As a snowflake falls

Have you ever once commanded the morning to appear, and caused the dawn to rise in the east? Have you ever told the daylight to spread to the ends of the earth, to end the night’s wickedness? Have you ever robed the dawn in red? Have you visited the treasuries of the snow, or seen where hail is made and stored? For I have reserved it for the time when I will need in war.
– Job 38:12-14; 22,23 (TLB)

The Holiday Season is that special time when many gather to sing (or listening to) songs of merriment near a Christmas tree; to anticipate the opening and the giving of gifts, and to reflect most importantly on the birth of Jesus Christ rather than a jolly old man in a red suit coming down the chimney. This is the popular time of the year too when potential snow fall stirs the youngster and those young at heart to recall memories of being outside either throwing snow balls or making a snow man. Winter time, or course, is a calendar occurrence and one would (inevitably?) run into to some snow on the ground. Whenever it is predicted that either a light or heavy accumulation of snow will fall, my expectations rise to the surface to see another manifestation of God’s sovereignty and status as the supreme originator. For you see, God is the one who made good everything that he has created. The formation of a single snowflake constitutes yet another aspect of God’s masterful design and artistry.

I had the good fortune to share a breakfast meal with some special friends about several weeks ago while we were on the grounds of Lake Junaluska. The subject of snowflakes came up as the word had gotten around that snow would fall in the area. I had gotten up around 5:15 and strolled around the lake (layered sufficiently-of course) and just happened to see some noticeable flurries, which were highly visible near a stationary light fixture. The artificial light illuminated the snowflakes. I gazed at it for a moment; then switched on my trusty flashlight to further enhance what I saw. Giving God the glory, I shared my experience with the Rev. Jim Trollinger, Rev. Fred Jordan, and Rev. Dr. Sam Moore – members of the Bishop’s cabinet.

Rev. Trollinger asked,“Frederick, do you think it is possible to declare two snowflakes as “identical?” Very quickly I said No, but wasn’t sure if I had a leg to stand on. “Now, I’m giving you an assignment to find out whether this is true,” said brother Trollinger. “While you are at it Frederick (if you-in your research-find two that are identical), do a drawing of it,” declared Rev. Jordan. Wow! This is was heavy stuff! I remember Rev. Dr. Sam Moore saying that he would be interested in knowing what I would come up with. In the back of my mind, I knew that beyond a shadow of doubt that my distinguished friends knew what the answer was- a resounding “no!” Yet the notion of two snowflakes being identical was an excellent topic of discussion in that snow is a miracle process from God.

I discovered (from “All about Ice,” New Scientist, September 6, 1993) that a single snowflake is a pile of crystals consisting of more than 200 ice crystals. Snowflakes are made up of water molecules that are shaped in a perfect order. Snowflakes, one of nature’s true architectural wonders, are shaped when water vapor gets cold while passing through the clouds. This takes place when [passing through the clouds] water molecules scattered everywhere in a disorganized way [throughout water vapor] begin to lose their random movement due to the fall in temperature. After a while, the water molecules, moving more slowly, begin to form groups and consequently become solid. Yet there is no disorder whatsoever in their grouping. On the contrary, they always unite as microscopic hexagonal forms that look similar to each other. Each snowflake at first consists of a single hexagonal water molecule, and then other hexagonal water molecules come and attach to this first piece.

What is the bottom line? Experts who think it’s likely that no two snowflakes are alike believe it’s all about numbers. Snowflakes form in different shapes depending on air temperatures and humidity levels during the formation process. I understand that many of these tiny wonders do not go through the complete formation process. When they don’t, they automatically fall to the ground in a fairly simplified state of development and have a similar appearance to each other – at least when compared with their well-formed siblings. So, from this resource, the experts declared that is virtually impossible that no two snowflakes ever looked alike.

My total reflection as taken from Job 38:12-14; 22, 23:

As a Snowflake Falls

As a snowflake falls covering me and the ground…I look around and instantly agree–God loves me. I will not question nor will I put God to the test …for I am unique and different endeavoring to please, but always on my knee. The snowflake melts perhaps in an instance but God created it and me perfect in his plan. For he who works so skillfully to make perfect every small speck of snow can’t be different in His works for every man. God knows every single detail down to the very last …so when something has come up and it is so puzzling and you’re at a loss, relook at a snowflake and surrender….for God is the boss.
Our God is a Masterful Creator who knows every minute detail in my life and your life…He has been developing our character like Jesus Christ, His beloved Son. So as a snowflake falls to the ground and you look up and down; praise God because life’s victory has been won. Thank you Father God for your perfection and care, which you have placed for the entire world to see-even a tiny snowflake serving as a reminder that heaven is a place where true believers will share.

Selah

Experience of the Cross

And I, if and when I am lifted up from the earth [on the cross], will draw and attract all men [Gentile as well as Jew] to myself. – John 12:32 (The Amplified Bible)

The recent theme of the 2010 Multicultural Conference at Lake Junaluska was “Embracing Christ’s Multi-Ethnic Body: Breaking Down Barriers and Building Bridges.” A program of the SEJ of the United Methodist Church, the December 2-4, 2010 Conference provided an opportunity for competent lay and ordained leaders to be further enlightened (and empowered) in response to the continuously changing diversity.

As I reflected from the Thursday, Friday, and Saturday encounter (Wednesday was a day of facilitator training), the words enlightenment and empowerment are significant. I was enlightened to see that dismantling racial prejudice is a personalized process that undermines how one is able to effectively co-exist with someone from another race - I might add in a church setting. Nevertheless, how can one effectively [or should I say – loving] co-exist with someone unlike him or her unless he or she has experienced the Cross of Christ? I’m sure you remember the chorus lines from the familiar Church song At the Cross that said:

At the cross, at the cross, where I first saw the light and the burdens of my heart rolled away. It was there by faith, I received my sight, and now I am happy all the day!

Without a doubt, this powerful refrain should empower an individual to dismantle (break down) any and all walls of hate, prejudice, envy, malice, pride, resentment, etc that only cripples and renders ineffectiveness. Joy comes when the Cross of Christ becomes a light, a burden lifter, and a tool of spreading the Gospel. How effectively can the Cross of Christ (the Crucifix) be a tool for spreading the Gospel? How effectively can it evoke the message of sacrificial love?

With a noticeable crucifix around his neck, Stephen and I [just minutes before the Opening worship service on Thursday, December 2nd] entered into a brief conversation about the kindred spirit that exists among those truly touched by the light of Christ. About how the Christ in us is exemplified by the way we carry ourselves. As time passed on, I learned further that my white brother was the Pastor of Carter County Parish- United Methodist Churches: St. Paul-Waatauga Pt.-Hunter-Slages - Johnson City District, Holston Conference. I remember saying how much I admired the cross he was wearing and he began to explain how it came about. This is how my brother and friend, the Rev. Stephen P. Burkhart, put it in written form (as I asked him to) so that you can get the full picture of his witness. This is how he explained why “I like that Cross”:

The summer of ’96, the Holston Annual Conference was a day away and I found my 14 year old son Kevin working in the garage. When I asked him what he was doing and reminded him to put the tools back, He showed two crosses he had made from a piece of cedar scrap wood with natural twine lanyard. “ One is for you Dad, and one is for me. It took you a long time to decide to be a Preacher, so I made this for you when you are on the stage. I am with you!”

At the Conference, I took my place with other new Local Pastors who were asked to come up on the stage and be recognized and introduced. At the end of the brief ceremony, I was returning to my seat and an old man jumped up and hugged me with tears in his eyes. “ I am so proud of you!” he said. “ Thanks, but I don’t know you mister!” I responded. He held me by my shoulders, looked into my eyes and said “ You are the only one up there that had a cross on. When did we become ashamed to show who we work for? And I feel bad, because I left my cross at home on a dresser…but I am very proud of you, Pastor!” . I reluctantly took the cross off my son had given me, and put it around the old man’s neck. He cried, smiled, hugged me again and took his seat. I returned to my seat, to meet my son now standing. He took his cross from around his neck, and placed it around mine. I started to resist and he said “ Like I said Dad, I am with you!”

Many years have passed and I have learned to take some time to whittle once in a while. It has become a form of prayer. And I make many crosses. Mostly now, I use old forsythia bush branches. They are easy to whittle and notch together, and make a natural looking cross.

One of my joys is to give the crosses to anyone who notices it. I love to see the smiles and tears of joy from cashiers, store, clerks, children, and just folks I bump into as I take the cross and hand it to them.

Some 14 years after my son made those first two crosses, I met a man as I entered the welcome center at Lake Junaluska to register for this Multicultural Conference. The man glowed with the light of Christ and greeted me….and it was real. It took the edge off my fears and doubts as to whether a 300 pound German/Scotch/Irish hillbilly would be welcomed here. He reminded me of many years ago when I was greeted as a new Local Pastor by a stranger, and the many men and women servant-leaders God has placed in my life this 14 year journey from Engineer to Local Pastor to Elder. He was there and gone. But I was blessed to give a cross away at the registration table. And as I write, I am out of crosses as I have passed them on to several folks at this conference. But forsythia grows really fast!

Many thousands of crosses later, I ponder that the cross is not something to just display. What would happen if in our doubts, in our trials, and in our journey we could remember that the cross is something to share? If we just let folks know that God is always saying “ I am with you!” We could do that!

