priorities – Page 51 – Grits with Grace

Family, fear, forgiveness, Grace, gratitude, life, loving others, Military memories, prayer, priorities, Scripture, USA, wisdom

December 7th

Posted on December 7, 2020December 6, 2020 by Dewayne Taylor

If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.” Mark 3:25

December 7th. A day that will live in infinity.” Though it was before my time I know the story well. It was a beautiful morning in Pearl Harbor. Those who weren’t painting the ships or swabbing the decks of the powerful U.S. Navy Pacific Fleet were home enjoying a round of golf or a tropical breakfast. And then, at 7:55 in the morning local time, without warning or provocation, bombers, fighters, and torpedo bombers of the Imperial Japanese Navy swept in. They began to systematically destroy the American fleet and its supporting aircraft. That morning thousands of sailors and civilians lost their lives and thousands more were wounded. Over eleven hundred sailors died instantly when a single bomb hit the ammunition magazine on the battleship Arizona.

In a hour and fifteen minutes the attack was over and the United States was drawn into a global war. The nation had long been divided over what role the United States should take in the war that raged in Europe. That was all settled when, after the attack, Japan declared war on America and Hitler as an ally of Japan did the same. Like it or not, the United States was embroiled in a war that would last for almost four years and cost the lives of 407,316 Americans with another 671,278 wounded. But by the grace of Almighty God, in the end, America and her Allies were victorious in defeating the tyranny of the fascist governments.

Thirty-eight percent of those who served were volunteers and sixty-one percent were drafted. The average enlisted person was paid $71.00 per month while the average officer was paid $203. Drafted or volunteer, officer or enlisted, they were all willing to put their lives on the line for the cause of freedom and the cause of defeating countries bent on oppressing those weaker than they. Many valuable lessons were learned during that time—lessons that we must not forget.

First, is the power of unity. Before the Pearl Harbor attack the nation was clearly divided over the war. After the attack, the nation pulled together on a unified front to protect and defend—first the United States, and second, the millions of innocent people being oppressed by Germany, Japan, and Italy. It is tragic that it took a Pearl Harbor to bring the nation together, but if America had entered the war divided the outcome would have been much different. Today, we need to understand that it is time to come together again. We have allowed a virus named COVID-19, a contested national election, and blatant racism to divide our country. Jesus said that a house divided against itself cannot stand. Neither can families. Neither can churches. We must come together or we will fall together.

Second, is the power of owning it. As in any national tragedy, the event happens and almost immediately the finger pointing begins. Pick the historical event and the pattern is sadly the name. Political parties and even ordinary, everyday people will use a tragedy to promote their cause. We have seen it on the national front. We have seen it on the local front. We have seen it in the churches. It is not a time to point fingers, but rather a time to rise to help solve what is broken. Seventy-nine years ago today, December 7, America rose to the challenge. I wonder if we will have the wisdom to do the same today?

Last, is the power of wisdom. There is not much debate that storm clouds were gathering in the days leading up to December 7th. Some would say that there was blatant evidence that an attack was coming. Sadly, those warning signs were largely ignored and the cost was horrendous. Today, right now, there is something we need to remember. There is one enemy and it is not our neighbor, not our brother or sister in church, and not even the person who belongs to another political party. The enemy is Satan, who wants nothing more than to destroy us. Jesus said, “The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy.” It was true when He said it…it is true today. The second part of that verse is filled with hope. Jesus said, “I have come that you might have life and have it more abundantly.”

You see, God is for us. He is very aware of Satan’s tricks and schemes and He wants us to be victorious over him. That is what Christmas and Easter were all about. God became flesh and lived among us and then ultimately and deliberately died on a Roman cross that all people, regardless of nationality, race or economic station, could be forgiven and have eternal life. With the wisdom of God, we don’t have to have a “spiritual” Pearl Harbor. With God’s help we can come together. With God’s help we can be victorious.

You see, it’s not about religion. It is about a relationship with the God who made it all. And with the relationship comes hope, comes peace, comes forgiveness, comes unity. If we are wise enough to believe what God says, and act on what He teaches, our best days won’t be in the rearview mirror but rather ahead. So this Christmas season, let the Prince of Peace bring His peace into your world. Rest in Him. He’s got this.

Family, Grace, life, prayer, priorities, Scripture, wisdom

Bubble Gum Toothpaste

Posted on December 2, 2020December 1, 2020 by Dewayne Taylor

Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray.” Mark 1:35

Something just wasn’t right. You know you never know what you are going to get when you go stay with someone. From the bed to what’s for breakfast, well, it’s all up for grabs. That is especially true when it comes time to shower. I’ve learned you just have to be flexible. Sharing the house with my wife, three daughters and a girl dog meant that things could get pretty girly.

Since I am a man, I used to be used to man soap. It might be whatever was on sale or it could even be Lava—that soap that grinds off the first layer of your skin. One thing was for sure—it didn’t smell like a girl. Then came all these women in my household and the advent of body wash. It wasn’t long before the Lava, he-man soap was replaced with something that smelled like roses or gardenias. This really caused a problem when you walk into the office and smell like a garden. The guys on staff kinda give you a strange look.

