The King

I don’t know about you, but I find myself standing long lines at funerals, Wal Mart, ball games, restaurants, and theme parks.  Long lines can be boring for most folks, but I have learned to have a little fun.

It all started years ago at Six Flags Over Georgia waiting to ride the Great American Scream Machine roller coaster.  Lines were so long that people had to have their hands stamped with a time to return to get in line.  The wait in line was so long that television sets were at each end the lines to watch programs if the person in front of you, behind you or on either side of you did not want to talk.  It was fun meeting people from different cities, states, and countries.

Of course, with the introduction of a new ride, the Scream Machine was easy to ride.  We would ride it, get off it, get back on it, and ride it again.  In fact, I rode the Scream Machine 22 times with no hands.  Now, that was fun.

Another thing that was fun when things got a little slow was to get an accompanist and point into the sky.  Now, there would not be anything in the sky.  We would point, nod our heads, whisper, and back away to watch how people would gaze into the sky.  You heard, “I see it.”  “There it is.”  “How many are there?” “What did they see?”  Yea, I know that is just wrong to do that, but it sure was fun to watch people watching the sky.  The line did not move any faster, but it sure seemed as though it did.

Gazing is something we all do, especially when trying to “figure” out something.  “Figure” is a good old Chilton County term for reasoning, contemplation, meditation, consideration, deliberation, reflection, or observation.  You have probably heard the expression, “Don’t look at me like a new born calf staring at an open gate.”   Nowadays I caught myself staring because I am losing my eyesight, not trying to figure it out.

I remember working for Hiwassee Land Company during the summers between by sophomore-junior year of school.  Our foreman, Benny, gathered us together to see something that most of had never seen before.  We worked two summers in the woods killing hardwood where pine could grow, and we saw very few snakes.  On this particular afternoon, we saw two, a small king snake and a large water moccasin.  Benny made us be real quiet as we approached the two snakes, which were in mortal combat on a small branch.

The moccasin had its mouth around the neck of the king snake.  Benny whispered, “The king snake is going to kill the moccasin.”  We stood there in disbelief.  The poor king snake’s head was lifeless, but its tail was just a twixing.  Slowly, but surely, the king snake wrapped itself around the moccasin.  Then, little by little, the king snake squeezed the moccasin.  In the silence of our gazing/staring at the snakes, we could hear the cracking of the moccasin as the king snake crushed him a little bit at a time.

Benny said that the king snake, the smaller, would eat the moccasin, the larger.  We did not believe it, but the longer we watched, the limper, the moccasin became.  Finally, the moccasin opened its mouth releasing the king snake.  Like a calf staring at a new gate, we watched the king snake eat the moccasin.  The mouth of the king snake unhinged and open wide as the king snake slowly swallowed the moccasin.

The Great American Scream Machine gazing at the sky and the king snake incident remind me of what Ty Pardon, pastor of FBC Thomasville, said at a Quarterly Men’s Meeting.  He reminded us that the problem of the church is we stand gazing into the sky when Jesus said to be witnesses.  Could it be that we are wanting and looking for the Lord to come back because Satan, the moccasin, has the paralyzed most of our ministries?  Remember the King is not finished and one day he will crush Satan.  Until He comes, we are to be witnesses not gazing or pointing into the sky.

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.  And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.  And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven (Acts 1:8-11 KJV) .

"Dad It's A Cross"

Cloudless blue skies are beautiful and remind me of special moments.  In the area where I call home is a fly zone.  On those beautiful clear sky days, my brothers and I would watch all sorts of airplanes overhead.  Some would be small planes, especially crop dusters, flying close to the ground.  Others would be military C130’s flying in groups of three roaring overhead with ground shaking rumble.  Fighter jets would buzz by low enroute to blow up Lay Dam.  A local pilot told us it was part of the military practice to buss the river and dam, so they never really blew up the dam.

Sometimes the airplanes would be so high that all you could see was contrails.  It was fun trying to find the plane.  Suddenly, the plane would glisten in the sunlight and we could see the tiny speck running ahead of the contrail.  We often wondered where the people were going and if they could see us.  Having flown, I realized they could not.  I remember the eerie feeling of no planes in the sky after 911.

Years ago Andy, my oldest son, and I were riding the church bus one Sunday morning.  Andy was no more than six or seven years old.  I rode the church bus, a converted school bus, as a helper to pick up kids who normally did not attend church. 

If you remember, there was a fad, craze, or period when Baptist churches converted school buses into ministries for church visitation and evangelism.  I remember it was exciting when the church started the process of buying a bus.  Baptist business meetings can be hilarious. 

We had Saturday morning visitation encouraging people to attend church with us.  We had a busload of kids from time to time.  We even had people who needed a ride to church ride with us.  Sometimes there were several helpers and their children.

The most amazing thing was we had several children who had never attended church, did not have Bibles, and had never heard of Jesus.  Some children we helped dress for church.  I remember rounding up kids in the yard, washing their faces, hands, and feet, helping change from play clothes to church clothes, and believe it or not, getting a few out of bed.

Contrary to what most churched people think, unchurched people do not understand the language and customs of church, what ministers call the Language of Zion.  It is okay that they did not know and it is our responsibility to help them know Jesus.  If a person finds Jesus, he or she will learn the language and customs of Zion as we help them become disciples.

This particular spring morning the sky was a cloudless, beautiful blue with the exception of two airplanes in the sky.  One of the little girls, about Andy’s age, said, “Look a big X in the sky.”  Two jets crossing overheard left two huge contrails.

Without missing a beat Andy said, “Dad, that’s a Cross just like the one Jesus died on. It is not an X.”  It is amazing how kids, grownups too, see things differently.  It made my job as bus helper, kid dresser, and worship preparer worth the effort.

I remember telling Andy that the reason we were picking up the other children was that they might learn about the Cross, the Crucifixion, and Christ.

As we go, more people will see as Andy did that morning that boys and girls, moms and dads, and grandparents across Alabama do not know Jesus or understand the Cross.

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God (I Corinthians 1:18 KJV).

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen (Matthew 28:18-20 KJV).

"Be Quiet Ears"

The sound of birds singing, after a good night’s sleep, it is a harmonious reminder of Spring.  They do not sound so melodious after a long night of an old-fashioned case of insomnia.  Sleepless nights exaggerate sounds and the sweet melody of birds singing becomes aggravating foul chirping.  It makes one want to get a gun and shoot them.

Hearing is a valuable sense that we take for granted.  I pastored a church that had a signing ministry for the deaf.  It was spellbinding watching people sign my sermons.  Signing is beautiful interpretation of preaching God’s Word. 

Every once in a while Laura,  the translator, would make eye contact with the deaf and then with me.  With a look of desperation she would shrug her shoulders meaning, “Brother Bobby I cannot translate your Chilton County, Mars Hill, vernacular.”  I forget that no one has translated all of my native Chiltonian lingua franca into American Standard English.

Experience as a preacher has taught me that listeners do not always interpret everything I preach as I intended.  I have gotten a laugh when I said something serious and I have had people get serious when I intended humor.      

Having a high frequency hearing loss prevents me from hearing every word of a conversation.  I do not hear certain feminine voices or sounds very well.  I have to watch people’s lips, especially if they speak softly.  People  remind me that that is too convenient of an excuse for not hearing women.  Most people hear what they want to hear. 

That reminds me when my daughter Angel was small.  She is the athlete of the family and she loved playing outdoors.  The love for playing outdoors got her into a dilemma with her Pawpaw.

One autumn afternoon, one where it turned very chilly, Angel and her older brother Andy were playing with their cousins at Granny and Pawpaw's house.  As the autumn sun slowly snuggled under the warm blanket of earth, Jack Frost decided to pay a visit to the clean, clear night air.  Angel did not carry a jacket on her visit, so Granny ordered her to the steps that went from the den up to the bedrooms.  Pawpaw had guard duty.

Andy and the cousins did not enjoy being outdoors, but since Granny and Pawpaw sentenced Angel to an evening of torture on the dreaded “punishment steps” for not bringing a jacket, they decided to help Granny with the persecution and have fun outside.  Angel watched them through two large glass sliding doors circle the house repeatedly.  Bundled in warm jackets, they taunted with each circle.

Angel begged and pleaded to go outside only to have Pawpaw remind her she did not have a coat.  He watched, as Angel would slap at her ears, as one would swat at mosquitoes to keep them away.  Angel quietly mumbled, “Shut up, stop it, shut up, quit talking to me. . .”  Pawpaw watched her for several minutes and curiosity finally killed the cat.  Pawpaw asked, “Angel, what are you doing?” 

Angel said, “Pawpaw my ears are telling me to go outside and play.  They say not to mind you and Granny, but I am telling them to shut up, stop it.  They are trying to get me in trouble.”  Pawpaw had a good laugh and Angel stayed on the steps.

When I rescued Pawpaw and Granny from the grandkids and Angel from the dreaded steps, Pawpaw said you gave Angel the wrong name and that he would pay to have her name changed to Devil.  Angel was smart for not listening to her ears.

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.  But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry (II Timothy 4:3-5).