Just after the closing session on Saturday, December 4th, Stephen said, “Brother Fred, you and I have a connection now!” Meaning that after all that had been said and done at the conferece, the experience of the cross allowed us to be spiritually bound and most importantly to live out what Jesus said, And I, if and when I am lifted up from the earth [on the cross], will draw and attract all men [Gentile as well as Jew] to myself. Selah

Thanks, but no thanks

Since he heard the sound of the trumpet but did not take warning, his blood will be on his own head. If he had taken warning, he would have saved himself. – Ezekiel 33:5 (NIV)

It seems like it was just yesterday when the plumber warned me of potential problems I’d run into if I didn’t consider going beyond the Band-Aid job he would do to stop my hot water valve from leaking in the shower. Thinking that this was a more money making scheme, I simply responded (in a round-a-bout way) with a “Thanks, but not thanks” expression! Well, that scenario was nearly 10 years ago and let me tell you, I wish I’d taken the advice because overtime those old galvanized (?) pipes began to rust as water slowly dripped and holes opened up to cause floor joist and interior wall studs (2x4) deterioration. On top of all that, termites had crept in and did further wood damage.

Our home on Cedrow Drive in High Point, NC, was built in the early 1940s and when my wife and I moved in 1968, it was then 28 years old. Right now, every nook and cranny of the old house has seen approximately 60 years of wear and tear. Nonetheless, it was last month (October 2010) that I had to call in both a carpenter and a plumber to solve my problem. What an expensive mess! I should have heeded the early warning some 10 years ago, but instead I said “Thanks, but no thanks!” It didn’t matter how many times I tried to console myself, I didn’t give the matter proper attention. I kept saying, “Look Jones, you saved a few pennies on the deal; after all you couldn’t see how bad the pipes were leaking! Maybe so; maybe not! Remember that just about every professional you call on to fix something for you is out to rip more money out your pockets with slick sale gimmicks – so chill out!”

“Thanks, but no thanks” is more than just a mere thought or conversational piece. It is a signal to become aware of something – to be on the alert or to simply take a warning from a reliable source. How can this be rephrased? Consider what Hebrews 3:7-14 teaches:

So, as the Holy Spirit says, ‘Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert, where your fathers tested and tried me and for forty years saw what I did. That is why I was angry with that generation, and I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways.’ So I declared an oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’ See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first.

The message from Hebrews 3:7-14 is a warning against unbelief. One of the greatest spiritual challenges is to protect the heart from becoming hardened and to stay receptive to God’s action in our lives. Hence to say “Thanks, but no thanks” suggests that you or I haven’t listened carefully to the plea for staying on the right track. The warning is for us to gently examine our lives by asking such questions as, 1) Are there any habits that draws me away from God? 2) What will help me to draw nearer to Jesus Christ and deepen my relationship with him? 3) Who has been my cheerleader – one who has inspired me to be faithful?

Ezekiel 33:5 provides additional food for thought. First, it speaks of a person who has heard the sound of the trumpet (a loud siren warning of impending danger) but said “Thanks, but no thanks” –went on his merry way until the unexpected happened and his life (no doubt) was snuffed out. Note the emphasis upon “since he heard …but did not take warning.” Secondly, Ezekiel 33:5 speaks of eternal separation from a Holy God. Notice again what the last portion of the verse says, “if he had taken warning, he would have saved himself.” God does not want any one to perish because he is a loving God – Love is a strong suit of his character. But anyone who persists in rebelling against God by saying “Thanks, but no thanks” has a rebellious nature, which inevitably will receive God’s judgment. On the other hand, those who are faithful to God will find encouragement and hope. Selah

Just at the right time

At all times and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father. -Ephesians 5:20 (The Amplified Bible)

While supervising some needy repairs at our home in High Point, NC, I decided to grab a light lunch at a nearby restaurant where I ran into an old buddy of mine. I was unsure who he was until after I strolled past him on my way to the salad bar. He didn’t see me at the moment I was piling up my plate. However, I noticed that he was eating as well as he could because his coordination was out of control with; quick, sudden, momentarily wild jerking movements of the arms, face, and legs - His head turned in order to shift eye positions. His table was filled with paper napkins and fragments of food all over the place, but he didn’t seem to be bothered as others looked out of curiosity at his abnormal and unusual body movements.

In order not to startle him while he was eating, I moved around so I could look him straight in the eye and politely asked, “Don’t I know you?” His reply was, “Yep! It’s me, Thomas! How are you doing, Jones? Where have you been for all these many years?” His speech was slurred [indistinct clarity], so I had to listen carefully in order to make a reply. Motioning that I wanted to feed my face, I made a comment that we could chat a bit more later on. As I took a seat in another part of the establishment, several waitresses were frequently visiting his table inquiring if he needed anything else that they would get for him. I gazed out of the window where I was seated and observed that a taxicab was waiting just opposite the exit door and breathed a sigh of relief knowing that the driver was waiting for him to complete his meal.

It appeared that everything had been business as usual for brother Thomas. He was handicapped and all the waiters and waitresses knew who he was. In fact one of them said, “Your friend is one of the nicest people I know! I enjoy not only helping him, but I just like to hang around him as much I can whenever he comes in here. All he has to do is show up and he would be waited on hand and foot.” After a while, Thomas [with his walker] wheeled to my table and positioned himself at a distance where he could move around comfortably. We both talked briefly about the good old days when we in college at A& T; about how our families met, as well as the motorcycle he still had.

Thomas mentioned of his wife’s death in 2004, but wanted to cue me in on his present health condition. “Jones, I have Huntington’s Disease, which I inherited through my family line. I’m 69 years old, but my situation began to be noticeable when you and I were members of that Baptist Church in 1969 when I was 27 years old. By the time I reached my middle 30s, things went bad for me.”

I asked how he was able to get around and he surprised me when he said, “Look-a-here buddy, I can do practically whatever I want to! I attend the church and its activities. I can get to the drug store; to the doctor’s office; get to the grocery store; entertain my friends at the house; go to sleep; and go wherever I please. Do you see that mini-van parked in the handicapped space? It is mine…and I drive it.” I thought to myself that Thomas had to be either joking or exaggerating with the way his condition was. However, after I helped him get into his automobile and he was able to drive out of parking lot onto the street, I believed what he said.

Would you believe that I followed him for a while in my car! Even though I could see abnormal head jerks; yet, he had enough control to stop at the red light; wait for the green, and then speed away in the direction he wanted to go. Wait a minute! How could my friend be able to accomplish such a feat? I thought to myself that he shouldn’t be driving a car in his condition. He would inevitably wind up hurting himself as well as putting other motorists in danger. To tell you the truth, I’d never even heard of this kind of disease before. What is Huntington’s disease anyway?

Upon research, I discovered that Huntington’s disease is a progressive, degenerative disease that causes nerve cells in the brain to waste away. As a result, such a person may experience uncontrolled movements, emotional disturbances and mental deterioration. Huntington’s disease is an inherited disease. Signs and systems usually develop in middle age. Younger people with the disease often have a more severe case, and their systems may progress more quickly. Rarely, children may develop Huntington’s disease. Medications are available to help manage the signs and symptoms, but treatments can’t prevent the physical and mental decline associated with the condition. Thomas and I renewed old acquaintances at just the right time. He taught me that hard times are no excuses for giving up; throwing the towel, and looking for sympathy from everyone.

In his letter to the church at Ephesus (Ephesians 5: 20), the apostle Paul stressed that when you feel down, you may find it difficult to give thanks. But he says to take heart – in all things God works for our good if we love him and are called by him. Believers are to thank God, even in spite of the problems but more so for the strength he is building in them through difficult experiences in their lives. Believers can be sure that God’s perfect love will see them through.

Just at the right time, Thomas reached that point when giving thanks to God spoke louder than words could ever say. He lived it by pressing on in spite of Huntington’s disease, which was an affliction that would not crush him nor drive him to despair, but rather an opportunity to show the world that he could overcome the adversity because of the ever living Christ. Selah

Highly Unusual

What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you don’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong –you only want what will give you pleasure.
– James 4:1-3 (NIV)

I just happened to see just before noon today, a “highly unusual sight” of two mocking birds (?) engaged in a scratch and claw skirmish (a minor or preliminary conflict or dispute) while I was waiting for my prescription to be filled at the drug store. Just a short distance from where I was parked, a row of trees became the backdrop for a display of seemingly mortal combat. Whatever the reasons may have been, the two birds dotted up and down in nose diving fashion; one chasing the other until facing each other head on. The loud screeching could be heard, as specks of feathers floated in the air as contact was made. Suddenly, one of them hastened off to perch on one of the low limbed trees. The battle stopped and there was silence. I could see the one that flew off to take a brief rest somewhat unnerved as the other one was camouflaged (appeared to be part of natural surroundings) in the much taller tree where the routine of nest building and looking after baby chicks had taken place. Just maybe!

At the blink of an eye, the bird on the low limb saw where its opponent was and headed in that direction. The battle was on again. Absolutely fascinating! Within a short while, however, both of them flew off in opposite directions giving evidence that the skirmish was an unresolved fiasco (complete failure). Even though the whole thing had to do with birds, James 4:1-3 gives us something to think about.

