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Posted in Grace, gratitude, heaven, Scripture, thankful

Cuddling Up with God

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

 “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the expanse proclaims the work of His hands.” Psalm 19:1

We were snuggled under a blanket. So this week we are in Vienna (not Italy but Illinois for our bigger world readers) taking care of the grand dogs while the the family is down in Florida on vacation. Zoe and Riley are pretty special pups and we love watching them. Becca and Jon live just outside a quiet Southern Illinois town in an equally quiet neighborhood. Since we live in the center of our small town…we love the quietness.

Last night I was snuggled down on the couch under a blanket. The air conditioning and the ceiling fan were both cool enough to make it feel nice and cozy. In fact, we love to sleep cool. We have four, that is right four, fans in our bedroom and each night we turn the air conditioning down. In the winter, it is not uncommon for us to open a window or two to let the cool and sometimes cold air in. Why do we do it? Because we love to cuddle down under a quilt or blanket to sleep!

So it was kinda natural that I had rounded up a blanket to cuddle with on the couch. So there I was cuddling when suddenly I heard, and the the the pups heard, a knock at the back door. They kicked into guard dog mode and I looked over at the door only to see my wife Judy outside. I went to the door and opened it and asked the obvious question, “What are you doing outside?” Well, it turned out that she had gone outside to see what God was doing that night and the door had locked behind her.

She said, “Dewayne, you need to come out and see the stars.” Well, I really wanted to go back to my cuddling on the couch but I decided I needed to see what she was seeing. I stepped out and there, in the darker darkness of the country side, was a sky full of beautiful and bright stars. I was overwhelmed. It instantly reminded me of the starry skies I would see in Africa. Well, anyway, we sat down and were amazed. The skies were just ablaze with God’s creation and they were all shouting His glory. As we watched, we saw several satellites making their silent but fast journey across the night sky. I was blessed to see a shooting star shoot across the sky. It all was just amazing and I told Judy I was so glad she shared it with me. If I had stayed inside I would have missed all. And then it occurred to me.

Just like I was cuddled under a blanket on the couch, there I sat cuddling under a blanket of stars filled with amazement at the wonderful, great God we served. I quoted Psalm 19:1 that says, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the expanse proclaims the work of His hands.” And I knew for certain it was so. It was like listening to the finest choir singing the finest hymns of praise–all directed toward Him.

Well, after a while, we went inside–hoping for a repeat performance on another night soon. Cuddling up with God under His blanket of stars was so overwhelming and yet peaceful. Just like cuddling under a warm blanket on a cool night, so cuddling with the creator of the universe is beyond worlds. I felt safe and satisfied knowing that no matter what, I can rest with Him because, “He’s got this.”  Bro. Dewayne

Posted in communication, food, life, missions, Scripture

The Life of the Firefly

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

 “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making His appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.” 2 Corinthians 5:20

I’m glad I wasn’t born a firefly. One of the joys of summer occurs either late May or early June. It is about that time that fireflies, or as I was raised to call them lightening bugs, make their appearance. Each evening as the sun sets, these fellows make their appearance and turn the evening from mundane to exciting. But you had better look fast because their act doesn’t act too long. It goes something like this.

Lightening bugs begin their journey as larva in the ground. In fact, they live there for two whole years. During that time they apparently dig around and eat grubs and things. Their whole existence is a time of preparation for what comes next. After about two years, something tells them its time to surface and they transform and emerge from the ground as lightening bugs. Now listen to this. First, they only live for about 20 to 25 days. That’s it. And the object of their whole existence above ground is to find a girl lightening bug and start a family. Once that is done…so are they. But wait…there is more.

Would you believe that when they emerge from the ground in their lightening bug bodies–they don’t eat. In fact, when their metamorphosis is done they don’t have a digestive tract and no way to eat or process food. Remember how I said those two years were all preparation for their next life? Well that apparently includes nutrition. So, no fried chicken or pecan pie for them. All they do is fly around, lighting up, trying to impress the girls. Imagine that…not eating. Ever.

