Category: love

Posted in Family, fear, Grace, gratitude, life, love, loving others, prayer, Scripture, sovereignty of God, Trials

Just Beneath the Surface

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1

I stood at the window and looked.  It was a cold morning in January…and it was getting colder. Overnight an arctic front had blown through leaving a heavy dusting of snow and falling temperatures all accompanied by a blustery north wind that made the cold seem even more frigid. The morning light was just breaking so it was still dark and as I looked, I saw despair…saw nothing that seemed to offer hope.

Life is like that sometimes, isn’t it?  Everywhere we look there are challenges.  House fires, accidents, perplexing situations with our careers and injustice are all around us. We have several in our families who are struggling with cancer and end-of-life stages. Well-used bodies are beginning to fail. Even though the life journey for them has been long, it is still difficult to face the fact that some goodbyes are not far in the future.

And then there is tomorrow.  Tomorrow I will be officiating at a funeral for a much too young 18-year-old high school junior.  He was struck by an automobile and didn’t survive the encounter. It is going to be hard—there is just no way around it.  See what I mean?  Life can often seem like the view from my winter window.  It would seem so hopeless…except for one thing.  Spring.

You see, all things equal, I know something.  I know that sleeping beneath the cold and perhaps frozen earth are grass and plants from last year and while they are sleeping now, they won’t sleep forever.  In just a couple of months, a few weeks, they are going to burst back into the sun and life will begin again.  It is going to happen because that is the way God made it. He created the seasons for us to…enjoy.  It is hard to understand that on this cold January morning, but it is true. And this cold morning is going to help me appreciate the new life when it happens.  I will have a deeper appreciation of life.

So, if your life seems like a frigid morning in January, know this.  God wants, God desires to bring life in the Spring. Whether it is an encounter with eternity or a dark time with no sign of light, God wants to bring hope into your story.  He gave His Son for that very purpose.  Jesus died on a Roman cross so we could live.  He defeated death by coming back to life that first Easter morning. Just like the first flower brave enough to bloom in early Spring, so He bloomed to offer hope…to each of us…to all of us.  All we must do is believe, to have faith.

All the wishing in the world won’t change the view out my winter window…but time will.  And in His time, He will bring Spring to yours too.  Don’t give up.  Just believe this.  Right below the surface of your life, just like the cold, frozen ground outside my window, there is life, and that life is going to burst out of the ground one day.  There is hope…even where you are now.  Struggling to believe?  Don’t worry…He can help you with that too.  He who requires faith can give faith.  He’s got this.  Bro. Dewayne

Posted in Family, friends, gratitude, life, love, priorities, school days, Scripture, Southern born, sovereignty of God, thankful

Missing a Grade

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

I remember the days of old; I meditate on all You have done; I reflect on the work of Your hands.” Psalm 143:5

I’m not sure why…but there’s a gap. When I started school in Jacksonville, Florida there was no kindergarten.  It was like one day you were at home and then you weren’t.  My first four grades of elementary school were at Wesconnett Elementary School and the last two were at a brand-new school—Jacksonville Heights Elementary School. Unlike Wesconnett, that required a bus ride, the new school was only blocks down the road from my house. 

Wesconnett was old…really old. It was all brick and hot with no air conditioning. That is one reason why we didn’t start school till after Labor Day.  I remember it having large paned windows, oak floors, and tall ceilings.  Hundreds of footsteps would echo through those halls. And, to a little kid like me, it was big—like huge.  It was at Wesconnett that I met and fell in love for the first time.  She was older than me—my first-grade teacher—Mrs. Jones.  And, like the song from the seventies says, “we had a thing going on” or at least I did.  She was pretty (at least from my seven-year-old perspective) and she was nice.  I became her number one eraser cleaner.  But soon, it was time to move on.  So, I passed first grade, and it was so long Mrs. Jones.