The Holy Spirit, speaking through James, outlines that quarreling and fighting among believers is always harmful. Most importantly, conflicts come as a result of the evil desires in us that erupts when we want more possession, more money, higher status, or more recognition, etc. When we don’t get what we want, we fight in order to have it. The inside war never stops. The eye opener, as I see it, is that we should submit ourselves to God, ask Him to help us get rid of our selfish desires, and trust Him to give us what we really need. Once a relationship with God is established and faith becomes a reality; then the next step surfaces – being on the alert [underlined for emphasis], which has to do with being vigilantly attentive; watchful, mentally responsive and perceptive.

Long after the mocking bird incident was over and I had labeled it as a “highly unusual” episode from nature, being on the alert stuck with me. 1 Peter 5: 8,9 clearly gives the reason why being on the alert is so important: Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy prowls around like a roaring lion looking for some to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of suffering.

The rationale is that lions lurk in the tall grass seeking out easy prey; they choose their meal ticket from solitary animals and those that are not alert. The Apostle Peter warns us to watch out for Satan when you feel alone, weak, helpless, and cut off from other believers, or if you are so focused on your trouble that you forget. Selah

Creature Feature

Then God told Noah and his sons, I hereby confirm my covenant with you and your descendants, and with all the animals that were on the boat with you – the birds, the livestock, and all the wild animals – every living creature on earth. – Genesis 9: 8-10 (TLB)

In just about a month from now [September 23rd], the first day of fall 2010 will be upon us and the magnificent greenery of the grass and trees will undergo another transformation – making ready for the oncoming Winter. I mentioned this because of what I’ve seen of flying insects since mid July up until now. Whether I’ve driven short or long distances along the state roads or interstate highways, beautiful butterflies would catch my eyes. Against the green landscape, their multicolored large scaly wings would stand out. As far as I could tell the majority of the butterflies were Monarchs, but another type species appeared smaller in size and flat yellow.

Anyway, other than the appearance of floating effortlessly, the butterflies flew with remarkable speed; especially for their size and weight. What struck my attention was that they appeared out of nowhere just about a few inches from the windshield of my car but never hitting it! It was just a week ago while enroute to the mountains that I counted at least five or six barely missing my fast moving vehicle. It was amazing! None of them never “splattered” on my windshield even though there could have been many others that hit other parts of car without my knowing it. On many occasions when I’d wash my car, all kinds of bugs could be stuck on the front bumper and hood. Very rarely have I seen remnants of butterflies or moths there; only bullet sized insects like bees, dragon flies (?), etc. Butterfly or moth, what is the difference?

Well, while making a business run to Brown’s chapel United Methodist Church in Catawba, NC, last week, I just happen to run into a situation where I couldn’t tell one from the other. Nonetheless, as I stepped out of the car and looked down [nearly a foot or so from the front tire], an unusually large moth/butterfly was sputtering helplessly on the pavement. My first instinct was to get it out of harm’s way; so, I sort of helped it a bit with a sheet of paper and moved onto the grass. It flapped its wings attempting to fly, but somehow it appeared injured. Fascinated by its activity and lack of spontaneity, I got an old twig enabling it to be something familiar. In the area covered with foliage and dry leaves {a good distance from human activity}, I placed the twig and my little critter friend there so that it could blend in with the environment as well as recuperate.

However, to quell [pacify] my curiosity, I discovered that there is no one rule that covers all species of butterflies or moth, but in general there are differences between the two;

· Most butterflies primarily fly during the day (are diurnal) and many moths fly at night (are nocturnal).
· Butterflies have knobbed antenna and moths have feathery or straight antenna.
· Butterfly bodies are usually slim, while moth bodies are plump and hairy.
· Moths usually spin silken cocoons to enclose their pupae or burrow underground to pupate [the inactive stage of metamorphosis].
· Butterflies form chrysalises.

Butterflies are found all over the world and in all types of environments: hot and cold, dry and moist, at sea level and high in the mountains. Most butterfly species, however, are found in tropical areas, especially tropical rainforests. Many butterflies migrate in order to avoid diverse environmental conditions (like cold weather). Butterfly migration is not well understood. Most migrate relatively short distances (like the Painted Lady, the Red Admiral, and the Common Buckeye), but few (like the Monarchs) migrate thousands of miles. Absolutely outstanding! A great deal of things went through my mind as I rehearsed what I experienced about the butterflies or moths.

Genesis 9: 8-10 brought in a floodgate of spiritual food. The context of Genesis 9: 8-17 has to do with God confirming His covenant with Noah and his family. But I was completely shocked when verse 10 read, and with all the animals that was on the boat with you –the birds, the livestock, and all the wild animals – every living creature on earth. I see this powerful verse as God not only making a covenant with Noah but also a covenant with every living creature on earth! Perhaps you may view it differently, but these notions just thrills me to no end. There is much more in this. Noah stepped out of the boat onto the earth devoid of human life, but God gave him a reassuring promise. This covenant had three parts: 1) Never again will a flood so such destruction, 2) as long as the earth remains, the seasons will always come as expected, 3) a rainbow will be visible when it rains as a sign to all that God will keep his promises. The earth’s order and season are still preserved, and rainbows still remind us of God’s faithfulness to his word. Bingo! The creature feature or the Butterfly episode was a reminder to me that God can be trusted. The earth’s order and season are still preserved – the butterflies and moths are still doing their thing to the glory of God. He created them too. Selah

Valuable Lessons from Field Mice

The one who knows much says little; an understanding person remains calm.
- Proverbs 17: 27 (The Message/ReMix)

If a black cat crosses your path, you’re headed for bad luck. If your nose itches, someone is talking about you. If your right eye itches, then something good is going to happen. If your left eye itches, something bad will come your way. If the palm of your right hand itches, someone is going to give you money. Perhaps you are familiar with these timeless myths, folklore [traditional beliefs, practices, legends, and tales of people - transmitted orally], or superstitions; then again, maybe you’re not. Yet, are they worth listening to or reading about? Here is my rationale or response to the one that says, “If your left eye itches, something bad will come your way.”

On this past Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010, news came from California that my sister-in-law, Rosetta, was scheduled for open-heart surgery within 24 hours. Via the telephone, this was certainly bad; bad news especially for someone who has gone through such tremendous health issues as Rose has had to go through. I tell you, she is one strong woman of faith. When the report about her condition reached everyone in the Madison, Henderson, and Jones clan, I recall someone saying to me, “you know, my left eye had been jumping like crazy way before the news came about Rose. I knew bad luck was coming from somewhere…I felt that it was in our family.” {I thought} Wait a minute; this isn’t faith-in-God talk! Hog wash! But on the other hand, I couldn’t figure out why the muscle over my left eye had been twitching [moving suddenly] the day before. Now, the muscle over my left was twitching not my left eye (pupil) itching. What’s the difference between a twitch and an itch? Nevertheless, the news about Rosetta hit home and whether there is any truth from my left eye twitching or itching, the move that was necessary was to pray and believe God.

Instead of relying on a folklore, myth, or superstition, the Bible had constructive wisdom to rely on. Somehow, the thought came to mind concerning “speaking the right words at the right time and the consequences they could bring.” As I reflected on it, I happened to pick up a small paperback book that the Rev. Mel Burton sent me. I remembered telling him how much I enjoyed the first Sunday in July, 2010, when he stepped in as the new Pastor at Thrift United Methodist Church in Charlotte, NC. Anyway, I especially enjoyed his moment with the Children and how the material he used was outstanding.

The children’s book was entitled “Frederick, ” the little field mouse. Written skillfully by Leo Lionni, it is a story of Frederick that highlighted the triumph of the spirit. It detailed how a chatty family of field mice lived in an old stone wall, which wasn’t too far from a barn and special places for food. But in time, the farmers moved away and the possibility of food began to vanish. So, all of them began to gather whatever morsels of food they could find. All four of the mice worked hard except Frederick, who was deemed as a dreamer. “Why don’t you work, Frederick,” they asked. His reply was, “I gather sun rays for the cold dark winter days.”

On several other occasions [while hard work was going on and Frederick stared out in space], he said, “I gather colors…for the winter is gray. I gather words; for the winter days are long and many and we’ll run out of things to say.”

My ears were tuned in when Pastor Burton hit a high note of excitement. “The best part,” he said, “Was when winter set in and there was plenty of food stored away. The family of mice had a good time telling stories and eating themselves away. But they ran out of food and were about ready to give up. Didn’t feel like chatting. Then they remembered the words Frederick had said:

Who scatters snowflakes? Who melts the ice?
Who spoils the weather? Who makes the ice?
Who grows the four-leaf clover in June?
Who dims the daylight? Who lights the moon?
Four little field mice who live in the sky.
Four little field mice…like you and I.
One is the Springmouse who turns on the showers.
Then comes the Summer who paints the flowers.
The Fallmouse is next with walnuts and wheat/
And Winter is last…with cold feet.
Aren’t we lucky the seasons are four?
Think of a year with one less…or one more!”

Pastor Burton clearly emphasized that the story psychologically suggested that when hard times come, healthy memories could tide you over. Frederick, the dreamer, was a good example. This extraordinary mouse was unmoved even as his integrity was questioned. He kept himself mentally alert by envisioning wholesome images and words that would lift the heart.

