America

The Good Old Days!

/ pastorpete51 / 7 Comments 
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. John 14:1 ESV

In this day of with change happening around us at the speed of light, many of us long for “Those good old days.” So, as an experiment I thought, “let’s turn back the clock sixty-one years, that should be sufficiently long enough ago to qualify as old.” Sixty-one years ago, I sat in seventh grade math class gazing at some long equations on the blackboard, when our P.A. system came on announcing that classes were dismissed for the day. There seemed to be some secret that the teachers knew but wouldn’t tell us. Nevertheless, as I traipsed home with my usual group of buddies, we were delighted to get out early on a beautiful Friday afternoon. But once inside our home I realized something terrible had happened. My mother was weeping, and I heard the television reporting that President Kennedy had been assassinated Yes, those day were old, but often far from good.

Jesus spoke today’s verse on a day far worse and yet far better than that. Judas had already rushed to the high priest to collect his reward for betraying Jesus. The meal had just finished at which Jesus had told his friends that His body and blood would soon be sacrificed. The disciples, though unaware of all the details knew that something awful was just over the horizon. After finishing the final notes of a hymn they quietly followed Jesus out into the night and headed towards their usual place of prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. Though nothing looked out of the ordinary, that night, their knees began to knock as they walked, and they jumped at every sound in the darkness. Then Jesus, turned, and said, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled! You believe in God. Believe also in Me!”

Those guys were no different than any of us today. Maybe that night they longed for, “The Good Old Days’” when they simply followed Jesus around Galilee, watching Him perform miracles, preach to crowds and on one occasion even calm the wind and waves of a storm. But with those days just a memory, Jesus assured them of something even better.

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

That something better is for us as well as them. We no longer need to cling to the “Good Old Days” or even our own lives because, Jesus said He is our Life. He was all they needed then, and Jesus is all we need today. Jesus is far better and more precious than any “Good Old Days.” He makes the lame walk, the blind see and best of all He will lead us all the way to the Father, if we will only trust in Him!

Reagan-movie review

/ pastorpete51 / 5 Comments

I rarely review either movies or books, but the new film titled, Reagan was such an excellent experience, I thought I would take a whack. Back in my younger days, though I was far from a liberal, I was fairly skeptical of President Reagan, mostly because he was an actor. I figured he simply played a role well enough to rise to prominence, and though he seemed nice enough, we were too busy raising our young boys to pay much attention to politics.

But back to the movie, itself, first off, Dennis Quaid as Reagan does an amazing job of portraying the president. Penelope Ann Miller also knocks it out of the park as Nancy Reagan. My only knock on the theater experience was the 27 minutes (yes I kept track!) of previews and commercials. My own first lady and I shed more than a few tears especially at the end. If like us, you lived through that time, you will recall many of these events from the 60’s-80’s but seeing them strung together gives a whole new perspective. So, if you have time this week, give this film a chance. It was a real blessing for us!

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness

/ pastorpete51 / 8 Comments 
 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:36 ESV

July 4th, 1974, in Southern Missouri, was a hot day, but perfect for a church picnic. All kinds of things were happening that day in America, but what my wife and I remember most is the birth of our oldest son. That afternoon after lunch, we cooled off by tossing a frisbee around with the other young people from our church. So, when Nancy’s labor pains started, she was having so much fun that she declined to tell me until they only were five minutes apart. Then when she informed me, it took a moment for reality to set in. Finally, in a state of panic I ran for the pickup and together we sped the two miles up the dirt road, and then another twenty-five minutes down the state highway to the hospital. Let me just say that this was a trip which neither one of us will ever forget! Later that night, at precisely 11:45 P.M., our parenting adventure began, and the details of that special July 4th remain precious to us even after forty-nine years.

Two hundred and forty-five years ago on a different 4th of July, our nation was born. Part of the reason we celebrate, is found in the second paragraph of a document that we call, the Declaration of Independence and it began with the groundbreaking idea:

 “That all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” So on this July 4th, though we could find things to complain about in our nation, and plenty of people we would like to blame for those issues, let’s remember that both today’s verse, and the Declaration, remind us to honor and respect everyone. We do this, not because we agree with everyone or accept their lifestyle, but because we are all created by the same God who never changes, and we are all sinners in need of a Savior. That is why God sent His only Son, Jesus to the cross to die. There at the Cross of Christ the ground is level, and His grace is available to all who ask. So, as you see the fireworks go up commemorating our national freedom, remember that only Jesus can give real life, true liberty and a happiness that will last forever. Now that’s something to really celebrate about!

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