Shortly after I turned 19, I finally got what my world called a good job. A solid position of 40 hours a week with some benefits. Mostly, in those days the “benefits package” in employment didn’t really exist. But, the company was solid, the manufacturer of solid goods which were in constant demand, very little chance for a layoff, progress being a very important part of their long view of themselves. I’ve told a few short stories which occurred while I worked for them.

A few months into the work (I was placed in the printshop) where we did everything imaginable that a company might print. This shop had magnificent machines —latest thing to the old offset standbys. I was on a simple repetition machine which made copies for invoices. But, I was with 9 other guys in a large room where we could all see each others’ work. There was never much criticism or carping amongst us, but a couple of them thought we should be unionized like the factory was. I disagreed on the principle that our work was attached to the office not the factory so I spoke up against it. In short, my argument against it caused the vote to meet about a union to fail and we dropped the subject.

Little did I know that the office manager and our department head took notice of my stand and within a few days after it was decided, they transferred me into the sales department and I had to begin wearing a coat and tie every day (of which I had a short supply—more on that in a couple of paragraphs.)

This move into an open office atmosphere and sat me next to the first of the 3 Bills I mentioned in the title—Bill Lego. He was an Inside Salesman who took calls from field sales staff and customers from all over the country. We had very busy mornings, then an hour or so after lunch, but then it would be relatively slow for the last couple of hours. That’s where Bill’s importance to me came full stage.

Bill Lego was an artist—not with music or oils—an artist with the handling of irate customers and frustrated field salesmen. Bill talked to me every day (5 minutes to 50 minutes, depending on his time) in the manner of being my teacher. He probably didn’t mean it like that, but it was to me. His most beguiling principle to me for about 18 months was this: there is nothing more important in your day than to get the days work done! He handed me this quotation and it became imbedded on my work ethic until this day:

If you work for a man, in heaven’s name work for him, speak well of him, and stand by the institution he represents. Remember, an ounce of loyalty is worth a pound of cleverness. If you must growl, condemn, and eternally find fault – resign your position, and when you are outside, damn to your heart’s content – but as long as you are part of the institution, do not condemn it. If you do, the first high wind that comes along will blow you away, and probably you will never know why.

Elbert Hubbard

That was Bill Lego, personified.

During the time I sat next to Bill, Barb and I concluded I needed a part time job for two reasons: first, we needed more money and second, I now needed shirts and ties and sport coats and a suit or two. So, I walked into a men’s specialty shop (in those days there were a lot of those) and asked for a job. It was a Wednesday and the owner said, “Can you start tomorrow night?”— I had a job. When I got there the next evening, it seemed it was the beginning of this stores “annual sale” and “When Bruce has a sale it is always a great sale”—that’s what their ad said. Bruce immediately said to his right hand man, “put this young man wherever you want him to be.”The second Bill motioned for me to follow him up front. Bill Myers said, “go behind this counter here and start familiarizing yourself with these ties—tonight, you are going to sell ties. Then he said, “you got $2?” I said yes. He picked up a tie, put it around his own neck and tied it, loosened it, took it off and said, “give me the $2, take off that ugly tie and put this tie on. Now you can say you’re a Dalton&Payne man!”—and I was.

Bill said, “you’ll primarily sell to ladies for their husbands and sons tonight, but you’ll learn three things: When to suggest, when to be quiet, when to say will there be anything else.” Boy, was he right! they unlocked the door and people flooded in. That night I sold $2, $4, $6 ties—dozens of them. I simply was flabbergasted at the numbers. Before the night was over, I had also sold shirts, underwear, sox and even one sport coat.When I sold the latter, Bill saw me, came over and said, “You must have learned those 3 things—you’re a haberdasher!” Two years later, Bill moved on to a small Jewelry chain of stores and recommended me to become on of their managers, which I did.

That was Bill Myers, the second Bill

While I worked in the men’s wear store, the owner started a second store on the edge of town in a shopping center, open every night till 9, which afforded me to get more hours. He agreed to have me work there instead of the downtown store. My manager there was a kid who was actually younger than me. He’s the 3rd Bill. 

Bill Kitzinger was a student of life like I had not seen before. His father was very elderly, a professional musician who taught violin and one or two other instruments at his home. Bill was an only child and also a musician. But, his work ethic was just remarkable and how he measured success was daily to a weekly to a monthly finish. He laid out his plans for each (or the success of already reaching these individual success plots) every time I went to work. We thought things through for that store as if it were our own—he being the lead thinker.

Once, he and I went to the downtown store to get some inventory moved to our branch and the owner had just opened a box which had the wrong item shipped in error in it. It was a lightweight rain slick and it came in, not the zip up front, but a pullover. The owner was livid, now he’ll have to send them back, etc., kind of livid. Bill said to me, “Let’s look at these. don’t you think we could sell these in our location?” I said I liked them and thought we would. Bill said to the owner, “How many are there?” 18, he said. “what if me and Lockhart took a dozen to the shopping center and sold them by, say Monday night? How much commission will you give us?” He mumbled something about not paying commissions, but then said, “If you take a dozen and sell them by Monday night I’ll give you $2 per piece besides your regular pay!” We took them, and by 9pm when we closed Bill had sold 7 and I had sold 5, job done. Bill smiled for a week, Bruce learned something about the two of us, but I came away with the fulfillment of a Scripture which at the time I didn’t even know existed: “The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul!”—Prov.13:19 

Nothing quite as noticeable as a life well planned, Bill’s dad taught him that. 