Pastor Burton’s sermon was based on the impact of encouraging words – spoken at the right time. He highlighted three important lessons to think on: 1) someone always cares for you, 2) we must first and foremost lift up the name of Jesus Christ, and 3) God works through people in remarkable ways. In the first lesson, he brought out the fact that in his early school days, he was earmarked as a participant in a scholastic event. There were four awards given out at the end of the competition; one was for participation, which he received. But his teacher was highly upset because he didn’t get the top award. She cared about him. The second lesson dealt with an experience he had with taking a youth group to the Blue Ridge Mountains (?) and they came across a wooden cross that was leaning heavily from a vertical position. Working together as a team to correct the situation, he learned that all of them saw the need to spiritually lift up the name of Jesus. And finally, an anonymous person provided food for the church with a large financial gift. This drew him to conclude that God works with people who are not bent on receiving recognition for what they do.

"The one who knows much says little; an understanding person remains calm" (Proverbs 17: 27) has the makings of being compared to a mythical saying or hand me down folklore, but instead it comes from Solomon, King of Israel, the son of David – the man after God’s own heart. However, Frederick, the little field mouse provided a value lesson, which is: divine knowledge is given by God for the purpose of being a blessing to others, Your effectiveness comes as a result of being constantly in his presence. Selah

Fly Robin Fly

A hard worker has plenty of food, but a person who chases fantasies has no sense.
- Proverbs 12:11 (TLB)

Call it weird or highly unusual, but a Red, Red Robin wasn’t “Bob, Bob, Bobbing-along” but speeding (on foot) like a traditional (feathered) road- runner just the other day. The red breasted small wonder “bobbed” [to appear or arise unexpectedly or suddenly] from one side of Emerson Drive to the other –without attempting to flap its wings.

The Red Robin was just inches away from getting run over had I been driving just a bit faster even though I was in a residential area where vehicle the speed was posted at 25 MPH. Why wouldn’t the bird just “fly” across the pavement instead of running on foot? It seemed like the most logical thing to do, but why not? Perhaps there was a scrap of food on the ground from a nearby trash can, an earthworm that had just lifted its head in a precise spot, or the cry of its mate in a nearby tree top. Perhaps one of these may have been reason enough.

However, from a human perspective, running on the ground was very risky. Yet, I’m aware that there are varieties of birds with wings but are unable to fly; for instance the Ostrich – an African bird characterized by long, bare neck and legs, two-towed feet and small wings. Because of its large body and subsequent small size wings, it is unable to take off and soar into the sky. The Ostrich hence relies on foot power rather than wing power. Yet, what about the Red, Red Robin that sped across the pavement almost as fast as a speeding bullet! What practical lesson can be learned from this?

Let’s surmise that the Red Robin was aggressive to provide food for its mate and young in the nest! With that as a possible clue, Proverbs 12:11 gives an example of what it means to live wisely: “A hard worker has plenty of food, but a person who chases fantasies has no sense.” Another translation (the Message/ REMIX) puts the same verse like this; “The one who stays on the job has food on the table; the witless chase whims and fancies.” Notice the bold texted word witless, which is defined as lacking intelligence or wit. No doubt the little Robin serves to remind us that making the right decision [to provide food for itself or others of its kind] very often may be the cause and effect of setbacks –some of course potentially life threatening. But you don’t stand still; learn from life’s training field and trust God-in-Christ to lead you.

I see the Proverbs having more to say to students than to teachers. The book makes it clear that there are no good alternatives to learning wisdom. We are either becoming wise learners or refusing to learn and becoming foolish failures. Check out this wit and wisdom:

Many foxes grow grey, but few grow good.
He most lives who thinks most, feels noblest, and acts best.
He who never fails will never grow rich.
He who pays the piper, calls the tune.
Up, Sluggard, and waste not life; in the grave will be sleeping enough.
There are no riches above a sound body, and no joy above the joy of the heart.
Be ever at leisure to do good; never make business your excuse to decline the works of humanity.
Enjoy the present hour, be mindful of the past; and neither fear nor wish the approaches of the past.

Selah

Sharp as a tack

And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching. Teach the truth so that your teaching can’t be criticized. Then those who oppose us will be ashamed and have nothing bad to say about us. – Titus 2:7,8 (TLB)


Each year we celebrate the birth of the United States and America’s independence. More than just an annual observance for the blessings and benefits of living in this great land, the 4th of July celebration provides a special time of remembrance. 11 years ago, July 4, 1999, Morgan Idella Jones was born - the second child of my daughter Giselle and her husband Ron. Grandpa Fred and Grandma Lillie Jones had the good fortune this time to have both of their children and their families together.

Our son, Rick, was up from Melbourne, Florida for a two -week vacation while Giselle’s summer teaching schedule at Bennett College allowed her to be off on Fridays. For a fun filled, 2-day and 1-night outing, pre-arrangement had been made for them at the Great Wolf’s lodge – just outside the city limits of Charlotte and Concord, NC. So, Giselle and Ron drove up from Jamestown, NC while Rick and Lynette traveled a few miles from Matthews, NC where Lynnette’s parents lives. All of us agreed to meet at a convenient restaurant for a family meal on Friday, July 2nd.

Since my wife and I were on a cruise when Father’s day came around, the kids presented me with a belated gift -a brand new cowboy style hat and several gift cards.
To see if the size would fit, I gently placed it on my head and it felt just right! “How do I look, y’all?" Out of the clear blue, Ashley said, “Grandpa, You’re sharp as a tack! Mama said you always liked hats and this one allows your gray hair [on the sides] to show up too.” Micah, the 8-year-old son of Rick and Lynette, politely asked, “ Granddaddy, can I please try on your new hat?” “Yep,” I replied. “But don’t pull down on the brim (the projecting rim or edge) so I will not have to work too hard to keep it looking good.” I chuckled a bit when he put it on.

Ashley, Morgan, and Eden had their turn, but I was thrown for a loop after little Ron had his chance. He looked up with the hat covering nearly his whole head and blared (to sound loudly) out, “Hey, guys, am I sharp as a tack?” We all smiled of course, but my response was, Whoa! Not only is this 5-year old full of wit (keenness of perception or discernment), but he gives special attention to what is being said! Then again all children are impressionable; so, it is important how adults basically behave around them.

The evening meal was delightful. Sleepy time was drawing near especially as the whole clan was tired out from being in the water since checking in at the lodge around 1:30 PM on Friday. I had moments to reminisce when I got home. The short phrase, Sharp as a tack came to mind again and I could see my youngest grandson’s demeanor (the way one behaves or conducts oneself). I rationalized that perhaps he got everyone’s attention by copycatting his oldest sister’s (Ashley) earlier remark. Whatever may have triggered his reaction, his timing nonetheless was noteworthy and even more how he said it.

“Sharp as a tack” is an idiom, which is a speech form or expression of a given language that is peculiar to itself grammatically or that cannot be understood from the individual meaning of its element. For example, "he may be old in years, but he’s sharp as a tack and knows what he’s talking about" can be typically described as idiomatic. On the other hand, what is the logic behind this sentence? Could it be in this instance that “as sharp as a tack” comparatively links old age with applicable knowledge or wisdom? This could be the case; if so, let’s carry it a bit further.

Could it be that Ron’s question be narrowed down and answered in the following way, "I may be a little guy with a lot to learn, but I’m as sharp as a tack. I’m wearing my grandpa’s hat right now and he can teach me?" I believe this is it! From a spiritual perspective, I got the message. Just as a tack is physically a sharp pointed object with a flat head and can used for the exact purpose it was made for, so is my life [living in accordance to God’s will] to serve as a grandfather model for him to follow. As a good example from this awareness, Titus 2: 7,8 records Paul’s insistence that Titus concentrate on being a good example to those around him so that others might see his good deeds and imitates him. Paul’s life would give his words greater impact. This is a powerful discovery. If you want someone to act a certain way, one should live that way himself or herself. So that he or she will earn the right to be heard and his or her life will reinforce what is being taught. Selah

What It Means to Pay Attention

Then the governor, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, and the high priest, Joshua son of Jehozadak, and all the people with them listened, really listened, to the voice of their God. When God sent the prophet Haggai to them, they paid attention to him. In listening to Haggai, they honored God. – Haggai 1:12 (The Message/ReMix)

Bishop Larry Goodpaster hit another hit another “home run” for me at the closing of our 2010 WNC Annual Conference at Lake Junaluska last week. A “spiritual home run” might be a more adequate word, but in his charge to both clergy and laity, he outlined three things that a missional church does: 1) it engages people, 2) it cooperates and collaborates, and 3) its expands our horizons. Highlighting several churches that epitomized (typical examples of) those points, Bishop Goodpaster gave the ultimatum to “get moving!” In other words as I saw it, he said, “if you want to make a difference [like those churches I just named] “get moving! You have to hit the road…to serve this present age.” In order to Follow Jesus, Make Disciples, and Transform the World, the local church [or true believer in Christ Jesus] is challenged to “rethink church” so as to live and lead the kind of life that would inspire the unchurched to find their way.

