Tag: Family

Posted in Family, friends, gratitude, life, marriage, Scripture

Fifty Years–The Great Adventure

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

 “Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also praises her. Many women have done noble deeds, but you surpass them all! Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD will be praised.” Proverbs 31:28-30

It’s not always easy. So imagine you are Shakespeare and you are drawn to write a romantic scene for the ages. In your mind you see a beautiful, young maid standing on a balcony and below a charming prince. Both are madly in love with the other but what do you say, what do you write? You settle on, “Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?” Well, it probably wouldn’t have been my first choice, but hey, it surely was a crowd favorite. Ok, let’s try again.

This time you are a lawyer and a writer. It is 1814 and you are watching as the British bombard Fort McHenry in Baltimore during the War of 1812. The outcome of battle seems in doubt.  You wonder if the young nation will survive the nigh? As dawn begins to light the sky, He was inspired after seeing the American flag still flying over the fort. His poem describing the battle and the American victory was published within a week with the suggested tune of the popular song “To Anacreon in Heaven”. The song with Key’s lyrics became known as “The Star-Spangled Banner” and slowly gained in popularity as an unofficial anthem. It finally achieved official status as the national anthem more than a century later in 1931. But finding the right words just couldn’t have been easy.

Now imagine you are celebrating 50 years, five decades, of marriage and you find yourself trying, struggling to find the right words to put to paper. You know and every person in your world knows, that when you met and married Judy Dawn Allen you married up–way up. And honestly, we both know that we did absolutely nothing to deserve the blessings and grace that God has poured on our lives. We were two young kids, she younger than me, and by grace we were able to follow Him down a path that cannot be any less than amazing.

We walked together down the path of twelve years in the military. I can tell you two things. They were lean years and yet they were some of the best years. Then God whispered and we jumped from the security of the Air Force into the arms of our Dearest Daddy. Together we served four churches, I pastored and she ministered and all four opportunities were a pastor and wife’s dream. No we weren’t perfect, neither were our congregations but we all loved Jesus and each other and that was more than enough.

Along the way, God blessed us with three incredible daughters and sons-in-law and eight grandchildren. When we get together we are a little wild and a little crazy but that is what makes our tribe a great tribe. In my middle daughter’s home there is a writing that says, “In this house…we are real, we make mistakes, we say I’m sorry, we are silly, we have fun, we give hugs, we give second chances, we forgive, we laugh a lot, we love each other–we are a family.” The truth is that is true most of the time. But even if we get off course…we always find our way back to true north.

I’ve said it before and I will say it again. If you want to stay married for fifty years there are three important things. First, keep breathing. Second, keep God dead center in your marriage universe. Believe what He says, do what He says and love Him like crazy. Finally, be sure and marry an incredible person–like Judy Dawn Allen. Any success I’ve enjoyed in the military and in the pastorate and any success our children have enjoyed so far in life can be directly traced back to my wife and their mother.

Judy–thank you for sharing these decades with me. These words, straight from the depths of my soul, still fall short of describing my deep love for you. Short of God’s grace and mercy and His salvation of my soul, you are His greatest gift to me. And I am sure you are a key partner with Him as you both have assured me over and over again that, “We’ve got this.” I love you. Dewayne 

Posted in Family, friends, life, love, loving others, marriage, Scripture

The Power of Remembering

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

 “But then I recall all You have done, O LORD; I remember Your wonderful deeds of long ago. They are constantly in my thoughts. I cannot stop thinking about Your mighty works.” Psalm 77:11-12

Remember not to forget. You know, God is big on this remembering thing. When Jesus was just about done with His mission here, He met with His disciples on a Thursday night and did two important things. He washed their feet and served them a special supper. Washing their feet was to remind them that they were supposed to serve one another. And, just in case, one or two or all of them thought they were too important to serve He told them just like He the Master was willing to wash their feet so they should be ready and willing to wash the feet of others. Just a gentle nudge in the right direction. They would need it.