That was Bill Kitzinger, the third Bill 

Many more people helped me over the years, but I thought it sort of unique that these 3, in the time of my life when I was getting a college education without going to college, were all named Bill.

Thanks for reading, the Elder

“Where you from?” I ask the man who was my only early morning companion up for coffee in our hotel. “Southeastern North Carolina,” he said. “You?” I said we live in Fort Payne, AL now, but we’re from near here and we’ve lived (ad infinitum). He grinned and said, “Wow! I came up her 47 years ago, met my wife, got married and have lived in the same town all 46 years of our marriage.” Was she from Greenwood? “She was, I came up for another reason, but met her and we both knew we never wanted to be apart.” That’s a great love story, I said. (And it is, and there are many, many more just as love-filled.)

A few decades ago, I listened to several tapes (some of you may remember cassette tape decks in your cars) of Positive Thinking proponents: Zig Ziegler, Jim Rohn, Earl Nightingale, etc. My favorites were Jim and Zig. I could listen to them several times before I would give them away or make copies to give away—that was illegal, I never did that! But, I developed favorite stories. I can still tell some of those stories, I listened so often!

Zig would tell short ditties about his wife from time to time, always in the best of taste, and always showing her as smarter than he, being willing to place the brunt or the heavy line on himself. He called her “That Redhead” in these stories as an endearing term but often invoking a little humor to the story. But, once he was referring to what should get told and what should not and he referred to the Bible truth concerning Christ going to the cross because He loved us and died for our sins, was buried, and His Father raised Him from the dead to justify us, if we believed on Him. As Zig finished telling this, he said “that IS the greatest love story ever told, as the book says. And, we should always tell it as just that—the greatest!”…he paused, then said, “You know there are many great love stories in the lives of us normal sinners, but the truly great ones among us don’t get told! And I don’t think they should! Because they belong to the people in them, it is their story! their overwhelming love! and it is theirs to hold dear! Oh my, how wonderful is my story, me and That Redhead! But, I’m not telling it!!”

And he didn’t, but of course, he just had told it!

Most of us at the family reunion on the 14th (and our crowd was down about 50%—several had out of town trips they couldn’t avoid, a few had injuries or ailments to contend with, besides it being a chilly, rainy day) had a really great time together and with fewer people each little conversation pool was just a little longer than normal. But what I came away with was the interesting number there without their “better half.” Not a criticism: illness, recent surgery, working, and some who have passed away, all good honest reasons, but noticeable anyway. Of course, some younger ones not married or unmarried and some just kids, but it felt very filled with love for one another. Made me miss those who couldn’t be with us and made me remember some who have passed away. Mostly sweet memories. 

Remembering what we saw going North on this trip (as we went North on I-65 we saw South-bound traffic backups for miles in Kentucky) we decided to swerve at the river when returning, taking I-64 over to Lexington and I-75 South. We had done this the two weeks before having come up for the funeral of my wife’s lifelong friend and it was smooth sailing all the way. Hmmm, not this time; took an extra hour or so because of packed roads and a little bit of new road work. [Here’s a thought: not often do we say “believe the politicians,” but we can believe them when they say, “Our infra-structure is in bad shape!” since experience tells us when traveling it really is in bad shape.]

The friend who died had lived a very full life: of troubles, yes, but not dominated by them; of the love of a good man, yes; after he had passed, a very good old age companion who loved her and travelled with her for several years. But, her community life was equally commendable. After her children were raised, she spent around 20 years in public service to the people in Johnson County, IN. We believe her testimony of trusting in Christ was pure and simple as it should be. Hearing others speak of their love for her and testifying of her love for them was heart-warming.

On the morning of her funeral we arrived several minutes early so I sat down in the wide, mortuary corridor—you know, group seating spaced out down a long wide hall. With several of those in this place, I was surprised a man I didn’t know sat down right beside me. Because there was another funeral across the hall, I asked if he was there for our friend’s. He said he was “officiating” at hers, going on to tell me he didn’t know her, but was in Campus ministry with one of her sons. We talked a few minutes and it became obvious to me he was nervous about it. I told him of our conversations and hearing what we believed was a simple testimony of her faith in Christ. He became really excited to hear it! Saying he didn’t know and now he could see how to tell her story as her sons wanted it told. 

My opinion of his message was he didn’t deliver it perfectly, but he was totally at ease in his presentation and interaction with the audience about her life and her hope. 