So what does it mean to pay attention? The context of Haggai 1:12 deals specifically with the identification of key leaders [Zerrubabel and Joshua] in the rebuilding the house of the Lord in Jerusalem. The Jews, who had returned from captivity in Babylon, were slow in their work due to opposition from hostile neighbors that caused them to be discouraged and to neglect the Temple and thus neglected God. But Haggai’s message turned them around and motivated them to pick up their tools and continue the work they had begun. In other words, the Jews were told to “get moving.” When Bishop said to us in Stuart auditorium that “we must take Jesus more seriously than ourselves,” I reheard Haggai’s plea to his flock that the Temple is the focal point of Judah’s relationship to God.

The latter end of that verse [from the Message/Remix version] says, in listening to Haggai, they honored God. What is the meaning here? First of all, let’s look at like this. How often have you heard a sermon and immediately responded because you recognized that God was speaking through the Pastor? Did you say to yourself something along these lines, “those were some excellent points that the Pastor brought out in the sermon. Lord, show me how to make them real so that I can put them all into practice.” This is putting faith into action. Whenever our spirits are in tune with the Holy Spirit as a sermon or lesson is brought forth, God shows up, as praise [from us] is automatic.

As a result of paying attention to Haggai, notice secondly what the Jews were able to do as addressed in verses 14,15:
So the Lord sparked the enthusiasm of Zerubabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the enthusiasm of Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the enthusiasm of the whole remnant of God’s people. They began rebuilding the house of their God, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. (TLB)

Once again the question is so what does it mean to pay attention? Haggai 1: 14,15 clearly illustrates that God shows up to bless those singularly {one person at a time} as well as a group with a spark of enthusiasm necessary in the work of kingdom building. Selah

When

It is written: “ As surely as I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.” So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.
-Roman 14: 11,12 (NIV)

What caught my eye in the USA Today, Tuesday, April 27, 2010, was a front-page article entitled “Young Adults Less Devoted to Faith: Survey shows steady drift from church life.” In the outset, the writer pointed out “that most young adults today don’t pray, don’t worship, and don’t read the Bible. If this trend continues, ‘the Millennial generation will see churches closing as quickly as GM dealerships.” The columnist based her findings from a survey conducted by a Lifeway Christian Resource group. The intent was to focus on 1,200 members from18-29-year-old in order to see their views on spirituality and faith; amazingly the results showed that 72% said they were “really more spiritual than religious.” Among the 65% that called themselves Christian, “many were either mushy Christians or Christians in name only – most of them were just indifferent. As far as measuring their Christianity, the fewer were found to be committed to faith.”

Key overall findings from the survey, highlighted the following:

1) 65% rarely or never pray with others, and 38% almost never pray by themselves either,
2) 65% rarely or never attend worship services,
3) 67% don’t read the Bible or sacred texts,
4) Many are unsure Jesus is the only path to heaven: half say yes, half no.
5) even though some believed that they will go to heaven because they accepted Jesus Christ as savior:
a. 68% didn’t mention faith, religion or spirituality when asked what
was ‘really important in life,’
b. 50% didn’t attend church at least weekly,
c. 36% rarely or never read the Bible. Only 17% read it daily.

These findings are astounding (to strike with sudden wonder-to amaze) in that it is a challenge to clergy and laity to grow “passionately Christian dynamic churches.” Why is this necessary? As the survey pointed out, many in the Millennial generation are veering (turning aside from a course) to “moralistic therapeutic (having healing or curative powers) deism – ‘God wants you to be happy and do good things.’…this isn’t what Christianity is all about.”

After reading the article several more times, I felt an alarm system go off as these question kept cropping up, just why are young people as a whole steadily drifting away from church life? Why has there been a steady rise of doubt that Jesus is the only way to Heaven? Why is there a steady stream of people being alienated from following the examples of Jesus as passed down from the patriarchs of the Old Testament?

Following the poetic style of Rudyard Kipling, I composed the following poem as a means to see into perhaps the real hindrances to faith in the 18-29 group:

When

When you can look within yourself and question what really takes place; finding out what keeps your nerves on edge, realizing all that matters is how you can keep your cool and nor hindering others to lose theirs; coming to grips that you can’t be influenced by facts unsorted, blinded by the lust of the eye that sway logic and brings on spiritual death; or tempted to get what you want without realizing the harm it brings to others;

When you can lay aside your cares and worries, hear the mocking bird chirp melodies on limbs near and far, touch a rose petal, notice the rippling movement of water in a stream, or take a deep breath of fresh air and look up to the sky and mull with a sound: “Wow! What a view!” Taking stock of the moment from nature that surrounds cannot change the will of the soul dampened with doubt and confusion;

When you can move away from those that unthinkingly and purposely belittles the poor, the disenfranchised, the alien, or those that blasphemes the name of God without a flinch or shame to be found; When even your closest friend that you call a buddy, a pal that sticks closer than glue; invites you to question what you know is right and leads you down a road filled with enslavement – become the wiserand run away as fast as you can.

When the stand you take for good causes you to be alone and forsaken, as loneliness creeps in and no peace can be found; your pockets seem to have holes and the refrigerator is bare – the automobile becomes a snare and you cry out in a moment, “is there hope anywhere?”

When you’ve reached the end of your rope, breathe in and breathe out; realize that even this is a miracle from the God who loves you beyond a doubt and is still waiting for you, my child, to come around; taking stock of who He is, just as putting confidence in a chair that you sit in, or trust in a pilot that flies a plane; this loving God -in- Christ can be yours! It’s just that simple and plain; for there’s hope in no other name.

When faith takes hold like a seed in the ground; doubts will disappear and your eternal future secured, then and only then will you have grown up and become a man or woman - transformed never to doubt again!

Selah

Sooner or later

No one can live forever; all will die. No one can escape the power of the grave. – Psalm 89:48 (TLB)

It was just a month or so that I received a phone call early in the morning from a former co-worker and friend at Guilford Technical Community in Jamestown, North Carolina that had me reeling and rocking with some strange news. Margaret said, “Fred! I’m glad to hear your voice. Let me tell you why! The art department staff was all messed up along with just about everyone else at GTCC because the word had gotten out from the Greensboro News & Record as well as the High Point Enterprise that you [a long time resident of High Point] were declared dead at 67 years old. Yeah! I told my folks that I was going to call you directly regardless of the rumors I heard. You’re talking to me right now; so you aren’t dead - that’s all that matters!” Well! I was rattled for a moment, but realized that the Frederick Jones of High Point {even though his age and mine are the same} wasn’t me. On the other hand, it felt good especially to chat with an old friend that I hadn’t heard from in a long while. Before hanging up, we talked about getting together over lunch to reminisce a bit about the good old days. Sooner or later…by and by our paths would cross.

Sooner or later. There is something worth exploring from this. Perhaps the best place to begin is by asking the question, is there anyway to align it with the Scriptures? I reached a conclusion based on two findings. First of all, Hebrews 9:27, 28 point out that “And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ died once for all times as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.”

From this, I see that I [like you] will die a physical death; there is no escaping it, just as there will be not escaping judgment. As sure as death is itself, judgment awaits. At God’s judgment there will be no higher court of appeal should the verdict not be to our liking. Yet if one should hope for a favorable verdict in God’s court, he or she should hope entirely on Jesus. This is [or should be] the ultimate cry or prayer for the unsaved – for the freedom and pardon Jesus has won for them. Reality truly sets in! Then there is reason to rejoice that God’s judgment of them will be based on the perfect life of his Son, Jesus. So when this comes full circle spiritually, they can tell others. For many will face an unfavorable judgment without Jesus.

The second result grew out Hebrews 9:27,28 regarding the inevitability of death, God’s judgment against those who refuse to accept Jesus atoning sacrifice for sin, and Jesus’ second coming. This led to the issue of transformation. How important is this? Check out what 1Corinthians 15:51-53 has to say about it.
But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.

Give attention to such phrases as “we will not all die,” “we will all be transformed,” “when the last trumpet sounds,” and “for our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die.” Mercy! The Reverend John Love, Pastor of Webb’s Chapel United Methodist Church in Denver, North Carolina, opened my eyes to this (the significance of dying, eternal life, etc) on April 25, 2010 – the fourth Sunday of Easter. His sermon was entitled “2012,” which was taken from Revelation 7:9-17. As Rev. Love pointed out, the year 2012 is none other than Hollywood’s interpretation of what the end times will unfold – it is a fear inducing thing based entirely on the “sci-fi Method,” which always has an element of terror or fright.

There were several points that he brought out: (1) God will be with us regardless of our circumstances, (2) define yourself by the promises of God and not your own predicament, (3) life is linear; first there is birth and then there is death, (4) this is God’s world. He is in control of what is and what is to come, and (5) whenever it become difficult to understand life’s perplexities, put whatever it is into God’s mystery bank. He knows the past, the present, and the future. Hey, I like this! Reverend Love can put it together!