But here is the deal. It didn’t stop with just the soap or even the shampoo. It got down to the toothpaste. Oh, it wasn’t that it tasted like flowers…it tasted like bubblegum. Judy and I were recently spending the night with our daughter and son-in-law and their kids…a couple of my grandkids. So, anyway, I survived the sweet smelling soap and shampoo only to discover that I had ran out of toothpaste. I looked around and gratefully found a tube on the vanity. I didn’t read the label past the part that said, “toothpaste.”

I squirted a glob on my he-man electric toothbrush and proceeded to give my teeth the once over. About two seconds in the process I realized that this toothpaste tasted different. You see, I am old-fashioned. I believe that toothpaste should taste like peppermint on steroids. You know, the kind that when you are done you know you don’t have bad breath. And, by the way, mouthwash has to be the same. I like to take a swig of Listerine and swish it around as long as I can stand it before gratefully spitting it out. Well, that day was not like any of that.

As I brushed I realized this toothpaste was sweet and gooey. It took me a moment before I could place the taste and then it hit me. It was bubble gum. Now, excuse me, but who ever heard of bubble gum toothpaste? I thought the whole point of this process was to clean your teeth not birth a desire to blow bubbles. What is the world coming to? Well, anyway, there was no other option so I finished up. I went out into the kitchen still kinda feeling around in my mouth with my tongue. Something just didn’t feel right and then it hit me. It just didn’t feel clean…and I told Judy so. I knew I had brushed my teeth but it didn’t feel like I had brushed my teeth.

You know, and this probably seems weird, but that is sometimes how I feel after another of my morning habits—my quiet time. A quiet time is when you get by yourself, read God’s Book, the Bible, maybe read what someone else wrote about God and then talk to God. It’s God time to kinda get you ready for the day. I know it is a good idea because Jesus did it. More than once in the Bible we are told He got up early and went out by himself and prayed. I figure if it worked for Him, it will certainly work for me.

Now there are some days I know that what I read stuck. I know that when I prayed that even though I couldn’t see God—I knew He was listening. But then there are the “bubble gum” days. Days when I read and don’t remember and pray and feel like my prayers were just circling the ceiling fan. Oh I “brushed” but it just didn’t feel like it. Just like bubble gum toothpaste. Hmmm.

I know that if you want minty—well, you have to go get some minty toothpaste. All the sweet gooey toothpaste in the world just won’t get the job done. And if I want to have a God time that is going to make a difference…it has to be intentional. Not just a habit but a special time with my Heavenly Father…the One who loves me no matter what—the One who patiently waits for me…the One whose grace leaves me fresh and spiritually minty! So, why not mark your calendar for some time tomorrow when you can meet with the One who loves you the most. Take a moment to rest in Him and know that “He’s got this.” Bro. Dewayne

Family, gratitude, life, priorities, Scripture, sovereignty of God, thankful, travel, USA, wisdom

Black Friday

Posted on November 27, 2020November 26, 2020 by Dewayne Taylor

Rest in God alone, my soul, for my hope comes from Him.” Psalm 62:5

We stumbled into Black Friday. It was 1980. We had just returned from a three year tour in Germany while serving in the United States Air Force. It is amazing how things can change in three short years. We enjoyed our time in Germany immensely but it was so good to get back to the greatest country in the world…the USA. We were being assigned to Whiteman Air Force Base in Knob Noster, Missouri. No, I am not kidding. We quickly settled into the new version of our old life. See, you only thought “new normalcy” was something new!

We got back in the country in August and before we knew it, Thanksgiving was right around the corner. I don’t remember anything about Thanksgiving Day, but I sure do remember the day after. I was off on Friday and since Kansas City was only about 45 minutes away, we decided to drive into the city and go shopping. It sounded like a great idea. It probably was a great idea before we left for Germany in 1977, but things had changed. It was a new normal.

We got up on Friday, ate and headed into town. Visions of good deals and the excitement of the Christmas season were dancing in our heads. We picked our mall—there were several to choose from—and off we went. As we drove down the highway and neared the exit and the mall, much to our surprise there was traffic everywhere. The exit was jam packed and once we got into the parking lot we realized it was stuffed to the gills. We kept saying over and over again, “What in the world is going on?”

Well, I can’t remember if we gave up on that mall or not. I don’t remember finding a parking spot but I may have blocked it from my memory. We tend to do that with nightmares! Anyway, we headed to mall number two. It was much larger, with a very, large parking lot and plus by now the initial rush was slowing down some. After circling the area several times, we did manage to find a parking spot. Hey, what if it was ten miles from the mall? Smile.

We hiked to the mall and joined a sea of people as they weaved their way through the stores. It was about that time we finally asked someone, “So what is the deal with all the people? Why is everyone here?” It sounds almost humorous now, but we were sincerely in the dark. The clerk looked at us like we had just returned from the moon or something and I guess in that instance, we had. Apparently while we were in Germany this thing called “Black Friday” was either born or exploded. We had walked into a feeding frenzy of holiday madness. Since that time, it has taken on a life of its own. Stores that opened at crazy hours were now opening on Thanksgiving Day itself. People would storm the doors and fight for the right to get a good deal. But.Not.This.Year.

