Month: September 2024

Posted in Family, Grace, gratitude, life, sovereignty of God, thankful, Trials

Rainy Days

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28

It was just another love note. It seems this love note thing happens all the time.  A love note is when there is something, a crisis, a life bump or just something we need a little help with and well, Calvary shows up.  I always think it is God’s way of helping me out.  He knows and He cares.  I remember a time it happened a while back.  First, it had been dry and overnight God turned on the faucet and sent several inches of rain.  We so needed it.  The farmers needed it, the gardeners needed it and the people who find some twisted joy in mowing grass needed it.  And it came in abundance.

So, God has blessed us with a really great home.  We like older homes, and this one qualifies in anyone’s book.  Best we can tell, the core of the house was built in 1898 with a couple of additions added by a couple of brothers after World War II.  The house is brick (part of the post-World War II renovation) and has some great 1940’s trim work inside.  Like I said, we are blessed.  But there is one thing I wish we didn’t have and that is a wet basement.  When it rains a lot quickly, we get water in our basement. Fortunately, we have a good drain, so it usually runs across the floor and into the drain and it is no more than an annoyance.  That is…until it is not.

Well, the morning of the big rain, Judy came and got me and told me we had a shallow swimming pool in the basement.  This produced a groan and a moan.  Before I even saw the Red Sea that had gathered in my basement, I was thinking plumbers and dollar signs.  What if the drainpipe had collapsed? What if they had to dig up the yard? What if I had to sell my first born to pay for all of this?  It was the old “Lions, tigers and bears, oh my” reaction which is typical for me when I hear there is a small sea in my basement.

So, I followed her down and sure enough there was about three or four feet (just kidding) of water in my basement.  I told her I would call the plumber after a while and see what needed to be done.  Then…I had a thought.  I decided I would walk over to the drain and see if the problem was there. I put on my scuba gear and got my shark repellant and headed over to the drain. There is a strainer over the drain and the first thing I did was remove that.  When I looked it was indeed pretty clogged up and when I removed it the water did begin to drain…some.

It was time for phase two.  I stuck my finger down into the drain hole and immediately a giant anaconda grabbed my finger…no just kidding.  What I did find was a piece of wire that had either got under or through the cover in the drain and it was covered with slimy stuff.  I pulled that out and bam…the water started draining faster…fast enough to make that little tornado thing that happens when water is draining good. Soon, the water was gone, and I was smiling again.

I was thanking God, and Judy, my wife, was thanking God because we both knew that He had acted on our behalf.  You see, our default reaction these days is no matter how routine, no matter how everyday—we are learning to thank God and give Him the glory.  And do you know what?  We do it because we believe it.  We just believe that from the smallest to the biggest it is God acting on our behalf.  We just refuse to believe things are circumstance and happenstance. We believe in a God who is into the details. Now all that doesn’t mean that things always turn up roses.  No, we have our share of dandelions too, but we are learning to thank God for those too because He can and does turn dandelions into daisies.

A verse I quote a lot and that holds a lot of value in my world is found in a letter Paul wrote to the Romans about 2,000 years ago.  It was true then and it is true now.  It says that God can cause good to come out of any circumstances…for those who trust and believe in Him.  It doesn’t mean that He snaps His finger, and everything is good but that He can bring good from everything.  So, as you bump along life’s path and you have a flat tire on a rainy Monday or a basement full of water, just remember, no matter the outcome…God loves you and cares about you.  Before you call the plumber, talk to Him.  You may still have to call the plumber, but you can have the assurance that, “He’s got this.”  Oh, and if my house is up for sale and you are thinking about buying it…forget what I about the basement. Smile. Bro. Dewayne

Posted in Family, forgiveness, friends, Grace, gratitude, life, love, prayer, Scripture, spiritual battles, thankful, Trials

Change My Heart

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly grief produces death.”  2 Corinthians 7:10

I have a sorry prayer life.  No really, I do.  I know that prayer is a very important part of life.  The Bible talks so much about it.  And honestly, it isn’t that it is terribly hard.  If you look and listen to what Jesus says about prayer, you will not only see how important—but how simple it is.  He gave us His now famous lesson on prayer which we call the Lord’s Prayer. This Model Prayer was not that long, contained no big, spiritual words, and it was straight to the point.

