Comedy of the Mountains

Although I cannot remember ever telling a joke in the pulpit, there have been many funny stories. These stories have happened during the thirty-five years of pastoral work in the mountains. Laughter is good medicine. I hope you enjoy them. The names have been changed to protect the guilty.

Ruby was one of the song leaders in one of the first congregations that I worked as interim pastor. She only had one tooth in the front but she had a beautiful voice. When she opened her mouth to sing and looked heavenward with that tooth sticking out…. you just learned to overlook the tooth. She loved the Lord and singing was one of her favorite things to do. She was much older than me, and since I was only nineteen, it was no problem to pick her up on Sundays for the service. She had a boyfriend that walked from a little town called Dante. It was probably fifteen miles away, but he was faithful to come and see her. He had a speech problem and talked much like a child. One Sunday morning they were having relationship problems.

As the service progressed I could tell there was tension in the air. You can tell those things more easily when your congregation is about five people in a large building. Ruby led the songs but you could tell she was not doing her best. However, she was instant in season and out of season and she was determined to go through the motions. After the message, I asked for testimony or prayer concerns. The boyfriend just spoke up in a childlike voice and said Ruby was mad at him. This caused an almost angered response from Ruby who responded, “If I have done anything to him, I will gladly go to the altar and make it right.” Again, he responded in childlike voice, “Let’s go.” They proceeded to the altar where they cried and wept and hugged while the other three people in the congregation watched or just hung their head.

Another older lady that often visited unexpectedly, is the main character in many of my stories. Pearlie Mae was never married but loved to go to weddings whether she knew the people or not. It was one of the hottest summers we had ever had and I had a case of walking pneumonia that summer. One of the young men from the city police force had asked me to do his wedding. It was in another town and would be held at a home out in the country. It was a mid-day wedding and attended by invitation only. I didn’t feel well that morning, but went to pick up my suit at the cleaners. Upon returning home there was Pearlie Mae sitting on my porch recliner. She had on some real short shorts…. much like the length I would wear for boxers. I told her that I had to get ready for a wedding. She said, “I’m going to go with you.” I tried to tell her that it was a private wedding…. but she wanted to go anyway. She said she would just sit in the vehicle while I performed the wedding service. I still didn’t think it was a good idea because it was almost a hundred degrees. There was no persuading her any different.

Heading up the interstate I realized there was some lint on my suit jacket. I had laid it in the seat beside me since it was so hot. She proceeded to take my jacket and hold it out the window to let the wind blow the lint off. I then realized it would probably be a day to remember. Upon arriving at the wedding location, I parked at the bottom of the hill. The wedding would take place at a house up on a little knoll. Pearlie Mae said she would be alright down at the bottom and requested that I bring her back a barbeque sandwich. A couple of hours later I returned with her sandwich. I asked her if she got very hot while waiting. She responded, “Why heavens no, I got out and laid down in the grass. Some of those police came over to see if I was alright. I told them that they didn’t need to worry about me with all the drug problems they had in the city.” And, I am sure she told them that she was with the preacher.

To be continued…..

The Birthing of the Lambs

I have had requests to write more about my childhood experiences with the sheep. Birthing of the lambs was a special time for my Dad and me. It was always uncertain timing and a little messy.

Most lambs were born in the winter and a few in the springtime. On cold winter nights my Dad and I would ride the old farm truck up to an old log barn. This is where my Dad would put the most expectant sheep. He could always tell which ones were closer to giving birth. Some births were natural but several weren’t. When the mother sheep could not deliver in her own strength, my Dad would have to go up in her and pull the lamb out. This was really messy. Sometimes the lamb or the mother would die in the process. If a mother sheep died, we ended up with an orphan lamb. If a lamb died, we would sometimes skin the dead lamb and put it on another orphan lamb hoping the mother sheep would adopt the orphan lamb. The mother sheep wasn’t easily fooled but the skin helped. Otherwise the orphan lamb became mine…. to raise on a bottle. It became what I called…. a pet lamb.

