Same Kind of Different as Me by Denver Moore & Ron Hall

Several years ago I had the pleasure of reading a truly great book, Same Kind of Different as Me written by Denver Moore & Ron Hall. Denver Moore was a "homeless" man who became really close friends with Ron Hall & his wife, Debbie.  The book shares a great deal about their story.  One night when I was reading I could not put the book down and read into the early hours of the morning.  I found myself writing down many of the quotes and sayings from the book because they were so wise and inspirational to me.  In today's blog, I share with you some of those quotes and sayings:

 

“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.”

Listen to God Speak - by A.W. Tozer

Today's blog are not my words, but those of A.W. Tozer. I have been reading his classic book, The Pursuit of God. He has provided some ageless wisdom about God.  Here is an excerpt that really touched my heart about the continual presence of God in our lives.  To be still, listen and know that He is God:

 

The Bible will never be a living Book to us until we are convinced that God is articulate in His universe. To jump from a dead, impersonal world to a dogmatic Bible is too much for most people. They may admit that they should accept the Bible as the Word of God, and they may try to think of it as such, but they find it impossible to believe that the words there on the page are actually for them. A man may say, `These words are addressed to me,' and yet in his heart not feel and know that they are. He is the victim of a divided psychology. He tries to think of God as mute everywhere else and vocal only in a book.

I believe that much of our religious unbelief is due to a wrong conception of and a wrong feeling for the Scriptures of Truth. A silent God suddenly began to speak in a book and when the book was finished lapsed back into silence again forever. Now we read the book as the record of what God said when He was for a brief time in a speaking mood. With notions like that in our heads how can we believe? The facts are that God is not silent, has never been silent. It is the nature of God to speak. The second Person of the Holy Trinity is called the word. The Bible is the inevitable outcome of God's continuous speech. It is the infallible declaration of His mind for us put into our familiar human words.

I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not only a book which was once spoken, but a book which is now speaking. The prophets habitually said, `Thus saith the Lord.' They meant their hearers to understand that God's speaking is in the continuous present. We may use the past tense properly to indicate that at a certain time a certain word of God was spoken, but a word of God once spoken continues to be spoken, as a child once born continues to be alive, or a world once created continues to exist. And those are but imperfect illustrations, for children die and worlds burn out, but the Word of our God endureth forever.

If you would follow on to know the Lord, come at once to the open Bible expecting it to speak to you. Do not come with the notion that it is a thing which you may push around at your convenience. It is more than a thing, it is a voice, a word, the very Word of the living God.

 

Lord, teach me to listen. The times are noisy and my ears are weary with the thousand raucous sounds which continuously assault them. Give me the spirit of the boy Samuel when he said to Thee, `Speak, for thy servant heareth.' Let me hear Thee speaking in my heart. Let me get used to the sound of Thy Voice, that its tones may be familiar when the sounds of earth die away and the only sound will be the music of Thy speaking Voice. Amen

I can’t, but He can…. 

