priorities – Page 47 – Grits with Grace

Family, food, Grace, gratitude, life, loving others, priorities, Scripture, thankful, travel

Mushroom

Posted on March 23, 2021March 22, 2021 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

Her name was Mushroom, and she was a hoot. The other morning on our way to a pastor’s conference, my wife Judy and I decided to eat at a Waffle House (WH). Now, I need to be honest and tell you that for no apparent reason, WH has never been on my list of places to eat. I think it probably is some sort of prejudice from my days as a teenager when I formed some sort of opinion (based on nothing, I am sure) that it wasn’t my kind of place. So, I very rarely, ever went. It has probably been 25 years since I ate at one. And, then just like that, there I was.

The WH was next door to our hotel where we stayed so it made logical sense. We made our way through the flower bed and into the WH parking lot and right into the front door. It was a “sit where you want” kinda place and we found a booth in the corner. A few minutes later, Mushroom came over to serve us. I’m not sure the 26 letters in our English alphabet can adequately describe her…but let me try. She was funny. There you go—that’s all you need to know. If you get Grits with a picture (some don’t) that is her in the picture, (yes, we have her permission). The mask she is wearing is supposed to be Santa Claus but I’m not sure there was a likeness.

As she asks what we want to drink and, in the process, Judy and I strike up a conversation with her. So, Judy said something like, “How are you doing?” Mushroom (and yes that was her name) said she was having a real bad morning. One of us asked her why and she indicated that she had had a really, bad dream the night before. Well, I just asked her, “What kind of dream did you have?” And she said, “Well, I dreamed I was in a muffler shop and I woke up exhausted.” Right there on the spot, two things happened. One, I died laughing (I love corny jokes) and two, I liked Mushroom and started liking WH.

Well, everything she said from that point on was corny. She turned our order in and then would occasionally stop by and make us laugh again. I asked her about her name, and she said it was indeed Mushroom. I’m not sure if it was her given name, or one she picked but it sure seemed to fit. She went on to say that she had a twin brother named Rick (I assume it was another joke, but it wasn’t) and he was a pastor and very sick with COVID. She asked us to pray for him and I told her we would when we blessed the food.

She stopped by again a little later and she shared she liked to sing and then right there and then, she broke into an old hymn which Judy and I quickly recognized. Mushroom turned out to be the highlight of our day. She was a breath of fresh air in a world that has forgotten how to breathe. Oh, and by the way, the food was awesome. Eggs, sunny side up, awesome grits swimming in butter, salt and pepper, three strips of soft bacon and, of course, a waffle (with sugar free syrup, thank you) and it was just plain ole good.

So that day I believe I learned a couple of good lessons. First, don’t let an old, unfounded prejudice keep you from trying something like WH. If I had, I would have missed meeting Mushroom and I would have missed a good breakfast. Second, there are a lot of great people out in the world and Mushroom was one of those. While I didn’t ask her directly (or did I?), Mushroom was a sister that I had not yet met, and I was glad that we bumped into each other. I’m a fan of that verse in the Bible where Paul reminds us that we are created by God and that we are masterpieces of His, created to do the good works that He has planned for us.

Not all masterpieces look alike. Some look like the Mona Lisa and some look like a Picasso on a not so good day. Regardless, God is fond of His kids…very fond. We all know the verse—the one that says He loved the world enough to send His Son to a Roman cross. I am always amazed about that measure of love—totally undeserved and unwarranted. And I’m glad that God didn’t make everyone just like me, or you for that matter. I’m glad He put a few Mushrooms in the mix because they sure make life interesting. As you journey today, keep your eye out just in case God decides to send someone special your way. I’m glad He and Mushroom have a sense of humor because we all need a good laugh. Even in a difficult world, we can find a reason to sing, and laugh because…He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne

Family, fear, food, gratitude, life, prayer, priorities, Scripture, sovereignty of God, thankful, Trials, wisdom

Bare Shelves and a Faithful God

Posted on March 19, 2021March 18, 2021 by Dewayne Taylor

So don’t worry, saying, What will we eat or What will we drink? or What will we wear? For the [those who don’t trust God] eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.” Matthew 6:31-32

One of the things (among at least two billion) that was weird about last year was the various shortages that we experienced. Some were expected and some were not. It really was a strange sensation to go to the store and find everyday things not there every day. It seemed like the land of plenty had become something else.

I’m not much for going grocery shopping and that is probably a real paradox. I really like food–we are great friends–just not buying and preparing it. I remember sometime last year Judy and I went to the park for a walk (good idea–walk with your wife…she cooks food) and then I agreed to go with her to Wal-Mart to get a few items.

