enemies – Grits with Grace

Family, fear, forgiveness, friends, Grace, gratitude, life, loving others, prayer, Scripture, sovereignty of God, thankful, USA

December 7th

Posted on December 7, 2022December 4, 2022 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 an 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. 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. Eighty-one 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. Bro. Dewayne.

forgiveness, friends, Grace, life, loving others, prayer, Scripture, Trials

That Love Your Neighbor Thing

Posted on January 25, 2022January 24, 2022 by Dewayne Taylor

You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:43-45

“You’re nothing but a little Hitler.” The life of a pastor is always interesting. You really never know what is going to come your way. I’ve been doing this pastor thing for 40 years now and I know two things. First, generally speaking, the sun will come up tomorrow. There is no guarantee, but it has a pretty good track record. Second, you (pastor or not) are going to step in someone’s mess today.

Her name was Karen. Her mother attended our church and she and her two boys would occasionally visit. I decided one day to go by and just let her know that we enjoyed having her visit. I mean it sounded like a good thing, it sounded like the right thing. What could possibly go wrong, right? Well, I pulled into her driveway and went up to the door. I did my gentle, nonthreatening knock and she came to the door. I gave the standard, “Hi Cindy, I just wanted to come by and let you know we are so glad you are visiting with us” spill. It was pleasant…it was sincere.

I don’t remember everything she said that day. It could be “pastoral amnesia.” That is a defense mechanism that pastors must use to guard their hearts when someone decides it is their spiritual gift to break them. It might be PTSS (Pastor Traumatic Stress Syndrome) where the event was so traumatic that you block it out. Anyway…she cut loose and the two things I do remember included something about me running a cult and brain washing people. The last thing I remember was when she said, in all seriousness, “You are nothing but a little Hitler.”

Well, that hurt—a lot. It hurt so much that 30 years later I can still hear her voice, still feel her words, and still wish I had never knocked on that door. Not too long ago I was asked to do her stepfather’s funeral and when I saw her all the hurt came flooding back. The anger was long gone but the scar ran deep. There is an old saying that is a lie. It says, “Sticks and stone may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” Really? I wonder who came up with that one. They must have been deaf and blind. Words are an incredibly powerful tool or weapon—depending on the sender.

I am still amazed at the emotional energy that chance encounter had for me that day. But it wasn’t chance…it was somehow prescribed by my Dearest Daddy to help me grow to be more like Jesus. He knew (and He was right) that there would be many more awkward moments in the days ahead and I needed to learn about how to handle them…like Jesus. One morning, I listened to a devotional by one of my favorite writers, Bob Goff. He was talking about loving your enemies…or maybe folks who act like your enemies. He quoted Jesus and here’s what Jesus said, “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven.”

Wow…that is way powerful. Bob’s day job is being a lawyer. He told a story about a witch doctor in Uganda that he took to trial. This witch doctor believed in child sacrifice and practiced it. No one before had had the courage to take on these bad guys. Well, Bob did, and he won. Later, he decided to go visit this guy on death row. The former witch doctor, who had become a Christ follower, told Bob that he forgave him. That confused Bob because the other guy was the bad guy. But what is important is the former witch doctor was extending grace because he wanted to be like Jesus…like his Father. How about that?

This two year and running mess has been a breeding ground for more than germs…it has been a breeding ground for division, unkindness, judging, and hurting. I know it and you know. And, unfortunately, God’s kids have not been exempt. This world is watching and seeing and wondering if this God thing is real or a hoax. One way we can show them that Jesus is the real deal is by loving one another. Just because the evening news is filled with hate and bitterness doesn’t mean it should infect our Jesus world. Remember He said that the world would know we are Christians by our love…not our dogmatism.

I put something on the church sign a while back. It said, Jesus First. Before. Everything. Else. Period. I believe that. He is more important than COVID, masks, politics, and everything else. He is first and when we allow Him to be first…we all do better. Our world does better. Our marriages do better. Our churches do better.

Our challenge, as we continue this journey called life, if you are a Jesus follower, is to make sure you are following closely. Mimic His every Word and every step. And if you are not yet a follower, I hope you soon will be. I know sometimes we Jesus followers don’t get it right—but trust me He never gets it wrong. You can rest in Him. He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne

fear, Grace, gratitude, life, loving others, prayer, Scripture, thankful

I Heard Him Before I Saw Him

Posted on July 17, 2020July 16, 2020 by Dewayne Taylor

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil. You are with me.” Psalm 23:4

I heard him before I saw him. Last week I was walking in the city park. It wasn’t the casual walk but the exercising kind. I do about 2.5 miles in about 35 minutes. That day the sun was shining, the birds were singing, the trees were doing their “leafing out” thing and it was a good day. Then, like I said, I heard him before I saw him.

I was alone in the park till then. As I crossed the bridge on the north end of the park there was a man in his forties or fifties. He was dressed normally–whatever that means but that was where normalcy ended. At first, I thought he had one of those things in his ear that enabled him to talk on his cell phone. The closer I got the more I could see and hear.

He was angry. He was shouting. He was cursing. Then he began to pick up rocks and throw them violently in one direction and then another. I realized he was fighting a battle with someone I could not see but he could. To him it was real–very real. He felt threatened and hurt by an enemy only he could see.

I prayed. I asked God to deliver him from the invisible demon that was haunting him. I asked God for His peace to come upon this peace-less man. Later I saw him leaving the park, no longer angry, no longer violent, no longer cursing. It seemed from where I was that a moment of calm had come to his storm wrecked mind. I was grateful and told God so.

I thought about that day several times and I realized that in these days there are a lot of folks fighting and fearful of enemies–enemies that don’t have or need a face to wreck their lives. The covid-19 virus, the loss of a job or business, the fear of losing someone they love, the fear that things will never be the same, the fear that this fear will own them–consume them.

My mind goes back to Psalm 23:4. David, chased by a crazed king consumed with jealousy, chased by too many memories of too many failures writes, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil. You are with me.” He was wise enough to know that as he walked through this valley it wasn’t filled with real monsters–only monster “wanna-be’s.”

You see, the valley became a roadway and not a residence. Death, because of his faith in a “bigger-than-anything” God, was reduced to a shadow. Shadows can frighten but can cause no real damage or harm. How did that happen? Somewhere along the way David chose to believe in his “bigger-than-anything” God and he found peace. He said, “I don’t need to fear evil, no matter what it looks like, because You are with me.” You are with me. Today as you journey, remember all around us are people who fight battles with enemies only they can see. Be sure and swift not to judge but to pray. That day in the park I got it right but trust me I don’t always do that. It’s then that I pray a different prayer–one for forgiveness. And if you are fighting those invisible enemies today–just a word or two. God loves you. Rest in Him. He’s got this.