By second grade I was a veteran.  A lot of the insecurities were gone, and I met Mrs. Webb.  She, like Mrs. Jones, was a kind teacher.  I think, though I am not sure, that my sister and I had our tonsils out about then and she had all the kids write me get well cards.  I can still remember how special it was to receive that big envelope from my classmates. Thank you, Mrs. Webb.  Third grade meant yet another teacher…this time Mrs. Wilson.  Now I don’t mean this in a mean way but she kind of reminded me of one of the witches from “The Wizard of Oz.”  She was an older lady and wore her hair in a tight bun and was quite stern.  I didn’t clean Mrs. Wilson’s erasers.  But looking back, she was a good teacher and she helped us learn and that is what mattered.  I managed to pass again, so soon it was so long Mrs. Wilson.

Fifth grade meant a new school (with air conditioning—smile) and yet another new teacher and her name was, get ready for it, Mrs. Slappy.  She was rather short, had bright red hair and was rather snappy.  Today I think I would use the word, “feisty.”  As I remember her class, it was fun, and I had a new responsibility.  She selected me (and a couple of others) to be trained to run the film strip projector and the movie projector.  It was a big deal.  When we were going to see a film strip or movie in class, one of us would go down and check out the equipment, set it up and operate it.  Wow…what responsibility and to think, she trusted me.  That was a big deal. Thank you, Mrs. Slappy.

My final year in elementary school, sixth grade, was a landmark year.  I had my first male teacher; Mr. Perry and I was selected to be a “patrol boy.”  Mr. Perry was, as you can imagine, a little different from Mrs. Jones in first grade but I remember him being imposing but fair.  He was a “rules” guy but if you followed the rules, you did ok.  That served me well then and really for the rest of my life.  I know it started at home but Mr. Perry reenforced it…a lesson well learned. Well, there you go, my parade of teachers. The end. Thanks for reading.

Well, not quite.  You see there was a reason I walked you through all of that.  Did you notice something? Well, if you noticed that there is a gap…you are right.  You see, for some reason, and who knows why, there is a total gap for the fourth grade.  I have absolutely no memories of my teacher, classmates, or surroundings.  I know it was Wesconnett but beyond that…zero…and that intrigues me.  I don’t know or believe it was anything bad…there is just a gap. In fact, it means that there was probably a good teacher who taught me, good friends that I met and played with and a whole year of great memories that, for some reason, I have forgotten. I.Have.Forgotten.

And that made me think.  How many other incredibly good things have I forgotten?  It seems we have no problem remembering all the bad stuff but sometimes we tend to forget the good stuff, the great stuff that comes our way.  I love writing about my days as a kid, but I wonder how many good stories I could write if I remembered all the other adventures that came my way.  How many more adventurous things came my way that …slipped away.  Hmmm.

Remembering the good always feeds gratitude and dwelling on the bad tends to feed the opposite. And, trying to fill unexplained gaps, well, can do the same.  Why don’t we celebrate the good, let the hard stuff stay in the rearview mirror and those gaps…just let them be.  I like what the writer of Psalms 145:3 said, “I remember the days of old; I meditate on all you have done; I reflect on the work of your hands.”  In other words, whether it was good, whether it was difficult or whether there is a gap, we know and celebrate one constant, “He’s got that.”  Bro. Dewayne

Posted in Family, life, love, prayer, Scripture, sovereignty of God, thankful, travel, Trials

The Paradoxes of Life

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

It’s a bit of a paradox. There’s a tale about a married couple, both doctors, strolling down the street together. Observers quip, “Oh look, a ‘pair of docs,” or a paradox.  Smile. Here’s my own paradox, unrelated to doctors: I love to travel. My wife Judy and I eagerly anticipate our journeys – they’re like life’s sweet treats.

But here’s the paradox – to travel, you must go somewhere, and that inevitably involves potential frustration. Whether it’s a canceled flight, a delayed train, or an unexpected traffic jam, interruptions are part and parcel of the journey. Recently, driving south on Interstate 24, we encountered a slowdown due to ongoing roadwork. However, this time was different. Everyone smoothly merged into a single lane, and we were cruising south at a reduced but respectable speed—until brake lights appeared.