I guess that means a lightening bug would be a really poor Baptist because everyone knows that a Baptist loves to eat. You give a Baptist a potluck dinner and it is party on. But not for Mister Lightening Bug–nope–and that is not only sad but hard to believe. Am I the only one who is trying to figure out why God created them that way? Well, it seems to me that God knew they might get side tracked if there were potlucks and the one thing that mattered wasn’t potlucking but rather starting a family.

Fortunately God didn’t think it necessary to try that trick with us. He has challenged us and trusted us with sharing the good news of the Gospel with the world around us. And truthfully…we do indeed get sidetracked. So how do we keep the main thing the main thing? We learn to listen to the Holy Spirit who lives in every person who believes in Christ. And then we listen to the heart of our Dearest Daddy as we read His word. When we pray, “Father help me to keep the main thing the main thing, His reply will always be, “Don’t worry…I’ve got that.”  Bro. Dewayne

Posted in Uncategorized

Daddy’s Heart Attack

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


Thanks, Dad…for the heart attack. It was back in 1976, June 26th to be specific, that I married Judy Allen. She was a Georgia peach that was quite the catch.  I met her when I walked into a strange, new church on a Wednesday night. I entered the side door and boom—there she was.  Standing in a circle of ordinary young ladies, this young lady was anything but.  Then, there was a phone call, a date and well, here we are fifty years later…she is still quite the catch, we are still in love, and we are still grateful for a God who has a plan.

I was talking with Judy the other day and said, “What if we had never met?” I honestly cannot fathom my life without her…but what if?  It was really a strange set of circumstances that got us together.  I was in the Air Force and my Daddy had a pretty major heart attack while I was home on leave.  It sure changed our Christmas plans, but it also changed my life.  My Momma, and don’t ask me how since this was way before the internet and smart phones, found out through the Red Cross that the Air Force would sometimes grant a “humanitarian reassignment” to airmen to the base nearest their home.  The conditions were strict, and the odds were long, but we (Momma and I) decided we should give it a shot.

It required all kinds of statements from the doctors and a bunch of other stuff that I don’t even remember.  At the time I was stationed at Minot AFB in North Dakota and trust me that is a long way from home.  Anyway, we applied and then one day I received a call from Base Personnel letting me know that my request had been approved and I was being reassigned to Moody AFB in Valdosta, Georgia. Soon, it was so long Minot and hello Moody.  I arrived at my new base in April of 1973.  I would drive home every weekend (about two hours) to see family and friends and come back Sunday evening.

Gratefully, God allowed my Daddy to live till midsummer of the next year when He decided heaven was better than here.  Of course, his leaving changed everything. I think my Momma went to stay with one of my brothers or sisters for a while and suddenly there wasn’t as much reason to go home.  I was a regular church goer, but it really wasn’t my desire to go to church that Wednesday night as much as it was…boredom.  Valdosta wasn’t a big town and Moody wasn’t a big airbase, so I just needed something to do.  And, as they say, the rest is history.

Which leads to my opening line…Daddy’s heart attack.  If it hadn’t had been for that and my Momma’s persistence, well, I would have stayed in Minot and probably froze to death. Smile. I would have never met Judy, there would not have been our three precious daughters and hence no eight grandchildren.  And, honestly, I probably wouldn’t be pastoring and wouldn’t be writing this today.  But God is a God of infinite details and design.  He tells us in the Bible that every day of our lives is planned before a single one of them is lived.  I like that…a lot.

He also teaches us that for those who love Him and are called by Him, He can take anything and everything and bring good out of it.  No, not everything is good…not even close and that isn’t what He said.  He said He can bring good and in the case of my Daddy’s heart attack, my life path is part of that good.  Have you ever thought of life that way?  Can you think of a situation where God did that for you?  I bet you can. You see, God is good, God is faithful, and God can be trusted.