That was a quick trip to Indiana because we knew we would go again as I wrote above barely two weeks later. Going “Back Home Again in Indiana” is a favorite thing for me, I enjoy going every time, even if it’s for a sad reason. Uuh, at least 9 months out of the year—those other 3, only if I know the ground is not covered with that dirty white stuff or frozen stiff when I stepped on it. 

Thanks for reading, the Elder

A NEW DECADE, NEW RULES TO LIVE BY

Just as though it wasn’t even noticeable, I just turned 81. That’s 81 years old. I did. Yes, me! I’m 81! Rushing headlong into my 9th decade of moving around on this earth, I can’t help but wonder how long this will continue. I’ve been asked by my heart doctor how long I want to live (as though he had an aging dial to twist over to the exact number of years I wanted.) Being sort of taken aback by the question, I came out with a smart-aleck answer, “411 years,” I said. He ignored the idiocy of the answer because he had pre-wired himself to give me a pitch, not for taking better care of myself, but for his latest chemical compilation to be sold once per year at some ridiculous price. The pitch didn’t work, but the thoughts continue and will, no doubt, influence the way I think about my longevity.

Since I am 100% not in charge of that final day when I lay down only to rise when The Lord Jesus Christ (himself) calls my name—see 1 Thess.4:16—I hope my management of these next days, weeks, months, years, decades will be improved by thoughtful preparation and supple availability of all the help (products and peoples alike) I need. It starts with me, of course. First thing comes to mind is diet, next would be rest and sleep, then, the proper amount of activity (work and/or exercise), then sustaining mental acuity. Hmm, all that sounds almost like a re-directing process. Can I do this?

Taking the above life-items in reverse order, 1) how do I keep or even work on mental issues? I believe whole-heartedly that all true wisdom comes from God and His words—which shall never perish. So I look to the Bible to gather as much knowledge/understanding/wisdom as I can. It seems reasonable that gathering knowledge in the graduation exercise of starting simple, moving to more complex, then in to experiential knowledge will show me a plan of God’s which leads from Adam & Eve in the Garden all the way to God, the Father and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ in the city built 4-square—that is, knowledge of God’s plan to take back that which was usurped by an anointed cherub named Lucifer. This plan takes about 1400 (give or take according to size of type) pages of revealed plans (Gen. to Rev.) and how they have been fulfilled thus far and how much farther the finish is. It is a lifetime of study, and I am in my 9th decade.

[Other knowledge gathered along the way is useful or it is relegate down to not useful. Stored and only used for extraneous circumstances or frivolity.]

Now, a step further back in the management column I find work & exercise lumped into one category. It used to be that I would work all day, then have supper and go play ball—baseball, softball, or basketball for a whole bunch of the younger years. Now, it is work a few hours OR walk or other exercise, but not both. As I write this, however, I am recovering from a painful episode with my left knee. Don’t know the cause of it, but with some experts advice, I am going to begin again with long walking forthwith. Also, on 2,3, or 4 days a week I do some labor in the Blue Jug warehouse and/or a few hours in the local Blue Jug store. Not too strenuous at any rate.

[If work/exercise can be extended in my future days, I’ll be extremely happy.]

Rest and sleep at this age doesn’t seem to have a “usual” or “normal” setting. About 7-8 years back it became somewhat common that I would fall asleep in the daytime when I relaxed in an easy chair or on a couch. (In my heavy work years; 20s, 30, 40, 50, even 60s, if I fell asleep during the day I would awaken with a headache, so I sought ways to prevent it. Now I welcome a short nap even more than once in the day. Nighttime sleep has been changing ever since 50, but in the last 2-3 years with little difference as to when I go to bed, 5 1/2 hours later I wake up, go to the bathroom, return to bed but only about half the days do I go back to sleep. I’ve thought about taking an aid for sleep but haven’t yet found a natural one that works.

[It’s doubtful I’ll ever take a drug for sleep, so I look forward to better daytime naps or longer nights engineered by my will or an herbal concoction.]

The last (first on my list above) is diet. Ugh! Must I talk about this? Yes, I think I must. Having had two minor heart attacks from blocked arteries that were corrected by stents, it’s apparent that eating and drinking and snacking and desserting and on and on must be adjusted! But, I don’t want to! I want to eat whatever sounds good! Whatever sweet thing is gazing into my eyes and within my grasp both in reaching distance and affordability! I love bread! I love ice cream! I love pies and cakes! Does it seem fair to you that all this is to be taken away? No, of course not. It isn’t fair…..but, if I really want to live a long and useful life…..wait, I’ll start tomorrow….NO! START NOW!!

[An interesting side note to this is 6 weeks ago when my knee began to hurt really bad I stopped most exercise and even much of the warehouse work was curtailed. Yet I was faced with big meals, birthday cake, other diet temptations and was truly believing I had gained at least 3-4 pounds by now. But, today, I weighed and found no pounds added! Guess I better be thankful and knuckle down.]