This year it is going to be different. Because of this year’s new normalcy, many stores that were open on Thanksgiving last year will be closed. Employees who last year had to work will now have time with their families. In the recent weeks leading up to Black Friday, stores have been offering, promising, Black Friday pricing for weeks and not for a day. That might just save someone’s life. Perhaps Friday morning will look more humane and not so much like the Allied troops storming the beaches at Normandy.

I know it is hard to find good things in bad days but maybe, just maybe, if we look hard enough, we might find that parts of the new normalcy will be a better normalcy. It seemed from the beginning that part of this COVID thing was a forced Sabbath. God tells us in His Word to rest in Him alone because all our hope should come from Him. It was like He said, “Enough is enough of this madness we call life. Slow down, already.” And, we have. Maybe this holiday season we will rediscover the blessings all around us. Maybe we will rediscover the wonder of a little Baby born in a feeding trough to save the world from the madness of sin. Maybe we will rediscover the value of family, of others, of generosity, of love. I hope so.

After my initial baptism into the fires of Black Friday I have not been much of a fan. I’ve never stood in line at the door, I’ve never fought someone for a deal, and I’ve never gotten up at 2:00 am to go shopping. But I have rushed through the holidays like a bull running the streets of Spain. Maybe this year I will slow down. Maybe you will too. Sound challenging? It is. But pressing the pause button is not a bad idea…especially if it causes us to rest next to our Dearest Daddy. And, especially if it causes me to realize…He’s got this.

Family, fear, food, forgiveness, Grace, gratitude, life, loving others, Military memories, priorities, Scripture, Southern born, thankful, Thanksgiving, travel, wisdom

A Thanksgiving to Remember

Posted on November 26, 2020November 25, 2020 by Dewayne Taylor

But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead…” Philippians 3:13

It was a Thanksgiving to remember. Throughout the years, Thanksgiving has been a big deal in our family. Growing up, it was a time when Mama would buy a huge turkey and cook it all night in the roaster oven that set by the stove for such an occasion. It was a time when pies were cooked, ambrosia was made, and giblet gravy simmered on the stove. It was a time for two kinds of dressing—cornbread and cornbread with oysters. I’m not sure where that came from, but it was pretty popular. Then, of course, it was a time when most everyone would come home, and we would feast—on good food and enjoy family.

When I graduated from high school and enlisted in the Air Force things had to change. My first duty station was about an hour from the Canadian border in a town called Minot—Minot, North Dakota. I arrived there in October and it was already too cold for a Florida boy. The holidays were looming ahead and it looked like Thanksgiving was going to be a solo flight. But then something happened. Somehow, remember this is long before cellphones, my brother Jimmy, who lived in Amarillo, Texas, called and invited me to his house for Thanksgiving.

Again, somehow, someway, it happened. My base pay of $320 per month didn’t allow for plane tickets, so it meant a trip to the credit union to see if I could get a loan. They granted it and I bought the ticket, got my leave approved and had someone haul me to the airport. So, like the song says, over the river and through the woods, I was on my way, not to grandmother’s house but my brother’s. I can remember flying down to Amarillo in that two engine, piston driven, plane feeling excited and afraid all at the same time. What in the world was I doing?

Soon enough, I was on the ground and there was my big brother and a couple of his kids waiting for me. The best I can remember he worked, maybe managed, a ranch of sorts. It seemed we drove a long way out into the Texas countryside before finally arriving at his house. The next day was Thanksgiving and it was so much like the one at home. We ate well and enjoyed good family fellowship. The thing that was so different was that in the past I was treated as the baby of the family—which I was. But that day—I was his peer. I was a man.

As much as I enjoyed Thanksgiving Day, the next couple of days were also awesome. We went jackrabbit hunting. It was cold with snow covering the ground, and we would jolt and bounce through the fields in his old Willis Jeep. Back at the house we drank hot coffee as he would spin tales about his time in the Air Force. Jimmy was always bigger than life and he was that day too. We also put up the Christmas tree while I was there. One of his favorite Christmas songs was Charlie Pride’s “Christmas in My Home Town.” We played it over and over again while I was there. To this day it is still one of my favorites.

Soon it was time for me to head back to the far north. We headed back to the airport and soon those piston engines were shaking and vibrating the old plane again as I flew back to Minot. I’ve had many good Thanksgivings over the years but that one stands out for me. It was a time when my brother made sure I wasn’t alone at a time when too many were. That was back in 1972 so a lot of water has flowed beneath the bridge. I’m decades older and he is now in heaven. But I am left with the memories…memories that still refresh my soul and make me smile.

To be honest, there are other Thanksgivings that were not so easy…times when another brother and his family were not on speaking terms with the family, times when Daddy was sick and times when the family went separate ways. But I have grown to realize that each of us have a choice. We can choose to remember and relish the good times, or we can remember and dwell on the hard times. The choice is ours. Paul, the guy who wrote about two-thirds of the New Testament in the Bible had plenty of hard memories. He was a pretty bad guy before he met Jesus. After Jesus, he began to write some new stories in his life and he made the decision to leave the past in the past. We should too.

I know holidays can be hard because of the past, or maybe the present. Let me encourage you to choose to remember the good and let go of the rest. It’s not easy but it is possible—with a little help from God. I know these days He’s getting a lot of bad press, but trust me, if you don’t know Him you should get acquainted. He loves you more than you know and He wants to help you do life here. He can even help with those difficult memories.