It has been prophesied that a billion youth will be saved in the next few years. This prophecy has been accepted as valid by almost everyone involved in the revival movement of our times. Giving of the prophecy is the easy part. Some of the birthing may be a little messy but most of it will come natural. The goodness of God and the truth proclaimed will lead millions to Christ. The love and compassion of older Believers will also touch the world. The hardest part will be the raising of the new believers. They will need fathers and mothers to bottle-feed and mentor them into full grown sons and daughters of God.

Paul said that there are not many fathers. There was a shortage in his day and there is a shortage today. One billion new souls brought into the kingdom will require millions of new pastors and at least a 100 million small group leaders if we use the ration of one leader for every ten. Where will these leaders come from? When nations are saved in a day, are we ready for them? There is a call for all of us to prepare to become fathers and mothers of the faith.

How to bring children into the world is easily understood, but fathering isn’t. Most of us didn’t know much about fathering when our children were born. We just had to do it. In our western society we have been taught that being a good provider is the key to fathering. It is not. It often leaves children confused and in need of mentoring to guide them into life. Just provision alone will not be enough for the new kids brought into the kingdom of God. Church services and bible classes will not be enough for the new spiritual children that are being born. They will need one-on-one experiences with older believers. They will need small group interaction where they can learn from the experiences of others. This will help them avoid major stumbling blocks and pits in the path before them.

Older believers can begin preparing for this great harvest by allowing God to judge their hearts. Like Paul we can allow them to imitate us as we follow Jesus passionately with all of our heart. We can also ask the Father of all fathers to teach us how to father and mother these new believers that are coming. It is a challenge, but it is exciting. It is the kingdom of Heaven coming to invade the earth. To become like our Heavenly Father is a challenge but it is His ultimate will for us. In the process of fathering we become more like Him.

A few nuggets gained along the way about fathering: first of all they just need to feel loved. They also need someone to believe in them. Their dreams and visions are important and they need encouragement in them. No matter how unique their vision may seem, we must allow them to be trained as such. When we try to bend them towards our desire for them, we can hinder them. Allow the branch to bend the way it needs to bend. Let’s stop trying to make images of ourselves in everyone. Finally, let’s pursue God with all our hearts and grab the young ones to walk with us on this precious journey of faith.

One of the most precious memories of springtime is how the lambs would jump and play in the new green fields. The winter was past. The mothers would just graze on the new grass while the little ones would play endlessly along beside them. The spring days became longer and as the sun would set, the lambs would gather around the mother for the cool nights. The barn was no longer needed because the ground was getting warmer. The warmth of the mother was enough. We can never under estimate the importance fathering and mothering will play in the coming harvest of the lambs. When the barn (church building) is no longer the most important place and the green fields beckon…. where will the fathers and mothers of the faith be?

How They Love

An in-depth study of the twenty-four Elders in the book of Revelation offers us more than just symbolism. Their reaction to all that happens in Heaven is remarkable. Elders hold honorable authority in church-life on earth, but these Elders in Heaven seem to honor and adore the Father on a much higher level.

They sit on thrones and they are clothed in white. Upon their heads are golden crowns (see Revelation 4 and 5). When the creatures of Heaven give honor, the Elders fall down before the Father and give their crowns to Him. When the book of judgment is about to be opened and they have a problem finding someone worthy to open the book, Jesus is found in the midst of the Elders. Jesus enjoys hanging out with these guys. When it is announced that Jesus will open the books, the Elders take up their harps, and golden bowls full of incense. They begin to sing a new song of His worthiness. The angels respond in creation-shattering praise and the creatures say, “Amen.” The Elders respond by falling down again and worshiping.

One definition (in the Greek) describing the word worship, is to respond like a dog licks the hand of its master. It would be safe that the Elders love and honor the Father so much they bow and lick the hand of the Father. If you prefer kiss the hand of the Father that is good too…. I just hope you get the picture. Here are persons of greatest authority sitting on thrones in Heaven and they have so much love that Jesus hangs out with them and they love to kiss the hand of the Father. What great love and adoration is portrayed here! This is a picture of the grace of true authority.

