A Dog Story

In an article by Dannie Hawley, I found a wonderful story I had heard about from Pastor-Teacher Alistair Begg.  It is the story of a grateful dog.  As Alistair and his wife strolled the quiet streets of a small village,  they glanced over at a man passing them as he rode his bicycle…along with his dog.  Much to their amusement and amazement, the man’s dog was seated behind the man and was resting against his owners back.

As Alistair and his wife turned onto another street, they saw the man and his dog a second time. The cyclist had stopped to speak to another man. The dog hadn’t moved from his perch.

After seeing the cyclist and his dog a third time, Alistair and his wife approached the man. The old dog remained relaxed against the man’s back, his head leaning on his owner’s neck. The dog’s front paws straddled his owner’s shoulders, flopping onto his chest as if he were a loosely-stuffed toy animal.

Alistair’s wife said, “That’s quite a dog you’ve got there.”  “I guess you’ve had him since he was a puppy.”  “Not really,” said the cyclist.  ”I found him in the pound a few years ago. He was on death row.  They told me he’d be euthanized soon because no one had come to adopt him. He’s been with me ever since.” (goldennuggetsandsilvermusings.com)

I love that story.  I love dogs too…But I love the picture it paints and the point it makes.  Once you’ve been rescued from death row…all you want to do is rest your head on the one who found you…loved you…and saved you.  That ol’ dog knew who his savior was and he was resting on him.  By the way, that dog was a Pit-Bull.

Deuteronomy 33:12 says, ”Let the beloved of the LORD rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the LORD loves rests between his shoulders.” 

Some might suggest God takes Pit-Bulls and turns them in to Basset Hounds.  Not me.  God can use the spirit of a Pit-Bull for His glory.  Just as the Apostle Paul was a Pit-Bull in every way.  Paul loved the Lord with the tenacity of a Pit-Bull!  He served God with the fearlessness of a Pit-Bull.  But when it came to his Lord and Savior - Paul knew who had found him, loved him, and saved him. And he rested n his Savior.  

God give us more Pit-Bulls for Jesus.

The Gift Of Jesus

Friends, 

Along with fifty other pastors, I have had the opportunity to contribute to a wonderful daily devotional book titled, The Gift of Jesus.  Each daily entry includes scripture, a devotion, and a prayer.  I am sure you will enjoy this daily reading.  Other pastors who participated are men such as Johnny Hunt, Bob Pitman, James Merritt, Ted Traylor, Don Wilton, Ronnie Floyd, and many others.  

This devotional book would make a great Christmas present.  If you are interested I would be happy to send you a copy.  For any contribution to Michael Mason Ministries I will get your copy in the mail today.  Additional copies are available for purchase. 

If you would like to make your contribution via PayPal you can do that at michaelmasonministries.com.  
My email address is michael-mason@charter.net.
Mailing address is 606 Birdsprings Road, Hartselle, Al. 35640.
You can text for information at 256-306-6645.

Thank you.  I hope you have a great Christmas season.  Michael

778-8874

For as long as my mother and dad have had a phone, their number has been 778-8874.  That number was disconnected this week.  Mother went to Heaven a few years ago and Dad is now in assisted living in Tuscumbia. 

That disconnecting is sad for me.  It’s a number I have had memorized since I was a boy in grade school.  It’s the number I called when I was sick, in trouble, happy, sad, heart-broken, thrilled…

778-8874…It’s the number my High School principal called after our regular visits.  It’s the number the neighbors called when I had been a part of rolling their yard, doing a donut in their yard, driving too fast, or living too loud. 

It’s the number I called when I needed to talk to Mother about what medicine I should take for a cold.  I called that number to ask Dad how to install a plug or fix a faucet.  I called that number the morning we were at the hospital waiting for Alyssa to be born…and again when we were waiting for Garrett to join us. 

It’s the number I dialed the morning Mother was in critical condition in Huntsville Hospital.  I called Dad and told him I’d be there to get him in a few minutes.  We both knew - but we anxiously made the trip anyway, hoping our gut feelings were wrong.  We were right.  She was gone. 

Since then I have been calling that number talking to Dad and wishing I could, one more time, talk to Mother. 

I still have it saved in my phone among the “favorites.”  I doubt I’ll remove it anytime soon.  There are too many good memories connected with that simple number…778-8874. 

If your mother and dad are still living, call them today. While you can.  M

Called To Preach

1 Cor. 9:16

I first felt a desire to preach when I was just a boy.  I remember a teacher asking the class what we were going to be when we grew up and I said, “A preacher.”  I thought about it off and on throughout junior high and high school even though I had never publicly committed my life to Christ.  And even though I didn’t fully understand it, I knew if I ever became a Christian I was also going to become a preacher.