He also served supper that night. It was a simple affair jam packed with meaning. He took a loaf of bread and invited them to have a piece. He explained that the bread represented His body that would soon be broken on a Roman cross. Then, He gave them a sip of wine and explained that the wine represented His blood that would soon be spilt on a Roman cross. He told them as often as they ate the bread or drank the wine, they should remember–remember Him, remember what He did and why He did it. They would need that too.

While there are plenty of things we need to forget–you know, the sticks and stones and broken bones caused by harsh words and actions of friends and enemies, there are plenty of things we need to remember. In other words we need to forget the bad stuff done to us and remember the good things done for us. Let the bad go and hug the good. That is true with God stuff but it is just as true in our daily walk about life. And, it is especially true in love and marriage.

Recently I discovered something that was literally a game changer. When they invented the iPhone and all its cousins, they also invented the portable, go anywhere camera. If you are like most people we now can snap digital pictures all day long. Snap one here and snap one there. They have no development fees so feel free to snap away. Unfortunately we tend to never look at them. They are usually just filed away. Well, this game changer is a feature featured on my iPhone. Let me explain.

You see, I have the ability to search for all the pictures I have on my phone of my sweet wife Judy. Then, I can tell the iPhone to show them when I mash the magic button to turn the screen on. Wait there is more. Then I can tell it to show a different picture every time I do that. So whenever I get ready to use my phone, a different picture of a different adventure with my wife Judy shows up on the screen. Each one reminds me in full and living color of why I love her so much–and why I love our live together. It has been like a fresh breeze of our lives together and it is awesome.

So, if you have a smartphone, be sure and see if it has this feature and turn it on. You can choose your spouse, your kids or both of them, your pet, or your walk about life. But in the process you are going to remember all the things we have to be thankful for–and most likely–it will be a bunch. Oh, and you are also going to be reminded how many times God has whispered in your ear, “Don’t worry, I’ve got this” and that will be a whole bunch too.  Bro. Dewayne

Posted in Uncategorized

Daddy’s Heart Attack

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

 “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28


Thanks, Dad…for the heart attack. It was back in 1976, June 26th to be specific, that I married Judy Allen. She was a Georgia peach that was quite the catch.  I met her when I walked into a strange, new church on a Wednesday night. I entered the side door and boom—there she was.  Standing in a circle of ordinary young ladies, this young lady was anything but.  Then, there was a phone call, a date and well, here we are fifty years later…she is still quite the catch, we are still in love, and we are still grateful for a God who has a plan.

I was talking with Judy the other day and said, “What if we had never met?” I honestly cannot fathom my life without her…but what if?  It was really a strange set of circumstances that got us together.  I was in the Air Force and my Daddy had a pretty major heart attack while I was home on leave.  It sure changed our Christmas plans, but it also changed my life.  My Momma, and don’t ask me how since this was way before the internet and smart phones, found out through the Red Cross that the Air Force would sometimes grant a “humanitarian reassignment” to airmen to the base nearest their home.  The conditions were strict, and the odds were long, but we (Momma and I) decided we should give it a shot.

It required all kinds of statements from the doctors and a bunch of other stuff that I don’t even remember.  At the time I was stationed at Minot AFB in North Dakota and trust me that is a long way from home.  Anyway, we applied and then one day I received a call from Base Personnel letting me know that my request had been approved and I was being reassigned to Moody AFB in Valdosta, Georgia. Soon, it was so long Minot and hello Moody.  I arrived at my new base in April of 1973.  I would drive home every weekend (about two hours) to see family and friends and come back Sunday evening.

Gratefully, God allowed my Daddy to live till midsummer of the next year when He decided heaven was better than here.  Of course, his leaving changed everything. I think my Momma went to stay with one of my brothers or sisters for a while and suddenly there wasn’t as much reason to go home.  I was a regular church goer, but it really wasn’t my desire to go to church that Wednesday night as much as it was…boredom.  Valdosta wasn’t a big town and Moody wasn’t a big airbase, so I just needed something to do.  And, as they say, the rest is history.

