Category: Life

We Didn’t Realize Where We Stood

It was Saturday afternoon, sometime in late 1997. I sat in a booth at the Pizza Hut in Jacksonville, Texas, waiting for my personal pepperoni pan pizza.

They brought that delicacy out in a piping hot iron pan and served it to you right there on your table, pan and all. I was already sipping on my soda, served in one of Pizza Hut’s iconic red plastic cups.

The jukebox was jamming out to an old AC/DC song and I was looking forward to a big night at my best friend, Ronnie’s, house. We were going to, once again, attempt to conquer “Tomb Raider” on the first-generation PlayStation system. If Ronnie ever beat that game, I wasn’t there for it.

Sunday night would see my return to college at Stephen F. Austin State University, where I would wake up at 9 a.m. on Monday just in time to make it to my 10 a.m. broadcasting class before going to lunch at East Cafeteria, where I would be treated to all-u-can-eat flame broiled hamburgers, and “Silver Springs” by Fleetwood Mac playing on the jukebox.

Fleetwood Mac… in a few months, I would be able to attend their tour, “The Dance,” at the Coca Cola Starplex in east Dallas. That show was perfectly choreographed, with every move, note and song matching Fleetwood’s PBS special that aired earlier that year. The only thing missing was the USC Marching Band. Not a bad show for $10.

No bills. Inexpensive entertainment. And disposable income. No worries, just how to entertain myself next. Life at the age of 19… as it should be.

Life was good. Those were the “good ole days.”

In 2016, Donald Trump ran for his first term in office under the slogan, “Make America Great Again.” At the time, I was co-hosting a talk radio show with my good friend, Brian Wade. We theorized that, if Donald Trump wanted to “make America great again,” then there must be a time in American history that he was looking back on which he perceived America to be greater than it is today.

So, we went on the air and asked our audience to call in. Tell us, “When was America greater than it is now?”

Our audience gave different answers, ranging from the 1950s to the 1990s. What we found was that most people saw America at its greatest around the time they turned 18… when the benefits of earning money and starting their lives were first being realized, but before the realities and burdens of adult life set in.

For most, America was at its finest, not when the markets rallied or the wars were won, but when their lives were good. One man even said America was at its best in the late 1970s. The voters in the 1980 election beg to differ, but in the late 70s, this man had a good job, a good home, and a good family.

The good ole days.

Brian ran the show from the control room while I offered commentary, audio, lined up guests, and answered calls from “Studio B.”

What I didn’t realize in August of 2016, as Brian and I were creating the best radio that Brownwood, Texas, has ever heard, was that in a few short months, Brian would be called home to Heaven after suffering a pulmonary issue.

We never really know where we are standing, how good the time is, and how fleeting that moment truly is.

Adam and Eve stood in the garden of Eden… a perfect life, everything they could want, no problems. But… they didn’t realize where they were standing, how good things were, and how that paradise would be lost once they rebelled against God.

I wonder if Adam and Eve ever felt nostalgic for the Garden, the way we often feel nostalgic for our lost youth?

Nostalgia…

Nostalgia is an English word that descends from two ancient Greek words, Nostos (homecoming) and algos (pain.) It’s a sentimental longing for a period in the past, often accompanied by the pain of grief over the innocence and youth lost, the time past, and friends and family who have passed on.

What does scripture say about nostalgia?

Very little.

Ecclesiastes 7:10 warns us, “Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.” That the ongoing longing for times that seem better than now is not wise.

Philippians 3:13-14 tell us “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, ¹⁴I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

In both verses, we are warned against living in the past, but that doesn’t mean that it’s a sin to remember the past. Rather, when we remember the past, we do so with purpose, remembering God’s goodness, blessings and mercy, while at the same time looking forward to what He will do next.

So, to help us with this, let’s keep a few things in mind.

First, realize that when we look back on memories, we tend to look back with rose-colored glasses. Truth be told, the good ole days weren’t always that good.

Sure, America was prospering in the post-war years of the 1950s, but we faced a polio epidemic and the threat of nuclear annihilation at the hands of the Russians.

The 1960s might have been fun, but that’s only if you forget the near collapse of the American government and economy in the aftermath of the Kennedy assassination and the dark forces that were truly driving the counter-cultural revolution.

The 1970s may have had good movies and music, but stagflation wiped out the income of American workers and there were gas shortages.

The 1980s brought us AIDS. The 1990s brought us scandal, divisive politics and the beginnings of global terror.

I mean, Billy Joel has a hit song from the 1980s about all the challenges that post-war America faced.

Secondly, realize that today isn’t all bad. Yes, the simplicity of last century is gone, and the world we grew up in will never return. However, from the 1950s through the 1990s, generations back then grieved the changes that were taking place. Yet, today, we look back on those years as the good ole days, remembering some really good things about the times we complained about back then.

Everything is different now, and there are a lot of anxieties to daily life now. Cell phones and remote work has isolated us. Entire communities are disappearing even though the houses and people remain.

Yet, good things are happening today.

On a Spiritual level, I don’t think I have ever seen a younger generation so inquisitive and accepting of Biblical truth as the young Gen-Z, and Gen-Alpha. While social media shows the extreme left-wing and atheistic wing of those generations, in real life, there are multitudes of young people who are not only open to the Gospel, but crave a deeper understanding of the scriptures.

They seek what’s real. And, we as Christians and churches have the opportunity to cultivate that curiosity and foster that growth in faith in these younger generations that could spark a revival such as we have not seen since the 1950s.

Furthermore, if we take stock of our own lives, and take the time to count the blessings God has given us, we will find that, national and global issues notwithstanding, life is still good.

And finally, it will help if we remember that there is still purpose to life. If you opened your eyes this morning, God still has a purpose for your life. If you are still breathing, God is still working with you.

Sometimes, we go through seasons where we feel that we no longer have a reason to live. There’s no more purpose to life.

This is very common for empty nesters whose children have just moved out of the home. This is also common for retirees who have no idea what to do now that there’s no longer a career to wake up to.

It may take some time, but God will lead you to your purpose. Take this time to rest and to get into His word, and gain more understanding of him. Also, take a road trip, or go fishing. Enjoy life.

And as you enjoy it, just know that there is still purpose to life.

As we follow these steps, we will find ourselves less bereaved over the passing of the good ole days, and more purpose-driven, making these current days the good ole days. As we do that, we may even see the Kingdom of God advance.

May God bless you richly today.

Look at that Happiness!

Sometimes, it pays to stop and take stock of how far God has brought you, and where God has placed you.

In the opening words of Psalm 21, King David says, “The king shall joy in thy strength, O Lord; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice! ²Thou hast given him his heart’s desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips. Selah.”

The word “Selah” indicates a pause, and a reflection. King David is pausing to reflect on the words he just lifted up to God.

The first thing he said is, “The king shall joy in thy strength, O Lord.”

“The king…”

King David does not usually refer to himself in the third person like this, and he usually doesn’t refer to himself as king, at least, not in the psalms. Yes, he was the rightful king of Israel, so ordained by God, but David didn’t go around boasting his title. Instead, he was just king. He just did what God wanted him to do.

But here… David calls himself king. He is taking stock of where God has placed him.

No longer is he the shepherd boy living outside Bethlehem, he is king of Israel.

And his rise to power and prominence wasn’t the result of his own political abilities, nor was it the result of his own conquest, rather it was God who elevated him to that role.

The king shall joy in the strength of the Lord.

Here, David’s reflection moves beyond where God has placed him to the power and magnificence that defines the Lord’s character.

God’s strength is more powerful than anything we can imagine. As the creator of the universe, He has the ability to speak things into existence and to alter the course of time, and the composition of matter simply by desiring it.

This power is seen on full display in John 2, where Jesus turns the water into wine simply by willing it to change.

This God, with all His power and authority, had enveloped David in His good will. That same God, with the same power and strength, envelopes us in His good will as well.

Not only did God create us and give us life, but He used His power and authority to redeem us from sin and death. He then uses His power and strength for our good, as Romans 8:28 says that “All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

Romans 8:31 goes on to reinforce the truth that God wants, and will do, good for us. “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?”

So, in Psalm 21, David is taking stock of where God has placed him, and Who God is, and is celebrating the Lord’s salvation. He goes on to reflect all the prayers God has answered, and all the requests God has granted. This all culminates with David, once again, expressing faith and joy in the Lord.

In life, there always seems to be another mountain before us. We always seem to be facing another obstacle, another crisis, another problem, and another challenge to our faith.

And, even though we have our meltdowns and our breakdowns, we always seem to find a way to pray it out before God and move forward in faith.

But… one of the great tragedies in life is to miss the blessings you’ve already been granted because you are too focused on your problems.

So, we must intentionally stop, take a moment, reflect on Who God is, remembering His goodness, then take the time to count the blessings. Yes, there may be a mountain before us, but how about that mountain He already carried us over, and how about this beautiful valley in which we stand?

Even though I still have remnants from my past life stressing me out, it helps to start my day in the Lord’s presence with prayer and devotional time (which produces many of these blog posts). And centering my day on the Lord helps me to appreciate not only the past blessings, but the beauty and amazement of the place where I am now, and the new life He’s given me.

Take time to remember your blessings and praise the Lord for them today. You’ll be glad you did. It will lift your spirits.

How’s Your Heart?

I can’t lie to my doctor. He always learns the truth.

I can emphatically promise my doctor that I’ve been eating right, exercising, and taking my medications as directed. However, when his nurse checks my blood pressure, heart-rate and blood sugar, we will learn the truth.

If I have not been making the right choices, if I have been eating badly, and not exercising, my blood pressure rises, as does my A1c. High blood pressure and bad A1c readings mean that I’ve been making bad choices. The proof is in the proverbial pudding.

I don’t eat badly and fail to exercise because I have high blood pressure, I have high blood pressure because I eat badly and fail to exercise.

So, the solution is to fix my diet and exercise habits, and in my particular case, the blood pressure and A1c correct themselves.

When scripture describes a righteous man, it is describing the outward appearance of a man who has a deep-rooted faith in the Lord in his heart. The man does not do the things demonstrated in scripture in order to become righteous, he does those things because he is righteous.

For example, in Psalm 15, King David asks, “LORD, Who shall abide in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill?”

The answer is simple, and is given in verse 2, “He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.”

That phrase, “in his heart” is key. Because without that phrase, one may get the impression that, to enter into the Lord’s heaven, one must walk uprightly, work righteousness, speak the truth, don’t gossip or backbite, and honor those who fear the Lord.

So, under this misinterpretation, one may be tempted to think that as long as they are fair to others, do good things, preach the word, and speak well of others, they’re ready to enter into God’s Kingdom. However, that not only contradicts the Bible’s message of salvation by grace through faith apart from works, but it also describes those who will face condemnation on judgment day after leading an entire lifetime of self-righteousness and self-deceit.

Such are described in Matthew 7:21-23.

So, the proper way to interpret Psalm 15 is with the greater understanding of the central message of the Bible. Therefore, the reader can understand that the one who speaks the truth “in his heart,” is the one who has the faith in his heart.

The one who has the faith in his heart has been declared righteous by God. And when your faith is that deeply rooted, it shapes your character, and your life is marked by the characteristics listed throughout Psalm 15.

In essence, you should trust in the Lord, and the works will follow. The works then become a Spiritual blood pressure test to check your Spiritual health.

Brother Kelly Moore, former pastor of Rocky Springs Missionary Baptist Church in Jacksonville, TX, demonstrated living under grace to me through his personal example probably better than anyone I had ever known.

While he served as the pastor of Rocky Springs, I began to have some personal problems in my life. I contacted Bro. Moore for help, who immediately dropped everything and made the five hour trip to Brownwood to offer his support.

As I began to lay out what was happening in my life, he began to ask me, “How’s your prayer life? How’s your Bible reading going? How much time are you spending with God? How much time are you spending on your ministry and with your church?”

My answers to these questions were not good. Bro. Moore then used my answers to demonstrate to me that my main problem wasn’t my situation, but rather the fact that I had drifted from God. He led me through a self-examination of my works as a Spiritual blood pressure test to reveal that there was a problem.

I wasn’t in trouble because my prayer life slipped. I was in trouble because my Spiritual walk slipped, as indicated by my lax prayer and devotional life. The other problems were mere extensions of that main problem.

So, with all that said, we want to keep our Spiritual health in check. Stay in the Lord’s presence through prayer, Bible reading, and worship. Trust in the Lord, and endeavor to strengthen that faith.

And then, as you go, evaluate your life. If you don’t like what you see, you can change your habits, but the Spiritual change inside your heart will provide the basis to make the lasting change.

This is What Got Them Banned from the Promised Land

So, there were the Israelites. God had delivered them from the bondage of Egypt, saved them from the Egyptian army by parting the Red Sea, allowing them to pass on dry ground, led them with the pillar of cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night, fed them with the manna and provided water for them, but here they stood on the edge of the Promised Land, uncertain if God will help them.

God told them to go into the land and take it. Instead, they sent in spies. Of the 12 spies that went in, 10 said the land was unconquerable. Only 2 said they could take it, because God was with them. The Israelites refused to go into the land and began considering whether to go back to Egypt.

This is the day the Lord calls “the provocation,” or “the day of temptation.” This is the day the Israelites unequivocably told God, “We don’t trust you.”

There is no greater sin against God than that… the sin of unbelief. The sin of refusing to trust Him.

Conversely, there’s no greater way to please God than to simply trust Him. It’s faith that impresses God. It was the faith of the centurion that caused Jesus to marvel. It was Abel’s faith that pleased God with his sacrifice. It was Abraham’s faith that made God want to make him the father of many nations.

It was David’s faith that labeled him, “A man after God’s own heart.”

But the Israelites in the wilderness?

They saw the plagues of Egypt. They experienced the deliverance through the Red Sea. They were fed miraculously. They witnessed the power of Mount Sinai.

Yet, here they are in the Promised Land, with God leading them in, and they refused to follow, because they didn’t believe. That, according to Hebrews 3, is what provoked the Lord to anger.

God then told the Israelites that they (that current generation) would never enter into the Promised Land. They would wander in the wilderness for 40 years before He would lead their children in.

As I sit here and type this, I wonder how they could be so faithless, after seeing God do so many mighty works in their presence. But then I think about my own faithlessness.

How often have I seen God come through for me. How often has He delivered me, carried me through a storm, and answered my prayers. Seeing God’s history of caring for me, why do I fear, even though the current storm seems to rage longer than the ones before?

This lack of faith comes from the hardness within my heart, which comes from me forgetting Who the Lord really is. I forget His love, His grace, His goodness and His character.

So, I allow my heart to become hardened with bitterness and unbelief sets in, which sets the stage for sin, and possibly a spectacular downfall.

Hebrews 3 gives us the remedy for this. Hebrews 3 encourages us to get to know the Lord better, to be vigilant against the hardening of our own hearts, to watch for unbelief creeping into our lives, and to gather together and encourage each other in our faith.

Wednesday night, 10/8/25, at 7 p.m., we will take a closer look at Hebrews 3 at First Baptist Church of Hermleigh, 483 Harlan Ave, Hermleigh, TX. We’d love to see you!