I have some serious thinking to do!

   Recently, Debbie and I were traveling. While we were away, we met many wonderful people. Most of them were shop owners, waitresses, waiters, hotel staff, etc. They were kind and open. They seemed genuinely interested to talk with us. Here, people in the service industry often want to speak English with native speakers. So, you can’t always tell the motive of someone who approaches you. I think many of those we encountered were “people persons.”

   We would share where we were from and ask them the same. We might talk about family. Inevitably, it would come up that we live in Southeast Asia. This would spark some interest. They always wanted to know our work. I am always happy to talk about the work.

   Sadly, I never spoke to any of them about Jesus. I never asked them about their spiritual journey. I never questioned them about their needs. I didn’t even realize it, until I returned home. I guess I was on a spiritual vacation. It wasn’t that I desperately wanted to share, but didn’t. No, it was worse. It didn’t come to mind.

   I sit here, disappointed. What happened to me? I prayed before my meals. I was even reading a book about how to be a better servant. Yet, I didn’t share the name of the one who gives me life.

   This time I realized what I had forgotten. Has this happened before, but I never realized it. If I am sincerely interested in the cause of Christ and the sharing of the Gospel, the message of Jesus should never get lost in the shuffle.

   If I am this disappointed with myself, how disappointed must God be. Wow, I have some serious thinking to do.

Self-evident Truths

 Arguably the most cherished symbol of democracy - not just in the U.S., but in the world. And surely the greatest offering from a man who gave so much to the concept of freedom, Thomas Jefferson.

The thoughts in the document were not particularly new. Most had been expressed by earlier writers and philosophers. In June of 1776, Jefferson pulled those thought together and expressed the "self-evident" truths for a coming nation -- no, for a people. And, for generations to come.

As Americans, we treasure our beautiful flag. The stripes remind of us of our history - where we began. The 50 stars grouped together remind us of our future. Fifty separate entities, joined, as it were, in a sea of blue. But,, without the declaration of our heartfelt beliefs, there is no need for a flag.

Have you read it lately? Have you read it ever? Fellow Americans, read it, now. Remember why we exist, as well as what has made us great for these last 237 years.

The Declaration of Independence: A Transcription IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776. The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world. He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good. He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them. He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only. He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures. He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people. He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within. He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands. He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers. He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries. He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance. He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures. He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power. He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation: For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us: For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States: For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world: For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent: For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury: For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies: For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments: For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever. He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us. He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people. He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation. He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands. He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions. In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people. Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends. We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor. The 56 signatures on the Declaration appear in the positions indicated: Column 1 Georgia:    Button Gwinnett    Lyman Hall    George Walton Column 2 North Carolina:    William Hooper    Joseph Hewes    John Penn South Carolina:    Edward Rutledge    Thomas Heyward, Jr.    Thomas Lynch, Jr.    Arthur Middleton Column 3 Massachusetts: John Hancock Maryland: Samuel Chase William Paca Thomas Stone Charles Carroll of Carrollton Virginia: George Wythe Richard Henry Lee Thomas Jefferson Benjamin Harrison Thomas Nelson, Jr. Francis Lightfoot Lee Carter Braxton Column 4 Pennsylvania:    Robert Morris    Benjamin Rush    Benjamin Franklin    John Morton    George Clymer    James Smith    George Taylor    James Wilson    George Ross Delaware:    Caesar Rodney    George Read    Thomas McKean Column 5 New York:    William Floyd    Philip Livingston    Francis Lewis    Lewis Morris New Jersey:    Richard Stockton    John Witherspoon    Francis Hopkinson    John Hart    Abraham Clark Column 6 New Hampshire:    Josiah Bartlett    William Whipple Massachusetts:    Samuel Adams    John Adams    Robert Treat Paine    Elbridge Gerry Rhode Island:    Stephen Hopkins    William Ellery Connecticut:    Roger Sherman    Samuel Huntington    William Williams    Oliver Wolcott New Hampshire:    Matthew Thornton

And, may it ever be so.

The Pronoun Conundrum

   I am not easily alarmed, I think. Of late, I have become alarmed. On the surface, it seems like something small - almost insignificant. But, to me, it is huge.

   I am referring to the change in the capitalization of pronouns when referring to the Deity. Over time, I have seen the tradition/rule change. It used to be that all writers would use the capital letter for a pronoun when representing God or Jesus. But rarely, now. I see it (or don't see it, as the case may be) everywhere. In Bible devotional books. In study books. In articles. Maybe I am just old-fashioned and  "King James influenced," but I think he and him should be He and Him.

   I am not sure why the change. 

   The cynical side of me says it is a sign of our culture. We no longer show respect for most things, so caring about showing respect in pronoun-use just follows suit. Could be.

   The paranoid side of me says it is a plot. It is a Satan-driven conspiracy to lessen our (sub)conscious awareness of God. Could be.

   The skeptical side of me says it is the simple apathy of people, in general, and Christians, in specific. We just don't really care enough to take the trouble to show the reverence. Could be.

   The practical side of me says it doesn't matter. This was a Elizabethan or Jacobean writing tradition which has no bearing on our writing methods, today. Could be.

   Which is it? I don't know. The reality is that none of these reasons are that great. There is not one of these that I would be proud to claim as my reason. Probably, all of my "sides" are right. There is a bit of each that makes up the answer. I just do not know.

   What do you think? Have you noticed it, too? Share your thoughts. I would love to know if I am the only one that is bothered by this.

   Bottom line, I want to do all I can to show God, Jesus, and the Spirit all of the honor and respect that He (or They, if you prefer) is/are due. It seems that how I refer to Them in writing is just as relevant as how I act. It is all how I show my attitude toward Him -- my actions, my deeds, my words - written and spoken. I for one will hold on to the capital letters. It is no conundrum to me.

Where's your rose?

I am not sure of the origin of the whole "rose worn on Mother's Day" tradition.  I don't know that it is practiced much any more.  Maybe it is just a southern thing?  I haven't been to the "homeland" for Mother's Day in the last 13 years.

As a child, we would wear a red rosebud on our suit lapel (yes, we wore suits to church, as children), on Mother's Day. The red rose was to signify that your mother was living. If your mother had passed away, you wore white. It was a way to honor mothers and the many sacrifices they had made for us.

As a kid, I didn't really get it. I think I thought it was just an advertisement -- "Hey, living mom over here!"  But now, I realize it was a badge of honor. More than a simple signal of the status of your mom, it was a simple way to show that we loved and cherished her.

The tradition had long ended for me, by the time my mother died. I had not worn a red rose in many years. I have never worn a white one. Nevertheless, I want to honor my mother, on this Mother's Day.

I miss her. She had an infectious laugh. She had some pretty wise counsel. She had a difficult life, in many ways. She was thrown many curves, and sometimes she swung and missed. But, you could never question her heart. She loved her children. She worked to give them a good (better) life. She was firm. Ruth did not play around with discipline! But, I never doubted her love. She loved her grandchildren. And, they were never in doubt about that! For me, she was a single parent for my teen years. My dad passed away when I was 11. I would never wish that chore on anyone. She did all she could to give me plenty of opportunities. I never thanked her enough.

Next year, on Mother's Day I am going to "wear" a virtual white rose on my Facebook page, in her honor. I won't people to know that she is gone, that I miss her, and that she was a wonderful mother.

Ramblin'

Marshall Tucker Band said it best, "I got ramblin', ramblin' on my mind."

We are sitting in Incheon Airport, Seoul. This is where we will be sitting all day. Maybe if I sprang for a higher priced ticket, I wouldn't have this long-term relationship with ICN, each time we fly to the U.S. I understand that if we make this trip one more time, this year, we may have to pay South Korea resident tax.

Our stateside tour begins in the lovely state of Texas, in big D. I have heard that Texas is the center of the entire universe. Of course, this fact was shared by Texans. Repeatedly. I do enjoy Dallas. Mostly, because it is home to our number two son, Matthew. We will get to spend time with him, as well as visit with friends at the Prestoncrest Church of Christ.

Stop two is West Tennessee. Actually, stop 1.5 is Little Rock, where we will pick up the Partners in Progress car. From Little Rock we will cross the eastern part of The Natural State (evidently, it is no longer the Land of Opportunity) and the Mighty Mississip'. In Jackson, we will get to spend time with our oldest son, Paul, and his wife, Allison. In addition to enjoying some good West Tennessee BBQ, we will visit with the Campbell St. and Jacks Creek churches.

We will continue eating our way across the Volunteer state, until we get to "The Promised Land," Knoxville. Here, we get to see my sister, Sherry. After some family catch-up time, we will have a family reunion, in the mountains, with the in-laws. Matthew, Paul, and Allison will be back with us, too.

Following our family time, we will head back to middle Tennessee. I will have an opportunity to speak to students from the Lipscomb University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences about medical missions in Cambodia. While in middle Tennessee, I will be sharing information on Partners in Progress at the World Christian Broadcasting annual dinner and meeting. It will great to talk about the work being done, and encourage others to be a part.

The middle Tennessee stop will wrap up with visits to the New Lasea (Columbia, TN) and Barkers Mill (Clarkesville, TN) churches of Christ. I am happy that we also have some meetings to discuss new opportunities to partner with us.

As we head to the west coast, we will have a visit with the Cuba (KY) church. They were the first congregation to partner in our work, and we are excited to be able to see them, after many years.

I get the chance to speak at my alma mater, Harding Academy. It will be fun to be back on campus and share our mission experiences. The high school students will be a tough crowd.

The end of April brings us back to southern California. Debbie and I will be able to spend time with our brothers and sisters at the Simi Church, our sponsoring congregation. We will get to see many of our SoCal friends. The last week in the U.S. will be back at Pepperdine, taking in some of the Bible Lectures.

Finally, we will board our Asiana flight for the LONG flight home.

We hope to see you during our six weeks of ramblin'.

I wish I were the person my dog thinks I am

   I think I first saw it as a bumper sticker. Then, later it floated through Facebook. “I wish I were the person my dog thinks I am.” Do you remember seeing it? Maybe, like me, you were amused – maybe chuckled a bit. You gave an approving nod, and moved on.

   If you are a dog lover, you get it. Right away. I can’t speak for cats, really. Who knows what they are thinking?? But I know what Reggie thinks of me. I can see it in the wag of his tail. I can hear it in his sigh when he lies down next to me. I can actually see it in his eyes. Yes, he smiles at me, I am sure. He is pretty taken with me. He thinks I am something special. Oh, that I only were.

I have thought about that cutesy, seemingly innocuous, little statement. I have thought about it a great deal. It has haunted me. Really, the more haunting statement is, “I wish I were the person God wants me to be.”  This one is a bit tougher. I suppose it is tougher, because there is more truth, there.

Reggie just needs full bowls of food and water, a belly scratch, and a walk. That makes him pretty happy. Anything extra I do for him is just icing on the cake. Really, he doesn't require much. I can even forget a meal, once in a while. Or, maybe skip a walk. No worries! His expectations are pretty low.

But God…. He expects far, far more. No, not more. He expects it all. Everything. The whole enchilada! He does not want to be forgotten. He does not want to be overlooked. I cannot pull Him out, dust Him off and do His thing, when the mood strikes me. He wants to be the center of my life – where I am totally focused on Him. No person or thing can get in the way. Not work. Not friends. Not family. Not even good works. He is not so impressed with what I do, when I serve Him. It is my job. It is what He has commanded me to do.  Don’t get me wrong, I think God is pleased with appropriate actions and service – but impressed, No!

I have to be constantly reminded that His command is not about “doing." His commandment is about “feeling,” “thinking,” and “committing.” It is about “BEING.”

What must make it even more frustrating for Him, is that He hasn't given me a long, detailed, hard to decipher job description. It is short and simple. It is easy to remember. It is easy to understand. Love Me and keep My commandments. But, I can foul up something this simply stated. I have to be constantly reminded that His command is not about “doing.” Oh, I can “do” with the best of them. His commandment is about “feeling,” “thinking,” and “committing.” It is about “BEING.” Maybe, my “doing” actually gets in the way, sometimes. I am so busy “doing,” that I forget the important part.

Lord, help me when I stray. Do not let me forget. Guide my thoughts and very being.  I am a weak and selfish sinner. I need you at the center of my life. Help me to use your Spirit to guide and strengthen me. Thank you for loving. Thank you for forgiving.

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”  Phil. 4:8

Till God shows us His mercy

   Isn’t it funny how some ideas “stick” and some do not? I mean how you can be part of literally thousands of classes, workshops, seminars, and sermons and hear so many potentially life-altering ideas, yet most will not really “stick.” I have had to opportunity to hear many learned people, sharing great insights on life, work, religion, politics, etc. But, there is one that is firmly entrenched in my thoughts, from the early 1980’s.

   Dr. Willard Tate came to Montgomery, Alabama. Faculty and staff were given a day off to go and participate in a workshop he was presenting. I don’t recall where it took place. I think it was a local church building. I do not recall how many of us attended. I do remember it was in a small room. I do not recall the name of the workshop. It could have been “Enlightening Paul,” for all I know. If it were the case, it couldn’t have been more aptly named!

   As part of our workshop, we were provided, or purchased (I have already established the lack of memory on the minor issues of this event), a book by Dave Grant, The Ultimate Power: How to be a Great Lover of People. Whoever paid for it, it was money well spent! Dr. Tate and Mr. Grant changed my life. They presented ideas that challenged my thinking, exposed the fallacies of the “world,” and set me on a different course. There were many great lessons shared.

   My greatest take-away from that workshop, is the deadly world trait of comparison. The world (read: Satan) wants us to compare ourselves, as we attempt to find value. The world tells us we have value, or achieve greatness, based on how we look, what we know, or what we do. Think about it. All advertising is based on these three ideas. “Use our product and you will be beautiful, then you will be loved.” “Learn this information and you will be recognized and appreciate, then you have truly arrived.” “Choose this major, take this job, and you will gain status, then you will be respected.” Even when we don’t say it in so many words, we say it. It comes across loud and clear. “Look at the beautiful people. Look at the smart people. Look at the achievers. Surely, you want to be like them. Do what they do.” The world’s love becomes conditional upon how we look, what we know, and what we do.

   The world-crushing truth is that we can’t measure up. There will ALWAYS be someone who is more beautiful/handsome, smarter, or can outperform us. We cannot measure up. So, the world hurts. No matter the neighborhood in which they live, the job they perform, the pew in which they sit, people are being hurt by the world's solution – comparison.”

   I imagine that God must look at us and say, “What is wrong with you? Why would you compare yourself to man. Man, who is weak and sinful. I offer you a better solution.”  “Why do you fret about your outward appearance? What will you do as you age and the appearance changes? Have you not learned that I look on the inside? A loving, pure heart is the most beautiful thing in the world. You work on that.” He must shake his head and say, “Don’t worry about what you know, beyond my Word. Come to know me and you will know all that matters.” Then, He gently places His hand on our shoulder and speaks, “I do not care about your work. Do My will: Love Me with all your heart, soul, and mind. Serve in my kingdom, faithfully, and you have achieved.”

   I have value. That value comes from God. The world has nothing to offer but hurt, suffering, and brokenness. “I lift up my eyes to you, to you who sit enthroned in heaven. As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a female slave look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till he shows us His mercy.”  Psalms 123:1-2