One day I will see my Daddy again…in heaven.  I’ll probably chat with him and ask if he ever thought about the good that God brought about because of his heart attack.  And then, well, I’ll tell him all about Judy (if she isn’t there yet) and his great grandkids.  It’s gonna be a great reunion.  Till then, I hope I remember to trust my heavenly Dearest Daddy each day, and know that no matter what, no matter how big…He’s got this.  Bro. Dewayne

Posted in forgiveness, Grace, life, Scripture, spiritual battles, Trials

Interest and Consequences

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23

There’s a couple of things you ought to know. First, the devil is not your friend…ever. No matter what he says, no matter what he promises. Someone once said the only constant in this world is change. Check. And that is true in the physical world but in the spiritual world there are two constants–God is good and Satan is a liar. The second thing you ought to know is that sin is always a bad deal. No matter how good it sounds or how good it feels…it is a bad deal. Let me illustrate that for you.

So imagine you get your credit card bill in the mail. Imagine you had several large purchases that month. Even though you try and pay it off every single month…well this one is a little more than you can handle. Let’s say the bill is for $5,500.00. So as you are pondering what to do, you notice that the nice credit card people have a plan “B.” They say, “Instead of paying the card off (the very smart thing to do) you can make a minimum payment–just $113.00 a month. Wow…that would sure help…right? Wrong. You see, if you make just that minimum payment, it would take you…and get ready…seventeen years to pay the debt and with interest instead of paying $5,500, you would pay $15,515.00. What? Can that be right? Well it not only can be…it is. You see, the nice credit card company is going to charge you a whole lot of interest to use their money.

That nice credit card company isn’t so nice when you have to make payments and trust me they never were your friend to start with. Now Judy and I have two credit cards–we use one for gas (which pays us 5% for every dollar we spend) and the other credits us with travel miles for Delta. Both are paid in full each month and by the way when we can’t pay them off–out come the scissors.

So what is the point of this little financial lesson. It is all about sin. You see, like the debt became bigger and bigger because of interest so sin grows bigger and bigger. The old song says that sin will take you further than you want to go, make you pay more that you want to pay and stay longer than you want to stay. No matter how enticing sin seems–remember there is always a payment due and it can be big…real big.

God made a way through faith in His Son Jesus whereby our sins can be paid in full–forgiven. But the fact is we will still sin in this imperfect world and while God removes the penalty of that sin–the consequences–the interest if you will–remains. Satan will surely lie to you and try to convince you that a little sin never hurt anyone. Really? Well, once again remember that little sin nailed Jesus to the cross.

Be wise friend–both with your finances and with your sin. The bondage of debt and the guilt and shame of sin are two masters you don’t need. Don’t walk–run away–run to your Dearest Daddy who loved you too much to leave you in your sin and loves you too much to face that hot mess alone. He is waiting to help. Gratefully and always, He’s got this.  Bro. Dewayne

Posted in Uncategorized

This Day

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24

June 12th is a special day in my life.  I graduated from high school on June 8, 1972.  I am amazed that 54 years have passed beneath the bridge of my life.  Time seems to travel so quickly.  As a child it was a gentle stream and now as a mature (that is in years and not necessarily actions) adult it seems a raging torrent.  So 54 years ago I was member of the largest graduating in the state of Florida for that year…714 seniors from one high School.  Trust me…it was easy to be a small fish in that big pond.  By Monday all that was in the rearview mirror.

On Monday, June 12, 1972, I raised my right hand and swore to protect and defend the constitution of the United States and to obey the orders of those appointed in rank above me.  I was eighteen, naive, had never been away from home and wondering what in the world I had gotten myself into.  If I remember that day correctly we took the oath, had last minute medical exams, and filled out a mountain of paperwork. They took us to Morrison’s Cafeteria for a last meal of sorts and then on to the airport for the flight to Lackland Air Force Base.  Intentionally we arrived at about 2:00 am…something they still do today.  We were given a couple of hours of sleep before beginning the great journey of becoming airmen.