So, we get to the store and there was in fact plenty of food there. For sure some items were sold out (toilet paper—remember that? Still have a supply stashed?) but others were plenteous. The cookie isle was hard hit but strangely the broccoli wasn’t. But the shocker was when I got to the bread isle it was empty…bare. For a southern boy who was raised to believe that bread is its own food group, well, that was a crisis of Biblical proportions.

It made me think about the children of Israel and their trips to the grocery store. For forty years they would walk outside the camp and there all around them were little mounds of manna. The Bible describes manna as small, round and sweet (Krispy Kreme’s?) and it was always there. Never a time did they go out when the store was open (it was closed for the Sabbath) and the shelf was bare.

God was teaching them—and us—something. They couldn’t hoard (can someone say toilet paper?) because God told them to go out every day and get one day’s supply. The only exception was the day before the Sabbath when they could get two. And every day they went and there were the “Krispy Kreme’s” all around and they would pick them up and God would say, “I am good, I am faithful and I can be trusted.”

Day after day, week after week, month after month–“I am good, I am faithful and I can be trusted.” Never a bare shelf, never a failure to deliver, never an oops. Can you imagine? If you are a Jesus follower I think we can and should. We may not have manna laying around today but we do have the faithfulness of that same God. He takes care of His kids. You can bank on it.

Jesus talked about this in the Bible when He said, “So don’t worry, saying, What will we eat? or What will we drink? or What will we wear? For [those who don’t trust God] eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.” Let that soak in. We don’t have to worry because we have a Dearest Daddy who loves us and cares for us. Period.

So, as we reflect on last year, and look forward to the days to come, we can rest in the blessed assurance that God will be there. We need to remember every time there is a need met or a blessing given, to say, “Thank You, Father.” And slowly but surely, we will learn the valuable lesson of God’s faithfulness. God is good. God is faithful. God can be trusted. He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne

Grace, gratitude, life, loving others, prayer, priorities, Scripture, Trials, wisdom

Divine Interruptions

Posted on March 16, 2021March 15, 2021 by Dewayne Taylor

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

I have to admit I chuckle every time it happens. At the church where I work, I have an office and I spend a lot of hours there. I have an iMac computer and a desk and we are good friends. It is there that most of the sermons that God gives me to share with our church are born. And believe it or not, that is what I do. I do check email and I may even occasionally check BestBuy.com for some gadget but the bottom line is I craft sermons, build the worship event for each week’s message, create the sermon video and sometimes write stories.

It is not too uncommon for there to be a knock on my door and someone will stick their head in and say, “Are you busy?” That’s when I chuckle. I mean, I think that is what I am supposed to be—busy. I really do appreciate their kindness but each time it strikes me as funny. Sometimes when I get home from work, I will ask my wife Judy, “Did you get this or that done today?” If she didn’t get it done, she will respond with something like, “Oh, you know me, I just watched tv and ate bon-tons.” We both laugh because we both know she stays plenty busy.

When people do knock on the door I am usually glad for the interruption. Without knowing it, I can sit there for a couple of hours and not even realize it. So most times I do need a break…I need an interruption. Need.An.Interruption. That is true when I am working at the office and it is true in my life—in our lives.

Francis Chan said, “God, interrupt whatever we are doing so that we can join You in what You’re doing.” I like that…a lot. I am certain that last year’s hot mess and its overflow into this year was a big interruption in our lives. Absolutely, positively, no doubt about it.

But what if…what if…God was up to something? What if He has a plan and all-of-this is part of that plan? Do we have the faith to trust Him and believe that He is in fact working things for His glory and our good?

Well, here’s the deal. He does indeed have a plan and He is working that plan. While the corona virus and all of its ripples are part of our broken world–we serve a God that from the get-go has been bringing rescue and redemption to that broken world. The events of last year and this year are a story that will take months and maybe years to be fully written but I know the end. God is good, God is faithful, and God can be trusted.

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” It was true for the nation of Israel and it is true for us. I believe God is up to something bigger than we can imagine. The best is yet to come. The question though is “Will we be open to receiving it and ready for it when it comes?”

That’s a big question. Maybe we should pause and pray, “God I want you to know that I am willing to trust You in this interruption of my normal. I am willing to trust You, that You have a plan for me..for us… not to harm us but to give us a hope and a future. Give me the faith and the patience to wait on You. In Jesus name. Amen.” Now that is a prayer He likes to answer. God bless you today. Rest in Him…because He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne .

Family, forgiveness, Grace, life, Military memories, priorities, Scripture, Trials, wisdom

Mr. Bowlen

Posted on March 15, 2021March 13, 2021 by Dewayne Taylor

Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Deuteronomy 31:8

It was a long, hard day. When my wife and I lived in Warrensburg, Missouri we were renting a home in a still developing subdivision called Valley View. We were just back from a three-year USAF stay in Germany, still newlyweds with only four years under our belt, and with a newly hatched dream. While we loved the house we were renting, we, like so many, dreamed of owning our own home. It was a crazy time economically as interest rates were running about 18 percent and inflation was at a record rate. And then a window opened.

The developer of our subdivision was a rough around the edges man named Mr. Bowlen. We bumped into him around the neighborhood as he was still building houses. He planted a thought in our minds and hearts. He said the government had a program that might allow us to build a house. They would pay half the interest. Well compared to eighteen percent, nine sounded pretty enticing. And before we knew, we were approved and a piece of land on Hilltop Drive had our name on it. He let us add a few things like a bay window and a fireplace in the basement. It added a bit to the bottom line, but they were worth it.

I’m still not sure if this was a wise financial decision for us. It ended ok, and that’s another story, but it did cause some financial tension. To help, he suggested I do some work equity and let me tell you…it was hard work. I ended up doing all the painting and staining inside and out. And for a guy who had never done anything like that—it was a challenge. That’s another story, too. There was also another opportunity to help with the financial tension.

Mr. Bowlen told me that he would be willing to let me work for him on Saturdays doing some basic labor. He then said he would pay me $15.00 per hour. Now that was good money back in 1983 so I agreed although I was way out of my comfort zone. To set the stage, I was in the Air Force, that was my day job, I was pastoring a small church for a whopping $50 a week, that was my Sunday job, and now I was going to work for Mr. Bowlen on Saturdays. Like I said…it was way out of my comfort zone. So, Saturday came.

The work site was just down from our rental house, so I just walked over. It was early in the morning and we were going to be putting up metal (as in heavy metal) forms to pour a basement for another house. We had to lift the forms in place and hammer pins in place to hold it all together. Well, besides dropping my hammer one time inside the forms, things went pretty well. We called it a day about 4:00 pm…just in time for me to get home and start trying to write a sermon for the next day. I was exhausted. I bet that was at least one short sermon!

So, the next week I bumped into Mr. Bowlen and he had a check for me. Finally, the fruit of my labor that Saturday was in my hands. Based on his comment about $15.00 per hour and eight hours of labor, I was expecting a check for around a hundred dollars. Instead, I found a check for forty dollars and some change. I was, uh, shocked. I said, “Mr. Bowlen is this right?” He assured me that it was, and I said, “I thought you were paying $15.00 an hour.” He chuckled and said, “Oh, I was only kidding about that. We pay laborers $5.00 an hour.” I wasn’t laughing. In fact, as much as I liked him, I felt betrayed—ripped off. From my view, one thing was promised, and another given. And that was my first and only Saturday working for Mr. Bowlen.

Betrayed and ripped off. Have you ever felt that way? Have you ever felt that way about another person? Have you ever felt that way…about God? Because people are broken and imperfect, just like us, there is a measure of understanding. It doesn’t make it any less painful but at least it sometimes softens the blow. But what about God? What about when it seems God doesn’t keep His Word? That’s a tough one.

What I have learned over my years as a Jesus follower, and as a pastor, that when it seems we feel betrayed or ripped off by God it is because we have misread or misapplied His Word. You see, His Word is full of promises, but we need to make sure that the promises were made to us and for us. We can’t claim promises that were made to another person or group of people. God made promises to Abraham that just aren’t ours to claim.

Too often, unfortunately, preachers, teachers, and ordinary people make promises on God’s behalf that God never intended or said. And, when they don’t come true, well, we blame God and that is not right or fair. I’ve been a Jesus follower for 45 years now, and I can tell you one thing—He has never failed me or failed to keep His Word. He is a promise keeping God—when the promise is mine. No, I’ve not always liked how things turned out or His way of working something out, but I can say I’ve never felt betrayed or ripped off. He is a good God who is good at being God. You can trust Him.

Well, Mr. Bowlen’s little joke was a hard lesson for me to learn but it was a valuable one. His heart was good, but his sense of humor was not. I’m glad my Dearest Daddy, the God I can call Father, has a perfect heart and His will and plan for me is perfect. I know no matter what I will face, His plan is for my good and His glory—and that is good enough. I can face today knowing, “He’s got this.” Bro. Dewayne

Easter, Family, forgiveness, Grace, gratitude, life, prayer, priorities, thankful, wisdom

Resurrection

Posted on March 10, 2021March 9, 2021 by Dewayne Taylor

I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of His resurrection.” Philippians 3:10

Like it or not…it was time. Every spring and summer, my wife and I are blessed to have one of the most beautiful yards on our street. Some people say it is one of the most beautiful yards in town. When we moved to 217 West Poplar Street, it was a blank canvas. There were literally no flowers and no flowering trees. Judy, who has a green thumb, over the years has made our yard into several beautiful gardens. She plants it and it grows.