Pretty sure this hasn’t been fun reading. Sorry, but it is up next on the blog, maybe I’ll be able to report progress in a few days, weeks, or months. We are entering into Fall today and all the fun but primarily ungodly holidays with all their goodies are close at hand. If that last statement sounds a little odd to you consider this: Christ was actually born about the 20-25 of September, though hardly anyone knows this and most of us who do don’t make the day special; Halloween has become an ungodly mess of goblins and devilish things; The Christmas traditions all come from pagan religions and were applied to a false birth date of the Christ-child of which there is no biblical call or instruction concerning making a special day out of it. The only holiday in the bunch actually worth observing is Thanksgiving, and yet it has become a big food and football day in most households in America.

But, by the grace of God and good friends and family, somehow we’ll get through all this, too, and maybe escape into the new year with a little less weight to carry around. Have a great Fall beginning and a very mild Winter, friends!

Thanks for reading, the Elder

5/27/23 THE TRIP TO WISDOM; HOW?

Slowly it comes, slowly it is gleaned, slowly the gathering abides. Age doesn’t mean wisdom is present, as Elihu told Job and his friends, the “miserable comforters” and “physicians of no value” by which they came to be known. But of course, wisdom is available to anyone, just easier to see in the matured mind. Perhaps that’s due to all other activity, mental and physical, slowing down and like details on the roadside being more noticeable at a slower speed, wise attributes are more clearly identifiable because of our aging.

The bible tells us, “For after in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God….”  How did the world gather wisdom? They who rule the world gathered it from God only wise/the only wise God and subtly claimed it as their own. As concerning the above quote (1Cor.1:21) and Paul’s and Jude’s collaboration as to God being the sovereign portrayer of real wisdom, how shall we seek wisdom away from His word? He said, in the same chapter, “but of him are ye in Christ, who of God is made not us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: that, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.” (v.30,31.)

So, let’s take a trip for gleaning purposes. The whole of the 66 books of God’s Holy Word is a daunting (in the sense of being intimidatingly exacting) book of wisdom—front to back. But, the task is a slow drive, and a lifetime of revue and Spirit led winding as one journeys to find all that is provided by the Master. We’ll take some shortened journeys here on the blog and try our best to maximize our benefits.

The Lord says through Solomon that the reason for Proverbs being written was to “know wisdom and instruction; to perceive words of understanding.” Throughout Proverbs (especially the first 8 chapters) the 3 most prevalent words are KNOW(LEDGE), UNDERSTANDING, AND WISDOM. It has long been my application of these three words as follows: knowledge—the gathering of truths; understanding—the meaning of these truths; and wisdom—the application of the truth. There might be some variations of those, but these meanings serve us well in study. So, let’s go.

Proverbs 1 says “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,…” and that alone is a slice of wisdom to chew on for a lifetime. But it’s also referred to as “an ornament of grace” and (as an ornament) “chains about thy neck.”(v.7, 9) See the reason for my lifetime accent?

Proverbs 2 says that wisdom is a “she,” the female appellation is now going to be specific to wisdom for the next 7 chapters. She is given freely to all who desire her. When we take wisdom into our hearts, she exudes discretion to preserve us and point us away from evil and darkness. Avoiding this dark side will lead to perfection since, in the end of it all, all evil and wickedness shall be “cut off from the earth.” (Remember, Solomon wrote to people who were literally going to inherit the earth.)

Proverbs 3 contains the most profound words about wisdom we can find and this passage and (v.5-8) is probably the most quoted: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding; In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It shall be health unto thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.” Wisdom roars back as “she” in much of this chapter and the Author tells of her ability to make mankind happy from verse 13 through 20. The one line verses after that are precious; read them all. At the end of the chapter he says “shame shall be the promotion of fools.” That I have seen several times.

Proverbs 4 implores us to get wisdom and not forget it nor forsake it. Wisdom is the principle thing (v5-7) and she should be exalted(v.8,9.) She’ll keep us from the “path of the wicked.” The Author also adds the conditioning of one’s heart to this overwhelming call to understand the wisdom of God, see verse 21, 23 and all the body can be preserved from the perverseness of the evil world around us. When the Lord speaks of keeping His words, He points us toward keeping these words in our hearts, v.20-23, and get away from that which disagrees with His words.

I’m sure you can tell by these short synopses of each chapter that there is much to be gleaned, the whole of which will take time. Proverbs and Ecclesiastes are very FULL of all the wise thoughts brought forth to make our lives more obedient unto God’s cause and to understand our (we who have placed our trust in the finished work of Christ, our Savior) inheritance with Him. I certainly do not claim to have a corner on the perfection in understanding each thing spoken by the Lord. But, by studying by “rightly dividing the word of truth” as we are instructed to do, I believe poring over the captured truths can make us understand the things for which Christ has called us. More to come.

Thanks for reading, The Elder

4/22/23   Spring! Finally!

It wasn’t a very normal Winter. Spring is having a frustrating start.

Maybe we should un-adapt seasons. We had a “pseudo” Winter, a late-application Winter, A Winter-like Spring, and who knows what’s next—supposed to get chilly again, but! I’m just glad and full of hope to think that’s all behind us and Spring/Summer/Fall—the best of practically every year thus far, is upon us. There. You have my formula for handling the global climate change. My partner in literary expression is now asking the gurus if there has ever been a normal year—true to all averages in every season all year long. It may take a while to get that question answered.

