The Florida Gators Need Three More

Well, it’s that time of year again, the time for some serious movement in the football polls. Once again, there has been change after change in the rankings, and we have seen some teams fail to play to their full potential. It has been an exciting year so far, and there are still some great contests yet to be decided.

I am unashamedly a Florida Gator fan, and have been one for more years than I can remember. While stationed in Georgia, I was surrounded by Bulldog fans, and they always let me know their team was much better. Funny, I don’t remember that being the case!

My wife and I used to pastor a church in SW Georgia, and one of our members is the consummate Bulldog fan; a look inside her house would certainly confirm that fact. There’s red and black everywhere you look, with mascots in plenteous array. She told me one time that when Georgia beat the Gators, I would have to wear a black tux and a red cummerbund to church. My reply was “I don’t have a tux.” Her reply was “I’ll buy one for you.” Funny thing is, I don’t think her husband is a Georgia fan. Hmmm!

After the Gators had bulldog for lunch a few weeks ago, I got a pleasant call from Georgia. After my greetings, I heard the sweet refrain of “Ain’t it great to be a Florida Gator?” That was music to my ear, and would love to have heard it again. I had to make the call last year, and it was difficult, to say the least. She lamented the fact I didn’t sound very enthused when saying “Go, Bulldogs!” My reply? “I’m just not used to making the call and don’t have much experience.” She was not impressed.

One of my favorite holidays was celebrated yesterday, and I am grateful for the opportunity to offer thanks to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and God, the Father. The Spirit of God is my comforter, and I am thankful for God’s love and care for me and my family. I hope you have much to be thankful for, too.

As we near the end of this football season, I am reminded to be thankful for the one loss our team endured – Ole Miss winning by one point in a disastrous game in September. Thankful for a loss? Absolutely. It’s all in how you look at things. I tell my congregation all the time “your attitude affects your altitude.” Thank you, Ole Miss, for waking up the giant in us. Thank you for causing the Gators to come away from that embarrassing loss with a renewed determination to excel. Thank you for causing the Gators to play to their full potential. It should be noted the rest of the SEC probably isn’t too thankful for that one loss.

This post isn’t about stats and figures; it’s about our need to take care of three more games in order to hoist the national championship trophy again. Three games await us, three games will challenge us, and three games will decide whether or not our team is as good as they have been playing since the Ole Miss game.

My church clerk is a serious FSU fan, and my Sunday School Superintendent is a Miami Hurricane fan, which leaves me as the only Gator fan in the office. That’s perfectly alright with me, though. We all joke about FSU having a pretty good team when all the players are there and not being detained because of off-field antics. Coach Bowden has certainly had his share of players who have had to endure much needed discipline.

Our first hurdle is FSU, and that should be a pretty good game. I’ve said they have a decent defense which looked intimidating at times. Our defense has certainly become mature over the course of the season, and can stand toe-to-toe with any team. FSU’s defense has proven formidable during several games this year, but has also been shown to be quite porous, too. They just haven’t been consistent.

Our offense, defense and special team play has been nothing short of remarkable since that one point loss to Ol’ Miss. Actually, it was pretty good before that game, too, but all three areas have moved up to a higher level. The question is, can the Gators sustain their momentum? In my opinion, the answer is a resounding “yes.”

After the FSU game, we play for the SEC championship against a pretty good ‘Bama team. They are the default No. 1; in my opinion, there’s several other teams which should be rated in the slot they currently hold. Remember, they still have to get by Auburn, which they should do handily. Don’t count them as winners, though, as in-state rivalry games seems to throw out all the norms. Auburn could walk away tomorrow with a win.

The Crimson Tide have been close to losing several games this year to teams that should have been blown off the field by them. To say it kindly, the Tide has won several games by just a hair, which doesn’t show them as being worthy of the No. 1 slot. Florida, on the other hand, has offered up some pretty lopsided scores over the past couple of months.

Should we win over FSU and ‘Bama, we will most surely play for the national championship. I am not going to speculate who our opponent will be, but it will be a worthy opponent. To get to the title game, though, the Gators need to make sure the real Gators show up tomorrow and to the SEC championship. If the Gators play as well during the next two games as they have over the course of the last several weeks, we will surely come out on top.

What are your thoughts about the matter? Do you think the Florida Gators have a good shot at winning the BCS title?

How Thankful Are You?

As we fast approach one of the most important holidays of the year, I thought it would be good to ask everyone to examine themselves in the light of God’s goodness and mercy. Thanksgiving ought to be celebrated every day of the year, as we offer God our gratitude and thanks for all He has done for us.