Well, every fall, as the temperatures fall, some things go to sleep and some things just die. The perennials go to sleep to be awakened the next spring and the annuals die and will have to be replanted or reseeded. Fall and winter leave a carnage of dead stems, leaves, and blooms and before the perennials can be awakened, last year’s carnage needs to go. There’s where I come in. She is the “make it happen” person and I am the “cleanup the carnage” person. So, every later winter or very early spring, I have my work cut out for me.

Last week, I would come home from work and select a section of the yard to cleanup. Using my string trimmer (hey, don’t laugh…it works), my rake, my loppers, and a couple of other tools for good measure, I would wack, cut, trim and rake my way through each flower bed. When I was done, I would have a pretty clean slate for the coming spring. If you saw all this when I was done, it would look pretty empty. You would think, “Nothing is gonna happen there.” But you would be perfectly wrong.

You see, beneath the soil, all those perennials (plants that come back year after year) that have slept all winter, that for all practical purposes seemed dead, are about to spring (no pun intended) back to life. Green sprouts will be pushing up everywhere. Before long what was bare is filled with new life and what is filled with new life will soon be filled with the beautiful blooms of spring and summer. It really is quite amazing.

Well, let me just tell you. For five days, I went out, two or three hours a day and did my carnage removal thing. And, at least for this guy whose job has him sitting at a desk studying, it was hard work. My arms were tired, my shoulders ached, and I was thoroughly and completely—pooped. Somewhere along the journey, I lost my vision. All I knew was I was tired and that there seemed to be no end to the carnage of last fall and winter. But then it hit me, and my focus returned.

It wasn’t just work. It wasn’t just something that had to be done. I was on a mission. I was preparing for…resurrection. My work for those five days, was a work with purpose. As I cleared away the old, I was making way for the new. And because of my faithfulness in late winter or early, early spring—the resurrection could happen. Already, tiny green sprouts are breaking through the dirt and reminding me that my work was not in vain. It has a purpose.

In a few weeks, we will be celebrating another resurrection and this one is the biggie. We are going to celebrate the fact that two thousand years ago, a man—the God-man—willingly died on a Roman cross to pay the price for the sins of the entire world. That day the sin for every man, woman, and child was atoned for, making it possible for those same people to have forgiveness, power to live this life, and live forever in heaven. Anyone who is willing to believe and choose to follow Him can have the privilege of calling God—Father. But He didn’t just die.

See, anyone can die on a cross and claim anything. Jesus didn’t stay dead—He physically, really and completely came back to life. He resurrected and one of the reasons He did? He did it to prove that He was Who He said He was and did what He said He would do. His death shouted, “I love you” and His resurrection shouted, “I am victorious over death.” Wow. So, here’s the deal.

Remember I mentioned in a few weeks we were going to celebrate the “biggie?” Well, this is what I was talking about. And these weeks are like my time preparing the gardens for their resurrection. These weeks are a time for us to prepare our hearts and minds for the big event—Resurrection Sunday. The more I prepare the gardens for their resurrection, the bigger the celebration of life as they sprout and bloom. And guess what? It’s true with Easter. The more we prepare, the bigger the celebration. Like Paul, said, “I want to know Christ—yes, to know [to celebrate] the power of His resurrection.”

Each evening after work I had to make a conscious decision to prepare the gardens for resurrection. Wanting to, longing to, intending to, just wouldn’t cut the mustard. It is time for us to prepare to celebrate His resurrection. Wanting to, longing to, intending to, just won’t get the job done. We have to decide to prepare—for the resurrection. It’s a reason to celebrate you see because He lives—we too can live. So, start today, get ready for the biggie—the resurrection of Jesus. Need help in preparing? Not sure how? No problem. The One who made it all possible is a great party planner. Just ask Him. He’s got that, too. Bro. Dewayne

Grace, gratitude, life, loving others, priorities, Scripture, thankful

Harmony

Posted on March 9, 2021March 8, 2021 by Dewayne Taylor

You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.” John 13:13-14

They came to church one day. I like church…most of the time anyway. One of the things I like about church is that it is so inside down. Like, if you go to a concert, the most expensive seats are right up front. If you go to a ballgame, you pay extra to sit down where the action is. That’s not true in church. The high value seats are all the way at the back. There might be 150 seats and only 50 people but most of the folks sit in the high-priced back seats. I can’t blame them. I’m usually the speaker at our church and I get pretty passionate sometimes. I’ve been known to accidentally, uh, well, you know, spit.