So, on we go to the next international crisis—we got this. Just as we now have word from China that worse weather is coming; and they would know, right? Since they invent everything bad that comes our way! 

Sometimes prayer requests come to me for which I have no formulated thoughts as to what the prayer content should be. Most often I just say I will pray for it (or them.) When it is a request for something of international events to pray for such as some peril or other, I generally ask the Lord to protect us not from weather, but from war. Does that sound too vague? Well, yes, it does. But, you see, how would I know for whom or for which side the Lord would intercede? You might say, inform yourself on this, or ask questions until you know more: from whom or upon  “whose truth” would you then say I should rely? 

I’ve read the ending of the book! You have too, no doubt! Then what would be a prayer that mattered? I can only pray for the next event which is promised to begin: (“please, Lord, bring it on.”) Let 1 Thess 4:16 begin. But, then I think about those in the world who’ve never had any regard for the Lord Jesus Christ, where would that leave them? It would leave them with no hope; no hope! I have a hard time praying for the rapture to occur.

So, no matter where the problem is in the world, I pray for the saving gospel of Christ, the very “power of God unto salvation”—that itbe preached to any and all who have never placed their trust for their personal eternity in His finished work. Remember, How that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and was raised again for our justification. Would the Lord save anyone and everyone willing to TRUST THAT GOSPEL? Yes, He will: and it’s individual peoples that He will save. Not countries, not political dogmas, He does not have any favorites in this world. Just people willing to trust Christ. End of international problem. Just be sure and thank the Lord for His love and mercy toward all who shall call upon His name. To us who have that testimony of a moment when we trusted Christ and are saved already, it shouldn’t matter who is the next one to be saved. However, it does behoove us to pray for those we personally know and for those with whom we’re privileged to come in contact. Praying that we will have the words that make a difference in their lives.

Bessie the great(—toy Aussie) and I love to go to the front door each morning and look out at the “new day” right after dawn. We stand and look up and down the street and I tell her with great enthusiasm how beautiful the new day is. She never argues with me about it. Perhaps that’s because she is searching the front yard for the dreaded squirrels who’ve buried their Winter’s supply in our mulch. If she sees one, she asks me with a certain low growl and her serious voice to let her go chase them away. But, she’s learned to be happy I don’t let her do that for down deep she understands the squirrel’s speed would make her look foolish.

Many mornings we’re visited at the curb with a couple of fine 4-legged friends from up the hill—Morton and Cooper. They’re good-looking fellas that she would love to go ply her wiles upon, but she doesn’t know why or what the outcome would be. She likes them, though. Then, every now and then that horribly useless big ol’ brown dog comes by and she is insistent on getting out the door to run him off (she bit the end of his tail in the first chase), but I remind her he’s none of her business—let him go! Bessie’s a lot of fun. We think the b-o-b-d would be fun, also, but Bessie is adamant!

Well, college basketball didn’t end the way I wanted, but it was a fun season watching my favorites, as usual. I really enjoyed the women’s NCAA tournament more than the men’s. These girls are so fundamentally good at the game and I prefer them to the phi-slamma-jamma of men’s. College basketball is a little too much like NBA pro ball for me. Still, it is my favorite sport and I watch a little high school, a lot of college each year, and just leave the NBA to worry it through without me. 

About the only pro sport I watch is baseball—cause I’m a CUB fan! Have been sense 1964—59 years. And they are looking pretty good this year. Look out now! Another world series could be coming our way!

Thanks for reading, The Elder  

March 2, 2023

We had a wonderful reason to go to Trafalgar, Indiana early last month: my sister Margaret was celebrating her 95th birthday! Great trip to take, right? It was well worth it, seeing her being appreciated by dozens of friends and relatives (we win the prize for traveling the furthest), close family and in-laws, old school mates, town mates, nieces and nephews—both regular and grand—everyone had a great time. 

Margaret was very happy and conversational with us all, doing very well in the health department. Though she’s had some age related problems and uses a cane to steady herself, she came through the afternoon party with plenty of energy to spare. In fact, we thought to let her go home and get some rest Saturday evening, but her son called and said “Mom wants to go out for dinner!” So, without hesitancy we did so. Again, very alert and in the conversations, even with a 2-3 degree separation waitress who brought her the free dessert for her birthday. We enjoyed our time with her and her son, Dennis,  who came to dinner with us.

Margaret was the second child born to our family, I was the eighth. She graduated from Trafalgar High School, as all eight of us did, in 1946. I graduated in 1960. The most in school we had at once was 6; when my oldest brother, Ken was a Senior, I started First Grade. Several families in the township were as big or bigger than ours, but I’m pretty sure ours graduated the most, all.

Tomorrow, at the start of a new month, we go away again to a weekend  bible conference (Gatlinburg, TN) with another group of friends. Here we’ll listen to about 8 or so messages from a variety of preachers and have joyful fellowship with friends from several different states (and social norms.)