One of the things that is a staple of mine in life is to eat and nap. Today, Lord willing, I will eat a very good meal, and I will take a very nice nap. Try it—you’ll like it. Also today, I’m going to take a nap of sorts with my best friend Jesus. I’m going to pull aside, rest, and just chat about all the ways He has blessed me. It might take a while because I’m pretty blessed—and so are you. We also will probably talk about some of the hard things going on now. He won’t judge me—He will just love me. You know, that Thanksgiving so many years ago my brother treated me as his peer. Today Jesus treats me as a friend—a friend closer than a brother. He’s a friend that can handle my past and my future. A friend I can trust. That’s why I know…He’s got this.

Family, gratitude, life, loving others, priorities, Scripture, sovereignty of God, thankful, wisdom

Bait and Hook

Posted on November 20, 2020November 19, 2020 by Dewayne Taylor

A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.” Proverbs 17:17

His name was Bill, and he was an investor. When Judy and I landed in Warrensburg, Missouri, via God and the Air Force, we began attending First Baptist Church. For us, being Jesus followers was an all-in deal, so soon we were singing in the choir, attending church, and going to Sunday School small group. Our Bible Study teachers were Bill and Edith Hensley, and they were a class act. The time we spent in that class was rich in every way imaginable. We built friendships and did life together. It seemed that whether you were in the Air Force like I was or a professor at the local university, or a lawyer, it just didn’t matter. We were pilgrims journeying with each other and with Jesus, and it was good.

Bill was a lawyer by trade and a disciple-maker by faith. He believed in Jesus, believed the Bible, and believed in people—including me. I’m not sure how it happened, but he kinda adopted me and began teaching me about fishing, hunting, and growing in my faith. He loved to fish. He would often call the house and say, “What time is it?” Now it might be time to wash the car or time to mow the grass, but I knew what the answer was. “It’s time to go fishing,” I would reply, and in about 30 minutes I would be in his pickup truck heading to some pond to see if we could reel in a bass or two in.

That was the case one particularly late summer evening. We had the boat out in a small pond. Things had been slow, and the sun was just about to call it a day. Bill suggested that I make a cast or two more toward the shore. He pointed out a log that just broke the surface about three feet from land. I gave the rod a swing and, amazingly, that ole hula-popper landed right up next to that log. A hula-popper is a soft lure that sounds just like a wounded frog when you pull up on the rod. I pulled up on the rod and heard the familiar gurgling sound. Nothing happened.

I gave it another tug, and two things happened. First, there was a small splashing sound, and second, the lure stopped dead in the water. At first I thought I had snagged the log, but I then realized I had hooked a pretty good-sized bass. Now, since it was late summer, the water was a bit cool, so there wasn’t this epic battle—you know, man against whale. Instead, it was like reeling in a big piece of wood. Of course there was a tug here and there, but whatever was on the other end of the rod wasn’t up for much of a fight.

Before long the fish was beside the boat and Bill got the net and brought him on board. It turned out to be a pretty big fish. It was a 6.5 pound largemouth bass. I couldn’t believe it. Bill couldn’t believe it, and I am pretty sure the bass couldn’t believe it. Well, we snapped a couple of pictures and headed for shore with the bass safely in the fish well. I asked Bill if I should have him mounted, but he said no because I was sure to catch a bigger one someday in the future. Well, I didn’t, and honestly I believe he knew (because I didn’t know) my Air Force salary couldn’t handle the cost.

Bill and I enjoyed many more fishing trips before I finally moved out of the area and over into Southern Illinois. I slowly lost touch with Bill and Edith, and now they are both in heaven. I am sure they heard “well done” when they got there. I can only imagine how many lives they touched. I do know that night I learned a good lesson, and my relationship with Bill taught me another.

The first lesson came thanks to that old bass. I wonder how many nights he had lain up by that log. You don’t get to be a 6.5 pound bass in a few nights or by making bad decisions. So many a night there he lay, and each of those nights he was wise enough to say no when a fisherman came by with a tempting bait. For some reason that night was different. It wasn’t that I was an expert, and it wasn’t that the bait seemed that real. More than likely he just let his guard down and took the bait. That night he learned a valuable lesson, although it cost him his life. As Greg Laurie puts it, it’s “better to shun the bait than to struggle on the hook.” Now that is good advice. In these days that take way too much energy just to do life, don’t get lax and make a really bad decision. Resist the bait.

The other lesson was from Bill…the man who invested his time, his wisdom, and even some of his resources in a young Air Force sergeant. Bill was simply a good man who loved Jesus. He was busy, but he wasn’t too busy to pour his life into mine. The Bible says, “A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.” Bill was that to me, and I know that I am a better person for knowing him. So, again, in days like these when it seems the top priority is survival, don’t get so self-absorbed that you can’t invest in the folks in your world. There are plenty of people like me who need someone a little wiser to speak into their lives. Why not be that voice? That voice may be whispering, “Don’t take the bait,” or it might be encouraging someone to trust in the One who is worthy…to trust and rest in the God who made it all. I think Bill was one of the ones who spoke into my life and helped me believe that I could trust God because “He’s got this.” Thanks, Bill.

