What They Think

I was working out at the gym a while back when I grew concerned about what they think.  See, some guys lift heavy weights for a few repetitions.  I'm one of these guys who lifts light weights for a lot of repetitions.  So one day I finished my workout and I noticed some other guys were ready to use the same equipment I just finished using.  I looked at the lighter weight that I was lifting and thought to myself, "These guys are going to think I'm some sort of wimp for not lifting the heavy weights."  So what did I do?  I quickly and quietly added a few pounds to my weights before I walked away from my area.  In my mind, that would impress them and keep them from laughing at what I was doing, even though there was absolutely nothing wrong with what I was doing.

Later that day, I thought to myself, "That was ridiculous.  Why should I care about their opinion of me?  I'm not going to do that again."  Ever since then, I quit worrying what the other guys think about me in the gym.  I'm just going in there, doing my thing, getting healthy, and not worrying about what they think.  And I no longer change my weights when I leave.  I refuse to do that again. 

Do you ever struggle with being concerned about what other people think of you?  Maybe it's with your workout, financial status, clothes, car, home, or job.  Do you sit around wondering if others are looking down on you or laughing at you?  If so, take it from a friend who knows:  Stop doing that.  Seriously.  Just stop.  You're only hurting yourself when you do that.  And you're giving those other people power over you that they should not have.

Listen, we can't be a slave to the opinions others have about us.  No matter who we are and what we do in life, there will always be some people who approve of us and other people who don't approve.  It's just how things go.  So we might as well accept that reality and quit worrying about it.

Here's what I've been learning in life the past few years:  All I can do is make sure I'm at peace with God, do my very best, and leave it at that.  What other people think about me matters very little.  What God thinks about me is much more important.  Other people are not my judge.  God is.

Also, here's something else I've learned:  Other people don't think about us nearly as much as we think about ourselves.  At times we may obsess over what others are formulating in their minds about us, when the truth is we haven't even crossed their minds.  They're thinking about their own lives and what they have going on. 

May God help you and me be more secure with ourselves.  Let's learn to be at peace with Him and comfortable with who we are in Him.  And when we do that, we will be freed from the chains of approval addiction. 

Yep, life gets better when we stop worrying about what others think of us.  A whole lot better.

The Grown Up Table

During my childhood years, I went to the home of Grandmama Reynolds for the holidays and ate meals at the kids' table.  That was the little card table in the corner where all of us youngsters sat, cut up, and devoured our food.  We had some good times around that table. 

As I started getting up into middle school, however, I grew tired of the seating arrangement.  So I lobbied begged to get a chair at the grown up table with the older crew.  Eventually, the adults caved and let me sit with them.  I was thrilled about having easier access to food and listening in on their conversations.

But things didn't work out so well for me.  I spilled sweet tea my first time at the grown up table, and was immediately demoted back to the kids' table.  Doggone it, I was mad about that!  I blew my opportunity.  So as my head hung with shame, I returned to that little card table and resumed my holiday meals with the kids.  What a bummer.

It was a happy day, however, when they gave me another shot.  The grown ups felt sorry for me, I reckon, and granted me another opportunity to sit with them the next year.  This time, I was extra careful and paid closer attention to what I was doing.  I sat there and ate my meal with no accidents or disasters of any sort.  And even though the conversation wasn't nearly as thrilling as my adolescent mind had imagined it would be, it felt good to finally reach the grown up table.

In a way, God does the same thing with all of us that my relatives did with me.  We all mess up and fail one way or another.  And I'm talking about things far worse than spilling glasses of sweet tea.  We blow opportunities.  But God, in all of His goodness and grace, has mercy on us.  He offers us forgiveness and helps us learn from our mistakes.  Then He gives us another opportunity to shine and experience the thrill of success.  God appreciates a good comeback story, and He allows us a chance to be a part of one.

Maybe you've failed and made a disaster of things.  Believe me, I know how you feel.  I've been there, done that, and bought the t-shirt.  If that's you, here's some good news:  God's not through with you.  He forgives.  He restores.  And He provides another chance.  Your job is to receive His grace, forgive yourself, and move on.  Do it with gratitude and joy.  And your life will be so much better.

I'm glad I got another shot at the grown up table.  But I'm way more glad to have another shot at life.  God sure is good, isn't He?!

Christmas Rewind - 2015

*  Christmas of 2015 is now in the books.  I'll always remember it as a good one.  This was a simple, peaceful, and joyful time in our neck of the woods.

 

*  I really enjoyed the good times we all spent together here at New Calvary Baptist Church over the holidays.  That made this an even more special season.

 

*  Our church family enjoyed a delicious dinner together on the Sunday before Christmas.  The food was tasty and the fellowship was enjoyable.