As I anticipate perhaps being one of those messengers, I’m well aware of my senior status making me at once respected by the younger listeners, but not expected to bring forth a powerful message in the minds of older listeners. Yet, I have the exact same powerful textbook as all the rest, have spent more hours in it than younger men, and simply by virtue of experience should bring forth whatever message the Lord wants brought forth in such a manner as to inculcate strong desires for both study and a desire to serve the Lord amongst the entire congregation!

Hmm, maybe I found the subject, now what saith the Lord to such an end? Tomorrow shall bring me time to study these things, time I must make. You know, an interesting thing may come about in study. In similar situations I’ve found the Lord’s word shifts my focus and an altogether different subject comes forth from His word—that’s known as “here a little, there a little” in study parlance, one of 3 ways to receive from the Spirit of Christ the understanding our Savior intends us to illustrate—Isa.28:10. A long time ago I learned to not quarrel with myself or the Lord’s leadership at such times. Why should I question or short-change the leadership of the Spirit of the Lord?

This brings to memory a conversation I had with a young preacher several years back. He related to me that someone in his congregation asked him just before a service to please teach on some basic truths that day due to some guests whom he had invited to be there. My friend belittled the request because he had “ put a lot of study” into his planned subject and he intended to bring forth his message. I reminded him that the message was the Lord’s and not his (2 Chron.20:15, last part and 1 Sam.17:47, remember David was just a lad.)  Perhaps the man’s friends were only going to hear one message and needed to know simple basic truths, such as “..how that Christ died for our sins,…was buried,,,and was raised again the third day…” for our justification (1Cor.15:3,4 &Rom.4:24,25) Was he really willing to think his message was superior to that? Yet, he was not deterred, not willing to give it up. And the visitors never came again. A shameful thing. That young man left the ministry sometime after that. I think I’m glad he did, and that’s a shame, also.

Life’s largest problem, ego, sometimes causes us to be late to learn the very principles we should have followed. ….another correctable offense, oh may it be!

Thanks for reading, the Elder

2/5/23

DOES ANYONE WANT THE WORD OF GOD ?? Really ?? Now ??

The following paragraphs were written by me just after the first bible class I’m conducting in the current time and place, after what seemed to me to be a futile attempt to start a class for people who profess to desire to know the Lord better, and who seemed to want to do His will in their lives. I was more distraught than I should have been, I suppose. But, for the first time in many years I felt like a failure. After the next four paragraphs, this blog will continue in a more current vein of thought. I’ll mark the new writing with another set of these.>>

During the month of December, 2022, I began talking to some folks who were looking for a bible study event they could attend. They didn’t need a church to join, they just knew they were not learning what the Word of God wanted them to know. After talking to them on about 3 or 4 occasions, I asked them if I started a bible class, would they attend. They warmly and eagerly said, yes they would. I knew and understood their dilemma, it had happened to my wife and I fifty years ago, 1973. In fact we had searched many churches at that time to see where we could really learn what “thus saith the Lord!” We found a really good bible teacher/pastor at a neighborhood church and the day we joined the church, he announced he was leaving. Argh! So, we searched on and in January, 1974, found an independent home classroom type bible study that was superb. Been studying this way for 49 years now.

These folks last month and some others who showed an interest prompted me to seek a location and one opened to me through the first person I talked with. We started the class last night (1/15/23) and the couple who started talking with me back in December were the only ones who came (except two couples who are dear friends and were there more of a moral support than as students.) All six people seemed to enjoy the class and I also made the class my weekly internet/YouTube/Facebook page class, so I’m not concerned about who heard the bible class.

Over the course of the two weeks prior to that first class, however, I personally invited about 25 friends with whom at one time or another I have had bible discussions. All of them except two gave me very positive replies and therefore I expected about half of them to show up for a trial class. They never would have thought (from our conversations, at least) there was any reason to fear any coercion, nor a call for support, nor be asked to “join” something or other! Yet, none came. None. Why? What weakened  their interest? Did they just forget? Or did they resist the idea we were going to sit down together and read the word of God? Is their a deep-seated fear of changing their minds about something?—the old “don’t confuse me with facts, my mind is made up!” syndrome? 

I’m working my way through the feeling of failure, not because of any certain peoples who didn’t show up, but for the energy to persevere at showing people what the Lord has for us in His word. My avid belief in all things being made clear by the word of God remains, but whether I can relay that to the lives of hearers is causing a good deal of turmoil in me at the present. Time will tell, I guess.

>> Now we are getting ready to have our fourth bible class. The one precious couple who desired the class and came the first week received some bad news from the lady’s father. He’s gravely ill and needed them, they’ll be gone for another month or so. The second week though, a new person came, and another friend from another class, and so we had a class we could clearly see was beneficial to a “new” student. Then the third week they came again and a couple of faithful friends, so we press on. 