On earth, we seldom see people of authority being approachable or responding with much love. They usually are somewhat reserved and often abuse the authority given unto them. Elders in scripture were in that office because of longevity and faithfulness. It was the highest and most respected office in the early church. They were men and women who had been faithful to the Lord for a long time. However, time had not made them arrogant or prideful. They remained broken and humble before God.

Scripture tells us that the saints will judge the world and angels (see I Corinthians 6:2,3). Paul reasons that since we are given such an important task, we should be able to handle and judge smaller matters while still here in this life. This must take place from a place of love and with the grace of true authority. Our best example is Heaven’s example. Notice the love, adoration, and passion of the twenty-four Elders. Jesus told us to pray that the kingdom of Heaven and the will of God come to Earth. We need some of this kind of love on earth. Where there are seeds of this kind of love, let’s water it so that it reaches maturity. When we are in places of authority in any area of our lives, may we work and live out of a higher love that is so beautifully portrayed for us in Heaven.

Who Will Be Your Dinner Guests?

Jesus introduced a totally new way of doing hospitality when He came as the Son of Man. His love for humanity was the source from which He acted towards the outcasts of His time. His meal plans were different.

Jesus suggested a new way. He said that when we have a luncheon or a dinner we should invite the poor, crippled, and blind. He said there is a blessing in doing this. He thought this was better than inviting our friends, family, or rich neighbors. The latter group would probably invite us to their home soon to return the favor - it would be kind of like a repayment. The first group would be too poor to repay us so we would be repaid by God later (see Luke 14:12-16).

This is an interesting teaching. Very few believers seem to practice this way of hospitality. It is definitely out of the box in our society. One of the people eating with Jesus that day understood what Jesus was saying. He began to proclaim blessing on everyone who would eat bread in the kingdom of God. He was connecting to the revelation that kingdom living is different – not normal. Our love is to reach beyond our friends, family and prestigious people. He got it. Have we got it yet?

Let’s consider having a meal and inviting someone we don’t know or barely know. What if we limited our conversations during the meal to life experiences instead of religious talk. What if we freed ourselves of any hidden motives to convert them? Our desire must be to honor and love them first. What if we were prayerful about the meal, asking our Father God how He would want us to honor them? What if there was a rule that the ones we invited cannot invite us to a dinner? This would guard against reacting only out of feelings of obligation. What if we were truly set free of obligation slavery for a season? What if we learned to love like they do in heaven?

In this teaching, I really think Jesus was giving us keys to how they love in heaven. They don’t operate out of obligation. It is all about heart and passion. We cannot even begin to pay our Father back for all He has done and does for us. Upon entering His presence in eternity, the revelation will only multiply, that we cannot repay Him. So, I would dare bet that the society of heaven does nothing out of obligation. They are free to serve without jealousy or envy. Spontaneous and impulsive actions of love are the order of the day. It’s a new kind of normal that Jesus felt needed to be implemented on the earth 2,000 years ago. When will we begin? Do you want to try it? If we will, I believe we will bless God in it.

Trusting the Journey-Maker

Have you ever been uncertain of where you are going but certain you cannot stay where you are? Not knowing where we are going isn’t always bad. While it may make us feel vulnerable, it can also bring fulfillment. Coming out of our nest that we have long enjoyed can be a challenge. Going into the unknown requires a tighter grip on the hand of the Father.

As the mother eagle begins the process of getting her young ones out of the nest she knows it will pull on the strings of her own heart. She loves her little ones. The rabbit fur they are resting on feels good. As she gently pulls it out from under them they complain. The briars that make up the nest hurt. When she invites them to come out of the nest for a joy ride on her wing, she also knows the joy is not immediate. They are now willing to accept her invitation because it is uncomfortable where they are. What used to feel good has lost its touch. They are unsure of where they are going but realize they can’t stay where they are. As they climb out of the nest and onto her wing, she flies high with them clutching tightly. The view is great. The mountains look sweet. She suddenly tilts her body and the little ones fall off. This turns their complaining into screaming. What is mother thinking? But, the mother sweeps under them and catches them right in the nick of time. After a few episodes of this they begin to flap their wings. Soon they can fly. Now the mountains look even sweeter.