Now if all this is true, why do I struggle with prayer so much?  Why do you struggle with prayer so much?  Well, I can’t and shouldn’t speak for you, but I can speak for me.  I have a “sorry” prayer life.  Now you might be saying, “Dewayne don’t be so harsh on yourself.  It can’t be that bad.”  Well, I’m not using sorry as an adjective for my prayer life but rather as a way to tell you about two things that I throw in my prayer life that really shouldn’t be there.  What are they?

Here’s how it works, way too often I find myself telling God that I am sorry for this and sorry for that.  Now that really sounds good, doesn’t it?  Well, I can’t think of a single time where God told me to tell Him I was sorry for my sin.  Nope, I can’t think of one.  You know how it goes.  We tell God good morning and then begin to tell Him that we are sorry for this and sorry for that and of course, we are sorry for this and that.  And most likely the next morning, you find yourself telling Him you were sorry for the same things all over again.  There is a better way.

The better prayer is a prayer of repentance.  It is fine to let Him know you are sorry, but don’t stop there.  Let Him know that you do not intend to do this or that again.  Repentance is a great Bible word that means to have a change in attitude and/or a change in direction.  When you repent you are telling God that you are changing your attitude toward that juicy sin.  You are going from liking to hating and from clinging to leaving.

Paul, one of the writers of the New Testament, said that godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly grief produces death. In other words, repentance leads to life and being sorry leads to the death of your joy and peace. Oh, and by the way, be sure and ask Him for His power and strength to do that because you will surely need it.  This whole Jesus journey is all about Him anyway.  So be sorry, that can’t hurt, but better, repent.  It’s a game changer.

Now the other part of my “sorry” prayer life goes like this.  I spend several minutes or longer telling God just how sorry I am.  No, not like what we’ve already talked about.  This kind of sorry is the kind that tells God how much of a failure I am, how I am worthless, how I have never succeeded and so I probably won’t succeed today either.  I am one sorry piece of creation.  Really? I hate to admit it, but I’ve been known to do that.  It’s like telling God He is junk maker and not a masterpiece creator.  I’m speaking to me, but you can join in.  It is time to believe what God says about us and not what the devil says.  Let’s not waste our prayer time telling God how messed up we are but rather thanking Him for making us a new creation.

I know, trust me I know, I (or we) are not perfect.  I know I (or we) fail too many times.  But those imperfections, those failures, do not determine who we are.  God determines who we are and when we put our faith in His Son, we are precious in His sight, and we are His trophies of grace.  Let’s not try and convince Him otherwise (as if we could) but rather let’s spend those precious moments in prayer thanking Him for all His marvelous grace.

I think it is time we change our “sorry” prayer lives.  What about you?  Are you willing to leave the mess at the door and enter His grace room with repentance and gratitude for all He has done for you?  Are you willing to turn your “sorry” prayer life into a time of celebration of forgiveness and hope?  Well, I’m sure going to give it a whirl.  I know that when I do, I’m going to find that rest I’ve been looking for.  And I’m going to get up and believe like He’s got it.  Because He does.  Bro. Dewayne

Posted in Family, food, friends, life, loving others, prayer, priorities, Scripture, thankful, travel

Hearing Ain’t Listening

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

God has listened; He has paid attention to the sound of my prayer. Blessed be God! He has not turned away my prayer or turned His faithful love from me.” Psalm 66:19-20

Hearing ain’t necessarily listening. On one of our recent post-retirement adventures, my wife Judy and I decided to head over to Branson, Missouri to see the Sights and Sounds production of the Biblical story of Esther. It was amazing—both the story and the production. It was amazing how the production company was able to make it all come alive right before our eyes. It was even more amazing to see how God orchestrated this masterful plan to save His children from certain annihilation. Needless to say, we enjoyed the show very much.

While we were in Branson, Judy wanted to do some shopping, which was quite the mystery since she is not much of a shopper. But the truth was she was a woman on a mission. One of our grandson’s 13th birthday was coming fast and she wanted to get just the right thing for him. We went to a place called Branson Landing which is a great place to look for birthday presents. As it turns out it was also a great place to get lunch. Now that is always something I can get into.