The story is told of a young preacher who was excitedly telling the people that Jesus was coming back. He said, “Jesus said, Behold, I am coming quickly.” He said it three times, each time just a little more enthusiastically. When he said it the third time, he lost his balance and fell off the stage and right in an older lady’s lap. He was so embarrassed and apologized profusely. She said, “That’s ok son, you warned me three times.” Well, anyway, I get the sitting in the back thing.

Now, not because I am the pastor, but my wife and I always like to sit near the front. I do like to be where the action is and trust me…it is rarely crowded. If you have COVID concerns, just sit near the front. Well, one day, a couple came and visited our church and guess what? They came right down and sat on the second row. I was surprised and when I said hi to them, I told them how glad I was to have them…especially on the second row.

Well, church started and, in case you are not too familiar with church stuff, usually we sing a while and then the preacher (in this case that is me) would speak a longer while. Make that a lot longer. So, as we were singing, I could hear this voice singing behind me. It was the lady who was visiting with her husband. She had a nice voice, and she was singing harmony and it seemed she knew most of the songs. Well, they just turned out to be real nice folks and the best part…they came back and sat week after week in the second row. She kept singing and I could tell she really seemed to enjoy it.

After several weeks, after services, Judy and I were talking with them after church and I asked her, “I enjoy your singing. Do you, or would you, like to sing a solo for us?” Without hesitation, she simply said, “No thank you. I just enjoy singing harmony.” Singing.Harmony. That struck me as pretty profound. For many folks, getting the opportunity to sing in front of a pretty large crowd would be seen as an opportunity to perform. But not for her, she was content to be one of the worshipers…just singing harmony.

There is an old southern gospel song by the Oak Ridge Boys that said, “Nobody wants to play rhythm guitar behind Jesus, everybody wants to be the lead singer in the band.” That song has stuck with me all through these many years. It is a good reminder to make sure that I remember that when I stand on a stage and speak—Jesus is the star of the show and I am just a rhythm guitarist somewhere in the band.

You see, pride is a dangerous thing—especially in Jesus circles. If anyone taught lessons on humility it was Him. He is the guy who performed slave labor one night and washed the feet of everyone in the room. And then, He said, “Now I’ve set an example for you. You should do the same.” I don’t think it was about washing feet. I think it was about putting everyone at the front of whatever line you are in. It means remembering that you are not the most important person is the room.

It may surprise you to know that church can be a real pride factory. You would think that it would be the opposite, but people will be people and sinners will be sinners…even forgiven ones…even in church. So that is why my friend’s response was so, insightful. She didn’t need to be on stage, in fact, she didn’t want to be on stage. She was content to be singing harmony amidst all the worshipers on any given day. For sure, some people have to be on stage and that’s fine. We just need to remember that we are there because of Him and for Him. And if we forget…well, He has ways to remind us…like falling off the stage. And when we do, if we do, well, it’s good to know that He’s got that, too. Bro. Dewayne

Family, fear, forgiveness, Grace, gratitude, life, loving others, priorities, Southern born, thankful

Me, Mama, and Mrs. Crabtree

Posted on March 4, 2021March 3, 2021 by Dewayne Taylor

When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” Matthew 9:36

I went just a little too far. When you are an overactive six-year-old, church can be quite difficult. My pastor was one of my favorite people but when you’re an overactive six-year-old, preaching can be, well, a little boring. I’ve always loved church music but when you’re an overactive six-year-old, well, the best singers just aren’t enough. Mama tried to keep me busy. Her favorite tool was to give me the bulletin and a pen or pencil and I would color in all the little circles. You would be amazed how many different little circles there were each week. Well, that would work for a while, but you know, when you are an overactive six-year-old, nothing is going to work for long.

Well, one particular Sunday, the circle thing didn’t even make it past the song service. By the time they were passing the plates I was out of things to do. The service was always very predictable. There would be an opening song, the announcements, a couple of more songs, then the offering, a special music thing, and then the preaching. After the pastor finished, we would have one more song and call it a day. Of course, there were always a couple of prayers thrown in for good measure. So, I knew it was just about time for the preacher to start preaching when I heard Mrs. Rosalyn Crabtree start singing.

Now let me tell you right now, Mrs. Crabtree could flat sing. I don’t know if she had voice lessons or not, but she sounded like one of those opera singers. When there was a solo in the choir it was usually Mrs. Crabtree who sang, and more often than not, she sang right before the preacher. She and her husband Jake were two of my favorite people too. They taught me in the youth department when I got older and we even had Rosalyn sing at our wedding when my wife and I were married. They were great folks.