   Things are not always as they seem….sometimes circumstances may indicate that we have a right to be angry, a right to feel we have been wronged.  Choose grace.  Sometimes people who profess to love and care for us really do not continue to show us love.  Love them anyway.  We see someone we loved attacked by another, maybe even someone we love and trust.  Find a way in your heart and soul to forgive them.  Turn to the cross.
   It is so hard to always keep focused on giving and sharing grace and love.  It can be so hard to find a way to forgive someone when we are hurt or when we see someone we love being hurt.  Grace, love and forgiveness? Those are foundations of our faith if we indeed love and follow Jesus.  Hope and faith are two other pillars for us.  How do we keep our hope and faith in the firestorms that cross our paths?  Turn to the cross.
   There is an expression that gives me strength when I feel myself weakening.  This expression gives me hope when I feel myself losing hope.  When I struggle to forgive or love someone when I know that should be the only choice, this expression helps me.  It is not my original expression.  I read it somewhere and can’t remember exactly here. 
   I hope the original author won’t mind me sharing it with you, but this is it:  “I can’t but He can through me.”  This expression is something I say to myself when I badly need help.  There are so many times in my life when I need help turning the other cheek.  There are times in my life when I see someone I love hurting and I can’t help them other than prayer or words of encouragement.  “We feel so helpless at times.”  These words give me strength.  I can’t but he can through me.  I’ve heard people say let go and let God.  There are other expressions that give us all strength.  This expression is one of my favorites.
   When I remind myself that God can do through me if I invite Him to, then I can love when it is so hard.  I can give grace when I want to show anger.  I can forgive when I just don’t want to or when I know the other person doesn’t even want my forgiveness or believe he needs it. 
   When we choose to hurt others, we are not allowing the Lord to work through us.  We may camouflage our attacks on others, but attacks are still attacks.  I don’t always know who reads my blogs and I sure don’t know who they help or even annoy.  What I know is blogging is something I do when I sit down and ask God to work through me.  I believe the promise of Jesus when He told us that His spirit is available to us when we call on Him.  I believe He can and does work through me and you when we give ourselves to Him.  And I also believe we need to do it daily, hourly and each moment that we can find the strength.  Love others especially when it is most difficult.
   So today, tomorrow or sometime down the road when you are facing something that you know is testing your will to stay the course, consider these words to give you strength:  I can’t but he can through me…and if you have words of your own to share that give you strength I welcome and need them.  We are called to love Him and to love one another.  When we share with one another, we become stronger together in our faith, hope and love.  God bless you and your loved ones.  He can through you….   Jim

Imagine....

   Imagine if you were able to place immeasurable value on every person that you encountered today.  Imagine what that might feel and look like.  Imagine yourself not only loving your family, but loving your neighbor.  Now, imagine loving your enemy. 

   I can’t speak for you, but my imagination was working pretty well for those suggestions except for the 1st line and the last line. I find it hard to imagine placing immeasurable value on every person in my life. Do you mean the guy who cut me off in traffic today? Yes I do. Do you mean the person who was pretty rude to me today in the restaurant? Yep, I mean him too. Is that first suggestion even possible? Yes, I believe it is. Let’s examine this a little closer.

   I am going to start with a scripture lesson to help us:

1 John Chapter 4⁷ Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

   I realize this scripture was written a long time ago.  I don’t think the period of time that has elapsed since this was written diminishes the value or relevance in our lives today.  We are called to love, to love one another and loves comes from God.  For today, let’s focus on verses 10 and 11:  This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
   God sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.  Atoning means to make amends, to reconcile.  We have been amended or reconciled for our sins through the sacrifice God made through His Son.  Since God so loved us, we ought to love one another.  That sort of sums it up, doesn’t it?  We’re to love one another.  We know what ought means, don’t we?  Let’s discuss how we might change our perspectives to make this more doable.  I don’t know about you, but I need help with this.  The wisdom is here, but we need help applying the wisdom to ourselves and our daily lives.
   I am going to make a bold statement that I believe might give us a way to “do” this.  You see, I want to do what God made me to do.  I believe most of us do.  We’re just not so sure how to do His will.  Every person that you and I lay eyes on today is someone that God placed such a great value on, that He sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice.  He loves each one of us so much that He went to incredible lengths to be sure we know.  Then He tells us in simple terms, we ALSO ought to love one another.
   We need help to do what God asks us to do.  If we will change the way we look at things, the things we look at will change.  If we change the way we look at things, we will change as well.  I am challenging myself to look at every person I encounter today as someone God loves so much He gave His son on his or her behalf. I am asking you to consider joining me.  Together, we have a much better chance to live a different life.  I am also asking you to pray for me and to pray for one another that we might do this together.
   If one of my most trusted friends or family members asked me to look at someone today in another light, another perspective, I would do my dead-level best to accommodate him or her.  If my own earthly Father was able to speak to me from heaven, I would do everything in my power to accommodate his request. God has spoken to you and me.  He came to earth in the form of His Son and asked us to love one another.  He asked us to love all of his children regardless of race, regardless of political beliefs, and He even asked us to love our enemies.  Remember when Jesus was close to death on His cross?   Among His words were these: “Forgive them Father for they know not what they do.”  Those words echo in my mind from time to time.  When I struggle to forgive someone they come alive again inside of me and I ask Jesus to help ME have the strength to forgive.  Our Lord and Savior not only loved His disciples, He loved those who persecuted Him.  He has asked us to love everyone in our lives.  As hard as it is for me, I want to do what He asks.
   I realize I fail to resemble Jesus in so many ways.  I realize I fail to live my life with a purity and goodness that always honors God.  Those failures are not going to be excuses for me to stay as I am.  I am going to keep my eyes on Him and keep striving to be a better man, a better Husband, a better Father, a better son, a better brother, and a better neighbor.  I believe I can love not only my family and those who love me, I can love those who I encounter today.   I can love my enemies, but I can only do it with His help.  …and yours.  Let’s pull together for one another. 
    Remember these words: “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” Amen.

Unconditional Love - A Mother's Story

   On November 24, 1925, a baby was born in Winter Haven, Florida. Her name would be Mary Elizabeth Morris. She had 3 wonderful older brothers, who affectionately would come to call her “Brat Mary.” They loved and adored her and helped shape the tough, yet adorable little lady she would become. By the time I came into the world in 1958, her name had become Mary Morris Hershey. I have always known her as Mom or Mama, or maybe even Mouse as our Dad, loved to call her.

   For every day of my life, I would say without hesitation or doubt, Mom dedicated her life to my Dad, my older brother and two older sisters. She would get up earlier than any of us had to rise to prepare us breakfast. The house was always totally clean and neatly organized. She would prepare 3 meals per day, most days. The food was not only good, it was excellent. (We recently discovered to our suprise that she did not even like to cook yet she never said a word about it.) When she needed to work, she did and someone would stay with us. My Dad’s first chosen profession was a football coach and Mom was the quiet, supportive wife and mother who allowed him to lead young men and women for 33 years. We moved so many times, it would take many words to list them all. I never once heard her complain and it always seemed seamless. 

  When Dad left coaching to pursue a career in sales and marketing, Mom was his biggest believer. We would ultimately leave the south for a number of years and move to the Northeast. Mom not only got behind the move, she ultimately loved New Jersey and the life we created there. As the youngest and only one of our 4 siblings to move to New Jersey, it was a hard move for me, but I ultimately loved it too. And, for a while I was probably pretty spoiled as the only child at home. I actually have a hard time believing that I have not been always spoiled. Life may be a real struggle financially these days, but my parents, older siblings, family, friends, business associates and the Lord have all blessed me with so much. Yes, I admit I want more, but I am so fortunate.

   Our Father, Sandy passed away from this world on February 18, 1998, exactly one week after he turned 76 years old. He was a very young 76 in so many ways, but between diabetes, heart disease, time ran out on his life clock. The loss was enormous for all of us, but it was so much harder for Mom.  She lived her life serving him. I believe her love for him was truly unconditional. No matter what hardships came, she was his biggest fan, supporter and loved one. No matter where life took them, they were always there for one another, for our 4 children, and numerous grandchildren. They developed great loving friends who truly feel like our family. It was anything, but easy, but their lives together painted a beautiful picture of love and devotion in spite of imperfections and setbacks.

  Several years back my Mother started to really slow down. One of the last things my Dad ever said to me was, “Son, look after your Mom.” I can’t say I have been so good at it. We moved her close to us here in Atlanta. I would speak to her regularly, see her most weekends, and love and cherish what time we did spend together. As a coach's wife, she loved football, and we enjoyed watching Georgia games together. When I commuted to Charleston for work for a year and a half, we missed each other so much. We explored moving here there, but we decided to keep Atlanta as home and I came “home.” 

    Looking back, I believe her time with family is what she has cherished the most. My older sister, Susan has always stayed closer in touch with Mom than the rest of us, speaking to her several times per day, and coming to Atlanta whenever she could. I do not feel badly about that, I am so thankful for Susan and her loving heart. Susan is truly a servant. She sets a good example for others. I am thankful for all of our family.  I learned that well from our Mom and Dad.

   It has not been a burden to have Mom. It has been anything but that. She simply adores me. When I walk into the room, she lights up. When I leave the room, she very quickly wonders where I am. When I tease her, which I frequently do, she gets pretty tickled and has said so many times, “What am I going to do with you”?  I know there are things about me that remind her of Dad, but most of all I know she loves me for whom I am and no matter what I do. She has been that way with all 4 of her children and her departed husband for as long as I have known her.

  It is so amazing to have someone who loves you unconditionally in your life. It is so comforting. It makes all of the setbacks and tragedies of life seem well worth enduring. I don’t know what it is that makes someone love you unconditionally. I understand that not everyone has that with or for other people in their lives. There are parents who abandon their children. There are people who disown others in their families. Just because you are family, does not mean you will love or be loved unconditionally. You see, I know I am so blessed.  Even though I do not deserve it, I have always had someone who has always loved me in my life no matter what, my precious Mom. My Dad did too. There are others, but the list is rather short. That kind of never ending love is hard to come by or even explain. I do believe to love unconditionally IS a choice that we can make.

  Just before New Year's Eve, Mom suffered through a traumatic experience when she was alone. We’re not sure whether she fell or passed out, but when we found her, she was struggling to survive. Very late that Sunday night, as I sat with her in the hospital, I wondered if she would survive. Her breathing became very weak. The ER doctor gave me news that was not very encouraging. I admit it, as the tears rolled down my face and dropped on my dear Mother’s cheeks, I realized she might not make it through the night. I might lose someone who loved me so much, it did not matter how imperfect I am. More important than my own loss, was how much it hurt to see someone I love, struggling and suffering. You feel so helpless in those moments. Prayer was my only comfort. 

   Mom has recovered….some. She has regained some strength. She went home on New Year’s Day, but we can no longer let her be alone. An outsider might think she is now a “burden”, but I promise you being with her, loving her and attempting to comfort her is an honor. Her mind may never fully recover, but that will be okay: we will love her just as she is and as she taught us to love. Jesus taught us that kind of love long ago. He gave so much for us. Mom has too.

  My sister Susan and her wonderful husband, Ben, have been here to love and help Mom. We have all reached out to each other to check on Mom, Grandma or on Mary. In our family, we have seen a change in our daily lives and patterns. While our lives may return to what we used to call normal, they will never be quite the same. You see, yesterday for the first time my Mom called me by a different name that is not mine. She lit up when I entered the room.  She was so sad when I left to go home. She even promised me to be even better the next day. I told her I love her just as she is…you see, she isn’t the only one who loves unconditionally. I love her unconditionally too. My sisters Susan and Anne, brother Rickey, and a number of others in our family love her unconditionally too. We are so blessed to have her for what days she will have left. I miss being with her when she is fully aware, but I will love her no matter what.

   Here is my message I hope to share today, “Love Unconditionally.”  I understand it will hurt at times. I admit it breaks my heart to see my Mother struggling. Every February when I remember Dad even more on the day he passed, I have to wipe my eyes. The greatest blessing of my life is to love others no matter what happens. I hope that will grow in me and in you. At times, we feel rejected by others in our lives who don’t seem to return our love. Let's find the strength to love them anyway. You can do it, so can I. With God’s help we can do anything. And, together we are so much stronger. One of the greatest blessings I have known in my life is the realization that no matter how much love I give, I have even more I can give. While I still hope to be loved unconditionally, my hope and prayer today is to love unconditionally.

Where does the love of God go?

   I hope I’m not alone in sometimes wondering the answer to that question.  But even if I’m not, I admit it comes up deep inside of my heart and mind and haunts me from time to time in my life. I even admit I get downright angry about it with God. I want Him to step in and help someone I love. I want Him to protect our children from hateful and fatal gunfire.  I have loved ones fighting terminal illnesses that just do not deserve to be stricken and in such pain and agony. They live in fear for their lives every day.

   Where does God’s love go when these horrible things are happening?  Just recently I looked deeply into the eyes of someone I love as much as I love this wonderful and confusing life.  I saw hurt and confusion.  I saw pain and anguish. I admit that it hurt me really deeply. I admit that I realized that no matter how difficult this was for me it was harder for her. I wondered about God’s compassion in those moments. I prayed to Him to help her. And so far, not so much has happened to give her comfort. It is so easy to doubt God and His love in those moments. It is hard to have faith in Him during those moments.

   If you read my headline question and are expecting a good, clear answer I apologize for not having one. Forgive me for that in advance. I don’t have an answer that will satisfy everyone, but I do have one that satisfies me. I have made a choice: a very clear choice. At times, it is a very difficult choice for me. I have chosen God. I have chosen to believe in God. My choice isn’t based on just emotion. It is not based on just hope or desire. It is based on years of seeking God, reading His word, listening to others, looking for Him and praying to Him. The answers He has given me have more than satisfied my need. He is more than enough – even in those moments when I wonder, “Where is He”?

   You see, I have seen God’s presence in my life. I have read about His presence in the world. I have read the first hand accounts of so many men and women who gave their lives to share the story of our Lord Jesus. There are still so many things I don’t understand about God or Jesus. What I do understand and accept wholeheartedly is Jesus is the Son of God. There were times when I seriously doubted God. It hurts me to admit that, but it is truth and God knows the truth in my heart and mind.  He created me.  Over time as I started to hear God’s voice in my life and through others, those doubts started to diminish.

   One of my favorite Pastors is Andy Stanley. I love Andy.  He would not know me if I walked into his office. I have shaken his hand in a crowd on several occasions and that is the extent of our close relationship. How do I love a man whom I have never spent time with? That seems like a strange question, right? I love this man. His ability to share the Gospel and all of the Bible has earned him a place deep in my heart. He helped me answer questions I have had for most of my life. He showed me God’s love in a way that I longed for since I was a child and wanted to know this God of the Bible I heard about. If you get a chance, go see Andy at North Point Church or Buckhead Church or any of the branches.  Watch him on the internet. He takes God’s word and helps you understand God in a way that helps God become alive in your life.

   When I blog, I often find myself saying things about God or Jesus or King David or Paul that were influenced by Andy.  Thank you, Andy.  I bring Andy into this conversation because I want to give him credit and because I am making what I consider to be a profound point. I have come to love a man that I never actually “met” or had dinner with or hung out with. I believe we can come to love Jesus in an even deeper way because as good a man as Andy Stanley is, Andy would not compare himself favorably to the goodness of Jesus.  And, while Andy has devoted most if not all of his life to sharing Jesus with others, Jesus gave His life for us on the cross.

   Here is a revelation I owe to Andy Stanley that changed my whole attitude towards the Bible, towards God and towards Jesus. It even has changed my perspective towards other people in my life in a significant way. That change is based on this principle: If we will focus on the things we know to be undeniably true, then God will reveal to us those things that we cannot understand in His time. Think about this: Focus on what we KNOW to be true as opposed to focusing on what we cannot understand.  When we do that when it comes to the Bible, we learn to see God in a very different light. That is also true when it comes to the people in our lives.  When I focus on what I know to be true about my wife, the things I struggle to understand just don’t seem to be so important. I know she is an incredible wife and friend. She is an amazing Mother. She has taught me as much about how to love others as anyone in my life. So what if there are certain imperfections about her?  And by the way, I am not suggesting there are imperfections in God or Jesus. There are however, things we struggle to understand about them. There are even contradictions in the Bible that the doubters love to focus on.

  As for me and my household we will choose the Lord. You see the Lord has and always does keep His promises. He does not promise our lives will be led without troubles. He does not promise we will have a long and healthy life. He does not promise we will have wealth as we measure it in the U.S. He does not promise that life will always be fair. There are so many examples of unfairness in the Bible and in our lives. We want God to make it fair, but He doesn’t promise us that. And if He did, somewhere I truly missed that. But, I am open to learning more and the more I know about God, the more I love Him. I wish I could always say that about myself: The more I knew about myself the more I love me. Or, the more others knew about me, the more they will love me. I am so very thankful my loved ones choose to love me in spite of the things they see in me.

  Back to my original question:  Where does the love of God go? He always loves us. He never turns His back on us. He loved us so much He sent an innocent man, His ONLY son into the world that He would be betrayed, spat on, brutally beaten and murdered that we would all be forgiven for our sins. He gave us the greatest gift of all and yet we often struggle to even see it or accept it. To me it is undeniable: Eternal life with our heavenly Father is the greatest gift of all. With my human mind, I can’t even imagine it, but I do long for the day where there will be no more sin, no more suffering. God promises that day to us if we will accept Jesus and allow Him to live and reign in us and in our lives. And this is undeniable, God always keeps His promises. We will still suffer on this earth. But any injustice here is offset by the amazing promise of eternal life. Amen.