The restaurant we chose was called the Brickyard and offered a great variety of good old comfort food.  But it also offered something else—a great view of the bluffs and river that flowed right outside their building. When the hostess was going to seat us, Judy asked if we could sit by a window.  She heard Judy and sat us right by a window.  The only problem was she sat us in a booth that was taller than her or me (which isn’t saying a lot) so even though the river was right there, and the window was right there—we couldn’t see a thing. Bummer.

Well, I said to Judy what I knew she was thinking—that didn’t work out exactly how we planned it. The hostess heard her, but she didn’t listen to the intent—Judy wanted a see what was outside. “Oh well,” I said, “at least she tried.” End of story—and end of the view.  But then something happened.  The manager of the restaurant came over and asked us, “Would you rather sit at this table in front of the window so you can see the river?” Bingo. You see (no pun intended) he was standing there when you made her request.  He heard it but he also listened and understood what was important.

So, we moved to the table with a view and enjoyed a great meal with a great view and it all happened because someone not only heard but listened.  So how about you? Are you a good listener? Do you only hear words, or do you listen to the heart of the message?  It isn’t always easy, but it is always doable. It often means putting aside what you want to say or do next to grasp what is truly being said and trust me—that is a valuable thing—especially to the one speaking.

I’m glad to let you know that God is great at hearing but more importantly He is great at listening. He not only hears the words we speak but He listens to our heart to get the heart of the message. So, let me encourage you to hear, but even more importantly to listen. And, more importantly, let me encourage you to trust that your Heavenly Father is listening and understanding.  And because of that—He’s got this.  Bro. Dewayne

Posted in Family, friends, gratitude, love, loving others, prayer, priorities, Scripture, spiritual battles, thankful, Trials

Dessert or Desert

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:35

Hmmm…I said.  I like to talk, and I guess it can be said I like to write.  When I write I love to use words in special ways.  One of those is playing words off one another—using the same word in the same sentence in a different way. I’ve found that I often bump into words that can dramatically change in meaning by changing just one letter.  Here’s an example. First, we have the word dessert.  Now this is one of my favorite words because of all the images that pop into my mind.  In one corner of my brain, a picture of a perfectly prepared pecan pie appears.  Over in another corner is my daughter’s apple crumb pie.  Oh my, is that good!  Wait, over there is my friend Maggie’s fried pecan pies. And then over there is the dessert display case at my favorite local restaurant.  It is filled with pies, cakes, cookies and cream horns.

Well, now that we are all drooling you can almost taste the word dessert.  Even if you are not a fan of sweets, surely it stirred your heart a little.  Now we are going to change just one small letter.  Are you ready?  We are going to go from dessert to desert.  Wait? What?  Yup, just remove one of the “s” in the word and we go from sweets heaven to the Sahara.  We go from visions of sugar plums dancing in our heads to sand…lots of sand.  Now we are not thinking about pleasure but rather pain.  There is not abundance…there is leanness. Just like the word dessert makes our mouth water…desert makes us thirsty.  And it all happens by removing one small letter.

What is true with words is also true about birds.  I was reading the other day, and it talked about two different kinds of birds.  Even though they are radically different, the bottom line is they are still both birds.  Both defy gravity and fly, and both have feathers.  One is one (there’s that play on words) of the smallest birds in the world and the other is one of the larger ones. One is tiny and cute and the is large and ugly.  One is a hummingbird and the other is a vulture. Both birds…but both miles apart…just like our words dessert and desert.

One of the ways the birds are different is their eating habits.  The hummingbird spends it’s time zipping around our yard, going from feeder to feeder and flower to flower looking for “dessert.” Their diet consists of a few small buds and sweet nectar.  The vulture, on the other hand, soars overhead.  He could care less about something sweet—he is looking for his next meal too but his is a “desert” or to put it plainly…something dead.  Both are birds, but both are entirely different.  Their differences may seem big, but really, they are not.  You might say they are separated by a letter or two.

You know, that is true about us.  We really aren’t that different and yet…we are.  Each one of us is uniquely made by God.  You might say we are each handcrafted by the Master craftsman of it all.  An old children’s song that used to float around the Christian music world said, “Look all the world over, there’s no one like me…no one like me.  Look all the world over, there’s no one exactly like me.” God made each one of us different…on purpose.  What a boring world it would be if we were all the same.