Which leads to my opening line…Daddy’s heart attack.  If it hadn’t had been for that and my Momma’s persistence, well, I would have stayed in Minot and probably froze to death. Smile. I would have never met Judy, there would not have been our three precious daughters and hence no eight grandchildren.  And, honestly, I probably wouldn’t be pastoring and wouldn’t be writing this today.  But God is a God of infinite details and design.  He tells us in the Bible that every day of our lives is planned before a single one of them is lived.  I like that…a lot.

He also teaches us that for those who love Him and are called by Him, He can take anything and everything and bring good out of it.  No, not everything is good…not even close and that isn’t what He said.  He said He can bring good and in the case of my Daddy’s heart attack, my life path is part of that good.  Have you ever thought of life that way?  Can you think of a situation where God did that for you?  I bet you can. You see, God is good, God is faithful, and God can be trusted.

One day I will see my Daddy again…in heaven.  I’ll probably chat with him and ask if he ever thought about the good that God brought about because of his heart attack.  And then, well, I’ll tell him all about Judy (if she isn’t there yet) and his great grandkids.  It’s gonna be a great reunion.  Till then, I hope I remember to trust my heavenly Dearest Daddy each day, and know that no matter what, no matter how big…He’s got this.  Bro. Dewayne

Posted in birthday, Family, life, loving others, Scripture

Jesus Twins–Fraternal or Identical

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

 “Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness.” Genesis 1:26

You couldn’t tell them apart. Twins…what a novelty of God. Did you know that only 3% to 3.4% of pregnancies result in twins? Did you know that there are generally two types of twins?  First, is fraternal which accounts for about 70% of twins born. You might say that means they shared a bedroom long before they were born! While they were born close to the same time, they have the same similarities and differences as any other brother or sister. The second type of twins is identical (about 30%) and they not only shared the same bedroom before birth but actually came from a single egg that divided in two making two babies instead of one. Because of this, they often look and act like each other. It really is pretty amazing.

I know a couple of guys at church that are fraternal twins. They were born about fifteen minutes apart and while you can tell they are brothers, they clearly are different in many ways. Now, the other day I was giving my testimony at All-Star Basketball and Volleyball. This is a program run by the church I used to pastor and it is a great opportunity for kids pre-k to eighth grade to play sports in a Christian environment. As part of the program they have various people tell about how Jesus has changed their lives.  It is great.

As I was waiting, two little girls ran through the lobby where I was sitting and it was very apparent they were not only twins–their were identical twins. They looked alike and acted alike. When they came back through the lobby I asked their grandmother how old they were and she shared that they were eight years old. Here’s the point of the story. Because of how they looked and because of how they acted you could tell that they were twins–you could tell that they belonged to each other. How about that?

Well, I got to thinking. If we are Jesus followers or disciples, the Bible tells us in Ephesians 5:1a that we should be, “imitators of God, as dearly loved children.” In other words, we are to look and act just like Jesus. Just like those sisters obviously belonged to each other, so people should be able to see that we belong to Him. In Genesis 1:26, God’s Word says, “Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness.” In other words, God made us to be image bearers and the image we are to bear is His.

So, let me ask you a question. If you are a Jesus follower, can people tell who you belong to by the way you act and speak? Does the way you treat others imitate the way Jesus treated people? Great question isn’t it? I hope this has helped you to think about your life and actions. I also hope that if you belong to Jesus you are not a “fraternal” follower but rather an identical twin or follower. If you need a little help in that department, don’t worry.  As always you can ask your Dearest Daddy and He will be more than glad to help. Mark it down…He’s got this!  Bro. Dewayne

Posted in Family, friends, life, loving others, school days, Scripture, Southern born

My Simple Life

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’” Matthew 6:31

It was just simpler back then. I got up one morning with a little (or maybe a lot) of coffee, a spot of the Weather Channel, and some Jesus.  Then, I just sat and thought for a while.  On the television was a channel from YouTube that shows live camera feeds from all over the Northeast, and I was just amazed how much it looked like Europe…another time and another place. Then, I thought about what lie ahead that day.  I’m figuring out that each day is His day as He is the maker, the crafter of each one.  I’m also learning that since He owns everything that makes me a steward of the next 24 hours and the events and circumstances He has planned.