For the Frederick Jones that died and was not I, my prayer is that he met God in Christ before leaving this earth. As for me, the real Frederick N. Jones, Sr. who is living right now, my goal is to anticipate that sooner or later I will be transformed from death into life and to be with Jesus through all eternity. Selah

Great Day in the Morning

They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. For every since the world was created, people have seen the earth and the sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. – Roman 1:19,20 (TLB)

I remember it well! Five days after my oldest granddaughter’s 13th birthday on March 24th, I had to drive to Charlotte, NC to ensure arrangements for a post birthday party for Ashley, her sister, and two of her girlfriends at the Wolf’s Lodge off of the Dale Earnhardt Boulevard. I took the scenic route from Mooresville to Charlotte on highway 150 East. With the anticipation of leaving early enough in the morning, I felt I would beat the heavy traffic on I85 South. I am glad I stuck to that route because as I peered over my dashboard, I saw some clouds form against a reddish-pink sky and trees on the ground. With the sun rising in the East [it was around 6:40 a.m. (?)], the sight was breathtaking! The clouds moved in such a way that as the light broke through {at certain spots}, those higher up had the top part illuminated while those lower only had the bottom portions lit. I kept looking with a note of praise to God. Wow! Great day in the morning!

My artistic juices kicked in as the light blue and pinkish colors danced in the adjoining light of the sun. I didn’t want that experience to die; so, I made up my mind to do something about it the very next day. I’d charged up my trusty camera and placed it on the front seat of my car determined to capture the beauty of clouds and sky. Well! I never had highway 150 all to myself, but it just happened that I found the right spot to pull off the road and snatch my camera out of the bag. A country store was near and there was a wide view of the landscape.

The Holy Spirit reminded me what King David said in Psalm 19: 1-6:
The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. They speak without a sound or a word; their voice is never heard. Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world. God has made a home in the heavens for the sun. It bursts forth like a radiant bridegroom after his wedding. It rejoices like a great athlete eager to run the race. The sun rises at one end of the heavens and follows its course to the other end. Nothing can hide from its heat.

Beyond a doubt, King David responded both to God’s creation and how God’s word revealed God’s greatness. What lesson should it teach us? We are surrounded by fantastic displays of God’s craftsmanship – the heavens give dramatic evidence of his existence, his power, his love, and his care. To say that the universe happened by chance is absurd. Its design, intricacy, and orderliness point to a personally involved Creator. I’m reminded that when I look at God’s handiwork in nature and the heavens, I can immediately thank him for such magnificent beauty and the truth it reveals about him.

Along that same line, the apostle Paul pointed out something worth thinking about in Romans 1: 18-20. As I see it, although nature reveals God, people need to be told about Jesus and how [through him] they can have a personal relationship with God. Knowing that God exists is not enough. People must learn that God is loving and that he sent his Son to demonstrate his love (Romans 5:8). They must be shown how to accept God’s forgiveness of their sins. Selah

Between knowing and dead silence

Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather. – Matthew 24: 28 (NIV)

With its eyes set on the dull green plastic garbage bag placed near the edge of the driveway of my son’s home in Melbourne, Florida, an approximate 2 foot tall solitary bird paced up and down in a stalking mode- being sure that there was no movement. Without fear of being intimidated or discouraged, it was decked out in dull black heightened with wrinkles covering its face and head. With the tip of its grayish bill sticking out and the long wiry white legs attached to funny looking feet, the 5 (pound?) vulture was a sight to see.

I viewed the whole scene from the seat of my automobile during the mid-morning hours. The sunlight was unusually brilliant on that Friday and I hoped that no one would disturb my view. But the garbage truck started at the far end of the street making all kinds of noises. The “black crow” or “black buzzard” took to flight and landed atop a lightpost nearby. Peering in the distance, it rested there for a bit.

I looked and looked at that marvelous creature. My mind went back to my childhood days when a yelling [to cry loudly as in pain] sound came from the green corn field adjacent to my grandmother’s house in the Crab Point vicinity of Morehead City, North Carolina. A larger animal had somehow attacked a little puppy that had been left alone, snatched it up, and headed for the open field. However, the puppy’s cries must have been heard and before it could be consumed, the larger predator got scarred off. I had visited my friend’s house down the road and was returning home when I heard the weak sounds. Mercy! When I got near the scene, several large black birds took off and the poor thing was just about gone with its flesh strung open. Mama told me later that those kinds of birds served useful purposes of keeping rotten and dead things under control for the farmers. Well, those horrible looking creatures looked bigger than life; I knew they were close by, so I left the scene as quick as I could. The weak cries were gone – the puppy died. The buzzards returned.

My eyes were opened to two spiritual lessons. The first one is from the Old Testament. When it comes to identifying special animals like the vulture, here is what God said in Leviticus 11: 13-17; 24, These are the birds that are detestable to you. You must never eat them: the griffon vulture, the bearded vulture, the black vulture, the kite, the falcons of all kinds, ravens of all kinds, the eagle owl, the short-eared owl, the seagull, hawks of all kinds. The following creatures will make you ceremonially unclean. If any of you touch their carcasses, you will be defiled until evening.

During the time of Israel’s wanderings in the wilderness, God gave special instructions to Moses and Aaron to pass on. He had strictly forbidden eating the meat of certain “unclean” animals and to make sure, he forbade even touching them. God wanted the people to be totally separate from those things he had forbidden. Today, we flirt with temptation, rationalizing that at least we are technically keeping the commandment not to commit the sin. But God wants us to separate ourselves completely from all sin and tempting situations. We are to be more aware of areas in our lives where we have “technical innocence” but in which we have actually been involved in sin. It’s time to cross back over the line and stay there.

The second lesson comes from 1 Peter 5: 8 in the New Testament: Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. The Lion attacks sick, young, or straggling animals; it chooses victims that are alone or not alert. Peter wants us to watch out for Satan when we are suffering or being persecuted. If you are feeling alone, weak, helpless, and cut off from other believers, or if you are so focused on your troubles that you forget to watch out for danger, those are the times when you are especially vulnerable to Satan’s attacks. During your times of suffering, seek other Christians for support. Keep your eyes on Christ, and resist the devil. Then says James, “he will flee from you.” (James 4:7) Resistance demands constant reliance, dependence, and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Finally, observe what Jesus said in Matthew 24: 28: Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather. In other words, since the gathering of vultures indicates the presence of carrion then the end of the age {the signal of Jesus’second return} will be very obvious to all. Selah

High as a Georgia Pine

The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination and intention of all human thinking was only evil continually. – Genesis 6:5 (the Amplified)

I went to a nearby art supply store to purchase a 24 x30 inch stretched canvas for a project that I’m working on and found out that the price was rather high. I asked the stock clerk, “Is this the right price that is shown for the [cotton duck] stretched canvases?” “Yep,” the employee said. “That size and variety don’t come cheap; in fact at the other stores, the price per unit is as high as a Georgia Pine! We offer the best deal – how many do you want? ” I smiled and acted as if I would come back to it, but politely meandered (to wander without specific direction) my way to the exit. I went immediately across town and discovered that what I wanted was nearly four times cheaper. But I remember the stock clerk saying, “ the price per unit is as high as a Georgia Pine.”

“As high as a Georgia Pine” was used of course as a figure of speech to point out something particular. My curiosity was raised just by the colloquial use of the phrase and most importantly of envisioning the height of a pine tree grown in the state of Georgia. Just how high is this tree anyway? It has been said that the Georgia Pine can reach up to nearly 200 feet high in its natural habitat. However, the Georgia Pine is best understood when it refers to someone extremely intoxicated from drug use. Here is an example.

Abuser 1: Wow, I am high as a Georgia Pine right now.
Abuser 2: Are you kidding? We just down our first pint of whiskey and we got
lots more to go. I’m as high as a hundred Georgia Pines.
Abuser 1: No way dude. How high is that?
Abuser 2: Let's open another pint and find out.
Abuser 1: I mean, if we can get higher that this, let’s try it.

Hopefully, this approach is an eye opener and has gotten your attention. Did you know that at one time sin had piled so high that God decided to wipe out the human race along with all the living creatures in the world? Give ear to what was written for our learning in Genesis 6:5-8:

The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination and intention of all human thinking was only evil continually. And the Lord regretted that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved at heart. So the Lord said, I will destroy, blot out, and wipe away mankind, whom I have created from the face of the ground – not only man, {but} the beasts and the creeping things and the birds of the air – for it grieves Me and makes Me regretful that I have made them. But Noah found grace (favor) in the eyes of the Lord.

Let me ask you, is there evidence to prove that the wickedness of man is great in our current world? That in the 21st century, the imagination and intention of human thinking is continually evil? It’s appears that the shedding of blood through violent crimes of abortion, rape, suicide bombers as a result of war, robbery, etc are escalating rather than decreasing! Would it be easy to conclude that these grieve the heart of God? Is he pleased to see people of the same sex marrying each other, to be satisfied when a parent throws a new born infant off a high bridge, to be jubilant when an angry educator kills fellow workers as a result of self-imposed anger, to smile at a sex offender kidnapping, raping, and inevitably snuffing out the life of someone’s child? All we have to do is look at and read the news locally and nationally- the results are astounding. But what about a compassionate and loving God in cases like these?

Re-look at verses 6,7: And the Lord regretted that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved at heart. So the Lord said, I will destroy, blot out, and wipe away mankind, whom I have created from the face of the ground – not only man, [but] the beasts and the creeping things and the birds of the air – for it grieves Me and makes Me regretful that I have made them. This is heavy stuff. Could this mean that God regretted creating humanity? Was he admitting he mad a mistake? No, he does not change his mind (1 Samuel 15:29 - And he who is the Glory of Israel will not lie, nor will he change his mind, for he is not human that he should change his mind!). Instead, he was expressing sorrow for what the people has done to themselves, just as a parent might express sorrow over a rebellious child. God was sorry that people choose sin and death instead of a relationship with him.