Now my intention when I started writing this story was to say how in our world we should be more like the hummingbird and look for sweetness than the vulture who looks for death and decay.  But as I wrote I realized the bigger truth is that we should just be who we are…and allow others to do the same. Skin color, economic status, music tastes, piercings and tats or not…we are all uniquely made.  I wonder how much better the world would be if we learned to love one another.  I mean after all, the biggest sign that a person is a Jesus follower is not if we go to church but if we love other people.  How about that?

So, the next time you are in a bakery…or your backyard…remember that we aren’t as different as we seem.  Rather than judge and criticize, why not go ahead and see people as creations of God. After all,…the Bible does say He loved everybody enough to send His Son to die on a Roman cross…everybody.  And if you happen to know that story…then be sure and spread it around.  It is the best news ever.  And while you’re chatting with that person, be sure and let them know that there is Someone who, no matter what, has it under control.  Tell them that, “He’s got this…no matter what this or that is.”  Bro. Dewayne

Posted in Family, fear, friends, Grace, gratitude, life, school days, Scripture, Southern born, sovereignty of God, spiritual battles, thankful, Trials

Proximity Promise

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

For I am the Lord your God, who holds your right hand, who says to you, “Do not fear, I will help you.” Isaiah 41:13

I just needed to know.  This may cost me my man-card, but it is the truth. When I was a kid—I was afraid—a lot. I was afraid of what might happen, I was afraid of what did happen—or at least the consequences. I was afraid sometimes in broad daylight and many times in the dark—especially in the dark. It was not uncommon for me to lie in bed on a hot Florida night (with no air conditioning), covered up to my nose, listening and waiting for the monsters of the night to come and devour me. Every sound outside my window, every creak on the floor was certainly a sign that they—whoever they were—were coming to get me.

I probably knew in my young mind that monsters weren’t real. I probably even knew that there were no chainsaw murders lurking in my neighborhood. I knew that we had probably remembered to lock our doors and that would probably keep us safe.  Probably. And I guess it was all the probable’s that caused the problem.

Because of all that, and a whole bunch more, sometimes, many times, I would sneak in my parents’ bedroom and quietly lay down on the floor where I would fall asleep. You see, just knowing that daddy was close by made everything better. I somehow managed to believe that no matter how big the monster, the threat, my daddy could and would keep me safe. There was never any doubt that he would do his best to protect us—me. Why? Well, in my limited world, that was just what daddies did. Even if I was bad—he was still there for me.

That all seemed so logical because I believe it. Now for the question that really matters. If I believed that, why do I wrestle with trusting my Dearest Daddy with my present—and future. Why is it that somehow, I struggle to believe that if I fail Him—He will fail me. Why do I believe that my performance determines His proximity?  Now there is the root of the problem. Too often we believe that God only sticks around because we get it right and should we not get it right—He is gone.

Well, the truth is that is a lie. You see, God loves us with absolute perfection. He is constant and steady in His affection for us. There is nothing we can do to make God love us more or less, and furthermore there is nothing that we can do to cause Him to abandon us. Once again—His proximity to us is not determined by our performance.  It is based solely on His character as a loving Father.

While we probably won’t be totally free from fear this side of heaven, we can find peace in knowing that our Dearest Daddy is close by—very close by—and nothing is going to change that. So, when the unknown rattles your world, when darkness closes in around you, lay down and take a nap knowing that your Father is close by. No matter what the threat—no matter what the fear—He’s got this.  Bro. Dewayne

Posted in Family, forgiveness, friends, Grace, gratitude, life, loving others, missions, prayer, Scripture, sovereignty of God, spiritual battles, thankful, travel, Trials

Choose to be Content

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

“I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.” Philippians 4:12-13

I was content…almost.  Contentment is one of the most allusive things.  One minute you are fat and happy and the next minute you are just fat.  Some small, insignificant thing happens that seems to change everything.  It probably has a lot to do with most of us living in the best country in the world—the United States.  We have more than we need and that is a problem, and that is the problem.  Andy Stanley, a pastor in Atlanta, talks about the fact that most of us have houses with multiple bedrooms and bathrooms and get ready, there is even a house for our car attached to the deal. Amazing.

