James Crandell & The Greatest Generation

I first met Harold’s parents in the fall of 1977. We had been dating for a little while and it was time to meet them! So we drove down to his home town, Madison, Indiana, which was about a two hour drive from Indianapolis. At this time Harold’s parents were living in a mobile home on 40 acres of farm land on the outskirts of Madison. The home was very simply decorated with clocks and calendars which I found particularly interesting. I suppose they were actually more functional than decorative, which was also interesting to me. While his mom was very talkative, his dad barely spoke, which scared me a little! I wondered if he didn’t like me. I soon learned that James Crandell was a man of few words and that he chose his words wisely. He had a quiet and gentle spirit about him.

Harold and I married about two and half years latter. Over the years I came to love both of my in-laws. They both had a strong work ethic. Mildred worked for 30 years as a nurses aid at the Madison State Hospital. James served bravely as a US Air Force Tech Sargent aircraft mechanic over seas during WWII, and was part of what is affectionately known as “The Greatest Generation.” After the war he worked for 30+ years as the Service Manager at the Oldsmobile Dealership in Madison. By the time I met him he was a successful and hard working farmer. He worked long hours tending to his crops and fields in season and out of season. James was also a man of integrity. He said what he meant and meant what he said.

James loved meeting his friends at the local coffee shop. He loved his dog. He loved good food. He loved his country. He loved God. He loved his family, and he loved his wife, Mildred. Plain and simple, James was a good man and I was blessed to have him as my father-in-law.

By the time James was in his early 90’s, and Mildred in her mid 80’s, they were both in need of some assistance so they came to live with us in Texas in 2011. Soon after they moved in, knowing that James enjoyed working on things we asked him to fix a loose toilet handle. My husband and I went to work and came home that afternoon to find that he had taken the toilet completely off of the base, and it was laying out all over the bathroom floor in several pieces! We had a good laugh and then called our son-in-law, John, to come put it all back together. It was then we realized that his ability to fix things wasn’t quite like it used to be.

James preferred traditional meals with meat, potatoes, and vegetables. So, it wasn’t long before I figured out that pasta dishes, one pot meals, and casseroles were not his favorite meals. My husband would ask him, “How did you like that dinner Daddy?!” He would often reply, “Alright.” Then, every once and a while he’d say, “That’s good stuff!” I was happy to hear these words whenever he said them, and thought I was doing pretty good until one day I figured out that he said the same thing when he ate a McDonald’s chicken sandwich: “That’s good stuff!”

One day I took him for a hair cut and I thought I’d treat him with lunch at Jason’s Deli, one of my favorite restaurants. After we finished I asked him how he liked his meal and he replied, “Not too good.” I was disappointed as that was the first time he’d said that to me. It wasn’t even “Alright.”

Later on, as his condition progressed, it got to the point where he didn’t remember my name, so he just called me “the cook.” My husband joked with him often about problems with “the cook,” which gave my husband endless opportunities to make fun of my cooking! The laughter was good medicine for all of us.

Within a couple of years of coming to live with us, both James and Mildred moved into a nearby assisted living home. Not too long afterward, James passed away at the age of 95, on Valentine’s Day in 2014, leaving his beloved wife, Mildred, a widow after 72 years of marriage. Mildred passed away the following January.

After James’ passing, I found some handwritten notes that he took while a member at North Madison Baptist Church back in the 1960’s. They still hold true today. Here’s a few of them:

⁃ We believe about God what the Bible tells us.

⁃ God created the world.

⁃ God is all powerful.

⁃ God is everywhere present.

⁃ God is all knowing.

⁃ God is a personal God.

⁃ God reveals himself through nature.

⁃ God reveals himself through the Bible, through people, through the Holy Spirit. The greatest way is through Jesus Christ.

⁃ God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself.

⁃ Sin is falling short, transgressions, going across boundaries.

⁃ When we sin, we should feel guilty. This is healthy.

⁃ Guilt is God given. It serves as a temperature gauge. It urges us to correct what is wrong.

⁃ Christ died for our sins.

⁃ When we become a Christian, we do not become sinless.

⁃ There is one way. Jesus Christ is the one way of salvation.

I believe James is in heaven today, where he’s spending eternity with Jesus, and not because he was a good man, but because one day, years ago he recognized himself as a sinner, in need of a Savior, and he placed his faith and trust in Jesus Christ. The One who took our place on the cross and paid the penalty for our sins. The same applies to his beloved Mildred.

2010 Family Dinner. This was on our trip to Florida in celebration of our 30th wedding anniversary.

I made a video photo collage in honor of James while he served in WWII and titled it, “The Greatest Generation: In Memory of James E. Crandell” Here’s the link to it: https://youtu.be/WxuNgqphIuE

Martin Luther and The Man on the Middle Cross

It was on October 31, 1517, that Martin Luther, nailed his 95 Theses to the church doors in Wittenberg, Germany and began what is known today as the Protestant Reformation, or simply, the Reformation.

During this time, the nailing of notices on the church door was a way of public communication and proclamation. As a devout Augustinian Catholic Monk, he was inspired to write his 95 Thesis in protest to the various corruptions and injustices he witnessed in the Pope and in the Catholic Church. One of which was the Pope’s solicitation and collection of money from the poorest of the poor to build St Basilica’s Cathedral, all while the Pope was one of the wealthiest men alive. The foremost corruptions included the “selling of indulgences” as a means of forgiving people of their sins, and the preaching of good works as a necessary means of salvation.

To further clarify “indulgences,” it was a corrupt means in which the priests profited from the rich by inferring that they could “buy their way into heaven” and provide “absolution for their sins” by the giving of large sums of money to the Catholic Church. Simultaneously, these “indulgences” inferred a condemnation of the poor as they couldn’t possibly have enough money to “buy their way into heaven.”

No doubt, Martin Luther’s 95 Theses caused quite a stir, as speaking publicly in this way against the Catholic Church was very much frowned upon at this time in history. Luther was subsequently excommunicated from the Catholic Church in 1521 and went into hiding. Now during this time it’s interesting to note that the Bible was primarily only available in Latin. While in hiding, Martin Luther paved the way for the people of Germany to understand what the Bible actually said by translating the New Testament from Latin into German, which took him approximately 10 years to complete. For the first time in history, the Bible was made available for people to read in their own language. At this same in history, the printing press was created which made it possible for many copies of the Bible to be made available. Thanks to John Wycliffe and William Tyndale, the Bible was translated into English and spread during this period as well.

Simply put, Martin Luther’s original intention was to reform the Catholic Church however instead of reforming the Catholic Church, the church divided. Those who agreed with Martin Luther became known as Protestants. Those who disagreed with him remained as Catholics.

As an adult I find Martin Luther and the facts about the Reformation quite interesting. I actually don’t recall hearing or learning about him or the Reformation when I was young. Nor did I realize that Martin Luther was of Calvinist persuasion until I became an adult. I also didn’t know about the differences in Calvinism and Arminianism when I was young. Basically Calvinism teaches that God is sovereign and in control of our salvation, also known as election. Whereas, Arminianism teaches that we choose our salvation, also known as free will. Perhaps more importantly I also believe that we’re not saved by our precise understanding of how this great salvation comes to us (Martyn Lloyd Jones.) There are many great theologians on both sides of the Calvinism and Arminianism school of thought.

In the past few years however, I find myself more drawn to Calvinism or Reformed Theology, as it’s more commonly called today. I believe that God is sovereign over everything and is in ultimate control, including our salvation. I also prefer Baptist churches that are not affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) as I have found the liberal, progressive, and corrupt leadership in the SBC to be intolerable. Perhaps the subject of a future writing.

So, I’m thankful for Martin Luther, and for his brave writing and posting of the 95 Theses. I’m thankful for his diligence in translating the Bible, and for the birthing of the Reformation; the foundation of Protestantism. Martin Luther established the fact that the Bible is to be the central source of authority for Christ followers, and that salvation is reached through faith, not deeds.

Martin Luther’s teachings also birthed the beginning of what we know today as the 5 Solas: sola fide, sola scriptura, solus christus, sola gratia and soli deo Gloria!

By Scripture alone.

By Faith alone.

By Grace alone.

Through Christ alone.

To the Glory of God alone!

So, I agree with Martin Luther; I am a Protestant.

I believe we are saved by grace through faith, and that,

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

And,

Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. John 3:3

I repeat,

Ye must be born again. John 3:7

And that,

Salvation cannot, nor could it ever, be obtained through indulgences, sacraments, or good works.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8

Salvation is by faith alone, in Christ alone, and by the grace of God alone. It is a gift of God.

We are saved as a result of what Christ achieved on the cross, as it was on the cross that He paid the penalty for both my sin and yours. On the cross He made a way of salvation for all who turn to him in repentance and faith.

It was over 2000 years ago, on a hill called Calvary, that Jesus and two thieves were each nailed to a cross. One thief turned toward Jesus and said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” (Luke 23:42)

And Jesus, the Man on the middle cross, replied,

“…Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43)

I repeat, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8

Hot! ☕️

Hot coffee! ☕️ My love for it first began when I was a little girl. It was the aroma! My mom drank hers black, hot, and in a small White Castle coffee cup. The first time I tasted it as a teenager, I was surprised it didn’t taste as good as it smelled. But, by the time I was old enough to live on my own I was an official coffee lover, although I took mine with milk and sugar.