Four times in the book of Psalms, chapter 107 (vv 8, 15, 21 and 31), the writer declares “Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!” Do you think the Lord was telling us to be thankful enough to praise Him for all He’s done? I certainly do, and we should consider it not only our duty, but also our joy and privilege to give honor to the one true living God.

The Apostle Paul, writing in Colossians 3:15 declares “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.” What a powerful scripture. The command to be thankful is an imperative, spoken with authority and intensity. It is like a military order which must be obeyed. Paul was not implying it’s okay to be thankful if we feel like it; rather, we are to be thankful with a purpose and intention. Genuine thankfulness touches the heart of God.

Most everyone I know has felt the pinch of these lean economic times and have been adversely affected by a great deal of belt tightening. Looking at life through eyes which have seen better times, it is not difficult to focus more on the problems at hand than on the promises of God. The reality is simple: our hearts don’t want to praise God during tough times. Some may even feel as though God has completely forgotten about them in the midst of all the troubles surrounding them. Rest assured, that is far from the case.

What does the Word of God have to say on the subject of offering thanksgiving? Is it just something we do when all is well, or should we look for opportunity to praise the Lord in every situation? Let’s look at the following scriptures for some clarity on the matter:

• (Colossians 4:2, KJV) Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;
• (Philippians 4:6, KJV) Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
• (Daniel 6:10, KJV) Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.
• (Psalms 50:14, KJV) Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:
• (Jonah 2:9, KJV) But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord.

What about iniquity? Is it wrong to be unthankful? I believe the answer to that question would have to be a resounding “yes”, and the scriptures bear witness to that fact. Let’s read II Timothy 3:1-7

1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Please note how “unthankful” is included in the above list between disobedience and unholy. That’s some pretty bad company, in my opinion. Are you unthankful, or do you have an “attitude of gratitude” about you, being thankful for God’s great blessings and mercy?

Regarding ingratitude, Bennie S. Triplett wrote the following in his book SERMONS for Holidays, Holy Days, and Special Occasions, Volume One:

1. Shakespeare said “I hate ingratitude more in a man than lying, vainness, babbling drunkenness.”
2. Milton said “Being unthankful is besotted and base.”
3. Young said “Once they are guilty of being unthankful, all other crimes may pass for virtues.”
4. Colter said “Brutes leave ingratitude to humans.”

When do we give thanks? The Word of God declares in I Thessalonians 5:18 “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” We give thanks not only for the good things which come our way, but also for the bad. We give thanks for the seasons God gave us: for the heat of summer and cold of winter. Both are a part of God’s wonderful plan for His creation, and whatever we see and experience can be made sweeter when we acknowledge God’s guidance with thankful hearts.

The question we all need to ask ourselves this year is – “How Thankful Am I?” If I were to list all the things to be thankful for, much ink and paper would be used; God has so richly blessed my family and me. Are you truly thankful?

Hidden Treasures

While shuffling through some paperwork at my parents’ home last week, an old March 10, 1969 issue of the Church of God Evangel showed up. My, how things have changed over the years. Here’s a little blurb from the Evangel site:

Don’t miss a single issue of the Evangel, the official journal of the Church of God, Cleveland, Tennessee. Join the thousands who look forward to their monthly copy of this dynamic, full-color, 32-page magazine. First published on March 1, 1910, this award-winning publication continues to bless its readers generation after generation.

There was something quite interesting in that issue; something I had not seen before. Right there on page 18 is an advertisement for a new Cambridge Bible. Now, I would love to own one of those Bibles, but I just don’t know where to look. Looking at the pricing scheme lets me know the one for me would cost a whopping $14.25, including red letter, and thumb indexing. What a bargain. You can barely get a box the Bible comes in now for that price.

Here’s a description for those interested:

Printed on fine India paper in unsurpassed Cameo type for effortless reading. Contains many reading ‘helps’ – center references, self-pronunciation, Concordance, 8 colored maps and gazetteer.

Size: 5 1/4″ x 7 1/2″, 7/8″ thick

Another treasure in that Evangel is found on page 17. This is a feature entitled By His Stripes, Testimonies of Healing. There are several stories of God’s amazing grace in healing the sick, and they still speak of the power of God to affect the lives of those who believe.

I also found some other booklets that contain treasures which I hope to explore during the course of the next several weeks. There are several pamphlets written in the 1920s and 1930s which are in my possession now; these are treasures to me, and I hope to spend some time doing some serious reading.

What about you? Have you found any hidden treasures lately? You may not know it, but the Word of God contains more hidden treasure than your mind can comprehend. There are stories in God’s Word for every situation in life, and you can find rest in the pages of that wonderful book. If you want lasting, hidden treasure, turn to the Word of God, and you will find more than your wildest dreams could ever imagine.