The privilege of serving my country for the next twelve years marks that day as one of the great days of my life. The training I received there impacted the rest of my life. The skills I received in my advance training and then in my career prepared me for something far greater then I could imagine. Little did I know on June 12, 1972, what God had planned for me.  Saddle up your horses boys…this is the great adventure.

After twelve years in the Air Force it became apparent that the winds of change were blowing in my life.  I so loved the Air Force—it was my niche, my calling.  Starting in 1980 there were these whispers from Abba Father, my Dearest Daddy, that He wanted to do something more.  It was a whisper from Him to jump into the unknown. It was a whisper to trust Him at a level that I had never before experienced.  He was calling and it was undeniable.

The details are still vivid in my mind but time doesn’t allow the whole story to be told.  On February 14, 1982, I went forward in a morning worship service and told God I would do whatever He wanted.  Four short months later I found myself still in the service but in His service pastoring a small church close to our home.  Those days were crazy days.  Over the course of a few months the deal was sealed.  He whispered that He wanted me to give myself completely to Him.  He no longer wanted share me with the Air Force.  With that, Judy and I, along with our two very young daughters, prepared to jump big.

That leads to our second June 12th.  On that date in 1983, on a hot Sunday afternoon, I sat before a large ordaining council and a larger crowd.  That day, June 12, 1983, I was ordained, set apart, to serve Him.  My fondest memory of that day came after the council had asked all their questions.  They had been graceful to me and I was grateful.  The chairman of the council told the moderator that he had no more questions.  The moderator then asked if anyone else had an questions. I only thought I was done.

An elderly pastor, slowly stood to his feet and said, “Young man, the Bible says that the husband is the head of the home.  It also says that a pastor is to rule his house well.  Are you going to rule your house well?” And he sat down. If there was ever a time that I needed for God gave me the right words to say it was probably then.  With all the intentional fortitude I could muster I said, “Yes sir…if Judy will let me.” The room erupted and I got ordained.

And here I sit forty-three years later so grateful for a God who believed in me and hundreds of people who were patient and loved me. I have seen wheelbarrows full of grace from the God of the universe and His people.  If you ever wonder why I am grace heavy in my teaching it is because I have needed it so much and I have experienced it so much. I am blessed. Game. Set. Match.

The Bible says that this day, this very one, is a day that the Lord has made.  We get to choose how we are going to live it and how we will remember it. Well I am so grateful for two days in June, both the 12th.  They are markers for this incredible journey called life. How about you?  Do you have some special days that God moved, that God spoke, that God just showed off?  Let me encourage you to celebrate them…and Him.  He is such a good Abba Father to do less is unimaginable.  So go ahead, relive the times, relive the days when He showed up, when you rested in Him, when you just knew “He’s got this.” Then you can be the whisperer and softly say, “Thank you, Father.” Bro. Dewayne

Posted in communication, Grace, gratitude, Scripture, travel

New Every Morning

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

 “Because of the LORD’s faithful love we do not perish, for His mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness!” Lamentations 3:23-24

 ¡Hola! Soy una petunia mexicana. So on one of our recent journeys, my wife Judy made an essential stop at a local nursery to buy some plants for our yard. When we are in the south, whether it is as far south as Georgia or as close as Murray, Kentucky, we need to check out two things–what houses are for sale and what plants can we bring home. In this case, we were in Alabama at a Lowes and she brought home a petunia mexicana. In case you don’t speak Spanish (I don’t) the opening line says, “Hello! I am a Mexican petunia.”

So it turns out that our transplanted friend loves Southern Illinois–probably because it is southern. She carefully planted it in a large pot filled with Miracle Grow potting soil and the rest is history. In the few weeks that she has been in our backyard, she has just flourished. The greenery is green and lush but the best part are the blooms. Here’s how it goes. The day begins with it being covered with petite bluish purple blooms. They last the day and then they are done. By evening all that is left is the lush greenery. But there is a surprise coming.

