I didn’t receive a lot of spankings as a child. But I believe I remember every one I got from my dad. One particular one is very vivid in my memory. I enjoyed throwing a baseball, bouncing it off the front porch steps, and catching it. My dad told me not to do it. Why not? What would it hurt? Besides how would I ever break into the major leagues if I didn’t practice?

Shortly after my dad’s warning, I was once again bouncing the ball off the front steps. The ball took a wicked hop and went crashing through the bedroom window where my dad just happened to be resting.

Larry King was recently interviewed on “The Today Show” concerning his recently published book Remember Me When I’m Gone. The world famous radio and television personality asked the talented, the beautiful, the wise, and the rich a question all of us have pondered to some degree, “How would you like to be remembered after you die?”

The contributions range from one-liners by Yogi Berra – “It’s over.”; Kato Kaelin – “I guess my 15 minutes are up!”; Jack Lemmon- “In.”; Calvin Klein – “By eternity.”; Gene Shalit – “I won’t be back after this message.”;

A harried housewife hurried through the crowded store with her whining children in tow. The ringing bells of the Salvation Army grated on her nerves. The press of jostling people vying for the season’s most prized doll wearied her. Finally, reaching the checkout counter, she unloaded her items and exclaimed, “Whoever came up with Christmas anyway?”

Businesses wish their customers a “Happy Holiday”, yet many are not happy. For many the holidays are a time of tiredness, loneliness, depression, or disappointment. How can we prepare to have a happy holiday? Consider some safeguards that will help you enjoy the upcoming holidays.

“Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow? With silver bells and cockle shells and pretty maids all in a row.”

Most people today don’t consider the moral of a nursery rhyme. But how does your garden grow? I love the beauty of a well kept garden. But a garden requires diligence and work. Perhaps Mary was too contrary to put forth the effort to keep her garden. Man was created and put in the original Garden of Eden to “dress” and keep it. It was in a garden that Jesus agonized in prayer as he surrendered to God the Father’s will.

I sat in the courtroom on a wooden pew surrounded by rich wood paneled walls. As I looked toward the judge’s bench at the front of the courtroom, the bailiff commanded all to rise and announced the entrance of the Honorable Judge Slater, as court was called into session.

I felt admiration and respect for the judge as he was referred to as “your honor” when addressed. Did “his honor” have respect because of his title, family name, money, or social/class standing? Probably not. “His honor” had been a classmate of mine and, on occasion, we had even driven livestock into the showering of his grandfather’s sale barn. While being a man of good moral character, “his honor” was shown respect, even by his enemies, because he represented the law of the land.

I enjoy finding hidden treasure at garage sales. One man’s junk can be another man’s treasure. I especially delight in finding old classic books at low prices. Some may call me cheap, but I detest paying $20 -$30 for a book when I can find one I value for $2 - $4. I’ve been thrilled at the find of first edition books by Charles Dickens, a Moby Dick, a Ben Hur, books by Andrew Murray, or A Treasury of David by Spurgeon that was headed to the dump.

Have you felt like giving up lately? Here’s hope for you – our great and mighty God loves you and has a way out. Hang on! Don’t give up hope.

We live in a world of trouble, terror, and trials. Since the sin and fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, the serpent of old has engendered strife and stress, fear and failure, depression and destruction. Jesus told us, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they might have life and might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).

It was the most painful and stressful period in my adult life. It was a wilderness experience, “the dark night of the soul”.

The story is told of a man who fell over a cliff. As he plunged downward he was fortunate enough to grab hold of a protruding tree limb. He held on for dear life but was quickly losing his strength. “Help me! Is anybody up there?” he called out. After what seemed to be an eternity a voice called down, “Just let go of the branch. You’ll be saved.” “Help me!” the man cried. Unbeknownst to the man, the tree limb was only a few feet above a ledge with a path that would lead him to safety. “Trust me, just let go and you’ll be okay,” the voice called back. The man hesitated, “Is anybody else up there?”

As I drove over the Jefferson Barracks Bridge back into Illinois, I was in awe as I took in the row after row of white grave markers that seemed to flow up and down the green hillside of Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. How many thousands of soldiers lie under the sod of the cemeteries of America, those who served our country, to protect and insure our freedom? Our hats go off to you.

This Memorial Day many will flock to the lakes, beaches, and parks on holiday. Many people will have no thought of those who served to safeguard our freedom.

Little Gracie has her theology right. It was a beautiful fall day and interestingly it was Yom Kippur – the Jewish Day of Atonement. As I stood outside the Release Through Jesus’ ministry office fellowshipping with friends, Jim Helton’s 2½ year old granddaughter came walking down the sidewalk towards us with her arms raised heavenward. She seemed to be saying, “Okay, who’s going to pick me up? I need some love and attention.” Her grandma, of course, picked her up and gave her what she needed.

Grandma’s light bread would melt in your mouth. In the 1950’s, rural electric had not yet reached our part of the countryside. As kerosene lamps gave a golden glow in the kitchen, I’d watch grandma mix and kneed the bread dough, put it in pans, and then set them aside to rise overnight. At daybreak she would fire up the wood cook stove and bake the bread until the top crust was shining and golden. I could hardly wait for a couple of slices of grandma’s light bread spread with home churned butter and, perhaps, a spoon of wild comb honey or a dollop of blackberry jelly. Those were the days when bread was bread.

A few years ago a compelling but complex motion picture was nominated for nine Academy Awards – winning Oscars for Robin Williams and “hot newcomers” Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. Good Will Hunting portrayed a triumphant story about Will Hunting, the most brilliant mind at America’s top university who was a janitor – not a student. Will Hunting was a headstrong, working-class genius. When he was “discovered”, Will was offered the opportunity of a lifetime, but he didn’t want to leave his friends nor deal with the issues of his past. He finally realized that he had been gifted and given opportunities that many only dreamed of. It would be a shame to waste his giftedness when he could make a contribution to life.

I had forgotten the thrill of catching a fish. My grandson reminded me of the thrill as he reeled in his first catch, with assistance from his dad. I recalled my youth when I went fishing with my dad, brothers, grandmother, or anyone else that would go with me. But for some reason, in middle age, I had forgotten how to fish. I had forgotten how to have fun and just relax.

It seems many kids grow up today without trying their hand at fishing. Many stay indoors playing video and computer games. There’s nothing like getting outdoors and away from it all for awhile.

The Hamm twins have come a long way from swinging from the rafters in their Waukesha, WI barn to going for a gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. Paul Hamm became the first American in Olympic history to win the Men’s All-Around Gymnastics gold medal. I must confess that I thought that his medal hopes were surely over when he took a tragic fall on his vault landing. But Paul Hamm went on to perform two of the most spectacular and flawless routines of his career to win an Olympic gold medal by the closest margin in Olympic history.

I must confess that I don’t like to wait. I don’t like sitting in waiting rooms and I’d rather not eat in a restaurant or make a purchase if I have to wait in a long line to do so. I guess God knew I needed patience, so I jokingly tell people, 30 years ago God gave me a wife. Someone once said that patience is a quality you admire in the driver behind you and scorn in the one ahead. The wise Solomon said, “The end of the matter is better than it’s beginning, and patience is better than pride. Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools” (Ecclesiastes 7:8, 9 NIV).

Multitudes of American families have been fractured and forsaken. People are searching for roots, relationships, and a sense of family and fulfillment. Many have come to realize a need for community and connectedness. How can you have life-changing family ties?

Jesus Christ has given us the answer. “Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). The church has gotten a bad rap by some people. Some of the accusations may be justified, but most people are unaware of the necessity and benefits of the church. The church is referred to as the “body of Christ”. Believers in Christ are called “living stones” who makeup the temple of God where His presence dwells. (I Peter 2:1-10)

It’s much more than an American patriotic hymn. From grade school on, each time I hear or sing “The Battle Hymn Of The Republic,” my heart is stirred within me. Julia W. Howe directs us from the first verse on to see the glory of the Lord. “Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord; …His truth is marching on. Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!” Who’s glory is the hymn referring to? The glory of God is the focus that inspires praise of our sovereign Lord and moves us to justice and action.

Have you ever wondered where you fit in society? Where you fit in amongst your peers? Perhaps you have felt like a round peg being forced into a square hole. Culture tends to categorize individuals into homogenized groups. Do you identify with any of the following groups?

GAMERS: I recently read a news article concerning a popular young person who described himself as a “gamer”. I’m not quite sure, but possibly a gamer is someone who is an avid video game player.

It was a beautiful sunrise that greeted me as I drove to the hospital and walked into the pre-op room. I had come to bring some cheer to a friend soon to undergo heart surgery. But as I prepared to read scripture and pray, he brought cheer to me as he said, “I’m not worried, Pastor, I have full coverage.” What a great statement! He wasn’t referring to his insurance coverage, but he was referring to the blessed assurance that a believer has in Christ.

During the recent flood and tornado disasters in our region, many who thought they had full coverage insurance had a rude awakening

It’s not popular to be a true follower of Jesus Christ. Throughout the centuries of church history, believers have been persecuted and imprisoned for their faith. Even today multitudes of Christians throughout the world are imprisoned for sharing their faith in Christ. Even in Canada preachers are being thrown in jail for preaching the Word of God and taking a stand for righteousness and morality.

Perhaps you are not in a physical prison with iron bars and razor wire, but you know you are bound, chained, and imprisoned by a much crueler captor.

Who is your hero? Dirty Harry or Holy Jesus? Dirty Harry takes aim at a perp and, challenging him to flee, intones, “Go ahead, make my day.” That is the moment in which his personality is defined. He will achieve personal fulfillment if he can kill the evil villain.

Jesus Christ, holy and innocent suffered reproach, abuse, flogging, and crucifixion. “Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously; who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree…” (I Peter 2:22-24) Jesus cried out from the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).

The lady at the coffee bar looked happy. “Do you like your job?” I asked her. “Oh, yes, I love it here. I hope I can stay here forever,” she replied. “Forever is a long time,” I said. “Do you think you’ll live that long?”

The barista was obviously contented. But many people can’t imagine themselves doing their present job forever. Forever means a limitless time – eternity. The truth is we will all spend forever either in heaven or hell. The choice is ours determined by the decisions we make today.

Life is not like a sprint, a fast dash to the finish line. No, life is more like a marathon. I watched a video clip of the iron man competition held in Hawaii. The competitors had to swim two miles, endure a 100-mile bicycle race, and then run a 26-mile marathon. All who finished the grueling races were considered winners. They were cheered and hugged by those who had already finished.

The Word of God pictures those “great cloud of witnesses” in the heavenly grandstands, cheering us on (Hebrews 12:1). Everyone who enters and finishes this race is a winner and receives a crown and a reward. Some start with a burst of energy and purpose but drop out along the way. Some start well but do not finish well.

The day after the Rutgers’ women’s basketball team reached the NCAA finals radio talk show host Don Imus made some derogatory comments about the team members and their coach. The coach, C. Vivian Stringer, called radio talk show host Don Imus’ comments, “despicable, abominable, and unconscionable.” The team overcame much adversity to reach the championship finals – Coach Stringer overcame much as well.

In reply to Imus’ degrading remarks, Coach Stringer gave what I saw as a powerful, inspired sermon during a national news conference held in the Rutgers’ gym. She gave thanks to the Lord who brought the team and herself to a place of victory.

At the turn of the new millennium, the celebrations in the city of Sydney, Australia were broadcasted to an estimated three billion people all over the world. The countdown from 1999 to 2000 triggered off one of the greatest fireworks displays the city had ever seen – illuminating the city skyline and the Harbour Bridge. At the climax of the spectacular finale, a single word emerged in fifty-foot high luminous letters on the bridge – ETERNITY - what a significant and powerful message for every person on the earth to contemplate.