Suddenly, we found ourselves in a traffic jam. The GPS confirmed an accident ahead, yet as we approached, it wasn’t the catastrophic scene I anticipated. Three vehicles were pulled over, minimal damage evident. No police, no ambulances—just people chatting. Once past the scene, life returned to normal, and we resumed our journey.

Here’s what struck me: the choices of those drivers caused a mess, and while a slowdown was warranted—a shutdown wasn’t! It could have been curiosity or maybe people overacted but one thing is sure—it wasn’t the accident. Oh well, things do happen.

And here lies the paradox. In practical terms, travel involves bumps and slowdowns – it’s part of life’s journey. While you strive to avoid them, don’t let them overshadow the things you love. Learn to accept them as part of the adventure. I’m still learning, but it feels worth exploring – imagine finding joy not just in the journey but also in the bumps and slowdowns.

As someone who believes in the teachings of the Bible, I trust that God has His hand on life’s wheel and throttle. There’s a reason for the smooth rides and the bumpy roads. It’s about being willing to trust Him for both. A proverb from the Book of Proverbs says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways know Him, and He will make your paths straight.” So, trust Him in the twists and turns of life whether they are expected or not.

When I saw those brake lights, there was a gentle whisper in my ear – not of frustration or demand, but a familiar reassurance: “Don’t worry, son, I’ve got this.” – Bro. Dewayne

Posted in Family, gratitude, life, love, Scripture, sovereignty of God, thankful, Trials

Faithful and Steady

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
Hebrews 13:8

What in the world happened? It is amazing how crazy the weather can be.  All this winter, well, most of this winter, in my neck of the woods, which is in the real Southern Illinois, I and a whole bunch of other folks were amazed at the mild winter we were experiencing.  Our low temperatures were just about what our normal high would normally be and day after day we had blue skies to boot. A subtle change occurred when there were slowly more cloudy days than clear.

Now, for whatever reason, I watch the Farm Show every Saturday morning. They have a weather segment, and the guy always tells us what to expect even a few weeks into the future. Well, the truth is his longer-range forecast is not always accurate.  So, anyway, my wife Judy and I drove down to Georgia last week to visit my sister and one day Judy mentioned something about some really cold weather.  My first thought was, “What?  The farm guy didn’t mention that.”  Well, the bottom line is our balmy winter went to Florida and this morning it is a bone chilling two degrees.  Just like that, we went from, “this is a winter I can live with” to “I am counting the days to Spring”.

Seasons come and seasons go and like they say, “If you don’t like the weather, just wait a few minutes and it will change.”  That is not only true concerning the seasonal weather, but also true with the seasons of our lives.  It seems that one minute we are zipping along and the next minute we run full tilt into a major storm. Sometimes it is a major health deal, sometimes it is a major career deal, sometimes it is a major deal involving our emotions and the list goes on and on.  The only thing that is certain is that change can come quickly.  Someone said that the only constant in life is change and they were right, almost.

You see, there is one more constant and it is a big one. The other constant in life is our Creator God.  Steadier than a steady rain and more tender than a mother with her newborn, He is always there and always loving and caring.  There are so many wonderful attributes of God that the list is endless but one of the ones that I love most is that He is always there and always just what is needed.  With Him, His character is never one thing one day and another the next. With Him there are no arctic blasts. He’s never cold towards us—always like a warm Spring Day with just the right gentle breeze blowing.

Seasons do come and go, and weather is as fickle as a cat—but not so Jesus.  The Bible says of Him, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” I like that…a lot. So, in your life if a few weeks ago the weather was unusually pleasant and today it just isn’t, just know this.  The One who makes the weather is always for you and no matter what, He’s got this. I like that…a lot too.  Bro. Dewayne

Posted in Grace, gratitude, life, love, loving others, prayer, Scripture, sovereignty of God, thankful, Trials

More than a Chunk of Rock

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10

Day after day, it laid there. In the Florence, Italy cathedral courtyard, a massive chunk of beautiful marble rested for nearly a century. Now wait—think about that. Not a few months or even several years, but for ten long decades. Amazing. It turns out a sculptor had been commissioned to create something and had made a mistake leaving the stone deemed unusable.  Surely over those years, hundreds of people walked by the piece of marble seeing nothing useful. “What a waste,” they would say.  And then, one day it happened.