You see, the next morning as the sunrises, new blooms appear. The whole plant is once again covered. It really is just beautiful. At the end of the day the whole process starts over again. But as sure as sunshine, the blooms are there and beautiful. It reminds me of one of my favorite scriptures. You see, in Lamentations 3:23-24 we read, “Because of the LORD’s faithful love we do not perish, for His mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness!” Did you see it?  Just like the Mexican petunia provides a fresh bouquet of flowers each day, so God in His marvelous grace provides a bouquet of mercy. How about that.

Just as He provided manna each morning for the children of Israel, so He provides His mercy for us each and everyday. He is always faithful and always right on time. The Hebrew even suggests that it isn’t just any old mercy…it is the mercy that we will need for that particular day. I find that so assuring and so amazing.

So if you want to come by 217 and check out our Mexican friend, feel free to. She is at her best in the morning–just like God’s mercies. God bless you today as you journey with Him. And always remember, “Recuerda que, pase lo que pase, ¡él puede con esto!” Oh, in case you are wondering that says, “Remember no matter what, He’s got this!” Bro. Dewayne

Posted in Grace, life, patience, prayer, Scripture, Trials

Hot Days, Flat Tires…and Grace

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

 “The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit.” Psalm 34:18

OK, get your tissues out for a really, really sad story.  So, it was a Saturday afternoon and I was coming back from Marion.  It was hot…now I don’t mean unpleasantly warm or the kinda hot that may test your deodorant a little.  It was sweat through your shirt, man you stink hot. I was rounding a curve, tootling a long and minding my own business when I heard a funny “road” noise.  It only took about two seconds to recognize that sound–I had a FLAT tire.  I immediately whipped to the side of the load, stopped and said, “Well what are we going to do now?”  I mean I knew what to do but I also knew I didn’t want to do it.

So, I got out of the car, and yes, it was hot and starting looking at the tires.  Tire #1, good; tire #2, good; Tire #3, good; tire #4, flat–but only on one side.  So I went to the rear of the van, popped the tailgate and found the jack–the one that had never been used and held in place by a nut that had been torqued to the point of no return at the factory.  As I tried to loosen it, it soon wasn’t the only thing that was torqued.   

After much effort, I got the jack out, loosened the lug nuts and jacked the van up enough to locate the spare under the rear of the van.  It appeared to be held in place by a giant wing nut that hadn’t been loosened…ever.  I beat on it for about 15 minutes slowly turning it around and wishing the guy that designed it would have a massive kidney stone.

Finally I came to my senses and said, “Maybe, I should read the directions.”  Well, I did and I discovered the guy didn’t deserve a kidney stone after all.  You see, Ford had put a nut inside the van in the cargo area.  As you turned that nut with the lug wrench, it gently lowered the tire to the ground.  Hmmmm…how about that?

Well, I got the spare out and as I was jacking up the van the rest of way, God sent a young man to help me finish the job.  Thank you, Lord. So, while I still had a very flat tire, while I was drenched in sweat (and even jammed my thumb–this is where the tissues come in), and while I was still very, very hot…if I had just read the directions my experience would have been a whole lot less painful.  If only I had read the directions….

Do you think it is possible that our lives would be a whole lot less painful if we would read and follow the directions for life–God’s Word?  Let me answer my own question with a resounding YES.  There would still be bumps…and flat tires…but we would face them with a wisdom, knowledge and understanding that can only come from God–through His Word.  Now, notice that important word…follow.  It is not enough to just read, you have to do.  Imagine me reading the instruction book and then continuing to beat on that piece of metal under the van.  I thought I was right but guess what?  I was wrong.

So since it is a fact that we are going to have bumps and flats, why not turn to the one who knows all about flats and frustrations. Why not ask Him for some good, Godly advice? The good news is He is willing, He is able and He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne

Posted in Family, friends, Grace, gratitude, loving others, prayer, Scripture

Church: Different Sizes–Same God

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

 “For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.” Romans 12:4-5

Amazing Grace…how sweet the sound. So since my retirement on June 1, 2024, I occasionally preach at other churches. By choice my name is not on the official “pulpit supply” list rather I simply wait and if a church calls and it works on my calendar, I usually will fill in. Supply preaching is interesting for several reasons–the first being the opportunity to worship with other churches. Invariably the churches that need a guy to “fill the pulpit” are small–some are very small.

