If We’ve Ever Needed You

It has been a very difficult time in my life for me to write. I can’t quite put a finger on why, but it clearly has been a time when I feel uncomfortable putting my thoughts into words.

This may seem strange to those of you who know me well. When things have been the most difficult I seem to be able to reach down and find words to share. During the great housing recession I wrote frequently and poured my heart into my words. This is a different time for me.

During the recession I held a minority share in a business I helped build for nearly 20 years. I was no longer valued there for my contributions. I chose to leave in an effort to create value and receive value elsewhere.

I couldn’t work locally because in my view I couldn’t compete with my own company. I was naive about what my contributions and ownership would mean when we eventually settled and I had to sell my share. 

You might think I would be down or dejected, but I was actually excited and driven to start over and help someone else be successful. I held a belief that by doing that I would be rewarded too. There is a great reward in giving and serving others.

A door opened for me in Charleston, South Carolina working for and with a former client and long time friend, Eddie Buck. Our youngest daughter was in high school so the plan was for me to commute and at the end of 2-1/2 years my wife, Elizabeth would move too. Looking back we didn’t keep our home in Atlanta strictly because of one of our daughters.

We had amazing neighbors and friends in Atlanta. Elizabeth was going to be incredibly sad about moving. We all would be sad. Atlanta had become our home. 

In March 2010, I went to work, rented a home in Mount Pleasant and “moved” alone.

I loved my time at Buck Lumber. The people there were incredible. We worked so hard to recover our losses. When I arrived, we were no longer the market leader, but we came back strong. The people who were already there, those we hired and those who came on board at the end of my time there did incredibly well. I feel so fortunate to have been a part of that team. I believe my successor there was more than a coincidence, he was ideal to carry the business forward. Buck Lumber is still thriving.

What does this all have to do with the words, “If we’ve ever needed you?” Those words are the title to a song by Casting Crowns. Let me take a shot at tying these thoughts together.

I listened to these words from that song almost every single day on my early morning drive from Mount Pleasant to James Island to work. It was a beautiful drive, as the sun was rising over the marsh or the ocean, but in many ways I was all alone.

My closest relative was my son, Will attending college at Lander in Greenwood, South Carolina. The rest of my family was at least 5 hours away. You can imagine how alone I might feel at times. If I ever needed God it was then, right? But that’s really the big point. I always need God. Those words are always true. I need Him now. I need Him when I am surrounded by loved ones or all alone as I appeared to be at so many times in Charleston. We all do if we really understand God’s role in our lives both here in this life and in eternity.

I wonder right now how many people feel so alone? People are getting sick and are dying alone. We can’t go see our dying family members and friends. I haven’t had a hug from one of my daughters in over 100 days.

I have a confession to make. In my most desperate moments in life I ask Jesus to hold me. I know that sounds strange, but when I do, He shows up. I actually “feel” His presence. If you know me I would not make that up. In fact those that knew me in my younger, wilder days might say, “Is that Hershey?’No way!”

We need God in our lives and we need Him now. I can’t tell you what that means or looks like for you.

I do know it means setting aside our anger and hate. I do know it means loving our neighbors no matter what color, what nationality or what religion. I do know God loves Republicans and Democrats and those who don’t have a party. We need people who disagree with us every bit as much as we need people who agree with us...maybe more. Work harder to cross boundaries than to divide and conquer. Look for good in others no matter what your differences may be.

Our country is in intensive care right now and not due to a virus. We seem to love to cut down anyone who sees the world differently. I believe this disease will kill so many more than a virus and threatens to kill our spirits of love and hope. Have a little faith. It will take you a long way.

In closing listen to this song and the powerful lyrics. Imagine a man driving across Shem Creek or the much bigger bridge with tears running down his cheeks. He is thinking how lucky he is to have a family he misses and how grateful he is to have a God who loves Him in spite of his many faults. We need you now, Lord...now and always...and we need one another.

If We've Ever Needed You"Here I cry, Lord we pray

Our faces down, our hands are raised

You called us out, we turned away, we've turned away

With shipwrecked faith, the idols rise

We do what is right, in our own eyes

Our children now, will pay the price

We need Your light, Lord, shine Your light

If we've ever needed You, Lord, it's now, Lord, it's now

We are desperate for Your hand, we're reachin' out, we're reachin' out

All our hearts, all our strength

With all our minds, we're at Your feet

May Your Kingdom come, in our hearts and lives

Let Your Church arise, let Your Church arise

If we've ever needed You, Lord, it's now, Lord, it's now

We are desperate for Your hand, we're reachin' out, we're reachin' out, we're reachin' out

If we've ever needed You, Lord, it's now, Lord, it's now

We're are desperate for Your hand, we're reachin' out, we're reachin' out

If we've ever needed You, Lord, it's now, Lord, it's now

We are desperate for Your hand, we're reachin' out, we're reachin' out

We need You now

Revive us now

We need You now

If We’ve Ever Needed You

It has been a very difficult time in my life for me to write. I can’t quite put a finger on why, but it clearly has been a time when I feel uncomfortable putting my thoughts into words.