*  Our choir did its annual Christmas cantata later that night.  I enjoyed being a part of it.  They recruited me to be a narrator and I had fun doing that.  I'm not much of a singer, but I am really proud of our choir.  They did great!

 

*  On Wednesday we had our Christmas worship services, which included carols and communion.  It was a special time that helped us all get into the right frame of mind for the season. 

 

*  I enjoyed watching the kids have fun together Christmas Eve.  They sat around in their pajamas that night and enjoyed each other.  I sure do love these kids!

 *  Of course everyone had fun opening gifts on Christmas morning.  I  believe the whole crew was happy to open some neat presents.

* My son gave me a checkers set, a table tennis set, and a cool Captain Spock lamp.  I especially like my lamp! 

  *  We had plenty of good food that day.  That morning we enjoyed a tasty quiche.  I really enjoyed that.

*  Dad and Mom also came over that morning to check out what all the kids got and enjoy some breakfast.  I'm glad we live close enough to them to enjoy holidays together as a family.

*  Later that day we went over to their house and had more fun.

 

*  I think it was the happiest and most peaceful Christmas we've had in a long time.  I really enjoyed every moment of it!

 

*  As for "Star Wars:  The Force Awakens" :  I loved it.  A fun movie that was a pleasure to watch.

 

*  I came across this on Twitter yesterday.  Never before have I eaten one of these, but it looks absolutely incredible.  I'm sure it's not healthy, but .... WOW!

*  We're still in holiday mode.  They have a week before everyone goes back to school.  And that's good.  I'm glad to see them enjoying this time of the year.

 

*  I hope all of you had a Merry Christmas!  God bless you and yours.

 

*  I've got plenty of new blog posts coming this week.  So feel free to check back in whenever you can.  And I hope you get a blessing out of them!

 

*  That's it for tonight.  Peace out.

The Birth Of Our Lord

 It's Christmas, 2015.

For centuries, we Christians have celebrated the birth of our Lord.  And yet it never gets old.  There's too much richness in the story for it to become routine.

Just think about it...

The servant's heart of Mary.  She was a young woman with an upcoming wedding.  But then she was informed that there was a change in the blueprints for her life.  An angel told her she will miraculously conceive, carry, and birth Jesus.  "I am the Lord's servant.  Let everything you've said happen to me."  That was her response.  Mary was willing to humbly submit to God's will and do away with her own plans.  She was on board with what God wanted. 

May we too have a servant's heart, like Mary.  Let's live more for God, and less for ourselves. 

The obedience of Joseph.  He was going to take Mary as his wife.  But when he heard that Mary was carrying a child that did not belong to him, he was ready to quietly do away with their relationship.  Her suddenly being pregnant is not what Joseph had in mind.  But when the angel appeared to him and explained the situation, Joseph agreed to be a part of the divine plan.  He married the young woman, looked after her, made sure the child in her womb was safe, and named him "Jesus."  Joseph cooperated fully with the will of God.  He agreed to follow orders from above.

May we too live obediently, like Joseph.  Let's carry out what God wants.

The power of God.  Mary was a virgin.  She had not been intimate with a man.  But that wasn't a problem for God.  Not one bit.  He worked a miracle and she was with child anyway.  "Nothing is impossible with God", explained the angel.  Mary was reminded that God is awesome.  God can do anything, anywhere, at any time.  His power is breathtaking and life-changing. 

May we find comfort in knowing we can trust God to handle and accomplish anything.  The same God who worked a miracle in Mary can still do the miraculous today.

What an incredible story!  The servant's heart of Mary.  The obedience of Joseph.  The power of God.  These are just some of the many wonderful parts of the birth story.

May you be inspired and comforted by the birth in Bethlehem.

May you know that you are deeply loved by God.

And may you have a Merry Christmas!

God bless you and yours.

The Journey Of Life

"God has a plan for your life." - Rick Warren

"For I know the plans I have for you" - God (Jeremiah 29:11)

The other day, I was looking through an old scrapbook when I noticed a picture that had never caught my eye before.

It was of my youngest brother, Wyman, and me.  The year was 1978 or '79.  And the location was here in Sumter, SC.

But this was the interesting part of it:  We were standing in the backyard of our grandfather, Leon Richardson.  There behind us was a bus with the words "New Calvary Baptist" on the side.  Grandaddy was the pastor of New Calvary Baptist at that time.  And unbeknownst to me in that moment, I too would become the pastor of the same church about 35 years later!

That's how the journey of life goes.  It has plenty of surprises, twists, and turns.  The future is a mystery to you and me, and we have no idea what awaits us.

Maybe you wonder at times about your life.  What will happen in the days, months, and years to come?  Perhaps the mystery of tomorrow causes you to scratch your head today.

