I know we need to help the needy, but what just happened concerns me. A man walked into the church building and wanted us to provide him a place to stay the night. Apparently we have helped him in the past, so he returned to see if we would again.

I would love nothing more than to help people. I know that is what Jesus wants us to do. But, this time I just couldn't and feel right about it. In fact, I made him leave the building and sent him on his way.

I feel bad about what happened, but it makes me angry at our world. I wish Jesus would hurry back to take us all home, then things like this wouldn't be on my heart so hard. See, I know I too have faults, just like anyone else. I want forgiveness for me and for everyone. But this time I just couldn't see myself allowing the church family here to help this man out with a room at the hotel down the street.

He had been communing with spirits that were not quite religious. He had been drinking and reeked of alcohol. Besides being dirty and smelling really bad, I could smell his breath and the alcohol on it form five feet away. When I told him I couldn't help him, he didn't argue. I asked him to leave and move on.

My prayer is that I always do what is right. I know that I don't myself, but I am trying. I can't help those who have no desire to help themselves or those who try and take advantage of others.

I have no idea what the man's story was, I just know that I gave him opportunity to ask for spiritual help, but that was not what he did. I am sorry for him, but like any other addict, he must come to the realization that he needs real help, not a band-aide fix for the night.

I pray for that man and know that he is someone's child. He is God's child, but he needs to find it inside of himself to seek out the right kind of help for his needs. I hope and pray that he does before it is too late.

Thank you Father for allowing me to find you and I pray that the man will search you out and take advantage of the opportunity to find his way home to you. Thank you Jesus for what you have done in my life and the lives of so many. Lead this man to find truth in your name.

I'll see you later.

Been Around a While

I have been around a while now. I am to the age of where I thought wisdom was held by others before me. But, as I look at my life now, I wonder how wise I really am.

I still make stupid mistakes (sorry for the word but used honestly) and I don't see myself as a wise person. All those whom I wanted to be like at 50 are now either in their 80's, 90's or have left this world through death. It is difficult to have those you admire lose their ability to mentor as they once did.

Then I stopped and realized something very important. I can't look back and wish, I must look forward and lead. I must be the one who becomes what I should be and not what someone else was. I followed the examples and wanted so much to be like them, but I am me. I have to be the best me I can be in spite of my mistakes and spiritual breakdowns. In other words, I have to be the best I can be, and do it now.

I'll see you later.

That's What Solomon Said

"What has been will be again,
what has been done will be done again;
there is nothing new under the sun." Ecclesiastes 1:9

Wise words from the man of God. Wonder what he meant by that statement? Can you figure it out.

Lets be careful not to rush to judgment over things that have always been and will continue to be.

I'll see you later, or not.

The Preacher's Wife

Just think about this for a moment or two. My wife has been the wife of a preacher for over 20 years. She has stood in the background for a long time knowing the life of a preacher. She has not been in the spot light having had four very active and accomplished children.

She was always "Britt's wife," "Lori...Jeff...Anthoney...or Tim's mother." She was very seldom just Lisa. That has been difficult for me lately to deal with. Why? Because I know she is so much more than that. She is awesome. She is amazingly intelligent and resourceful. She knows how to be frugal and how to stretch the food to make it last. She is wonderful as a mother and friend.

This last Saturday, Lisa returned to her roots. She went back to her 30th High School Reunion. She was apprehensive and almost backed out of going. She talked herself into going for at least thirty minutes.

She clung to my hand as we made our way down the corridor, grabbed my arm as we got to the door only to find two of her oldest and best friends waiting for her to arrive. "Lisa" they cried out and the hugs began. I was so thankful that they were there for her. I, on the other hand was the spouse. You know, the one in back, not as included, tolerated (just kidding) but you know the story. She was elated to see people she had gone through elementary, Junior High and High School with. She saw old boyfriends and old school mates and one or two she didn't know. (Out of a class of over 400 can you remember them all?)

Four and a half hours later after pictures, dinner, and more remembering than I could ever do, she looked at me with a smile and said, "It's time to go home" and we did.

Sunday came and once again I "The Preacher" was at the fore front getting all the questions and the thanks and the pats on the back. Well, here is to all those wonderful people who made my wife feel like the girl I married. She was happy. Not that she hasn't been, but she was Lisa Bird again for just four and a half hours. It makes me tear up just writing this down. Those who planned and sacrificed a lot of time did so, at least in my eyes, to make my wife a little happier. I'll never forget that night as long as I live.

No, you can't go back and relive the past. I understand that. But, you can relish in the light that was poured out on your life at those times in the past. Take time to notice the preacher's wife as well.

I'll see you later

I Heard It on TV

"I heard it on TV so it must be true."

Every hear that one? I have, and honestly, I thought it at one time when I was still a child. I thought that since they made the movie "Chariots of Fire", talking about alien life coming to earth, there must be aliens. After all, it was a documentary.

Not all that we see is true. Technology has made Harry Potter fly out of our imaginations and we have seen it on the big screen. For ages I thought "Gone With the Wind" was a historical reckoning of the events surrounding the burning of Atlanta. I also thought that Mary Poppins was real as well.

I lived in a fantasy world of things that I wanted to be true.

Still today, many of us are trying to live in that same type world. We see it, they say it is true, therefore it must be. Be careful here, there are forces at work that want us to always believe the lie.

"Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings." 1 Peter 5:8

The word of God is the only true word and guide we can be sure of.

I'll see you later.

What Fun!

I had the opportunity to go to see the Texas Rangers last night with a good friend. He is also my brother in Christ. I admire his love for his family and his dedication to raising them correctly and know that so much of life is before him. He is an inspiration to me and I wish that I had his attitude about so many things.

We had great dialogue, at least for me it was, I can't speak for him. I enjoyed being with him and being able to meet a friend of his that he apparently admires. His voice lifted when we talked of his children, his wife and his parents. He seemed content in life, not satisfied, content. There is a great difference and he knows it.

It made me wonder, "Do we know what it truly means to be thankful and content?" I hope I do now. It has taken me a long time to get there but I believe God is helping me by giving me people to see living contented lives.

I'll see you later!

Facebook Realities

Yes, it has hit me and hit me hard. The reality of the fact that past friendships that have been left alone for decades still twinge my heart when I find the outcome has been a death. Wow, I could not have been more saddened by news than when I found my dear friend's, Nick Stevens, daughter had tragically been killed in a freak accident last year. We hadn't seen each other or been in contact in over eighteen years. How sad?



We made connection on Facebook and I cried for two days as I read the story of his daughter's passing. It was as if I had lost a close friend myself. I felt hurt and pain in my heart unlike any I had ever had in a friend losing a child. I was amazed at how it impacted me emotionally and spiritually. I longed to wrap my arms around my friend and comfort him from his loss. But, it had been over a year. He had begun his healing and I found comfort in it.



I do not seek comfort for myself in all of this, I am just thrown back into reality that the world is getting smaller all the time and my days are numbered with nothing but better things to come.



Facebook, last week, brought me face to face with the loss of twelve friends I knew nothing about having passed away. I grieve that I had lost contact. I morn the fact that the only thing I will have for the rest of my life is a memory of them, as vague as they are. I have morned the loss of loved ones but for me to see my class and school mate's names on a list of those who have left this life hurt me and I cry.



I hope that now I can keep up better, because of Facebook, and let them know that they were special and still are in so many respects. Teachers, classmates, church family from the past, church camp friends, ministry friends and my relatives, thanks for letting me know how you are doing.



I'll see you later (on Facebook)