The 15th of March is somewhat of an interesting date in history. As the 74th day of the year on the Roman Republic calendar, March 15 became known as “The Ides of March.” According to this ancient calendar, March 15, was associated with several pagan observances and was also known as a date for settling debts. In addition, March 15 was the exact date in which Julius Caesar was assassinated in 44 BC. Caesar’s death played a role in the fall of the Roman Republic and subsequent rise of the Roman Empire.
Interestingly, March 15 has become a notable date in our family, and it has nothing to do with Ancient Rome, and everything to do with love and marriage.
Starting with my great great grandfather, Sylvester Anderson, who married my great great grandmother, Pauline Terhune, on March 15, 1866. Then….
My mom and dad, Sara and Herman Query got married March 15, 1941.
Then…
My husband Harold and I married on March 15, 1980.
And then….
Our daughter Megan became Mrs. John Williams on March 15, 2009. She and John met at Denton high school but didn’t start dating until after they both graduated. I remember when we first met John, Harold told him that he really liked banana splits. Banana Splits started appearing out of nowhere! The next thing I knew, John asked Harold for his permission to ask Megan to marry him.
Megan and John married in a beautiful traditional Christian wedding ceremony, held in the Cindy Nichols Chapel at First Baptist Church Denton, officiated by Pastor Brad Cockrell.
But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” Mark 10:6-9
Megan’s colors were black and white with a pop of hot pink! The men wore hot pink daisy boutonnières and black Converse tennis shoes. The reception was held in Sanger Texas, where we served a Texas style dinner, and danced to a variety of music, actually mostly country!
March 15!
Four weddings in our family on this same date.
So I think it’s safe to say that we have officially established a March family tradition. Our local newspaper even featured it in their 2009 Bride Guide!
Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Romans 12:10
Siblings are our first friends in life, and ideally our friends for life. I believe God designed it that way and that siblings are gifts from God. As the 5th of 6 children in our family, life was not always perfect, but more importantly, I learned that God was. I’m thankful for the gift of family and for each of my siblings.
My sister, Joyce, who is 12 years older than me, got married when I was around 7 years old. She started her own typesetting business in the mid-1960s, as a young single mom of two young children. She successfully operated that business for many years. She held a private pilot’s license with an instrument rating for many years, and is also a self-taught custom interior carpenter. Now a widow in her early 80s, she’s an avid golfer and enjoys music and dancing with friends regularly.
Joyce in the 1950s, 60s, and 70s.
My brother Eldon lived a short but meaningful life. He was blessed with a lot of friends and was just beginning his life as a young adult a few months after his high school graduation, when he was killed in an automobile accident in September of 1963. The car he was driving was struck by a drunk driver who ran a red light less than a mile from our home. I was only 9 years old at the time of his death. The night he died it was reported in the newspaper that approximately 20 of his friends went to the local Baptist church to rededicate their lives. While his death devastated and forever changed the landscape of our family, I came to the understanding later in life that God is sovereign and that “….all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28
Eldon in the 1950s, 1961, and 1963.
My brother, Ron loved playing basketball in school, and some time after his high school graduation in 1968, he joined the U.S. Navy and served our country for four years. He was also an accomplished artist for several years. As a father and grandfather, he worked two jobs simultaneously for many years. Today, he’s fully retired and uses a wheelchair to get around after having had an amputation of his leg a few years ago.
Ron in the 1950s, 60s, and 70s.
My brother Dennis also loved playing basketball in school, and was my only sibling to graduate from college. He became a teacher, a basketball coach, and a middle school principal. He’s a father and grandfather, who enjoys keeping physically fit by running regularly and various other physical activities. He and his wife, Pam, are currently enjoying travel and full-time retirement together.
Dennis in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s.
Our little brother Doug, who is the main subject of this writing, and who I affectionately still call “Dougie” was born 3 months premature in 1957. He was diagnosed early on as being mentally retarded. Nowadays it’s called mentally disabled as the word, “retarded” has long since became a slang word meant to degrade and make fun of people.
Dougie in the 1950s, 60s, and 1976.
Our little brother Doug, who is the main subject of this writing, and who I affectionately still call “Dougie” was born 3 months premature in 1957. He was diagnosed early on as being mentally retarded. Nowadays it’s called mentally disabled as the word, “retarded” has long since became a slang word used to degrade and make fun of people.
Dougie had a mind that was “forever young.” He was undoubtedly the sweetest, most sincere person I have ever known. He will always hold a special place in my heart.
One day in the 1980s, he came to me upset with himself because he had told a lie and knew it was wrong. His lips were quivering and he was near tears. I told him that God knows when we do wrong things and that it was good that he was sorry for what he did. His humility was so precious and sweet. I hugged him and helped him pray out loud, in Jesus’ name, for forgiveness.
I remember when we were little, I was his personal interpreter. He also had a speech impediment and it was hard for most people to understand what he was saying. Being the closest in age to him, I naturally spent a lot of time with him, so it was easy for me to understand what he was saying.
Dougie and me in the 1950s and 60s.
When we played outside, I naturally felt it was my responsibility to watch him and protect him. Whether we were playing in the neighborhood or on the swing sets at the Highway 31 drive-in theater across the street, I was his protector.
Just like any little boy, he wanted to attend the same school that all the neighborhood kids went to but instead of going to Burkhart Elementary, he was sent to Lincoln Elementary. Then he was sent to MacArthur Elementary. The same was true in his middle school years, he wanted to attend Meridian Middle School but was sent to Keystone Middle School instead. The schools he attended were the designated schools for Special Education kids.
He was initially held back one year of elementary school in the very beginning and then again held back another year later on. It was at MacArthur Elementary that he had two of his favorite teachers: Mr. Carter, who was his Special Education teacher and his Boy Scout leader, and Mr. French, who was his art teacher. It was here that he also had an unnamed worst teacher. I knew about his favorite teachers as he spoke of them often over the years but I didn’t know about the unnamed bad teacher until much later on. He told me the bad teacher replaced Mr. Carter and said that, “She put her hands on me and hurt me!” After talking with him about this a little more, I learned that she grabbed his shoulders and shook him abusively one day for reasons unknown. If I had known about this back then, I would have been in the principal’s office the next day.
Actually, not too long after I got my driver’s license, Dougie came home very upset one day after school. He said some kids at school were making fun of him at lunchtime. They were taking his food away from him and putting things in it; basically bullying him and making him cry. When he told me about this and also that it wasn’t the first time, I was livid. I drove over to the school first thing the next morning and sat down in the principal’s office and told him what was happening to my little brother. I told him that someone needed to do a better job of protecting my little brother. I barely got those words out before I began to cry. (I was young and emotional.) The principal was kind but seemed indifferent and offered no solutions. I left unsure if the principal was going to do anything to help Dougie. I realized that day that Dougie was likely going to have to deal with people like those kids and that principal the rest of his life.
While in high school he had a crush on a neighborhood girl with blonde hair who rode his school bus. Her name was Karen Taylor. He thought she was cute but he was too shy to talk to her. He told me that he was “in love with her” and that one day he wrote her a note and put it in her mailbox, but she never responded. Dougie graduated from Perry Meridian High School in 1976 and as far as I know, she was the only girl he ever had a crush on. Over 50 years later, he still spoke of her with a lump in his throat.
Dougie continued living at home with mom for several years as a young adult. He worked for Noble Industries in Indianapolis. They had two locations at this time, one on the west side of town and one on the east side of town. He first worked at their west-side location in the greenhouse. It was during this time he picked up some “tics.” He began blurting out a “moo” sound like a cow, and also an “ooga” sound like that of an old car horn. He said the “ooga” sound was from hearing Ronnie’s car horn but didn’t know why he started repeating the “moo” sound. I suspect it was some type of work related stress. He enjoyed working in the greenhouse but was moved over to the other location to work in a school kitchen taking lunch trays off the conveyor belt and loading them into a commercial dishwasher. It was here he made $1.50 an hour and where he started singing to himself while working. He remembers singing a phrase “Wagon Ho!” while he loaded and unloaded the trays.
Interestingly Dougie had a natural talent for tinkering with electronics. I remember I had an alarm clock radio that broke and I gave it to him to tinker with. He took it all apart and laid the parts out on a TV tray. I assumed that he’d never get it back together again. Within two or three weeks he put it back together and it worked! I was amazed. This was back when he was in his mid 20’s.
He also had a unique talent for impersonating TV personalities. His favorite was Sammy Terry, a local 1960s–1970s late night TV show host. The show was a Friday late night phenomenon in Indianapolis called Nightmare Theater. Sammy would open the show emerging out of a coffin and proceed to introduce the scary movie that was being shown that night. Dougie had fun imitating Sammy Terry’s introduction: “Good evening. Welcome to Nightmare Theater. I’m your host Sammy Terry. Moo-ha-ha!” He would then go on to announce the movie, like “Tonight we have Frankenstein Meets the Werewolf. Moo-ha-ha!” followed by the dangling emergence of George, his sidekick giant spider, and Sammy’s trademark laughter.
Then, as life went on into the mid-1990s, mom become ill with Alzheimer’s Disease. My sister, Joyce, moved mom to an assisted living center in St Louis, to be near her. At this same time, Dougie went to live in St Louis in a small nearby apartment.
While Dougie enjoyed the apartment, it didn’t work out well for him. He really needed more structure and guidance, plus he was bitten by an unknown dog in the neighborhood and had to undergo a painful series of rabies shots. So after about a year of living on his own, my niece Debbie, invited Dougie to come live with her in the Central West End area of St Louis. While in St. Louis, Dougie enjoyed playing basketball and softball with a special education group. He also had the love and support of my other niece, Marlene, who lived in St. Louis as well.
In 2001 Debbie decided to move to the Seattle, Washington area and so Dougie moved too. Marlene moved there a few months later as well. They settled in a small town called Burien, where Debbie was instrumental in creating a program, called Clean Sweep. It was specifically designed for employing disabled people to help pick up trash around downtown Burien. Dougie worked part-time for Clean Sweep and enjoyed everything about it. He enjoyed his job, enjoyed working alongside his fellow disabled workers, and enjoyed getting to know the local store owners and their frequent customers. He also enjoyed the independence and freedom of using an inexpensive transportation program available in Burien called Astro Bus.
However, one downside to his independence and freedom occurred when a stranger took advantage of Dougie one day. He walked over to Arby’s and on his way back a car stopped and blocked his way. A pregnant lady with two kids told him that she and her kids were hungry. She asked him to buy them some food, and then a boy joined them and he bought his food too. She then coerced him to go to the bank and withdraw as much money as he could from the ATM. He gave her the money (I think it was $200 or $300, or whatever the maximum debit card withdrawal was at that time), and then she left. He also lost his phone that same day. Later, a police report was filed but, of course, the lady was never found. We were all upset and sad that this happened to our sweet Dougie.
And while he really enjoyed working, he was actually hit and injured by a vehicle on two separate occasions while working. After spending sometime in the hospital with a broken hip (a hairline fracture) from the second car incident his job duties were then changed to inside work only.
Besides working part-time for several years, Dougie enjoyed going to local activities especially designed for the disabled. His favorite activities were the Thursday morning art class, and the Friday night “Club” to hang out with his friends.
He also had some problems with recurring staph infections over the past several years, some requiring hospitalizations. He had to have his middle toe removed from his right foot in January 2023 due to a staph infection. He was hospitalized for a month, and then spent another month in a rehab center, Hallmark Manor. His only complaint was that he couldn’t get his favorite TV shows at either place although he did like some of the new TV channels he watched at the rehab center. He also enjoyed playing board games at Hallmark Manor, and winning 50 cents from playing two Bingo games!
Shortly after that he developed another wound on the bottom of his right foot which was not as bad as the other wound but kept him home most of the time.
He often talked about how much he wished he could go back to his art class and the “Club” but because of his foot issues he never got to go back. His daily routine evolved to primarily staying home and watching his favorite TV shows.
His favorite cartoons were Popeye, Mighty Mouse, Tom and Jerry, and Scooby Doo. His favorite game shows were Let’s Make a Deal, The Match Game, and of course, The Price is Right. His favorite TV shows included old re-runs like Bewitched, The Love Boat, Emergency, The Time Tunnel, The Partridge Family, The Wild, Wild West, Power Rangers, and Star Trek. He was so proud of his “Star Trek Enterprise” model he had in his room. He also liked The Andy Griffith Show, and was a proud owner of a light-up “Mayberry Village.” It included Andy, Opie, Aunt Bee, Barney, Gomer, Andy’s home, and the gas station. He liked it so much he kept several photos of his “Mayberry Village” on his phone. Toward the end of his life he added Young Sheldon and Night Court to his viewing schedule. His chief complaint was that the H&I (Heroes and Icons) TV channel was no longer available in his viewing area which prevented him from watching his favorite super hero show, Superman.
When he was being treated weekly for his foot wound, he so looked forward to going to the foot doctor on Tuesdays; that was the day he got to get breakfast to-go at the Jack in the Box. The rest of his meals were generally at home. He was allowed to microwave food but not allowed to use the stovetop or oven, due to safety concerns. His favorite breakfast cereals were Cap’n Crunch, Froot Loops, and Lucky Charms. His favorite lunches were Hot Pockets and Smucker’s Uncrustables Peanut Butter and Grape Jelly Sandwiches. Some of his other favorite foods included Pop Tarts, chips, and corn dogs with ketchup. His favorite to-go restaurants were Panda Express, Jack in the Box, Subway, and the Chicken Burger Place. His favorite desserts were oatmeal raisin cookies, vanilla ice cream, strawberry popsicles, and homemade puffed wheat balls. On Sundays he looked forward to having a big breakfast prepared for him: eggs and sausage or pancakes with peanut butter, a Query family favorite.
Dougie loved Debbie’s dogs, Bella and Honey. They kept him company and made him laugh. Honey liked to sit in his favorite chair whenever he got up. Bella liked to sit on his bed when he was not in it. He’d give them treats in order to get them to move!
I remember when Dougie was young, the doctor told my mom that Dougie’s life expectancy would be short, but that doctor was wrong. God had a plan and a purpose for Dougie’s life. Yes, his life was full of challenges, but God blessed him with a happy disposition, a sense of humor, a loving family, and a long life. Moreover, Dougie was loved by many, and he was a blessing to many. By the grace of God, he celebrated his 67th birthday on April 2, 2024.
On November 19, 2024, I received word that Dougie had passed away sometime earlier in the day while he was alone at home. His doctor later advised that his death was very likely due to a sudden heart attack, as an autopsy was not done.
I miss our almost daily phone calls. We would talk about his TV shows, his meals, how he was feeling, the dogs, things he remembered from the past, or really about anything he wanted to talk about. Sometimes we would talk about God. Dougie knew that God was in control and that He knew the future. We prayed and talked about trusting God. We also talked about death and how God knew when our time would be to pass away. My prayers for him, in addition to his physical needs, were for God to protect him and to continually renew his childlike faith in Him. Sometimes I would sing songs to him like, “Jesus Loves Me,” and he would sing along. I would end each call by telling him to call me back tomorrow and by telling him, “I love you.” He always called me back and he always told me, “I love you too.”
He didn’t call me on November 19th, 2024; his soul went to be with Jesus on that day. I miss my little brother a lot. He truly was my very special brother, and I loved him so very much. As a Christian, I trust in the promises of God, and believe we’ll be together again in heaven one day, along with our mom, dad, and our brother Eldon. God is good and He is faithful.
Ron, Joyce, Dougie, me, and Dennis in 2017 on our Query Family Caribbean Cruise!
Walking through our local big box retail store in late November 2023, I was intrigued by the array of “Christmas” T-shirts on display. Every single one of them was making some sort of fun or folly of Christmas. Now I enjoy having fun just as much as anybody, but there’s a big difference between having fun and making fun of someone or something. I found these shirts in particular poor taste:
I wondered, how did we get here?
A quick search on the internet about “Christmas” returns a lot of interesting information. The word “Christmas” literally means “Christ’s mass,” and it originated from the Old English term, “Cristes Maesse.” It was sometime in the 4th century that the early church decided to celebrate the birth of Christ annually on December 25. Interestingly, it just so happened to coincide with the Roman Saturnalia, a traditional pagan festival. Why the 4th century church chose to combine the celebration of the birth of the Savior of the world with a pagan festival is perhaps a discussion for another day, but suffice it to say that this is, in fact, what history has recorded.
Fast forward to today, it seems that while Christmas has long been a beloved holiday to most everyone, it definitely holds different meanings to different people groups.
For the believer in Christ, it’s about Christ.
For the unbeliever, it has nothing to do with Christ.
For the child or the young at heart, it’s a time of wonder, expectation, and excitement. It’s sweet in terms of giving gifts to our young children, and the joy we have in watching their excitement. However, quite honestly their excitement is likely centered around the gifts.
Have we first shared or read the Christmas story from the Bible? Do our children and family know why we exchange gifts at Christmastime? What about those who can’t afford to buy gifts? Do you think it’s possible that too much emphasis is placed on the gifts or on giving expensive gifts?
For the retail business owners, big box stores, and online retail giants, it’s a time of huge sales profits as the public spends billions of dollars buying gifts for their loved ones; many of whom go into debt to buy those gifts.
Somewhere along the line, it does appear that the importance of the miraculous birth of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, has been overshadowed by the season of fun and folly, and the buying and the selling. All while the tradition of gift-giving has morphed into a multibillion-dollar secular commercialization of Christmas.
Maybe we could place the blame on an advertising industry that’s continually promoting bigger, better products.
Maybe we could blame our government agencies who removed Nativity scenes from government properties.
Maybe we could blame the school boards and the states who removed Bibles from schools and banned teachers from mentioning the name of Jesus, and from sharing their faith.
Maybe we could blame big corporations who promote the latest woke ideologies, and of course, Santa Claus—but never mention the name of Jesus.
Maybe we could blame the progressive liberal churches, apostate churches, and the prosperity churches who preach a false gospel.
Maybe we could blame the parents who fail to raise their children in a Christian home, who subsequently fail to tell them why Jesus was born or why He died on the cross.
But the truth is:
Satan is the god of this world and is the major influence on the opinions and actions of the unbelievers all around the world today. Satan is hell-bent on keeping people from coming into a saving relationship with Christ.
And,
As it is written:
“There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.” Romans 3:10-12
And because of this,
Until one becomes born again through the gift of faith, repentance of sin, and trust in Jesus Christ alone, Christmas will remain in their eyes, to be all about the fun and the folly, and the buying and the selling.
Meanwhile, Christians celebrate the birth of Christ at Christmastime, and nonbelievers celebrate everything but Christ.
All the more reason that as Christians we should pray for those who do not yet know Christ, and speak up, not just at Christmastime but whenever the Spirit leads.
Because,
Christmas is all about Christ. It’s God’s integral part of His perfect plan of salvation through Jesus’ incarnate birth.
Jesus was the greatest gift ever given and His birth is more than worthy of celebration.
“And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.” Matthew 2:11
I remember years ago my mom told me that my grandpa used to write notes, aka love letters, to my grandma when they first started courting. He was two years older than her and was a school teacher in Wright Township, Greene County, Indiana from 1913 to 1920. My grandma didn’t attend school during this time, as she had only completed an eighth-grade education, which was common in the early 1900s.
To the best of my recollection my mom told me that grandma said that grandpa used to send handwritten notes home to her via one of his students who was also her neighbor. She replied to him in the same way. Those notes must have been very sweet as they fell in love and got married in 1915.
My grandma was 19 years old and my grandpa was 21 at the time of their marriage. They were blessed with four children, David, Sarah, Naomi, and Ralph. My mom, who later changed her name to Sara, was their second child.
Circa late 1920’s, my grandpa, my mom Sarah, her siblings David and Naomi, and my grandma holding baby Ralph.A sweet memory from a January 1966 hometown newspaper clipping about my grandparents’ December 1965 50th wedding anniversary.
My grandparents were married just short of 54 years when my grandpa passed away in November 1969. I remember feeling so sad when I heard of his passing. I loved my grandpa. My grandma survived him by 16 years, and then passed away in November 1985. I loved my grandma too. Both she and my grandpa were strong Christians and made a big impression on my life by the way they lived their lives, the way they loved me, and the way they loved Christ.
A few years ago, I saw an article that centered around a box of old love letters, and it sparked this old memory of my mom telling me about my grandparents. I thought, how sweet it would be to have some of their old love letters.
So I asked my siblings and a couple of my cousins if they happened to recall this, or if they actually had any of those letters. Unfortunately, they did not, so my faint memories will have to suffice.
I suppose it’s safe to say that handwritten notes and love letters are a thing of the past now. Technology has definitely brought us some great advances and conveniences, but it has also changed the landscape of how we express our feelings and how we communicate with each other.
Texting is probably one of the most common forms of communication today, but there are definitely some pros and cons to texting. The pros include convenience and time efficiency, and the cons include being misunderstood, texting the wrong person by mistake, autocorrect mumbo jumbo, and missing out on the joy of in person interactions.
So, while I regret not having found any of those old notes of my grandparents, I do have something better: several copies of what Billy Graham referred to as God’s “love letters” to us—the Bible.
“It is there He tells us not only that He loves us, but shows us what He has done to demonstrate His love. It also tells us how we should live, because God knows what is best for us and He wants us to experience it. Never forget, the Bible is God’s Word given to us so we can know and follow Him.” #BillyGraham
However, according to the Baptist Press, “while the average home in America has three or four Bibles in it, more than half of Americans read little or none of the Bible. Less than a quarter of those who have ever read a Bible have a systematic plan for reading Scripture each day. And a third of Americans never pick it up on their own.”
Since becoming a Christian, I’ve read through the Bible three times and been in various Sunday School Bible studies over the years.
However, I haven’t always studied my Bible. There have been more times than I care to remember when I haven’t been actively studying or reading my Bible. Truthfully, there’s really no good reason why a Christian should not currently be in some type of Bible study.
In December 2022, I started a new personal Bible study using my Spurgeon Study Bible along with the John MacArthur Study Bible iPhone app. Later, I added Matthew Henry’s Bible commentary to my study as well. I find listening to my iPhone Bible app combined with the visual study guides really helps me with comprehension. My goal is a daily Bible study, a chapter or two a day, and although I haven’t always met my goal, I do most days. In January 2026, I completed the Old Testament which took me approximately three years to finish. As of this writing, February 2026, I am in Mark.
I believe one of the best ways for Christians to know God and His will for our lives is by studying the Bible. It’s rich in meaning, instruction, and warnings. It gives a glimpse of who He is, helps us better understand His plans and purposes, and helps us grow in Christlikeness. It also helps us make sense of some of the things we see going on in the world today. No matter how dark the days may seem, His Word assures us that we, who are called by His name, have a hope and a future in Him.
The Bible is a collection of love letters about,
• The creation story and the fall of man.
• The Old and New Covenants established by God.
• Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.
• The words of Jesus in the Gospels.
• The preaching and teaching of Jesus in Acts and the epistles.
• The end times and return of Jesus Christ in Revelation.
The Old Covenant was based on law, which required correct behavior and which the people continually broke. It consisted of a sacrificial system that only temporarily removed sins. The sacrifices were administered by priests who represented the people of Israel to God, but the people could not enter God’s presence themselves.
The New Covenant is by grace, which is a gift of God given to the people of God, and of which the Holy Spirit testifies. The sins of the people are forgiven and removed once and for all through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. It was Jesus’ shed blood on the cross that made it possible for all those who will believe in Him, including Gentiles, to have direct and intimate access to Him and eternal life.
Jesus is the fulfillment of all of the covenants, prophecies, and promises found in the Bible. He is the Messiah, God’s only Son, and the King of kings. He conquered sin and death according to God’s perfect plan of salvation. Everything about His life, His sacrificial death, His resurrection, and His ascension was foretold and revealed in the Bible.
I like this quote from Alistair Begg:
“We find Christ in all the Scriptures. In the Old Testament He is predicted. In the Gospels He is revealed. In Acts He is preached. In the epistles He is explained, and in Revelation He is expected.”
The Bible also teaches us that God is sovereign. God is good. God is always to be trusted, and so much more.
So, if you’re a Christian and you’re not currently involved in some type of Bible study, ask yourself why not?
If you’re not a Christian, why not carve out some time to read and study the Bible today? It’s God’s love letter to you.
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” 2 Timothy 3:16
In October 2023, Harold and I embarked on a 14 Night Carnival “Journeys” cruise to the Eastern Caribbean out of Galveston, Texas on the Carnival Dream.
We booked this cruise the year before when I saw the itinerary went to most all of the ports that we were supposed to go on in March of 2020 to celebrate our 40th anniversary. That cruise was cancelled due to the Covid-19 hysteria. So, over three and a half years later, we finally got to go on our Eastern Caribbean Cruise!
Our Itinerary:
Day 1 Galveston (Embark)
Day 2 Sea Day
Day 3 Key West
Day 4 Sea Day
Day 5 Grand Turk (XXLD due to weather)
Day 6 San Juan, Puerto Rico
Day 7 St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands
Day 8 St. Kitts, Basseterre
Day 9 St. Maarten, Netherlands Antilles
Day 10 St. Croix, US Virgin Islands
Day 11 Sea Day
Day 12 Falmouth
Day 13 Sea Day
Day 14 Sea Day
Day 15 Galveston (Disembark)
Days 1 and 2 were sea days and were mostly spent exploring the ship, enjoying the music, entertainment, food, and people.
Day 3 brought us to Key West, Florida for the afternoon. We walked down to the Southernmost Point, and enjoyed several of the sights along the way: the Kapok Tree, the Key West U.S. Naval Air Station, and back to town to do a little shopping. We visited Key West in 2017 but missed seeing most of the things we saw on this day, so this was a great stop.
Days 4 and 5 were both sea days as Hurricane Tammy made it impossible for the ship to dock at Turks and Caicos. We already visited Grand Turk in 2019, so we were much more thankful to be safe rather than sorry. We filled the extra time relaxing and enjoying the ship activities.
Day 6 was spent in San Juan, Puerto Rico. We took a local tour to see the old town, forts, new town, the capital building, and the beautiful colorful homes of San Juan.
On day 7 we slept in a bit after being up late the night before. In St. Thomas we shopped a little and then went on the Skyride and saw some amazing views. It’s a beautiful island.
Day 8 at St. Kitts, Basseterre, I got up early this morning and snuck around the ship hiding 7 rubber ducks and 7 cards with Bible verses. We ate made-to-order omelettes for breakfast and climbed back into bed as it was raining when we docked. We went ashore around noon just as the rain subsided and enjoyed some shopping and the colorful sights at St Kitts.
On day 9 we docked on the Dutch side of St. Maarten, Netherlands Antilles, and took a tour of the island which included the French St. Martin side as well. We learned it’s a long distance phone call from the Dutch side to the French side. They also have two completely different governments. My favorite stop was at the SXM airport where the beach runs right up to the landing strip. The signs along the fence warn about death and serious injury if you stand there. We ate lunch at the Sunset Beach SXM Restaurant while airplanes landed and took off. I walked over to the beach and got a video of a jet flying overhead me as it was landing. I remember wanting to visit SXM several years ago when I worked for Delta, so it was really nice to finally be able to come visit here.
St Maarten, Netherlands Antilles, SXM, and Port of St Maarten.
We spent day 10 in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands shopping and enjoying the colorful sights and sounds. Back on the ship, we enjoyed our nightly routine of dinner and entertainment.
Our nightly dinner companions, Ralph & Pat from the Houston area, and Clovis & Donna who are full-time RV’ers.
Day 11 was a Sea Day. We (actually Harold) found a rubber duck this morning on our way to breakfast. The day was full of activities including a costume contest. Harold wore his Indianapolis Colts Manning #18 jersey and I dressed as an Indianapolis Colts cheerleader. We watched the Texas Rangers play in the World Series on the big screen up on the Lido deck, and went to bed, exhausted after a full day on the ship.
Day 12: We visited Falmouth, Jamaica and enjoyed some shopping at the port. The port is cone-shaped which lets two cruise ships dock around it at the same time. Jamaica is full of colors, music, and a lot of humidity.
Days 13-15 sea days went by super fast on our way back to the Port of Galveston. We picked out our favorite photos from our prepaid photo package, enjoyed the entertainment, the people, the crew, our dinners and especially the desserts!
Some Dr Seuss fun with Sam I Am, Thing 1 & Thing 2, and The Cat in the Hat! Formal Night #1Formal Night #2Casual, formal, and our Halloween costumes! Casual nights
We enjoyed every minute of this cruise and were thankful to have been able to celebrate our 40th anniversary on this wonderful cruise, even if it was three and a half years later than originally planned.
Sadly, I came away feeling sorry for some of the other cruisers. We noticed several of them who seemed bored, unappreciative, and liked to complain a lot. Newsflash: True happiness is not found in cruising. Happiness is found in a relationship with Christ.
“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4
“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11
And, until a person comes to the realization of the truth of the gospel and their desperate need for a Savior, no amount of cruising (or whatever a person is doing trying to obtain happiness) will ever fill the need in our lives which can only be accomplished through receiving Christ as your Lord and Savior
“Happy are the people whose God is the Lord.” Psalm 144:15
When I was in junior high school from 1966 to 1969, the journalism class put out a monthly publication with the current school happenings and various articles written by journalism students. One month it included a section with comments from several students who had completed the following statement,
“Happiness is…”
I wish I had saved a copy of it, but didn’t, and I don’t remember any of the answers but I do remember the different types of comments. Some were funny, some were trying to be funny but weren’t, and a few were really sweet. I remember this giving me a glimpse into the different personalities of my classmates.
So, how would you fill in the blank?
“Happiness is…”
I know completing that statement might be difficult for some. I think it’s mostly because happiness is often circumstantial and is likely determined by what’s currently going on in your life. It can be difficult to be happy when life isn’t going well, when life is hard, and when tears are many.
But I do believe there’s a joy that transcends our circumstances. It’s a joy that remains in and through the difficult times in life. It’s a godly joy, and it comes from knowing the Lord and from looking to Him in all of life’s circumstances; both good and bad.
“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11
The joy of the Lord is actually more than a belief; it’s my experience. Joy in just knowing the Lord. Joy in the good times. Joy in the bad times. There have been many times in my life where God has given me peace in the middle of the storm, and joy in spite of my circumstances. Times when I trusted in Him no matter what, and rejoiced in Him no matter what.
Because,
The Bible tells us, regardless of our present circumstances, that we are to rejoice in the Lord. When we look to Him and praise Him in worship, our hearts are filled with His joy.
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.” Philippians 4:4
Even when life is difficult.
So today, if you find yourself feeling down, upset, lonely, or sad, it’s my prayer that God will surround you with His presence and fill you with joy, peace, and hope in Him.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” Romans 15:13
Here are the first two verses and the chorus to a sweet old children’s song (author unknown) about the joy of the Lord. Perhaps you remember it from long ago. May it bless you as you read (and sing) along today.
Title: I’ve Got the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy!
Verse 1:
I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart.
Where?
Down in my heart!
Where?
Down in my heart!
I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart,
Down in my heart to stay!
Chorus:
And I’m so happy, so very happy,
I’ve got the love of Jesus in my heart
Down in my heart.
And I’m so happy, so very happy,
I’ve got the love of Jesus in my heart.
Verse 2:
I’ve got the love of Jesus, love of Jesus down in my heart.
Where?
Down in my heart!
Where?
Down in my heart!
I’ve got the love of Jesus, love of Jesus down in my heart.
God’s word explains, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” 2 Timothy 3:16
And God’s word is clear, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:27
There are only two sexes, “Jesus said, ‘Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female.’” Matthew 19:4
Yet, in the last few years we find ourselves living in a world where,
– Gender ideologies defying God in an attempt to redefine God’s creation of man and woman and their God-given roles.
– Men who identify as women being allowed to use women’s public restrooms and dressing rooms.
– Public school teachers proactively teaching young children about changing their gender as they teach their woke worldview version of sexuality and without the parents’ knowledge.
– Young children given puberty blockers and hormones in an attempt to change their gender, and in some cases against the will of one of their parents.
– Public libraries hosting drag queen story hours for young children, where men mockingly dress up as sexually provocative women.
– Men who identify as a women being allowed to compete in women’s sports, who are winning and literally stealing trophies away from rightfully deserving women athletes.
– Men and women voluntarily undergoing irreversible, painful, and numerous surgeries, and voluntarily taking hormones in a futile attempt to change their gender.
– Public school teachers who are allowed to teach K-12 students about LGBTQ lifestyles and agendas.
And this is just a partial list of some of the more recent societal changes regarding sexuality.
How did we get here?
Some might say we could blame it on Gloria Steinem of the 1970s Women’s Liberation movement. This is the woman who defied God and successfully convinced millions of women that they had the right to be liberated from traditional women’s roles.
Some might say we could blame it on the Supreme Court for enacting same-sex marriage laws and allowing same-sex couples to adopt a child.
Some might say we could blame it on woke corporations who’ve hired DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) managers to ensure their company meets certain expectations to keep their ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) scores high.
Some might say we could blame it on the men who fail in their God-given roles as spiritual leaders in their home and as head of the household.
Some might say we could blame it on the women who try to “run the show” in their marriage by usurping their husband’s God-given role as head of the household.
Some might say we could blame it on woke churches that allow Beth Moore and other so-called “women pastors,” who dare to defy God and His word (1 Timothy 2:12) each time they stand at a pulpit and preach to men.
While I believe all of these things have certainly played a part, they’re not the root cause.
We find the root cause in the Bible.
In the book of Genesis, in the Garden of Eden, Eve believed the serpent and chose to disobey God. As Eve was tempted by the devil, Adam was tempted by Eve, and sin entered the world through Adam.
“Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, ‘Did God actually say, “You shall not eat of any tree in the garden?”’And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.’ So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.” Genesis 3:1-6
And, “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned.” Romans 5:12
The Bible explains our root problem is sin. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23
And, sexual sin, in particular, is not only against God, it is against one’s own body.
“Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.” 1 Corinthians 6:18
God implores us to “abstain from sexual immorality” in 1 Thessalonians 4:3
However, unrepentant sinners, by nature, don’t want to repent, obey God, or His word. By nature, unrepentant sinners love the darkness instead of the light.
“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.” John 3:19
To add insult to injury, “the wicked boasts of the desires of his soul” (Psalm 10:3-4).
But it doesn’t have to be so. The distance between an unrepentant sinner and God is not far.
If you find yourself described here, and feel God convicting you to make a change in your life, just turn around. Turn toward Christ and away from sin.
It’s not too late.
For Jew or Greek, male or female, LGBTQ or heterosexual, rich or poor, etc.
The good news is that God made a way by sending His Son to take the penalty for our sin—for all who’ll come to Christ in repentance and faith.
“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21
Acknowledge the sin in your life today and repent of it. Put your faith and trust in God, the Maker of heaven and earth. Cry out to Him and humbly ask for His forgiveness. Trust in Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross.
And, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6
If you’re male, trust in God’s plans and God-given roles for men. If you’re female, trust in God’s plans and God-given roles for women.
“O taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!” Psalm 34:8
Interestingly, I remember when I was a child, I used to dress up in my brother’s army outfit and crawl around in the backyard playing “Army” with a toy machine gun strapped to my back and a rubber knife in my mouth. I was, what was commonly called, a tomboy. Vic Morrow of the TV show, Combat, was my inspiration. But, you know what? I grew out of it. How glad I am that no one tried to give me puberty blockers or tried to convince me I needed to try to change my gender back then! I love being a woman. Actually, I love all the roles that God has chosen for me in life, and I especially love being a mom, and a grandmother, aka “Maw-Maw.”
“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
As the years have gone by, Mother’s Day has become one of my favorite holidays. My perfect Mother’s Day includes food, family, flowers, fun, and a Mother’s Day card.
So in the days leading up to Mother’s Day, I always think of my mom who passed away in 1998. I was blessed to have her in my life for the first 44 years of my life. She was the main role model in my life and in so many ways—as a woman, a wife, a mom, and a Christian. I will forever remember her praying on her knees by her bedside at night, and studying her Bible in the early mornings when I was a child.
”Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.” Proverbs 31:25-28
My mom and me in Indianapolis back in the late 1970s.
My grandma, my mom, and me in 1979.
My mom passed away at the age of 77 after suffering for several years from Alzheimer’s Disease.
“Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.” Proverbs 31:25-28
My grandma was a godly woman too. When I was a child I loved going to her house just to be close to her. When I was a teenager and again as a young adult, she would pull me aside and tell me that she was praying for me. I knew she loved me and she knew I needed prayer.
Here’s a photo of my grandma in our kitchen nook in Indianapolis back in the early 1970s. She was trimming the meat off a turkey to make us some of her delicious homemade turkey noodle soup.
“Older women should be reverent in their behavior, not slanderers or addicted to much wine. They should teach the younger women to love their husbands and children, be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, so that the word of God may not be reviled.” Titus 2:3-5
My grandma was recognized and honored in her community as “Mother of the Year” in the 1960s.
And here is a photo of my great-grandma Stockrahm. I think this picture was taken in the early 1950s. She lived with my grandma in Frankfort, Indiana, when she was elderly and where my grandma took care of her until she passed away. I was very young back then, but I do remember she was very quiet and that my grandma was very protective of her. I remember feeling so sorry for her because she was fragile and ill.
My great grandma Stockrahm.
“Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” 1 Peter 3:4
I’m so very thankful for my mom, my grandma, and great-grandma. They were wonderful and godly mothers.
My mom and grandma taught me that as mothers and grandmothers, we should never give up. We are to continue in prayer for each one of our loved ones. We are to continue modeling Christ to our family, and to take advantage of any opportunities to share Christ with our children and grandchildren. Our influence has an eternal impact on the lives and futures of our children, our grandchildren, and so on.
“Even when some children will not let us speak to them about religion, they cannot prevent us speaking for them to God. Never, never let us forget that the children for whom many prayers have been offered, seldom finally perish.” #JCRyle
“Good mothers are very dear to their children. There’s no mother in the world like our own mother.” #CharlesSpurgeon
“To be a mother is by no means second class. Men may have the authority in the home, but the women have the influence. The mother, more than the father, is the one who molds and shapes those little lives from day one.” #JohnMacArthur
I’m so thankful that being a mother was in God’s plan for me. I thank Him for our three daughters, who are mothers now as well, but more importantly, they’re Christian mothers.
My girls and me.
“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” 3 John 1:4
Mother’s Day 2021
Mother’s Day 2022
“Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.” Proverbs 17:6
“Elaine Crandell! Come on down! You’re the next contestant on The Price is Right!”
I first remember watching “The Price is Right” sometime after I graduated from high school in 1972. I continued watching it on and off over the years, basically whenever I just happened to be at home during the day. I never thought I could ever be a contestant on the show until sometime after 1989, when I started working for Delta Air Lines. My travel benefits at Delta opened up a whole new world of possibilities for me and my family.
So in January 2005, my daughter Megan and I flew to Los Angeles for three days of sightseeing and shows.
Now instead of going to bed the night before the show, like any normal person might do, we left the comfort of our warm hotel room and spent the night standing (in my daughter’s case, sitting in her wheelchair) in the cold, in the dark, in downtown Los Angeles, on the sidewalk just outside of CBS Television City studios.
We arrived outside the studio really early, around midnight actually, which made us the third group in line, and pretty much assured us we’d be able to exchange our tickets for a studio admission number at 6:00 a.m. We spent the night trying to keep warm, eating bagels, and talking with everyone around us in line. It was fun but in the middle of the night I started feeling sick and went back to the rental car to lay down. I couldn’t sleep so I got up and got back in line. By the time 6:00 a.m. rolled around, the line had grown around the block and out of sight, and I had a soar throat, but, we got our studio admission numbers!
We left to go back to the hotel with strict instructions to be back within three hours to get back in another line. We freshened up but were afraid to lay down thinking we might oversleep.
About three hours later, with our admission numbers in hand, we got back in line at CBS Television City. This was about a three hour process and although we were exhausted, it turned out to be a nice experience. It was here I met a young man who was a previous showcase winner a few years before. He was now working as a student advisor at a college and was back in line on this day with a group of students from his college. We talked for a while about a lot of different things, including my faith in Christ.
Continuing our way through the admission line, we encountered the show producers who were conducting interviews with each one of us, one by one. I noticed they were very personable and were taking notes as they did their interviews. The producer who interviewed me asked me what I did for a living. I smiled and told him, “I make mad people happy!” He laughed and then asked me what I really did. I explained that I was a customer service agent for Delta Air Lines and that I help passengers and agents resolve various problems and issues.
He must have liked my answer.
Within a couple of hours, I heard my name:
“Elaine Crandell! Come on down! You’re the next contestant on The Price is Right!”
I jumped up, screaming, and ran up to the podium. Within a few minutes I got the winning bid on a metal detector and ran up on stage. At this point my heart was pumping and my mind was racing with so many thoughts: “Mercy, those lights are so bright! Do I look sick? Do I need more make up? Do I look like I’ve been up all night?!” Suddenly I found myself talking with Bob Barker and playing The Range Game. I looked back to find my daughter in the crowd and all I saw was what seemed to be everyone telling me to stop. I hit the stop button but it was a tad bit too soon.
They cut to a commercial break and whisked me off stage to sign a bunch of legal papers: one giving my consent to be a contestant on a CBS game show, another explaining that I understood that I’d be responsible for any and all tax implications of my prize winnings, and yet another paper that gave me an option to decline any or all of my gifts.
By the time I finished signing all the papers it was time to go back on stage to spin the Big Wheel in the Showcase Showdown. My 95, in one spin, won me the chance to bid on a showcase!
During one of the next commercial breaks, a stage manager came up to talk with me. He was so kind. Talking with him really helped calm my nerves. My only regret at this point was that I realized then that I forgot to say, “Hello!” to my family while waiting for the Big Wheel to stop.
So then came the chance to win the showcase. Mine was a set of video phones, a Colorado Hot Air Balloon trip, a Colorado ski vacation, and a ski boat. I had no idea how much that ski boat was worth but decided to bid low as I didn’t want to overbid. My mind raced back to a few weeks before when my husband and I were invited to go on a ski boat but we declined because neither of us skied. I suddenly wished we’d gone as maybe the price of it would have came up in our conversations. Oh well, too late now.
As it turned out, the ski boat was worth a lot more money that I thought. I underbid my showcase by over $25K and lost to my opponent who also underbid her showcase, but by less.
What a day! All 24 hours of it! We went back to our hotel and as soon as the excitement wore down we both fell asleep in exhaustion.
A few weeks later I made a T-shirt to remember the experience. I used the photo of my expression when I realized I’d lost the showcase and titled it “The Price was Wrong!” Ha!
In retrospect, so much of what happened was right. I enjoyed and shared a great experience with my daughter. I won a metal detector worth $1100, which I still have. I got to be a contestant on one of the longest running game shows in television history. I got to meet Bob Barker, and I got to share my faith with a stranger.
In the big picture of life, “The Price is Right” is just a TV game show. My name was called and I won a gift.
Oh so much more importantly, Jesus knows my name! By faith, I’ve received the gift of eternal life; life here and now, and life in the ever after.
Not because I’m a “good person.” Not because I was baptized or a member of a church.
But because I trusted in Jesus and His plan of salvation one night many years ago, when God lovingly convicted me that I was a sinner in desperate need of a Savior. I responded and called out to Him in repentance and faith, and placed my trust in Jesus alone.
It was Jesus who took the penalty for my sins on the cross; He paid the price in full on my behalf. God, the Creator, Sustainer, and Author of Life, made a way for a sinner like me to be redeemed.
The Price Jesus Paid is Right, and it was according to His perfect plan and unfathomable love; it’s for all He calls to come and follow Him, for all who will respond in repentance and faith.
Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. Isaiah 43:1
For several years while Harold and I were in the RV business, we kept very busy traveling. Typically we would buy one-way flights once or twice a month to go buy motorhomes at various locations, then drive them back home to Texas to sell. We traveled all over the United States, but the road between Texas and Florida was our most traveled route. We’d often stop for the night in Mississippi or Louisiana on our way home to Texas, as either state was a good halfway stopping point.
Anytime we traveled in the first quarter of the year, no matter where we stopped in the Mississippi or Louisiana area, we’d find ourselves engulfed in a sea of purple, green, and gold Mardi Gras décor. The colors were vivid, and eye-catching, but what I found strange was that they also decorated Christmas trees. The same trees that held Christmas ornaments in December were decorated with Mardi Gras ornaments, signs, and ribbons in January, February, and sometimes March.
In February of 2023, after once again seeing the Mardi Gras decorated trees, I decided to look a little more into the history of Mardi Gras.
So one day I decided to look into this and did an internet search. I learned that the Mardi Gras tradition dates back well over 2,000 years to the pagan celebrations of spring and fertility, which included raucous Roman festivals. When Christianity arrived in Rome, the religious leaders (Catholicism) decided to incorporate these popular local pagan traditions into their religion, which apparently was an easier task than abolishing them altogether. As a result, the excess and debauchery of the Mardi Gras season became a prelude to Lent, the 40 days of fasting and penance between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday. Initially, I found the merger somewhat interesting, but the more I read, the more disturbing I found it.
Growing up attending a Methodist church, I was somewhat familiar with Ash Wednesday and Lent. However, years later, after I actually came into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ, I noticed the Baptist church I attended didn’t speak about Ash Wednesday or Lent. It was then I learned that the practices of Ash Wednesday and Lent were actually man-made traditions primarily found in the Catholic Church, and a few Protestant denominations such as the Methodist Church. A few years later I learned that penance is a Catholic sacrament and even though it may sound similar to repentance it’s not the same thing.
Repentance is a change of mind: turning away from sin and turning to God. Repentance (of sin) and faith (in Christ) are commonly referred to as two sides of the same coin. Repentance not only precedes salvation but is an ongoing daily practice for believers in Christ.
“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” Mark 1:15
“Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” Acts 3:19
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9
Penance is a Catholic sacrament in which an external action or form of discipline is performed to show sorrow for sin. Generally, penance takes the form of praying certain prayers a specified number of times, fasting, or spending time in front of an altar. This is unbiblical. Nowhere does Scripture teach that performing works or the act of punishing oneself can make restitution for sin.
“See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.” Colossians 2:8
Now I realize that Mardi Gras has long been considered a colorful cultural tradition for many of those raised in the South. The colors, the cakes, the parades, and social gatherings have become an enduring Southern tradition that many people have enjoyed since childhood. And while it’s not my intent to offend anyone, I do want to try to convey a biblical perspective here. So I have to say that I find the excess, debauchery, drunkenness, and such as what goes on in New Orleans and elsewhere in the name of Mardi Gras, including Fat Tuesday, sickening. People overindulging, sinning egregiously, and doing so publicly; supposedly getting the sin out of their system before they start trying to be “good” again. The Bible specifically reminds us, “No one is good, no, not one.” (Romans 3:10), and one doesn’t become “good” by performing any kind of man-made tradition. Sin is a serious matter that is offensive to God and should never be celebrated in parades.
“Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.” Romans 6:13
The truth is we’re all sinners who fall short of the glory of God. It’s only when we repent of our sins and place our faith and trust in Jesus Christ and the finished work He did on the cross that He covers us with His righteousness.
“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21
The idea that Mardi Gras evolved from the mixing of raucous pagan festivals, the Catholic Church, and man-made traditions with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ doesn’t sit well with me. Let alone the fact that these increasingly lewd and indignant Mardi Gras celebrations have been going on for so many years, and as a form of entertainment no less. And while I suspect many non-believers participate in Mardi Gras festivities and are just there for the party, what about those who participate in Mardi Gras festivities who claim to be Christian? Do you not realize you are mocking Christ and His finished work on the cross? Christ did not die for your sins so that you could celebrate them in Mardi Gras parades and parties. Nor did Christ die on the cross for your sins so that you could sin all you want and assume all is good as long as you can go do some penance.
Repent and trust in Christ alone.
“Thus says the Lord, ‘Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.’”Jeremiah 21:8
Treasure In Jars of Clay 