It was about 10:30 a.m. or so, and I was sitting in a local, and seemingly popular, millennial coffee shop, attempting to work on some things for remainder of my current school semester and for post-school work. I decided taking a second to pull back from my work and reign in my thoughts, so I looked up and took in the environment around me. I noticed an older man, maybe in his early 60’s, and his young grandson, maybe 4 or 5, walking in. He had ordered his “little guy” a hot chocolate and then sat at the table next to me. A few ladies walked in shortly after, ordered
their coffee and went to sit on the soft, plush couches nearby. The little one kept asking about his grandma, the fact that his hot chocolate had “Ice” on top, and why his grandpa’s beard was so long. His grandpa then struck up a conversation with the family behind him, who was having coffee, with what looked like a daughter home from college. After talking about his Alma mater, his time in the Marine Corp, and how it had such an influence on his life, the family then thanked him for his service and parted ways He watched them leave and then the man returned his attention to his young grandson, who had been quietly sitting, watching and listening to his grandpa. The ladies that had ordered and sat on the couch, approached the older man about taking their picture, to which he agreed and joked about his lack of ability with technology. Hearing and silently observing the things going on around me, it struck me that the things we have most wrong with our world and the people therein, it’s the lack of common courtesy and care for one another. One may argue that it’s a lack of love that we’re seeing in our world, to which I would not disagree, but where do we even see and get our example of love? Obviously, I can say with utmost certainty that our example of love comes from Christ, His treatment of others and the ultimate demonstration of love, His death on the cross. If we expect to be loved by others, to be treated the way we desire to be, and to see others be treated the way we think they should be, WE need to be the example of Christ’s’ love. It is simple, but not easy. Loving how He loved, is not something we can expect to happen as soon as we’re baptized or as soon as we pray about it. It takes practice. Learning how to love someone regardless of their actions and flaws, is not something that is picked up after one ‘attempt’. We will fail, but that is all part of learning how to be better the next time.
ya gonna call?” Most know the response as the title of the movie…”Ghostbusters!” If you have ghosts, call for help. But away from Hollywood, some 25 years earlier, the ‘Universal Emergency Number’ was established. You know that number as 9-1-1. A home invasion, a car accident, an injury or a threat on your life, any type of emergency would justify a call to 9-1-1. But when was the last time you picked up the phone and dialed 4-1-1? Do you know what you’d hear if you pushed those three numbers? This short, three digit number was established as directory assistance.
sign? Of course I did, I stopped didn’t I…didn’t I? After leaving the house you drove those familiar streets to your next stop, but have you ever ask yourself, “What did I pass, how did I get here?” 
you do? If we are true to ourselves, each of us has had times when our ‘love for Christ’ has grown cold or weak. Is there something we can do, some where we could turn? Scripture should always be our first approach, followed by (and accompanied with) prayer. But personally, when Satan poisons my heart with lies and interferes with my walk, I tend to turn to the psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. “In Christ Alone” (Keith Getty, 2007), “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” (Helen Lemmel, 1922), “Day by Day” (Caroline Berg, 1865) and “I Need Thee Every Hour” (Annie Hawks, 1872) are just a few of my ‘go to psalms’ in times of distress. But today let me encourage you to follow the thought of a song written in 1837 by John R. Wreford…
In January, the Freed-Hardeman Chorale toured North Texas during their Winter Tour. I was blessed to hear them sing most every night of the 12 day tour, and one of my favorite songs they sang was written by Kurt Bestor. In 2005, he shared the background for the song and how it was born from his frustration over the horrendous civil war and ethnic cleansing that was taking place in the former country of Yugoslavia. Having lived in this war-torn country during the 70’s, he grew up loving the people with whom he lived and served. The following is a portion of his explanation behind “Prayer of the Children…”
with these feelings – sensations that the children struggling to live in this difficult time might be feeling. Serbian, Croatian, and Bosnian children all felt the same feelings of confusion and sadness and it was for them that I was writing this song.
Written in 1847, Henry Lyte wrote the words to the hymn, 
of His children and He will bless us as long as we honor, worship, follow and praise Him.
of commitment. But ask one of my boys what he likes the most about weddings (if he has to go) and he will tell you, the reception. Not for the greeting and visiting, but for the food. The mints are nice and the chocolate fountain is a highlight, but everyone steps forward when it’s time to cut the cake. 
in beauty all the starry band of shining worlds in splendor thru the skies, our grateful songs before Thy throne arise…” Would that we take God’s word as our law and our chosen way. Our nation was founded on Godly principles, but sometimes I wonder if something happened after the wedding cake?