In 1505, a young sculptor named Michelangelo (does that name ring a bell?) discovered the neglected piece and saw something that no one else saw—potential.  While others saw its flaws—he saw a masterpiece. Over the course of three years, he diligently worked to transform the marble.  He worked to bring out a masterpiece—an impressive 18-foot-tall sculpture of the young shepherd boy David.  That single statue not only defined his career then, but five hundred years later, it remains one of the world’s greatest masterpieces. Many people even visit Florence, Italy to view it in person.

That is an amazing story, isn’t it?  But think about this. Much like Michelangelo with his marble, God too sees potential—not in a chuck of stone but in people—people like you and me.  Where others see waste and failure, God sees more.  He sees a masterpiece. I love what Paul wrote in the New Testament letter to the church of Ephesus.  He wrote, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.” On my—isn’t that marvelous.  And just to think—you thought you were a mistake.  You thought you were junk.  You thought you were destined to lie in the rubble of life because someone told you that you could never be anything more.  You just listened to the wrong voice.

The right voice is the voice of Creator God.  Some call Him, “Dearest Daddy.”  He encounters us in our brokenness, lost and in need of refinement. When we place our faith in Christ, God begins the process of sculpting us, methodically chipping away at our imperfections to shape us into the image He envisions.

How about that?  Now remember, this process is rarely comfortable or easy, but it is always worth it. If you ever wonder what in the world God is doing in your life, I can tell you the answer.  He is making you like His Son, Jesus. Someone said God doesn’t always make us happy, but He is always working to make us holy.  So, let me encourage you to trust the masterpiece maker.  Let me encourage you to allow Him to work and bring development to the masterpiece that you are.  The job of the marble is simply to be available to the Sculptor…who does a mighty work with His skillful hands. You can do that you know because, “He’s got this.”  Bro. Dewayne

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Posted in birthday, Family, fear, friends, Grace, gratitude, heaven, life, love, loving others, prayer, priorities, Scripture, sovereignty of God, thankful, Trials

Living at Mach 1

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

You have decided the length of our lives. You know how many months we will live, and we are not given a minute longer.” Job 14:5

No one really knew what was going to happen.  As men developed aircraft that continuously went faster and higher, an invisible wall stood in the way—the sound barrier.  Determining the speed of sound is a little tricky because several factors determine it.  The bottom line is the speed of sound at sea level and 68 degrees is 767 miles per hour. Like most Baptists, the aviation world doesn’t respond to well to the unknown.  And truth be told, no one knew what would happen when this event happened.  As it turned out, it was largely very uneventful.  It went like this.

On October 14, 1947, U.S. Air Force Captain Chuck Yeager piloted his experiential aircraft to the speed of Mach 1.06 or just over the speed of sound. Early attempts had confronted severe buffeting but this time the flight went smoothly. Despite all the fears, the transition to supersonic flight was remarkably uneventful.  Franklin Roosevelt said, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself” and He was right. It reminds me of the big scare in the year 2000 when many predicted that the world’s computers would all crash because they weren’t programmed to go beyond 1999.  Again, largely nothing happened. Surprise, surprise, surprise.

Well, this past Saturday, January 6, 2024, I broke a “sound barrier” of my own. On that day I turned 70—seven decades old.  As this milestone approached, it kinda messed with my head. Oh, I know that age is just a number, but this number was getting high and coming pretty fast.  For a long time, in my way of thinking, 70 was the threshold to being genuinely old. If it wasn’t old, you could certainly see it from there. I wondered what would happen and the answer was—nothing.  It turns out age really is just a number and while seventy qualifies you as a senior adult it was not the end of the world as we know it.