Following a call of God, Abraham set out for a strange place. He didn’t know where he was going but he knew he couldn’t stay where he was. Because of his obedience he eventually left his children one of the greatest legacies the earth has ever known. Being blessed with a child at the age of seventy-five was only part of the rewarding journey for him as he followed God. He was on a pilgrimage. Obtaining the understanding for each direction of his journey was precious because it involved intimacy with God. It must have been awesome to not know where he was going and just leaning on God to show him the way.

Jesus tells us that the wind blows wherever it wishes. We hear the sound but we don’t know where it is going. Jesus explains that we who are born of the Spirit are like that. Yes, we are like the wind. We cannot see the wind but we can feel and hear it. There are even those who have harnessed the wind for useful purposes. From a windmill to a sailboat to more modern uses of the wind - it is helpful. We can observe the effects of the wind. This can be seen in the aftermath of storms. We can see where the wind has been. So, is Jesus trying to tell us that not knowing where we are going is good? I think so.

The more we learn to trust the Lord the easier it is to follow without knowing all the details. In my walk with the Lord, I have found blessing in stepping out in some direction not knowing where it would end. It is like an adventure filled with anticipation and mystery. It will hold challenges but they are for growth and maturity. It often holds surprises, but that too is good. It is apostolic because we are on a mission for and with the King. What can feel greater than resting in hands that hold the universe?

Scripture is filled with people who didn’t know where they were going or what they were going to be doing. These people became the heroes of scripture. They also became our models and examples. Could Moses have possibly known at the burning bush that soon the wind would cause the sea to stand at attention when he raised his staff towards it? Did Noah find Mt. Ararat on his map when he entered the ark? When young Elisha chose to follow the older prophet Elijah did he see whirlwinds in the future? When Mary rejoiced over the Messiah in her womb did she see swaddling rags and Egyptian hideouts? When Paul said yes on the Damascus road did he imagine jail, hunger, persecution, nakedness, and shipwreck?

Outside of scripture, we know of stories where there have been those who have carried the torch of going into the unknown. Did Christopher Columbus know he would find a brand new world? Did Martin Luther King, while delivering one of the most powerful speeches of our generation see a bullet down the path? There are those who have brought great freedom to multitudes by following the unmarked path. From the beginning of time people who went forward unsure of where they were going have left legacies.

Those who journey into the unknown are sometimes labeled irresponsible or it is said that they may lack vision, however often they are the courageous pioneers. Though they may not know exactly where they are going - they know they are heading into something beautiful. They follow the cloud and the fire. They blaze unknown trails. They make the way for future generations to follow. They make it easier. Is there a pioneer spirit in any believers today? Are there those who are ready to rise up knowing they cannot stay where they are? Are they brave enough to go forward unsure of where they are going? Who will say amen to the journey God has planned for us before time began? Who will trust the Journey-Maker?

Summers in Appalachia

Memories of my summers in Appalachia are full of good memories. They include hiking, swimming holes, peeling cherry trees, picking green beans and hauling hay. Country stores, biking, church, and cousins coming to visit also highlighted the best times of the year. Jumping on sugar cane stalks at a molasses stir off, whiz ball in the pasture field, hot dogs from the Tastee Freeze and camping was included. I have always loved summer.

Around the age of seven, I was up at the break of dawn one morning. Barefooted, I ran most of the way to the back section of our farm. There in a small pup tent my closest brother in age was asleep with his friends. Although I wasn’t invited and considered too young to camp, I did the next best thing and showed up at dawn. A few years later I would find my own camping place about a hundred yards away and invite my friends to camp. Camping was a big deal. We would plan for a couple of weeks even down to the food we would eat. It always went well but not without accidents. My cousin got burned real badly one time. Neighborhood friends would visit during the night and raid us for fun. The group kept getting bigger and some failed to bring anything to add to the meals. Camping was the only vacation I ever knew.

Raising sheep was such a big part of our life. I have shared about the sheep shearing in other writings. I usually had a pet lamb that would quickly grow into an adult sheep. One of the biggest events was going to the sheep market in Tazewell. I would invite my cousins and we all loaded up in the back of the pick up truck and headed out. My dad would drive. The market was beside a big outdoor drive-in theatre. We watched the movie without sound from the balcony of the sheep market. It is funny how the simple things meant so much.

