Air Force – Page 5 – Grits with Grace

Family, friends, gratitude, Holidays, Integrity, life, love, loving others, Memorial Day, Military memories, prayer, priorities, Scripture, thankful, USA

Memorial and More

Posted on May 27, 2022May 26, 2022 by Dewayne Taylor

Once you were alienated and hostile in your minds expressed in your evil actions. But now He has reconciled you by His physical body through His death, to present you holy, faultless, and blameless before Him.” Colossians 1:21-22

It was a moment I will probably never forget. My wife and I love adventures. We look for ways to do things on a limited budget and we’ve actually gotten pretty good at it. A few years back we discovered we could take a train from Carbondale to Chicago, stay downtown at a nice hotel for a couple of nights and enjoy whatever was happening around us…all on a shoestring budget. We would usually go around Memorial Day or the Fourth of July. It was pretty awesome.

Several years ago we went the week of the 4th. We grabbed a very nice hotel room and managed to snag a room that literally faced the fireworks display. It was awesome. At Millennium Park they have these incredible free outdoor concerts. Thousands of people from all walks of life gather on the large lawn to listen. Because it is the 4th, they share a lot of patriotic music. They usually have a section where they honor the veterans by asking them to stand when the theme for their branch of the service is played.

I am a veteran. I served in the United States Air Force for 12 years and it was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. And that’s the problem. You see, because it was so rewarding, I always felt awkward standing to be honored because I felt like I received so much more than I gave. So that night, I knew that part of the concert was coming, and I was dreading it. I knew that Judy would urge me to stand, I would say no, and she would give me the look. Again. But that night, for some reason, something changed.

It was time. The stirring songs from each branch of the service began playing. Soon, the Air Force theme was playing. I looked at Judy and said, “I’m going to stand just for you.” As I stood something happened. First, I saw others standing that had served in the Air Force and I felt community…I stopped feeling apart and instead felt a part—a part of the family. But what happened next was amazing.

There was a mother with a couple of young boys sitting about eight or ten feet from me. The younger of her sons, probably seven or eight, looked at me and said this, “Mom, is he a hero?” And I watched and listened as she said, “Yes. He served our country so that we can be free.” Then she turned to me and mouthed the words, “Thank you for serving.” Well, that was the highlight of the trip for me, and it was the day an unexplainable wall fell.

I am certain that I do not deserve the title hero. The men and women with crosses over their graves in all the national cemeteries deserve that. The warriors who came back from the various wars and conflicts bearing the physical and emotional scars of war deserve that. But the one thing that I realized that night was that we should be thankful for our freedom. We can and should honor each person who served for their willingness and sacrifice.

I’m still shy about standing at Veteran’s Day events. I still feel awkward at concerts when veterans are asked to stand. But it’s not because I’m ashamed to say I served. No, it is because I received more than I could ever give back. I was privileged to wear the uniform of my country. And that is pretty awesome. But wait. There’s more.

As I write this story another one is stirring in my heart. It flashed in my mind that this isn’t the only time, the only circumstance, that makes me feel this way. It is also my faith in God. That day when I followed Christ, I also received more than I could ever give back. That day I was welcomed into the family of a God who loved me enough to give His Son to a Roman cross. Paul in the Bible tells us that we went from being alienated and hostile toward God to being able to call Him Father. Jesus caused my billion failures to disappear so He could present me faultless and blameless to His Father.

We all need heroes. This Memorial Day would you take the time to remember those who bled and died that we could be free? Would you take your kids to the cemetery for your community’s Memorial Day service? I hope that you will. But I also hope you will pause and thank the Hero of Heaven for sacrificing His life so that people like you and me can be truly free. And finally, next time you have the opportunity to stand not as a hero but because of the One, stand proudly and thank Him. Thank Him that you can rest in Him. Thank you because He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne

Family, Grace, gratitude, life, prayer, priorities, Scripture, Southern born, sovereignty of God, thankful, Trials

A Bad Idea–But God

Posted on May 18, 2022May 17, 2022 by Dewayne Taylor

I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous abandoned or his children begging for bread.” Psalm 37:25

It seemed like a really, bad idea. Right after high school graduation I jumped into the Air Force, and it turned out to be a really good idea. Back in those days, or so it seemed, college wasn’t pushed for everyone, and I was pretty uncertain about what I wanted to do. So, through a strange set of circumstances, I found myself in the military. I loved it. Raised as a good southern boy, the discipline required for a life in the service came naturally. I was taught to respect others and especially those appointed over me. “Yes sir” and “Yes ma’am” were part of my vocabulary long before the Air Force taught me to say it.

