Tag: swimming

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

Possession and Perception

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

 “How sweet Your Word is to my taste—sweeter than honey in my mouth.” Psalm 119:103

Well, I guess it is only partly so.  All my life I have picked up things that were said and passed along. As I grew a little older, I discovered that some of them are true and some just aren’t.  A friend in our office had a stye in her eye that was really bothering her.  She made an appointment with the doctor but before she went, I asked her, quite sincerely, “Did you rub the stye with a gold ring?”  Well, she looked at me like a calf at a new gate (that’s one of those sayings) and said, “What?”

Well, I tried to explain to her that all my life this was something I heard.  In fact, I can clearly remember my Momma taking my Daddy’s wedding band (which I now own) and rubbing my eye with it.  What I don’t remember is if anything happened. And that’s not all. I was a full-grown adult before I found out how much time I wasted growing up by waiting 30 minutes after I ate before going back into the water to swim. It was just a fact that if you did you were probably going to drown.  Turns out—ain’t so. How about that?

A saying that I have heard all of life is, “possession is nine-tenths of the law.”  I’m not even sure what that means but I think it means that if your neighbor borrows your pitchfork and doesn’t return it for a long while and then you go back and try to retrieve it, somehow it magically becomes his. Come to think of it, I still have my friends pitchfork from my days in Cobden.  Oh, and I think there is a shovel out there in the garage too. Maybe there is some truth there after all.

Well, a takeoff from that saying is this saying—and it is true.  It goes something like this, “Perception is nine-tenths of the message.” In other words, how a person perceives what you say is just as important as what you say.  Think about it—and I think you will agree.  If you say something and the person thinks you said something totally different it can be hurtful and confusing.  It is also true when we try to describe something and just aren’t clear. We say it one way…and they hear another. It reminds me of the story of three blind men who tried to describe an elephant.  They each grabbed a different part of the elephant, and each had a totally different perspective.

A while back, I was teaching and was talking about how we describe the Bible.  So often we portray it was a Book of just no, no, and no again.  Well, there are plenty of no’s in the Bible but there is also plenty of times when God says yes! The main message of the Bible isn’t rules and regulations but God’s grace and redemption.  From the beginning to the end, the message is the same: God loves us, and God wants to redeem us. He extends grace to all that are willing to turn from their sin and believe.

So, the next time you are trying to paint a word picture of something, keep in mind the importance of perception.  And the next time you are telling your friend about the Bible and what the Bible says, remember, perception is important.  Need a little help? No problem.  The God who inspired it and led men to write it…well, He’s got that. 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

Posted in Family, fear, forgiveness, Grace, gratitude, life, prayer, Scripture, thankful, travel, Trials, wisdom

Dangerous Currents

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

For the first time in a long time, I was genuinely frightened, in fact, I was afraid.  One of the things we enjoyed about our getaway at Key Colony is the fact that we can snorkel right there.  At each end of the beach, two small jetties have been built.  They extend out into the water for about 75 feet and keep the waves from passing boats and storms from creating waves that might take away the sandy shore.  Fish like reefs and in a way that is what the jetties are—the underwater nooks and crannies make great places for the small fish to eat and hide.

While only a few of the fish have brilliant colors, there are literally hundreds of them.  It is fascinating to watch them as they swim in large spools or dart in and out of the rocks…looking for food and making sure they don’t become lunch themselves.  One morning, I was heading out for a swim with my mask to see what I could see.  A guy who had been spear fishing earlier said that if I would go out to the point on the west jetty, I would see some large angel fish.  So, without much thought, I headed out.  Maybe I should have thought.

You see, on the other side of the jetty is a large channel that went to the other side of the island.  It is a major thoroughfare for all the fishing boats going in and out so naturally the water was much choppier there.  I began to swim out making sure my breathing tube from my face mask stayed above the water.  As I swam, I looked for fish but really the water was too murky to see.  It was also too murky for me to realize that I couldn’t see the rocks in the jetty either.  I lifted my face out of the water and saw that I was being carried by the strong current out into the channel.  I was concerned.

I immediately turned around and began to swim back toward the jetty and the relative safety and calm it provided. I had my face in the water and through the murkiness could occasionally see the bottom.  What I saw wasn’t good.  As I took a stroke forward, I was being carried back more than I was moving forward.  I picked up the pace and intensified my efforts and slowly, too slowly, began to make some progress but swimming against the current was very difficult.  In a short period of time, I was gasping for breath through my breathing tube and my arms were very tired.  The outcome was in the balance.

Well, somehow, someway, I was able to keep going and after several minutes that seemed like several hours, I could feel the protective calm of the jetty as the current let go of me.  I was safe.  I was tired, and I was exhausted, but thankfully  I was safe.  When I could finally touch sand, I stood up and saw Judy coming.  I quickly waved her off.  I knew I didn’t want her to experience what I just did.  And not only did I not see the angel fish I felt like I could almost see the angels, “comin’ after me.”

I was amazed how strong that current was that wanted to pull me out into the channel.  If it had been obvious from the surface…if I had known, I wouldn’t have gone.  My friend who told me about the angel fish didn’t mention the current—either it wasn’t an issue earlier or he had fins that helped him fight the unseen force.  Regardless, I was once again grateful that God gave me the strength to overcome. Strength.To.Overcome.  There are many things about this whole God thing that make me glad that I am a believer and on that list is the ability to be an overcomer.

My friend Jesus said in His Word, the Bible, that we would have troubles in this world, and He told the truth, times two.  But He didn’t stop there.  He went on to say that we should “be of good cheer” because He had “overcome the world.”  In other words, we can face the storms of life and the currents that threaten to pull us out to sea, because He is there with us and for us.  We can be overcomers because He is an overcomer. I like that…a lot.

I will probably remember my encounter at the point of the jetty for a while…and I want to remember.  You might ask, “Why?”  Well, it was such a good reminder that as I do life, I need to pay attention, I need to be prepared, and I need to trust—not in a pair of flippers or better swimming skills.  No, it will remind me that there are dangerous waters in life to navigate and I need to trust in my Heavenly Father, my Dearest Daddy to help me through it all.  It’s just good to know that He is there and, no matter what, “He’s got this.”  Bro. Dewayne