At least twice I have shared this great truth. I tell them to remember that it is not the size of the church that matters but rather the size of the God in the church. I was preaching this last Sunday and I shared that the same God that works in a mega, mega church is the same God that works in a church running under twenty. Same God.

I preached Sunday at a church that probably runs about twenty or twenty-five people. I like the fact that it is a folksy kind of church. The people are friendly and non assuming. The atmosphere gives me that same feeling I get when I put on my favorite sweatshirt on a cool fall night. Warm and comfortable. They begin their Sunday morning service the same way every Sunday–by reciting the pledge to the American flag, the Christian flag and then the Bible. There is just something about that that warms my soul. Three great reminders–we should thank God for our country, we should thank Jesus for dying for us and we should thank God for His word. Check. Check. Check.

The songs that we sing there are from an old hymn book that we actually used in our youth choir back in the seventies. It is called the Inspirational Hymnbook (followed by a number). The songs are old yet soul stirring. I was surprised how satisfying I found these songs. Oh, I still love the new stuff but the old stuff reminds me that the words of truth that carried me then can still carry me now. I appreciate that a lot. I like that a lot.

I’ve done the church thing all my life even before I became a Jesus follower in 1967. The churches I attended and even the ones that I pastored were as varied as the names on their signs. Churches are different because people are different. There are a few constants that should be noted–like love God and love people– but just like people’s personalities are different so are churches and do you know what? That is just ok. We are blessed to have so many places to worship here in America. We just need to remember that it really is all about Him and that no matter what–He’s got that. Bro. Dewayne

Posted in forgiveness, Grace, life, school days, Scripture

You Have Big Ears

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

 “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” Ephesians 4:29

“You have big ears.” Well, there it is. I was helping with the party trailer at Vacation Bible School the other day. I was in charge of boxing up the popcorn and then handing it to the kids. It’s always hard being the popcorn guy because we are competing against the snow cone people and the cotton candy people. Even a blind guy can see who is going to come in third in that deal. Art Linkletter used to have a television show that featured him interviewing kids. The show was called “Kids Say the Darnedest Things.” It was called that because, well, kids say the darnedest things. I looked up darnedest and found out that it was a colloquial American slang term used to describe something incredibly surprising, odd, or amazing. I guess that’s where my ears come in.

Now, back to being the popcorn guy. I already have rejection issues and this didn’t help. Some kids were kind when I offered them popcorn. And, actually more than a few accepted my offer. More than a few though looked at me like I was offering them a serving of roadkill. Like I said, what is popcorn compared to snow cones and cotton candy. So, we were down to waiting for the last group and that is when it happened.

I was sitting there talking with a couple of my buddies and this kid walked up. Actually, he had been kinda hanging around so I think he must have belonged to someone…I mean like someone on staff. Anyway, he gives me this kinda look and then he said the darnedest thing. He said, “You have big ears.” Well I was kinda taken a back so I said, “Say what?” He said it again, “You have big ears.” Well, I wasn’t sure what to say so I said, “Well, and I called his name, thank you for confirming what I thought I already knew.” Like I said, kids say the darnedest  things.

He was right of course. It all started in my childhood when two of my sisters (bless their hearts) would hold me down, tickle me and pull my ears. The bottom line is they did it enough that my ears got bigger and never retreated. I’ve looked at them in the mirror ever since and thought to myself, “Man I have big ears.” And the little kid just confirmed it for me. I did ask him who he thought gave me these ears and he said my Momma did. I told him he was right but who else? He thought about it but didn’t have another answer so I said, “God did.” I went on to explain that meant that they were exactly the ones that God wanted me to have.  It was a good answer but it didn’t solve the big ear dilemma.