This may seem strange to those of you who know me well. When things have been the most difficult I seem to be able to reach down and find words to share. During the great housing recession I wrote frequently and poured my heart into my words. This is a different time for me.

During the recession I held a minority share in a business I helped build for nearly 20 years. I was no longer valued there for my contributions. I chose to leave in an effort to create value and receive value elsewhere.

I couldn’t work locally because in my view I couldn’t compete with my own company. I was naive about what my contributions and ownership would mean when we eventually settled and I had to sell my share. 

You might think I would be down or dejected, but I was actually excited and driven to start over and help someone else be successful. I held a belief that by doing that I would be rewarded too. There is a great reward in giving and serving others.

A door opened for me in Charleston, South Carolina working for and with a former client and long time friend, Eddie Buck. Our youngest daughter was in high school so the plan was for me to commute and at the end of 2-1/2 years my wife, Elizabeth would move too. Looking back we didn’t keep our home in Atlanta strictly because of one of our daughters.

We had amazing neighbors and friends in Atlanta. Elizabeth was going to be incredibly sad about moving. We all would be sad. Atlanta had become our home. 

In March 2010, I went to work, rented a home in Mount Pleasant and “moved” alone.

I loved my time at Buck Lumber. The people there were incredible. We worked so hard to recover our losses. When I arrived, we were no longer the market leader, but we came back strong. The people who were already there, those we hired and those who came on board at the end of my time there did incredibly well. I feel so fortunate to have been a part of that team. I believe my successor there was more than a coincidence, he was ideal to carry the business forward. Buck Lumber is still thriving.

What does this all have to do with the words, “If we’ve ever needed you?” Those words are the title to a song by Casting Crowns. Let me take a shot at tying these thoughts together.

I listened to these words from that song almost every single day on my early morning drive from Mount Pleasant to James Island to work. It was a beautiful drive, as the sun was rising over the marsh or the ocean, but in many ways I was all alone.

My closest relative was my son, Will attending college at Lander in Greenwood, South Carolina. The rest of my family was at least 5 hours away. You can imagine how alone I might feel at times. If I ever needed God it was then, right? But that’s really the big point. I always need God. Those words are always true. I need Him now. I need Him when I am surrounded by loved ones or all alone as I appeared to be at so many times in Charleston. We all do if we really understand God’s role in our lives both here in this life and in eternity.

I wonder right now how many people feel so alone? People are getting sick and are dying alone. We can’t go see our dying family members and friends. I haven’t had a hug from one of my daughters in over 100 days.

I have a confession to make. In my most desperate moments in life I ask Jesus to hold me. I know that sounds strange, but when I do, He shows up. I actually “feel” His presence. If you know me I would not make that up. In fact those that knew me in my younger, wilder days might say, “Is that Hershey?’No way!”

We need God in our lives and we need Him now. I can’t tell you what that means or looks like for you.

I do know it means setting aside our anger and hate. I do know it means loving our neighbors no matter what color, what nationality or what religion. I do know God loves Republicans and Democrats and those who don’t have a party. We need people who disagree with us every bit as much as we need people who agree with us...maybe more. Work harder to cross boundaries than to divide and conquer. Look for good in others no matter what your differences may be.

Our country is in intensive care right now and not due to a virus. We seem to love to cut down anyone who sees the world differently. I believe this disease will kill so many more than a virus and threatens to kill our spirits of love and hope. Have a little faith. It will take you a long way.

In closing listen to this song and the powerful lyrics. Imagine a man driving across Shem Creek or the much bigger bridge with tears running down his cheeks. He is thinking how lucky he is to have a family he misses and how grateful he is to have a God who loves Him in spite of his many faults. We need you now, Lord...now and always...and we need one another.