Family, food, gratitude, life, priorities, Scripture, Southern born, travel

Taters

Posted on November 16, 2020November 15, 2020 by Dewayne Taylor

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need.” Matthew 6:33

It was a sight for sore eyes. A while back when my aunt died, I went down to be a part of her memorial service. It was a special time for me since it was my Daddy’s baby sister. Though he has been gone since 1974 it was an opportunity to honor him. The funeral was in Gainesville, Florida and the return trip gave my wife and I an opportunity to travel some Southern back roads. We chose to travel north through Alabama and it turned out to be a real treasure.

Judy and I are both from the South. She is from Valdosta, Georgia and I am from Jacksonville, Florida. There are just certain things about living in the South that are special. You will find things run just a bit slower there. It’s not uncommon to find an older gentleman in an old pickup truck going nowhere in a hurry. It is a Southern thing. It’s not uncommon to see homesteads with old tin roofs often tinted with a rich red rust. It is a Southern thing. It’s not uncommon to see old groves of giant pecan trees ready for a rich harvest of nuts. It is a Southern thing. It’s not uncommon to see old tobacco barns with smoke slowly drifting skyward as the brown leaves dry. It is a Southern thing.

There are many things like that in the South and each one is a treasure to those who recognize them. But if there is one thing that marks the South, if there is one treasure above the rest, it is good Southern cooking. You can find it in most kitchens in those older homes. Mamas are teaching their daughters (and sometimes their sons) how to season green beans and fry chicken or mash potatoes. If you’ve never eaten Southern comfort food…well, you’ve never eaten well!

As we were traveling North through rural Alabama we were seeing all these things and reliving our roots. It was time (actually past time) for breakfast so we began looking for a place to eat. We found ourselves in Luverne, Alabama. It is a small town which happens to be one of the treks to the beaches in Florida…so it gets a fair amount of traffic. We had traveled through before for that very reason. We were looking for a “mom and pop” place and we found Taters. It was a small restaurant in Luverne and it looked like just the spot. “Taters” was in yellow on the front of the barn red building. It had a “Jesus 2020” sign planted by the entrance. Things were looking promising.

We went in and immediately noticed the decor. It was, shall we say, “Southern Jesus.” Hand lettered Scriptures filled the walls. The napkin holders had the same. Back by the restrooms was a big sign about God. The server came as friendly as a Chick-fil-A employee on steroids. We ordered our food and waited. Soon, sitting in front of us was one of the most delicious breakfast meals I have tasted in years. There were three eggs sunny-side up (that means the yokes were sitting there like two small suns), a side of hash browns cooked nice and crispy, three strips of thick cut bacon cooked like it should be—limp. And then there it was.

“It” was a real big spoon full of Southern cooked grits. These weren’t the instant variety—they were the slow cooked kind. And right in the middle of that pile of grits was a puddle of melted butter. It was Southern manna—it was heaven. And trust me—everything was as good as it looked. Now, no lectures about heart attacks, I don’t eat like that all the time, but that time—I did so with no regrets—not even one. But here’s the surprise—that wasn’t the most important thing. The thing that mattered most was the Jesus part. You see this was a restaurant that served up Jesus first and just happened to also serve good food. Their mission was Jesus and their food was a side dish. I was real glad they could cook, but I was blessed by their Jesus boldness. I walked out with a full tummy, a full heart, and a life lesson.

You see, if we follow Jesus, He has to be the center of our universe. Our sign at church says, “Jesus First. Before. Anything. Else. Period.” That is what Taters in Luverne, Alabama is doing. Food is second to Jesus. So, what about you? What about us? Are you a teacher first and then a Jesus follower? Are you a CEO first and then a Jesus follower? Are you a coal miner first and then a Jesus follower? Are you a preacher first and then a Jesus follower? What about this? What if we starting reversing that? How about a Jesus follower who happens to be a teacher; a Jesus follower who happens to be a CEO; a Jesus follower who happens to be a coal miner or, yes, a Jesus follower who happens to be a preacher.

Jesus First. Before. Anything. Else. Period. That would be a game changer. Jesus said if we would “seek His Father first and live for Him, He would give us everything you need.” We need that today. These chaos infested days we are living in are golden opportunities to be a light in a dark world. But we can only do that effectively if Jesus stops being an add on to our lives and becomes our lives.

The next time I am driving through Luverne, you can bet I will stop for some good food and a good helping of “Southern Jesus.” They might not be there because “Jesus first” can be risky. In their case it might cost them business. If you do “Jesus first” it may cost you a friend or two or maybe a promotion, or maybe your popularity. Regardless, it is worth it. One more piece of travel advice. As you travel life’s hectic highway, stop and take a rest with Jesus. And go ahead and be sure and put Him first. Risky? Yup. But, hey, remember, He’s got this.

fear, Grace, life, priorities, Scripture, sovereignty of God, wisdom

Live Forward, Glance Back

Posted on November 12, 2020November 12, 2020 by Dewayne Taylor

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead…” Philippians 3:13

There’s a reason it is smaller. I like cars. I love cars. From my first car, a worn out, rusted out, 1962 Rambler, to what I drive today…cars have held a special place in my life. That old Rambler may have been akin to the “Ramblin’ wreck from Georgia Tech” but it was mine…a gift from my oldest sister and her husband. I was 16 or 17 and I thought I was on top of the world. Through the years I have had many different cars. Some were new (oh, how I love that smell) and more were used, but each one was my baby. I try and take care of both of our family vehicles, but mine always gets the best care. Don’t even think about eating in it. Grandkids are required to take a bath before getting in it. Even Judy requires a permission slip to drive it.

