Journals of the Heart

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Such was the case with the man at the pool of Bethesda in John 5. The reason Jesus asked him if he wanted to get well was because the man had apparently made a friend of his sickness. Sympathy will do strange things to you.

The first point is to never under estimate the youth of the next generation because they will usually turn out fine even if it appears that “the lights are on and nobody is at home.”

The thing that really bothers me is when I look on the faces of people in a crowded church and see that same look of being unwanted and insignificant. After all…we are supposed to be the ones with the answers to such problems.

Over the years I have noticed that many people seem to have gaps (or holes) in their lives. In many cases these gaps are of their own doing and in other cases these gaps are not of their initiative. Some times when a person is growing up, the pain they may have experienced causes them to block out certain periods of time in their life in such a way that they really do not remember particular times or events.

Anger is probably one of the most destructive sins that have ever been enacted by mankind. The byproduct of anger has killed people, caused sickness, started wars, destroyed marriages, lost money, driven people to insanity and a litany of other things.

Growing up in East Texas during the late ‘40s and early ‘50s provided a great opportunity for a young man like me to meet many special men who would have a profound impact on my life. The background of these men ranged from the educated to the illiterate, from the successful business man to the hard working man who spent long back breaking hours in the woods cutting logs with a cross cut saw.

The church of today seems to be filled with spiritual orphans. Many have natural parents, but they still feel fatherless. If the question was asked “Who is your Daddy” many would have to say I don’t know? Perhaps this is why Paul said, “For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.”

I really enjoy learning while listening to the older generation share their life experiences. Many times they’ve traveled the roads of life in ways that I’ve never thought of. When I’m around an older person I find myself digging around in their memory bank looking for treasures. It’s almost like discovering an old trunk tucked away in the attic. You can’t wait to open it because even the meager findings become a treasure to you. There seems to be a story written in each item as to their failures and successes in life. I’m sure I learn more from their failures than I do their successes. I know how to succeed—I just want to learn how to keep from failing.

As a teenager growing up on the farm, we would plant several acres of watermelons each year. I always enjoyed walking up and down those long rows looking at all our beautiful melons. Occasionally I would notice one that was starting to shrink. After a closer examination, I would discover the problem

If there was ever a scripture that speaks of Covenant, this one does. One of the blessings of Covenant is that you and your Covenant partner share each others’ possessions. That means when we are in Covenant with the Lord we give Him our sin sick soul and He gives us life everlasting and all that it provides. As a minister who lives by faith, I find that comforting. The point of this scripture is if He takes care of the little things of nature how much more would He take care of us.