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Christmas Is Coming Ready or Not

Christmas—Coming Ready or Not
Thurmon Harris
December 3, 2010
We kids, students at Beechland one-room school many years ago, at recess sometimes played hide-and-seek. The one who was “it” would hide their eyes and count to 100 while the other kids ran to their hiding places. Then “it” would shout out, “Coming, ready or not.” Well, that describes Christmas. It is coming whether I am ready or not.

This morning, I decided that I should make at least some minor effort to get into the spirit of this holiday season if properly understood is true celebration of Christ being born into the world. The one word that for me best summarizes it for me is “Giving.” “For God so loved the world that He gave…” (John 3:16). I realize that if I want to celebrate Christmas to please our Savior I must give gifts. Gifts should be given out of a heart filled with Christ’s love.
I missed Black Friday. Peggy got up sometime in the night and headed out and came back with some bargain buys. I have no idea what they are. I slept right through resting in peace while hundreds, even thousands shoved and crowded their way into stores and began grabbing the gifts they were coveting in their hearts. I even heard some people were cursing and swearing and stealing things right out of others shopping carts. I can’t imagine doing that. Isn’t that opposite of the true Christmas Spirit?

So, today, lest I inadvertently allow the Season to pass me by without entering into the spirit of it as I believe every Christian should, I decided to try my hand at bringing a bit of the Spirit of cheer to someone. In doing so, I knew I would be the one cheered the most.

I went to the mall solely for the purpose of walking to get some much needed exercise. I took along a few coins to move from one pocket to the other to count my laps. As I was on my last two laps, I spotted two mothers with their small children treating them to rides on the little kiddie rides. I stopped, spoke to one of the mothers and handed her a few quarters to keep the ride going. She thanked me and told her precious ones to thank me. They did, and it lifted my spirits. When I returned I stopped momentarily and handed my remaining quarters to the other mother with two very small children riding in the little toy space ship. When I left the mall I felt better for the small gifts I had given.

I came home and decided to visit a very saintly, precious lady in a Nursing Home. I served as her pastor at Providence some 15 years ago. As I parked at the Home a minivan filled with folks from Crofton Baptist Church was unloading. Santa led the way followed by several folks dressed as elves and reindeer. I asked one of the ladies if they go to other Nursing Homes to present their program. She said that they do. I commented that it is a wonderful way to celebrate Christmas. What better way to get into the true spirit of Christmas than bringing smiles and cheer to those residents.

Mattie is bedfast, but has a wonderful spirit. I hadn’t seen her in several months. I send her a copy of my sermon every week. She loves to get them. As is so often the case, I left feeling that I was the one blessed by her. I told her that I will return and bring pictures of our trip to Tanzania. She is looking forward to that.
With Christmas being only 22 days away, I hope I can give a little something to someone every day, because giving is God’s thing. I want it to be my thing too. Christmas is coming, ready or not. I want to be ready, don’t you? Honestly, I want to celebrate it the year around.

My Black Friday

Today I went with the family to Evansville, not to buy anything but to watch people and marvel at the creativity of God in making people, all different ages, sizes, and shapes. I had some opportunities to speak words intended to make people smile. One example, I went into a Men's Room and met a dad with two boys probably about 5-7 years of age. I commented, "My what handsome guys." The dad smiled and thanked me for the compliment. Other people responded to some of my compliments with smiles. When all 9 of us went to Olive Garden to eat, I probably blew it because when I said the blessing I closed my brief pray by saying, "God forgive us for wasting your money." This was probably prompted by my sermon last week from Malachi on tithing. Also I couldn't help think about some of the families in Tanzania who try to survive on $3-$4 per week, according to Missionary Paul Burton. When I pay $12 for a meal in a restaurant, I think of those people and feel at least a tinge of guilt.

Hints for Men

I want to drop a couple of hints for men.

First, if you still shave (many men don't, they probably don't have time. Surely, they aren't trying to be in style or keep up with Mr. Jones) and own an electric shaver take it with you and shave as you drive. I have been doing that for awhile and it saves time. By no means, ladies don't you try this!
Dangerous? No, not nearly as dangerous as talking on a cell phone while driving, something I do not do.