By 1980, I had been stationed in Minot, North Dakota, Valdosta, Georgia (where I met and married the best wife a guy could ask for), spent three years in Germany and finally landed in Knob Noster, Missouri. Like I said, I liked the Air Force, and it seemed the Air Force liked me. I was picked for several key assignments and was on track promotion wise. With a young family, the security the Air Force provided was an added benefit and while I wasn’t going to get rich in the Air Force, the pay provided a good life. Yup…life was good.

Then God spoke. No, it wasn’t an audible voice, but it was one clear enough that I knew He had a change of plans in mind. I felt, I knew that He was calling me to become a pastor but that wasn’t all. I also knew for me that meant leaving the Air Force. I think that was probably for a couple of reasons. First, I knew that as long as I was in the Air Force, I would be tempted to lean on that for security and not God. Second, I also knew that the Air Force would be calling the shots about my future. Well, that led up to me making one of the biggest changes in my life…after 12 years…leaving the lifestyle and security of the Air Force and jumping into the secure arms of faith and the life of a pastor.

When I went public with this it seemed that everyone had an opinion and a lot of those opinions followed one school thought—you are nuts. Certainly, the military thought it was a bad idea. After all, they liked me, and I liked them. I was on track for a good career and great retirement. You see, with the military, you can retire with 20 years and draw a pension equal to half of your base pay. You also get other benefits for the rest of your life. All that led to the “you are nuts” thing and this is really not good idea. But then…there was God.

You see, I was, oh, somewhere beyond probably and just shy of absolutely certain that God was asking me, telling me to do this. And somehow, some way, Judy and I with two toddlers under three were able to believe and jump. And now, forty years later, I am able to say that God took that “really not a good idea” and turned it into a really good idea. He has faithfully and completely cared for us over these four decades. I’m sure if I had stayed in the Air Force, I would have had a nice, secure life. I’m sure things would have turned out just fine. But God’s idea went somewhere beyond nice and secure and somewhere beyond just fine.

If I’ve learned anything from all of this, it is that God’s ideas are always, and I do mean always, better than mine. I have learned and I am learning that faith beats fine every time. The adventure, the challenges, the “mysterious ways of God” that we have experienced together trumps a nice retirement and manmade security. There’s a verse, and I’m really not sure all that it means, but it sure seems to ring true with me. The author says that he had never seen the righteous forsaken or his family begging for bread. Like I said, I’m not sure what that means entirely but looking back from where I sit, it says, “God is good, God is faithful, and God can be trusted.”

God is good, God is faithful, and God can be trusted. Period. Your story is probably a lot different than mine but if you are a God follower let’s all agree on that part. He really is good, He really is faithful, and yes, He can be trusted. So, in these days of uncertainty and in these days when up is down and down is up—listen carefully for the still small voice of your Dearest Daddy. Let Him whisper His better idea…and then trust. Don’t worry, you are not nuts—you’re a man, a woman and child of faith. And that is always best because, “He’s got this.” Bro. Dewayne

Family, friends, Grace, gratitude, life, Military memories, Scripture, sovereignty of God, thankful, Trials

Life from the Back Left

Posted on May 13, 2022May 12, 2022 by Dewayne Taylor

For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7b

I guess I got in the wrong line. I don’t know if there are lines in heaven or not but if there are…I may have missed one or two. If there is a line for being tall, missed it. If there is a line for being skinny, missed that one too. Oh, the line for hair, missed it again. Oh well, I am who I am and probably in a different world I would be alright with at least some of it. But it seems we live in a world where we are constantly being reminded that we always come up…a little short (pun fully intended).

And speaking of short, the Air Force had this unusual way of reminding you that you weren’t tall. Now, first, you need to know I really, really enjoyed my time in the Air Force. Once you made it past basic training, in many ways it was like working for any other first-class organization. Now granted, we were still in the warrior business, but Basic Military Training wasn’t the real Air Force…thankfully.

You see, in Basic, we marched where we went. I’m sure the Army and Marines do that all the time anyway but once we got out of Basic and tech school, we rediscovered the wonders of buses and cars. But not so in Basic. So, it went something like this. The Drill Sergeant would holler “form up”. Now we had done this enough that we would get into lines about seven across and seven deep. The sergeant would then have us do a “right face” and would say, “If you are taller than the man in front of you, tap him on the right shoulder and move up.” In other words, if you are tall, move up…if you’re short don’t.

Well, I simply waited for the inevitable tap on the right shoulder and sure enough…it came. Then the sergeant would have us do a “left face” and we would do it all over again. The command came, “If you are taller than the man in front of you, tap him on the right shoulder and move up.” So, the end result was the tallest people were at the right front and the shortest people were in the left back. Well, it seems I spent a lot of time in the back left.