I made that commitment at age nineteen.  I was saved in May of 1982 and began preaching in September of that same year.  I remember the absolute joy that preaching brought me.  I enjoyed studying and putting together sermons and I still do.  Preaching still thrills my soul.  It’s almost indescribable.  To stand and preach a message that can change someone’s life, change their circumstances, change the world…is more than wonderful...it's powerful.  

I say with Paul, “Woe is me if I preach not the Gospel…”  I feel today, more than ever, compelled…driven…called to preach this life changing message of Christ.  I am thankful for the opportunity.  I have been proclaiming this message for thirty-three years…and because I realize I may not have thirty-three more years ahead of me to preach I want to make every sermon count. I want to preach every sermon as if it is the last one I get to preach and the last one you get to hear. 

Thank you God for the call to preach.  Thank you Lord for the privilege and the pure joy that comes from preaching the Gospel of Jesus.  amen

Don’t Judge The Movie By The Clip

Genesis 50:20

Have you ever been disappointed by a movie that didn’t measure up to the trailer, the previews…the clips?  You can’t judge a book by its cover.  Can’t judge a movie by the clip.  You can’t judge a person by one day, one event, one action, one thing they said or did.  

But we do…

We have a hard time giving someone a second chance.  We judge too harshly based on a one-time, one-day, sometimes even a one-second act, word, or deed.  I’ve been judged like that.  And I have judged others like that.  One of the good things about growing older is you can judge others less harshly and less quickly because you have been around long enough to know the person is better than what happened on that one day…that one week…even that one year.  We know their track record – and we know them to be better than the “clip.”

I have said things I shouldn’t have said.  Done things I shouldn’t have done.  I have been too prideful, too unconcerned about anyone but myself.  I not only find it hard to forgive others…I find it hard to forgive myself.  I wish, on some days, I could have a do-over.  I have too many “clips” I want to erase. 

Joseph was at one time left in a pit to die.  He was also sold into slavery.  He was also a common prisoner.  But don’t judge him by those clips.  God had a greater purpose in mind.  Genesis 50:20 teaches us that God often uses bad for good.  God can take all your clips, the good and the bad, and make a movie of your life. And in the end, it won’t be so hard to watch.  Joseph’s life is easy to watch because we know how the movie ends.  God has a perfect ending in store for you.  Trust him.

People are more than “clips.”  And, God’s grace is sufficient.  M

I'm Surprised

Romans 7:15 (NAS)

“For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate.”  The greatest Christian who ever lived said that.  The Apostle Paul…he didn’t understand his struggle.  And there are days when I don’t understand mine.  In fact, sometimes I surprise myself at how selfish, sinful, and immature I am.  I have been a Christian for thirty-three years.  There are days when I think to myself, “You should be further along than you are now…”  Maybe Paul struggled with that too.

Before Peter was sifted like wheat, Jesus said to him, “I have prayed for you that your faith does not fail.”  Peter’s faith may not have failed, but he did.  He denied knowing the Lord three times.  Paul struggled and Peter failed.  In a weird kind of way they encourage me by their shortcomings.  It helps me knowing that two of the greatest men of God to ever live stumbled.

But today I am thinking about me.  I am too selfish, too impatient, too unforgiving, and too prideful, just to mention a few.  Honestly, I surprise myself at how I struggle at times...and how often I fail.   

My favorite Bluegrass singer, Ricky Skaggs, sang, “Savior save me from myself…”  That’s my prayer today.  As long as I live I will probably continue to be surprised at the lack of progress I am making in becoming the person God wants me to be.  But I will also continue to be surprised by God’s grace that is greater than my sin.  M

Life Is Short

James 4:14

By now everyone is familiar with the name Ashley Madison, her list, and her slogan…. “Life is short – Have an affair.”  How stupid.

Having been a pastor and counseled with folks who were reeling from the effects of an affair I can tell you, the results of unfaithfulness are heart breaking, devastating, gut wrenching, causing those who are betrayed to feel worthless.  And eventually the betrayer to feel just as ruined.  While I’d like to rant about Ashley Madison for a page or two I will resist the temptation and tell you a brighter side of the story.

Why not, “Life is short – Grow old with the one you married.”  Grow old and experience forty, fifty, and maybe even sixty years together as husband and wife.  Years of joy and heartache…good times and bad times…laughter and tears…enjoying kids and grandkids…vacations and holidays…family gatherings…holding hands and holding one another through thick and thin.  In sickness and health.  On dark days and sunny days.  Staying when you feel like leaving.   

And one day when you’ve grown old together and inevitably death calls one of you away – you’ll look back at the brevity of life and be thankful you grew old with the one you married.  You’ll be glad you were faithful.

Besides…you don’t even know how much time you have left.  Your life is a vapor.  The pastor who shook your hand this past Sunday could preach your funeral in two days.  The flowers delivered to the florist today could rest on your grave before the weekend.  Life is short – Don’t do something stupid.  You may not have to live with it, but your family will. 

Life is short.  Love God.  Love the one you married.   M