We once went on a mission trip to the Philippines. We were there to repair some damage caused by an earthquake. Two things amazed me—how beautiful it was and how kind and polite the people were.  On a couple of levels, it did indeed seem like paradise.  You see the island we were on was a vacation destination for many.  It was simply beautiful.  The only problem was we didn’t get to see it.  There simply wasn’t time for a lot of sightseeing because there was a mission to accomplish–a job to finish.

Now I know that probably sounds noble–maybe even spiritual, but the truth is even on the mission field it is hard not to think about–ME.  The “resort” we stayed at really was quite nice–particularly when compared to let’s say sleeping in the sand in Mali, West Africa or on the ground in Uganda, East Africa.  I guess I should have been content–and I was–almost.

When we arrived at the resort, we were given our room assignment.  Judy and I were assigned a single unit.  I must admit I did have the best roommate.  We went to our room, and it was nice–small–but nice. There wasn’t a lot of room to walk and have the luggage on the floor, but it was nice. We pushed the twin beds together and it was just like home–just smaller–a lot smaller.  Then we went to check out the other room assignments.

Well, their rooms were also quite nice.  Each person had two twins pushed together to make a double bed and the room was bigger–a lot bigger.  There was even room for their suitcases to be on the floor and still walk around the bed.  Suddenly, my room (well, our room) felt even smaller.  Suddenly, it didn’t seem quite right.

Now I was content until I saw how the rest fared.  I was content until I saw what big was like and then I wasn’t. Just like that I went from contentment to discontentment. I went from feeling blessed to feeling cheated—all in about two seconds flat. Isn’t it amazing how one minute you can be satisfied and the next you’re not?  There’s a word for that and I think it is close to sin. And the crazy part is it doesn’t just happen on a mission trip to the Philippines–it happens to a lot of folks on any given day.  We are content until we see how the other half lives. I think it is something like the grass is always greener somewhere else.

Paul said something quite amazing in Philippians 4:12 “I know both how to have a little, and I know how to have a lot.  In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me.” Oh, and by the way, when Paul wrote those words, he was sitting in a dark, dank, stinking Roman prison.  Ouch.

I think all of us need to learn Paul’s secret to joy–just be content!  The truth is most of us have it a lot better than 90% of the world! The truth is if we look around, we will find that our Heavenly Father has filled our world with “love notes” that simply yet profoundly say, “Just to say, I love you.”

Whether our world has a healthy dose of bumps or if the sun shines consistently, if it is corona crazy or as smooth as a lake at sunset, we have so many reasons to be thankful…to be content.  Why not take the time today to look around and be thankful for what you have rather than rattled about what you don’t?  After all, hasn’t the Giver proven Himself over and again?  Hasn’t He “shown off” time and again in His lavish grace and love.  Sure, He has.  So, settle back and take a rest.  After all, He’s got this.  Bro. Dewayne

Posted in Family, friends, Grace, gratitude, life, love, loving others, priorities, Scripture, Southern born, sovereignty of God, thankful, travel

Chosen

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

Even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes.” Ephesians 1:4

I was as surprised as she was.  One of the wonderful things about Key Colony and the Continental Inn happens every day about twelve hours apart. The place where we stayed has a small private sand beach.  Now that doesn’t sound too impressive until you realize that sandy beaches aren’t that common in the Florida Keys.  Most often when you make it to the shore, you find it covered with large rocks.  In fact, that was our first experience many years ago.  The kids were young, and we drove down from Naples where we were staying.  When we arrived, we rushed to the “beach” only to find it covered with large rocks.  Bummer.

At the Inn there is glorious sand and an abundance of clear water.  Both are amazing.  But here is the special part.  The beach faces the east which means every morning there is a beautiful sunrise.  Every day I would go out with a cup of coffee while the water was like glass, and it was still dark.  The fingernail moon would be there offering little light but plenty of beauty and the stars glimmered in the dark night sky.  And slowly, God gave birth to a new and beautiful day.  Every morning, I would say, “This is the day the Lord has made, and I will rejoice and be glad in it.” At that point it was a blank canvas, but I knew the Maker of masterpieces would be painting that day and He works wonders…always.