If We've Ever Needed You"Here I cry, Lord we pray

Our faces down, our hands are raised

You called us out, we turned away, we've turned away

With shipwrecked faith, the idols rise

We do what is right, in our own eyes

Our children now, will pay the price

We need Your light, Lord, shine Your light

If we've ever needed You, Lord, it's now, Lord, it's now

We are desperate for Your hand, we're reachin' out, we're reachin' out

All our hearts, all our strength

With all our minds, we're at Your feet

May Your Kingdom come, in our hearts and lives

Let Your Church arise, let Your Church arise

If we've ever needed You, Lord, it's now, Lord, it's now

We are desperate for Your hand, we're reachin' out, we're reachin' out, we're reachin' out

If we've ever needed You, Lord, it's now, Lord, it's now

We're are desperate for Your hand, we're reachin' out, we're reachin' out

If we've ever needed You, Lord, it's now, Lord, it's now

We are desperate for Your hand, we're reachin' out, we're reachin' out

We need You now

Revive us now

We need You now

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father’s Day to all of you Fathers out there and to those of you like me who are so thankful for your Father. I believe I am one of those really fortunate ones who was given such an amazing father. Or, maybe I have it backwards since my father along with my Mother gave me my life. I do know I am thankful for Dad and for my Father in Heaven.  On this day each year, I am just a little more grateful to have the Father I was “given” in life. I sure miss Him and always wonder what we might talk about if we were given just a few more minutes to enjoy and love one another.

  Usually I spend a good bit of Father’s Day reminiscing and thinking about the love and wisdom my Dad gave me.  And, I am sure I still will do my share of that today. Today, I woke up thinking a good bit about not only my Dad as I call him, but my Father in Heaven. I call this Father, God, Abba, Lord and more. I am very thankful for Him.  I often wonder if He would come, sit down with me and just chat, what would we talk about?  Most of my conversations with the Lord are one-sided. I seem to do all of the talking and though I work to listen to Him and hear his voice, I am not so sure I am such a good listener.

   Early today, I started my morning reading my current book, “Six Hours One Friday”, written by Max Lucado.  Max is one of my favorite authors. My favorite of all of his books, is “He Chose the Nails”, but I have been deeply touched by other books of his as well.  When Max describes how Jesus chose the nails, and chose the cross for you and for me, it brings me to tears.  Yes, I am a man who hates to admit he ever cries, but the idea that someone chose to give his life for me is just a little more than I can take with a straight face. Max also wrote “God Came Near” and many other books that are simply amazing.  He writes stories that make you feel like you are an important part of God's stories.

  As I read “Six Hours One Friday” this morning, Max shared the story of a priest, Maximilian Kolbe who was imprisoned in Auschwitz.  One day in prison, Kolbe offered to take the place of another prisoner who was randomly selected to die of starvation and torture. This man had exclaimed he was a father in his plea to live. The commander accepted Kolbe’s offer and he died a slow, tortured death so that another man could live. People often speak of how bad life is and how things are just getting worse, but I don’t see it that way. The sacrifices we see that people are willing to make for one another shows us a love that is bigger than this life we know.  God’s love for us is greater than we can really totally grasp.  It is so hard to wrap my mind and heart around the truth that He gave His son as a sacrifice for all of us to accept.  And, what a love for us from Jesus who willingly chose the nails, chose to die on the cross to obey His Father and save the world. Jesus chose to save a world that has difficulty accepting His gift of sacrifice.

  During the great recession as I call it, I saw many people lose their fortunes and their jobs. I even saw some people lose their lives because they could not bear the losses. I saw friends turn against one another end, many of whom would never recover some of their closest relationships.  Even though our financial losses were significant, I believe I was one of the lucky “survivors” of the recession. By the way, I am not suggesting that the sacrifice of one’s life even remotely compares to the loss of money or net worth.  Where I am headed today is one man’s offer of personal sacrifice during the recession that truly overwhelmed me. I want to share this man’s amazing offer of sacrifice even though we did not accept his offer.

  In 2008, during the course of two days, we laid off well over 40 people in our business.  We had no idea this wasn’t even the worst of the recession in the building supply business, but this was a very hard time. We looked people in the eyes, apologized to them that we could no longer afford to pay them and let them go.  The crash of the market was bigger than our financial reserves.  Many of these people we worked with had done everything we asked them to do, but we could not afford to pay them. Some of our leaders had voluntarily quit accepting paychecks so times were tough.

  At the end of the second day of layoffs, a young man with a family asked if he could come in and talk with me. He had a wife and a teenager whom he supported. This man offered to take the place of another employee who had been laid off earlier in the day.  He said to me, “I am much younger and can find a job much more readily than he can.”  He had not even discussed this offer he made to us with his wife.  He did not have another job lined up to go to that afternoon.  Tears rolled down his face as he offered to lose his own job. As tears rolled down my face, I explained that even if we laid him off instead, his offer would not “save” the other man’s job.  I shared that even though the other man was a wonderful employee, he was not physically able to do all of the jobs we needed done. We believed we had to keep the people who could do a larger variety of work, not people who were really strong in one area. We hugged, we quietly wept, and we moved on that day.

