Sunday, May 31, 2009

Old Enough

Hey Folks,
My mother went to Heaven almost three years ago. She and my dad were married in 1955. They drove to Iuka, Mississippi...got married...drove back to Decatur, Alabama...spent the night in the "Nite-Fall" motel...then spent the next almost 51 years together as husband and wife.

My dad keeps a picture of he and mother together, on the table beside his chair. He says he talks to her about alot of things. My dad is not on the verge of insanity, he just misses mother.

He has had several opportunities since mother died to have a girlfriend. He says he's not interested. In fact, he told us the day mother died, that he would never marry again. He said, "once you've had the best, anyone else would be a disappointment." Then he said, "I've had the best."

He has had so many good things to say about how he misses mother, I should be writing all of them down. Here's the most recent. Last weekend he was at our home for supper. We were talking about one of his friend's ex-wife. He said, "I don't have any ex-wives. I have only one wife and I'm going to see her when I get old enough." Daddy is 78.

If I can be half the man my dad has been, I'll be alright. I don't know when dad will be old enough to go see mother. All I know is I have been blessed to have had a father and mother who loved me and my sister...and each other. I am blessed.

Have a good one. Michael

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Hold Your Horses

Hey Folks,

Life is crazy fast. Everyone is in a hurry. Fast food and fast cars...it's life in the fast lane. We would all do well to slow down and get with God. I'm sure God is in no hurry. He is at work, but he's not in a rush. I've recently read the book, "Wild Goose Chase" by Mark Batterson. The "Wild Goose Chase" is about following God wherever he leads. Batterson says if we want to follow and experience God wherever he leads, we may be led to a new place, a new pace, and a new perspective.

A new pace. That one fits the young man in Mark chapter 10. This young fella looks like he’s in a hurry. The Bible says, “He came running...” That could mean a number of things. Don’t jump to the conclusion that he was eager to give his heart to Jesus. Especially when you read the end of the story. Sounds like he wanted to go to Heaven, but he didn’t want to do what was necessary to get there. He wanted eternal life, he just didn’t want to live for Jesus. There’s an old song that says, “Everybody wants to go to Heaven but Nobody wants to die...” That probably describes the guy in Mark 10.

Maybe you have heard the old saying, “Hold your horses!” As a child I grew up understanding that saying meant “slow down and take your time.” Don’t be in such a hurry. Be patient. Hold back on the reins. This fella in Mark 10 needed to hold his horses. He was in too big of a rush. He ran to the right person, asked the right question, and seemed to be willing to do the right thing. But Jesus told him what he didn’t want to hear. Sell everything. Why would Jesus tell him to sell everything? Jesus knew the one thing he wouldn’t do. His money and love for more came before his relationship with God.

I have learned “hold your horses” has another meaning. I have read during the American Revolution, someone was responsible for holding the horses. Makes sense to me. Think about it. You’d have a hard time loading and firing your gun, doing arm-to-arm combat, and all the while hanging on to your horse. I understand that someone was in charge of holding the horses while the soldiers fought it out on the battlefield. Once the battle was won, the soldier’s horse would be waiting. It’s good to know, that when life gets out of control....and you have questions without answers.....God is holding your horses.

So do what you need to do. Slow down and take care of business. Most of all, take the time for God, and for your family. Hold your horses, and enjoy life.

Talk to you later, Michael