Mainly, there was a sermon to polish for Sunday and a funeral to craft for Saturday.  But mainly I was waiting to see what was on His mind and honestly, sometimes that is simple and sometimes it is complex.  Regardless, I know it is His plan and it is one that He has determined that will bring good into my life and hopefully some glory to Him.  With all that said, I have to admit there are times that I long for times when things were simpler as in less complex.  While that has happened and surely will happen again, when I was about eight, it was the norm.

When I was eight, I was concerned about very little.  Momma and Daddy were still healthy and every morning there was something for breakfast, something for lunch and something for supper.  There were delicacies like fried potato sandwiches and peanut butter and mayonnaise sandwiches and if we were short on peanut butter we would just go with the mayonnaise. After breakfast though I would head out to the yard and just do…something.  There were occasional chores like picking up the yard and pulling weeds but generally the day was mine. I hadn’t figured the God part out yet.

Because toys, at least the kind you buy at a store, were in short supply, I would go into the junk room—a small room with its own outside entrance and filled with stuff—and see what caught my eye.  There was always something that, with a little imagination, could become a source of entertainment. First, and one of my favorites, was a piece of chain, usually about six feet long.  You see, our driveway wasn’t paved, that was something rich people had, so it was like a giant sand box.  I found out you could take that piece of chain and drag it behind you, and it became like a train. I would watch as the sand flowed in and around the links of the chain leaving a perfect track in the rear.  A chain became a train—imagine that.

In certain times of the year, North Florida—well really the whole state, I guess—was inundated with “love bugs.” They were everywhere and would splat on windshields and clog radiators as cars zoomed down the highway.  They also seemed to love a parked car.  When I would go outside looking for that day’s adventure, they would be all over Daddy’s 1961, light blue, Plymouth station-wagon and whether they knew it or not—they were a target.  I would search the yard and drawers in the kitchen for rubber bands discarded from newspapers, string them together and go hunting.  Stretching them back, I would take aim and one by one pick them off of Daddy’s car.  This could go on for a long while.  I thought I was doing Daddy a favor but turns out the bug’s innards could eat a car’s paint right off. Oops.

While each day was different, each day was simple.  Each day was consistent…little to worry about and an opportunity for fun.  And while that kind of simplicity has long since passed there is another opportunity for today.  Today too can be a day with little to worry about and dare I say it, an opportunity for fun.  You see, if you are a Jesus follower, He really wants to take care of the worry part.  In fact, He just flat-out tells us not to worry because if God can take care of the birds…He can take care of us too.  How about that? And the fun part?  Well, that is up to us.  We simply need to learn, to remember, what that means and how to do it.  My wife Judy tells me frequently that we need to learn how to celebrate, and she is right, but we also need to relearn how to just have fun.  It probably involves letting go and letting Him so our hands and hearts will be free to be free.

So, what are you worrying about today? What has you bound up like a too tight pair of shoes?  What are you going to do today that is fun?  Now don’t tell me you don’t have time (that is simply a matter of choice) or the money—chain and rubber bands are cheap—smile.  Today, be brave enough to do something different—to make a change. Let it go and let Him.  He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne

Posted in Christmas, Family, friends, Grace, gratitude, Holidays, love, loving others, Military memories, Scripture

I Love Christmas

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

I’ve said it before, I’ve written it before, but I’ll say it again, I’ll write it again.  Once again, it is Christmas time.  I have celebrated Christmas seventy-one times. Granted I don’t remember some of the early ones and I guess to be honest I don’t remember a lot of the other ones either, but I remember enough to know that each one was special.  When I was growing up it was all about family, food and presents.  My Momma and Daddy did such an incredible job of making sure each Christmas was electric with excitement.  While there are several special memories, some were just bigger than others.  One particular Christmas, my sister had asked for a chord organ.  Now that was a pretty big gift and yet I can remember lying in bed…all three of us little ones in one bed for that special night, and hearing through the thin walls the magical sounds of that organ.  Santa had come.