There was always the fun of making a rock dam across the creek and playing in the water. My aunt always told us we were going to get a disease but we didn’t. Sometimes my brother would load all his friends up on a wagon and drive down to the bigger creek. Since they were all about ten years older than me, I was always the tag along. Not many people had swimming shorts back then so they all swam in the buff. They would lay their clothes on the bank of the creek. I remember running off with their clothes for fun. It was even more fun to do when an older neighbor lady was out walking in the field. They would stay in the water longer.

On summer nights we would often go to a molasses making. Dozens of people were there and us kids would jump for hours in the sugar cane stalks. While the molasses was cooking a steam would come off of the big trough. I made the comment that it looked like fog. The molasses farmer tagged me with one of my many nicknames, “Foggy.” When the molasses was emptied into containers, we had wooden sticks ready to scrape the remaining molasses out of the trough.

In my later teen years we decided to build a cabin on our mountain property. It was high in the mountain. We cut trees and built a twenty by twenty cabin. There were about eight of us guys that worked on this project. All of us had unusual nick-names that we gave each other. By this time I had settled with “Harm.” Some of the names of my friends included “Mooney,” “Bird Brain,” “Fox” and other meaningful names. Most names came from an event in the person’s life. It took an entire summer to build the cabin.

At the end of the summer we were ready for our first camp out. In the valley below a revival was going on at the Methodist Church. I attended the meetings and returned back to the cabin for the nights. About mid-week I rededicated my life back to God. When I returned that night, I told the guys what had happened. I told them I would like to have devotions before we went to sleep. Someone grabbed a cassette player to record it. I wish I had that recording. It was a memorable night. Afterwards, I took a blanket and went out into the mountains and reflected on God and what the rest of my life would be.

Summers still mean so much to me here in the mountains. I still go back and camp on the farm. I still hike, garden, play in the creek, and just lie in the fields and reflect on the God of creation. There is so much restoration taking place as creation groans for the release of the sons and daughters of God. May each of us take time to do the simple things that make mountain kids marvel. May simplicity be restored in our lives as we worship the creator of the mountains.

Unusual Places of Strength

These are times when people are running out of strength. The Lord is still our greatest source of strength. It is a season to seek the goodness of the Lord. Often it is found in unusual places. In a troubled land with a troubled economy God has answers. His grace is without measure and will even overtake us, as we trust in Him. Let’s say amen to His strength in these times.

Saul’s army was running out of strength because of the long battles (see I Samuel 14:25-30). They had spent years trying to defeat the Philistines. Saul proclaimed a fast during the time of battle. His son Jonathan was a great leader in the battles. As the men entered the forest, Jonathan, who had not heard his father’s command to fast, happened upon some honey flowing on the ground. He took his spear and got some honey on the tip and ate it. He was instantly strengthened. His eyes were brightened. The other soldiers informed him of his father’s command not to eat anything and his response to their warning was that his father had troubled the land. He believed the warriors were weak because they had not eaten freely. Jonathan was not dishonoring his father; he was merely stating what he knew to be true.

Even as we honor our leaders in these times, we also recognize that like Saul, they have troubled the land. There are ways of injustice that have troubled the land that are a result of choices our leaders have made. Many believers are in constant battle - in places of trouble - in many areas of their daily lives. Tragedy has hit our land with fierce storms. The economy continues to weaken. Strength wanes. Our land is troubled. We need to find new courage and new strength.

It is very unusual to find honey flowing on the ground, but it was in Jonathan’s path. As he kept moving forward, he found a source of strength in an unusual place. Most of us are programmed to think that our strength comes from a list of usual places. These are either places we have often found strength, or we have been told that these are the places of great strength. However, we will miss some great sources of strength if we look only in familiar places. Sometimes the familiar spring has run dry. We must be willing to look wherever God leads, and often as we open our eyes, we will see it is right there in our path.