Well, in the end I laughed it all off. After all, kids do say the darnedest things. But remember while that may sometimes excuse kids, it doesn’t excuse adults who also say the darnedest things. We can excuse the kids because maybe they don’t know better but we big people do. And, trust me, as a pastor I had my share of darnedest things said to me…though I’m not sure anyone ever comment on my ears. Weight–sure. Height–sure. Sermons–double sure. How I dressed–sure and double sure. Sometimes those darnedest things bounced off but sometimes they left scars.  So have you ever said a darnedest thing and wish you hadn’t.  Truth is we all have.

The Bible warns us to be careful about darnedest things and we would be wise to heed the call…especially if it involves ears. If you’ve ever been on the receiving end of a darnedest thing just remember this. Jesus loves you and He doesn’t care how big your ears are or how much you weigh.  After all, He’s got this.  Bro. Dewayne

Posted in Uncategorized

The Longest Day

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

 “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.” John 14:26

It was more than the title for a movie.  One by one they are slipping away.  Who?  That generation newsman and author Tom Brokaw called the greatest generation.  This generation was born and lived through the Great Depression.  Their words and testimonies fill pages and pages of books and blogs.  Words like, “we were poor but didn’t know it” or like “we had nothing but each other…and that was more than enough” ring of their wisdom and courage.

But it would seem that living and surviving the great depression was just a warmup for their finest hour…that would begin with the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. That day, the day that President Franklin Roosevelt said, “would live in infamy,” marked the start of our country’s direct involvement in World War II.  Before it was all over, almost four years later, America would see 1,076,245 causalities.  That number includes 291,557 combat dead, 113,842 who died from other causes and 670,840 wounded.

Memorial Day of this year, I said something that I had heard many times but this time, as I spoke it, it seemed to shout at me.  I simply said, “Freedom isn’t free.”  As I spoke that day, I was freshly amazed at this generation of men and women, 16.7 million of them, who served during World War II. They marched off, self-forgotten, to strange lands and places and many of them would never come home.  Like I said, I was amazed.

Tomorrow, June 6th, 2026, is the 82nd anniversary of what has been called, “The Longest Day.” It was the day that thousands of soldiers, airmen and sailors, with thousands of ships and planes, invaded Normandy, France to begin the retaking of Europe from the grip of Nazi Germany and the Axis powers.  The courage of those men who stormed those beaches is legendary.  Imagine with me small boats, called Higgins boats, riding the waves towards Normandy with shells exploding all around.  Imagine with me seeing many, too many, of these boats literally disappearing after taking a direct hit from enemy shells. Imagine knowing that each of these boats carried several dozen men.  Sacrifice. Courage. Amazing.

There probably are not words that can describe that day.  Films like, “The Longest Day” and “Saving Private Ryan” have tried to tell the story but though their efforts are valiant they always fall short.  That day, 6,603 Americans were killed, missing, or wounded. Imagine again, as officers knocked on doors and telegrams arrived, “The Defense Department regrets to inform you…” Freedom truly isn’t free.  I know we know but I only hope we won’t forget.  Yet in most minds, this observance of “The Longest Day” won’t garner a passing thought.

When the children of Israel of Old Testament fame were crossing over into the Promised Land, they were told to take twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan River.  The sole purpose of these stones was to remind them of the miracle and the day.  That way when years later and their memories were foggy, they had the stones to remind them.  I’m not sure what stone of reminder we need but it might be as simple as a visit to the cemetery and taking the time to READ the markers and stones of those who served.  It might be as simple as taking your kids with you to show them and teach them about sacrifice and courage.  Unfortunately, it may not be taught any place else.

December 7, 1941. June 6, 1944. These are only two dates of many that are worthy of remembrance…but they are a start. Jesus knew we would need help remembering about the things of God.  That is why He said, “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.” And who knows, perhaps that same Holy Spirit will help us remember to be grateful for the sacrifice others have made on our behalf.  In fact, I’m sure He will help because that is what He does best…help. Like everything else, I’m sure, “He’s got this.” Bro. Dewayne