Celebration to Come!

When I was 11 years old, my baseball team won the City League championship in Longview, TX.  We were the Colonels and my brother Andy was the bat boy and was so excited about the win that he did a flip on the pitcher's mound.  The celebration for a group of  11 year old boys and their parents was so exciting that I have considered that year to be one of my favorites memories and my favorite age.

That one championship became one of my accomplishments that I cherished in my heart.  One of my teammates passed away as a result of a car wreck he suffered later in his teens.  Bruce Fisher was a friend and I have been thinking about him and the rest of the team who I wish I could see again.  We grew up, and now as men we have our own lives that were all shaped by the events of that summer.

However, several years later, I became a Christian by being immersed for the forgiveness of my sins and there are several people who were there as a part of that are no longer living in this world. I have lost my mother, several of my close friends who became a part of the team that I knew at that time as a result of my decision, and the preacher who immersed me, J.D. Lancaster and many who encouraged me to become who I now am in life.

Today, I live and work with a team of Christians who are living to win the championship of life.  Heaven is our goal, the celebration will be sweet, and I know that my brother Andy will do a flip for me at the thrown of God as a celebration of being home. (Well, maybe!) My Christian team was and is my favorite team and many memories have surpassed those baseball memories some 40 years ago. I have lost many of my friends and church family to death, but I know that they are waiting for the final celebration to come in eternity.  I too, with my physical and spiritual family, can't wait to celebrate with Jesus who "pitched a perfect game" in this life and is waiting for us to come home.

I hope you are ready for that celebration.  I would love to see you Sunday at the West Freeway church so that we can worship and praise Him who was perfect in this life so that we would have the chance to join Him for that celebration.  He lived the perfect life to be the perfect sacrifice for us.  "Come, now is the time to worship." 

God bless you.  See you Sunday so that I will be to possibly see you in heaven.

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

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!