I’m not feeling more light-hearted about the invitees dismissal of the class and I’m trying to hold off any anxiety or pensive mournfulness toward those who have not even given the class a try. I don’t think I resent them. I’m just very saddened to have lived to see such apathy about the word of God. Everyone who was invited to the class had previously told me they believed in the Lord, believed the Bible was His words, and had told me they wanted to know more. Yet, it seems to be dismissed from their minds. Why? How did the worth of a bible class slip into such indifference? What if they’ve missed the exact words which would have freed them from the bondage they each had expressed? Will they never think that might have been a possibility?

I know I will understand one day. I wish it was today.

Thanks for reading, the Elder

1/5/23  TWTWTW—Old TV Actual Re-visit

Ever hear that old saying kids used to say when walking on concrete sidewalks? “Step on a crack, you break your mother’s back!” Well, a recent week must have had a lot of crack-stepping! Not that it actually broke anyone’s back, but it did interfere with normalcy. The recent week occurring Dec.22 to about Dec.30, 2022 fits an historical title today: That Was The Week That Was The old satirical tv program by that name (1962-63) poked fun at all the world’s news, be it funny or calamitous, serious or ridiculous. We had one of those weeks in the above dates. (“We” being members of my family.)

>>On Dec.22, one of my family started to drive here from upstate NY for the holidays and only got about 85 miles from home when his car broke down. His companion’s family came to the rescue, got a vehicle to them and they made—just a day later than desired. 

>>One grandson flew from San Antonio, TX on the flibberty-jibbit airline who didn’t know how to handle their crowd. He got here ok, but when he tried to get his boarding pass to go home on the 27th, everything had been cancelled and no flights were available. His mother and I had conversations about how to get him home (to work) and it was difficult to figure a way to get him into a rental car that wasn’t going to be very expensive. (Back to this problem in a moment.)

>>My son-in-law had left on the 25th by flight to go to Austin, TX; there to wait for his son to fly down from Dallas to meet him and drive together to New Braunfels. The son in Dallas had his flights cancelled, so his father got a rental car and drove 200 miles North to pick him up, turn around and drive 250 miles South to share holiday festivities with the rest of his families.

>>Now back to the grandson in need of getting back to San Antonio: my daughter decided she would drive him back, 14hours down/14 hours back. So, she checked with her husband (the one with the rental car in New Braunfels) to see what his status was and surely as you could expect, his flight home was cancelled. 

>>So, my daughter drove her son to San Antonio airport to get his car; then to New Braunfels to her rental car bound husband and his son. They then took his rental car back to Austin, then drove his son back to Dallas to catch a plane to his home in Arizona.

>>Then they two drove the 11 hours back home.

>>Here at home on the day following, my oldest son was going to borrow our car for a short trip and while driving to our house to swap cars for the day, his car went caput! Threw a rod, busted a head gasket or cracked head—it is rendered useless for a while. Then, on the day following, this son became ill enough that he wasn’t able to either help his wife in her busiest days nor do anything about the car issue. 

Everyone lived through this, even if it had its moments!

It may be difficult for all of us to forget this particular holiday season because it reached out at us all like TWTWTW! A week filled with disparagement and mockery! 

However, this week’s been terrific!

Thanks for reading, the Elder

“SUFFICIENT UNTO THE DAY IS THE EVIL THEREOF”—MATT.6:34

In this, the most joyous time of every year, why should my title say such a thing, even if it is the words of our Lord Jesus Christ? Well, that’s because it fits perfectly. It is a wondrous time of the year, that’s for sure. But, to put the truth perspective on it, that’ll change some of the joy to soberness. 

It’s a holiday. I believe it should be enjoyed for many reasons; family, friends, other remembrances, loving those we are with and missing those who’ve gone before, the selflessness of gift giving and thankfulness in receiving, all those things; wonderful. Yet the truth of it still lingers as a memento of the world’s evil filling the day. What’s that all about, you ask?

Take a long look at everything about Christmas in any or all encyclopedia you can find and you will see most of the following:

Christ was not born on Dec.25—Less than thirty minutes of studying Scripture will show He was probably born in late September: Reading Luke’s account, comparing when John the Baptist’s father would have been executing the high priest’s office, counting 6 months to when Mary conceived of the Holy Ghost, then adding the 280 days  for normal childbirth and it comes out to the last two weeks of Sept. 

Every decoration, from holly wreaths to the decorated tree is found to  come from some form of idolatry. Everything from yule log to “sweet   Angie, the christmas tree angel” is tied to idolatry. None of these  things are biblical.

Though Mary is told she will be called “blessed” above women, the  actual celebration of a birthday isn’t ever a good thing in Scripture and once is even noted about evil things, though none of that is pertinent. It does, however show the degradation of mankind toward the Lord. (see paragraphs below.)

I want you to know something: I don’t care what you do to celebrate at this time of year nor does saying “merry Christmas” make me cringe. You having a party? I’ll gladly come and be a polite guest, eat your food, drink your drink, take home dessert! None of this matters to me, it’s just life. But, the TRUTH MATTERS! Whatever you do whenever you do it, never deny the truth behind it.