The next morning, with a house filled with family, we would celebrate with gifts, some large, some small, but all given and wrapped with love.  Later would come a big meal and prayers of gratitude for a good God who loved us and blessed us.  Many more Christmas Eves have come and gone.  Some were challenging, like when my Daddy was still recovering from a heart attack, some were much smaller like when it was just my wife Judy and me sitting in a small village in Germany serving our country.  The crowd was smaller, but the love was just as big.

Later, we had children and Christmas began to take on a whole new dimension. Judy and I became more the giver than the receiver.  We had the opportunity to do for them like my parents had done for me.  We watched with joy as their faces lit up with happiness as each gift was unwrapped.  Clothes and toys with an occasional bike or hamster thrown in the mix are all part of the memory.  But through it all, one thing remained a constant…love…love for each other and experiencing the love of a God who won’t, who can’t stop…loving.

Now, well, the Christmas journey continues.  Our children have grown up and all three of them have kids of their own and Christmas isn’t less…it is more.  At some point and despite busy schedules, we will get together and love, and celebrate and be thankful for each other and for the One who makes it possible.  In my experiences of Christmas, I have discovered that it isn’t the circumstances that make a Christmas Eve or Christmas morning special or not.  It is not the bounty of presents or the location, no, it is love.  My favorite Christmas verse from the Bible says it all, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” Now that is a Christmas verse.

God doesn’t want anyone to miss Christmas with Him and that is why He threw open the front door and hung out the welcome sign.  He simply says, “Ya’ll come home for Christmas.” No matter who, no matter what, you are welcome home for Christmas.  I know growing up things weren’t always perfect in the Taylor tribe but for the most part we did manage to love each other and I’m glad we did.  So, Merry Christmas.  Remember that He chose to love us and because of that maybe, just maybe, we can choose to do the same for those around us.  If you listen carefully this Christmas season, you may just hear the Whisperer whisper, “Merry Christmas, I love you, come on home for Christmas.  I’ve got this.”    Bro. Dewayne

Posted in food, Grace, gratitude, Thanksgiving

A Thanksgiving to Remember

Posted on 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 Momma 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 baked, 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 fellowship with family.

When I graduated from high school and enlisted in the Air Force things had to change.  My first duty station was about 15 miles 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 on 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 albums was Charlie Pride’s “Christmas in My Hometown.” 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. This Thanksgiving, Lord willing, I will eat a very good meal, and I will take a very nice nap.  Try it—you’ll like it.  Also on Thanksgiving, 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.  A friend that can handle my past and my future.  A friend I can trust. That’s why, He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne

Posted in Grace, life, money, priorities, Scripture, Trials

Play Ball

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

 “Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

It almost seems humorous now…and in some twisted sense of reality…I guess it was. I couldn’t believe my eyes.  One of the earthquakes from the corona virus hot mess was the total disruption of sports.  I’m not a big sports guy but I do have my favorites.  I really enjoy college football and I remember being shocked that several conferences did not play in the fall of 2020.  I remember telling several folks that I’m not sure you can even have fall without college football. I found out that we could.

I was surely surprised when March Madness went by the wayside that year. Once again, I liked college ball because for the most part it is sports at its purest–at least until they started paying the players.  I knew things were really weird when they cancelled this spring classic. We all said there is always next year…and there was but some just refused to wait. Enter professional sports. It seems from where I sit that sports at the adult level is about money and not about the love of whatever game they are playing.

When professional sports started trying to come back, I was amused to what extent the leagues went to get it going.  There was the NBA (National Basketball Association) bubble thing in Orlando—and I’m really not sure what that was about, the NHL (National Hockey League) and their attempt to have a kinda, sorta, season and playoffs.  NASCAR (I’m not sure what all that stands for, but I do like what they stand for) did a little better.  Finally, and then, there is the MLB or Major League Baseball.  That year they played a 60-game season and then some kind of playoff system crowned with a sorta, kinda world series.