Nowadays my requirements for a good cup of coffee are pretty simple. I prefer Folgers Classic Roast Instant Coffee Crystals, with a little skim milk, Splenda Naturals, and most importantly, it must be hot! Lukewarm will not do!

So, you can imagine how excited I was to own my first microwave oven back in 1980. It was a wedding gift from my mom, and it wasn’t just any microwave; it was a Sharpe Carousel Microwave. I actually didn’t cook much in it but I found it perfect for making coffee and keeping it hot. ☕️

Fast forward to May of 2021, our youngest daughter, Mackenzie, got me an Ember Temperature Control Smart Coffee Mug for Mother’s Day. I love it! When used properly, it keeps my coffee a perfect 140 degrees.

Three things I’ve learned about using the Ember mug:

1. You need to start out with hot coffee. For example, you can’t pour cool or lukewarm coffee in the mug and expect it to work properly.

2. You need to start out with a full cup. It doesn’t work well if you only pour in a half of a cup. It needs to start out full.

3. You need to keep it charged. While it will work off of its charging base, it doesn’t work for long periods of time. It needs to be connected to its base often in order to keep a good charge.

Writing about this reminds me of the Bible verse. Revelation 3:15.

“I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot!”

In this verse, Jesus was referring to the church at Laodicea. It was a dead church; their hearts were lukewarm and their deeds were hypocritical; done for show and not with the heart or the love of God. Basically, the church was full of unconverted, pretend Christians who saw themselves as “rich” believers, but in reality they were self-sufficient hypocrites who relied on their own prosperity and their own good deeds. The Lord saw them as wretched, pitiful and “poor” unbelievers, who he chastised using the analogy of the temperature of their water:

Interestingly,

Their drinking water was disgustingly lukewarm. It came from a viaduct via a nearby spring but it was practically worthless. It wasn’t hot like a hot springs that people could bath in, nor was it refreshingly cold for drinking: it was lukewarm, basically good for nothing and nauseating to drink. Thus the analogy of the Lord’s response to the Laodiceans who sickened Him like the lukewarm water:

“So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.” Revelation 3:16

A very stern warning!

And thus a simple analogy:

1. Lukewarm won’t do: You must be born again. Good works are not a substitute for salvation, nor is their any value in trusting in prosperity or possessions. Attending or being a member of a church doesn’t make you a Christian either.

2. You need to be full: There are no halfhearted Christians. To be a “lukewarm Christian” is the equivalent of being an unbeliever. You’re either saved or your not saved. Fully trusting in Jesus and His sacrificial death on the cross, taking the penalty for our sins in our place, turning to Him in repentance and faith.

3. Stay close to God: Christians stay connected and ever growing in their relationship with God through prayer, the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, and grow in the truth of God’s word through meaningful Bible study. Good works are a result of salvation, not a means of salvation.

Something to think about the next time you enjoy a delicious hot cup of coffee. ☕️

More importantly,

Something to pray about.

Talents And Spiritual Gifts

My dad was bi-vocational, working for White Castle in the Indianapolis office as supervisor by day, and playing guitar by night (mostly weekends) at VFW’s (Veterans of Foreign Wars) and various venues. He also played guitar on a local TV show called Midwestern Hayride.

So, his day job was necessary to put a roof over our heads and food on the table, but his night job was simply because he loved playing the guitar. He was self-taught and quite talented, and more than just a guitar player, he strived to be an entertainer, and that he was. He would often point out other musicians that he believed were good entertainers, and although we had different taste in music, he was right about entertainers. There was something different about them; entertainers seem to instinctively know how to entertain.

As for me, I never went into the entertainment industry and rightly so; I don’t have an ounce of theatrical or musical talent! Although I do remember daydreaming when I was young about becoming a famous singer one day. Ha! Don’t we all?

Actually, it’s human nature to want something that someone else has. Unfortunately our human nature tends to cause us to envy a talent that we find attractive in others, all while ignoring a talent that we may have but are totally unaware of.

In reality, not everyone is supposed to be on stage. There are many wonderful talents that are in the background and not meant to be front stage and center.

Do you know what your natural talents or abilities are? It’s probably something that you enjoy doing; something that you’re good at; something creative; and something that stands out about you to other people.

While most everyone has some natural talents and abilities, spiritual gifts are different. Spiritual gifts are only given to believers and shouldn’t be confused with a natural talent or ability.

Spiritual gifts are given to believers by the grace of God for the purpose of doing the ministry that God has planned for His followers to do. Spiritual gifts are also known as gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Spiritual gifts include, but are not limited to:

• The gift of teaching others about God.