But this Sunday, well, it was just destiny that I was going to get in trouble. I was bored by the time the offering was done, so I started poking Mama in the side. She had her girdle on and it always amazed me just how tight that thing was. Well, she finally had enough of the poking and said so in a way that I knew if I continued, it wasn’t going to be pretty. But then Mrs. Crabtree started to sing. Well, while she was singing, I decided to cover my ears with my hands. Why? Well, I guess that is what overactive-six-year-olds do. Well, when I took my hands down there was obviously a big sound difference. So, I put them back up and then took them down. I had discovered a new game.

I found out if I did this fast it made a “wa-wa” sound in my ears. The faster my hands covered and uncovered my ears, the faster the “wa-wa.” I thought this was pretty grand entertainment. Mama didn’t think so. I stopped for a minute but decided it was worth the risk. It wasn’t. Before I knew it, she and I were heading out the door. I had crossed the line and me and Mama had a little “come to Jesus” meeting. And do you know what? That urge to put my hands over my ears strangely disappeared and has never returned. I guess you could say that Mama discovered a vaccine for that like the one for the COVID virus and it was highly effective. Very.highly.effective.

I am glad that I had a Mama who knew how and when to administer a little discipline…even if it meant taking me out smack dab in the middle of church. And I am glad that we had a church where no one smirked, and no one said I shouldn’t be there. We had a church where families and kids were more than welcome and I have tried to make sure that at the churches I pastor, the same is true today. Rich or poor, black, white, or brown, young, or old—everybody is welcome. I know that is the way it ought to be because that is the way that Jesus did it. I figure if that was the way He did it—we should do it too.

One time when Jesus was teaching, He looked at the people and had compassion on them because He saw them like a flock of sheep needing a shepherd. Compassion—love in action. Compassion—love that says come on in, you are welcome here. I like that. You see, God is an inclusive God. He even invites overactive six-year-olds like me and you into His presence. And He’s always ready to help, always ready to love and always ready to say, “Don’t worry…I’ve got this.” Bro. Dewayne

Family, Grace, gratitude, life, loving others, priorities, Scripture, Southern born, sovereignty of God, thankful, Trials, wisdom

Backyard Cars

Posted on March 1, 2021February 28, 2021 by Dewayne Taylor

But Peter said, “I don’t have silver or gold, but what I do have, I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!” Acts 3:6

Sometimes it seemed like a parking lot. We have all seen it, but I experienced it. As I have often said, there were certain benefits to growing up urban county. We weren’t country like horses and cows, but we were country like room to run, places to play and cars in the backyard. What? Yup. I know we have all seen yards where there are old cars hanging around the yard. I know each time I drive to Paducah down Route 145 in Southern Illinois I pass a house with an old Capri parked in the yard…permanently. Over the years that I have seen it, weeds and green algae have slowly grown over it. I’m not sure about the story behind the old Capri, but it is there year after year.

Over the years I lived at 6008 Carlton Road, we had several cars parked in our backyard. When my granddaddy Taylor died, we inherited his old Pontiac Sedan. I’m not sure what year it was but it was old…probably the late forties if I were to guess. I know at least for a while it was a runner, but later on it became a sitter. Regardless, it was a great place to play and hide in a good game of hide and seek. This past week I was converting some old family movies to digital so we could watch them again. There is one simply titled, Alston and Leslie Taylor and their children – 1960’s. In the middle of the video there was my daddy, and he was working on the old Pontiac. It was good to see him again. It reminded me what a good man he was.

I have a feeling that there was a reason that he was working on granddaddy’s Pontiac. You see I remember that our main driver, a 1957 Plymouth, blew an engine so it was parked under the tree in the backyard. So, I think Daddy may have been working on the Pontiac so we would have something that would get us from here to there. The Plymouth sat there for quite a while. Motors were expensive and it would be a while before Mama and Daddy could scrape the money together to buy a rebuilt one. I know they eventually did, but until then it was the old Pontiac.

And then there was the Sunbeam. My brother Lee bought a car from somebody and it was quite unusual. It was a British made car and it almost had that James Bond allure about it. I was trying to think how to describe it and simply put, it was cool. Well, it was cool until it quit running. You see, certain cars, and especially British ones, are hard to work on and expensive to repair. Well, somewhere along the road (no pun intended) it died. Rather than bury it, we just parked it the backyard where it became one of the original storage sheds. We slowly stuffed it to the gills with—stuff.

Well, eventually the Plymouth got fixed, the Pontiac got hauled off and the Sunbeam went somewhere, and our backyard looked a little less like a small junkyard and more like a garden. Daddy had a love for growing roses and I have to admit they looked a lot better than the old cars that adorned our yard for a season. Thinking back, I wonder what people thought about the old World War II barracks turned house with a car or two parked in the backyard. I wonder if they, like me, like you, were tempted to judge the people that lived there?