I’m sure there is a reason for all of this. It certainly must have looked more uniform, and I guess it probably looked more impressive. I’m glad we didn’t apply this logic and formula to family photographs. If we did, some of us would have never been seen. I always wrestled with things like this because it seemed to make me feel kinda…small. It sometimes seems that the world places great value on a man’s stature—the taller the better and it is true in so many arenas and places around the world. But there is one place that it doesn’t matter one bit…and that is the place that matters the most.

You see, when it comes to God, He is not impressed even a little bit with our height, weight, or even how much hair we have. In fact, He is the one who made us and since He doesn’t make mistakes, well, that means He got it right. When God was choosing the second king of Israel, the search committee naturally assumed the biggest and tallest would be selected. Well, God said, “Nope.” It turned out that there was a short, ruddy, teenage shepherd boy that, through God’s prospective, fit the bill perfectly. You see, God looks at the size of the heart and not the height. He looks on the inside and not the outside. I like that. A lot.

So, as you journey through life, and you are bugged because it seems you got in the wrong lines in heaven (and just to be clear…there really aren’t any lines) remember that God made you just way He wanted you. When they were doing the selection process for that king, God said, “For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” Well, there you go. You won’t find any of that, “tapping the shoulder thing and moving up” in God’s family. We made us equal and loves us equally. And if anyone tries to tell you differently, just remind them who’s calling the shots and remember that no matter what, “He’s got this.” Bro. Dewayne

Family, fear, friends, Grace, gratitude, life, loving others, Military memories, prayer, Scripture, sovereignty of God, thankful, travel, Trials

Zwei or Saar?

Posted on April 26, 2022April 25, 2022 by Dewayne Taylor

A person’s steps are established by the Lord, and He takes pleasure in his way.” Psalm 37:23

We were so close and yet so far away. It was 1977 and we were brand new at our new assignment in Germany. We had purchased a 1967 Volkswagen station wagon which turned out to have virtually no floorboards just floor mats. We found that out the first time it rained. It rains a lot in Germany. Anyway, we named him Herman. He wasn’t fast, he wasn’t pretty. But he would go…most of the time.

Our friends that lived a couple of hours away invited us to come over and spend the weekend with them. We lived in Sambach which wasn’t too far from Sembach where I worked. You can probably already tell that things can get confusing in Germany in a hurry. So, we had been in country for about 10 days, we had our international driver’s license which meant I paid someone $15 dollars, and we had Herman. Not to sound like Gilligan’s Island but we started out on a three hour trip…a three hour trip.

We were heading to a small city called Zweibrucken. That is where our friends lived. The Air Force had a small airbase there where he worked and since Zweibrucken means “two bridges” I assume they had those also. It was simple. Get on this highway with your car named Herman with no floorboards, drive about an hour or so, take a left and head toward Zweibrucken. Not a deal. Right? Well, not so fast.

Soon Judy and I were traveling along, excited for a new adventure. We had no traveling experience in Germany, it was raining, remember it does that a lot in Germany, so we have miniature swimming pools for floorboards and the antique wipers are just keeping up with the rain. The directions were simple: drive for about an hour, take a left and head for Zweibruken. We probably should have written that down.

After about an hour we came to a large directional sign. It said Saarbrucken straight ahead. Well, Mr. “I’m a man who doesn’t get lost” looked at his sweet, dear “Don’t look at me, I’ve never been out the country before either” wife and said, “Uh was that Saarbrucken we were looking for?” You know, if you’ve seen one “brucken” you’ve seen them all.

Well, I couldn’t remember, she couldn’t remember so we kept driving and it kept raining. We drove for quite a while and suddenly found ourselves in Saarbrucken which happens to be on the French border. We also found ourselves on the verge of having to speak French. Since we didn’t speak French or German either we decided we had better turn around before we started an international incident.

I did a quick turn around and head back the way we came. We are disoriented, discouraged, and disappointed. We drove back about 30 miles or so and there we saw a sign: Zweibruken. Hallelujah. I remembered, she remembered—sweet Zweibruken. We exit off of the autobahn (which is German for you can drive fast if you don’t drive a Herman) and as we exited we see our friend just pulling away. He had come to look for us and was just about to give up. We saw him, he saw us. We laughed, we embraced. We had made it. “Guten Tag.” Guten Tag, indeed!

We still laugh about that crazy story. Two young people who didn’t know a thing about driving in a foreign country, taking off in a too old Volkswagen station wagon with swimming pools for floor boards and getting lost. Yup, life was good. Now if I remember right I was probably frustrated, a bit mad, discouraged, and discombobulated. I’m not exactly sure what that means but I am sure I felt it that day. But the bottom line is we had fun. Even then we laughed at the hot mess we were in. It was a story we would tell our kids one day. Well, we have and it still brings a smile to our lips.