A Personal Reflection on Veterans Day

Perhaps it’s a little strange writing this post after Veterans Day is almost over. Right now, it’s a little before midnight and I am writing to reflect on events of today and the last week. Veterans Day is usually observed on November 11, and this is a year in which that held true to form.

The morning began as usual, except for the fact our grandchildren had no school today, so most everyone was able to sleep in. Naturally, that never happens to me, though, as there is an automatic alarm clock somewhere in me, and it goes off with or without our electric alarm. For any of you military folk, you probably know what I’m referring to.

After looking at my morning e-mail and browsing the MEPISlovers forum, it was time to get on the bike and take care of my riding for the day. I’ve really got to update the post about my riding, though, as there has been some great progress, and the distance and route have changed dramatically over the last few months.

The halfway point on my ride is the Chik-fil-A, and over the course of the last couple of months, a routine has been established that seems to work just fine. After locking my bike to a tree, I walk in and one of the kind folk usually pours my cup of “mud” then asks if I want the usual. My usual breakfast is a bisquit and gravy with egg served on a salad plate. I have looked with great care, and have not seen one calorie or fat gram in any of the meals yet. Well, I like to change things up a bit from time to time, so instead of the usual, I sometimes get bisquit, egg and gravy or gravy, egg and bisquit. By changing up like that, you never get in a rut.

This day was special to me in a couple of ways. One of the young ladies who works there handed me a card when I walked inside. I took the card to my table, then picked up my order. Inside the envelope was a Veterans Day card full of very special wording. Well, that really meant quite a lot to me, and I cherish the sentiment – what a kind gesture. The card was addressed “Dear Pastor Parish” and ended with “Thank you for your service!” That’s me: a pastor who happens to be a veteran.

Both my dad and step-dad fought in wars and defended our great nation against enemies, both “foreign and domestic.” Their service, I suppose, inspired me to join the military and stay in for twenty years, just as they both did. Without shame, I offer thanks to our veterans who have given so much of themselves in order to make sure we have the freedoms we enjoy in this great nation of ours.

I have a great heritage, not only militarily, but also in Christ. My parents raised me to believe in an eternal God who loves me, and gave himself for me, as the Apostle Paul would say. They raised me to fear God and to give Him reverence as only He deserves. To me, the greatest gift my parents ever gave was the foundation which was laid as they faithfully carried me to the house of God. I am thankful beyond words.

Our family suffered the loss of my mother last year to cancer. It was a horrible ordeal, so we have a great deal of sympathy for those families who have been so adversely affected by this dreaded disease. My step-dad and mother were husband and wife forty four years, and that’s a long time to be married. He sure misses her, and we do, too.

We have been helping my step-dad for about a week as he is preparing to move out of the big house and close to his brother. He will be well taken care of and I’ll get to see him often. Instead of the 50 minute drive, it’ll now be about 2 1/2 hours, though.

The point is, my step-dad is a veteran and so is his brother. We have been sort of cleaning out the house and getting things in order for him over the course of a week or so. While looking through some paperwork, I came across some documents regarding his military service, and it struck me as never before. Here in black and white was solid proof he served our country in time of war; he sacrificed in order to give the rest of us the freedoms we have.

Writing this post makes me think about my biological father who served as a tail-gunner in WWII. My dad loved the military, and talked about his years of service on many occasions. I can still remember some of the places we lived while my sister and I were young. Both of these men have been pillars in my life and I will ever be thankful. My dad died eighteen years ago, but his memory is still vibrant. Our family is blessed because my step-dad is with us today, and we give him honor, along with countless others who have served our country.

What about you? Do you have any Veterans Day stories?

It’s Official – America Has Lost Her Moral Compass

My wife and I went to the polling station about mid-morning today and was greeted with hardly any line at all. There may have been four other people exercising their right to vote; many had already come and gone by the time we got there. Some of the voting staff informed us the long lines had already come and gone.

I’ve wrestled with this post for a while now, and will continue writing as the night wears on. There is no definitive answer yet, but many of the news commentators have already thrown the towel in Senator Obama’s direction, and have concluded he has essentially won. There is still hope America will do the right thing and rally for a better man with better ideas – Senator John McCain.

In many ways the situation in America reminds me of how the prophet Jeremiah must have seen his beloved nation as judgment loomed on the horizon. He was called the weeping prophet because he tearfully pleaded with his countrymen to turn from their wicked ways to follow the one true living God. In short, they refused to hear his words and obey the voice of the Lord. Jeremiah wept because he knew the wrath of God would soon follow, and many lives would be lost. The prophet begged the people to turn to God, and they refused. How sad it is when God calls and people refuse his outstretched arm.