  I have not forgotten this man’s offer, his amazing courage and compassion for his fellow man. You see that even though we live in a world where bad things happen, there are incredible acts of courage, sacrifice and love.  The "older" man who was laid off was eventually able to return to work at the same business.  Even though I was a partial owner, I had moved on too because I could no longer go forward working without receiving a paycheck.  Both men and their families survived the very difficult financial times.  At the time, the mountains we were climbing seemed insurmountable, but ultimately they were not.  Some of our deepest hurts make the greatest positive impacts on our hearts and souls. I know from direct experience that “life ain’t always beautiful”, but I also know it is a beautiful life.

  I hope this Father’s Day brings you great joy and love even if it is in the midst of loss or because you miss someone as badly as I miss my Father. I am so grateful that I had such an amazing Father who I miss so much. He always believed in me.  I realize not every Father is that good to His children. I also know that God believes in and loves you so much He gave you His only son. Please be thankful for Him today. He is a greater Father than I deserve.  And my children are greater gifts than I could have ever imagined God would give me. I am only called Father because of them.  Thank you, children. You are the gifts that make Father's Day "happy".

Same Kind of Different as Me

About 10 years ago I read the book, Same Kind of Different As Me written by Ron Hall and Denver Moore. I started reading at home and finished reading this book sometime in the middle of the night at my good friends, Kevin and Alison Hancock's home in Casco, Maine. I was visiting them and was in search of peace in my own life.

We were in the midst of a time when I wasn't taking a paycheck even though I was working full time. I learned an incredible number of life lessons during these difficult times. My wife and I lost all of our "wealth" during this time. We "gave" our home away, had to sell our interest in the business while we went 18 months without making a single penny. I worked long hours, but it was for the promise for recovery that never came. I was especially sensitive to homelessness at this point in my life. I hope I never lose that sensitivity or the humility you experience when you work incredibly hard and don't receive a financial return from your work.  

Due to some very strange circumstances, I repeatedly found work in other cities to survive financially, but more importantly, the Lord gave me something far more valuable than wealth. He gave me a new kind of faith and peace and hope like I had never experienced. This book's wisdom was like oxygen for a person who found himself struggling to take a breath. We may never be "wealthy" again in the financial sense, but we can experience a new kind of joy not associated with wealth. I am not suggesting wealth is not good. It could be that I needed to be separated from wealth for me to learn the lessons God had in mind. It could have been a coincidence, but I believe it was much more than that. Regardless, I learned a great deal about life and about who I could count on. I became very grateful for my experiences even when I would not have chosen such hardship. It is humbling to lose so much you believed you had earned for yourself and your family.

I vividly remember where I was when I finished the book because I could not put it down. I read all through the night. I left my copy of the book there with Alison as a gift for her to read. Since then, I have made numerous pictures as gifts with Denver's quotes as the captions. I have given away a few more copies of the book. You might wonder how a person losing wealth is giving gifts, but I believe giving is one of our greatest riches in life. No matter how bad things became, I never lost that belief. I hope I never do. And no matter how little we have, we can give to those who have less than we do. I have had more than my share of gifts in this world.

Last night I finished watching the movie version of this story and while it stirred and inspired me again, it could not do justice to reading the words that Ron and Denver shared with us in this amazing book that they wrote together in 2006. I wish I had gone to see and gotten to know Denver on one of his tours before he died in 2012. He came to Atlanta and I can't say why I didn't go meet him.

At times, I feel like I know Ron Hall because I believe I have my own real-life version of someone like Debbie Hall in my own wife, Elizabeth. Elizabeth has always found ways to give to others no matter her own circumstances. When I met her she was a single Mother, giving her children as much love and joy as any "couple" ever could. Someone once suggested that Elizabeth needed me when we met. I needed her far more than she did me. She helps bring out the good in others, but especially me. She has made my world a better place. Our greatest gifts are those that when we give them we always have more to give.

I remember years ago that Elizabeth and my youngest daughter, Mary Sims who was just a small child, insisted on giving food and rides to "homeless people" in spite of the possible danger. They would ignore my protests of taking this risk. They would do this with just the two of them in the car. "Sims" as we call her now was so young she was still riding in a car seat. She would cry when she passed a homeless person and we didn't stop and help. Some people just seem to get what matters in life. They take risks to give to others. Their hearts have so much room for others. It seems to me that we give people a home even if it is just for a moment when we give them a little room in our hearts.

Denver and Ron's words touched me deeply then and I am sharing some of my favorite words of theirs with you today.  Remember as Denver said, in a way we are all homeless on this earth - this earth is not a final resting place.  - Jim

Quotes from "Same Kind of Different as Me"

     by Ron Hall & Denver Moore with Lynn Vincent

“Every man should have the courage to stand up and face the enemy, cause every person that looks like an enemy on the outside ain’t necessarily one on the inside.”  Denver Moore

Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

Denver asks, What did God say when he finished makin the world and all that is in it?  Ron answers, “It is good.”  Denver responds, “Exactly.”

Denver, “Money can’t buy no blessins.”

Joshua & Caleb, Land flowed with milk and honey.  The bad news is the land is inhabited with Giants.  Do Not Be Afraid!

Denver, “You know you got to get the devil out the house, ‘fore you can clean it up!”

Homeless woman in Fort Worth quote, “Why are you so happy?  I woke up!  And that’s reason enough to be happy!”

Plucky – definition – spirited and brave.

Denver asks, “Mr. Ron, does you own something that each one of them keys fits?  Ron answers, “Yes.”  Denver responds, “Are you sure you own them, or does they own you?”

Denver, “A successful person is one who can thank God for nothing, and then He will give him everything!”

What must befall thee, must befall thee, what must pass ye by, must pass ye by!”

Mr. Ron asks Denver, “will you be my friend?”  Denver responds, “let me think about it.”  The next day Denver says, “So Mr. Ron, if you is fishin for a friend you just goin to catch and release, then I ain’t got no desire to be your friend.”  “But if you is lookin for a real friend, then I’ll be one.  Forever.”

“All good medicine tastes bad!”  Aunt Etha

“I ran out of strong.”  Carson Hall

“You are welcome in our home.”  Debbie Hall

Denver when Miss Debbie (Ron’s wife) dies, tells Mr. Ron, “I know when somebody you love is gone that’s the last time you feel like thankin God.  But some times we has to be thankful for the things that hurt us.  Cause some times God does things that hurt us, but they help somebody else.”

Solomon, “There was found in the city a certain poor man who was wise and by his wisdom, he saved the city.”

“You never know whose eyes God is watchin you through.”  Denver Moore

Denver, “But I found out everybody’s different – the same kind of different as me.  We’re all just regular folks walkin down the road God done set in front of us.  The truth about it is, whether we is rich or poor or something in between, this earth ain’t no final restin place.  So in a way, we is all homeless – just workin our way toward home.”

Peace Be With You

Those words have many meanings to me. In the church we attend “the peace” is a sign of reconciliation, love and renewed relationships. These words are words we have shared for many years and they give me comfort. The Priest says, “The peace of the Lord be always with you.”  And we reply, “And also with you.” I think of anyone I need to “make peace” with and pray for peace with that person. I often pray to forgive or to be forgiven when we use these words in worship.

   In today’s message, I found myself thinking of these words I have used for so long in a new way, taking on a new meaning. I really enjoy when that happens especially when the “new” meaning touches me. We are still celebrating Easter. I believe I should celebrate Easter every day. What if Easter never happened?  What if the witnesses who saw Jesus after He rose from the dead never shared their story? We would likely not know much about Jesus if His followers did not go and share his story and love.

   I realize not all people believe in Easter. Some people have a different faith. Some don’t have faith in any God. I assure you as I write these words I am not judging anyone. I am simply doing what I can do to share good news. In my view, no one can persuade you to believe. You need to seek to believe for it to happen. Faith involves believing in something we can’t necessarily see or touch.

   I don’t know that I consider myself to have a great deal in common with the disciples of Jesus. These men devoted the rest of their lives to Jesus after this encounter. Many of them were imprisoned, stoned and crucified for sharing what they learned and saw in Jesus. They believed so strongly in Jesus and what he taught them that they gave their lives so that we would know about Him. I find myself writing about Him every so often. I choose to do this because I do feel very strongly that I need to share what I have come to believe and even know in my heart and soul about Jesus. You see, if these men and women did not share the story of Jesus even though it costs them their lives, we would not know His story. With Him, we have the opportunity to rewrite our own story with everlasting peace.

   In the book of John Chapter 20, verses 19-31, the disciples were locked in a room in fear for their lives.  Their Lord had been brutally murdered. They had serious doubts about their own faith. Jesus came (somehow through locked doors) and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, He showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Can you imagine the joy they must have felt? He used those words of comfort and reconciliation. Lord Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.  As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”

   I believe He has sent all of us who have come to believe that He is God’s Son and our Lord and Savior to share the Good News….to share His story. I feel an overwhelming need to take a little risk every now and then with my family and friends and share His story. I am forgiven. You are forgiven.  We are forgiven.  Shouldn’t we shout it out a little more often than we do?  He gave those who were there with Him this message of peace. He sent them into the word to share this message. I love to share stories of my earthly Father, shouldn’t I find ways to share stories of my Heavenly Father?

   I know there are doubters among us. Even in the Gospel, Thomas, one of those who loved and followed Jesus would not believe He had risen until He had seen the mark of the nails and placed his finger in Jesus’s side. It is so hard for many of us to believe in something we have not actually seen and touched. Jesus went on to say “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” For so much of my life, I had so many doubts. I was a good example of what we call a “Doubting Thomas.”  Without Him, I had no peace. With Him, no matter how tough my life becomes, I feel a comforting peace. When I sought to see and feel God in my life, He did become very real. He became my greatest source of peace.

   Do I have my doubts? Of course I do. I find myself using these words, “I believe Lord, help my unbelief.” He always finds a way to let me know he hears my cries for help and peace. Do I still have considerable shortcomings? Oh my, yes I do. Somewhere along the way, I believe we got mixed up in His message.  We decided if someone believes in God and Jesus, he should behave perfectly. I don’t know anyone like that. I do know people who turn to Jesus for peace and they find peace through Him. Even though I do not know anyone who is perfect, I do have amazing role models. I have never been able to find a better role model than Jesus.

   I am so sure about His peace that I am willing to write to you and ask you to consider accepting His peace. Consider receiving His gift of forgiveness and grace. If you already have, then please consider following his words, “As the Father sent me, so I send you.” I believe that if I can help just one person to seek Jesus in his or her life then our world will be a better place. Imagine if each one of us just helped one more person? Easter would be celebrated every single day. I believe that if you seek Him, you will find Him. Peace be with you.

Rich and Miserable

Do you know someone who is rich and miserable?  Someone who seemingly has everything he (or she) could possibly want or need, but is anything but a joyful person.  People are intended to be in relationship with God and with one another.  Jesus said it pretty plainly when He said that we are to love God with all our hearts, all our soul and all our minds.  And he added the second one is to love our neighbor as we love ourselves.  One problem could just be that many people do not love themselves.

What was the context of Jesus making these statements?  He was being asked, “What is the most important “rule” for us to follow?”  I don’t think even most Biblical scholars would argue against the idea that Jesus made a strong case for the importance of loving God and one another.  He seemed to live His entire life serving God and serving others. 

When Jesus was faced with His horrific sacrifice on the cross, He pleaded with His Father to be sure God’s will was for Jesus to die on the cross.  When Jesus received His answer, His response to God was simple, Your Will be Done.  Then, Jesus never waivered even for a moment during His imprisonment, the torturing Jesus received, and the temptation offered to Him of a way out by Pilate.  Jesus chose the cross by continually answering Pilate in a way that ensured Jesus would not be set free. 

Jesus loves God and loves us.  My love for God and for others seems so weak compared to His love.  I have made choices in my life that have disappointed people including my loved ones and family.  Some of my choices have hurt those I love the most.  I would like to make some excuses for my choices, but I know that will not help one bit.  I would like to say I am just a human and am imperfect and hope that offering this explanation will make things better.  While that description of me may be true, it doesn’t help the way I feel about myself nor does it necessarily help the way others feel about me.

Where does my help come from? I lift up my eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help.  Those words may seem corny to some.  Those words may seem plagiarized to others.  It is true, these words are not my original words.  Even though I first learned them from others, those words have become my own.  My help comes from God and His son, Jesus Christ.  In order to love myself, it helps so much to know He loves me just as I am.  He made me.  He even made me in His own image.  But like the prodigal son, I have strayed throughout my life from My God and Heavenly Father.  Every time I walk over the next hill to come home to God, He is there waiting for me to come home to Him.  He wants His lost son to return home to Him.  This is God’s plan for us and for me.

God knew we would wander. He was so aware of this that He gave us love even when we do not deserve to be loved.  God gave us mercy which means He chose not to punish us for our sins as we deserve.  If we ask God to give us what we deserve it may be a difficult and painful gift for us to receive.  God gives us mercy – love in spite of our imperfections.  If we are to honor God’s will, we need to give ourselves mercy and love ourselves and our neighbors.  Biblical Scholars may argue this point, but to me it is crystal clear.

Through the cross, God gave us something different than mercy.  God gave us grace.  God chose to bless us with grace in spite of our being undeserving.  God’s blessing of grace is forgiveness for our sins.  If you have not forgiven yourself for your sins, then please do so today.  If you don’t believe you can do it, lift your eyes and your heart up unto the hills to God to help you.  But, please don’t stop there.  Forgive your neighbors too.  We are to forgive as we have been forgiven.  We are to love as we have been loved. 

Love God.  Love one another.  Five simple words that can give you a great deal of joy. 

Man’s Best Friend?
   I have grown up or grown “old” with the expression that many of us are familiar with that a dog is man’s best friend.  I have recently come to feel the truth of that statement in a way that hurts deeply.  I have also come to realize that the statement implies that a dog is a man’s best friend and it should read, man, woman, child or even another dog’s best friend.  I lost one of my best friends this week and I admit I am in mourning.  My wife, Elizabeth lost one of her best friend’s as did my daughter, Heath, son, Will and youngest daughter, Mary Sims.  Our granddaughter, Neema loved and adored Bella and Bella loved her too.  I can’t speak for others, but I can say that our family has experienced a deep loss when we said goodbye to Bella on Thursday evening.  I am going to do my best to honor our dear friend in my blog.  As I have felt when I attempted to honor other beloved friends and family, I don’t believe my words can serve justice when it comes to honoring Bella.  She is not the first dog I’ve loved and hopefully there will be more.
   Bella came to us 10 years ago from rescue.  Our daughter, Heath was a young adult and was temporarily still living at home so she had to get my permission to adopt Bella.  My wife, Elizabeth was out of town so I said yes to adopting this little puppy into our home without getting Elizabeth’s blessing or even knowledge.  I often struggle being the kind of person who begs forgiveness rather than asking for permission.  This time turned out to be one of the best times I took this risk in my whole life. 
   Bella is half German shepherd and half Cocker spaniel.  She has the coloring of a shepherd, the intelligence of a Shepherd and the loyalty of a shepherd.  (I have experienced the joy of growing up with 2 German shepherds in my childhood. I miss them too.)  On the other hand, Bella has the soft fur of a cocker spaniel and the loving nature of a spaniel.  I don’t believe Bella had a mean bone in her body.  She loved everyone, but was especially loving of all of our family, neighbors and friends.  It was fun over the years watching a non-dog person come into our home and snuggle up against Bella.  If someone possessed a loving heart, Bella would sense it and warm up to this person and share her love.  I know most of us think our beloved dogs are different; I believe this to be true about many dogs and cats.  Bella was very different.  For us, she became more than just a dog.
   Heath moved out shortly after she brought Bella home as a puppy.  We missed some of Bella’s time as a puppy.  It is worth noting that my wife, Elizabeth was not too pleased that Heath and I had conspired without her and brought Bella into our home.  Elizabeth still doesn’t consider herself a “dog person”, but no one loved or loves Bella more than Elizabeth.  You see a dog is so much more than a man’s best friend.  She was a true bundle of love and joy in our home and lives.  She has been for the last 10 years and she will remain in our hearts forever.
   Shortly after adopting Bella, Heath began a new mission in her life.  I would call her mission Africa or serving and loving widows or loving children.  She went on a short Mission trip to Africa and when she came home her heart was still in Africa.  She saved her money and went to do volunteer work in an orphanage in Africa.  She had served in a children’s home here, but her love for Africa and its widows and orphans led her to an orphanage, called Cradle of Love where she found a new little angel to love, Neema.  This mission became Heath’s passion in life and now Neema is Heath’s daughter living with her in Atlanta.  This story in itself is worth sharing, but I will share more about that another day.
   Heath’s journeys to Africa became longer and more demanding on her.  This meant we kept Bella “for her.”  In retrospect, I believe Bella came to be the one who kept us too.  In order to share my perspective I need to describe Bella and how she loved us in more details.  It may help you non-dog people to understand and appreciate just how deeply we feel the loss of a loved one.  You see, I believe we lost an angel in our lives when we lost Bella.
   Bella made all of us feel loved in our family.  When Heath would come home from a journey or from her apartment over the years, Bella would go crazy at the door waiting to greet her.  I can still close my eyes and imagine Bella crying to get to Heath as got out of her car in our driveway.  She did the same thing for Will, Sims, and Neema.   When Becca and Wesley became part of our family, Bella loved them too.  I am sad that Bella won’t get to know our family’s latest baby, Adelaide.  Heath and Myles are expecting a baby girl in January who will miss getting to know Bella.  Bella adopted Myles quickly and loved him too.
   During the times Heath and Neema lived with us, Bella would go in and sleep on the floor by Neema’s bed.  Bella adored Neema.  She always wanted to be close to Neema when Neema was here.  The thing that stands out the most to me is that Bella made all of us feel adored.
   When I travel, I felt a peace and comfort that Elizabeth had Bella there to love her.  I don’t know how much protection Bella provided other than the barking she would do if someone was in the yard or at the door.  I would love to hear her bark again.  She never attacked anyone so I can’t say that she provided that kind of canine protection.  She made you feel safer because you knew she was there and you knew she loved you.  Imagine if all people gave one another that kind of feeling of security and protection through their love and presence?
   When I lived in Charleston for nearly 2 years in 2010 and 2011, Elizabeth would bring Bella with her every time she came to stay with me.  I had a rental home in Mount Pleasant and the neighborhoods are safe, flat and perfect for long walks with Bella.  Bella could not wait to go on a long walk or jog with Elizabeth or the family.  She showed such joy over life’s simple pleasures of sharing time with loved ones.  She wrote a deep impression on our hearts and lives.  She did it not by what she said, but by her unselfish and loving actions.  As we all know dogs can’t talk.  But Bella found ways to always touch our hearts and to do so deeply.
   When I would get ready to go out of town each week like I have done for most of the past 3 years, Bella would start to look sad.  She would come back in the bedroom and watch me pack my clothes.  You could see the sadness build in her.  Late on Sunday afternoons and very early before daylight on Mondays when I would load the car to leave, she would not even look at me.  If she was mad, you could not see anger, but you could clearly sadness.  Imagine if we all cared that deeply about being close to one another?  Imagine if all people were sad to say goodbye to one another even on a daily basis.  We learned lessons in love from our dog, Bella.  I promise you we will always miss her.
   When I would arrive home on Thursday evening or Friday, Bella would be going crazy at the door to see me.  She would “love me” when I walked through the door and then she would pick up her bone and follow me down the hall as I went to our room.  She would drop her bone in the hopes that I would stop what I was doing and play with her.  She always wanted to share love and attention.
   Family vacations meant that we were all packing our things in preparation.  Bella would get antsy and wonder if she was going too.  You could see the tension build in her as she wondered if she would get to go.  When we brought out her bowls and food and asked her to get into the car, she would be overjoyed that she was included.  She never wanted to be left behind.  She wanted to be sitting next to someone giving and receiving love.
   When our home became an empty nest of children and grandchildren last year, Bella became our “only child” living home.  She would follow me downstairs to where I work or watch the “other TV.”  She loved it downstairs, but if Elizabeth was upstairs she would do double duty and go back and forth between us.  The strangest thing about Bella was how she behaved when only one of us (Elizabeth or me) was home.   She would stay away from each us until the other came home.  She was always friendly and loving, but she would hang by herself for the most part until the two of us were together again and then she was back to being herself right there with us.  I have thought she was a bit of a gift to our family from above, one of God’s creatures who gave love so indiscriminately and did her part in bringing us closer together.
   Bella became sick and in less than a week she left us pretty suddenly.  We had a family celebration and she could not move around very much.  She had multiple visits during the week to the vet, to testing and even the emergency clinic.  It appears her heart was enlarged and gave out.  She drank water, looked at us with loving eyes and when we petted her, she would occasionally have the strength to wag her tail.  Even to the last seconds she lived you could see the love in her eyes for her family.
   None of us were ready to say goodbye.  I keep expecting to see her get up from her chair in the morning to run see me and let me know she was ready to go outside.  I prepare myself to take her before I leave in the morning.  I expect to see her at the door to greet me when I get home.  When Elizabeth and I watch one of our shows on TV I expect to see Bella on the floor between us or on the couch as we allowed her to be.  She would come back and forth visiting us both, making us both feel loved.
   Even though Bella lived beyond 10, people who would meet her for the first time would ask, how old is your puppy?  She was always playful and young at heart.  Bella never grew old.  She may have grayed around the edges a bit and walked more with a limp, but she was always a puppy at heart.  I seek to always be young at heart as well.  As adults we still need to have the innocence of a child.
   My Father and Mother taught me in order to have a friend, you needed to be a friend.  Bella may have been just a dog, but she knew how to be a friend.  She made you feel loved.  In the first moments, when she passed away, I asked God if He would consider giving me a measure of Bella’s spirit.  You see I want to be the kind of unselfish, loving friend that Bella was to all of us.  I want people to feel loved when they come into the same room with me.  And, I want them to feel like I want to go with them when they have to depart.  I don’t know if dogs truly have a spirit, but I have come to believe that Bella did.
   I cried when Old Yella died.  I am still crying at times over Bella.  I will always miss her.  She loved me unconditionally.  She loved our family unconditionally.  I think of her and all of her loving names, Bella, Bella Booty, Booty, and Boots.  I don’t know if dogs go to heaven.  I know I hope she is there with my family and friends who have gone before me.  I also know she brought a little bit of Heaven to earth.  Thank you, Lord, for giving Bella to us.  She became part of our family for the past 10 years.  Thank you for your mercy that she did not suffer long when she became sick. As long as I live, She will always live in my heart.