Month: March 2026

Posted in birthday, Family, life, loving others, Scripture

Jesus Twins–Fraternal or Identical

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

 “Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness.” Genesis 1:26

You couldn’t tell them apart. Twins…what a novelty of God. Did you know that only 3% to 3.4% of pregnancies result in twins? Did you know that there are generally two types of twins?  First, is fraternal which accounts for about 70% of twins born. You might say that means they shared a bedroom long before they were born! While they were born close to the same time, they have the same similarities and differences as any other brother or sister. The second type of twins is identical (about 30%) and they not only shared the same bedroom before birth but actually came from a single egg that divided in two making two babies instead of one. Because of this, they often look and act like each other. It really is pretty amazing.

I know a couple of guys at church that are fraternal twins. They were born about fifteen minutes apart and while you can tell they are brothers, they clearly are different in many ways. Now, the other day I was giving my testimony at All-Star Basketball and Volleyball. This is a program run by the church I used to pastor and it is a great opportunity for kids pre-k to eighth grade to play sports in a Christian environment. As part of the program they have various people tell about how Jesus has changed their lives.  It is great.

As I was waiting, two little girls ran through the lobby where I was sitting and it was very apparent they were not only twins–their were identical twins. They looked alike and acted alike. When they came back through the lobby I asked their grandmother how old they were and she shared that they were eight years old. Here’s the point of the story. Because of how they looked and because of how they acted you could tell that they were twins–you could tell that they belonged to each other. How about that?

Well, I got to thinking. If we are Jesus followers or disciples, the Bible tells us in Ephesians 5:1a that we should be, “imitators of God, as dearly loved children.” In other words, we are to look and act just like Jesus. Just like those sisters obviously belonged to each other, so people should be able to see that we belong to Him. In Genesis 1:26, God’s Word says, “Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness.” In other words, God made us to be image bearers and the image we are to bear is His.

So, let me ask you a question. If you are a Jesus follower, can people tell who you belong to by the way you act and speak? Does the way you treat others imitate the way Jesus treated people? Great question isn’t it? I hope this has helped you to think about your life and actions. I also hope that if you belong to Jesus you are not a “fraternal” follower but rather an identical twin or follower. If you need a little help in that department, don’t worry.  As always you can ask your Dearest Daddy and He will be more than glad to help. Mark it down…He’s got this!  Bro. Dewayne

Posted in fear, friends, gratitude, life, loving others, Scripture

Numbers Talk

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

Numbers talk. Take 2.29.  Add a dollar mark and it becomes the price for a value meal at your local fast food place, or perhaps the price for gallon of gas…at least a while back.  Add a colon and it becomes the time on a clock twice a day, early morning and mid-afternoon.  Numbers talk.  Take 4.5.6.  At first glance they are three random sequential numbers—three numbers connected only by their sequence. I guess you could say it is a picture of our neighborhood—a couple of evens and one odd ball.  Of course, you could place these numbers on a clock and they too would become a time that occurs twice a day, everyday…once early in the morning and once later in the afternoon.  Numbers talk.

For the folks who live in the small Southern Illinois town of Harrisburg those numbers speak loudly and mournfully. The year was 2012 and it was a leap year with February having twenty-nine days…or letting the numbers talk it was 2.29.  The National Weather Service had forecasted potentially dangerous weather, and some had taken the warning seriously.  Others, softened by previous warnings, assumed it would be another false alarm.  At 4:56 in the morning, or 4.5.6, a line of damaging storms tore through the Southwest side of Harrisburg and in that tangle of lightening, thunder, wind, and rain raged an F-4 tornado.  For miles and miles, it tore through the countryside and several small towns…one of which was Harrisburg.

The tornado sirens were screaming their harrowing sound warning people of the impending disaster.  I heard the sirens and yet stayed comfortably in my bed till Judy made me get up.  My daughter and her husband were staying with us for the night and he and I went out the backdoor to see what we could see in the darkness.  Looking Southeast, in a flash of lightening we saw, what could only be the tornado, as it ripped through that part of our small community.  Before long, sirens were racing all through the town as police, fire and ambulances all raced to help those impacted by the storm. Streets were almost crowded with neighbors helping neighbors.

Daylight revealed the damage and destruction.  Where homes and businesses stood, now were piles of debris. Much of that part of town was severely damaged and sadly, eight people were torn from our lives that day and many more were injured.  Suddenly what we had seen so many times on the Weather Channel and the national news was in our backyard.  It was amazing to see how help poured in from all over the nation.  Various relief agencies, as well as hundreds of everyday people came to our town to help in any way they could.  Churches, often separated by doctrine or denomination, came together to help the hurting.  For the coming months, our church and other organizations would house and feed hundreds of volunteers who came to clean up and help rebuild the community.  We mourned together, we worked together, and we came together, and through it all, we emerged a stronger community.

So, if this year was a leap year then yesterday would have been the 29th and not the first day of March and it would have been the fourteenth observance of the Harrisburg Leap Day tornado.  I know that day is firmly etched in the minds and memories of everyone who lived in Harrisburg at the time.  But also etched there is the beautiful and powerful unity that we experienced during the days that followed the 29th.  Slowly, the physical scars have be repaired and rebuilt but the scars of those lost, of course, will remain forever.

There’s a verse in the Bible (written by a guy who was locked up in prison for nothing more than being a Jesus follower) that talks about how God can bring good from even the worse-case scenario. Now it doesn’t say that everything is good, because that just simply wouldn’t be true.  But it does say for those who are willing to trust, those who are willing to look and see, that He can bring good.  I know for me that is the memory of people coming together to help people.  Religion and politics, social status, and separation were laid aside as people just helped.  And, perhaps, that was when the seed was firmly planted in my heart that no matter what—how tall the mountain or wide the raging river, no matter how hot the fire or difficult the journey, that my Dearest Daddy, is in control. Perhaps that is when I knew, “He’s got this” and He still does. Bro. Dewayne