Mr. Swearengine

 

In 1962, I was in Mr. Swearengine’s wood shop class.  I made a planter and a shoeshine box.  I still have the shoeshine box, of which I am moderately proud.  But the planter … well, let’s just say that I am glad that I lost it.  Mr. Swearengine was a stickler on keeping loose clothing corralled.  No loose sweaters or jackets were permitted in his wood shop.  A dangerous thing, you know: loose clothing can catch in a drill press or a table saw and draw your arm right in with the loose clothing.  He always set a good example by tucking his tie in between his first and second shirt buttons.  A practice that I still follow some 63 years later.  It keeps my tie protected from occasional drips and spills.  And when I do “drip and spill,” I pull my tie back out to cover the damage.  Clever, don’t you think?!  All habits aren’t bad; some are even good, like brushing your teeth and washing your face and neatly tucking your tie away.  Hey, reading your Bible every day is a good habit too.  And, by the way, if you haven’t read a passage in your Bible yet, close down Facebook, shut your computer (or phone), and get out your Bible.  Colossians 3:23, “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.”  Develop good habits, glorify the Lord, and do your best.  A good plan for today.

Ladies or Dirt

 

My mother was having suspension issues with her Chrysler 300 several years ago.  She didn’t know if the problem was tires, or shocks, or springs.  She had bought her car at the local dealership (to remain unnamed) and had it serviced there solely.  She explained her concerns to the service manager, and he assured her that he would get the problem solved.  But he came back a few minutes later and said, “Our technician found considerable amounts of dirt in the trunk.  You have been hauling extra weight in your car, and that voids the warrantee.”  My mother was not fazed.  She replied, “My car came with six seatbelts in it, so my car was designed to carry me and five other full-sized ladies from my Sunday school class.  My car doesn’t know the difference between ladies and dirt, so you need to find out what the problem is.”  So, he did.  Proverbs 26:19, “So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour …”  Today, don’t look for a loophole to blame someone else; just do your best to solve problems.  Today, ask the dear Lord to help you to resolve problems, not to multiply them.  Hey, make the Lord proud.

Miry Clay

It was 1985 and my son Phillip and I went to a father-son retreat at Camp Fairview near Athens, Tennessee. We had a great time with good preaching, good singing and good fellowship. Did I mention good food? Saturday afternoon was free time, so we all went out near the pond. Some men had their shotguns and killed skeet. That’s what skeet shooting is, isn’t it? Anyway, Phillip and I went exploring around the upper part of the pond where a spring was feeding into some cattails. Phillip had old, knock-around tennis shoes on, so I let him wade out into the water. But soon, he became mired down in the mud, which was about a foot deep. He was almost waist deep in water and stuck. I started out to rescue him, but he got free and came walking out with mud all over his legs … but with no shoes. There was no way to find them in that mud. And why would we even want them in that mud? Hey David said in Psalm 40:1&2, “I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.” But wait, there’s more! David went on In verse 3, “And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God …” Has the good Lord brought you up out of a horrible pit? If He has, then sing His praises! Hey, I’ll do it right now! God has been so good to me! How about you?

Luke S.

 

I have a dear friend who has just completed the Crucible in the Marine Corps.  Luke has been going through basic training, and this was his final test of strength, endurance, and moral resolve.  His recruitment class began with 150 but has dwindled down to 70 tough men.  Luke started out as a young man but has grown into a Marine.  This final test involved 54 hours of minimal sleep, minimal food, marching 60 miles with full gear and various other deprivations.  It simulated the dangers and pressures of combat.  Luke called himself a recruit but can now call himself a Marine.  What a beautiful picture of the Christian life!  Paul told his young protégé Timothy in II Timothy 2:3&4, “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.”  Hey, this life is no picnic!  We are called by our Commander, Jesus Christ, to be soldiers of the cross.  So ,,, sempre fi!