Second, affirm some ladies. Now, I am 73 and don't think I will get in trouble unless I say the wrong thing. I never say anything flirty or the least bit off color. But I am on a personal crusade, just for me, to try to lift the spirits of folks I meet by saying something that is intended to make them smile. They usually do unless they are having a really bad day. Two examples from this out-and-about morning.

The checkout lady at Wal-Mart (I suspect that all checkout people need some encouragement) was named Peggy. As I waited my turn I thought about how I might say something uplifting to her. I think she was not many years younger than my Peggy. I said, "Hello, Peggy. My wife's name is Peggy. I see that there a lot of beautiful Peggy's." She smiled all right, and thanked me. As I picked up my bags of stuff, she wished me a good day and I did the same for her and walked out.

From Wal-Mart I stopped at the Goodwill Store to check out the Christian books and Bibles that they don't sell, but give away. Right now I know some fellows who need more contemporary versions, some of the fellows I visited in jail. The manager of Goodwill is a very attractive, sweet and gracious lady. She lifts my spirits whenever she speaks to me. She was sitting in her office right beside the check-out. I said to the young lady that checked me out, "I bet that lady in there gives you a hard time." She retorted, "No, she treats us really well." I came back saying this, "Yes, if she is as kind, gracious and sweet to you as she always appears to me to be, then you are blessed to have her as your boss." The wonderful manager, a black lady--beside the point, responded with a beautiful smile thanking me. She remembers me because I do go there frequently.

Okay, you men cheer up! God is in control, Jesus I Lord, and the Holy Spirit is our strength and guide.

Now, I realize that more wives will read this than husbands. Wives drag your husbands over to the computer and insist that they read it. After they get over being peeved at you they might think about affirming some folks. If they do so, they will be glad they did.

Thurmon

God's Angels to the Rescue

My grandson Justin and I were involved in a very serious automobile accident last Wednesday. The car ran off the road and flipped over into a deep ditch. Fortunately, we were able to crawl out. I was transported by ambulance to Regional Medical Center in Madisonville where two cat-scans were run that revealed no serious injuries. However, I was admitted to the hospital for observation overnight. Just before noon on Thursday, I was released. I suffered bruises on my left side from my collar-bone down to my rib cage. Even though I still have a great deal of soreness I expect to fully recover soon.

God's angels were in that car with us or we might have been killed. A group of about eight men showed up very soon after the accident. One of them immediately started treating me and telling me what to do. After awhile I asked who they were. They were inmates from the jail who were about a half mile up the road cleaning a bridge. The one inmate who was apparently a medical man gave me much attention and was very concerned about my condition. Thus, God's angels are everywhere and even in our jails.

I am thankful for all the prayers and expressions of love and concern shown me during this time. Justin wasn't hurt, but his car was totaled. We need prayers.This has been a traumatic experience for us. I do strongly believe in angels.

Authentic Christianity

Yesterday I had a conversation with a lady that set me to thinking about the question, "What is authentic Christianity." Certainly I will not try to explore this subject very fully, but look at it from only one angle.

The lady's story was as follows. She was asked by some lady friends to visit their church and sing a solo during their worship service. She agreed to do this, but only on the condition that it met with the approval of the pastor whom she did not know.

She arrived for the service and took her seat. Soon someone informed her that the pastor wanted to meet with her in his office. She was glad to do so thinking that they would talk about when and what song she would sing.

To her surprise they never got to that point. Instead the pastor asked her a question that startled her He wanted to know if she ever wore necklaces. She responded that she does sometimes, even though she didn't have one on that time. She asked him what that had to do with her singing. He responded very adamantly that it had everything to do with it. He stated that he was suspicious that she does wear necklaces because he noticed that she had on a watch, a bracelet and wedding rings. He laid down the law in no uncertain terms that wearing a necklace was a sign of worldliness and unacceptable for a Christian. In light of the fact that she did not meet his standard of being an authentic Christian, he would not allow her to sing in HIS church.

Feeling so humiliated she intended to leave as quickly as possible, but as she walked down the aisle toward the front door, some of the ladies who had invited her there asked her what she was going to sing. Very upset by the stern reprimand by the pastor, she answered loudly enough that all present could hear her, "Your pastor said that I can't sing because I wear necklaces." Then she rushed out the door vowing that she would never again return to that church.