I know there is so much craziness today. So many missteps, so many “I don’t knows,” so many “Saars” when it should have been a “Zwei.” But remember this. There is a God that is writing this story called your life and He is a God who loves a good adventure. And the things that we count as disruptions just might be one of His great adventures purposely put in our path for our ultimate good and pleasure. David in Psalm 37:23 writes, “The steps of a good person are ordered [directed, planned] by the Lord. And He delights in that path.” In other words, God has a plan and it is a plan that He has written just for you.

I know I sometimes question my GPS when it takes me down some crazy roads to save a minute or two but I am learning to just enjoy the journey. I wrote a few days back that Judy and I love to drive around and try to get lost. One of my friends said, “Come on down to Pope County. I can get you lost.” I think I’m gonna take him up on it. I’ll have my trusty GPS and my friend so it should be a great adventure. I’ll just go along for the ride and rest in Him. After all, He’s got this. Guten Tag. Bro. Dewayne

Family, friends, Grace, gratitude, life, loving others, Military memories, prayer, Scripture, sovereignty of God, thankful

Little Jack Horner

Posted on April 4, 2022April 2, 2022 by Dewayne Taylor

Do not judge others, and you will not be judged.” Matthew 7:1

Little Jack Horner may have sat in a corner…but this time he didn’t. It was the late seventies, and we were living in Western Germany. I was serving in the Air Force and my wife Judy and I were having the time of our lives. We were still newlyweds and every day, and everything seemed to be an adventure. Even church stuff. God was and is a big part of our lives and that was true way back then too. We were blessed to have a great church family in Germany, and you might say we were up to our eyes involved. One of the things that we would do is go and visit people who came to church and visited us.

On one occasion a lady came to visit our church and we decided to return the favor. Her name was Carol Horner and she served in the Army. She was married but her husband didn’t do the church thing. He had a thing…it just wasn’t church. One Tuesday night we decided that we would go see Carol. Virtually no one had a phone in Germany, and this was long before cell phones so when we went to see someone, it was usually…unannounced. It’s funny but that sounds so strange today but back then it’s kind of what you did.

Carol and her stay-at-home husband lived on our base so that Tuesday we headed out to find their apartment. The housing on base consisted of several large multi-floor buildings. We found the building, which stairwell and away we went. After climbing several flights of stairs, we found ourselves at Carol’s door. We knocked. Soon we could hear the sound of feet, so we at least knew someone was home. Well, the door opened, a little, and there was the face of Carol. We were bubbly and she was surprised…and, uh, a little apprehensive.

She knew who we were, we had met at church, and we told her we were just out visiting folks and would like to come in for a few minutes. She hesitated, suggesting maybe it wasn’t a good time, but Mr. and Mrs. Bubbles, politely pressed the cause and after a minute or two Carol explained her hesitation. It turns out that her husband Jack, was, uh, a nudist and actually, at that moment he was sitting in the living room…eating spaghetti and dressed only with a dinner napkin. I know you are thinking this couldn’t be true…but it was. And, what happened next, is too.

We were persistent that night, maybe too persistent, and suggested maybe Jack would be willing to get dressed so we could visit. She checked and he finally agreed to lay a dish towel across his lap. We went in to find, Jack, who definitely was not little, with a small dish towel on his lap, joyfully eating a plate full of spaghetti on a TV tray. Though he didn’t miss a beat…we might have. Have you ever heard about the white elephant in the room? Well, that night there was definitely a white elephant in the room.

We chatted, ok, we tried to chat with Carol as Jack smacked and slurped his spaghetti down. It seems he did make one or two comments about his choice of clothing, or lack thereof, but other than that he ignored us as we tried to return the favor. Well, we didn’t stay too long and soon it was time to call it a night. We told Jack it was good to meet him and was grateful he didn’t stand up as we left. Carol showed us to the door and there she told us that she was grateful that we came by. I’m sure because of the circumstances she didn’t get a lot of company. We had a short prayer with her and said goodnight.

As I remember she became a regular attender at our church and no, Jack, never did. I’m sure he couldn’t decide what to wear. Smile. Two things were true about that night. First, of all the visits Judy and I have made through the years, nothing ever came close to Jack Horner and his towel. To this day, he occasionally comes up in our conversation when we have spaghetti. Second, though, is something more important. Somehow, some way, Judy and I got something right that night. We managed not to judge Jack and to make Carol feel welcomed and appreciated.