I wonder if they ever pondered why the house needed painting most of the time or why there were old junk cars sitting in the yard? I wonder if they thought the people who lived there were lazy or unkept. Well, in the case of 6008 Carlton Road they would have been wrong on both cases. My Daddy was a hard worker making sure the folks under his care had food and clothes. He worked until his heart said no, and even then he found a job as a security guard. Mama worked hard taking care of us. She poured her life into our lives and made sure there was supper on the table and clean clothes to wear. I would suppose they both were too busy pulling it all together to worry what people thought.

I know this. When I drive south to Paducah and pass that old house with the overgrown Capri in the front yard, it won’t be thoughts of judgement that pass through my mind. Instead, I will remember two people who worked hard to make life possible for my me, and my brothers and sisters. And then I will remember that until I have walked in someone’s shoes, I have no business looking down on anyone. Most folks don’t wake up some morning and just decide to have their world go south. Sometimes it just happens. But what I do know is that Jesus, the Man a lot of us have committed to follow, wouldn’t cast a rock, rather He would lend a hand.

One day a couple of Jesus followers were going to church and they passed by a man who couldn’t walk. The guy was begging and that was the honorable thing to do given there was no security net for help in those days. He looked up and the two Jesus guys looked down. They said, “You know, we don’t have any money, but we do have an answer. And right there, right then, they reached down and in the name of Jesus they healed the guy. He got up, did a little dance and they all went to church together. How about that? So, who can you help today? What house have you driven by so many times before but perhaps today you need to stop? I know in a world of risks, that can be hard but hey, I know Someone who will help make it happen. His name is Jesus and He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne

Family, gratitude, life, priorities, Southern born, thankful, travel, wisdom

Free Money

Posted on February 26, 2021February 25, 2021 by Dewayne Taylor

Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper.” Proverbs 13:4

It was like free money. Ah, those were the good old days. When I was nine or ten years old, we used to go and visit our grandparents who lived in Gainesville, Florida. It was always an adventure to go to their house. While they weren’t necessarily rich, they were richer than we were. They had a fireplace which to me was an adventure all by itself. I remember one time, without permission, (oops), I went in the living room where the fireplace was. I had some newspaper and matches and decided that I was going to start a fire. There were several problems with that plan, but the big one was the draft in the chimney was closed. When I lit the papers, all the smoke began pouring into the living room and I didn’t have a clue on how to stop it. I’m not sure how that all turned out, but that is probably because I have mentally blocked the consequences.

Also, I remember they had an old garage behind the house and it was just filled with stuff. It was dark and dank and my imagination would race as I thought about what could be lurking in the recesses and corners. I can only wish I had some of those old treasures today. Beyond the garage was a large backyard that was really one big flower garden. There were several flower beds with daylilies, camellia bushes, and amaryllis. And then, beyond the backyard…was free money.

Imagine small city side streets with shallow ditches lining each side of the road. Imagine vines and low bushes almost overcoming the ditches and then imagine free money up and down the streets. You see, back in those days, cokes came in glass coke bottles and if you found a coke bottle you could take it to the store where they would give you two cents per bottle. On top of that you did your part to stop littering. Now keep in mind down south any soft drink was a coke. Someone might ask you, “Do you want a coke?” If you said yes, and who wouldn’t, they would respond with “what kind?” It might be a root beer, an orange or grape Nehi or something else. Whatever kind—the bottles all brought two cents each.

I would walk the streets around my grandparent’s house collecting bottles. On a good day I might find ten bottles which put twenty cents in my pocket. Now wait…don’t think that isn’t much because also in those days there was something called penny candy. Yup, it was a penny for each piece and there were a whole bunch to choose from. You could fill a small bag with twenty cents, which I did almost every time. You can probably understand why going to Gainesville was one of my favorite trips. I loved my grandparents, but I loved finding those bottles too. And the store…it was right across the street.

Times have certainly changed and getting a deposit for a coke bottle is all but gone. I was reading my water bottle label the other day and discovered if you lived in Oregon it was worth a whole dime. Shoot that thang! I sometimes wonder if we need to do a better job of teaching our kids or grandkids the value of earning a little money? Whether it was finding bottles or mowing yards for $2.00 it taught me lessons about working to get what you want. Too often kids grow up without learning the value of work or money for that matter. I’m pretty sure one of the best gifts we can give our kids is teaching them the value of working for something. Looking back, I’m thankful my Daddy and Mama gave me that opportunity.