Many times since seeing the biblical truth about all this, I have stood in front of or beside a fully decorated tree to teach a bible class. That never bothered me any more than standing beside any other fixture in the room. However, I do know the truth behind the tree and I don’t deny its worthlessness (see Jer.10:1-5.) I can’t make myself come anywhere close to saying the Lord is honored by all this hubbub.

A person who is prominent in our world has said this: “Trying to erase Jesus Christ from Christmas is an example of the depth of spiritual erosion in this country and efforts to erase God, especially Christianity, from every corner and facet of public life.”

I agree there is an all-out effort to erase Christian heritage from public life for it has truly been under attack for about 70 years. But, Christmas was never a celebration the Lord called on His believers to carry forth. Take off the first 6 words of the quote above and you’ll find “..Christmas is an example of the depth of spiritual erosion in this country..” and that is more  the truth of it. Believers in the gospel of Christ, (the power of God unto salvation) are compelled by Scripture to praise the Lord’s resurrection, more than His birth, yet at His resurrection anniversary, the mass of people celebrate fertility instead. See how wide spread the corruption is? Everything we have “in Christ” is spiritual, everything celebrated is physical and material.

Here’s the sum of it all: “how that Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures, was buried, and was raised again the third day, according to the Scriptures”
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved…”

THAT’S THE TRUTH. AND THAT DOES MATTER

Thanks for reading, the Elder

“They don’t look well coached,” I said to myself as I watched one of my favorite basketball teams fumble around and for about 3/4 of the game seem headed to defeat, against what was obviously a well coached but inferior talented team. My team did finally win the game, but they had an overall look like they were going to pull some dumb act near the end and lose it after all. So, what do I care and who made me to be a big critic? Haven’t been called to criticize any games yet, but I do care. 

In this post-covid, NIL, transfer protocoled world of collegiate athletics, there is a multitude of transfers and 5th and even 6th year eligibility allowances. College kids have gone from mostly 18-19 year olds to 22-23 year olds with loads of experience. Yet, the teams are seldom looking like well-coached kids! That’s cause they’re not. But, I don’t think it’s all the coaches; It is the age and experiences of these players. The players won’t just receive the instructions as a younger kid would. Because of NIL (name, image, likeness) belonging specifically to themselves, they’re just not as “hungry” to get out of college and have to make it as a pro.

For many years now, I’ve been in favor of college scholarship players being able to make or receive some money as they played. There have been many players on full scholarship to play their sport, but had no money from home and were reduced to poverty amongst the campus crowd, leaving them unable to socialize or just do normal student activities because they had no way of “earning” any money on their own. But, the “pandora’s box” has been opened and somehow NIL looks so lucrative that some players hang around until reason says they should be out in the work-a-day world instead of depriving good freshmen college student athletes their scholarship chances.

But the world of college sports will evolve even more to the “paid” player milieu, once they and their future sports agent figures out how to milk the cash cows. Athletic Directors will probably become more business oriented than academia (some would say they already are) and guidance counsellors will become liaison officers between the individual athletes and their pursuers. 

Isn’t it interesting the manner in which massive changes in our living environs just seem to come about? A child declaring emancipation, or declaring a change in their very nature, the insistence being foisted toward us just to accept something as radical as gender change or at least not see it as abhorrent; these things are radical, not a new normal. Oh, my.

“… some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils 

Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats,”

and also,

“For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,

Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

The above two quotations are from the two books (1 Tim.4 & 2 Tim.3) of the Bible which were written as instructions to teachers, for the fear of people who once were listening to true guidance would wind up leaving truth and ascribing to a fictitious manner of life. They are extremely heretical descriptions of what would happen to, yes, even believers in the “last days” before the next biblically prophesied event. How far do you think we are from it? To answer this question start by asking “where is truth?” and very carefully notice the answers you receive. Then, “examine yourself,” as the bible I’ve quoted above instructs us all to do.

The perfidious manner which has come upon us has a root cause, or should I say a root mind, the mind of someone not often spoken of in today’s world, even in religious circles for fear of criticism. Well, yes, if you speak of Satan’s influence in the world around us today you are often excoriated to denouncement! “No one will listen to you any more,” a friend once told me. Satan—also known by some as the devil, even some as Lucifer, fewer yet know him as being “a liar and the father of it,”—he doesn’t like being exposed. But, he’s there, and he has an innumerable squad of minions carrying forth his every evil thought. 

I personally characterize the evil one as centered on these three diabolical traits: he never sleeps, he does not care who he hurts, and he’s smarter than us. He’s not to be honored for his powers, but he is to be feared. We’re instructed continually in the 27 books of the New Testament on how to “not be ignorant of his devices.” In other words, we should learn how to recognize them. How many things come our way which we don’t see them as coming from this evil source? I suspect it is a daily bombardment. 

But our defense begins with this admonition: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.”—that is a secured future standing. Follow this up with “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” Keeping in mind if we can study by “rightly dividing,” we could slip into “wrongly dividing,” too. How do you think we wound up with all these denominations?

Thanks for reading, The Elder