• The gift of exhorting or encouraging others in the faith.

• The gift of showing generosity to others.

• The gift of Christian leadership.

• The gift of showing mercy to others.

• The gift of administrative or organizational skills.

• The gift of helping in some way, service, etc.,

Spiritual gifts are to be exercised in the life of a believer for the glory of God, in service to Him, to further His Kingdom, and ultimately to point others to Him.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16

In actuality, God calls us to obediently serve Him in all things, not just in one particular area of ministry. He equips believers with whatever gifts we need at the time to accomplish any task that He’s called us to do.

“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” I Corinthians 12:4-7

So, do you know what your spiritual gifts are? You can have more than one. It’s also OK if you don’t know what your spiritual gifts are. It’s really more important just to be serving God in some way. Ask God where he wants you to go and/or what He wants you to do. You’ll likely discover your spiritual gifts as you are “going” and “doing” for the Lord.

“Each one should use whatever gift he has received.” 1 Peter 4:10

And,

As believers we should ask ourselves questions from time to time, such as…

“Am I using my spiritual gifts in the way that God intended?”

Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, But to Your name give glory, Because of Your mercy, Because of Your truth. Psalm 115:1

And,

“Am I glorifying God with my life, with my natural talents, and with the spiritual gifts that he’s blessed me with?

Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

Imagine

Morning TV has taken a backseat in my daily routine, but I still catch the occasional morning news story as my husband still likes to watch morning TV shows. One morning in July of 2021 the TV news coverage was on the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. This was the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics that was originally scheduled to be in July of 2020 but was cancelled due to the pandemic, and was rescheduled for July 2021. It wasn’t the Olympic ceremony that caught my attention but it was the song they sang, Imagine; nearly 50 years after it was first released by John Lennon in September of 1971.

Fifty years earlier, I was just entering my senior year of high school. Imagine got a lot of air play and eventually became one of John Lennon’s biggest hits after the breakup of Beatles in 1970. I didn’t think much about the lyrics back then but remember thinking the words seemed a little odd. I wondered what did he mean by saying, Imagine there’s no heaven? Now, 50 years later I realize his lyrics were more than just a little odd.

Imagine there’s no heaven

It’s easy if you try

No hell below us

Above us only sky

Imagine all the people

Living for today

Imagine there’s no countries

It isn’t hard to do

Nothing to kill or die for

And no religion too

Imagine all the people

Living life in peace

You may say I’m a dreamer

But I’m not the only one

I hope someday you’ll join us

And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions

I wonder if you can

No need for greed or hunger

A brotherhood of man

Imagine all the people

Sharing all the world

You may say I’m a dreamer

But I’m not the only one

I hope someday you’ll join us

And the world will live as one.

#JohnLennon

I admit I used to be a big Beatle’s fan. I was 9 years old in February, 1964 when the Beatles first invaded America. Some of my favorite early Beatle songs were, “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” I Saw Her Standing There,” She Loves You,” and “Yesterday.” By the time they broke up in 1970 their music had changed quite a bit, as did they, but they were still extremely popular.

Now concerning the lyrics to Imagine, I find them quite troubling.

⁃ Imagine there’s no heaven: Why would we do that? The Bible clearly tells us that, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1

⁃ It’s easy if you try: Really?! “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.” Psalm 19:1-4

⁃ No hell below us: Wishful thinking, at best, for the unsaved. Denying the existence of something does not make it go away, “They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might.” 2 Thessalonians 1:9

⁃ Imagine all the people living life in peace: The Bible warns about those who silence legitimate fears and complaints with soothing words that speak of peace; “They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. ‘Peace, peace,’ they say, when there is no peace.” Jeremiah 8:11

⁃ Imagine no possessions: This is eerily similar to a statement out of the World Economic Forum; a huge proponent of The Great Reset, in which Klaus Schwab states, “You’ll own nothing, and you’ll be happy.”

⁃ Imagine all the people sharing all the world: Sounds great but I fear the methodology in which the world is leaning toward in their execution to obtain this; Open Borders, Social Justice, Critical Race Theory, Marxism, Socialism, Stakeholder Capitalism, etc.

⁃ And the world will live as one: While “the Bible does not use the phrase “one-world government” or “one-world currency” in referring to the end times. It does, however, provide ample evidence to enable us to draw the conclusion that both will exist under the rule of the Antichrist in the last days.” #GotQuestions

So we live in a secular world. Entertainment is secular by nature. The majority of TV shows are secular. Olympic Games and professional sports are secular. Pop music is secular.

To be clear, entertainment and music has its place. My preference is wholesome family entertainment and Christian music. I, like most of us, have some favorite TV shows. I have some favorite movies. I also like to listen to the oldies, 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s music on occasion.

However, there’s a line that is crossed when entertainment ceases to be wholesome. When entertainment becomes heretical. When entertainment becomes apostasy. When entertainment diametrically opposes the word of God. When entertainment ceases to be entertainment. Such as John Lennon’s Imagine.

Imagine there’s no heaven? No way!

Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. Ephesians 5:11

In Everything By Prayer

I retired from Delta Air Lines in 2009 and am still grateful for having worked for Delta a little over 20 years in four different locations: Tampa, Los Angeles, Jacksonville, and Dallas. Interestingly Delta was first company that I worked for that only allowed a 30 minute lunch break. No big deal though. I just got used to bringing my lunch every day.

Except,

One day, while working in the Dallas office, I forgot my lunch. Normally when this happened I’d just get something from the vending machines but on this particular day I didn’t have any money with me either. Oops! I was hungry but was too embarrassed to ask someone for money, so I just sat down alone in the break room like everything was fine.

Before long, thoughts of a recent sermon from my pastor came to mind. In it he was reminding us that God wants to meet our needs and that He knows our needs even before we ask (Matthew 6:8). The pastor reminded us that God wants us to pray about everything, big or small. So, I prayed a short prayer and asked God to provide something for me to eat and to help me to not be so embarrassed to ask people for lunch money.

Before long my lunch break was over and I went back to work with an empty stomach.

A couple of hours later, still hungry and feeling a little down, I took my afternoon break and stepped outside of the customer service area to a guarded exit area to make a phone call. Out of the blue, the guard said, “Hello!” and offered me a slice of her pizza that she had just gotten delivered! Of course I accepted it and I was so grateful! It was delicious!! I told her that both she and the slice of pizza were an answer to prayer. It brought a smile to both of our faces.

God answered my prayers that day in such a tangible and timely way, and I made a new friend too.

I came away with an important reminder about prayer and also some reflection on my “feelings” of embarrassment.

For one,

I was more in the habit of praying about the bigger, more important issues in life, not the little things. I was reminded that I was not to limit my prayers to just the big things, but to bring everything to God in prayer, even something as small and insignificant as a forgotten lunch.

And two,

Why was I embarrassed to ask someone for lunch money? Was my embarrassment actually pride? Was I afraid of rejection? Was I overly concerned about how asking for money would look to others? Was I being too self-sufficient? I think the short answer to all of the above was yes. On the surface I was feeling embarrassed, but down deep I believe I was experiencing some of the negative effects of pride.

Pride is a sin.

Pride comes in all shapes and sizes, in actions and in lack of action. It gets in the way of healthy relationships. It also separates us from God.

If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Galatians 6:3

So I was reminded that day that it’s ok to ask others for help. It’s not a sign that there’s something wrong with you. It’s a sign that you’re human and that you need help of some kind. Asking others for help connects us and helps us relate to each other.

It’s even more OK to ask God for His help. In fact, we’re told to do so throughout the Bible:

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Matthew 7:7-8

Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. John 14:13-14

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

Prayer, or lack there of, reflects our current relationship with God.

When we fail to pray about everything, we’re failing to trust God for our needs.

When we fail to pray about everything, we’re relying on ourselves instead of God.

When we fail to pray about everything, we’re denying the sovereignty of God.

When we fail to pray about everything, we’re acting as if we know better than Him.

When we fail to pray about everything, we’re saying that we’re in control, not God.

God’s help is actually exactly what we all need, but we have to first be willing to humble ourselves toward God and then toward one another.

….Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 1 Peter 5:5

Humility leads us to ask in prayer for His help,

In the little things.

In the big things.

In everything.

So,

Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

Green Acres

Harold and I married in 1980 and lived in an apartment for a couple of years and then rented a double (duplex) for several years. We continued renting various apartments and homes for the first 15 years of our marriage. Actually renting was convenient for us during those years as we moved around quite a bit: from Indianapolis we moved to Tampa; from Tampa we moved to Los Angeles; from Los Angeles we moved to Jacksonville Florida; and from Jacksonville we moved to the Dallas/Ft Worth area. Amazingly the last four moves were done within a five year period.

So in 1994 we decided it was time for a change. While renting an apartment in Lewisville, Texas, we took the plunge and bought 10 acres of undeveloped land in Krum, Texas. It was pure country and it was absolutely beautiful! I could just sit and stare at the land for hours. In every direction we looked it was green, it was big, it was peaceful, and the sunsets were amazing.

Harold dove in immediately and began putting up fence. Within a few days we made a trip to the local ER after he busted his hand and broke his thumb with a post hole digger. Ouch!

A few weeks later we began the next chapter in our lives and moved out of our Lewisville apartment and on to our new land, and into a little travel trailer.

It was a really old travel trailer.

And did I mention it was little?

And that there were four of us!

It was so small, when the girls were sleeping, we had to climb over their bed (couch/hideaway-bed) to get to the kitchen! We didn’t even own it; we rented it!

While living in the travel trailer we built a 12-stall drive-through barn and made 4 of the stalls into living quarters:

⁃ one stall for the kitchen/bathroom

⁃ one stall for the living room

⁃ one stall for our daughters’ bedrooms

⁃ and one stall for our bedroom.

It was kind of like a log cabin except instead of logs the walls were made of untreated 2 x 4’s. Our bedroom was located next to the horse stall and on many an occasion the horse would wake us up by kicking the walls. Ha! We also had a few roosters 🐓 but that was very short lived because they “cock-a-doodled-do” way too early in the morning (I’m talking like 4:00 a.m.) so we gave them away to the first neighbor who would take them!

When the living quarters were finished we moved out of the travel trailer and into the barn. Actually our neighbor to the east of us needed a travel trailer so he took it and used it while he was having his home built.

Now Michelle, our oldest daughter, wasn’t very fond of living out in the country and was even less fond of living in a barn, although she did like the horses. Our other daughter Megan, was just the opposite. She absolutely loved living on the farm and loved all the animals. In addition to the horses and a dog, we managed to acquire a few cats, rabbits, donkeys, goats, sheep, and cows too.

We also had some emu’s but suffice it to say, that didn’t turn out very well. They were not very friendly either.

So having lived my entire life in the suburbs up until this time, living in the country was quite the culture shock for me. Living in a barn was very different than what I’d ever experienced before, but I decided to treat it like an adventure. It started reminding me of the old TV show, Green Acres, staring Eddie Albert and Eva Gabor. It wasn’t long before I found myself walking around singing the theme song to Green Acres:

Green acres is the place to be!

Farm livin’ is the life for me!

Land spreadin’ out so far and wide.

Keep Manhattan, just give me that countryside. (As sung by Eddie Albert)

New York is where I’d rather stay!

I get allergic smelling hay.

I just adore a penthouse view.

Dahling I love you but give me Park Avenue! (As sung by Eva Gabor)

The chores! (Eddie Albert)

The stores! (Eva Gabor)

Fresh air! (Eddie Albert)

Times Square! (Eva Gabor)

You are my wife! (Eddie Albert)

Good bye, city life! (Eva Gabor)

Green acres we are there! (In unison!)

Not surprisingly Harold absolutely loved everything about living in the country, and he was just fine with living in a barn. So much so that I was a little concerned that we were never going to get around to building that new house that he’d promised me when we first bought the 10 acres.

So I prayed about it.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6

Although our address was in Krum, we actually lived closer to the town of Ponder and that’s where the girls went to school and where we attended church, Ponder Baptist Church.

Michelle and Megan came to faith in Christ there and were baptized, and my faith grew as well. I was involved several ministries; outreach visitation, VBS, Kid’s Hope, choir, and high school girls Sunday School. It was during this time I began to tithe. It wasn’t the first time I’d considered it but it was the first time that I was convicted to try it.

Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7

Then, while living in the barn we had a little surprise; I became pregnant and gave birth at age 42 to our third daughter, Mackenzie!

When we were first married back in 1980 I remember thinking about our future and about having children; I daydreamed of having three children one day. God blessed us with Michelle in 1981 and Megan in 1986. But during this time I also suffered several miscarriages. So, by 1996, and in my early 40’s, I had long given up on my hope of having three children; but God had other plans.

Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

So in 1997, after 17 years of marriage, and after approximately a year of living in that little trailer, and a year of living the barn, we moved into the first home that we could call our own. Harold was 48, I was 42, Michelle was 15, Megan was 11, and Mackenzie was just a few months old.

This is Mackenzie in her crib in December 1997. This room was originally a formal dining room that I intended to use as a den, but out of necessity it then became Mackenzie’s bedroom. The house was a three bedroom home and the contract with the builder had already been signed before we found out I was pregnant.

We also added a pond (aka a “tank,” as they call them in Texas) in the front yard and a pool in the back yard.

It was all so very beautiful but eventually we found the 10 acres required more work than we were willing to do.

So,

In 2003 we sold the 10 acres and moved to a new home in the suburbs, in a two-story 2900+ square foot corner lot home; within walking distance to several restaurants, doctors’ offices, a movie theater, a gym, and several small shops and stores.

I look back on those years spent on those 10 acres with a smile and recall the many sweet memories we made there together as a family, including having my mom live nearby for several months in 1994.

God is faithful.

Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Psalm 36:5

Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Psalm 107:1

Back To The Future

I was a big fan of the “Back to the Future” movies of the 1980’s and early 1990’s. They starred Michael J Fox as Marty McFly and Christopher Lloyd as “Doc” Brown. My favorite was the original one which came out in July of 1985. Part II came out in 1989; Part III followed in 1990.

The three movies were so popular that Universal Studios Florida created a “Back to the Future” themed ride in 1991. I got to ride it sometime in the early 1990’s! It’s since been replaced with another ride, and the DeLorean that they used in all three of the “Back to the Future” movies is now in a car museum in Los Angeles. Prior to going to the car museum it was prominently displayed next to the “Back to the Future” ride at Universal Studios Florida.

Now the DeLorean was a pretty cool car in and of itself but this particular Delorean DMC-12 was a one-of-kind Space Time Continuum DeLorean equipped with a Flux Capacitor! Ha!

What is it about time travel movies that so many of us find fascinating?

Actually I think the subject of time is interesting to a lot of people.

“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” Ecclesiastes 3:11

To me, a good movie should be fascinating, heart warming, tell a good story, and include some pleasant surprises. My movie preferences are light hearted comedies, action adventures, and movies that make me think about both the past and the future. Some of my favorite movies in the latter genre are, “13 Going on 30,” “Forever Young,” “The Family Man,” and “Groundhog Day.”

Movies like these make us ponder and think back about the events in our past.

We ask ourselves,

“Wouldn’t it be wild to be able to go back in time and relive some of our most memorable moments with our family and friends?”

But inevitably we would then ask ourselves,

“How cool would it be to go back and change something I did or didn’t do in the past?”

Or,

“What if I’d done this instead of that?”

Or,

“Why did I choose to do certain things or not to do certain things?

In actuality, no amount of daydreaming about time travel or escaping into the world of movie entertainment can erase or change the events or choices we’ve made in the past; even the events that were not in our control, but we wish we could change in some way.

In reality, we all have a past and very likely have some things we would like to go back and change, if we only could.

In reality, I believe our only hope lies in having a relationship with the only One who has the power to both have forgiven our past and to know our future: Jesus Christ.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

So don’t worry about the future.

Don’t worry about what your life, or what your children and grandchildren’s life, will be like next year, or in 5 or 10 years.

Pray about everything, don’t worry about anything, and trust in God.

“Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

And,

“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Matthew 6:34

Take care of what you need to take care of today. Is there something God is prompting you to do? Then do it. Tomorrow may be too late. Set your focus on God today and don’t be persuaded or distracted by the cares of this world.

So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12

Ravi

Christian apologetics, in simple terms, is the practice of defending Christianity against objections. Probably one of the most renowned Christian apologist in our present day was Ravi Zacharias. He was also the founder of RZIM, Ravi Zacharias International Ministries. Since his death in May of 2020 and in light of an official investigation initiated by RZIM, and the subsequent results of that investigation, what he is actually known for today is quite different from that which he portrayed himself to be.

A few months after his death I started hearing some rumblings of impropriety about Ravi, so I did an internet search and found some information from 2017 that was definitely troubling. It was during this time that Ravi sued a woman and her husband who he claimed were trying to extort money from him. Ravi also claimed that the woman falsely accused him of sexual impropriety via texts. Looking back, I think this was a defining moment in time for him; a point in time that we begin to see a crack in the veneer of his otherwise esteemed reputation.

Fast forward to 2020, at least three other women came forward with allegations of sexual impropriety against Ravi within a few months of his death. RZIM hired a lawyer to look into the allegations, putting out a statement in December of 2020, and then publishing the full report in February of 2021. According to RZIM, the law firm confirmed that the allegations against Ravi Zacharias were indeed found to be credible. As a result of the investigation, they found several more women who were involved with him sexually. They also found improper and sexually explicit photos on his phone, and evidence that he had misused tens of thousands of ministry funds toward supporting women who he used as “massage therapists.” Over the course of several years he frequented and held ownership in massage parlors. There’s a lot more detail given in the official investigative report but suffice it to say, this information alone is enough to discredit anyone, even a world renowned Christian apologist.

It was several years ago that I first started listening to Ravi Zacharias’ on the radio. Actually it was sometime after I read his book, “The Grand Weaver,” which was published in 2007 and recommended to me by one of my friends at Delta Air Lines when I worked in the Dallas office. My favorite quote from that book was,

“Jesus does not offer to make bad people good but to make dead people alive.”

What I originally thought was a brilliant evangelical statement from a man of God, has now become (to me) a statement from a person who was merely able to manipulate words as skillfully as he was able to manipulate people.

While I prefer listening to evangelists more than apologists, after listening to Ravi a few times on the radio, I did think that some of the things that he said were somewhat profound and that he was a good story teller. He often quoted various Christian leaders, Bible verses, and Bible stories, and interjected interesting human interest stories with seemingly perfect timing. So a few years ago I downloaded the RZIM app and I would catch an occasional podcast from him from time to time. The only thing that raised a red flag to me during that time was in 2014 when he spoke with Mormons at the Mormon Tabernacle. I learned later that he’d also spoke there in 2004. I questioned why he would speak there at all. Mormonism is basically a false religion based upon the writings and beliefs of the heretic, Joseph Smith. Mormons do not worship the same Jesus as evangelical Christians do. In retrospect, the fact that he conducted himself in a manor that assumed a position of salvific equality with Mormons should have been enough for me to question both his theology and his ministry at that time, but I gave him the benefit of the doubt and continued to listen to his podcasts.

When Ravi spoke, he often told of his “conversion” experience. Born in India in 1946, he attempted to commit suicide at age 17 because of the shame and anguish he felt from being a poor student. While recovering in the hospital, a youth pastor brought him a small Bible. Sometime after the pastor left he prayed inwardly saying “Jesus, if you are the One who gives life as it is meant to be, I want it. Please get me out of this hospital bed well, and I promise I will leave no stone unturned in my pursuit of truth” and “five days after being wheeled into the E.R.,” he “left a changed person.”

In retrospect I find it interesting that this often repeated conversion story fails to mention sorrow for sin or conviction of sin. While it’s not my place to question Ravi’s salvation experience, I do believe it is safe to say that Ravi gave into to sexual sin and it was that sin that eventually overtook his life. It distorted his judgment. It destroyed his testimony, and likely devastated the lives of numerous people.

As a Christian, I’m more than just disappointed in Ravi. As a Christian who is also a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, it makes me sad and a little sick at my stomach. For as long as I can remember, I’ve always had a hard time trusting people, so for me, finding out about Ravi Zacharias’ double life only serves to exasperate those feelings.

So in my disgust of Ravi Zacharias, l deleted the RZIM app, went through my Twitter and Facebook posts and deleted any of his quotes I had posted in the past. I also discarded a book written by his protégé, Nabeel Qureshi, “Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus.” I bought it in March of 2020 upon recommendation of a friend from high school, after I had shared my faith with a Muslim Uber driver one day. I really had never heard of Nabeel Qureshi or his book before this time but realized after I got the book that he was a close associate of Ravi Zacharias and a frequent speaker for RZIM. Interestingly I never get past the first chapter anyway.

I’ve decided on five takeaways from all of this. They’re really just reminders of things I already knew. I’ve included corresponding Bible references:

1. We’re all sinners in need of a savior.

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

2. No man should be held in higher esteem than another. Being famous or world renowned for anything that you do doesn’t make you more important in the eyes of God.

“So Peter opened his mouth and said: ‘Truly I understand that God shows no partiality.’” Acts 10:3

3. If you call yourself a Christian yet your salvation story doesn’t include an awareness or conviction of sin, and a turning to Jesus in repentance and faith, it might be a good time to re-evaluate your salvation. The Roman’s Road is a good place to start. https://www.gotquestions.org/Romans-road-salvation.html

“Therefore,…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” Philippians 2:12

4. If your walk does not match your talk, you can be sure that one day you’ll have to deal with the consequences. Better now than later. There’re no exceptions including and especially everyone who claims to be a Christian.

“This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” 1 John 1:5–10

5. Never think for one moment that you’re above temptation or that you’re not capable of sin. Sin comes in all shapes and sizes. Sin includes acts of commission and acts of omission.

“Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.” 1 Corinthians 10:12,

“If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.” Genesis 4:7

To Ravi’s family and friends, may God help you get through what has probably been one of the worst periods of your lives to date. May you place your hope and trust in Jesus Christ, and in Him alone if you haven’t done so already.

To anyone who was lead to a saving relationship with Jesus Christ as a result of listening to Ravi Zacharias or a RZIM affiliate, please remember and know that it is Christ and Christ alone who saves, not the person who delivers the message to you.

To the RZIM organization, I hope you’ll prayerfully consider either changing the name of your organization or closing your doors altogether. No matter how esteemed Ravi Zacharias once was in the world of Christian apologetics or how eloquent his words once were, he has ultimately done more harm than good for the cause of Christ. My point and the ultimate irony is this:

How does a genuine Christian apologist spend the bulk of his life defending Christianity against objections, while simultaneously living such an objectionable life?

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” Jeremiah 17:9