Once was lost but now is found

Here's the by-line: Lost dog comes home five years later.

Yep, it's true. Five years ago Brandy, the dog, while on a trip from Florida to Tennessee with his owner Kenny Stackman, decided one evening to go exploring the wonderful sights and sounds and smells of the thriving metropolis of Hixson, Tennessee. I guess Brandy put her nose to the ground and never looked up until five years had passed. Stackman and his family conducted a long term search for the dog, putting up fliers and contacting local shelters. There was just no sign of Brandy to be found. After several days and nights of looking, Stackman had to return to Miami without his beloved dog. More than five years would pass before they would see each other again.

Five years later Brandy shows up a the McKarmey Animal Care and Adoption Center in Hixson. A quick scan of the dog had revealed Stackman's contact information stored in Brandy's HomeAgain microchip. A phone call later and a trip back to Hixson would reunite the pair once again. I don't know about you, but I love happy endings.

One of my favorite hymns that our Worship Pastor plays is "Come Thou Fount". The one line that gets me almost every time is this: "Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, Prone to leave the God I love". The author of that song, Robbie Robertson, knows what he's talking about. He too, for many years, wandered away from God and eventually found his way back home.

Although there isn't a microchip planted in you, there is a God-shaped hole that can only be filled with a relationship with Him. If you've wandered away from God, He's waiting to welcome you back.

Just sayin'.....

I'm in love

I'm in love. She's as cute as can be. I love her personality. Her blonde hair and her big, bright blue eyes. Her smile. The way she calls my name. We go on walks together. We bike together. Over the Memorial day weekend I flew down to see her. I've never told her, but she has me wrapped around her little finger. But there's a little problem. You see, this other woman that I love is not Donna and she doesn't seem to mind this at all. Ok, stop the wandering of your mind. Her name is Samantha Hope and she's my granddaughter.

Throughout the time we had with her and Graham, I just couldn't help but think that these two precious grandchildren of ours are a link between the past and the future. Sam and Graham are the images of what was, and what was to be. Should God decide not to show up again on October 21 or next December, I am excited to see what wonderful, custom designed, personalized plan God has in store for my grandchildren. (Jer. 29:11)

This should come as no surprise to anyone reading this that God does not have grandchildren only children. One day in the near future both Sam and Graham will have to make a decision. The same kind of decision that Donna and I made over 36 years ago. It will not be based on our relationship or the relationship that Sam and Graham's parents have with God. Each of them will have to accept His offer to become one of His kids. I'm looking forward to the day that happens.

That offer is available to everyone, always. Have you accepted His offer of grace, forgiveness and unconditional love? All you have to do is ask. How about today?

Just sayin'

Ya Just Never Know

I've been a runner thanks to a former deacon, Major Jerry Sweptson, who showed up at my door one early Saturday morning over 20 years ago with a new pair of Asics running shoes and said let's go. I made it as far as about a football field when gasping for breath from this over-weight, under-fit body I yelled, "I'm done". I kept at it and a couple of months later I entered my first 5K. Later it was Ed Leaf who trained me for my first of nine marathons that told me NEVER run outdoors with head phones and now I know why.

It wasn't a very good day for Robert Jones also an avid runner. He was up early, dressed, running shoes laced, and headphones on listening to his favorite music on a South Carolina beach. He never knew what hit him because he never heard it coming. It seems that a small plane had to make an emergency landing on the same beach where Mr. Jones was running, and was struck from behind and killed.

As sad and as tragic as this story is, it is also a great reminder of how short and fragile life can be. I'm fairly sure that when Mr. Jones went out for his morning run his death by a very low flying aircraft wasn't even on his mind. Actually, I think I do know what might have been on his mind. He was probably thinking about his little girl's third birthday party later that day. The cake, the presents, the giggles of ten other little girls that would fill their house that afternoon. But, unfortunately, that isn't how the day ended.

Summer is just around the corner, and many of you are making plans for family vacations, trips to the beach or shore, outings to theme parks, etc. We all make plans for tomorrow, including starting a relationship with God. But what if there is no tomorrow for you? Make every day that God gives to you a day of rejoicing. Live each day as though it might be your last. None of us have a guarantee for tomorrow. Use your day wisely.

Just sayin'....

Golden Arches

Last week I had a procedure done. In preparation for this I had to be without food from Monday evening to Wednesday late morning. Needless to say I was quite hungry. As my I.V. was being inserted into my hand, the nurse asked if I had had anything to eat yesterday or today and of course I said no. I asked her if the facility, as a nice gesture for it's patients, brought in Mickey Dee's. She laughed, said no and told me that she had never, and I repeat never, had eaten at McDonald's.

Not once had a Big Mac, or an McMuffin, or a McChicken, or those tasty fries had ever crossed her lips. I almost got emotional. I had no idea that these kind of people even existed. I don't know how old she was but in all her years of life to have never darkened the doors of a McDonald's is almost inconceivable. I guess I've had it in the back of my mind that just inside heaven's door would surely be Golden Arches.

I know that the odds are probably slim, but I have a feeling that there are many others, even in Elkton, who have never been to a McDonald's and tasted the somewhat good food that is served there.

As far as I know, there are three McDonald's between North East and Bear to choose from.
There are over 100 churches in that same area. I wonder how many people in Elkton have never tasted the goodness of God's grace?

Perhaps, you are like that nurse and have never tried a Big Mac or those tasty fries. I'm not sure, but hey, you might get to have them in heaven. If you or anyone else you know have never tasted of God's goodness, grace, or forgiveness, then their loss is forever. Why not invite them to dine with you next Sunday. They could be "lovin' it" with you.

Forever is a very, very long time without God and it's especially long without a Big Mac and fries.

Just sayin....

Who would have thunk it?

This week not only is Jesus and Mary in the news but also heaven. Or, perhaps it would be more accurate to say the absence of heaven is in the news. First things first. Yep, it's official, at long last Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene have returned. From the pictures and videos I've seen, they have aged marvelously over the past 2000 years. Seems as though this Australian couple are claiming to be the second coming of the biblical figures.

Their following of 30 gullible and deceived disciples has purchased some land and plan to build an international visitors center. If I were them, I think I would have timed it wee bit better to coincide with this Saturday's fictitious event.

Now on to the other news. British Theoretical Physicist Stephen Hawking is proclaiming what his fellow Brit, John Lennon, once encouraged us to imagine, that there is no heaven. "It is a fairy story for people afraid of the dark" states Hawking.

Dr. Hawking who suffers from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, which leaves him paralyzed and wheel chair bound, is no doubt a brilliant, gifted and courageous scientist. But what I find admirable is his faith. Yep his faith. Much of his science goes far beyond what can be physically observed in a microscope or in a telescope. That's why they're called theories. Many of the things that Dr. Hawking professes cannot be proven because they are untestable, and believing in heaven is one of them. The existence of heaven is beyond the scope of scientific knowledge, even for Stephen Hawking. That means when Hawking confidently states that there is no heaven he isn't speaking as a scientist but as a person of faith. He is expressing his opinion that is not based on scientific evidence. It is a belief beyond evidence. Hawking has the faith that there is no heaven. He has every right to do this. He might be sincere but he is sincerely wrong. My faith is based on what Jesus said to the thief on the cross, and if He has promised that to him then that promise is extended to me and you also.

What will be next? The end of the world on Saturday? Just sayin'...

I got in but I couldn't get out.

I’m training for my second of five triathlons this season. I normally train and compete in a sleeveless wetsuit for the swim part. I recently found out that the water temperature for the swim portion for my next triathlon is going to be in the mid 60’s, and that, my friends, is a wee bit chilly for this body. So for Father’s Day, which is just around the corner, my gift to myself from Donna was a black Xterra, full-sleeved, Vortex 4 wetsuit.

Not knowing how it would fit, I bought two in different sizes; depending if I want a snug race fit or a regular fit.
The other morning after Donna left for work I decided to try on the one with the race fit. It went on with minimal difficulty; after all I am used to getting into a triathlon wetsuit. It zipped up fairly easy. It was definitely snug, but I had good flexibility in the shoulders. It looked good and felt good. It was a keeper. And then...

I don’t know what happened and I can’t explain it, but for the life of me I could not get the wetsuit off. No pun intended, but I’m home alone. There’s no one around to help. I’m sweating profusely and this zipper isn’t budging. I pull up on the cord. I pull down on the cord. This puppy ain’t moving. Idea! Water to loosen it up. I head for the shower. First I try cold water, then I try warm water, and then I try hot water. Still stuck. Idea! I try shampoo. I try body wash. I even try conditioner. Sorry Charlie. Idea! I’ll call the company. They’re in Miramar, California. Surely this has happened before. It’s 7:45 a.m. here. That’s not going to work either. Idea! WD-40. I soon discovered that the snug race fit doesn’t allow for your arms and hands to assume the kind of position that can accommodate a can of WD-40 and the long red “never lose again” straw. The sweat is poring down my face. My face is red. I’m getting really hot.

I’m beginning to wonder if this brand new black Xterra Vortex 4 full-sleeved wetsuit is going to become a do-it-yourself body bag for the Cecil County Coroner’s office.

But wait, another idea….prayer. Duh. So I pray: “Oh God, please help me out of this situation that I got myself into. I need a way of escape according to 1 Corinthians 10:13.” (Ok, so it’s a little out of context, but hey I’m desperate). I arch my back as much as I can and pull up and down on the cord 10 or 15 more times, and as quickly as it zipped up, it zipped down. I was finally free from the black Xterra full sleeved Vortex 4 body bag.

If God can answer my prayer of escape from my situation, I can only imagine when it comes to the time when I am facing a real temptation, how quickly He will once again provide a way of escape, not only for me, but for you too.

Just Sayin…..

What is that I smell?

The scene was yesterday at the Dallas/Ft. Worth airport. Having just arrived from Mexico, I was waiting for my luggage at the immigration station when she spotted me. It was Gracie. She walked up to me, looked me over and then gave the person she was with the signal. It was like in the movie the Ten Commandments when the Red Sea parted, the crowd of people that was standing around me did the same thing. All because of Gracie those around me all stepped back. I was alone. What did Gracie want? What would have caused her to single me out from the crowd of 100 plus people? There she was pawing at me, sniffing me, indicating to the person with her that I was the one.

Perhaps you've seen one of those dogs that the TSA has trained to sniff luggage and carry-on items, looking for stuff that you're not suppose to be taking on board or bringing into the country. It would seem that Gracie had earned the enormous cost of her training. I was asked to remove my backpack and allow Gracie to stick her cold, wet, black, Beagle nose into my bag and sniff some more. That not being satisfactory, the TSA officer went through the bag also. Then came the question: Do you have any fruit in your bag? I told her that I had a couple of apples that I ate on-board flying in from Mexico. If Gracie wanted to smell my breath I certainly would oblige.

I am so happy to report to you it was a false alarm. You see Gracie has been thoroughly trained to detect fruit, vegetables and other plants that might be illegally smuggled into our country. The apple scent was still on the bag and she simply alerted her trainer in front of hundred's of fellow travelers that I had contraband. As one of the passengers with me would later say as he passed by me, "I thought you were going down".


In 2 Cor. 2:15 Paul writes, "...God thinks of us as a perfume that brings Christ to everyone." Would to God that our lives would leave a traceable scent that anyone around us, and not just Gracie, would know that we are His. Just sayin'...