The question is, "Did that pastor represent authentic Christianity?" He truly had a strong dose of religion, but not authentic Christianity. I am reminded of Jesus' words to the Pharisees in Luke 11:42, when he scalded them in no uncertain terms, "Woe to you Pharisees! For you pay tithe and mint and rue and every kind of garden herb, and yet you disregard justice and the love of God; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others."

Authentic Christianity, like Christ shows grace and kindness. It doesn't major on minor issues such as wearing necklaces. S uch religious trivia could hardly be called Christian at all for it drives folks away, rather than drawing them to Christ. Who needs religon? Few people want it. Everybody needs authentic Christianity and many want it.

Mixed bathing

The themometer registered 96 degrees at hour house today, rather a scorcher for the last day of what has been an usually hot and dry summer. After visiting three of our Lafayette Church folks at RMC I headed to the YMCA to cool down in the pool. The pool was not crowded with only a half dozen swimmers, three of them being very small children with their mothers.

As I walked into the pool area I was greeted by a pretty young lifeguard. We greeted each other and I dived off the deep end of the pool and began swimming toward my goal of sixteen laps, a half mile, I was told. The water felt good and so did the nice breeze that was striking my body parts that were not submerged in the beautiful clear water.

My goal is to swim at least twice a week, though sometimes other pressing matters take predecence. I often dread hitting the water because it takes a great deal of effort for this 73 year-old to swing my arms and kick my feet to stay on top and move forward. During the summer vacation for the school children I didn't swim very often. It was quite a chore to avoid the children who always manage to get in my way. Sometimes the little children who are having a ball splashing and ducking and standing on their heads ask me if I am having fun. I answer by saying swimming was a lot of fun when I was their age, but now it is not as much fun as it is work. I enjoy teasing them by asking them not to splash water on me because it will get me wet. They look at me rather funny and wonder why I say such crazy things.

This brings me to the subject of mixed bathing. A friend of mine tells about a man at a Baptist Associaiton meeting making a motion that the body go on record opposing mixed bathing. Another gentleman spoke up and said, "And I think we should condemn boys and girls swimming together, too." That day has long past.

Boys and girls swimming together was not a common practice in my country farming community. Often we boys would go swimming in Mud River on Sunday afternoons in the summertime. There were plenty of girls in our community, but they didn't seem to want to swim with us guys. They probably didn't relish the idea of swimming in a river that lived up to its name. Had they gone with us you can be sure not nearly as much of their bodies would be exposed as is true of most girls and women today who take to the water or simply lie soaking up sunshine.

Anway, mixed bathing isn't regarding as such a great sin today. It is not frowned on by the most holy saints as it once was. I can't say I have ever preaching against it. I have preached against sexual lust and sex that is contrary to what God allows. He only condones sex inside of marriage. It is a beautiful gift when practiced as God intended. This is not meant to be a sermon. Having said that, however who can deny that the sexual revolution has negatively impacted our society. This is a much more promiscious generation than previous ones. We live in a sex saturated society. I think this accounts for auch atrocities as many babies being aborted or being born out of wedlock to young girls who cannot possibly take care of them, and many other things that are contrary to a healthy society. I hasten to add that the guys are as guilty as the girls.

I suppose that most men enjoy seeing pretty girls in their skimpy bathing suits. I confess to being guilty. Here is my attempt to deal with the temptation to look too long at their shaply bodies. I try to remember to pray for those girls or ladies. I pray that they will respect their bodies and remain pure. I have no idea if they have already violated God's standards by sinning against their own bodies. I pray that if they have they will stop, confess their sins and determine by the Lord's help to refrain from further sexual activity until they are married. I pray for the married ones to be faithful to their husbands.

I agree that women should dress modestly. You don't have to go to the pool to see those who are dressed inappropiately. Many don't dress like virtuous women wherever they go, so we men need to look the other way.

On the Air Again

A totally unexpected word from Peggy's brother last Wednesday caught me by surprise. He reported that a disc jockey on his local radio station WRUS 610 AM Russellville, KY, had read on the air a portion of my sermon, The Blind Side. The fellow credited me as the author. Of course, I was very curious about how this had come to be.