A good friend said to me recently [after the news of another earthquake in Turkey] that God is telling the world something! Could it be that sin has piled high as a Georgia Pine? Selah

Kind words are worth repeating

Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the mind and healing to the body.
– Proverbs 25:11 (The Amplified)

[Oh well, what does it matter anyway! This person isn’t going to change no matter what you say to him or do for him. He’s beyond help so the best thing to do is to leave him alone. After all he has more to lose than we do.]

Although this may fall into the probable sayings of the “give uppers,” yet this train of thought seems so common place. However, before going any further, what’s wrong with this kind of thinking? Would this kind of attitude reflect some one labeled as a born again Christian earmarked as a leader in the church? Just what are the conditions that determine whether an individual will never change? How can you know when it is best to leave anyone alone to fend for himself or herself? Most importantly, what internal mechanism allows you to know that you're speaking sincere words? How much emphasis should be placed upon doing something as well as speaking words? What is the best way to get started?

Yeah! You are right! There are [no doubt] numerous ways to answer these kinds of questions and I believe they have been touched upon before by a great many people. As I'm sure they have found out, it is so easy to speculate or give an opinion not based on fact, but just the opposite happens whenever an individual knows exactly what he's/she's talking about.

What’s behind the concept of “what do you have to lose anyway?” I just happened to meet a fellow pilgrim that testified that he was once a drug addict and lived from pillow to post – an outcast of his family. But one day, a praying mother of the church saw his condition and felt the need to pray for him as he typically could be seen making his way to the drug house. One day she called out to him and he heeded the call. She prayed for him and for many days afterwards, he couldn’t be seen strolling past the old lady’s home. He was off the streets. Something miraculous had happened to the man she prayed for. Little did she know that he was led to accept Jesus Christ as his lord and Savior.

Listening to the story of his radical transformation, what follows is a summary of Sylvester’s testimony. A young man that I’d met before but didn’t get a chance to talk with until just a few days ago after a church meeting. After the conversation was over and I had to re-think on what he had to say, I scribbled a few notes. He pointed out that he knew what it meant to be without hope. He knew what it was like to be down in the dumps…he had been there…but Jesus came in and changed everything for him. Jesus gave him a brand new image of himself. Now, he could tell everyone he met that Jesus Christ is real.

What saddened him the most was that “we can say how beautiful a flower is or how adorable a new house is, but we are afraid to say a kind word to a person that has been made in the image of God. It’s so easy to point out the colors of a new car or be carried away with its slick- body frame, but never an encouraging word to one of God’s children resembling His likeness. It shouldn’t be that way for a Christian.”

What struck home was the emphasis of speaking kind words especially to a fellow believer but also to everyone that you come into contact with. I had a field day just thinking about the kind of words that got Sylvester’s attention. They had to have been words nurtured by the Holy Spirit. The elderly woman lovingly responded and did something that only the prayer of faith can do. Meeting a complete and total stranger wasn’t an issue. She had everything to gain and nothing to lose remembering that an act of kindness is just like kind words – they’re worth repeating. In fact, the Bible says in Ecclesiastes 12: 11, The words of the wise prod us to live well. They’re like nails hammered home, holding life together. God, the one Shepherd, gives them. – The Message/Remix. Selah

Why ‘lifting every voice and singing’ ignites situational awareness

I will sing to the Lord as long as I live. I will praise my God to my last breath! May all my thoughts be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord. Let all sinners vanish from the face of the earth; let the wicked disappear forever. Let all that I am praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. – Psalm 104:33-35 (NLT)

The celebration of Black History is acknowledged in the month of February each year. It serves as a reminder of the struggles of African Americans against the institution of racism, which was given birth to the horrors of slavery. “Situational awareness” serves first of all to identify the ongoing positive responses of people everywhere giving attention to those [still] suffering after a 7.0 earthquake hit the capital of Haiti, Port-Au-Prince. 150,000 lives were snuffed out and hundreds more were left homeless with out shelter, water, food, clothing, and medicine. Great appreciation is given to those humanitarian-relief agencies; one most noticeable is our own United Methodist Church that contributed over 11 million dollars, to aid those in need.

Secondly, “situational awareness” on the other hand allow us to question the claims of some that think they have the right answers for the disaster of Haiti. A celebrated TV evangelist made it a point of view that in the early 18th century, the Haitian leaders made a pact with Satan to the extent that if he helped them to defeat the French, they would serve him. So, the Haitian government and its people literally started its downfall of becoming one of the poorest nations on the Western Hemisphere. Witchcraft and sorcery became dominant features of satanic worship. Perhaps there is some validity to this, but certainly there is room for further investigation, which leads to the third observation of “situational awareness” that deals with a bit of history.

1791 was the year well remembered as the beginning of the largest and most successful slave rebellion initiated by slaves. By 1803, the Haitian Slave Revolution ended not just slavery but French control over the colony. In what was known as sporadic outbreak confrontations, the seed for change began with French revolution in 1789 that witnessed a new concept of human rights, universal citizenship, and participation in government. Actually, France had gotten hold of a good thing in Saint Dominique, the early name for Haiti, in such commodities as: sugar, coffee, indigo, and cotton generated by an enslaved labor force. It became a wealthy French overseas colony.

Pitted against each other were five sets of interest groups in the colony: two sets were white planters (owning slaves) – numbering 40,000 in all, and the remaining three were of African descent – yielding a total slave population of 500,000. Many of the whites had begun to support an independence movement that began when France imposed steep tariffs on the items imported into the colony. The planters were extremely disenchanted with France because they were forbidden to trade with any other nation. Furthermore, the white population of Saint-Dominique did not have any representation in France.

Despite their calls for independence, the two white groups remained committed to keeping blacks enslaved. You could imagine the outcome. Being in bondage was always an incentive to rebel; in fact, the slaves were never willing to submit to their status and with their strength in numbers (10 to 1) colonial officials and planters did all that was possible to control them. There was some help initiated in Paris, as the French General Assembly devised new legislation aimed at giving some autonomy to the various colonies at the local level. Yet it allowed free citizens of color [who were substantial property owners] to participate, but instead of offering a solution, it generated a further division. Anyway, as time would have it, the bottom would fall out.

Led by a former black slave named L’Overture, the enslaved would act first, rebelling against the planters from 1791-1792. In a time frame of two years, they controlled a third of the island. Despite reinforcements from France, the area of the colony held by the rebels grew as did the violence on both sides. Before the fighting ended, blacks and whites were killed by the thousands. Nonetheless, the former slaves managed to stave off both the French forces and the British who arrived in 1793 to conquer the colony, and who withdrew in 1798 after a series of defeats by L'Overture’s forces.

From1801-1803, L’Overture would conquer Haiti and surrounding colonies abolishing slavery and elevating himself to Governor-General for life. With a change in leadership in France [along with fresh incentives for battle strategies], L’Overture would be captured and both French rule and slavery would be restored. L’Overture was taken and sent to France where he died in prison in 1803. Jean-Jacques Dessalines, one of L’Overture’s generals and himself a former slave, led the revolutionaries at the Battle of Vertieres on November 18, 1803 where the French forces were defeated. On January 1, 1804, Dessalines declared the nation independent and renamed it Haiti. France became the first nation to recognize its independence. Haiti thus emerged as the first black republic in the world, and the second nation in the western hemisphere (after the United States) to win its independence from a European power.

Lift Every Voice and Sing, by James Weldon Johnson, is the thematic mantra {used in prayer and incantation} of African Americans. Yet is cherished by those not only of African heritage but by those that believe God has always been active in lives of the dispossessed and the disenfranchised. God has always been active all the times really. The first stanza of the song goes like this:

Lift every voice and sing till earth and heaven ring.
Ring with the harmony of liberty.
Let our rejoicing rise as the listening skies.
Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.

Now compare once more Psalm 104: 33-35:

I will sing to the Lord as long as I live. I will praise my God to my last breath! May all my thoughts be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord. Let all sinners vanish from the face of the earth; let the wicked disappear forever. Let all that I am praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.

In both James Weldon Johnson’s first stanza of his famous song and Psalm 104:33-35, there is a need to cry out with singing praises and adoration to God who is worthy to be praised. Because there is a sense in 1) knowing that God has provided eternal liberty, 2) knowing that rejoicing is a form of praise, 3) knowing that the choice to think pleasant thoughts honors God, and 5) knowing that sin and wickedness hinders praise to a Holy God. Selah

God’s touch in a snowflake

God thunders wondrously with his voice; he does great things that we cannot comprehend. For to the snow he says, ‘Fall on the earth’; and the shower of rain, his heavy shower of rain, serves as a sign on everyone’s hand, so that all whom he has made may know it.–Job 37: 5-7 (NRSV)

When the snowflakes began to fall very lightly a few days ago, there was a trickle here and a trickle there; before long, the white stuff was every where! The muted greenish-brown earth colors became a magnificent match for the white snow that fell like drops of rain. The touch of God, as Creator, was at work! Solid evidence of his existence!