As different as these cars have been, there are a few things that they have in common. They all had an engine. The Rambler had a straight line six with a rod knocking but hey, it ran…for a while. My first new car was a 1973 Volkswagen Super Beetle. It had an engine too…but in the back. Trust me that was revolutionary in those days. Then there was the 1985 Oldsmobile Cutlass Cruiser. It had an engine—a diesel. I didn’t know a thing about diesels. Imagine my surprise when I looked for the spark plugs and found out it didn’t have any! Speaking of diesels, Judy and I both drive Volkswagens these days, both diesels and both get about 42 miles per gallon. So I’m returning to my roots.

Oh, and all those cars had tires, four of them. They had seats—most had seating for five, but some had more. Our mini-vans could seat seven and that Cutlass Cruiser could seat eight. All had heating and most had air conditioning. Like I said, they had a lot of things in common. And they all had a mirror. They had one or two sideview mirrors and then there was one that hung in the middle of the windshield. It allowed me to see what was behind, and as you know that is important. But there is one more thing that they had in common. They all had a windshield.

In the real old days, cars didn’t have windshields. You wore goggles and just picked the bugs out of your teeth. But somewhere along the way someone figured out that there had to be a better way and the windshield was born. The windshield allows you to see where you are going and what is coming at you. It is big because it is important. Have you ever thought about this—the thing that allows you to see the future is a whole lot bigger than the thing that allows you to see the past. Hmmm. I bet that is no accident. No one can deny the fact that we need to look behind, it’s just that looking forward is more important and that is why it is so big.

So, here’s the question. As you are “driving” along life’s road, which is bigger, your windshield or your rearview mirror? I know many folks spend more time looking back than looking forward and that can lead to a pretty hair-raising ride. You see the rearview mirror in your car is not designed to be the primary place you look. It is designed for an occasional glance. Well, that is true in life. The rearview mirror in our life is there, it is designed, to glance back. We savor the good times and smile as we remember them. We wince at some of the more unwise decisions but remember the lessons we learned. Yup…it is profitable until it is all that we look at.

Living with our eyes glued to the rearview mirror of life is a dangerous thing. If we live staring at all the past good days, we will some become discontent with the present. If we live staring at all the past failures and flops, we will soon become discouraged and depressed. It’s just what happens when we stare at the past and ignore the present and future. Paul, in the Bible, gives us some great advice. He admitted that while he hadn’t figured it all out, he had learned one thing. He said we should leave the past in the past and reach out for the future. And trust me…that is really, good advice.

A guy named Brian Simmons says, “The time before us is not one of gloom and doom; it will be instead the best and most adventurous time of our lives. The best for God’s people lies not in the past, buried in Scripture somewhere. It’s yet to come. Let’s not allow fear to defeat us.” Right on Brian, Right on. Remember, don’t fear the future just because it is unknown. You see, there is a God who knows the future and in fact, in a way we can’t understand…He’s already there. So, settle back, rest in Him and enjoy the drive. Go ahead…set the cruise…He’s got this.

Family, gratitude, life, loving others, Military memories, prayer, priorities, Scripture, thankful, travel, USA, Veteran's Day, wisdom

A Penny and a Nickel

Posted on November 11, 2020November 11, 2020 by Dewayne Taylor

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13

I had never noticed it before. A couple of weeks ago my wife Judy and I visited the national battlefield at Dover, Tennessee. I was so impressed. Fort Donelson National Battlefield is a Civil War battle site sandwiched between the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers. The South had built two forts there for the purpose of controlling those two rivers. It was a major supply line for the South. Many of the original earthworks are still there. You can imagine the Union and Southern soldiers huddling down rising only to fire at one another.

One spot on the tour showed where the big Southern guns were mounted. In fact, many of them were still there. There were three on one side and seven on the other. The guns could hurl a 30 pound shell over a mile and were some of the deadliest weapons of the war. At that spot, an American Bald Eagle was perched in a large oak tree right on the bluff. It was as if he was watching over the sacredness of this hallowed ground. Men—both Union and Southern, shed their blood on these grounds. One side dying to preserve the Union and the other dying to tear it apart. After more than a few minutes the eagle took his leave and so did we.

The car tour then took us out of the park and down the road a mile or so. There we found more earthworks, more cannon and more ground stained with blood. Leaving there we headed down the road to the National Cemetery established after the battle. The Union soldiers won the day but the cost was high on both sides. Judy and I parked the car and walked around the cemetery. There were hundreds of graves…all men who had fought for the Union. Sadly, the Confederate dead where dumped into mass graves and covered over. They remain that way today.

At the cemetery, there were many graves from the Civil War era but since it is still an active military cemetery, warriors from virtually all the wars are buried there. Judy and I saw graves from the World War I, World War 2, Korea, Vietnam and the Gulf Wars. We even saw one grave from what was called the Second Seminole War or the Florida War. Row upon row of graves, some older ones with only a last name and their assigned unit, lay silently giving testimony to their last full measure of devotion to their country. There was one more thing.