I remember one MLB game that year at my son-in-law’s house. I remember one of the teams was the Philadelphia Phillies and the game was being played in their park.  Here’s where it gets interesting.  First, as we watched this game, they had filled the entire lower level of the stadium with cardboard fan look-a-likes. If I remember this correctly people paid to have their picture sitting in these seats.  It gets better.

So, there were the lower stands stuffed to the gills with fake people and then to complete the “ruse” they piped in fake crowd noise to go along with the fake people.  I’m sure I wasn’t the only person going, “what?”  I’m not sure what the purpose of all that was but one thing is certain—it was not real. I am sure that was perfectly fine in those crazy times.  In fact, now that I think about it, it was probably perfectly normal for those crazy times.

The COVID mask thing is about gone but there is another mask thing that is alive and well…the kind people wear when they are uncomfortable with who they are or what people might think of them? What about the kind people wear when they feel the need to hide behind something or pretend to be something they are not?  Like an actor on a stage, they simply are playing a part.  I get that because people can be harsh and judgmental. But let me share something that just might help.  There is a God who loves you unconditionally and He is waiting for you to come and join His family.  Once He becomes your Father, no amount of failure, no amount of sin can separate you from Him.  It gets better.

Not only will He love you unconditionally, but He is also comfortable with the way He made you.  You don’t need to pretend; you don’t need to disguise—you can be you.  And when you mess up, ask and He will forgive you. When you are lonely, He will always be there. When you are afraid, He will be your Mighty Warrior and when you need to be real—you can be.  He will be your BFF—your best friend forever—literally.  So, weary one, come to Jesus.  He tells us that if we come to Him, He will give us rest.  And when we are facing the giants of our past, our todays or our tomorrows—He is big enough.  After all, He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne

Posted in Family, food, life, Scripture

Pot Roast and Traditions

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

 “Jesus replied, “And why do you, by your traditions, violate the direct commandments of God?” Matthew 15:3

It is a tale that I could identify with.  The story is told of a young girl who was watching her mother prepare Sunday’s lunch.  She watched as her mother carefully cut the pot roast in two before placing it in the pan.  This intrigued her so she asked her mother why she did this. Her answer was simple and direct, “Because my mother did.” She wasn’t quite satisfied with the answer so her mother told her to go and ask grandma.  And she did.  Grandma gave her the same answer, “Because my mother did.”  Well, the little girl decided to ask her great grandmother why she cut her roast in two. So, the next time she was at the nursing home visiting, she asked.  Without missing a beat she said, “Well, honey, my pot was too small.”

Isn’t it funny how something done for a particular reason can be passed on and on.  Isn’t it strange how we do something and long after the reason for doing it is gone…we keep right on doing it?  I know because I’ve got a “thing” in my world.  You see, way back in 1985, my wife Judy and I purchased a Oldsmobile Cutlass Cruiser.  It quickly became one of our favorite cars.  It had the woodgrain trim down the side and seating for eight.  It also had something else…it had a digital dash.  Now keep in mind that was pretty high tech for 1985.  Well, it had a little glitch.

That little glitch really was big one…the gas gauge was just not accurate.  It often said you had more gas than you did.  Well, one day, it got me…I ran out of fuel.  After a lift to a station and returning with a borrowed gas can of gas, I was soon back on the road again…sing it Willie.  And, that day, a new habit was born.  Every time I bought fuel I would fill the tank and reset the trip odometer so I would know how far I could go.  I never trusted the gauge again.  So I would fill up with gas and reset the trip odometer…over and over again.

Well, one day it was time for the Oldsmobile Cruiser to cruise on and we got another car.  New car, new gas gauge…no need to reset the trip odometer, right? Maybe not but the same old habit remained…always fill the tank and always reset the trip odometer.  Now the gauge in the new car worked perfectly but the old habit remained.  And guess what?  It remains today. Here’s the deal. Forty years have come and gone and every time I buy fuel—I press reset.  And if Judy happens to buy fuel instead of me, and she forgets to hit reset, I explain to her she needed to do it. And, she gives me the, “why” look and I just tell her because it’s just what we do. You might say I cut the roast in half because I always have.