Being humans, we don’t always get it right, do we? But that night reminds me that people are just people and regardless of how crazy it might seem, we just need to leave the judging to the Judge and leave the stones on the ground where they belong. Jesus said that if we are wise enough not to judge we will find that people are less likely to judge us. That’s good advice. I don’t remember Judy and I gossiping about Jack. I don’t believe there were harsh whispers as we descended the stairs but there probably were some smiles and giggles. You see, you just never know what you will find on a Tuesday night. As I think of Jack sitting in his chair that night, I am reminded of one thing. No matter what, “He’s got this.” Bro. Dewayne

Family, fear, friends, Grace, gratitude, life, love, loving others, Military memories, Scripture, thankful, Trials, wisdom

Me and Major Hobbs

Posted on March 7, 2022March 6, 2022 by Dewayne Taylor

Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

I knew the outcome…I thought. The list of the things I enjoyed while serving in the Air Force is long and varied. Somehow, which I’m sure God arranged, I was assigned to work in the command section at all my duty assignments. It all started when a guy named Master Sergeant Johnson picked me up at the small airport in Minot, North Dakota and casually said, “I think I’m going to let you work for me.” He worked in the command section of the Combat Support Group and so it began. Each new duty assignment found me working for the commanders and first sergeants of each unit. It was awesome. So many of those leaders left their fingerprints on my life and help mold me in the person I am today.

1973 found me assigned to the command section of one of aircraft maintenance squadrons at Moody Air Force Base. My immediate supervisor, the first sergeant and even the commander became friends of sorts—within the parameters of military protocol. All that leads to the point of this story. After joining the service, I learned to play racquetball and loved it. I suppose I was even pretty good at it. Well, my commander, Major Hobbs, also played. Normally, our path probably wouldn’t have crossed at the gym, but this young buck airman kept egging this 20 year my senior, slightly overweight, Major… to play him in racquetball. I assured him that I could take him and then one day, he said, “Ok.”

He told me to get a court time and I did. Now everything assured me that this was going to be a no match…and it was…but not like I thought. On the appointed day and at the appointed time we met to do battle. I was sure I was going to show my commander what a real racquetball player looked like. I served first and I may have made a couple of points. Then, it was his turn, and that is when I began to learn that the race doesn’t always go the swiftest…or the youngest. Major Hobbs would serve and then move to the center of the court and proceeded to beat me like an unwanted tom cat. He virtually didn’t move because he didn’t need to. He totally mastered the ball with his racket and put the ball, almost every time, wherever I wasn’t

Well, a set (win) in racquetball, is three games…if needed. We didn’t need them. He finished me off in two games. One player left the court drenched in sweat and exhausted and one left the court without a drop. One player left the court dragging and exhausted while the other left with a strange bounce in their step. You can probably guess which was which. The young buck airman was taught a good lesson that day and it is one that I still remember today. It is not always about how light on your feet and how fast you can move. Sometimes it is about strategy…how you play the game.

And so, it is with life. A wise man, woman or child will know that you need to have a plan, a strategy if you will, if you are going to win the game of life. And the crazy part is the best strategy doesn’t depend on talent, wealth, or opportunity. It leans, it is driven by – a close relationship with Creator God. Now don’t miss that. Religion is nice, church is a great idea, but neither are the answer—a personal relationship with God through faith in His Son and the wisdom and guidance of the Holy Spirit is. It is a power team of three and yet One. Amazing. With Him calling the shots, well, life just goes better…a lot better. Jesus invites us to come and do life with Him…and that is an invitation we need to accept.

That day, we left the court differently but there was one thing we shared…a smile. The older, wiser Major smiled because he had helped a prideful, young airman learn a lesson in humility. A lesson, honestly, he needed. And the airman, well, he smiled too because someone wiser than him took the time to teach. God really does want to help us do life and honestly, we need Him. Don’t be pushed away by all the hype in religion. Go ahead and schedule some court time with God and you just might discover how much He loves you and wants to help. You might discover that no matter what…He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne

Family, gratitude, prayer, Scripture, sovereignty of God, Trials, wisdom

His Plan

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

Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask Him!” Matthew 6:8

I read it…and I just didn’t like it. We live in a house with what seems like a lot of rooms. I once heard Pastor Andy Stanley say that we know we are blessed because we even have rooms for our cars. They are called garages. I suppose my favorite room is the kitchen because that is where Judy cooks our delicious meals. She is a very good cook, and I am a very good eater! My second favorite room is my home office or, you could say my, “Man Cave.”

While it is true that it is where I do a lot of my studying and writing, its walls are full of memories. On one wall is a display of my career in the Air Force. There is a picture of my flight (think squad in the Army), as well as several awards and medals I received while in the service. I also have a couple of items from World War II that I treasure. Then there are five pellet and BB guns hanging over my desk. Several bring childhood memories. On two walls are items from mission trips in Africa and Asia. My two favorite things are a Tuareg sword that a friend in Niger gave me and a picture of me and another team member praying over a man who was demon possessed.

Rooms can be very special and for various reasons. I was reading this week and by way of illustration a writer told a story of young boy who had a dream that he was in heaven. Someone showed him a room filled with cars, boats and other toys but piled on the other side of the room were arms and legs and other body parts. I know it sounds gruesome. When the boy asked his guide what it mean he was told that all of it were answers to prayers that people never prayed. I guess it makes for a good story but honestly—I didn’t like it.

“Why” you ask? Well, the idea that the God that loves me and cares for me, would let me walk around blind or crippled only because I didn’t ask just doesn’t work for me. I mean He loved me enough to send His Son to die for me…for the whole world…and that God would allow His kids to be lame only because they didn’t ask just doesn’t work. Oh, and then, Jesus said that He knows what we need even before we ask. No, I think God is an opened handed, loving Father who cares for us.

Of course, I also believe that prayer is far more than a wish list. I believe the scriptures teach about prayer being more about fellowship and an intimate relationship between God and His children. Prayer isn’t about changing God’s mind or persuading Him to do this or that. No, prayer is about changing us…to believe…to trust…to love the One who made us. I know there are a lot of scriptures in the Bible about prayer, but we only get a clear picture when we put them together. Like a giant jigsaw puzzle comes to life when all the pieces are in place…so it is with prayer.

Well, I don’t think there will be those kind of rooms in heaven but if there were…I know one I do think would be there. And that room would be a gallery of pictures of all the things our Dearest Daddy did for us that we never even knew about. It would be a room filled with unnoticed miracles, love notes, and blessings and it would have to be a big room because He is a busy God…loving, blessing and caring…for each of us.

I’m grateful for the open-handed love of our great God. If we will take the time to pause and look, we will see more and more of what He does for us every day. My wife Judy and I are learning that so often the joy is in the journey, and do you know what? I am learning that the power of prayer is in the intimacy, the relationship that can only come from time spend together with the One who made me…made us. Oh, and when we are talking, and I’m sharing my concerns, I just know He is there listening and sometimes whispering…telling me not to worry because, “He’s got this.” Bro. Dewayne

Family, gratitude, Holidays, July 4, life, love, loving others, Military memories, prayer, Scripture, Southern born, sovereignty of God, thankful, Trials, USA, wisdom

Freedom

Posted on July 2, 2021July 1, 2021 by Dewayne Taylor

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He has chosen as His own inheritance.” Psalm 33:12

It was just over a year ago. Amid the COVID craziness, Judy and I made a discovery. It was a Thursday night and we had gone to one of our favorite eating places in Marion…a town not far from where we live. We did our Sam’s Club thing and then decided to call it a night. So, we headed for 217 back in Harrisburg. As we were driving down the highway, on a whim, we made a right turn at a familiar intersection. We had driven by it so many times but this time we turned.

The sign said it went to Creal Springs, but I found out it went somewhere else—to something else. We were cruising along just enjoying the ride when I thought I saw one of those “brown signs.” These signs usually indicate a place of special interest. As I went by, I thought I saw the words cemetery and Revolutionary War. I went down the road just aways and told Judy I saw a sign for a cemetery…perhaps an old one. I turned around.

Back down the road, there was indeed a sign. We pulled off the road and it said, “Ellis Family Cemetery and Revolutionary War gravesite. I really couldn’t believe that it was true. I mean, out East you would find those kind of gravesites everywhere, but here in Southern Illinois? We decided we had to investigate. It turned out there was no road just a driveway. Well, after trying to decide if we were going to get shot for trespassing, we decided to give it a try. As it turned out, the driveway went between two houses which led to a pasture. Way at the back of the pasture we could see a small cemetery. There wasn’t a road, but I could see where a car had gone before, so off we went.

When we got there, we found the gravesite of John Ellis. He was born in 1754 and died in 1850. He lived for 96 years, which is incredible, but even more amazing…he fought in the American Revolutionary War. He had two monuments. One was much newer, one much older. The older one simply said, “For Military Merit” and someone had painted his name on it. I was overwhelmed. Here in Southern Illinois was the grave of a man, a hero, who fought for the birth of our country.

This man was there, on the battlefield, when a group of men and women declared our freedom from England. This.man.was.there. He put it all on the line for a cause greater than himself. And for the last 245 years that is what freedom loving American heroes have done. Through conflicts great and small they have served, they have bled, and many have died. I value the saying, “All gave some, some gave all.” I value the sacrifice of all of these freedom fighters through the centuries and decades. I also love what they fought for.

I know these are difficult times for our nation, but we have seen difficult times before. At his first inauguration on March 4, 1933, Franklin Roosevelt said this. “This is preeminently the time to speak the truth, the whole truth, frankly and boldly. Nor need we shrink from honestly facing conditions in our country today. This great Nation will endure as it has endured, will revive, and will prosper. So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.” Don’t rush past those words. They are powerful and they are worth believing.

I believe in this country. I believe that even with all its warts and imperfections it is still the best country in the world. Having visited well over twenty other countries, I’ve seen the competition and America wins hands down. I spent an Independence Day in basic training for the Air Force in 1972. Lights-out was about 8:00 pm and I was lying in my bunk when the fireworks starting going off. I crept out of bed and went to the window and watched as the fireworks exploded in the Texas sky. Two emotions came over me. One, I missed family. Somewhere in Florida they were celebrating freedom. The other though was more personal. I was becoming an American airman serving my country. I was one of her defenders and I was proud…proud to serve and proud to be an American.

So, please, don’t blow past Independence Day this Sunday and certainly don’t give up on America. We have weathered many storms and we can weather these stormy days…if we do what we have done in the past and that is trust God. It is no accident that we have fought and won, it is no accident that we have survived and even thrived for the past 245 years. It was more than sacrifice, more than guts, more than determination…it was and is the grace of God.

The Book says, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He has chosen as His own inheritance.” That is so true. As a nation when we choose God, when we choose to make Him ours, we do better. When we don’t, we don’t. It is just that simple. The second part of that verse is equally important. God is still inviting, calling people to be His. Skin color doesn’t matter, economic status doesn’t matter, creed doesn’t matter. He simply invites every man, woman, and child to be His. The invitation is open, and the decision is personal…individual.

So, God bless America. If you are a God follower, a God believer, why not start this Independence Day with a whispered prayer of thanks for this great country. And then, pause, be still and listen for surely the Whisperer will whisper. He may speak through His Word, He may speak through another person, or a beautiful sunrise or sunset. Regardless, He will whisper, “You can rest in Me. I’ve got this.” Bro. Dewayne

Family, gratitude, life, love, loving others, missions, prayer, priorities, Scripture, Southern born, sovereignty of God, thankful, travel

June 12th

Posted on June 11, 2021June 10, 2021 by Dewayne Taylor

Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever!” 1 Chronicles 16:34 (ESV)

I wonder if one day is really enough. It was in 1863 when President Lincoln decided that we needed to have a defined day of Thanksgiving. So, the final Thursday in November was so designated. Later, on October 31, 1939, and strictly for business reasons, Franklin Roosevelt redesignated it as the next to last Thursday in November and since then that has been the day we celebrate Thanksgiving. But wait, it isn’t November, and in fact, it is nowhere near November, so what gives?

Well, what gives is June 12th. You see, I graduated from high school on June 8, 1972 and the following Monday, June 12th, I left for basic training in the United States Air Force. It wasn’t a matter of strategic planning but rather a slight misunderstanding. A friend suggested we join together under what was called, “The Buddy Plan.” Two guys could join together, go through basic together and then be assigned together for their first assignment. Well, we agreed, I signed up and he didn’t. But here’s the deal. I am absolutely certain that God sovereignly planned that for my good and His glory.

It turned out the Air Force was a good move for me. It taught me dozens if not hundreds of life disciplines that have served me well all of my life. God used the Air Force to position me to meet my wife Judy and then to teach us how to pick up and move when an authority said too. For us, and between the Air Force and God, that included a year in Georgia, three years in Germany, six years in Missouri and finally 35 years in Illinois. We learned to go when and where we were told, and we learned to trust. It also helped us forge a strong marriage that has seen us through 45 years of adventures.

It turned out that God was also using the Air Force to prepare me for the real purpose of my life—our lives together—the pastorate. Strangely, but really not, it was also on another June 12th, this one in 1983, that I was ordained into the gospel ministry. And because God has a great sense of humor, I found myself pastoring a church with, well to be blunt, no training whatsoever. I well remember I was filling in at a church when they asked me to be their pastor. I told them I didn’t know how to do that. They replied, “Don’t worry, we will teach you.” And do you know what? They did.

The game changer was the fact I was trained as an administrative specialist in the Air Force and when God spoke to my heart with a new set of “orders,” I was prepared. Twelve years of administration were like twelve years of on-the-job training for the pastorate. I learned to write, research, organize and manage an office. When I stepped out of the Air Force and into a church office, I was strangely at home. Of course, nothing could prepare me for what has sometimes been a wild ride of pastoring a church. It has been a journey, a glorious, “you’ve got to be kidding me,” ride.

As I glance in the rearview mirror of my life, I am overwhelmed with the incredible goodness of God and that has led me to this conclusion—one day is not enough. We need Thanksgiving but even more we need to celebrate, “Thanks-living.” As you can probably guess, Thanks-living is understanding the importance of living a life that celebrates the goodness of God every day. Someone said that there are two ways to live life—nothing is a miracle or everything is a miracle. I’ll take the latter. Also, I think the heart of those brief words speak to being grateful too. Everywhere, everyday there is something to be grateful for.