All this reminded me that it really is God who holds our birthdays in His hand.  It is God who numbers our days and even plans them.  I think I’m learning that my responsibility is to trust Him and to live each day to its fullest.  Right now, and I know today doesn’t necessarily predict tomorrow, but right now I am grateful that I don’t feel—70.  I feel a bit older but that nasty age barrier, like the sound barrier, turned out to be not much of a barrier at all.  So, wherever you are in this birthday thing, just remember that if we are having birthdays, we are still breathing.  Oh, and if that should stop and you know Jesus, it simply means the best is yet to come. When your special day rolls around, remember to thank God for it and every day.  Don’t let that barrier or any barrier keep you from believing that “He’s got this.”  Bro. Dewayne

A picture is worth a thousand words.

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Happy Birthday

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

Saturday was my birthday.  Now wait.  That isn’t a hint for a gift.  It isn’t an invitation for a bunch of comments.  It is a statement of fact—and fascination.  You see, 70 years ago I was born.  I don’t say that because I remember, I say it because I am here…now.  I am amazed that over seven decades have come and gone since Leslie, my Momma, said to Alston, my Daddy, “It’s time.”  She had already done this birthing thing seven times, so I suppose it was just another day at the office by then.

Since the day I was born, I have been alive 25,567 days.  That means that 25,567 times the sun came up in the morning and went to bed at night.  It means 25,567 times God faithfully gave me a wakeup call.  One of my favorite verses in the Bible is the one that says this is the day that the Lord has made, so we should find joy in it and be glad for the opportunity.  25,567 times.  25,567 love notes from God that said He thinks life should go on.

Now there are a bunch of those days that I don’t remember.  In fact, these days I don’t remember what happened yesterday. I find some humor that as a pastor I have to pause and think about what I spoke about last week.  Sometimes it just slips my mind.  Oh course, the good news is that most people can’t remember what I said either.  One day all I will need is one sermon.  Together we will just hit the replay button.  But that day is not today.

As I look back, I am so filled with gratitude with the incredible journey that God has allowed to play out in my life.  Not every day has been that good.  I mean, the days I woke up with the stomach flu didn’t make the top 1,000.  But it has been a great journey.  My childhood, or at least the part I remember, often causes me to smile.  The more I think of my Momma and Daddy, the more I appreciate them.  They were ordinary folks but at the same time they were just extraordinary.

I think about the night in 1974 when I walked into that church in Valdosta, Georgia and saw “the girl” and I am grateful.  I have shared almost 48 of my 70 years with her and boy am I glad I decided to go to that church that night.  Our journey has been and is one adventure after another.  I’m hoping God decides to let us grow old together—it’s gonna be a hoot for sure.  Throw in the mix the kids (including the ones who stole our daughter’s hearts) and the grandkids and, well, it is awesome.  Perfect? No.  But who said life must be perfect to be amazing?

And, then there are the everyday people I have met and bumped into, especially as a teacher/pastor. If life was a giant scoop of vanilla ice cream and people were the toppings, it would be one fantastic, multi-flavored, rainbow-colored sundae.  You know those things kids love to sprinkle on ice cream—all the different colors and flavors mixed?  Well, that’s life and that’s people and that’s what makes it wonderfully unique.  Yep, it’s been a good ride.

It seems that life is like a long stint in school.  Someone said all they needed to learn they learned in kindergarten.  I think that really is life—one big, long day in kindergarten—learning, playing, living—with a few skinned knees along the way.  I know this and yet I am still learning this.  Life is not a destination—it is a journey.  There is not some magic place we are going to arrive at one day and feel all warm and fuzzy and complete—well, unless you count heaven.  No, the joy of life is the journey.

There it is. That is why we need to wake up every day, thank God for another love note, another opportunity to make an impact and be impacted.  That is why every day, regardless of how it plays out, is a gift.  The hard days are opportunities to learn those hard, but very valuable, lessons.  The good days when things just go amazingly well are like recess—or lunch.  The trick is learning to be grateful for both, because both are valuable.

At any rate—I’m grateful that at t-minus nine months Alston and Leslie decided one more couldn’t hurt.  I’m grateful that they decided I was a keeper—even if the table was a little full.  And if it isn’t your birthday today, go ahead and celebrate anyway.  Today is God’s decision that life should go on.  Today is His way of saying I love you.  Today, regardless of the circumstances, is an opportunity to believe that He is good, that He is faithful and that He can be trusted.  It is just one more opportunity to believe, “He’s got this.”  Bro. Dewayne

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Posted in Family, forgiveness, friends, Grace, gratitude, life, love, loving others, Military memories, prayer, pride, Scripture, sovereignty of God, thankful, Trials

Wrong Pew–Wrong Girl

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” Proverbs 11:2

It was an oops…a big oops.  I was in my early twenties and life was good.  I was enjoying my first enlistment in the Air Force, I was stationed not far from my hometown of Jacksonville, Florida but more importantly, smack-dab in the middle of the land of grits.  I was engaged to the prettiest girl in town, and we were both Jesus followers and involved in a local church.  And that’s where it happened.

I have always loved music, and most would say that I have a pretty good singing voice. Starting when my Momma forced my oldest sister to let me sing “I Love You, Truly” at her wedding, I have had multiple opportunities to sing publicly—at least in my limited world.  Later I would be a part of a couple of singing groups and so it probably isn’t surprising that I would provide special music at our church.  So, here’s how it played out.  Things are always predictable in the services of Baptist churches.  There would an opening song, someone would give a welcome and make some announcements, we would sing two more songs, take the offering (and sometimes the word “take” was very literal), there would be a special song and then the preacher would preach.  After he got done (which could take a while) there would be a closing song and prayer. These things were so set in stone they were printed every Sunday in the bulletin.  You didn’t mess with the “order of worship.” If it wasn’t in there—we didn’t do it.

A couple of times a month I would be the one who sang right before the message.  I was usually comfortable in front of people and that turned out to be a good thing because later I would become the guy who talked for a long while.  Now even though I was comfortable singing in front of people, each time it was a little nerve racking. While I could be the life of the party, I sure didn’t want to embarrass myself in from of a couple of hundred people.  Well, one day I did…but not like you think.

On that Sunday, at the appropriate time, I went up to the stage and sang my song. I don’t remember the name of the song, but I do know it went well.  I know because it was one of those times, I left the stage smiling.  The people enjoyed the presentation, and I enjoyed presenting it.  All was well.  So, off the stage I bounded. Truth be known, I was probably feeling just a little cocky.  I should have remembered that the Bible says, “Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.”  But I didn’t.

My fiancée Judy and I always sat over by the wall and about halfway back in the pews. We were as predictable as the sunrise. So that is where I headed.  It was a “zippy do dah” moment and when I got to the place, I sat right down and threw my arm around the girl I loved.  Only it wasn’t. I sat there for about four seconds and realized something didn’t feel just right.  I glanced over to my right expecting to see the face of my fiancée but instead I saw the face of the preacher’s daughter. Her face was doing two things at once.  First, she was smiling and second it said, “Why are you here and why do you have your arm around me.”  Oops. I had missed my landing zone by one pew.  There’s an old saying, “Right church, wrong pew.”  It means you had the right general area but not the right exact spot. Well, in my case I had the wrong row and the wrong girl. I sheepishly stood and moved back one row.  Right row, right girl.

Are you wondering what happened? Well, gratefully Judy wasn’t mad.  I mean she could have given me the “what for” but she didn’t.  The crowd, well, as you can imagine they were laughing and if I remember correctly, it all warranted a comment from the pastor who happened to be the father of the girl. Well, it all turned out fine, but it was definitely one of those times you don’t forget.  As I think about it—I have had lots of those moments which means I have had lots of learning opportunities.

The lesson that day was, “be sure you know where you are supposed to land.”  In my “zippy-do-dah” moment I had landed at the wrong airport.  It was no deal because it was an honest mistake.  No harm—no foul.  But that’s not always the case.  Sometimes our oops, especially the intentional or semi-intentional ones, can leave a mark or two.  When you are the life of the party kind of guy it is too easy to have a laugh at someone’s expense.  I’ve learned that in life it is easy to do something on the spur of a moment that can have a long lasting “oops”.  Can someone say, “I bought a new car.”  Can someone say, “Seven years of payments.” Smile.