Here's how I heard someone put it:  "I don't know what the future holds, but I know Who holds the future."  Of course this "Who" is God.  He is in control, and He knows what is to come.  Furthermore, He will accompany us every step of the way as each new day unfolds before us.  His presence, peace, power, and purpose will help us regardless of what awaits us.

I had no idea that I would grow up and get to pastor the church who's bus was sitting there by Grandaddy's home.  But God knew.  And He prepared me for that moment before it arrived 35 years later.

You have no idea what your future holds either; however, you can rest easy in trusting The One who holds your future.  God has the right plan in mind for you, friend.  And He will stick with you every step of the way.

So don't worry or try too hard to figure out your future.  Just calmly live one day at a time and remember God knows what is around the corner.  He will equip and prepare your for whatever is ahead, and you'll be just fine in your journey of life.

Prayer Matters

I was in a local business here in Sumter the other day when I saw it.  There was a sign on a counter along with slips of paper and a pen.  Alice Drive Baptist Church, which is a fine church here in Sumter, had placed it there.  The sign read, "Have a prayer request?  We believe people matter to God, so we would love to pray for you.  Requests are confidential and can be anonymous.  It's that simple."  Anyone could write out a prayer request and leave it there in a little box.  Then someone from the church would come by, pick it up, and the church would begin praying for that person.

That's a neat idea.  And what a great ministry.  Good job, Alice Drive Baptist Church!  I tip my hat to you.

Prayer matters, you know?!  It's a huge deal.  And it really does make a difference.

Think about it...

When we pray for others, we join God in caring about them.

When we pray for others, we take our focus off of ourselves.

When we pray for others, we are asking God, who can do anything, to intervene and bring about a helpful resolution.

When we pray for others, we are exercising our faith and trusting in He who is far greater than ourselves.

When we pray for others, amazing things can happen.

So, yes, prayer matters.  It's mighty important.  And it can lead to tremendous blessings for everyone involved.

May all of us churches and individuals humble our hearts and pray!  Let's pray for others and ourselves.  And when we do, let's expect that God will open up the windows of Heaven and pour down more of His goodness on us all.

"Pray one for another" - James 5:16

When A Train Hit My Car

I had this Honda Accord years ago.  Man, I liked that car.  It was really nice, used very little gas, and ran smoothly down the road.  And it looked great.  Simply put, it was one sweet ride!

One night my brother, Condy, borrowed it.  He was driving by himself down a dark, country road when the unthinkable happened.  Train tracks were ahead of him and there were no bars or lights to let him know.  As he crossed the tracks, a train came seemingly out of nowhere and collided with my car.  Condy didn't mean for this to happen.  It was just an unfortunate accident.

I heard about it an hour or so after it happened.  We got a phone call, so my parents and I hurried to the ER at Toumey Hospital.  There we found Condy unhurt for the most part.  No major injuries, amazingly.  And he went home with us about an hour later.

As I reflect on that experience, this goes through my mind:  People are way more important than stuff.  

Material possessions are temporary.  They can be here today and gone tomorrow.  The Bible talks about this when it describes "treasures on Earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal" (Matthew 6:19).  Our stuff will not last forever.  It will eventually become useless, fall apart, or be taken by someone else.  And if it somehow does manage to last until our death, it will then be inherited by someone else.  So either way, we do not enjoy our material possessions for eternity.

Human beings, however, are priceless.  They are created and loved by God.  And they have a soul that will live long after their bodies cease to function.  That makes them highly valuable.  And of course our relationships with them can last for many years.  What a long-term blessing that is!  Stuff can be replaced, but people can not.  Each and every person you see is precious and worth a whole lot.

I was a typical older brother.  At times I was alright, but there were other moments when I really was a jerk.  The truth is, my attitude wasn't always great towards my brothers when I was a teenager.  But that night, when I saw Condy in the ER, I wasn't mad at him one bit.  It was just good to see the boy alive and well.  He could have died in that wreck.  But God spared him.  And I was very glad to have him around for years to come.

Sure, I missed that car.  I didn't want to lose it.  But I was glad my brother survived, and that was good enough for me.

There's nothing wrong with money and material possessions.  Nothing at all!  Just don't get too attached to that stuff or make an idol out of it.  Instead, love God and love people.  Those relationships are what life is really about.  That's where real joy is found.  And that's what matters more than anything.

Randy's One Gift For All

Randy Twitty is the baseball coach at Sumter High School.  And he's also a friend I've known for about 30 years.  I've always looked up to him, and I enjoy his company whenever we get to visit.

One year at Christmas in the late 80's, some of us guys were over at Randy's home.  It was my brothers, Condy and Wyman, my future brother-in-law, Hayne Painter, and me.  As usual, we were having a great time.  Randy said, "Hold on a second, guys.  I'll be right back."  He went into his room and came back into the den with a big paper bag from Simpson's Hardware.  Then, while shouting out, "Merry Christmas!", Randy emptied the bag in the middle of the floor.  There, before us, was a huge pile of gray sweatshirts.  We all dove in and grabbed one.  And of course, we were thrilled with it.  I wore that cool sweatshirt for years and always remembered Randy's one gift for all.