We noticed that laying on top of many of the headstones there were coins. They were mostly pennies with a sprinkling of silver coins also. I didn’t really know what they meant but I had an idea and I was right. There is a tradition that honors men and women who served their country. You mainly see it in national cemeteries but also at others scattered throughout our Land. When you see a penny on top of the headstone of a veteran, it means that someone stopped and reflected on the soldier’s life and service. It is a form of remembrance. And, when a family member returns to the grave, they have the assurance that someone remembered and honored their loved one’s sacrifice and service.

If there was a silver coin, and back in the old days a nickel in particular, it meant the person who stopped by had a special relationship with the fallen soldier. They may have gone through basic training together or were assigned to the same unit. There has always been a special bond with men and women who fought together…who perhaps died together. It is a bond that lives on beyond death and those silver coins honored that bond.

The Bible is full of renowned, well known, verses but one that stands out is where Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” That is what those silver coins were saying. It was a silent testimony of loyalty one for another. This band of brothers were willing to die for the other…and many did. What an amazing story of love and commitment.

Today we honor the men and women of our great country who served or are actively serving in it’s armed forces. For 244 years brave soldiers have put their lives on the line. As the saying goes, “All who served gave some but some gave all.” We should be incredibly grateful for both. As you journey through life today and you recognize a man or woman who was or is member of the armed forces, take the time to thank them for their service. The freedoms we enjoy came at great cost whether it was the ultimate sacrifice or the daily sacrifice of hardship or separation from family. Be sure and let them know you appreciate it. It is just the right thing to do. Oh, and don’t forget to thank the One who provides the ultimate freedom…Jesus Christ. Because of Him, we can rest…because of Him we can have the peace of knowing…He’s got this.

Family, Grace, life, loving others, priorities, Scripture, wisdom

Approval-itis

Posted on November 10, 2020November 9, 2020 by Dewayne Taylor

As the Father has loved me, I have also loved you. Remain in my love.” John 15:9

If He can’t, why am I surprised that I can’t? Do you know what still amazes me? Creation…and not just part of it…all of it. I’m amazed when I stop and look at a spring flower. I’m amazed that the sun rises and sets day after day. I’m amazed that my heart beats about 75 times a minute. That is, wait for it, 108,000 times a day. In case you are interested that is 39,420,000 times a year. And, so far, it’s done it pretty well for 66 years. Oh, and I’m amazed that out of all the galaxies, solar systems, and planets—zillions of them—only one can support life as we know it. Earth. And it is no accident. It is an intentional act of creation.

God is really good at creating things. He made us. The Bible says that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made.” Another place in the Bible He says we are His masterpieces. Now granted some are Rembrandt’s and some are Picasso’s but we are all masterpieces. Handcrafted by the Creator of the universe—a “one of a kind” miracle. I know He made me with a few quirks and several warts and that is the point of this story…one of my quirky warts.

You see, from the time I was a little kid I have wanted people to like me. I have craved approval from the time I can remember. Whether it was from my mama and daddy, my brothers or sisters or the guy who picked up our garbage…I wanted approval. Let me tell you if you are going to have a quirk wart…there are a lot better ones than this one. The problem with “approval-itis—the need for people’s approval” is that it leads to a far worse disease—the passion, the drive to please people. Now if I lived out in Montana where my nearest neighbor was 20 miles away, this wouldn’t be such a big problem. But my life revolves around people—I am a pastor for goodness sake. And, to be honest, I want everyone to be happy and I want every one of them to like me. Sigh.

To be clear…the deal isn’t their deal…oh no, it lands right in my lap. The wart with all it’s bumps is right here. For years I have been learning, or trying to learn, that I will not ever, never, please everyone. But like an alcoholic craves the bottle—so we people pleasers crave approval. And, by the way, I’ve gotten a little better. Now, if I’m driving down the street and I wave at someone and they don’t wave back, I don’t write down their license plates and put a contract out on them. Smile.

If you can identify in any small way with “approval-itis” I have some good news. It is sure to help you. No, it is not seeking counseling and paying someone $125 dollars an hour to tell you that you can’t please everyone. No, it is not moving to Montana…that wouldn’t work anyway because you would think the horse didn’t like you! No, it is something that I read in one of my devotions the other morning. It is a simple truth. Are you ready? Here it is, “You can’t please everybody. Even God couldn’t please everybody.” Now isn’t that just profound…and true. I mean God is like all powerful, all wise, all knowing and can be everywhere at the same time and a majority of the world is always mad at him. How about that?

Think about it. If God couldn’t pull it off, then who am I to think that I can? I guess God could snap His celestial fingers and make everyone like Him but He has this thing about free will. He doesn’t want to make people love Him—He wants them to love Him because they want too. Because.They.Want.To. He loved us so much that He gave His only Son to die on a Roman cross and He did it knowing that many…maybe most…would never even respond. Amazing.

So, here’s the deal. I understand that I will never please everyone…probably not even a fraction of the people I bump into. I can’t do that, but I can do this. I can love like Jesus loved. He said, “As the Father has loved me, I have also loved you. Remain in my love.” He was saying, “Hey, when it comes to loving people…I’m all in. Sit back and enjoy it.” I can give my best not because a person will respond like I want, but rather because that is what my Dearest Daddy wants me to do. And guess what? His approval is the only approval that matters. We should live, love and long for the audience of One—Jesus.

Well, truth be told, I won’t get this one right in this lifetime because I probably won’t live that long—like a million years. But with His help I can be more like Him, every day. Love God, love people. It’s that simple. If you are “plum wore out” from “approval-itis,” well, why don’t you just take a rest? You can, you know—because He’s got this.

Family, life, priorities, sovereignty of God

It Ain’t Over

Posted on November 9, 2020November 8, 2020 by Dewayne Taylor

I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.” Job 42:2

Siri gave me the bad news. I am a pastor. I’m not sure what you do on Saturday nights, but I know what is on my schedule. Forever, well almost forever, my Saturday nights have been reserved for doing the final studying for the message I am to deliver the next morning. My wife and I don’t generally accept any kind of engagements on that special night because, well, it is a big priority. Now, there is one kinda, sorta, exception. Notre Dame football.

I am not sure how it all started, but a long time ago I became a Notre Dame football fan. It really is the only thing in the sports world that I consistently follow. I’m not a huge sports fan, however, college football and Notre Dame football in particular, ranks pretty high with me. If I know there is a Notre Dame game schedule for Saturday night I will try and study earlier in the day to free up some time to watch the game that night. This past Saturday, despite all my good intentions, that just didn’t happen. That meant that the Irish would have to play largely without me. Now what made that particularly difficult was the Irish, ranked number four in the nation, was playing Clemson who was ranked number one. It was going to be a good game.

So what is a pastor/Notre Dame fan supposed to do? Well, I watched bits and pieces of the game and occasionally would ask Siri on my Apple watch what the score was. The Irish started off strong with a touchdown and by halftime had a pretty comfortable lead. I was ecstatic. I tuned in and out for most of the evening. I checked in somewhere and the lead had shrunk to four points. I figured I best not check in anymore or else the crowd at church was going to get a half-baked sermon. So I studied, and wrote and wrote and studied. Finally, about 9:45 pm or so I couldn’t resist the urge any longer. I asked Siri, “Hey Siri, what’s the score in the Notre Dame football game?” Her response was discouraging. No, it was devastating.

In her chirpy, Siri voice, totally indifferent to the pain she was about to cause, she said, “Notre Dame is losing to Clemson by a score of 26 to 33 with two minutes remaining.” What? I was studying about joy and mine plummeted like a roller coaster on a greased track. I muttered under my breath (never mind what I muttered) and studied a bit more before calling it quits. I went to bed. Notre Dame hadn’t lost a home game in forever and tonight that streak was going to end. Bummer.

The next morning, after some coffee, I picked up the sermon to give it the final look over. After a while, I went over to the computer to look something up and my email app was open. I took a moment to scan the list of emails that had come over night. Halfway down the list my glaze came to a screeching halt. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. I get a regular email from a company that sells sports stuff. I especially like their fan gear like Notre Dame hoodies. If the Irish win, they will send out an email that declares their victory and then offer a special discount to celebrate. And…there it was.

The brief summary in the email list said it all, “Irish Beat Clemson.” Whoa…what? As fast as a rabbit running from a bobcat, I opened the email and saw that the Irish had indeed beat Clemson in a double overtime thriller by a score of 47 to 40. Fortunately, my Hopper thing from Dish records primetime and it had recorded the game. As fast as I could I turned on the television, went to the DVR and clicked the button and there was the game in all its glory. I cheated and watched the final two minutes but saved the rest for later. I got to watch the thriller ending after all…and it was incredible. Go Irish. Baptist or not—I love Notre Dame football.

Here is the amazing part. I went to bed Saturday night assuming that my team had lost. Down seven with two minutes to play—no way. But I should have known better because the Irish are famous for thrilling finishes but most of them don’t involve the number one team who had a 37 game winning streak…the reigning national champs. Yup, I went to bed a loser and woke up a winner. You just never know what is going to happen. It is true with Notre Dame football, but better yet it is true in life—especially when God is the head coach.

Life can be pretty difficult…especially these days. We have never seen so many uncertainties from so many directions and all at the same time. It is easy to think that we’ve lost the game. It is easy to go to bed thinking all is lost, game over. But God has an amazing way of turning it all around. An old quote says, “It ain’t over till the fat lady sings.” Well, I don’t know who this lady is and you shouldn’t call people fat anyway, but let me tell—with God in the mix she isn’t even humming her first bar of music. I’m trying to say, don’t give up…don’t be discouraged. You, or it, may seem like a lost cause but never, never is that true with God on your side.

I’ve heard some people say they like to read the end of a book first to see how things turn out. Well, I have read the end of His Book—and He wins in the end. Job, who knew all about hot mess circumstances said, “I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.” Wow. You see, as I watched my recorded version of the game—even knowing the outcome—I winced at some missteps and cheered for every score. And the best part—I rested knowing that nothing I was about to see could change that outcome. The Irish were going to win. If you are a Jesus follower, no matter how crazy life gets, no matter how it seems God can’t pull it out—just rest in knowing He can. Nothing can change His planned outcome in this game called life. With Jesus you can rest assured, He’s got this.