The Book of Proverbs is a whole book in the Jewish and Christian Bibles dedicated to wisdom. Well, one of the proverbs in that Book says that people who don’t work want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper. There’s a lot of truth in those few words. We often see work as a curse but in many ways, it is a gift…a great teacher. However, there is one area that I am glad work doesn’t play a part and that is as the way to heaven. In that case all the work in the world will leave you far short. But the good news is that God offers forgiveness and heaven as a gift to anyone who is willing to believe. What I could never earn, He freely provides. How about that!

I don’t necessarily long for the old days, but I am grateful for the days I’ve lived. Each season of life has had its ups and downs…its values and lessons. I still clearly remember the sheer joy of finding those two cent bottles. Times change and the way lessons are learned may change but through the years, the faithfulness of my Dearest Daddy has never changed. He has always been there and no matter what tomorrow brings. He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne

Family, fear, Grace, gratitude, life, loving others, prayer, priorities, Scripture, Southern born, sovereignty of God, thankful, Trials, wisdom

A Morning Nightmare

Posted on February 18, 2021February 17, 2021 by Dewayne Taylor

He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.” 2 Corinthians 1:4

It was the thing that nightmares are made of. I wasn’t there for this, but trust me I have lived it over and over again with my wife, Judy. Let me tell you the story. When she was four or five years old, her father and mother went to work and so she had a babysitter that lived close by. It was a regular routine. Simple. Simple and routine till one day it wasn’t.

On the first day of school, the babysitter and her friend were taking the kids to school. The kids were entering first grade, there was no kindergarten. After they had dropped the kids off, it was back to her house again. If you’ve ever been to Valdosta, Georgia you need to know multiple times at multiple locations train tracks would cross the roads and highways. Just a few miles from the grade school was a pulpwood plant and often trains would drop off logs to be made into paper. On that particular morning, after leaving the school, the car approached this train crossing. In the early 60’s, many of the crossings didn’t have lights or gates and this was one of those. As the car approached the crossing, that’s when it happened.

It was not unusual for trains to just stop short of the crossing and sit there. As the car approached the crossing there was a train and the young lady who was driving assumed it was just waiting as they often did. Unfortunately, she was wrong. As the car neared the crossing and proceeded onto the tracks, she realized that the train was in fact moving—slowly—but moving. In a panic she thought she was pressing the gas pedal, when in fact she pressed the brake—stopping the car dead on the track. As if in slow motion, the train hit the car and slowly, methodically pushed it down the tracks. Even at such a slow speed, it took a while for the train to stop. The damage was extensive.

The collision was not without consequences and injuries. The lady in the front passenger seat where the train hit received two broken arms. The girl behind the passenger seat had a broken leg. The driver literally had a nervous breakdown. Thankfully, four-year-old Judy was only knocked to the floorboard where she tried her best to hold on to the “hump.” While everyone was taken to the hospital, gratefully the injuries, though serious, were not life threatening. As often is the case in situations like this, not all the injuries were physical.

When I met Judy in 1974, she was sixteen and full of fun and life. Because she lived on the other side of most of the tracks, we would often have to cross them. While never in a dangerous way, if I heard a training coming, I would speed up to make it across the crossing. I still remember the fear that came across her face. Each time it happened, she was reliving what happened. The accident still deeply affected her emotionally. Even if there was a crossing guard with lights, she would tense up, even though I was slowing down to a stop. What happened that morning 12 years earlier left lifelong scars.

At first I didn’t really understand and thought perhaps, just perhaps, she was overreacting. But it didn’t take years, or months or even more than a couple of weeks, for me to realize that for her…this was a big deal. I also quickly realized that I owed it to her, this young woman I loved, to be very careful around train tracks. It didn’t scare me one bit, but it did scare the one I loved, the one I cared for.

So, can I ask you a question? Is there someone in your life, in your world that you care about that might need a bit of special consideration? Is there someone who has a life experience that has left them scarred or wounded? Divorce? Tragedy? Abuse? Death? Illness? Prejudice? You see, in our very imperfect world, you don’t have to travel far to find the wounded and the broken. And what isn’t a big deal to you, might be a tsunami of emotions and difficult memories for someone else. And honestly, we need to be sensitive. We need to care. Jesus did that so well. The Bible tells how God cares and comforts us in our trouble so we can care and comfort those we meet in our daily walkabout life.

So, if you bump into someone’s world and they seem to act differently in a certain situation, why not precede with caution? Why not be the one that brings comfort and understanding to their fractured moment? You could be the one that finally brings healing and peace in their world. Judy is much better now. But if there is an unguarded crossing and a train whistle in the distance, you can bet I still slow down and check the situation out. Judy, well, she knows this guy loves her enough to do exactly that. And, by the way, there is a Dearest Daddy who loves His kids even more than that. And no matter how your world is scarred or rocked…rest assured, He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne