The Great Exchange

In honor of my 50th high school class reunion planned for October 2022, I began searching for a song several weeks earlier to use for our class memorial video. I listened to several songs with the intent of picking only one, but decided instead to go with three different songs.

I believe they each have a story to tell:

• Temporary Home, by Carrie Underwood

• See You Again, by Charlie Puth and Wiz Khalifa

• The Great Exchange, by Bruce Carroll

1. “Temporary Home,” beautifully sung by Carrie Underwood was co-written by Carrie Underwood, Zac Maloy, and Luke Laird in 2009. The lyrics, set to country music, tell three stories about temporary homes:

• a young boy living in foster care,

• a young mother and her child living in a halfway house,

• and an old man in a hospital bed surrounded by his loved ones.

The refrain includes a Christian themed message:

“This is my temporary home,

it’s not where I belong

Windows and rooms

that I’m passing through.

This was just a stop

on the way to where I’m going

I’m not afraid because I know

This was my temporary home.”

The Bible tells us in the Book of Hebrews that this world is not our home and is just a precursor to the world that is to come. We are literal “strangers, sojourners, and aliens” who are mearly passing through.

“… admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.” Hebrews 11:13-14

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2. “See You Again” is a popular contemporary song with a “sentimental, miss my friend” message. Sung by Charlie Puth (with Wiz Khalifa) for Furious 7, the seventh movie in The Fast and the Furious franchise movie series, which was released in 2015.

Charlie Puth co-wrote the lyrics, along with Justin Franks in 2014, in memory of The Fast and the Furious movie star Paul Walker after he died in a 2013 high speed car crash. Charlie Puth and Justin Franks reportedly co-wrote the lyrics drawing from their own personal emotions from each having had friends die in tragic accidents as well.

The emotional and secular lyrics include much about friendships, memories, and a hopeful themed refrain to “see you again,” however the song takes a couple of left turns with the lyrics, “Damn, who knew?” and “And any road you take will always lead you home.” Two misleading statements.

As,

The Bible clearly teaches that there is only one “road” to heaven and that road is through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

And death is inevitable, 10 out of 10 people die.

And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment. Hebrews 9:27

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3. “The Great Exchange” is a Christian contemporary song written in 1990 by Bruce Carroll and Barbara Kinnamon, and beautifully sung by Bruce Carroll. The lyrics creatively tell the gospel message:

Once upon a time,

upon a hill far away

An unfair proposition

before a righteous Man was made

Could’ve changed His situation

but instead chose to obey

At the great exchange.

An eternity He traveled

to be there at that place

The chosen destination

to show mankind God’s grace

His longing to redeem us

could only be explained

At the great exchange.

At the great exchange

Even then, He knew me

and He bore such pain

And He did it all for love

An undeserving servant

who’ll never be the same

Since the great exchange.

I walked that same hillside,

as I knelt down to pray

He showed me all the wrong I’d done

And the price He paid that day

And then I arose forgiven

His loss became my gain

At the great exchange.

Everything that mankind lost,

Jesus has reclaimed

The pathway to eternity

by His death arranged

And all of this, He offers

if you’ll meet Him today

At the great exchange.

At the great exchange

Even then, He knew you

and He bore such pain

And He did it all for love

An undeserving servant,

you’ll never be the same

Since the great exchange.

At the great exchange

Even then, He knew you

and He bore such pain

And He did it all for love

An undeserving servant,

you’ll never be the same

Since the great exchange

The great exchange.

YouTube links:

https://youtu.be/hX8nD5ltUbI Temporary Home

https://youtu.be/JNg9m5CaUKs See You Again

https://youtu.be/74RdwUVA11o The Great Exchange

Lost and Found

My first car was an old clunker. It was a light blue Chrysler and I’m not sure of the year (late 1950’s or early 1960’s) but it was definitely old. It had what I would describe as “wings” on each side at the rear of the car, and a convenient hole in the driver’s side floorboard where I could empty my soft drinks and coffee. Ha!

Strangely, it had an automatic transmission but no “P” for park; I had to put it in “N” for neutral and pull the parking brake. This would have been fine, except for the fact that the parking brake was broke. So, I had to open my door and throw a wood block under the front tire to chalk it in place. The real problem came when I’d miss the tire and have to hurry out of the car, get the block from wherever it landed, and wedge it under the tire before the car rolled too far. Good times! Ha!

Hey, I was 16 years old, it was 1970, and I was happy just to have my own car, even though it was a clunker.

It basically got me from point A to point B, and it had an AM radio, which was always tuned-in to either pop or rock music. 🎶

The problem was my sense of direction; it wasn’t very good. I was always getting lost. I remember crying on more than one occasion because I was lost. This was the point when I first began thinking how cool it would be if my radio could please just tell me where I was, and how to get to where I was going. I was on the edge of brilliance (😂) but somehow fell short of inventing GPS navigation.

Then,

In 1972, I got a major upgrade; a brand new 1972 Camaro Rally Sport in Mojave Gold, complete with rear spoiler, an AM/FM stereo radio 🎶 (woo-hoo!), an 8-Track Tape player, lots of pop and rock 8-Track Tapes.

Me and my Camaro, May 1972. (My dad gave me $1000 for the down payment, and I worked full-time my senior year of high school, paid my monthly payments weekly and got it paid it off within a year.)

Fast forward to today, I drive a 2019 Jeep Grande Cherokee. It has a beautiful Pearl Red exterior color, and my favorite interior feature: Car Play with access to my iPhone apps, media, contacts, maps, and more.

October 2017, at the Texas State Fair in the Car Pavilion. I told Harold I loved the color of this 2018 Jeep. He surprised me a little over a year later in December 2018 with a brand new Pearl Red 2019 Jeep Grande Cherokee!

Lots of changes.

Much for the good.

But,

Of all of these changes over the past 50 years I’d have to say that the greatest change has not been in my cars,

but in my heart,

and in that which I choose to feed it.

The change in my heart occurred in my mid twenties when I turned to Christ in repentance and faith. I became born again, but God still had a lot of work to do in me, and still does. What I choose to feed my heart has a lot to with the process of sanctification and in the recognition of God’s grace in my life. It has been in my Bible studies that I recognized within myself, similar weaknesses and defeats experienced by many of the hero’s of faith in the Bible. I realize that any good I have done for Christ is not the result of my strength or intellect or character, but because of God’s grace. His grace is amazing and it is by His grace that He is still doing a work in my life. I know it is the Lord who is keeping me standing day by day, and moment by moment.

A.W. Pink reminds us that “God suffers it to appear that the best of men are but men at the best. No matter how richly gifted they may be, how eminent in God’s service, how greatly honoured and used of Him, let His sustaining power be withdrawn from them for a moment and it will quickly be seen that they are ‘earthen vessels.’ No man stands any longer than he is supported by Divine grace. The most experienced saint, if left to himself, is immediately seen to be as weak as water and as timid as a mouse.”

“Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths.” Psalm 25:4

So these days,

My favorite thing to do while driving is listen to Christian talk radio. My favorite station is AFR, a Christian Talk Radio Station out of Tupelo, Mississippi. That station, combined with my favorite pastors, Christian teachers, and podcasters on iPhone apps are such a blessing. Suffice it to say that I’m thankful for each one of them. They, along with Bible study and prayer, help me keep more “in tune” with God and less “in tune” with the world.

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” Psalm 32:8

So, how cool is it, that my getting lost when I first started driving, and my desperate hope that the radio would tell me where I was and how to get to where I needed to go, has actually come true in my life,

And,

in more ways than one:

Thanks to my Car Play maps and navigation system, I no longer get lost.

Thanks to Christian Talk Radio and my favorite iPhone apps that help guide me in my walk with the Lord.

Cooler still,

Thanks to the Lord,

“I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.” #JohnNewton

By the grace of God,

I know who I am, (a sinner saved by grace).

I know where I am, (in Christ Jesus)

and,

I know where I’m going, (In the world but not of the world; on my way to heaven one day in God’s perfect timing.)

So,

“Pray that the LORD your God will tell us where we should go and what we should do.” Jeremiah 42:3

And enjoy the ride along the way.

Impressed

Back in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s my sister Joyce and I used to go out to the airport to watch the airplanes take off and land. We also went inside the terminal just to walk around sometimes. I was in my early teens and this was before the days of increased airport security, back when we day-dreamed of flying somewhere, back when life was simpler, and back when the main airport in Indianapolis was simply known as Weir Cook.

So, one day while we were walking around Weir Cook, my sister recognized Bobby Gentry of “Ode to Billie Joe” 🎶 fame. She was standing near one of the counters and was obviously upset. The airline had lost her guitar and my sister talked with her for a few minutes about it. I didn’t recognized her at first, even with her signature poofy hair-do, but I could tell she was somebody famous by the way she looked. I just didn’t know who she was initially.

So as we walked away, Joyce explained to me who she was and I was both shocked and impressed! I remember thinking how cool it was to see someone famous. It was 1967 or 1968 and I was a young teenager, around 13 or 14 years old. Her song, “Ode to Billie Joe,” was a very popular song on the radio at this time. The song was basically a story put to music, about a boy who died jumping off a Mississippi bridge. The story included a girl who secretly loved him, some mysterious circumstances, and her family who spoke of his death with casual indifference while eating dinner.

So Bobby Gentry was my first encounter with someone famous. I have to admit I thought it was pretty exciting, but I was pretty young then too. I was easily impressed.

Over the years I’ve had the pleasure of meeting or talking with a variety of famous people. I think most everyone has as well.

Here’s some of mine:

• Actors Jerry Mathers and Tony Dowell of Leave it to Beaver fame at a dinner theater (Beef and Boards) meet-and-greet and photo op in Indianapolis.

• Singer Mel Torme (“Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire”🎶) when he stood behind me at the America The Beautiful Circle-Vision 360° Movie at Walt Disney World in Florida.

• Actor Robert Ulrich (Dan Tanna in the crime drama series Vega$, and Spenser in Spenser for Hire) on a telephone call one day when I booked several flights for him and his family to/from Florida, while working for Delta Air Lines in Tampa.

• TV Show Host Gary Collins on a telephone call discussing his wife’s (Mary Ann Mobley) reservation, while I worked at Delta Air Lines in Los Angeles.

• Actor Ed Begley Jr. (Ghostbuster’s, St. Elsewhere) in a little store onboard a tour of The RMS Queen Mary in Long Beach, California.

• Actor Henry Winkler (The Fonz) photo op with my daughter Megan at a Dallas children’s hospital.

• Comedian Yakov Smirnoff (Soviet-Born comedian famous for the phrase “America: What a country!”) photo op with my daughter Mackenzie and me in Branson, Missouri.

• Artist Thomas Kincaid, “Painter of Light” photo op with Harold and me after we purchased a Hometown Morning Limited Edition Canvas in Longview, Texas at a Thomas Kincaid Gallery Event.

• TV Game Show Host Bob Barker when I was a contestant on The Price is Right TV show in Los Angeles in 2005.

• Comedian Jay Leno photo op at a Tonight Show taping in Burbank where my daughter Megan and I talked with him before the taping. He called us “The Dove girls.” 🕊

• Actor Ben Affleck at a Tonight Show taping with my daughters Michelle and Megan, where he came over to say, “Hello,” and to shake our hands.

• Singer Robin Thicke photo op at El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, when he came over to speak with me and my daughter Megan after a show taping.

• Morning TV Show Host Robin Roberts photo op at NYC Times Square at a Good Morning America TV show taping.

• Singer Jason Mraz photo op in Los Angeles at an American Idol Finale with my daughter, Mackenzie.

• NASCAR drivers, Rusty Wallace, Dale Earnhardt Jr (with my grandson Landon), Danica Patrick, etc. photo ops at TMS (Texas Motor Speedway)

• Reality TV Personality Willie Robertson (Duck Dynasty) photo op at TMS.

• TV Spokesperson Marie Osmond when she and I spoke on the telephone on two scheduled QVC/Nutrisystem TV show call-in’s. She called me “girlfriend” and a “silver fox.” 😂

• Singer Meghan Linsey (from The Voice) at a Nutrisystem photo shoot at a Tampa advertising studio.

• And honorable mention to Elton John and Bernie Taupin’s travel agent. Ha! I talked with her one day back in 1990 about some problem’s with their booking while working in the Los Angeles Customer Service Department for Delta Air Lines.

So, out of the list above, how many of these people have you heard of or remember?!

If you’re around my age, maybe most of them, but if you’re young, there’s a good chance you haven’t heard of any of them.

Actually, I think it’s fairly likely that after a generation or two, most so called “famous” people eventually sink into obscurity along with everyone else.

In reality, we are all just people.

While being famous might make a person more recognizable than others, it doesn’t make a person any more special than anyone else.

While a famous person may be a great actor, artist, musician, or athlete, etc., in the eyes of God they are equal to people who cannot act, paint, sing, play an instrument, or play sports, etc.

Eventually no matter how famous a person may be during their lifetime, “this too will pass.”

And, the best of people are just people at best.

The Bible tells us that,

“God created man in his own image,”(Genesis 1:27) and “there is no partiality with God.” (Romans 2:11)

And,

Yet He is not partial to princes, Nor does He regard the rich more than the poor; For they are all the work of His hands. Job 34:19

Most importantly, the Bible warns us about holding idols (people, places, or things) in higher esteem than God. God is to be honored above all things and to be worshiped in “spirit and truth.” (John 4.23)

Those who regard worthless idols
Forsake their own mercy. Jonah 2:8

Specifically,

“You shall have no other gods before me.” Exodus 20:3

So while it may be a pleasure to meet interesting and famous people along life’s highway, the Bible reminds us that we’re to keep it all in proper perspective.

We should look at everyone equally as individuals created in the image of God.

And we shouldn’t be overly impressed with anyone.

Except,

God.

Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness! Psalm 115:1

Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created. Revelation 4:11

Sing to the Lord, all the earth! Tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,and he is to be feared above all gods. 1 Chronicles 16:23-25

The Tapestry

I have several quilts and woven tapestry throws that I hope to pass on to my daughters one day. In the meantime I keep some of them displayed around our home on quilt racks, beds, and couches.

Recently, I noticed a food stain on one of the tapestries throws that I keep on our living room couch, so I threw it in the washer along with a load of white towels. Big mistake. I forgot to set the water temperature to cold. My red and white tapestry throw became my red and pink tapestry throw. My white towels came out light pink as well. The towels were not a big deal but my tapestry throw was ruined. I re-washed it in cold water and it helped it a bit but not enough.

So I went on an eBay search to replace it using the key words, red, white, and tapestry. While searching through endless photos on eBay, the poem, “My Life is but a Weaving” by Corrie ten Boom came to mind:

My life is but a weaving
Between my God and me.
I cannot choose the colors
He weaveth steadily.

Oft’ times He weaveth sorrow;
And I in foolish pride
Forget He sees the upper
And I the underside.

Not ’til the loom is silent
And the shuttles cease to fly
Will God unroll the canvas
And reveal the reason why.

The dark threads are as needful
In the weaver’s skillful hand
As the threads of gold and silver
In the pattern He has planned

He knows, He loves, He cares;
Nothing this truth can dim.
He gives the very best to those
Who leave the choice to Him.

#CorrieTenBoom

Corrie reminds us that while the underside of a tapestry appears to be a knotted and frayed mess of disconnected threads, the finished product is a beautiful weaving which is revealed on the topside. It’s the events in our life which we consider the “messy” or “dark” things, that are actually instruments of God’s providential care for us that leads to His will being done in our life.

I like the way that Alistair Begg explains it:

“Satan often wants us to stay focused on such seemingly jumbled and discouraging circumstances, doubting God and His good provision. We so easily forget that what appears to be a mess is just the back view of the tapestry God is weaving. One day, though, when we get the chance to see His handiwork from the front, all of those strange and dark threads will prove to have been part of His glorious pattern. Today, remember that “coincidences” are no such thing, that uncertainties and difficulties are opportunities to trust in God, and that behind all of them He is working out His plans to prosper His people in faith and godliness, and to bring them home.”

As I see it, we all have messy and dark circumstances in our lives, sorrows and situations that we may wish would never have happened, and some of which we may not even understand. But I think the key is found in our perspective; a Christian perspective.

A perspective that trusts that the “messy and the dark,” the “gold and silver” are all a part of God’s plan in our lives.

A perspective that He has a purpose for that which we consider as bad, rather as something good, if it has drawn us to Him.

A perspective that God is the Grand Weaver of our lives and of our story, our own personal story of salvation.

A Romans 8:28 kind of perspective:

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

By the way, in my search for a replacement tapestry throw, I found one that I like even more than the one I messed up!

Imagine that.

My red, white, and pink quilts and tapestry throws. I also have several others in a variety of colors.

The Sun ☀️

The sun is simply amazing. It provides light, warmth, energy, and natural vitamin D to support our immune system. All provisions that God has graciously made to benefit and sustain us. Without the sun, life as we know it, would cease to exist.

I remember when I was in my early teens back in Indiana, my best friend had the prettiest golden tan. I figured I could have a tan just like her if I just laid out in the sun like she did. Right? One day after we had just spent the afternoon in my backyard laying out in the sun together, and just as I was beginning to think I was getting some color, her mom came to pick her up and said to me, “Elaine, you need to get out in the sun more!”

Later that summer, on a Florida family vacation, I stayed out on the beach all day the first day of our vacation. I walked up and down the Daytona Beach coastline thinking I was going to such get a good tan! Wrong. I was practically burnt to a crisp, from head to toe. I spent the entire rest of our family vacation sick in bed with sun poisoning. It was the absolute worst sunburn of my entire life. I remember I was so sick to my stomach, I was dizzy for days, and I fainted whenever I tried to stand up. It was awful!

I learned then and there that too much of a good thing, isn’t always good. I also learned, the hard way, that fair skin just doesn’t tan as well as other skin types.

So I’ve pretty much avoided overexposure to the sun in one way or another ever since. I began by seeking shade whenever outside, and made a conscious choice to give up laying out in the sun.

It wasn’t until I was in my 30’s that I started actually thinking about sun damage and started wearing sunscreen everyday.

In my 40’s I experienced the first of several Basel cell skin cancers that have emerged over the past 25 years or so.

In my 50’s I found some skin care products that lightened some of the brown spots on my face, and I also increased my sunscreen SPF to 50.

Now in my late 60’s and at the suggestion of my dermatologist, I also wear a sun 👒 bonnet whenever possible.

Hat or no hat, the long term effects of sun exposure, especially the years of not wearing sun screen when I was young, has taken its toll on my skin. Regardless, I still enjoy the outdoors as much as possible and am thankful for all of God’s provisions, including the sun.

I say all of this to draw attention to a false theology involving the sun that I recently became aware of. This false theology actually started many years ago however it still exists today and is being practiced by people who claim to be Christian. It’s called Astrotheology and is best described as the combination of astrolatry (worship of the sun, moon, and stars) and Christianity, however anytime Christianity is combined with another belief system it becomes a false theology.

I find it quite disturbing that there are so many false religions and false teachers in the world today. What is it about false religions and false teachers that draws people into it? Why believe a lie instead of the truth?

They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen. Romans 1:25

Anyway, to explain Astrotheology in more detail, the following includes excerpts from one of my favorite websites, Got Questions:

Astrotheology attempts to twist Scripture so that Jesus Christ, instead of being God’s SON, is actually God’s SUN. Astrotheology ties the gospel to ancient god myths and mystery religions.

True theology looks up at the stars, moon, and sun; sees proof of God’s glory; and worships Him for what He has made.

The heavens declare the glory of God,and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Psalm 19:1

True theology does not worship the creation (which astrolatry does), and it does not view the creation as a symbol of God (which astrotheology does).

The false concept behind Astrotheology is that the story of Jesus Christ is the story of man’s relationship with the sun and the seasons. Early man was afraid of darkness and realized his dependence on the sun, waiting for the sun to come again day after day. Darkness became a symbol of evil (the devil), and God, who gave us the sun for light and warmth and growing food, was good. Eventually, says astrotheology, these ideas were expressed in the Bible as the story of Jesus Christ.

Astrotheology falsely teaches that Bible verses that say Jesus is the light of the world (e.g., John 8:12) are really referring to the physical sun. Additionally they purport that the twelve months of the year are represented by Christ’s twelve apostles, and the four Gospels represent the four seasons.

Additionally, Astrotheology falsely teaches that the mythologies of ancient gods such as Osiris, Horus, Adonis, and Mithras were based on seasonal cycles, and that the story of Jesus Christ is just a retelling of those ancient tales. Several books and two recent films, The God Who Wasn’t There and Zeitgeist, are making these claims popular.

The problem with such claims is twofold: 1) astrotheology and similar beliefs dismiss the evidence for the historical Jesus Christ, and 2) the so-called parallels between the Gospels and the mythical religions are invalid, as honest research will show. The claims made by the historical Jesus are unique and do not match the stories of the pagan gods.

Any attempt to allegorize the Word of God, pervert its plain sense, or deny Jesus Christ is abominable. The Bible warns us against “ignorant and unstable people” who distort Scripture “to their own destruction. . . .

Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position” (2 Peter 3:16–17).

Trust in Christ alone, and

…grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. 2 Peter 3:16-17

Gilligan’s Island

What fun it was to watch Gilligan’s Island when I was a kid! I was 10 years old in 1964 when it first came out. It ran for 3 seasons and I suspect it’s been in re-run syndication somewhere in the world ever since.

As I’ve mentioned before in some of my earlier writings, I spent a lot of time watching TV when I was young. Probably too much. It kept me “busy,” a bit distracted from reality, but for the most part it entertained and kept me company.

🎼 “Just sit right back and you’ll hear a tale, a tale of a fateful trip, that started from this tropic port, aboard this tiny ship. The mate was a mighty sailor man, the skipper brave and sure. Five passengers set sail that day for a three-hour tour. A three-hour tour.” 🎶

It was all about a group of seven people who were stranded on a deserted island, and in which most of the episodes were centered around getting off the island. They also entertained themselves with crazy skits and just plain silliness.

The irony and endlessly frustrating thread throughout the series was that somehow other people came to the island but somehow always managed to get off the island. But, the seven castaways always failed to get off of the island! And invariably, it was Gilligan who sabotaged their attempts to escape the island.

Recently, I learned that the show’s creator, Sherwood Schwartz, was noted as saying that each of the “Gilligan’s Island” characters represented one of the Seven Deadly Sins.

For example,

1. The Professor was guilty of pride.

2. Mary Ann was envious of Ginger.

3. Ginger was lustful.

4. The Skipper was a glutton.

5. Mrs. Howell was angry often.

6. Mr. Howell was wealthy and greedy.

7. And last, but not least, Gilligan was the sloth.

Interestingly, I also found an article that deepened the plot. The plot twist being that Mrs. Howell was actually the sloth, that the Skipper had two sins, gluttony and anger, and that Gilligan represented the devil. The writer reasoned that since Gilligan always wore a red shirt, and sabotaged every attempt to get off the island, aka “hell,” that he represented the devil. Hmmm…..

I prefer the first theory over the second. I always liked Gilligan, but who knows. I could be wrong. So maybe Gilligan was the devil and he just acted likable? The Bible does warn us that Satan sometimes disguises himself as an angel of light. Maybe Gilligan’s sabotages were ultimately to keep them all there in their private hell, forever bound in their sin….

Wait!

it was just a TV show!

Anyway, I found it interesting that the inspiration behind the creator of Gilligan’s Island was based upon the theology of the Seven Deadly Sins.

While I’m not a Catholic, I do agree that sin is deadly, but more so because it’s a matter of life or death as it pertains to our salvation.

Because…..

The bad news is that we’re all sinners, (Romans 3:23.)

And, the wages of sin is death. (Romans 6:23a)

But the good news is,

…Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners,… 1 Timothy 1:15

….the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23b)

If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9

So,

Whoever stays in their sin and never comes to an authentic faith and relationship with Jesus Christ will “never get off that island” and will spend eternity separated from Him.

Sin is a snare of the devil. Don’t be fooled. Don’t “castaway” your life for the fleeting pleasures of sin.

Turn to Jesus today in repentance and faith; place your trust in Him alone.

And rest assured,

Christians not only make it “off the island” but have eternal life beginning here and now and forever into eternity with Jesus.

Deceived

While in Paris on our honeymoon in 1980, Harold and I walked by a bakery window and we saw some delicious looking pastry’s. So we went inside and picked out a couple of them along with some hot coffee.

But,

We were so disappointed! They didn’t taste anything like they looked. They looked so good but they tasted awful!

I had a similar experience in 2011, once again while in a foreign country. It was at the Bolshoi Ballet and Opera Theatre in Moscow, Russia. It was intermission time and I decided to buy a desert. I picked out a cute little cake that looked yummy, but as soon as I paid for it I realized it was way too expensive. I wondered why was this desert was so expensive? As I cut the first slice I suddenly realized that the cake was topped with caviar! I discreetly sat it down and left it there for anyone else who might be brave enough to eat it!

So the French pastries just didn’t taste very good.

And,

The Russian cake was an expensive mistake on my part.

But,

In both cases, my eyes had deceived me.

And now,

Living in today’s world, I think it’s safe to say that many of us have been noticing an increase in deception, and I’m not talking about French pastries or Russian deserts.

Deception such as the origins of Covid-19, the so-called Covid-19 “vaccine,” and the alarming subsequent increase of sudden-death among young healthy individuals.

Deception involving the mainstream media in their deliberate silence of the above.

Deception involving politicians, regardless of political party affiliation, and a several of our three-letter government agencies.

Deception concerning our God given gender and sexuality; a governmental push towards transgender indoctrination of young children.

Deception involving thousands of missing children. Deception concerning the so-called “climate change.”

And, worst of all,

Deception in mainline churches that boldly declare that homosexuality is not a sin, that abortion is perfectly fine, and that allow women to preach to men, all in direct defiance to God’s word. Churches full of progressive pastors who defile their Sunday morning pulpits by drawing more attention to themselves than God; putting on “Christian” rock concerts or entertainment productions, rather than preaching the inerrant, infallible word of God.

The Bible talks about deception in the last days.

The kind of deception that goes directly against God and His word.

But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, 1 Timothy 4:1

Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. Matthew 24:11

For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. Matthew 24:24

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. 2 Timothy 4:3-4

Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12

The more corruption, falsehoods, and deception I see going on in the world today, the more I am reminded that this world is not my home.

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, Philippians 3:20

In the meantime, what should Christians do?

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

And

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2

Heart Surgery

First came the dress. Was it white and gold or was it blue and black?!

Then came the audio recording. Was it Laurel or was it Yanny?!

They were both quite the internet buzz when they first came out and I found them quite fascinating.

The “dress” was a viral internet phenomenon in 2015, and the “audio recording,” which was just as popular, was in 2018.

While I saw white and gold, it turns out the dress was actually blue and black.

And,

While I heard “Laurel,” others heard “Yanny.”

I wondered….

How can two people look at the same photo but see something different?

And….

How can two people hear the same audio recording and hear something different?

Apparently, there were scientific explanations for both phenomenons, but I still found them fascinating.

On a more serious note, I believe there is a phenomenon that relates to the hearing of the gospel message.

How can two people hear the same gospel message but only one actually listens, receives the message, and takes steps toward Christ?

Yet they did not listen or incline their ears, but stiffened their necks in order not to listen or take correction. Jeremiah 17:23

Likewise, a similar phenomenon that relates to seeing Christ in the gospel message.

How can two people see Jesus in the gospel message but only one receive Him as Savior?

The god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 2 Corinthians 4:4

So the problem is not really our ears and eyes, the problem is our hearts.

The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? Jeremiah 17:9

For the heart of this people has become dull, And with their ears they scarcely hear, And they have closed their eyes; Otherwise they might see with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart and return, And I would heal them.”’ Acts 28:27

And people like their sins,

And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. John 3:19-20

Keeping in mind,

“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.” John 6:44

And knowing that,

The root of our heart problem is sin.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23

And,

The wages of sin is death. Romans 6:23

But God made a way,

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26

Why do we need a new heart?

It’s like a heart patient who’s in need of heart surgery. Not someone who just needs some medicine, but someone who’s in desperate need of heart surgery; someone who must have surgery in order to live.

So how do we get a new heart?

By turning away from sin, and turning toward Christ, in repentance and faith.

By faith believing He is God’s only Son, who died a sacrificial death on the cross, taking the punishment that we deserve. Believing Christ died and rose again three days later, according to the scriptures.

Trusting in Christ alone.

And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12

Hearing,

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17

And seeing,

To open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ Acts 23:18

With thanksgiving,

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Psalm 118:1

Being born again,

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 1 Peter 1:3

So,

Are you in need of heart surgery?

Don’t wait.

Your very life depends on it.

Book your appointment with the Great Physician.

Call out to Him in repentance and faith today.

Tomorrow may be too late.

“Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.” Matthew 9:12

Friday Faith

This year I’m highlighting some of my favorite people of faith by sharing bits and pieces of some of their quotes, poems or lyrics as a #FridayFaith blog post. This month I’m focusing on Annie Johnson Flint. She lived a very hard but blessed life (1866-1932) and wrote many hymns and poems about her saving faith in Jesus Christ. My first post for the month of January highlights the first few lines of her hymn, He Giveth More Grace:

#FridayFaith #AnnieJohnsonFlint January 7, 2022

#FridayFaith #AnnieJohnsonFlint January 14

#FridayFaith #AnnieJohnsonFlint January 21

#FridayFaith #AnnieJohnsonFlint January 28

This month I’m focusing on some of the inspirational writings of John Newton. He was a slave trader back in the 1700’s. Through a series of events, beginning with a life threatening storm at sea, in which he cried out to God for His help, he began his spiritual journey which eventually led to his conversion to Christianity. It was during this time that he began his fight against slave trading. Within a few years he became an Anglican priest, a well known poet, and author of hundreds of hymns, including Amazing Grace. Amazing Grace was first published in 1779, and speaks of the forgiveness, redemption, and mercy found through a relationship with God, and has become one of the most popular hymns in history.

#FridayFaith #JohnNewton February 4

Helen Howarth Lemmel was a gifted concert singer, poet, song writer, and vocal music teacher. She wrote more than 500 hymns and poems in her lifetime, and is most well know for writing the hymn, “Turn your Eyes Upon Jesus,” which was first published in 1918, and to this day, continues to hold out a promise of Christ’s help for troubled souls. Lemmel continue writing until her death in 1961 at 97 years of age.

#FridayFaith #HelenHLemmel March 4

Approximately 14 years before her death, Helen H Lemmel was struck with an eye condition that cause her to go blind. It was during this period of her life that her husband, who was a world traveler, abandoned her. In spite of both of these trying circumstances, Helen remained faithful to Jesus and continued to write and sing about Him until her death in 1967 at the age of 97.

#FridayFaith #HelenHLemmel March 25

This month I’m featuring some of my favorite quotes from Aurelius Augustinus Hipponensis, better known as Saint Augustine. He lived from 354 to 430 and developed what would later become known as systematic Christian theology. He very eloquently spoke of mankind’s need for a relationship with God, and is world renown as a prominent and early defender of the Christian faith.

#FridayFaith #SaintAugustine April 1

Isaac Watts lived in England from 1674 to 1749. At age 7 he was an avid reader and writer, and he was especially talented in writing rhymes and verses. His mastery of language included learning Latin at age 4, Greek at age 9, French at age 10, and Hebrew at age 13. At age 24 he preached his first sermon at Mark Lane Independent Chapel in London, and soon after became their senior pastor. While he held that position up until the end of his life, he is most well known as the author of approximately 600 hymns and the “Father of English hymnody.” His hymns paraphrased the Psalms and also his personal expression of his love for God.

#FridayFaith #IsaacWatts May 6, 2022

This is the chorus to “At the Cross,” one of the many hymns written by Isaac Watts. It was published in 1707 and may also be known by its first line “Alas, and did my Savior bleed.” Salvation is the main subject of this hymn and 1 Timothy 2:5-6 describes it well: “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.”

#FridayFaith #IsaacWatts May 13

“Joy to the World,” was written by Isaac Watts and is one of my favorite Christmas carols. I found it interesting that Psalm 98 was his inspiration for the writing of “Joy to the World” and that the lyrics are actually about Christ’s return, not His birth. Also, it didn’t become well known as a Christmas carol until years later when it was paired with the melody known as “Antioch” by Lowell Mason, who also changed the tune around a bit by borrowing some arrangements from Handel’s Messiah. Thus, “Joy to the World” as we know it today.

#FridayFaith #IsaacWatts May 20

I’m featuring this stanza of the hymn, “The Heavens Declare Thy Glory, Lord, not only because it is yet another great Isaac Watts hymn, but also because it corresponds with my blog this month, titled,
The Sun ☀️

#FridayFaith #IsaacWatts May 27

This month I’m highlighting some of my favorite quotes of Corrie ten Boom. She lived an exciting, sometimes difficult, fruitful, and blessed life from 1892 to 1983. Highlights of her life include helping the disabled, helping hide persecuted Jews during the Holocaust of World War II, spending time in a concentration camp as a result of being caught of hiding the Jews, writing several books, and traveling worldwide spreading the gospel message of forgiveness, love, hope, and salvation in Jesus Christ.

#CorrieTenBoom #FridayFaith June 3

*#CorrieTenBoom #You FridayFaith June 10*

The world and the people who are of it, will invariably disappoint and distress us. Nor can we count on our own self serving human nature. Don’t look to them. Don’t look within. Look to Him! Some good reminders to always keep our focus on Jesus.

#CorrieTenBoom #FridayFaith June 17

One of our great obstacles toward victory is not realizing who our enemy actually is. Corrie ten Boom so eloquently put it this way.

#FridayFaith #CorrieTenBoom June 24

Charles Wesley (1707 – 1788) was born in England and became an extemporaneous preacher and a prolific hymnwriter who wrote over 6,500 hymns during his lifetime. While known as one of the founding leaders of the English Methodist movement he held on to his Anglican roots and affiliation with The Church of England his entire life. In 1739, on the one year anniversary of his conversion to faith in Christ, he wrote an 18 stanza hymn which later was shortened to 5 stanzas by his older brother, John Wesley, and which we know today as
“O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing.” 🎶

#FridayFaith #CharlesWesley July 1

Charles Wesley originally published this hymn as “Hymn for Easter Day” in 1739. Originally consisting of 11 stanzas, it was later reduced to 6 stanzas with the addition of “Alleluia!” to each of the lines.
Today it is affectionally known as
“Christ the Lord is Risen Today.”

#FridayFaith #CharlesWesley July 8

Today’s #FridayFaith, is also a bit of #ChristmasInJuly.🎄 Charles Wesley’s 1739 original “Hymn for Christmas-Day” began with the opening line “Hark how all the Welkin rings”. This was later changed to the familiar “Hark! the Herald Angels sing” by George Whitefield in 1754. A second change made in a 1782 music publication, with the repetition of the opening line “Hark! the Herald Angels sing, Glory to the newborn king,” as the refrain, as it is commonly sung today. #FridayFaith #CharlesWesley July 15

Charles Wesley came to a saving relationship with Christ in 1738 and soon after wrote in his journal, “I began a hymn upon my conversion.” Which hymn he wrote is not certain, but many historians believe it was this one titled,
“And Can It Be That I Should Gain?”

#FridayFaith #CharlesWesley July 22

After Charles Wesley’s conversion to faith in Christ, he spent most of his time either preaching and/or writing about Jesus. “Jesus, Lover of My Soul” was reportedly written early in his ministry. He was an itinerant preacher that incited revival in some people and outrage in others. He retired from itinerant preaching in 1756 but continued his ministry, including the writing of hymns and poems up until his death in 1788.

#FridayFaith #CharlesWesley July 29

For the month of August, I’m featuring a few of the amazing lyrics written by the extraordinary Fanny Cosby. Francis Jane “Fanny” Crosby (1820-1915), was an American mission worker, poet, and prolific hymnist, writing more than 8,000 hymns and gospel songs in her lifetime. Although blind since the age of 6 weeks, she was a remarkable woman who saw the important issues in life more clearly than most people with eyesight. She spent her life helping others, particularly the poor and destitute, and writing about her Savior. “To God Be the Glory” is just one of her beautiful hymns. The first stanza both glorifies God and tells of His perfect plan of salvation.

#ToGodBeTheGlory #FannyCrosby August 5, 2022

While Fanny Crosby was visiting a friend in 1873, her friend sat at her piano as she played a new composition of her own as Fanny listened. As she finished playing, Fanny clapped her hands and exclaimed, “Why, that says, ‘Blessed Assurance!’“ Fanny quickly composed the words to the beautiful hymn we know today as “Blessed Assurance.”

#BlessedAssurance #FannyCrosby August 12, 2022

Fanny Crosby, blind since the age of six weeks, knew a great many portions of the Bible by heart, and had committed to memory the first four books of the Old Testament, and also the four Gospels before she was ten years of age. What a heart she had for God! “Praise Him, Praise Him” written in 1869, is just one of the over 8000 hymns she wrote in her lifetime to glorify and praise of God.

#FannyCrosby #PraiseHimPraiseHim #FridayFaith August 19

At the age of 60, Fanny Crosby embarked on a new career. Despite her fame as a hymn writer, she chose to live and work in lower Manhattan, in near poverty, ministering to the needy in local rescue missions. It was there she spent the bulk of her senior years, day after day, rescuing the perishing, much like the hymn she wrote years before, in 1869, titled “Rescue the Perishing.”

#FannyCrosby #RescueThePerishing #FridayFaith August 26

Jonathan Edwards was an American theologian, philosopher and revivalist preacher of reformed theology who lived from 1703-1758. He played a pivotal role in “The First Great Awakening,” which led to the revolution of the Protestant religion in British America and Europe during the mid 18th century.

#JonathanEdwards #FridayFaith September 2, 2022

At age 14, Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) was already a student at Yale University. At age 17, after a period of distress and subsequent revelation from God, he resolved “to lie low before God, as in the dust; that I might be nothing, and that God might be all, that I might become as a little child.”

#JonathanEdwards #FridayFaith September 9

Jonathan Edwards is well known for his many sermons, most notably, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” which he preached in 1741. The preaching of this sermon was the catalyst for what is known as the First Great Awakening.

#JonathanEdwards #FridayFaith September 16

In 1727 Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) began preaching at the age of 20 in Northampton, Massachusetts. Edwards was grieved at the spiritual condition of the church and the community. Many made claim of faith but gave no evidence of genuine conversion and were complacent about spiritual things. Edwards began to preach against this spiritual lethargy. His first sermon series was on justification by faith alone, for he feared that many had come to rely upon their own goodness for salvation.

#JonathanEdwards #FridayFaith September 23

Jonathan Edwards (1703–1758) was considered by many as one of the greatest theological minds to ever step foot on a pulpit. Interestingly, Edwards was not an impressive orator. He delivered his sermons with little animation and by reading the words with his face close to the manuscript as he had poor eyesight. However, it was his sincerity and the content of his messages that God used to bring many to repentance and faith in Christ.

#JonathanEdwards #FridayFaith September 30

Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899–1981) was a Welsh Protestant minister and medical doctor who was influential in the Calvinist wing of the British evangelical movement in the 20th century. For almost 30 years, he was the minister of Westminster Chapel in London.

#MartynLloydJones #FridayFaith October 7, 2022

Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899–1981) was well known for his particular style of expository preaching. He would take many months, even years, to expound a single chapter of the Bible verse by verse. His Sunday morning and evening meetings at which he officiated drew crowds of several thousand.

#MartynLloydJones #FridayFaith October 14, 2022

Martyn Lloyd-Jones’ (1899–1981) preaching style was set apart by his sound exposition of biblical doctrine and his fire and passion in its delivery. He’s known as a preacher who continued in the Puritan tradition of preaching.

#MartynLloydJones #FridayFaith October 21, 2022

Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899–1981) was strongly opposed to liberal Christianity, which had become a part of many Christian denominations; and of which he regarded as aberrant.

#FridayFaith #MartynLloydJones October 28, 2022

Sinclair Ferguson (1948) is a Scottish theologian well known for his teaching and writings of Reformed Christian systematic theology.

#SinclairFerguson #FridayFaith November 4, 2022

Sinclair B. Ferguson (1948) is a Ligonier Ministries teaching fellow, and a Chancellor’s Professor of Systematic Theology at Reformed Theological Seminary.

#SinclairFerguson #FridayFaith November 11, 2022

Sinclair Ferguson (1948) retired in 2013 as Senior Minister of First Presbyterian Church in Columbia, South Carolina, and returned to his native Scotland, where he continues to write about and preach God’s word in churches and conferences.

#SinclairFerguson #FridayFaith November 18, 2022

Sinclair Ferguson (1948) retired in 2013 from a large Presbyterian Church in South Carolina. He deliberately returned to a small city in Scotland, to preach the gospel and help revive his now very secular homeland back toward faith in Christ.

#SinclairFerguson #FridayFaith November 25, 2022

Thomas O Chisholm (1866-1960) was born in a log cabin in Kentucky, became a teacher at the age of 16, and a Christian at age 27. He wrote over 1200 Christian poems in his lifetime, including “Great is Thy Faithfulness” which he wrote in 1923, and set to music by William Runyan. #FridayFaith #ThomasOChisholm December 2, 2022

During a particularly trying time in the life (1866-1960) of Thomas O Chisholm, he received an unsolicited and generous gift from a stranger. Soon after he penned The Mercies of God, in celebration of God’s amazing provision.

#FridayFaith #ThomasOChisholm December 16, 2022

“It is Jesus” is one of Thomas O Chisholm’s (1866-1960) 800+ poems he wrote during his lifetime, many of which were later set to music, as this one was. Here is the first stanza.

#FridayFaith #ThomasOChisholm December 23, 2022

For my last #FridayFaith post of this year, here is the refrain from the #ThomasOChisholm hymn #GreatIsThyFaithfulness which is one of my favorite hymns. May God bless you today and beyond into the coming new year. 🙏🏻
December 30, 2022

It’s a Love Story

Our youngest daughter, Mackenzie, married the love of her life, Kobe Keller, on December 10, 2021 in Decatur, Texas at a beautiful and rustic wedding venue that was originally a cattle farm. They transformed the barn into the wedding hall, and the original farmhouse into the bridal dressing room.

I started to cry when I caught the first glimpse of Harold and Mackenzie walking down the path toward the wedding aisle. My heart was full.

Just minutes earlier my eyes filled with tears but it was for a different reason. I was sitting and holding our youngest granddaughter, Remi, while waiting to line up for the ceremony, and she pooped through her diaper onto my pink dress! Her daddy quickly scooped her up and I ran to the bathroom and scrubbed my dress in the sink as tears filled my eyes.

While I’m normally as cool as a cucumber, my nerves were a little shaken at this point as the wedding was just about ready to start! As tears filled my eyes as I was frantically scrubbing my dress in the bathroom sink, asking God to calm my nerves. My dress was soaking wet but thanks to a bunch of paper towels and the Texas sun it was partially dried as I walked down the aisle escorted by our grandson, Colby.

The wedding started at 4:30 p.m. and the weather was amazing, especially for an outdoor Texas wedding in December. The temps were in the low 80’s and the winds were light, whereas just a couple of days before the temps were in the 50’s! Earlier in the day the winds were much stronger which gave us a little cause for concern, but our fears were relieved when they died down just as the wedding began.

Mackenzie planned the timing of the ceremony to begin at 4:30 p.m. to coincide with the expected sunset. The bridal party photos were taken just as the sun set in the background.

The reception was a great mix of fun, dancing, and many sweet moments. Toasts were made by the Best Man, Chris Elston, the Maid of Honor, Raquel Blades, and our daughter Megan. They each spoke from their heart.

First dance as husband and wife, Father/Daughter dance, and Mother/Son dance.

Hudson caught the garter as all of the eligible bachelors tripped over themselves trying to get away from it!

I enjoyed dancing with everyone, especially my grandkids, Harold, my crazy dancing son-in-law Marty, and even my non-crazy, non-dancing son-in-law John!

The wedding cake was beautifully made by Kobe’s Aunt, Cindy Hennessy, and some yummy homemade pies were brought in from the Hico Koffie Kup by Kobe’s parents, Brandon and Nikki.

While I’ve prayed for each of our daughters and the their future husbands since they were young, my prayers were fairly generic, asking God for a nice young man and the perfect spouse for each one of them. But, around 5 years earlier, I sensed my prayers for Mackenzie needed to be more specific. We talked about it and she said she wanted someone who was cute, country, and Christian, (Kobe, exactly!) so that’s what I specifically prayed for her.

I’ve learned in life that God often answers prayers in ways that we might not have ever imagined. I believe He arranged Mackenzie and Kobe’s chance encounter one night in 2016 in downtown Ft Worth. They talked for a short while, exchanged phone numbers, and took a selfie together. Kobe then captioned the photo and put it on social media, “Me and the future wife.”

Mackenzie and Kobe, on the first day they met, 2016.

While they were initially just friends who “just happened to meet” in 2016 and sent a few texts afterwards, nothing really came of it until 2020 when they began texting again and then dating, and now, well now….“It’s a Love Story!”

So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 1 John 4:16

Here’s a few more photos from the wedding and reception: