My daughter, Beth, and grandson, Sam, are the "chalk artists" in our family and this morning they went to work drawing flags, and other patriotic symbols and slogans on our driveway.  It pleases me that they have an excitement and an appreciation for the 4th of July, especially in light of the protests and strife that has recently been seen throughout our land.  As I think about our country; the beauty of what it stands for and the struggles that we still face, I can't help but believe that the writer of the song, "America the Beautiful" had it right...

My father has been gone, hard to believe, for over twenty years now.  I still miss him and there are times when I reflect on and ponder the wonderful times we had together.  Needless to say, my dad had a huge impact on my life.  There were many things about him that I admired:  his character, his devotion to his family, his ability to face adversity, his faith, his willingness to care for and help others; the list could go on and on.  But when I think about how he impacted my life so deeply, I would have to say that his influence mostly came about from the times that we simply "hung out" together...

Today is June 19th; some refer to it as Juneteenth.  A friend had to explain to me what was meant by that term.  She shared that June 19th, 1865, was the day that marked the official end of slavery in America, as federal troops, led by General Gordon Granger, arrived in Galveston, Texas, taking control of the state and freeing 250,000 enslaved people.  It official marks the end of difficult and dark time in the life of our nation.  However, though there have been many signs of progress, racism and racial tension still exist in our country and we as a nation still struggle to find ways to ensure 'freedom and justice for all."  But as I think of this day, and the ongoing struggle we, as American citizens, face; I think back to a lesson I learned in Sunday School so many years ago.  I wonder if this is a lesson we should focus on once again...

May is National Mental Health Awareness month,  It couldn't have come at a better time.  Because of the covid-19 pandemic, many are dealing with personal or family illness.  Others are experiencing heightened anxiety and fear, and many are facing the loss of jobs and income.  Still others are overwhelmed by escalating conflicts as families are "sheltering in place" and "getting on each others nerves."  Is it any wonder that drug and alcohol abuse is on the rise; incidents of family violence are increasing, and the darkness of depression for many is now worse.  This is truly a time when the coping skills of many are stretched to the max.  How can we protect our mental health when attacks seem to arise on so many different fronts?  I would offer three brief words of advice..

Memorial day, especially for the last fifteen years, has always been a special time for me because it is a day when my mom, her brother Newell, and I would go together to place flowers on the graves of our loved ones.  This was a time in which we would honor and remember my dad, grandparents, and other family members and friends.  But it was also something more.  There are two main reasons why these "memorial day outings" were so special to me...

May is a time when many are graduating from high school and college.  After years of hard work, study, and perseverance, the time for the receiving of diplomas and celebrating with family and friends has come.  Unfortunately this year, many will be disappointed as traditional graduation ceremonies are substituted with either a virtual ceremony or a ceremony that is extremely limited in terms of participation.  Still, this is an important time in the lives of those who are graduating.  It is a time to receive recognition for all that they have learned and accomplished.  It is a time to look forward to further eduction, job opportunities, or new areas of service.  It is also a time to remember that the true quest of education is not the acquisition of knowledge, but rather the acquiring of wisdom...  

What is the difference between a sprint and a marathon?  A sprint is a short race; one in which the runners can easily see the end-line.  A marathon is a long race; in a marathon, until the very end, the participants cannot see the end line.  They are two very different races and involve different strategies.  A sprint requires a burst of energy for a very short period of time.  A marathon requires a management of energy and can go on for several hours.  So with the COVID-19 virus crisis, it is helpful for us to realize that we are "running a marathon," not a sprint; and we will need a sound strategy if we are going to cross the finish line...

Faith, hope and love are described by the apostle Paul as the three qualities that last forever.  In my experience,  we hear a lot about faith and love, but some how the quality of hope doesn't seem to get as much attention.  Still, Peter tells us that hope is an essential aspect of our new life in Christ.  He says it in these words, "You have been born again to a living hope..." (1 Peter 1:3).  Psychologists and Social Scientists tell us that as long as people have hope they will continue to:  fight, move forward, and hold on.  It is when people loose hope that they tend to give up and give in to the destructive situations and challenges they face.  I think that in the face of the covid-19 virus crisis, this is a time, especially, when people need to hold on to hope.  I would like to share two examples of what I mean...

Almost every one across our nation has been effected by the Covid-19 virus crisis.  Businesses have shut down, many have lost their jobs.  We are required to practice "social distancing" to help stop the spread of the virus.  Most school systems have gone to home-based learning and many will not return until next Fall.  This truly is a time when anxiety and stress levels are high.  Unfortunately there is another type of crisis that many families will face during this time when so many are staying home:  it is the crisis of family violence...

I've heard many inspirational speakers over the years but recently I heard the testimony of a man who challenged my heart, mind, and soul.  The setting was the "Wild Beast Feast" (a weekend fellowship and training for Christian men) sponsored by the Friendship Baptist Church of Owasso.  The speaker was Clay Dyer, who is a professional fisherman and Christian speaker.  Now what's so special about hearing the testimony of a professional fisherman?  This professional fisherman was born without legs, and with only one (partial) arm.  Still, with all of these limitations he has managed to accomplish many great and wonderful things....