So, the sun would rise and about twelve hours later it would take its bow and night, a time of rest, would come.  Everything is beautiful in its time.  Now here is the part you must love.  Every evening Judy and I would walk out of the front parking lot, go about 100 yards and there was Sunset Park.  It was a small peninsula where the community had set up benches and built a small pier, and folks gather there to watch the sunset.  Imagine that.   A place where you can watch the sunrise over the water in the morning then walk a short distance and see the sun set…again over water.  It was amazing.

On our second night, something magical happened.  Again, people gather at Sunset Park every evening to watch the sunset. This night however, I noticed, almost bumped into, a group of four young people.  I nodded and smiled, and they did the same.  Judy and I found our favorite bench and the group of four chose to stand about fifteen feet from us. They were smiling…as were we.  It was a moment to enjoy…and then it got better.

About that time, I heard laughter of joy and looked over as one of the young men slipped an engagement ring on the left hand of the “one” he had chosen.  It was a total surprise for her and for us.  I don’t know if I have ever experienced this event as a stranger looking on and in, but it was a beautiful moment.  She was laughing and jumping, and they were hugging and celebrating.  Their friends, who were in on the surprise, were beaming from ear to ear.  And all this is happening in a beautiful waterfront setting as God puts His seal of approval on another day.  It was glorious.

When it was time to go, Judy and I walked over and congratulated the young couple and told them it was their lucky day since I was a pastor, and we could seal the deal right then.  I shared about five lines from the traditional ceremony I use, and we all laughed together.  What a wonderful moment.  I think the joy of it all might be summed up in one word…chosen.  You see, the young man chose her to be his.  Out of all the girls in his world…he chose this one to spend his life with.  And…she chose him by saying, “Yes.”

It is a wonderful thing to be chosen and never is it more beautiful than when we realize that God chose to love us…He chose us to be His bride. In the New Testament letter called Ephesians, we read, “Even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes.”  How incredible is that?  If we are willing to accept His invitation to be His, like her, our lives will never be the same.  To be loved like that is the greatest of all gifts. God didn’t have to love us…He chose to love us.  We were scarred by sin and brokenness and yet He saw in us beauty.  We weren’t worthy of His love and yet He still extended it and to Him each of us is as beautiful as a bride on her wedding day.

Being chosen is a glorious thing and I hope you have accepted God’s invitation to be His beloved.  Remember, no matter how scarred your life may seem you will always be beautiful in His eyes.  And this marriage, well, it can never go south.  Sadly, many marriages don’t end well, but He has promised to never leave us or forsake us.  He will be yours and you will be His…forever.  If you haven’t already, why not accept His proposal today?  He is patiently waiting for you to say, “Yes.”  And, when you do, you will find Someone who will walk by your side no matter what…One who believes in you, One who loves you, and who will whisper security and assurance with six simple words…I’ve got you and no matter what, I’ve got this.  Bro. Dewayne

Posted in Family, friends, gratitude, life, love, loving others, Military memories, prayer, priorities, Scripture, Southern born, spiritual battles, thankful, travel, Trials, USA, wisdom

Flying Like One

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 12:12

They sliced through the air—four as one.  I was raised in Jacksonville, Florida.  My daddy worked as a jet engine mechanic at Jacksonville Naval Air Station. It was there by example that he taught me to work hard, to be loyal, and to love America. You see, Jacksonville was the home of three Naval bases, so the military was a big part of our lives. We were raised surrounded by men and women who were serving their country and that played a big part of who I am today. It also partly explains today’s story.

Because Jacksonville was the home to several Naval bases, it probably isn’t a surprise that we regularly had the Navy’s precision flying team, The Blue Angels, when the base where my daddy worked had an open house—which was once a year.  My Daddy made sure we went—and that we learned. One of the things I learned was to love the Blue Angels. Now as an Air Force veteran I love the Thunderbirds, but I have to admit the Blue Angels are my firs love. The speed, power and precision that they fly their massive machines just amazes me. Flying mere inches apart, they are the perfect example of teamwork. But the amazing part is it is not just the pilots who fly the planes—it is every member of the team.  They clearly let it be known that everyone one matters—everyone counts. They know and understand that the mission can’t be done without everyone.