So, tomorrow, is a special day for me and Judy. Even though she wasn’t there for the first June 12th, she was there for the second and every one since. She has been my best friend, my ministry partner and my cohort in our many adventures. I thank God for her, our family, and the countless folks we have met along the way. The Bible tells us to, “Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever!” I think that is a pretty awesome idea. I don’t know what the years ahead hold, but if it is anything like the past, it’s gonna be a great ride and of course, no matter what, He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne

Family, fear, Grace, gratitude, life, love, loving others, Military memories, Scripture, thankful, wisdom

It’s A Dippity-Do Dah Day

Posted on May 28, 2021May 25, 2021 by Dewayne Taylor

If we say, “We have fellowship with Him,” and yet we walk in darkness, we are lying and are not practicing the truth.” 1 John 1:6

Hi Grits family. Hey, Judy and I are out of pocket today, so we are giving you the opportunity to revisit some of our favorites. So, God bless, enjoy and we will see you soon.

Dippity-do dah, dippy day, my oh my, what a wonderful day. I joined the Air Force back in 1972 and in so many ways it was a different world. At that time longer hair was still very much in vogue. It seemed the only guys with shorter haircuts were either born in the 1920’s or in the military. I was the latter.

It was also a different day in the way people viewed the military. The country was coming out of the Vietnam era and sadly many saw veterans and the active military in a dark light. I can well remember walking around town and getting the “one of those” looks. While I was never ashamed of being in the military, in fact, I was proud to serve, I did want to be cool—part of the in-crowd and short hair just wasn’t in. But you know the old saying, “Where there is a will, there is a way.” Hello Dippity-do.

It’s funny, I don’t remember anyone else doing it nor do I remember how I started. I found this hair stuff called, “Dippity-do.” It was a gel-like product and depending on how much you applied, it would make your hair stay where you put it. So I bought a jar and slowly I let the hair on the top of my head and sides grow out. I would wakeup in the morning and put this stuff, in fact a lot of this stuff, on my hair. I would comb it kinda on top of my head and toward the back. The effect was—well, effective. The funny part is when this stuff dried out it made my hair as solid as a rock. Of course, my mom always said I had a hard head.

I found that I could have the required white-wall around my ears and have all this hair glued down to the top of my head. When I got off work, I would go take a shower, wash this stuff out and believe it or not have enough hair to totally cover my ears. I looked like any other guy in the early 1970’s. Even as I write this I’m saying, “What?” But believe me it worked. I looked like a military guy during the day and a regular off-the-street guy at night. Looking back, it was weird.

Even stranger I worked in the command section of my squadron and to show how effective my ruse was, no one said anything. It looked, and I guess was, regulation. I remember one day walking in the local mall and coming straight toward me was my squadron commander, Major Hobbs. We passed within five feet of each other and he didn’t even recognize me. Yup—G.I. Joe by day and a 70’s hipster at night. Looking back there probably was a word for it. It was probably pretty hypocritical.

The word hypocrite means to “play the part” or to “wear the mask.” It was used to describe actors in ancient Greece who were one thing on stage and another off the stage. The one thing I remember is that I always felt a certain amount of fear while doing this. There was always the “what if I get called in and don’t have time to plaster my hair down” thing. What if my commander and my first sergeant saw me and did recognize me? I knew they respected me and what would happen to that respect? It’s the feeling you get when you are one thing one time and another thing later.

Well, finally I figured it wasn’t worth it and I’ll tell you that story another time, but the bottom line is I went and got a regular haircut. Two things happened almost immediately. First, I felt free. The fear of the wrong person seeing me at the wrong time was suddenly gone. It was like a weight was taken off my shoulders. The second thing that happened was I discovered that in spite of what the culture said, I was proud to be in the Air Force and that haircut identified me as part of a special family and team. It wasn’t something to be ashamed of…it was something to be proud of. And the best part, the girl I was dating, who I later married, thought I was even cuter. Now for the funny part. I have been out of the military now for 36 years and I never, not even once, grew my hair out. I decided I like shorter hair. More than that…I decided I like being real.

So, what about you? What is it in your life where you “wear the mask?” What is it in your life where you have decided to pretend—to be something you aren’t? While we find that in every aspect of life, sadly it’s also common in the Jesus follower world. People say one thing and do another—people who act one way on Sunday and another the rest of week. If I learned anything from my Dippity-do world is that authenticity beats a plastic mask every time.

John, one of the guys who followed Jesus in the Bible, said it pretty well. He said, “If we say, “We have fellowship with him,” and yet we walk in darkness, we are lying and are not practicing the truth.” In other words, if we say we are one thing and really are another—we are just living a lie. It is better to be real than fake. It is better to be authentic than counterfeit. I may have fooled my commander that day but I never fool God when I choose to be one thing in public and another in private. But the one thing I love about God is that He never rejects me. He is never ashamed to call me His child. I can always rest in Him and more than that, He can handle who I am—Dippity-do and all. He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne