Category: priorities

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

One Long Day

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

Let us not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up.” Galatians 6:9

It was a long day, one of those days that seem to stretch into eternity. My wife, Judy, often asks me about my day when I come home from work, and sometimes I respond, “It was one long day.” On Fridays or Saturdays, when I’m busy with household chores, the day feels endless, and I tell Judy, “What a great long day today.” The perception of the day often depends on its circumstances.

June 6th, 1944 is a date many recognize as the Allied invasion of Normandy during World War II, the beginning of the end of that conflict. It was a massive undertaking with an uncertain outcome, and someone referred to it as “the longest day.”

We all have our “longest days,” and 2020 might have felt like 366 of them. Some days make us mourn, while others are worth celebrating. January 24th holds a special place for my wife and me as our first daughter was born on that day, exactly forty-three years ago today.

The labor started late Thursday evening, and as Judy opted for minimal medical intervention, it became a challenging process. The hours turned into a marathon, and I, the faithful husband, stayed by her side throughout. Well, almost. There was that one time when a friend brought me a massive burger and fries, and I obliviously enjoyed them while Judy glared. I was thinking about food, not labor pains.

As the clock ticked, we progressed into the evening, and Rebecca decided to delay her grand entrance. Finally, around midnight, Dr. Dickerson announced it was time, and, coincidentally, the cheesy Japanese monster movie we were watching ended. In the delivery room, Rebecca made her grand appearance, and the longest day ended. Judy endured 23 hours of labor, and our precious daughter weighed 8 lbs. 15.5 ounces.

For years, we’ve fondly recalled that longest day—Judy’s longest day. For me, it involved burgers, fries, and Godzilla. Yet, it marked the day God blessed us with our first daughter, setting the stage for two more daughters and eight grandchildren.

When facing your longest day, remember a couple of things. Every day is a gift from the Creator God, and if you allow Him to guide you, you can not only endure but thrive. The finish line may seem elusive, but it will come if you persist.

Paul, a New Testament writer, knew about enduring long days, although not labor pains. He encouraged not getting tired of doing good, promising a harvest if we don’t give up. Whether or not you follow Jesus, the advice stands—don’t give up. God is there to help you through each day, including your longest one. Rest assured, “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, friends, gratitude, life, loving others, priorities, Scripture, thankful, travel

Mind the Gap – Watch Your Step

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise.” Ephesians 5:15

Mind the gap. When I watch travel shows and even when we visit London, there is always talk about the Tube—or the subway.  And you can count on one thing.  The announcer will always remind you to “Mind the Gap.” It really is just another way of saying, “Watch your step.” Another place you should always watch your step is when you are in a cow pasture. Here are a couple of cautions.  First, make sure it’s indeed a cow pasture and not one occupied by bulls. Bulls can be bullies so an immediate retreat to the nearest fence is advisable. Secondly, watch out for cow patties – trust me on this one.

There are numerous instances in life where you need to be cautious, and one such experience occurred during a hike near Bell Smith Springs. My wife, Judy, and I have taken a liking to hiking for both exercise and the chance to enjoy nature. On a previous occasion, we tackled the Sentry Ridge Trail, a three-mile loop offering scenic views of a canyon with a creek. It’s a beautiful trail, but with the beauty comes a challenge.

The trail, often rocky with large slabs of native stone, requires you to carefully watch your step. Neglecting this can lead to ankle twists, unpleasant falls, or finding yourself on the way down a wooded cliff. The risk factor though is higher or lower depending on the hiker’s perspective. Let me explain.  While I, the conqueror, focus on reaching the destination, Judy, the lady of the trail, wants to savor every detail along the way.

Though I try to indulge her, there’s a problem – looking around means not looking down. Neglecting the rocks beneath your feet can lead to trouble. While a conqueror might prefer pressing on, there’s wisdom in pausing to appreciate the journey. The joy lies in seizing moments, enjoying what’s surrounding you. While I may not need a picture of every rock and tree, acknowledging the Creator’s handiwork is essential.

Failure to pause results in missing the best parts of the trip or day. Once, during a drive, Judy pointed out the “Wolf Moon,” a massive full moon. Despite my conqueror instincts, I glanced and marveled at its magnificence. Taking time to enjoy life’s moments is crucial, and even if it drives you nuts at times, it adds joy to the journey.

Paul, one of the rock stars (no pun intended) in the New Testament, urged us to make the most of our time. This involves not just working through life but also savoring the journey. I’m grateful to be married to someone who understands this, even if it occasionally drives me nuts. So, mind your step but also take a few minutes to relish life around you. With the Creator’s help, you can. After all, He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne

Posted in Family, fear, gratitude, life, loving others, missions, prayer, priorities, Scripture, sovereignty of God, thankful, travel, Trials

Praying Mantis

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

When you’re in over your head, I’ll be there with you. When you’re in rough waters, you will not go down. When you’re between a rock and a hard place, it won’t be a dead end—because I am God, your personal God, the Holy of Israel, your Savior.” Isaiah 43:2-3a

He was coming after me.  Over the years, my wife Judy and I have made many trips to Africa.  We have spent time in Niger, Mali, and Uganda.  All were unique in their own way, and all were very special.  Our time in Mali was especially so.  We were working with one of our favorite missionaries.  She is the real deal kind—the kind that if you were to stick her finger…she would bleed Jesus.  Those trips were also highlighted because we worked with a group of One-Story girls.  These college age young ladies gave up the comforts of home to spend a couple of years living in the African bush telling people about Jesus.  They were incredible.

So, on one of these trips the team had one of those especially good days.  We were able to minister and share with a lot of folks.  We would start early and go the entire day.  We would do mostly medical missions and storytelling and encouraging.  When we got back to wherever we were staying we would have supper together.  Then, when the African sun had finally called it a day, we would gather under a large open air bamboo….uh, thing.  We would sing, share stories, and have a brief devotion before joining the sun and calling it a day too.

These team times were very special moments.  As the days passed, we as a team became closer and closer together.  There were about twelve or fourteen of us…so not too large.  Of course, that didn’t include other guests.  Sometimes Africans from where we were staying would join us, and of course some or all the interpreters.  And then there were the other guests.  Their names would make you think they were members of the team…but they weren’t.  Praying may have been part of their name but, it wasn’t on their agenda.  They were…praying mantis.

These large insects—about the size of a small eagle—would be drawn to the light as we sang and shared.  Slowly they would start circling, choosing their targets.  Now, I don’t know if they intended to bite someone—I don’t think so, or if they intended to carry someone off to their secret lair.  Regardless, it was just a little spooky.  Finally, and who knows why, I was picked by one of them.  Repeatedly, this fellow would dive and try to land on me—particularly my face. Ok…it was weird.  I was grateful when the prayer time was over. I confess I cheated and kept one eye open looking out for my newly found friend.

Judy and I headed back to our hut and prepared for bed.  We had a mosquito net over our bed to keep out those pesky insects and their friends. Soon it was lights out and off to sleep.  Sometime later, we were awakened by the sound of something larger than a mosquito.  Lion? No. Tiger? No? Elephant? No. It was the…praying mantis.  Apparently, he followed me home and waited for the lights to go out before once again taunting me.  It turns out there was a small hole in the top of our mosquito net, and he found his way in and then…it happened.

As Judy and I lay in the African night, from out of the darkness (no electricity) the praying mantis landed square on my face.  Now what happened next can’t be written because it goes beyond the 26 letters in the English alphabet. I jumped up and started clawing in the darkness trying to find my stalking insect.  I finally grabbed him (gross), wrestled him to the bed (remember they are the size of eagles…smile), raised the net and chucked him outside somewhere, anywhere but where he was.  And then I did some praying of my own.  “Lord, please don’t let him find the hole again.”  Thankfully, he didn’t, and thankfully that was the last I saw of him.

Well, the next night I had a testimony to share at story time.  We all had a good laugh (and by the way…they really aren’t as big as …eagles but it sure seemed that way.) I remember telling my teammates how grateful I was for answered prayer…and honestly, I was.  Until you’ve had something like that land on your face, in the dark, in Africa—well you just can’t appreciate a God who answers unusual prayers. But you know, that’s the kind of God that He is.  Nothing is too big…and nothing is too small for this Dearest Daddy who calls us His own.

One time God was talking to Israel through the prophet Isaiah and He said no matter what we face…when we are over our head in trouble, or maybe between a rock and a hard place or even the occasional fiery furnace—He will be with us. Why?  Because He is our Savior, our Lord, our God. Wow…what a great scripture and I can add to that list “face eating praying mantis.”  God is always there with us and for us and no matter what, He’s got this.  Take that, Mr. Mantis.  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, fear, Grace, gratitude, life, prayer, priorities, Scripture, thankful

Tick Tock, Clack, Clack

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and unbelievable things you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3 (CSB)

The clock is ticking loudly.  As I sit in my home office writing I am amazed at something. I have a wall clock hanging on the wall (where else, right?) and it is making its presence known quite loudly.  The television is off, the internet music isn’t playing and in the quietness of the moment there are two obvious sounds.  The ticking of the clock and clacking of the keys on the keyboard.  Both are obvious…not because they are particularly loud but because of the silence.  The absence of noise makes them very easy to hear. Clack, clack, tick-tock.

I’m thinking that if there is something I want to hear, perhaps the best way to do so is to lower the volume of everything else.  Likewise, if I don’t want to hear them then all I must do is turn the noise up.  For example, if my wife Judy is speaking from the kitchen, telling me, asking me to take out the trash I might be tempted to turn the television up just a bit. While I still might eventually have to take the trash out, it might at least buy me some time.

Here’s scenario number two. I am still in the living room with the television doing it mindless talky thing.  I heard Judy talking to me from the kitchen but this time I turned the television down. I want to hear her. Why? Because I know what she has been doing.  She has been baking an apple pie.  I also happen to know it is just about time for that pie to be done. I reason therefore that she most likely is telling me, “Dewayne, the pie is ready” and that is a message I want to hear so I make sure I can hear.  What do I do?  I turn the television down and remove any obstacle that might keep me from hearing her and having a slice of pie.

The main difference is that the first is something I wanted to avoid and the second is something I wanted to embrace. And when it comes to hearing or not hearing, that just might be a game changer.  All of this and that made me wonder.  How often when I know God is trying to get my attention do I turn the noise up?  How often do I make the conscious decision, the conscious choice to “not hear?”  The answer, for me and for you, is probably too often.

The confusing part is this. I’ve been a God follower for a long time…long enough to know He is an “apple pie God.”  When He’s talking I, we, should be listening—for two reasons. First, He is always a bearer of “apple pie news.” In other words, He is a good news messenger.  Now that doesn’t mean it is always easy to receive, it just means that it is always for my good and His glory.  The second reason I should be listening is because, well, He is God.  There was an old commercial that said, “When E.F. Hutton speaks, people listen.” Well, I don’t know about that, but I do know this—when God talks, we should definitely turn up our hearing aids.

So let me suggest this year that we learn to turn the noise down—especially when we know God is talking to us.  Remember, He is the bearer of good news and everything He says is important.  So be sure and find the mute button on your noise makers and cock your ear so you can hear.  After all, He just might be telling you to stop worrying and start trusting because “He’s got this.”  Bro. Dewayne

Posted in fear, life, prayer, pride, priorities, Scripture, Trials

Staying Off the Lunch Menu

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8

Years before the devastating attack on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, a young French daredevil captivated the world’s attention by walking a tightrope between the two towering buildings. The tightrope was suspended 1,350 feet above the ground. Unbelievably the man effortlessly traversed from one tower to the next while spectators below stood open mouthed staring at his daring feat.

Now advance the clock several months later. While practicing on a comparatively low wire in St. Petersburg, Florida, the same man experienced a fall of 30 feet and suffered multiple injuries. As he lay on the ground in pain and awaiting help, he pounded his fist, exclaiming, “I can’t believe it! I never fall!!!” I.Never.Fall.

Believe it or not, our most significant mistakes and failures occur not when we venture outside our comfort zone but when we are in a comfortable place. That might be why the Bible tells us in Proverbs 16:18, “Pride comes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall.” The bottom line is that when we believe something could never happen to us or we become so accustomed to a certain thing, we tend to become complacent or sloppy, or both.  We lower our guard and leave the door open or perhaps cracked allowing carelessness to lead us into falling, failing or stumbling.

This is why the truth in 1 Peter 5:8 is so vitally important.  Peter encourages us to, “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” Here’s the big truth—we are definitely on Satan’s lunch menu.  He is just waiting for us to get complacent, or sloppy or both (yup…I wrote it twice on purpose) so he can gobble us up.  When our guard goes down—the risk goes up—and he launches his attack.

Peter accurately portrays Satan as a lion. Lions don’t target animals prepared to run or fight; instead, they go after the unsuspecting and weak. Write this one down—don’t allow Satan to catch you off guard through carelessness. Remain vigilant in the Christian life, and you’ll be prepared to face challenges head-on. And that is a great way to begin a New Year—on guard, on alert and off the lunch menu.  Need a little help with that?  Well, your Dearest Daddy is a great lion hunter and He will be right by your side.  Remember, “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