Teaching An Old Dog New Tricks

I am absolutely amazed!  As I sit here writing this I cannot believe it happened!  I am not sure exactly when it happened . . . but it has happened!  What am I talking about?  Well, let me first set this up with a little background.

I have always been one who believed in equal rights for all people . . . even . . . and especially . . . women.  I was raised with, of course, a mom and a sister.  God would later bless me with a lovely wife and three wonderful daughters (and a great son . . . but that is for another story).  Now, I have three more granddaughters.  So, to say the least . . .my life has been surrounded with females.  As you can imagine, there have been some things I have had to get used to with all these girls around the house . . . hair in the sink and tub, "beauty products" all over the bathroom, and on and on.  But, for all the young 45 years of my life their has been one thing that I have always stood by and never gave in.  I have had discussions and even disagreements about this one thing.  I mean after all there is just so much you can ask a man to do . . . right?!!  So, as any good self respecting stubborn man would do . . . I took my stand!  This will not change!  That was until now...

What was this thing?  What was my stand?  The age old argument about the toilet seat.  That's right. . . the toilet seat.  Up . . . Down. . . that was the question and of course my stand was UP!  Equal rights . . . right?  Why can't the ladies put it up when done?  Why should we have to give in? . . .

But, as the title of this blog suggests . . . you can teach an old dog (that would be me in this case) new tricks (that would be putting the seat down).  How, you ask?  How does such an old dog change on such an important issue?  Well, it was through the "wisdom" of my 5 year old granddaughter.  I don't know if it was the sound of her crying out as her back side almost slipped into the toilet or just her continual fussing from the bathroom, "Pappa Dee, you need to remember to put the seat down!".  I don't know exactly when, but I found myself . . . without even thinking about it . . . putting the seat down!  Now, I do this at work or anywhere else I am . . . even in the men's room of restaurants!  So, I give in . . . I still don't exactly know how . . . but I guess I have been trained once again.

Now, I know you are wondering . . . how am I going to put a "spiritual" meaning on this one.

Well, the new year is upon us.  And we will all be making resolutions and setting goals.  How about all of us "old dogs" and even you "think you are young" dogs make a resolution to seek something more this next year.  No, not just more money or a better job or more stuff.  But something more than ourselves.  What if we really sought out God and asked Him to allow each of us to be a part of something bigger than ourselves.  Now, this would be different for each of us . . . but no matter where you find yourself there can be so much more.  Imagine . . . if you really put forth your very best effort and gave everything you had to give . . . what would your greatest accomplishment be for this next year?  OK, now stretch that 10 fold and ask God to step in and make it bigger . . . to make it better.  Not for yourself . . . but for His glory.  Imagine you a part of something so big that unless God steps in . . . you will completely fail.

Check out what Jesus said:

"I (Jesus) tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. (John 14:12)

Wow!, can you imagine?  Even greater things that Jesus?  How's that for something bigger than yourself?


So, if you are up for the challenge here are a few places to start:

1) Read the Bible - if you already do . . . read some more.  If you don't have a Bible and need one, let me know and I will give you one.

2) Get involved in church - if you need a good one . . . FBC Raceland is available but there are many others if you are not in this area.  If you are already involved . . . do more!

3) Pray and Expect God to do Great Things!


4) Be willing to step out of your comfort zone.


5) Be amazed!


Don't be satisfied with the status quo. . . let this year be the best year of your life!


Just a thought.

Bro. D

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE JESUS CAME

Twas the night before Jesus came and all through the house

Not a creature was praying, not one in the house.

Their Bibles were lain on the shelf without care

In hopes that Jesus would not come there.

The children were dressing to crawl into bed,

Not once ever kneeling or bowing a head.

And Mom in her rocker with baby on her lap

Was watching the Late Show while I took a nap.

When out of the East there arose such a clatter,

I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash!

When what to my wondering eyes should appear

But angels proclaiming that Jesus was here.

With a light like the sun sending forth a bright ray

I knew in a moment this must be THE DAY!

The light of His face made me cover my head

It was Jesus returning just like He said

And though I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth,

I cried when I saw Him in spite of myself.

In the Book of Life which He held in his hand,

Was written the name of every saved man.

He spoke not a word as he searched for my name;

When He said, “It’s not here” my head hung in shame.

The people whose names had been written with love,

He gathered to take to His Father above.

With those who were ready He rose out of sight;

Oh, if only I had been ready tonight.

In the words of this poem the meaning is clear;

The coming of Jesus is drawing near.

There’s only one life and when comes the last call,

We’ll find that the Bible was true after all!

This is of course not an original from me . . . but really makes you think.  Now, we celebrate his coming as a babe in a manger . . . next time he comes it will be for judgement!  We might just want to be ready....

Just a thought!

Bro. D

Beauty in the Midst of the Mess!

On December 8th, 2011 at 5:09am God showed up in a hospital delivery room to bring Sara Maxine Penrod into this world.  I am extremely blessed as this is now our third grandchild.

At this time of the year, I could not help but think of another young couple having their first child.  There were many similarities.  Both young couples looked at their beautiful child with amazement at what God has done.  They all wondered at what the future will hold.  I would imagine that they all have great dreams and expectations of what their new little baby would be.

But there are also so many differences in the birth of these babies.  

• One was born in a delivery room.  
• The other was born in a manger.  
• One baby was delivered by a very skilled and trained physician.  
• The other was delivered by The Great Physician.
• One was born in a sterile environment with the latest air filtration system available.  
• The other was born in the mess of a barn filled with the stench of animals. 

We see the nativity scenes with everything in place.  It looks so peaceful and calm.  Everyone gathered around singing silent night.....  But if you have ever been involved in the birth of a child, you know there is NOTHING calm and peaceful about the experience!

The birth of Jesus was no exception.  A young couple in a strange place with strange people.  Not certain of the future.  No hospitals, no 911, no epidurals, not even a clean place to stay.  They are forced to bring their new baby into this world in the stink and mess of a stable.

But this is just like God isn't it?  The perfect world he had created was such a different place.  Yet he shows up in the mess of it all.  The people he created had become self centered and sinful.  Yet he shows up time and time again in the mess of it all.  The only thing that could make the people right again was for him to send his perfect son to a cruel and very messy cross.  And once again he showed up in the mess of it all.

I am so glad that this is the God I serve.  He doesn't wait for us to become perfect, or for us to get everything right before he comes to us.  His desire is to come to us just as we are . . . in the mess of it all.  When we make mistakes . . . he is there.  When we fail . . .he is there.  When we hurt others . . . he is there. When we are hurt by others . . . he is there.  When we are lonely. . . he is there.  Even when we turn our back on him . . . he is there.

So, for this Christmas season . . . remember Emmanuel . . . which means "God is with us" . . . .even in the mess of it all!

Just a thought...

Bro. D

It's Hard to Be Still

As I was putting Gabi to bed one night, she told me something that really caught my attention.  As she was settling down she said, "Pappa D (that's what she calls me) do you know if you lay really still you can feel Jesus and God rubbing your shoulders and arm."  Then after a few minutes of stillness she said, "Pappa D, I feel Jesus rubbing my arm".  OK, so she really caught my attention!  Then as a little more time passed, in the stillness and quietness, she whispered. . . "Pappa D, it's really hard to be still."

This reminded me of the words of the Psalmist:

"Be still and know that I am God"

How often I feel like Gabi when she said that it was hard to be still.  We get so caught up in all the stuff of life.  And just about everything in this world screams, "DON'T BE STILL!"  This is especially true during these weeks leading up to the celebration of the most important event in all of history.  Now, added to our hurried, never stop pace of life, we have to prepare for Christmas.  There are all the decorations to put out and all the gifts to buy.  We have to make plans as to where are we going . . . or who is coming over . . . what food will we prepare . . . and on and on.  Be still??? Are you kidding me???

How terrible it would be for us to get so busy preparing and planning that we miss out on the actual reason for the celebration in the first place.  Sure, we know the "reason for the season". . . yes, we remember to "keep Christ in Christmas". . . . but so often these just become those catch phrases we say during this time of the year.  In fact, these phrases have become just as much a part of Christmas as "Frosty the Snowman", or "Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer"!

(Warning. . . toe stepping ahead!)

We are quick to STOP everything to watch our favorite college football team play.
We will change everything to STOP to watch our NFL team play.
We can STOP to go to the office "holiday" party.
We won't hesitate to STOP everything to catch our favorite TV show or movie.
We will absolutely STOP to talk about our co-workers or classmates.
We will STOP all our plans to get to that wonderful sale the stores are having.
We won't miss the chance to STOP to go sit in a deer stand to get that big buck.

But when was the last time we even slowed down to appreciate all the blessings of God?

James says it this way . . .  "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights." (James 1:17)

So, here is my challenge to you (and to me as well).  Go against the norm.  Don't give in to this world's pressure.  Take time to stop and be still.  Who knows.... in the stillness of the moment . . . in the quietness of the night . . . you might just receive the greatest present of all . . . not just the cuteness of a little baby in a manger . . . but the reality of  the presence of the King!

Just a thought. . .

Bro. D