I’ve heard it said that no two-snow crystals are exactly alike. No doubt, modern science has given proof with high-resolution photomicrographic equipment in sophisticated laboratories just about anywhere around the globe. In an attempt to discover the formation of ice crystals on a regular basis, scientific research has so far proved that ice crystals or snowflakes are composed of simple, repeated internal patterns that produce beautiful, external shapes. And built into the laws that govern ice crystal growth patterns are temperature dependencies that produce various forms such as: column shapes, needle shapes, plate shapes, stellar shapes, and a myriad of possible combinations of millions of individual molecules that make up a single ice crystal. Even though there are distinctive differences, each of the crystals appear to formulate a hexagonal pattern with six corners.

In a simpler fashion, snowflakes are relatively small designs that would hardly cover the size of a peanut or the diameter of a fingernail. On the other hand, check this out!
Since God knows that since every snowflake /crystal is uniquely different, then each one has a name! Wouldn’t you agree? Now, think for a moment about the accumulation of snow that has fallen simultaneously at specific times and places all over the world. Let me ask you, how many individual snowflakes could you name? Let me tell you, it would be humanly impossible – but not with God. You see, He already knows. Isn’t that amazing? How wonderful it is to know that God knows you and I by name.

Job 37: 5-7 is actually a series of speeches [Job 32 through Job 37]of a young man’s perspective to an older one’s view regarding God’s divine control over humans as well as the natural world. Elihu is speaking to Job who had experienced some tremendous setbacks – the lost of family members and personal property. A cadre of three friends gathers to console and advise him. They supposedly had all the right answers for his condition. Elihus enters the picture and expands on God’s power in nature without abandoning his theme of divine instruction. He insisted that Job is far inferior to a powerful God. Elihu asks questions in the same way, as would Yahweh [Job 38 through Job 41]: “Have you visited the storehouses of the snow or seen the storehouses of hail?”(38:22) From this particular question, God is to be seen to have all the forces of nature at his command and that he can unleash or restrain them at will. No one completely understands such common occurrences as snow or rain, and no one can command them- only God who created them has that power. God’s point of view was that if Job could not explain such common events in nature, how could he possibly explain or question God?

The Message/Remix version of Job 37:5-7 gives a slightly different look from the NRSV: He lets out all the stops. He holds nothing back. No one can mistake his voice- his word thundering so wondrously, his mighty acts staggering our understanding. He orders the snow, ‘Blanket the earth’ and the rain, ’Soak the countryside!’ No one can escape the weather- it’s there. “His mighty acts staggering our understanding” just might serve as a way to appreciate the mysteries of nature as a whole but specifically God’s touch in a snowflake. Selah.

Permission Granted

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful ones. – Psalm 115:15 (NRSV)

If “Sweetie” could talk, I wonder what he would say? Well! Sweetie is a 2-year-old tomcat. The household pet of the Shipp family that behaved in a bizarre {strange; odd} way when the Rev. Ralph A. Shipp, Pastor of Morrow’s Chapel United Methodist Church, the Lake Norman District; died on this past Thursday February 4, 2010. Upon visiting the family shortly after the news, Mrs. Edith Shipp shared with us [my wife and I] an interesting chain of events prior to and after her husband’s death. Here is what I gleaned from her comments.

On the previous day Wednesday [February 3, 2010], Sweetie had done something that was highly unusual. He showed up in the bedroom where Rev. Shipp was lying on the bed recuperating from his recent dialysis treatment at the hospital. Sweetie just stared at him with the intent to find out what was going on. Many times before, he would know when Pastor Shipp would be gone from the house but this time Sweetie knew a change was about to take place. He looked and looked into his master’s eyes as if to send a message. “Edith,” “what’s the matter with the cat? It has never been in the room before!” “I don’t know,” she replied. Rev. Shipp’s impression was that the cat didn’t want to be bothered with him at all but rather to be close to his wife who would feed it and give it special attention. Sweetie would always curl up on her lap at times.

It was customarily for Mrs. Shipp to sit just opposite her husband {always positioned in the rocker recliner} in a chair just a few feet away as they talked about the affairs of the day. Sweetie would play nearby. As the last hours of his life would play out, Rev. Shipp had to be rushed to the hospital on Wednesday. Late Thursday evening, he died. Strangely enough, Sweetie had stopped eating the very day he left the house for the last time.

The cat somehow knew early on that death was knocking at the door, so, he just stared first – no doubt to grab attention. In order to vent his frustration on the next day, Sweetie leaped onto the window drapes in the living room and torn them down. In thinking about this, several things come to mind. Did Pastor Shipp know that he was going die? How relative was Sweetie’s role in the whole matter? Since animals don’t speak verbally as do human beings, can we rely on their instinctive behavior to alert us to a spiritual concern?

In the Old Testament, there is situation where God allows an animal to speak orally to one of his servants in order to get an important point across. In what was called the Balaam cycle, God entreats his servant on three important instances. The first meeting recorded in Numbers 22:1-14 relates to the mission of Balak’s messengers as they try to convince Balaam to come with them. God told him not to go to Balak whose intent was for the prophet to curse Israel. Balaam’s strict obedience was to speak only what God would tell him. In Balaam’s second meeting with God (22:15-20), God reverses the earlier decision and this time commands Balaam to comply with the messenger’s request and go to Balak (Verse 20). Balaam saddles his donkey and begins the journey. Now, in what rises to be the third confrontation, God seems again to reverse the decision to allow Balaam to go. An angel of God stands in the road to blocks the way. Only the donkey sees the angel. Balaam is blind to God’s emissary and so angrily beats his animal that has turned off the road to avoid the angel (22:24-25).

As they continue on the journey, the donkey sees the angel a third time and simply lies down in the road since there is no way to go around the angel. Balaam angrily beats the donkey, and the donkey opens its mouth and says: “Have I ever done anything like this before in my entire life?” the donkey asked. “No,” he admitted. – (22:30). Then God opened Balaam’s eyes, and Balaam sees the angel of God. The angel chastises Balaam for beating his animal so harshly, since it was the donkey that saved him from being killed. Balaam begs for forgiveness, and the angel instructs him to go ahead with his mission to Balak. Balaam is to speak, however, only what God commands him to speak (22:31-35). What is the hidden message? Simply that the experience of Balaam and his donkey is parallel to he experience of Balaam and Balak. The donkey was caught three times between the angel’s sword and Balaam’s stick. Balaam is likewise caught three times between Balak’s demand to curse Israel and God prohibitions. Moreover, in each of the three incidents with the donkey and the angel, the intensity rises at each stage toward a climax. Balaam becomes increasingly frustrated. In the same way, the anger of Balak grows with each of the three oracles of blessing that Balaam pronounces upon Israel.

As in the incident with Balaam and his donkey, God as the apparent arbitrator (one having the power or ability to make authoritative decisions) is simply evidence of his control of Balaam and Balak and his resolve to bless Israel in face of all outside pressures to the contrary. In much the same way that God presented himself as an arbitrator between the prophet Balaam and the Israelites, He allowed the describable movements of a housecat to serve as a reminder of his ultimate control over all living things.

Isaiah 55:8,9 puts like this: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” I particularly like verse 11, “so shall my word be that goes from my mouth; it shall not return until me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” It is certain that God manifested himself to Pastor Shipp and alerted him to his home going. I believe strongly that Sweetie acted, as the voiceless witness to God’s numerous ways to bring glory and honor to himself. In the upcoming days, Mrs. Shipp will no doubt call to memory the extraordinary circumstances surrounding her husband’s last hours in this physical world. Through it all, she and her family will cherish God’s word when he said through the Psalmist: Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful ones. The following words came to mind as I reflected on the matter. In my spirit I envisioned Rev. Ralph A. Shipp as he instantly saw Jesus on that Thursday evening as he was shown the results of faithful service. This is Rev. Shipp's response.

Hallelujah!

The victory is truly mine! I see it totally at last!
Victory future; victory present; victory past!
In the struggles of life that you said would come,

I bring presently the rewards of some; deeds and acts

spelled out just as in the name, character after character, the same.
With the Holy Spirit’s guide, I was destined to change, the lives
of a precious few you would bring my way. Faith secured I held to the task,
I saw then the rewards they would envision someday.
Oh! How great the privilege; to you the praise is due even now and back when,
I see now I was working for you, my savior and friend.
Let me see once again, my life’s span - the gifts and graces bestowed,

Precious Lord, everything to you I owe.
Ah! Yes! R-resilient, A-Amiable, L-Learning, P-Perseverance, H-Humility,
A-Admirable, S-Sensitivity, H-Honorable, I-Intercession, P-Patient, and
P-Persistent linked to spell the character and the trait.

Praise you Lord for keeping me straight.

Ralph A. Shipp is the name; on earth it was former;

yet in heaven it is in domain.

Hallelujah! Praise you Lord! Oh! Sweet victory is mine!
Written in blood, my life was a sign. Lord, do me a favor!
Remember that my family is one of a kind. I love them you see.

Keep them always at the knee; never unswerving from their predetermined

deeds, for the rewards will last for all eternity.

Amen

Signed: Ralph A. Shipp, Thursday evening, February 4, 2010.

... "Ralph, my beloved child…I know you and will reveal your plea;

it they will, like you, serve only me.”

Selah