God has also given one gift for all.  Years ago, instead of opening a Simpson's bag, God opened up the Heavens and extended all of us a gift.  John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son..."  Jesus is God's gift to everyone.  Each and every one of us are offered the opportunity to receive Jesus into our lives.  When we welcome Him into our lives, He forgives our sins and saves our souls.

Randy provided sweatshirts for each of us, and God provides Jesus for each of us.  And through Jesus, God grants us salvation.  He doesn't want any of us to miss out on this amazing gift.  2 Peter 3:9 tells us that God is "not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."  Isn't that great?!  God doesn't want anyone to miss out on the salvation of Jesus.  He provides enough for all of us, if we will just receive it.

This Christmas, I hope you receive some nice gifts.  That's always a fun experience.  But most of all, I hope you receive the single, greatest gift of all:  Jesus and the salvation He brings with Him.

Thanks, Randy, for the sweatshirt.  You're a great pal!  I'll never forget it.

And most of all, thank you, God, for giving us Jesus.  You're a wonderful Lord!  And we'll always remember it.

P.S.  Just for old time's sake, here is a picture of Randy and me goofing off at someone's house here in Sumter in the late 80's.  Yep, I was still a high school student at Thomas Sumter.  Those were good times!

Beneath The Surface

To protect his privacy, I'll call him "Bart".

Years ago, I was asked to mentor and work with a young man.  Very quickly, I realized this was going to be a challenge.  "Bart" was mostly disengaged and wanted nothing to do with the planned activities.  Then, at other times, he was difficult, hostile, and rude.  I found myself growing frustrated with him.

One day, I was discussing the situation with a lady I knew.  After telling her about my challenges with "Bart", she looked at me, assured me that she understood my aggravation, and said this:  "He's had a hard home life.  For a while he was sexually abused by his dad, who is now in prison.  And his mother has her own problems which means he has somewhat had to raise himself.  Simply put, he has grown up in the midst of real adversity."

That changed how I felt about the situation.  Learning this information helped me be more patient, understanding, and compassionate.  From that point on, my attitude about the situation was different. I began to show him more grace, and we started getting along much better.

In dealing with people, I've learned there's a lot beneath the surface.  Folks that you and I interact with are like icebergs floating at sea.  We see only the tip of who they are and what they do.  But underneath, there is a lot more to them.  Experiences, influences, and circumstances do affect how they think, what they do, and where they go in life.

When it comes to people who are difficult or bothersome, let's keep in mind they may be acting out of pain.  It's possible they've been through some tough stuff that we know nothing about.  There could be problems in their private world that affect their public life.  Do their unseen issues excuse their misbehavior or failure?  No.  But they can influence and explain it.

Just remember that everyone you see has a private life.  They deal with things beneath the surface that are unseen and unknown to you and others.  Knowing this, be patient, show them grace, and lift them up in prayer when they act in a way that doesn't agree with you.  And when you do this, they just might respond favorably to your compassion.  Who knows?  You might make a friend and a difference in the process.

Yep, when it comes to people, there really is a lot beneath the surface.

Tears Or Smiles?

Some friends of ours were visiting the house a while back.  When the mom informed her child it was time to go, he put his head down on a little table in our living room and let it be known he was not too happy about leaving.  We all tried not to laugh.  It was funny to watch.  He just kept his head down.

Then, an idea hit me.  I got down on my knees right beside him and put my head down on the same table.  Without saying a word, I did the same thing he was doing.  After a minute, he picked his head up, looked at me, and started laughing.  It was good to see a smile return to his face.

From time to time, everyone feels like that little boy.  People get down.  Sadness creeps in.  And they just feel low.  It's part of life for every man, woman, boy, and girl.

When this happens, let's treat them right.  We can show them kindness, lend them a listening ear, and grant therm encouragement.  When we do this, we just may see a smile return to their faces as well.

Paul was on the receiving end of this.  Some people were not exactly supportive of his ministry.  But we see how one person made a positive impact on his life when Paul wrote "May The Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains" (2 Timothy 1:16).  Though Paul was arrested and locked up, Onesiphorus blessed and "refreshed" him with encouragement and loyal friendship.  And because of that, Paul had a reason to smile.

Here's a question for each of us to ask ourselves:  Do I lead others to pain and tears, OR joy and smiles?  

We all affect others with our deeds and words.  Let's make sure we are a blessing to everyone we know.  Let's make their lives just a little bit better and brighter.  And when we do that, we just may end up smiling more ourselves!