Last Saturday and Sunday, I had the opportunity to see the Blue Angels do “their thing” and I was more than amazed. I love aviation, I love airplanes, and I love to see them working together. But do you know what? There is something else that I love more—and that is the family of God. I realize that my pastoring days are in the rearview mirror but that doesn’t taint my love for this thing called the church. Like the Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds, it is amazing what people, and especially God’s people, can do when they come together.

It is no accident that God calls His kids the “body of Christ.” It is no accident that when Paul wrote about believers coming together, he wrote about, “the body.” It is an amazing thing when we come together not for our glory but His.  It is then that the impossible becomes possible. But I also know and believe this—when we don’t—the impossible remains exactly that. Satan knows this and we had better not forget it. We must not let anything—generations, race, religion, politics or a few dozen other things—come between us. If we do—things will crash.

You see, the Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds know this. Unity brings power and success—disunity brings disaster—failure and loss. So, children of God…followers of Christ, let’s lay aside our petty differences and come together and stay together. This is the only way we can see revival in our land. There is nothing more graceful than to see those planes streaking through the sky—four like one—committed to the task at hand—the mission. They have trained for that, and it works.  We must do the same. Let’s trust the Prince of Peace to bring His peace on us as we follow Him. It is there, it is then, that we know, “He’s got this.” Bro. Dewayne

Posted in Family, fear, friends, Grace, gratitude, heaven, life, love, loving others, Military memories, prayer, priorities, Scripture, spiritual battles, thankful, travel, Trials

My Friend Joe

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

Teach us to number our days carefully so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts.” Psalm 90:12

“Hi.  My name is Joe.”  A couple of years ago, my wife Judy and I took a trip down to the Florida Keys and Key Colony in particular.  The place we stayed in was called the Continental Inn.  It is a bit of old Florida with twenty or so studio condos combined with a small sand beach and a couple of tiki huts.  It is not very crowded, but this was Labor Weekend, and there were more folks there than usual.  Being a small place, it seemed more like family than just a group of people on vacation.  It was there under one of the tiki huts that I met Joe.

Joe, his wife, and her sister and husband were down for a long weekend from Juniper, Florida.  It was the other couple’s anniversary, and they were there to celebrate.  They were sitting near us on the beach, and it wasn’t long before we struck up a conservation.  Day one was more like a “Hey, good to meet you and glad you are here.”  The next day, we were back on the beach and so were they and it was then that I really got to talk with Joe.

He started by introducing himself again.  And then as his story unfolded, I was fascinated.  First, I learned that Joe was a Korean War era veteran.  While he didn’t serve actively in the war, he did volunteer for service during that difficult time.  He chose the Army and proudly served his country.  Being a Korean War veteran could only mean he was up in his years…and he was.  If I remember right, he was about to turn 84.  Thanks for your service, Joe.

Joe used a large walking stick to get around.  He told me on day two, rather matter-of-factly, that he was legally blind.  That explained the stick.  Rather than a white cane he had this large walking stick that came from the Smokey Mountains.  I asked him how much he could see, and he explained that at about five feet away I was just a blob. You can imagine my surprise when he told me how he still drove a three-wheel bike around his neighborhood.  When I asked him how, he simply said he could see some of the sidewalk and most everyone knew him and kinda stayed out of his way.  A little blindness wasn’t going to stop him.  Way to go, Joe.

About then, Joe shared with me that he had stage four prostate cancer that had gone into his bones.  Almost casually, he said, “And of course, I am on chemo.”  What was amazing was that he didn’t see his cancer as a roadblock or a big deal for that matter.  It was simply something that he dealt with—no whining, no complaining.  Nope, Joe wasn’t gonna let a little cancer stop him either.  You’re amazing, Joe.

All the time we chatted (almost like we were discussing the weather and not cancer and blindness) he was constantly smiling and explaining to me how much he loved life.  These speed bumps were just that—bumps on his highway of life.  He told me how much he loved people.  That is probably why he regularly volunteers at the Veteran’s Hospital, helping guys less fortunate than him.  Less.Fortunate.Than.Him.  I think it will be a long time before I forget Joe and his big smile, big heart, and great outlook.

There’s one more part of Joe’s story.  You see, Joe was a Jesus follower…in fact, all four in the group were.  What made Joe stand out was his gratitude for each day that God gave him.  I couldn’t help but notice that his knees and elbows were covered with bandages and wounds.  I can only guess those came from the times his blindness got in the way and his stick couldn’t save him. After our hour of conversation, I noticed that not one time did he complain about his circumstances. He shared stories of his past with gratefulness and shared his present days with the gusto of a healthy 45-year-old.  And he was confident of his future too…because he was confident in his relationship with the God who made him.

I know I talk about this verse a lot but that is because it means a lot to me.  The author, who happened to be Moses (you might remember him from the time the Red Sea parted), asked God to help us number our days so that we could have a heart of wisdom.  He was saying, “God help us to appreciate every day you give us.”  It was very obvious that Joe did exactly that.  No, I don’t think he was the richest guy on the beach that day…unless you number richness not in dollars but in joy, and happiness and love. Joe bore the scars from many a fall, but he shined with the victories of never staying down.  I didn’t get around to asking but I bet Joe knew the secret to living out his faith in God.  What is that you ask?  It’s knowing and believing three small words…He’s got this.  Bro. Dewayne

Posted in Family, friends, gratitude, heaven, life, Military memories, Scripture, sovereignty of God, thankful, travel, USA

Is This Heaven?

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9

He asked, “Is this heaven?” The other night I was sitting around and accidentally caught the tail end of the movie, “Field of Dreams.” It is a fantasy movie about a guy who builds a baseball field, and a voice tells him that if he builds it—they will come. Well, he builds it and players from baseball past suddenly start appearing. It is a fun, feel-good movie—especially if you like baseball.

Well, amid all this feel-good stuff, a couple of the players from the past ask, “Is this heaven?” He assures them it is not but rather it is Iowa. To them the ability to play ball again well just felt like heaven. Obviously, they had never been because heaven is way beyond words. With all that said, the other night I fell into food heaven.  Let me explain.  Twenty years ago, some friends invited my wife Judy and I to go to Owensboro, Kentucky to have supper at a place called Moonlight BBQ. As my memory serves me it was somewhere before incredible and heavenly. We enjoyed the food and the company and promised ourselves we would have to make the journey again. Well…we never did.

Now, fast forward twenty years. On my retirement bucket list was to attend an airshow with the Blue Angels and/or the Thunderbirds. On a whim, I searched recently searched airshows only to discover that there was going to be one in Owensboro, Kentucky—just 89 miles from Harrisburg.  What is even more amazing is that Owensboro is a small town to be hosting such a major event.  Well, I told Judy we had to go so we booked a room and made our plans.

It turned out that the airshow, which is on Saturday and Sunday, had a Friday night deal too. At the airport they had several aircraft on display, and you could meet some of the pilots so with Judy’s blessing, I decided I would go to that part too. I went ahead and booked a hotel by the airport and off I went. Well, it turned out rain trashed a major part of the night, so I went ahead to the hotel. I saw a McDonald’s down the road but asked the clerk, “Are there any other restaurants nearby?” He said, “Do you like BBQ?” I said I sure did, and he told me there was a place down the road called…get ready…Moonlight BBQ.

Inadvertently I stumbled into food heaven again. So off I went and what happened next really was a foodie’s paradise. It was a mega BBQ buffet, and everything was just good. There was chopped brisket, ribs, BBQ chicken, pulled pork, fried fish all with all the trimmings you could imagine. Dessert? Yes sir—seven different kinds of pie with two kinds of cobbler and all with ice cream. It was just about then the analogy from “Field of Dreams” came to mind.  Is this heaven?

Well, of course I know that there is no way anything on this earth can compare to what God has in store for us. But I also know this.  Isn’t it awesome that God created this earth for His creation to enjoy. Take a joy ride though the galaxies and you won’t find anything like what He has prepared here for us. And all of this is just a teaser for the big show He has planned for us in eternity. So, enjoy this but also remember that the best is yet to come. He is the author of all things good because He is good. And because He is good, well, we know, He’s got this.  Bro. Dewayne