Well, Judy and I have been married coming up on forty-eight years and when she reads this she will remember, and odds are she will smile.  I am grateful we have lots of days that cause us to smile and far fewer of the kind that cause us to wince in pain.  That is called grace—extended and received.  So, as you navigate through life and you’re preparing to land at your selected airport—make sure it is the right one.  You might want to contact “the tower” and confirm His opinion of your intended landing site.  It might save you some embarrassment and pain.  You can always count on Him…He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne

Posted in Family, forgiveness, friends, Grace, gratitude, heaven, life, love, loving others, prayer, priorities, Scripture, sovereignty of God, thankful

Donut Heaven

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

For this is how God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

Two things you need to know. First, stepping into Ralph’s was like stepping into a donut paradise. Second, it has been too long since our last visit. A while back, Judy and I decided to take a trip to middle Tennessee for some hiking and to marvel at God’s creation. We chose Cookeville, a small city about an hour east of Nashville, as our base. Although we had driven by it numerous times on our way to other destinations, we had never stopped. This time, however, it became our destination, and it turned out to be a wonderful decision.

Within a short drive, we encountered some of the most stunning waterfalls, including Fall Creek Falls, the tallest east of the Rockies, standing at 256 feet. Burgess Falls, with its three separate falls, each more spectacular than the last, and the cascading waterfalls at Rock Island State Park left us in awe. Amidst all this natural beauty, we stumbled upon Ralph’s.

When staying at an Airbnb, we always explore the host’s literature to enhance our visit. The guest book mentioned Ralph’s, a mom-and-pop donut shop in downtown Cookeville, recommended by three previous guests. It became a must-visit for us. Unfortunately, on Monday morning, we discovered they were closed. Our anticipation had to wait another day.

On Tuesday morning, after planning our hikes, we headed to Ralph’s Donut Shop to fuel up with calories for our journey. Established in 1962, Ralph’s had been delighting customers with donuts for 58 years. As we opened the door, we were greeted by a sight that truly resembled donut heaven.

The interior was simple, with a horseshoe-shaped counter filled with locals enjoying coffee and pastries. A long glass case and a wall adorned with pastries and donuts tempted us. The enthusiastic donut salesman welcomed us and shared the highlights of Ralph’s menu. The fried apple fritter, a massive treat covered in glaze with a delicious apple filling, was our first choice. Then, he introduced us to the butter twist, voted the number one donut in Tennessee, brushed with butter before frying. We ordered two of those. For Judy’s chocolate craving, a butter twist with chocolate frosting was the perfect choice. Finally, he threw in a broken spice bar for free, describing it as a blend of Little Debbie and gingerbread. I couldn’t resist.

Ralph’s surprised us further with its operating hours – three shifts of bakers kept the shop open from 5:00 am to 11:30 pm. They were thriving, listed among the top 20 donut bakeries in the entire United States. It truly felt like “holey” ground.

The dedication at Ralph’s was evident. They believed in their product, knew it well, and wanted to share it with everyone. As followers of Jesus, we could learn a lesson from Ralph’s. We possess the best news in creation – the good news of Jesus Christ, who can make us holy. Unlike donuts, Jesus can make us holy enough to call God our Father and holy enough for eternal life. While Ralph’s had been making donuts for 58 years, God has been loving us since before the foundation of the world.

Considering how incredible God is, our response should be to be “all in” too. We should live as if we truly believe and share the Word about Him passionately. Leaving Ralph’s, I felt compelled to tell people about this amazing place. Similarly, as followers of Jesus, we should wake up every morning eager to share the good news.

On this first day of the New Year, let’s figuratively get behind the counter, not to sell donuts, but to share the life-changing news that God, in His incredible love, gave His Son for us. This is the best news ever, and it comes with the assurance that, no matter what this year brings, He’s got it. Bro. Dewayne

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

New Year’s Eve Eve

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the Lord: “For He is good, for His mercy endures forever toward Israel.” Ezra 3:11

We weren’t famous but we had fun.  I was fortunate to have what a lot of kids never did. First, I know that not everybody did or does the church thing…and certainly not all teenagers.  However, when I was growing up it seemed a lot more kids did.  I went to the same church from the time I was about 10 until I joined the Air Force at age 18.  We had the most incredible youth group you could imagine.  We were all good friends and it seemed we did everything together.  Almost every Friday or Saturday night we had a party at someone’s house.  It was some kind of cookout and always involved some kind of crazy game. Personally, I was partial to spin-the-bottle.  Smile.

Music was a huge part of our teen years.  Again, it was different times, but I believe our group was special.  We would rush through our Sunday night Bible study just so we could sit in a room and sing four-part harmony.  We weren’t the Tabernacle Choir, but we sounded pretty good and better than that—we loved it.  After church it would be a trip to Frosty’s or one of the local pizza places.  I believe that a lot of who I am today came from that group and the awesome leaders who poured into our lives.  Musically that would be Lloyd and Jane.  She was the church pianist, and he was the music director.  They loved Jesus, loved music, and loved kids—in that order.  And that is how it all started.

It had to be Lloyd and Jane that came up with the idea of forming a four-part quartet.  Now you must understand in the late sixties and very early seventies, two things were huge: church softball and gospel music.  So, it probably seemed more natural than not.  Four of us young men, Doug, David, Steve, and myself, formed a quartet with Melody on the piano.  After a contest to find a name, we became…drumroll please, “The Youngmun”. Lloyd and Jane took us under their wing and taught us how to sing parts, add tone and balance and after a while we sounded decent.  Then, we started getting gigs—opportunities to sing.  Sometimes it was Friday nights, sometimes Saturday nights and sometimes Sunday afternoons with a sprinkling of times in-between.

We just had a great time. We loved to sing and were really good friends.  One of the Bible guys said that we should sing responsively, praising and giving thanks to the Lord: “For He is good, for His mercy endures forever toward Israel.” And do you know what?  We tried to do exactly that. Well, eventually we went our separate ways, but the memories still live in my heart.  And that is the reason for this story.

You see, back then there were things called “all night singings”.  You can guess what it was by the title.  While they were held at different times the all-time favorite was New Year’s Eve.  Churches or groups of churches would book groups and they would literally sing all night long.  More than once we sang very late or very early—depending on your perspective.  And amazingly, people came, and people stayed.

Well, times have changed.  I rarely hear of gospel concerts like the ones from days gone by.  I know there are some but not to the level of those days.  I don’t miss staying up all night—these days if I make it to 10:00pm I am doing good.  The ball may fall in Times Square, but it does it without me!  But I do miss the way we started out the New Year.  Being with a bunch of people who loved Jesus and loved music was cool.  Song after song spoke in poetic ways of God’s incredible love for us and the hope of tomorrow and the day after that “Because He Lives.”

You know, it probably wouldn’t work today to try and have an all-night singing, but do you know what would work?  This New Year’s Eve maybe we could, maybe we should, take some time to thank God for all the blessings He sent in 2023.  Now, don’t make the mistake of thinking He went on strike.  Oh no, His blessings, His love notes were everywhere.

No matter what 2024 holds, if we choose to follow the God who made it all, if we will trust and believe, no matter what—I think we will find that it’s gonna be a great year.  We may not always get exactly what we want from God, but we always get what is exactly right for us.  Someone said He is too wise to make a mistake and too good to be unkind.  I know, sometimes it doesn’t feel that way, but He loves us—a lot.  How much—enough to plan Christmas and Easter—and that is a lot.

So, I don’t know your plans for New Year’s Eve, but I hope it includes Him…the God who wants to be your Father—your Dearest Daddy.  I hope it will include some quiet time so that you two can chat as the Whisper whispers His love in your ear.  Listen as He speaks those three precious words, “I’ve got this.”  Bro. Dewayne