When I think of the usual places that I have found strength….. they are many. I have found strength in church services. I have found it in conversations with close friends. Vacation or a few days away from the normal agenda have helped me refuel. When I have been sick, I have found strength in my doctor and the antibiotics he prescribed. All of these are greatly appreciated. However, they are not our only source of strength. They even have their flaws.

Millions of believers trust in Sunday morning meetings to give them the strength for the entire week. This was never meant to be. We are to daily pick up the manna. Where did the Israelites find this manna? On the ground. Unusual? Why didn’t it fall in the tabernacle of worship? They had to go outside the camp and gather it. I’ll let you think on that one.

All of our strength isn’t found within the walls of the church building. The river of Ezekiel 47 got deeper the farther it flowed from the temple. It’s power increased as it healed everything it touched. If God can ever get us outside the temple - the church buildings - then we will be a powerful people flowing into the realness of life... changing the region around us, shifting the culture, bringing the Kingdom of Heaven to earth.

Friends are great. They are a source of encouragement. Jonathan built a friendship with David that blessed their lives even in war days. It is one of the greatest friendships recorded in scripture. In our times friends can be a source of encouragement. However, sadly, it seems things have changed. The handshake that meant much fifty years ago no longer stands very strong. Our word seems to mean less and less. The friendship of Jesus is still as strong as ever. If we run to friends every time we are troubled we may still be disappointed. Friends were never meant to be our only source of strength. The joy of the Lord is our strength, and that joy is often found in unusual places. We just have to keep our eyes open to see.

I appreciate doctors and hospitals. They have helped me many times. However, as a pastor, I have been with families when the doctor would tell them the results of their work. Some of the saddest moments are when families are told that there is nothing else the doctor can do. All hope seems to be gone as they try to restructure their plans. I have known the Lord for forty-two years and I cannot ever remember Him telling me there is nothing more He can do. He has never spoke those words to me. This simply is not a part of His vocabulary. He always has an answer and within that answer there is strength.

So, where are the unusual places? It can be outdoors. It can be on the streets. It can be lying on a park bench watching the ducks swim on the pond. It can be lying in a field of mown hay looking at a cloudless sky. It can be while walking in the cool of the day at the setting of the sun. It can be in the place of trial. It can be while everyone else is talking that you hear a still small voice that speaks louder than the voices around you. It can be in the path of the forest or on the Appalachian Trail.

The apostle John was banished to Patmos. Some say it was barren and other historians say an idol temple was there. We might conclude that it was not a spiritual retreat. However, heaven was opened up to him. He received a vision that has blessed every generation. The vision of Revelation ends by telling us about eternity in a place that is beyond imagination. Revelation tells us that whoever reads this vision is blessed. Patmos was an unusual place to find strength.

A lame man asked Peter and John for alms. They were near the Jewish temple where the thick veil had been rent just a few weeks earlier when Jesus was crucified. Some would think the renting of the veil was a sign of the anger of God and that nothing good would ever happen in that place again. However, Peter and John told the lame man they were out of money but they wanted to bless him anyway. They told him to rise up and walk. He was healed right there and he got up and walked. He found new strength in the streets near the temple as he danced a new dance. Some would have thought that the lame man should have went to the upper room where God had appeared earlier in great power. It would seem that it was holier ground than a temple of ritual. But, for that day and for the lame man, the temple courts was the place of power and new strength.

God is always on the move. His places of strength are often unusual. Let’s not miss them. After Jesus calmed the storm, the disciples knelt on the storm-beaten bow of a boat and worshiped Him with greater passion than they had ever worshiped. That was an unusual place. Paul and Silas sang loud in a Jail with their hands and feet bound. The earth groaned and the jailer and his family were converted. That jail was an unusual place. Samson found honey in the carcass of a lion that tried to kill him. Elijah enjoyed the company of angels in the wilderness where he was often discouraged. David wrote psalms on the hillside with the sheep. Carcasses, the wilderness, and hillsides can be unusual places. Look for the honey on the ground. It may be at the workplace. It may be at the mall. It may be in your bed before you arise. May the joy of the Lord strengthen you in the unusual places. May you have eyes to see and ears to hear.