In A Crash....Help In A Flash

My title this time is not original, as you can probably tell by the quality. It is taken from a billboard ad of a popular trial lawyer. It has been several months since I noticed it and don't know if it is still being used, but I thought what a great title for a sermon. Since I am not a preacher (at least professionally) I will use it here.

Of course, the lawyer was advertising for folks injured in a car crash, but life in general can be just as destructive as any car accident. None of us can deny that we are living in a perilous economic time. Major and minor corporations are laying folks off by the thousand's. And what about the gas prices. Anyone saying I'll pay more to go to work? I didn't think so! Life is hard and most of us, if we live long enough and are honest, will come face to face with a personal crash of some kind or the other. It might be the death of a child or some other family member or dear friend. Maybe your marriage is failing. Maybe your spouse is being sent into a war zone. Who knows what any of us will go through? It's how we face that crisis, that hick up in our lives, that matters most of all.

About 25 years ago, I began working, but no longer do, in the emergency medical field. Where I lived it wasn't easy finding work, so I trained as an Emergency Medical Technician. Let me tell you, a thick skin and a strong faith are absolutely necessary to survive that profession. Most times I interacted with people at the very worst possible moment in their lives. From loosing a baby through mis-carriage to heart attacks, strokes and everything in between, and those affected never reacted the same way. Their reactions were as different as their personalties and cultural upbringing.

So what do we do when the worst thing that could happen actually happens? Well, as indicated above, some turn to the lawyers to heal their pain. For some, suing the offending party, seems to work. But I will argue that for most it is only superficial. Some look to the politicians to make laws or provide programs to change the way things are done. Do these work? Sometimes at best, but rarely are they helpful. But the Word of God, the Bible, is a place for solitude and comfort that works and works and works and heals much deeper and last much longer than any of us can possibly imagine.

Since I could never say it any better than God's word, I will leave you with portions of Psalm 91:

V. 2: "I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I will trust."
v. 4: " He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge."

And in Vs 14-16 the Lord makes this promise to David and because we are the Lord's, to us as well. " Because he loves me, says the Lord, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. he will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation."

Dad

On mother's day I wrote about my mom and I should be strung up and whipped if I didn't do the same of our day.

I am sitting here staring at the cursor blinking wondering where to begin, because I have a lot I could write but really don't want to bore you to death. I called my dad this morning to wish him a happy father's day. I have to call early because he would have soon been out the door and down to the church where he pastor's to begin his usually busy Sunday. And I guess that is what describes him best.

Being a pastor is who he is as well as what he does. I will try to better define that for you. A few years ago at 65 he retired. (ha!) Soon after, he went part time as an associational director, but it wasn't long he was back at the church he had retired from as an interim while they looked for a new pastor. Well that interim turned into coming out of retirement and back to pastoring. Before he committed for the second time, I believe I asked him why he would consider going back. He answered this way, "I miss taking care of people." So there you have it. That is his heart and his passion. I really believe that he will prefer that his last sermon would be while giving it. It might be a little traumatic for those in attendance, but that is the way he would like it.

The example he has lived before us has been to love God, your family, and live a life that will bring glory to God. He led us all to the saving power of Jesus and baptized most of his 4 children and some of his grandchildren. He was a firm disciplinarian and a strong provider. I cannot remember ever being hungry and we always had Christmas gifts. Later in life, I found out several years after I left home that he borrowed money to make sure we had gifts under the tree. He has loved us, prayed for us, and cried for us and with us and sometimes we didn't know it. He doesn't offer advice unless asked for. He made sure we had it better than he did growing up. We learned a strong work ethic because he insisted that we have summer jobs, whether hauling hay for a farmer or working in a shoe store in town.

My dad is aging now and he won't win the New York marathon, but he will win at the marathon of life. When God calls him home he will leave behind a legacy to be revered and copied.

Here's to you Dad. I hope you had a great day!

The Church

This weekend I have the opportunity to participate in an historic event in our community. The church I attended for many years is celebrating it's 50th anniversary. Quite a milestone for any organization or marriage or just about anything, but this weekend is their day in the spotlight.

If you are reading this as a Christian, then you know that the church is not a group of buildings, but is the body of believers that have banded together to worship and to re-charge the batteries. It is also that body going out from the building into the community to use the knowledge in the head moved to the heart to show God's love and compassion to everyone.

As I sat and listened to 3 of the former pastors speak Friday night, they spoke of the commitment of the church members to do the things necessary to make sure that when people were in need there was someone there to help. My mind was taken back to a time that compassion and God's love was poured out on my family. I have told this story many times because it is representative of what we all should be about. Now I will take time to share that with you.

Back in 1992 I lost my job. It was sudden and we were not completely prepared for such an occurrence. To make a long story as short as possible, these are the events that occurred:

• An older couple called and wanted a list of what our children wanted for Christmas. She bought nearly everything.
• Checks came in the mail from people we didn't even think knew us. For 6 months we never missed a bill or meal.

But my most fun story to tell is; At that time we usually had a live Christmas tree. Even though we really should not spend the money to get one, my wife and I decided that it was important for us to be as normal as we could be. So we got in the minivan and headed out to look for a tree. We got about 3 miles from home and realized that we had forgotten the check book So, we turned around and headed back to the house to get it. As we rounded the corner of the driveway into the carport, there stood a tree with a few gifts for my wife and I to give each other.

That is the "Church". That is Morrison Heights Baptist Church in Clinton, MS. I have been gone about 12 years now serving a church as a music director. I have carried with me those un-forgettable events and will for a lifetime.

Character

I once heard a visiting preacher tell a story about leaving a meeting in some town and while at the airport he needed to call home to let his wife know when to expect him. After making the call he hung up the pay phone he had used and the quarter came back. He picked up the phone and dialed the operator and told her that the quarter had returned. The operator said she knew. She said that she had recognized his voice when she helped him make his call. She had been in the meeting the night before when he preached on character. She had made the phone give the quarter back because she wanted to see if he practiced what he preached.

I have been around people all of my life that were made from the same stock. Their word is their bond and you can take what they say to the bank. Now we will be watching two men vie to become the next President of the United States. If not for you, for me, character will be a big deal. I don't expect either to be perfect or believe exactly as I do, but I am looking for that word or action or the little undetectable (by some) element that will say this is a man of character.

There is a stark difference between the two men. You will have to pay close attention to find who is of the greatest character because the media will build one up. They won't disclose all of the important little differences that will help you choose one over the other. Don't choose based on endorsements or hoopla. Listen carefully and choose wisely, the future of our nation rest upon your choice.