The Perfect Gift

Here we are …. again, entering the Christmas shopping season. It is interesting to discover the different approaches to Christmas shopping by various people. I know adults who will begin their shopping for next Christmas almost the moment this Christmas is over. I have actually heard someone say, “I’ll get you that for next year” while their friend was opening gifts. On the other extreme you have those who buy gifts at the last possible moment. There is not a lot of time or thought put into the gift or the shopping for the gift. Then somewhere in the middle of those two extremes are the people who spend weeks if not months thinking about the perfect gift to buy for each person on their Christmas shopping list. These people will check all the ads, they will check on-line, they will go from store to store comparing prices, and they go to every possible extreme to make sure the gift they are buying is just perfect.

Once they have found the perfect gift that is only half the experience, next comes finding the perfect way to wrap or present this perfect gift to this special person in their life. They will look for just the right wrapping paper or just the right gift bag and accessorize the bag or the wrapping with the perfect ribbon and bow. Oh, and don’t forget the card. The card may just be the most important part of the gift giving experience. The perfect card along with the perfect gift makes it extremely difficult if not impossible for the receiver to exchange your “perfect” gift, but they will.

I am half way kidding of course, but I do know people who more often than not exchange the gifts given to them for something they really want and/or need. You almost want to tell the person, “Here is cash – get what you want”. As a matter of fact there comes a time when cash or gift cards may be the “perfect” gift for most people.

The older I get the more grateful I am for the one perfect gift I have received. The gift Jesus Christ gave me on the cross is the perfect gift. It is most certainly something I needed and could not buy for myself. Without it I would be lost forever. Without it I would not know the love, grace and mercy of God the Father.

How about you, have you been to the cross and found your perfect gift? This season is all about finding Jesus, but not the one everyone is looking for – you know – the Jesus all wrapped up in blankets in a manger. I like that picture of Jesus, but the view of Jesus that gives you life, hope and joy is the view of him on the cross. So in this season of “Joy to the World” keep looking for Jesus until you find “Amazing Grace” and then and only then will you have “Peace, Perfect Peace”.

Love God. Go Love Others.

Blessed and Thankful

Most of the time when you greet someone and ask him or her how he or she are doing you will get back from them the standard, “I’m fine”. Some have begun to copy the Dave Ramsey reply, which is, “better than I deserve” or something similar. I have an acquaintance, which I see from time to time when I am shopping at Market Street that has an excellent reply to the standard question, when I see him and ask how he is doing his reply is always, “I am blessed and thankful”.

I am blessed and thankful. What a wonderful summary of life for anyone who is living as one of God’s children. As I sit here this morning while the sun is rising on another day it is cloudy in North Texas and even though I cannot see the sun I know that it is there. Not too long ago this morning there was darkness, but now there is light and I can see all that was hidden in the darkness the trees, flowers and my neighbors dog which barks all night. The sun has illuminated all that was in the darkness and another day has begun.

The sun has signaled the beginning of another day, but the Son has given the day to me. The sun has given me light for the day, but the Son has brought me out of the darkness into the light so that I may walk with him this day. The Son makes all things possible. The Son is the giver of all good and perfect gifts. Even though I cannot see the Son, I know He is there. The Son makes it possible for me to say on this new day that I too am “Blessed and Thankful!”

I have had a wonderful life. I was raised by two loving and amazing parents who still bless my life with love and joy and acceptance. My parents introduced me to a life of faithfulness and they showed me how to live a life pleasing the Son and the Father. I am blessed and thankful.

I have an amazing wife who loves me unconditionally and she has shared with me a life full of joy, kindness and laughter (and an occasional chocolate pie). She has given me three wonderful children who have filled my life with love, adventure, laughter and wonder. I have in-laws who love me like I was their own son. They have been a constant source of loving support and acceptance. I am blessed and thankful.

I could go on and on, but you get the idea my life is full of blessings and for that I am thankful. I know that this is Thanksgiving week and each of us is taking time to reflect on how thankful we are for what God has blessed us with in life. I just want to encourage you to live a life of thankfulness daily. Those who have been saved by the grace of God should begin each day with a heart of gratitude being thankful for all the Father has provided. I want to encourage you to begin and end each day with the acknowledgment that you are “blessed and thankful”.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Love God. Go Love Others.

