man or someone with a title purporting to be somewhat. As Paul said, “whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me. God accepteth no man’s person.”—Gal.2:6. An hierarchal organization has no basis in Scripture and thusly, cannot usurp the authority of the written word of God. (For your information, even writing that in case someone doesn’t know that irritates me!)

Romans 14:12 says, “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” Then, for crying out loud, get yourself away from a pseudo-authority such as a churchman or a church organization. Your validity as a child of God comes from the Scripture itself, directly to you through the words preserved for the “church, which is His body.” (That’ll be Romans through Philemon which is written TO us today.)

Well, great news on the business front: it looks like we’ve come to an agreement with a new location—this is going to be exciting! Hard work to bring it about timely, but exciting!

Thanks for reading, the Elder.