So, is there something in your life that you are clinging to just because you have always done it that way?  Of course it might be something that is totally harmless but sometimes…sometimes it isn’t.  Sometimes it can lead to an angry exchange because someone didn’t keep the habit…the tradition. Sometimes relationships can be damaged.  I’ve seen this so many times in churches.  A tradition is messed with and World War III breaks out.  The bottom line is there are habits, there are things, there are traditions that are noteworthy and good but we shouldn’t let them break friendships, relationships and hearts. Honestly, we may not need to cut the roast in two after all.

In the Bible back in the days of Jesus, the religious leaders added all kind of rules and traditions to their daily lives. The crazy part is they gave the traditions the same weight as the Law of God and trust me that was not a good idea.  In fact, it wasn’t a good idea then and it sure isn’t now either.  Jesus, talking to the temple leaders, said, “And why do you, by your traditions, violate the direct commandments of God?” Now that’s a good question.  

I hope this will remind us that there are more important things to do than cutting your roast in half.  In other words, there are hills worth dying on and others that should be let go.  And most important, don’t let opinions and traditions drive a wedge between you and another person.  It just isn’t worth it.  A broken heart or relationship is far too high of a price to pay.  If you ever need some advice about this, just ask your Heavenly Father.  He will tell you that people matter more than pride, or traditions or habits.  And if you have already made a mess with this, don’t worry, He can help with the cleanup…He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne

Posted in communication, food, gratitude, heaven, life, priorities, Scripture, sovereignty of God, thankful

God’s Ad Agency

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

 “The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display His craftsmanship.” Psalm 19:1

There it was…like a giant orange egg on a nest of darkness. It had been a really warm day…ok, make that hot. I know we live in Southern Illinois and I know it is July but hot is still hot. We decided we needed some relief so we texted our daughter Becca and asked if we could drive down and take a dip in the pool. She said yes and quicker than you can spell relief, we were on our way. When we got there, she and her husband Jon were already enjoying the pool and we quickly joined them.

We swam with them for a while and then I decided it was time to raid their kitchen–the other reason I wanted to go see them. Before long Jon and I were munching while Judy and Becca enjoyed swimming and chatting. Hint:  munching is even better than swimming. After a while, time slipped away and before too long it was time to make the forty-five minute drive home. It was now dark so we had to be on the watch for all the friendly deer that love to run out in front of you. 

While we were watching for deer, Judy spotted something truly beautiful. On the right side of the car, just peeking over the horizon, was one of the most beautiful moons I have ever seen. It was literally a deep orange much like some of the sunsets we enjoy here in Southern Illinois. Before long it disappeared behind the trees and we were left with a memorable glimpse of God’s handy work. But there was more. About twenty-five minutes later, we rounded a curve and there, in all its glory was that same moon. It wasn’t as red but it still qualified as a bonafide winner. We were simply amazed. We both were aware that we were witnessing some of God’s best handiwork.

It is times like this that makes me question not the existence of God but rather how in the world can anyone deny that existence. I look around at this world that we live in and it is as if everything stands ready to declare His reality. The moon that night was like a giant billboard advertising how big and how great God is. Seriously, look around, look up and you will see that nature and especially the heavens are declaring His greatness. Check this out. Ann Graham Lotz in a recent devotion pointed out that the earth is ninety-three million miles from the sun. Any further and we would be frozen and any closer we would crispy critters. Amazing.  But wait there is more.

The tilt of the earth on its axis is exactly 23 degrees…just enough to give us the four seasons we enjoy. Take away a degree or two and we would be in a forever ice age. How about that? You see the design of this world of ours is one magnificent ad agency for the existence and wonder of God. Unashamedly I both love it and and believe it. Let me challenge you to take a look around and dare to believe. Take a glance at the sun (don’t forget your leftover eclipse glasses), the moon and the stars and then dare to believe again. You will discover that this is not one ginormous accident or coincidence. No, it is by divine design. God is declaring that He did it all and, in the same breath is letting us know, no matter what, He’s got this.  Bro. Dewayne