Direction

Many, many years ago my preschool age daughter and I were running an errand in the car when she asked me an interesting question, she asked, “how does the car know where we are going?” I asked her to explain her question and she went on to say, “Before the car turns those arrows light up.” She had never noticed that I was moving the switch that turned on the turn signal. We have laughed about that moment many times over the years and with any luck at all we will remember it for years to come.

That experience has often caused me think and maybe even ponder the question, how do I know where I am going? Life presents so many options on a daily basis and some how you and I navigate through those choices and get to the end of each day. The question is valid for each of us, what are the guiding principles for our life. Those who are Christ follower choose to follow in His steps. We strive to do things the way Jesus would to the best of our ability.

When asked about what is important in life Jesus said, “to love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength” and then he said that the next most important thing is to “love you neighbor as yourself”. How do those commands influence your life direction? Think about that question for a moment….. In what way is your life different when you choose to love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength? In what way is your life different when you choose to love your neighbor in the same way you would like to be loved?

Do you spend more time in prayer and Bible study? Do you spend more time meditating on his word and his will for you life? Do you live your life in such a way that says to the Father, “I love you”? Do you go out of your way to show love and respect to your neighbor and others in your community? Do you look for opportunities to serve others? Do you look for opportunities to build up your fellow Christians and encourage them to follow Jesus more perfectly? Does loving God and loving your neighbor help you determine the direction of your life?

At some point someone in your life may stop and ask you why you live the way you live and why your life direction is pointed towards Jesus and the cross. At that moment you will have the opportunity to be a witness to the fact that the love of God and his Son compel you to live your life with purpose and direction.

You see my friend when you have stood at the foot of the cross and realized that it should have been you nailed to that tree – that changes everything. From that moment on your life is all about loving the One who gives you life. From that moment on finding direction for your life is simple, just keep your eyes on Jesus and He will lead you home.

Love God. Go Love Others.

Veteran's Day Special

Over my life time I have seen countless movies and television programs depicting in one way or another the life, adventures and sacrifices made by those who serve in our nations armed services. Some have been humorous such as Gomer Pile, Hogan’s Heroes and Mash. Some have been dramatic such as 12 O’clock High and Band of Brothers. The big screen has given us stories that have stirred our hearts and minds such as Patton, Saving Private Ryan, Pearl Harbor, We Were Soldiers and Iwo Jima and many, many more. I am sure that most of us have our favorites. My favorite may be The Patriot with Mel Gibson.

Behind each of these stories, television shows and movies is a truth – since the beginning of this great nation, men and women have served this country by fighting for our freedom. For over 234 years men and women have served this country to secure our freedom and our rights. Some have carried a musket and some a M16. Some have loaded and shot cannons mounted to wagon wheels and others have used laser guided missiles with GPS devices. Some rode horse back and others have flown faster than the speed of sound. Some have paddled a small boat across rivers or down streams while others have circled the globe in a nuclear submarine. Some have caused pain and destruction while others have mended the wounds of those who fight. Men and women serving together with one cause – to serve, defend and protect the United States of America.

How does a nation properly say thank you to our son’s and daughters who are willing to serve this nation in such a selfless way? How do you thank someone who is willing to travel around the world to fight for a cause and a way of life? How do you thank a young man or young lady who is willing to go and do what most of us are unwilling to go and do? How do you thank someone who is willing to leave their wife and children for a tour or two or three in order to protect your wife and children? How do you thank someone who is willing, if need be, to die so that a nation might survive? How do you thank those who are the best among us?

Adequate words of gratitude and thanks do not come to mind for how I feel about those who give up so much and have so little so that I can have the opportunity to have everything. So on this Veteran’s Day I simply say from the bottom of my heart – THANK YOU! Without your service this great nation would not and could not exist. I thank God for you and your families. May the God of Peace be with you all the days of your life.

Peace to all.

Love God. Go Love Others.

Wilson - Wilson

Through out my life there have been several characters on the television and big screen with the name Wilson that have had an impact on my life to one degree or another. First was Mr. Wilson the next door neighbor of Dennis who over the years helped to shape the life and character of Dennis the Menace. The show was just as much about Mr. Wilson as it was Dennis. Then of course you can not over look Wilson Wilson from “Home Improvement”. There were many times that the advice he gave to Tim was also good advice for me and countless other husbands and dads. I have never had a neighbor which was able or willing to give good advice. For a short period of time it was nice to have a good neighbor on TV.

The Big Screen gave us “Wilson” which was volleyball in the movie “Castaway” starring Tom Hanks. “Wilson” turned out to be much more than volleyball; he was also a companion, confidant, and friend who could listen for hours on end. It was really too bad that he did not survive the trip home.

This past World Series gave you and me a pair of Wilsons, two pitchers, one on each team. Each of these Wilsons gave us some exciting baseball moments and some things about life to ponder. C.J. Wilson the starting pitcher for the Texas Rangers had an excellent year of pitching and a pretty good post season. In addition to baseball he is know for living a “Straight Edge” lifestyle. In short, this is a life style that calls a person to a life of no alcohol, no drugs and no promiscuity. I commend C.J. for wanting to live such a life style and for being so open about it.

On the San Francisco Giants team the pitcher Brian Wilson is quite the character with his jet black beard and his intense approach to the game and his pitching. He is truly an amazing pitcher. His pitching caught my attention, but not as much as his post victory gesture. If you have not seen it the gesture is an “X” formed by his forearms. Here is what Brian says about the gesture, “when I cross my arms, I have my left hand in the fist and my right hand goes underneath pointing with my index finger. What I’ve taken into my own belief is that this finger represents one man. I’m that one person and I can only go so far in life leaning on my own understanding and my own strength. The fist represents the power of the Holy Trinity: the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. The fist is symbolic of a circle. It’s never ending. This strength will only continue to grow. So here’s the strength of God and the strength of man, and without him, I am nothing. I can only go so far in this life, but with the strength of Christ I can do anything through him who strengthens me.”

Two Wilsons living the life of a baseball player and trying to make a difference in the world around them and trying to influence people for good. I am not sure about the faith or belief system of C.J., but I do know that Brian Wilson is passionate about his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and everything that he does in life is a reflection of his faith.

So here is the question for you, does your life reflect the fact that you believe Jesus Christ to be both Lord and Savior of your life? Do the people around you know that you are a person of faith and conviction? I’m not saying you should start throwing up the crossed arms with the fist and finger, but I am saying that in all you do and say the people in your life should know without a doubt that Jesus in the King of your life. Think about it.

Love God. Go Love Others.

The Whole Enchilada

Recently my parents were in town for a doctor’s appointment. Most of the time when they come to town I go to lunch with them before they head back home to Canton. Nine times out of ten they will want to eat at the Whataburger. My dad always gets the Whataburger Jr. with a Senior drink and my mom always gets two chicken strips and a Senior drink. Their orders are always the same, which makes it easy to order for them if they are running late because of traffic.

Well on this particular day I suggested that we go to El Fenix. They have always liked eating there ever since eating at the one in town downtown Dallas over 50 years ago. For as long as I can remember my mother has ordered one Chicken Enchilada. That is it – just one Chicken Enchilada. For some reason on this occasion she asked me what I was having. I said, “The number two lunch”, which is two cheese enchiladas with rice and beans. She thought that sounded good to her and she said she wanted to try something new.

When the waiter came to the table he took my dad’s order and then he took my order. Then he turned his attention to my mother who said, “I’m going to have the number two except I don’t want the rice and beans and instead of cheese enchiladas I just want one Chicken Enchilada. Change is difficult.

That is the way life is for most of us, we have changes that we either want to make or need to make and most of the time making the change is hard to do. I just want to give you some encouragement this week to take a serious look at your life and the changes you need to make. For some it may be the need to loose a few pounds or start an exercise program. For others it may be the need to spend more time in the Word of God or more time in prayer. Maybe you need to spend more time looking for opportunities to serve others or participate in a ministry at your church. Maybe you need to spend more time with your own children making sure they have all the love and nurture they need from their mom or dad.

Just take some time to look at your life, your walk with Jesus, your relationships with family and friends. In what way could you improve your life? What changes do you need to make in order to be a better spouse, better friend, better parent or child, a better neighbor, a better church family member, a better follower of Jesus Christ?

Here is a simple plan for making changes in your life: 1. Realize the change that needs to be made in your life. 2. Have a desire to make the needed change. 3. Develop a plan to change with an end goal in mind. 4. Work the plan. 5. Stay in prayer.

May God bless you and I as we seek to make the changes in life we need to make in order to be more pleasing to the Father. Oh by the way, last week my mom ordered Chalupas – it was a landmark day.

Love God. Go Love Others.