Thursday afternoon I called the station. Big Daddy Bobalu himself answered the phone. I introduced myself and told him I was appreciative of him using my sermon, but I wondered how he got it. He first explained that at a given time in the afternoon he does an inspiration program. He found my sermon on the internet, he explained. He would read the remainder of it on the two following days. How it got on the internet I do not know. I do send sermons every week to some people over the internet. By whatever means he got ahold of it I felt honored.

As I pondered this I thought about my radio ministries through the years. My first broadcast was over this very station. This jockey's father had started this station back in the early 1950's. When I was a college freshmen a close friend, a fellow preacher boy and I shared aweekly 15 minutes preaching time on this station. We alternated weeks. It cost us the huge sum of $6 per week.

Several years later I was pastor of First Baptist Church of Jamestown, KY. A Baptist preacher opened a new station between Jamestown and Russell Springs. He invited me to teach the International Sunday School lesson every Sunday morning from 8:30-9:00 at no cost. He said it was a public service program. I did this for four years. It required hours of study every week, but it was very profitable. Sometime before I left Jamestown the station manager said that it was the most listened program on the station. I was astonished at that news, but very humbled and thankful that I could teach the Word of God to the radio audience. Almost every week I met people who told me that they listened regularly. I was flattered when a teacher of a men's class said that he recorded it and played to his class. I did not think that was a great idea, but what could I say? After serving the church for five years I answered the call to First Baptist Church of Griffith, Indiana. To this day I think the Sunday School lesson on radio was perhaps my greatest accomplishment there. I hasten to add that it was not me, but the Holy Spirit speaking through me. Since I wrote out the lessons, I still have copies of most of them, though I haven't read one of them in a long time.

During my 18 1/2 year pastorate in Griffith I off the air. In 1990 we moved to Providence where I served six years as pastor of Victory Baptist Church. I returned to the air-waves since the church broadcasted it worship services on WHRZ 99.7 FM. Since it was Sunday evenings from 7 to 8 o'clock we taped the morning worship service. Only God knows how large the listening audience was or the effect these services had on the listeners. Again a large number of people said that they listened. The same station gave the pastors in town a fifteen minute daily devotion time. I spoke on that program a great deal.

When I left Providence my radio ministry came to a halt. If my speaking from behind radio microphones touched people's lives and brought some to the Lord and helped God's children grow stronger in their faith, I just praise the Lord. God is good! I am amazed that he could use me. I thank Him and all who made it possible for me to be on the air.

Even if one of my sermons was read over the air by a disc jockey in Russellville, KY, I am humbled that he chose one of mine. Not knowing that it was going to happen I am glad to have been on ther air again.

Atypical Tuesday

I might call yesterday my typical Tuesday, but since I desire to put the Lord in charge of my days I don't have typical days. Who knows what He has in store for everyday? Nothing exciting happened, at least most folks would not think so. But I see it differently!

Arising from my slumber and sleep I fixed myself a breakfast consisting of cereal and fruit. Then I began my Bible study digging into next Sunday's Sunday School lesson about knowing what you believe and being able to explain it from 1 Peter 3:15-17; Acts 21:40-22:10. This is a much needed lesson for believers since many don't have an adequate understanding of the Christian faith, cannot share it with unbelievers, nor can they give a testimony that would validate their relationship with Jesus Christ.

I love our one Adult class that I lead at Lafayette. We have some new people attending who contribute to the spirit and discussion. Peggy's children's class was back on track with five wonderful children. Praise the Lord! He loves the children and so does Peggy!

Before noon I traveled a mile and half down to Marketplace to get a few grocery items. A lady I did not know greeted me at the checkout telling me that I looked like a prominent medical doctor down in Providence. We had an interesting converstation about that. I told her that when we lived in Providence many people made that mistake. Even though I have been gone from there for 13 years occasionally it still happens. I could get side-tracked and relate several stories about that, all fascinating to me. Once I was uptown Providence when a young teenage girl that I did not know walked by and greeted me quite cheerfully. I barely spoke to her. She turned to her friend and with disgust said, "Why, he didn't even know me." I realized that she thought I was the good Doctor. Later Iwrote an article saying that I am honored to be called Dr. Cole, but my desire was to look like Jesus Christ. I certainly hope people can see Christ in me.

Returning from the grocery I gased up my car. A fellow sitting in another vehicle spoke to me. His enthusiasm made me wonder if he knew me. I went over to talk with him and he said that he did not know me and I did not know him. We had a brief conversation and I shook his hand and thanked him for lifting my spirits. I needed his reminder. I am attempting to cheer people by speaking with a kind and cheerful voice, sometimes mixed with a tad of humor. But I certainly am not Bob Hope.

At 1 o'clock I visited a young man in the county jail whom I have visited several times. He is a tall handsome fellow, a delightful young man. He is hoping to be released this week and says he will be in our services next Sunday with his grandmother. I am hoping to see him there. He is excited about getting his life back on track with Jesus. We have had some honest discussions about what that means. He is willing for me to mentor him using, Survival Kit for New Christians. If we do, it will be a wonderful 11 weeks venture.

From there I journeyed out to the church field where I enjoyed four home visits. One was in the home of a beautiful couple ages 85 and 82. They both suffer from failing health, but manage to be bright and cheeful even when they are physically below par. They are so easy to visit. I would love to take a hidden recorder and save some of their great stories. Several years ago I learned about "energy takers and energy givers." Nobody wants to be around "energy takers" since they will drain your energy and depress you. This couple are "energy givers." One leaves their presence invigorated and refreshed. I thank God for this couple and other folks like them. That is how I want to relate to others.

I got home just as a fellow was arriving to install a new light switch in our laundry room. Yesterday morning Peggy had heard it pop rather loudly when she turned on the light. Amy knew a man from her church who is a handyman and had done some electrical work for her. She gave me his number and I had called him about noontime. He said he would come out at about 6 PM. He and I drove up at our house at the same time. As he replaced the switch I learned that he too is a pastor of a new beginning church in a nearby town. As he was ready to leave I asked about his charge, but he said his work was free. We had a friendly argument and I finally persuaded him to take the money I handed him. After all, he is a young man and surely needed it. Peggy and I are older and well provided for by our gracious heavenly Father during these sunset years. Besides that Peggy talked with him about another project she may need him for in the kitchen.

As I conclude and look back on my Tuesday, I trust that God led my steps and I pray He blessed some folks that I encountered as they blessed me. If so, God be praised! Who knows what today may hold? If I keep my eyes and thoughts on Jesus, it won't be typical either.

Blogging Again

It is hot here at our house. Makes me long for the winter weather that we enjoyed over in Tanzania. Remarkably even with the temperature in the high 70's some of the folks there were wearing coats. I certainly would not want to be over there during their summer.

We have no choice but endure this severe drought and excessive heat. The grass in our yard cries out for water, but the heavens don't open up and satisfy this thirst.
For lack of water the grass has languishes. It is in a dormant stage, having turned brown and is struggling to merely survive. Presently it shows little signs of real life. Its vitality and lucious green color has been lost. I am assuming that it will come back to life when sufficient rain comes down. Reviving is now its greatest need. By the way, Peggy is a camera freak, but I haven't seen her running out taking pictures of our lawn. Who would want to look at them? There are some important lessons for us Christians to learn here.

Last week a man from our lawn care service stopped by, but there was nothing he could do to bring our grass back to its desired vitality. Peggy has eight rose bushes and two crepe myrtles that were not blooming, but looked sick and droopy. Three weeks ago we started watering them late every evening. Now, they have revived and are gracing our yard with beautiful flowers.

If I am allowed to use some typology, I have just described the spiritual condition of many followers of Christ. They are like the grass in our lawn. For lack of necessary nourishment they have dried up spiritually. The Psalmist feared this happening to him so he stated, "My soul thirsts for God, for the living God" (Psalm 42:2).

No follower of Christ should ever settle for just surviving, being barely alive as is true of our grass at this time. There is nothing attractive about such a one. Such Christian lacks the vibrancy and beauty of Christ. They cannot reflect Christ. Thus they are a poor witness and will never draw anyone to Christ and the abundant life that He offers.

God intends for His children to be productive and fruitful. Psalm 92:12-14 states God's desire for us. "The righteous man will flouish like the palm tree, He will grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Planted in the house of the Lord, They will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still yield fruit in old age; They shall be full of sap and very green" (NASB).

How does one maintain the vigor that God intends? Again Psalms has the answer in Psalm 1:2-3, "His delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. And he will be like a tree firmly planted by the streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers."

Jesus promised the Samaritan woman at the well, "...whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life" (John 4:14). Inside every true believer is an artesian well that shall never cease flowing freely. Further, Jesus said, "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water. But his He spoke of the Spirit..."
(John 7:38-39a).

Why aren't all Christians prospering as God intends? The answer is that sin is daming up the well and blocking the flow of the Holy Spirit. No Christian should be content looking like our lawn looks right now. Confession of one's sins will bring cleansing and revival to a dried up Christian.

Two Abominations

Drinking and gambling I utterly detest. These are two extremely harmful practices that can become damning addictions that bring irreparable harm to the partakers and countless other people as well.

I will first address the consumption of alcohol and some of its devastating effects. Some people contend that the Bible does not forbid drinking. Even some members of the clergy partake thinking that God sanctions their action. I disagree with the assetion that the Bible doesn't condemn it. I agree with Solomon who wrote this warning about drinking wine, "At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder" (Proverbs 23:32)

Ironically, the first mention of drinking in the Bible was by a man who was called "a preacher of righteousness" (2 Peter 2:5). After Noah unloaded his family and the animals from the ark he got drunk. "And he drank of the wine and became drunk, and uncovered himself inside his tent" (Genesis 9:21) before his sons. Shame on you Noah!

Lot was a sorry far less than a half-way follower of God. After being delivered from the fires that destroyed Sodom, his two daughters got him drunk and he committed incest with them (Genesis 19:32-36). Poor old drunk Lot didn't know what was happening, did he?

Daniel 5 relates how Babylonian King Belshazzar met his doom. He threw a feast with a thousand people present. The wine was flowing freely. "They drank the wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, or bronze, iron, wood, and stone" (Daniel 5:4). In the midst of their wild partying handwriting appeared on the wall that only Daniel could interpret. It was God's message that the end had come for arrogant Belteshazzar and his proud and powerful kingdom. That very night he meet his doom and went to face the judgment of his Creator.

There are numerous other sordid examples in the Bible. Now, I turn to the news makers. A few years ago a group of high-school graduating seniors went to Aruba to celebrate. I am sure they expected to have a good time with no thoughts of the tragedy they would encounter. One of the young ladies was abducted in a bar, taken out and disappeared never to be seen or heard from again. The young man accused of abducting her was not prosecuted. Recently he made the news again being charged with killing another young woman. A lot of fun going with the gang to a bar to have a great time. Can you have more fun while getting loaded? Not in my books!

Right now a trial is being conducted involving a highly successful, revered university basketball coach. I highly respected this man who returned the UK Wildcats to prominence and won another coveted NCAA basketball tournament championship. In the year 2003 this man visited a bar and was drinking. He played the so popular "blame game" claiming that he was enticed by a woman to have sex with her. Duh! Does this guy think we are stupid or is he crazy?

It seems that she became pregnant from this euphoria moment. Or did she? Anyhow he gave her $3,000 to have an abortion. But now she is suing him for a pile of money. "Way to go, coach! Way to go! If you think this makes you a winner, your idea of a winner and mine are entirely different. You are a loser, loser of real character. My guess is that you are now having a lot of drinks to get you through this humiliating mess."

Now, my brief tirade against gambling. I am like the young man who was asked by his mother when he returned from church what the preacher preached about. He said, "Sin." Mother asked, "What did he say about it?" Son replied, "He was against it." Suffice it to say that I am against gambling. Some of our top government leaders in Kentucky contend that expanding gambling in our state will bring in taxes that will help scores of our people. I am not the smartest guy in the state, but when did it become okay to hurt people to help the common good? I know that medical doctors hurt people to cure them. If one is performing surgery to remove a cancer, he doesn't implant a worse cancer in the patient. That is precisely what gambling will does, in my opinion.

The first of this week a program aired on a channel that is not available on our TV about a man from Madisonville who was convicted of murdering his aunt by stabbing her multiple times. He is now serving a life sentence, at the same time declaring his innocence. Soon after that fatal night when his aunt died he fled to Costa Rica, but was eventually apprehended and brought back.

Gambling was at the heart of his gigantic money problems. He was borrowing thousands of dollars from his aunt. The day she was brutally, savagely attacked, she had refused him more money to throw down the rat hole that he had dug for himself by his gambling habit. He fell in right down to the bottom. He may never get out. I for one cannot say that gambling is helping Madisonville maintain its self-proclaimed slogan, "Best Town On Earth."

What Is Inception?

Occasionally I do something so stupid that I am embarassed to let it be known. But I share this stupid act in the hopes that someone reading this might not make my mistake.

By now, your curosity is screaming, "Tell us what that stupid thing you did is. Hurry up, man. Don't keep us in the dark."

Here is what I did. Last week Peggy was away from home. Had she been home I probably would not have made this stupid mistake. On Friday afternoon I ventured to the mall and purchased a ticket to see the movie, "Inception."

I must confess that I was in total darkness as to the point of this idiotic movie. I simply can't tell you what it was about or what message it was trying to send. As far as I am concerned it was a sad commentary on the American people who would make it the number one movie at the top of the charts this week.

What a waste of 2 hours and-half. I didn't walk out because I kept hoping to get a clue as to what was going on. Who ever heard of being able to get into other peoples' dreams? Beats me! Anyone who can explain "Inception" to me will have my thanks. I am a simple man, so it must be explained in language I can understand.

I have seen a few good movies lately, especially those video ones we watched in Tanzania. On our flight home I watched "Invicitus" about Nelson Mandella. I recommend it. "The Blind Spot" is good. What ever happened to good old John Wayne Westerns where right triumphed over wrong. It seems to me that there is no right or wrong in a lot of the modern movies.

New Techonolgy Today

Today I have begun learning how to operate Facebook and establish a blog as daughter Emily wanted me to. Yesterday was special at Lafayette Baptist. Peggy and I made our presentation regarding our trip to Tanzania and my trip to Costa Rica. Peggy worked our new projector and I talked about the pictures. The 50 (almost twice our usual number) people present seemed to enjoy seeing these pictures. We are hoping for a few invitations to make the presentation in other churches at evening services, since we would not leave our church in the mornings.
Several changes have come to me since these two trips. I did without TV, radio, or newspaper in Costa Rica and Tanzania. My mind cleared, as a result. I have realized that I was wasting time watching News Talk Shows on TV. The benefits were negative--simply causing me to be confused, distressed, and depressed about the condition of our world and particularly of our beloved America. My time is now being spent reading and other more worthwhile endeavors. In Tanzania I read four excellent books. Reading, I am told, keeps the mind sharper than watching TV. Mine needs much sharpening.

I read for the second time about 2/3 of Randy Alchorn's classic book Heaven. I finished it after getting back home. Even though it is almost 500 pages every Christian needs to read it. Another excellent book that I recommed is, Crazy Love, by Francis Chan, one of Emily's books that she sent home by us. My beloved friend, Hughlan Richey loaned me a soul-shaking book that I just started today, Revolution in World Missions by K. P. Yahannan.

I am hoping to get our picket fence around the back yard all painted before winter. It is an astronomical job since it requires much scraping. I have only worked on it a few hours since getting back from world travels. I worked about an hour and half this morning, getting four panels. I will wait until the heat moderates or get up earlier than usual to hit it.

Today I was called to go to the hospital to visit a man near our church who doesn't appear to have long to live. I was glad I visited him in his home last week. I don't think he is saved
though he says he is. I talked to him very forthrightly today and used the 51st Psalm explaining that we are all sinners and that we must repent. God loves us and wants to save us, if we will turn to him. I pray a sinner's prayer with him though I didn't have him pray aloud, I did ask him to pray the prayer if he needed to. When I finished he said he did pray it. Tomorrow I hope to visit him again. Several months ago I conducted the funeral of one of his sisters. There were 12 brothers and sisters in his family. Almost none of them are church folks. How sad!