The Hamburger Story

I hadn't thought about my experiences with "Mama" Geraldine in quite some time, and I had one more story come to mind to tell you. It's the hamburger story.

One day I was over at her Newnan apartment having Bible study around her breakfast table. A knock came at the door. A little girl gave Geraldine a bag with a few packages of frozen hamburger in it. Geraldine came back to the table with the hamburger and started to cry (tears of joy). I asked her what was the matter? She told me the rest of the story.

A few days earlier she was in Walmart in Newnan buying groceries, with her food stamps. She was looking at the hamburger and had her purse out, checking to see if she had enough money to buy a package. A hand came up from behind her and placed some money on top of the meat beside where she was looking. It was enough to buy the hamburger. She turned around and there was no one around. So she bought the hamburger and came home.

Sometime later, a little girl stopped by to ask Geraldine if she had any hamburger she could spare for her mother to make dinner. (It is not uncommon for folks in poorer neighborhoods to share food like this, of course). Geraldine said she thought about it, and knew she had to let that special hamburger go. So, she gave it to the girl.

Then days later, the little girl brought back a bag of hamburger and gave it to her, telling her  thank you from mama.

 
I told Geraldine that if a dump truck suddenly drove up and dumped a load of hamburger in your yard right now, it wouldn't surprise me! God was taking good care of her.

Geraldine wasn't rich by the world's standards, but she was rich in faith. 

James 2:5 reminds me of her:
"Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?"

Blessings,

George

Jesus loves me this I know

This children’s hymn was written in 1860 by Anna Bartlett Warner. Since then it has become one of the most loved Christian songs of all time, providing comfort to children and adults alike.

Karl Barth was one of the most influential theologians of the 20th century, and possibly of all time. Indeed, Pope Pius XII referred to Barth as the most important theologian since Thomas Aquinas – who died in 1274. That’s high praise coming from a Pope, especially since Barth was a Protestant.

What does Karl Barth have to do with a well known children's hymn? After he retired, Barth toured the United States, delivering lectures at various universities. At a Q&A session after one lecture, a student asked Barth if he could summarize his life’s work in one sentence. Barth responded,

Yes, I can. In the words of a song I learned at my mother’s knee: Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.

Barth stridently believed that we know God when we know Jesus.

So, there you have it. Feel free to read Barth’s 9,000 pages of "Church Dogmatics", but in the end, all you really need to know you learned in a children’s song.

Jesus loves me! This I know,
For the Bible tells me so;
Little ones to Him belong,
They are weak but He is strong.
[chorus] Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so.

Jesus loves me! He who died,
Heaven's gate to open wide;
He will wash away my sin,
Let His little child come in.
[chorus]

Jesus loves me! loves me still,
When I'm very weak and ill;
From His shining throne on high,
Comes to watch me where I lie.
[chorus]

Jesus loves me! He will stay,
Close beside me all the way;
He's prepared a home for me,
And some day His face I'll see.
[chorus]

Post election reflections

Mr. Donald Trump is going to need our prayers in a big way. The Apostle Paul said:

"Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made or all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth."

Amazingly, Paul wrote those words while the pagan Roman Empire was in control. Paul did not say pray for only Christian rulers. He said all those in authority. This writing came at a time when Christians were being persecuted and killed by the government. I know. It's hard to pray for those persecuting you, but that is what Paul said is good and acceptable in the sight of God.

So, as we prepare to change leaders in this country of ours, I plan to pray for Mr. Trump. I pray for him to seek God and Christ first in his life. I pray for him to listen to God's voice when making decisions. I pray for him to govern in such a way "that we may lead quiet and peaceful lives in all godliness and reverence". I pray that in such an environment, that the good news of Jesus Christ will spread like wildfire, like never before. Am I a dreamer? Perhaps. Well then, I guess Paul was too.

P.S. I pray for rain too!

❤
George

Hopeful mourning

"Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted".

[Johnny Cash was known as the man in black. The wearing of black is commonly associated with mourning.]

Yesterday in church we heard a sermon on the Beatitudes, as found in the Gospel of Matthew. This section of Jesus' sermon on the mount has always been one of my favorites. Personally, one of the Beatitudes has taken on a different meaning lately. Usually, this one (quoted above) is associated with mourning for a lost loved one. However, our pastor expanded that teaching into something far more encompassing. As followers of Jesus, we have a perspective and love for those who don't know Christ; for we have a love for them based on what their potential could be, if they were saved. However, we mourn for the present state of this fallen world, and the fallen people in it. We mourn for the paradise lost in Eden, which is what we were made for.

The marvelous glory of all this though, is that while we yet mourn, we have a hope that the fallen, unredeemed don't (yet) have. We know that God is going to fix all of this one day. Therein lies the hope and comfort for the follower of Jesus Christ. Therefore we have hopeful mourning. Thanks be to God.

Patton's prayer message

During my morning devotions, I often recite Psalms 63. I call it the "Patton Psalm" because it is the one that George C. Scott recites in the movie Patton, when praying in the cathedral scene. It is a powerful Psalm and it fits into the movie well because it is a Psalm written by a warrior, and in the movie recited by a warrior. Interestingly, the real General Patton was a avid believer in prayer. He once asked his Chief Chaplain to write a letter to all chaplains in his command to emphasize prayer to all soldiers. Here is an excerpt:

"Those who pray do more for the world than those who fight; and if the world goes from bad to worse, it is because there are more battles than prayers. 'Hands lifted up,' said Bosuet, 'smash more battalions than hands that strike.' Gideon of Bible fame was least in his father's house. He came from Israel's smallest tribe. But he was a mighty man of valor. His strength lay not in his military might, but in his recognition of God's proper claims upon his life. He reduced his Army from thirty-two thousand to three hundred men lest the people of Israel would think that their valor had saved them. We have no intention to reduce our vast striking force. But we must urge, instruct, and indoctrinate every fighting man to pray as well as fight. In Gideon's day, and in our own, spiritually alert minorities carry the burdens and bring the victories.

"Urge all of your men to pray, not alone in church, but everywhere. Pray when driving. Pray when fighting. Pray alone. Pray with others. Pray by night and pray by day. Pray for the cessation of immoderate rains, for good weather for Battle. Pray for the defeat of our wicked enemy whose banner is injustice and whose good is oppression. Pray for victory. Pray for our Army, and Pray for Peace."

General Patton endorsed and signed the letter, and it was distributed to the troops in December of 1944.

The Apostle Paul knew a little something about the importance and power of prayer, also. He advised the believers under persecution in Thessalonica to, "Rejoice always, PRAY without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

It seems that General Patton and the Apostle Paul agreed on the importance of never ceasing to pray. Why? I'll let the General answer that question in a final quote:

"If we all pray, it will be like.. plugging in on a current whose source is in Heaven. I believe that prayer completes that circuit. It is power."

Blessings,
George