Has America lost her moral compass? In so many ways she has, yet there is a hope in the mercy and grace of Almighty God. The Lord is still pleading with us to repent. It is my firm belief God is not through with this great nation of ours, but we must turn to God with all our hearts. In fact, the Word of God tells us in Joel 2:13 “And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.”

We are living in a day like never before; it is a day our fathers and forefathers never dreamed of. Many of the things righteous people used to call good are now called bad and out of touch with reality. Many of the things conservative people used to call wicked are now taken as normal and just “the way it is.” We have lost our moral compass when God’s righteousness is so lightly esteemed to the point it is ridiculed and mocked in a nation that used to honor those same values. Isaiah 5:20 declares “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”

Just a moment ago, proof of my assertion was officially announced – the most left-leaning senator in history has been elected with the help of the mainstream media and misguided American people. Yes, America has officially lost her moral compass, and now we face a time in our nation’s brief history like none other. Remember, you get what you pay for, and I’m afraid we will not like what we get.

It is my firm belief we would be looking at different results had the mainstream media done their jobs instead of purposefully influencing this election. As one of the commentators said tonight, one thing Governor Palin did was to invigorate the media’s ability to do investigative reporting. They are still trying to dig up dirt. How sad it is when McCain/Palin were faced with such an unfair disadvantage.

Some have suggested if you don’t agree with Senator Obama then there is obviously a racial slant to your argument. That is not necessarily so. Many rational people don’t like the Illinois senator simply because his ideas and left-leaning agenda are so vastly different than the Christian principles on which this nation was formed; it has nothing to do with his race. He is a socialist who really does not love our country and has done and said anything necessary just to get elected to the highest office in the land.

Sadly, America has drifted to the left of center and the proof is in the pudding. How is our once powerful and respected nation supposed to hold her head up when the people have chosen to kick God out and elect a man whose ideas and ideology are so diametrically opposed to the laws of God? It’s as if America just said “we don’t care what’s right, we just want what we want, and don’t care about the consequences.” In other words, “we don’t want to have to hold our heads up, we want to be like everyone else and do what we want. We don’t want morality and rational thinking to guide us.” America, we’re better than what we just did!

What perplexes me most is the number of people who name Christ as their savior and still cast their ballots for the Obama/Biden ticket. Honestly, that is amazing, to say the least. How can you in good conscience vote for a man who cares so little about the lives of unborn babies? How do you vote for a man who wants to bankrupt families whose lives depend on wages earned from the coal industry? How can you vote for a man whose life has been so heavily influenced by people who don’t love this great nation? How could you cast your ballot for a man who wants to take money away from those who worked so hard to obtain it in order to give it to those who haven’t? How can you vote for a man who cares so little for our friends and allies, the nation of Israel? Was there no thinking or reasoning done?

I could go on for pages, but this is enough for now. America, I am so disappointed in you, yet there is still hope that shines brighter than the noon sun or stars in the night sky. Our hope cannot rest in man; it must rest in the love, grace and mercy of our loving heavenly Father – Almighty God. Many will now look to government like never before to solve life’s complex problems, but government can never take the place of a genuine relationship with God.

Like never before, it is high time Christians awake out of sleep in order to proclaim the cause of Christ to a lost and dying world. Our clarion call ought to be, “awake, awake and repent before God!” The Bible tells us in Psalms 20:7 “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.” Christians, arise and pray like never before. Ask God for grace and mercy in these perilous times.

America, arise and through God’s mercy, let us work together to once again find our moral compass. Let us call on God for a revival which will sweep the land and bring a real change to the hearts of the people of this great nation.

Last minute edit: My wife just gave me her take on what has happened, and I would like to share her thoughts with you. She said “America has just done what Dr. Martin Luther King did not want. We chose a president by the color of his skin instead of the content of his character.” You know, that seems about right to me.

Cartoons and Politics

With all the serious stuff we’ve seen on television and heard on the radio, I felt is was time to add a little levity to this blog. There is already way too much sadness going on in light of the way many Americans are speaking about this election. One vote for Illinois senator Obama is way too many, IMHO.

In an Augusta Chronicle cartoon by Rick McKee, Senator Obama is faced with his wacky, left-wing ideas, and doesn’t like what he sees. It’s good to take money from other people, but not so much when confronted with the idea he will have to share with others. Take a look.

That’s pretty funny to me, but shows just the kind of person we are dealing with. America, you need to wake up before it’s too late. Do you know the kind of person he is? If not, why would you even vote for him?

Someone gave me an e-mail last week, and I though it was hilarious, but sad at the same time. Look at the following commentary and picture, and see if it hits home with you.

I don’t know who should get the credit for the above e-mail, so please help me out. If you are the author, let me know and I will be sure to rectify the situation. Thanks.