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.

As a child, no one had difficulty picking Roger Loomis out of his family’s photos. He was the one with the big head. From infancy, through adolescence, his head grew disproportionately with the rest of his body.

Classmates would sneak up from behind, hit him on the back of his head and yell, “Fathead!” He laughed on the outside, but inside the nickname cut like a knife.

Years of ridicule and abuse could have set Roger off in a rage, sending him on a shooting spree, taking his anger out on whoever happened to cross his path. Perhaps he could have simply withdrawn from society, or dropped out of life through suicide or drugs or alcohol.

What a beautiful morning to soak up the sun and enjoy God’s wonderful creation. As I sat in our backyard swing I was fascinated as I watched hummingbirds feast at the nectar feeders suspended from our patio roof. As I pondered the particular problems we were going through, they seemed to take flight as God reminded me of the unique creation of even the smallest bird. The hummingbirds are able to hover in space as their little wings beat up and down in a whirl like miniature helicopters. God feeds them and directs their yearly migration.

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?”

For many October 31st is a time for fun and games. It’s a time for pranks and parties, for trick or treating, a time of dressing in costumes of ghouls, ghosts, and goblins, devils and Dracula’s, or witches and warlocks. Some view it as the highest unholy night and worship Satan. Some think of it as simply silly superstitions. But the devil is real and hell is real, hot, and horrible.

Because hell is such a terrible place, Jesus taught about it and warned of the awful consequences for those who go there.

It’s been said that music is the language of soul. Music is definitely the language of heaven. Some have told of hearing heavenly music on their deathbed, even though those around them do not hear anything. I believe God welcomes His children home with heavenly music. “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His godly ones” (Psalm 116:15 NASB).

Our creator is a God of music and we were made in His image, so it stands to reason that man has been given music to express what’s in his soul.

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.

“RSVP”, the letter said. After 35 years, I wondered how many would be at my high school reunion. Already many of my former classmates have died or moved far away from our old hometown. Even though the scheduled date is not a convenient time for me, it would be interesting to go just to see whom I would recognize and remember. But I just couldn’t show up on a whim, I have to make a reservation.

Many wedding invitations include RSVP. One would be foolish and very disappointed if he simply showed up at an airline and expect to buy a ticket and immediately board an airplane.

I love holidays and holy days. We need both to help us keep life exciting and in perspective. Times of sacred inspiration and of hilarious celebration give needed contrast to life. A few days ago I took a look at our wall calendar in anticipation of our next holiday. Guess what it is? Your right – it’s February 2nd – Groundhog Day.

We can learn some lessons from Groundhog Day. Someone once asked me “Does God have a sense of humor?” “Well look around you,” I replied, “Look at all of God’s creatures both great and small.” Some are so comical that only the grinch could refrain from laughing.

Have you ever considered some of the varied and peculiar greetings that people give? How are you supposed to answer some of them? Have you ever been greeted with some of these salutations? “Whaz up?” “Whaz up, dog?” How’s ya do’n?” “What’s new?” Whatever happened to plain old “Hello”? Granted “Hello” could have a dozen different meanings, depending on the rising and falling of the intonation pattern and the prolongation of the first or last vowel. I guess that’s why some of my ancestors were exiled from England when they gave the wrong “Hello” to the king and queen.

My grandpa was a coal miner. I imagine he did it to support his farm and nine children. I still remember his carbide lamp and multi-layered dinner bucket. Some of my uncles, and many of the men in the Pana area where I was born, worked deep underground in the coal mines. Recently, at my Uncle Bob’s funeral, I talked to my Uncle Steve who had retired from coal mining. “Coal mining get’s in your blood,” he said. “I’ve seen some amazing things down there.”

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.

“Good grief,” sighed Charlie Brown as he fielded another ‘dumb’ question from his friend Lucy. One of my favorite comic strips is the classic “Peanuts” by the late Charles M. Schultz. “Good grief” seemed to be a favorite expression of Charlie Brown and Lucy. When I first heard it several years ago, I thought it was a rather strange expression. How could grief be good?

King David grieved for his dying baby. His grief was intense but short. When asked by his servants and friends why his grief seemed to be of such short duration, David replied, “Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me” (II Samuel 12:23). David’s hope brought him through his grief.

The say truth is stranger than fiction. Consider the book, Scarlet, a sequel to the classic novel Gone With The Wind. For years readers have wondered what might have happened next. One reader has written her dreams down in a book.

What many people don't know is that the original novel wasn't just dreams. It was based on real people.

There really was a Rhett Butler, though his real name was Rhett Turnipseed. There was a Scarlett O' Hara, though her real name was Emelyn Louise Hannon. And yes, Rhett really did walk out on her and join the Confederate Army.

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).

A Roman soldier was one of the most disciplined and feared fighting man of his day. They would march into battle under an onslaught of arrows and fiery missiles. One of the most valuable pieces of his equipment was a shield. There were various types of shields. The most effective shield was the three-sided shield. A soldier could be protected in front and on both sides from flying arrows.

David, a mighty warrior, described his protection in Psalm 92, “His truth shall be thy shield and buckler.