Last weekend I watched "Men of Honor" for either the fourth or fifth time. I hadn't seen it in several years but have always been inspired by the performance of Cuba Gooding, Jr and Robert DiNero.
The movie is based on the life and Navy career of Carl Brashear, a young African American man who grew up in the cotton fields of Mississippi, who overcame impossible odds in the 40's & 50's to become the first black Navy diver. His unwavering commitment came from his father who taught him the value of honor and to never give up. He rose to the rank of Senior Petty Officer and Master Diver despite the racism that was the norm in his day.
When Carl left home to join the Navy, his father gave him an old homemade radio so he could listen to music and baseball. He cherished that radio and took with him to every duty assignment. On the wooden case, Carl's father had scratched these words "A Son Never Forgets - ASNF".
Solomon wrote - "The Lord gives wisdom and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones." Proverbs 2:6-8 NIV
This son NEVER forgot these words of pure truth from my Father, and even though, like Carl, I haven't always performed in every way He has directed, His words have never been far from my thoughts. He has always been faithful to bring me back to the place where he could bless me. HALLELUJAH!
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Monday, April 11, 2011
"Humility , Honor & Wisdom"
I really like the word "HONOR". It's such a strong, bold word that it inspires humility in the heart just by rolling off the tongue. HONOR!
Humans bestow what we call 'honor' on all kinds of people for a multitude of reasons, most of which are legitimate. We 'honor' our beloved warriors who protect our country from those who would destroy all that we believe in and stand for. To a very few of them we award the "Medal of Honor" because of singular valor. We 'honor' all kinds of people, young and old, men and women, for who they are and their stand-out acts of courage or selfless sacrifice.
Solomon said - "The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom, and before honor is humility." Proverbs 15:33 NKJV He also wrote - "Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty and before honor is humility." Proverbs 18:12 NKJV
I am challenged by how the Holy Spirit speaks of Honor, Humility and Wisdom in the same context. The connection and interaction between them is impossible to miss or misinterpret. They just go together in a way that is so obvious.
Honor is something I have the option to give and its a gift my heavenly wants to give to all of us who will just quit talking all the time and listen - TO HIM! He is the fountain of Wisdom, which produces Humility, which produces Honor. If we miss that, no matter how men may honor each other for one accomplishment or another, if we miss the Honor only God bestows, nothing we've done will have true value.
Honor God with the humility to sit still, be quiet and learn in His presence. Put what you learn into your life and watch what happens as you insert greater wisdom into your relationships and challenges. Solomon observed that men who were too "proud/haughty" to seek the wisdom of God are racing toward destruction. Don't go there - there is no way back and no do-overs if you drive your life over that cliff!
Humans bestow what we call 'honor' on all kinds of people for a multitude of reasons, most of which are legitimate. We 'honor' our beloved warriors who protect our country from those who would destroy all that we believe in and stand for. To a very few of them we award the "Medal of Honor" because of singular valor. We 'honor' all kinds of people, young and old, men and women, for who they are and their stand-out acts of courage or selfless sacrifice.
Solomon said - "The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom, and before honor is humility." Proverbs 15:33 NKJV He also wrote - "Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty and before honor is humility." Proverbs 18:12 NKJV
I am challenged by how the Holy Spirit speaks of Honor, Humility and Wisdom in the same context. The connection and interaction between them is impossible to miss or misinterpret. They just go together in a way that is so obvious.
Honor is something I have the option to give and its a gift my heavenly wants to give to all of us who will just quit talking all the time and listen - TO HIM! He is the fountain of Wisdom, which produces Humility, which produces Honor. If we miss that, no matter how men may honor each other for one accomplishment or another, if we miss the Honor only God bestows, nothing we've done will have true value.
Honor God with the humility to sit still, be quiet and learn in His presence. Put what you learn into your life and watch what happens as you insert greater wisdom into your relationships and challenges. Solomon observed that men who were too "proud/haughty" to seek the wisdom of God are racing toward destruction. Don't go there - there is no way back and no do-overs if you drive your life over that cliff!
Thursday, April 7, 2011
The Chronicles of Amazing Mema #25
This will be the last of the Chronicles of Amazing Mema because I have pretty much exhausted her material. She mostly wrote about family trivia and repeated herself many times. She actually has a handwritten ancestry for both sides of her family that goes way back to the mid 18th century. I have no idea where she ever obtained all that information. But family has always been very important to her.
She also wrote down many, many songs that were popular during her lifetime. Most of them are love songs which I am certain she sang over and over. She still sings some of them to the residents and staff at the nursing home, although she may only remember a few words. She wrote a lot about politics and America and her church and her love of Bible study. But, she mostly wrote about family.
In this final installment I want to share with my readers something she wrote on October 22, 1998. This was near the end of her writing because she was beginning to experience the effects of Alzheimer's and she spent most of her time reading through her journals over and over, very little writing. She titled this "TEACHING CHILDREN".
" 1. TEACH VALUES OF DEVOTION.
2. ENCOURAGE INDEPENDENCE.
3. BE YOURSELF - They can always spot a phony.
4. PROVIDE FAMILY ACTIVITIES.
Raising kids in the 90's is really no different than in the 20' or 30's. Parents have a great responsibility to supply much love and firm convictions in strength of duty and honor to our children. Let them know they have your undivided attention. Show much happiness in your life and discipline toward them. Be very truthful in your living a wholesome, good life before them. We are living models in all ages so be true to yourself and to others. MEMA HAZEL"
I sincerely appreciate all the comments you guys have shared with the Rose and me. Mom would be truly proud to know that so many people, some she has never met, have so many kind things to say about her. She would react with true humility and try to deflect those comments. But, she is an AMAZING mother, grandmother, great grandmother, mother-in-law and friend to so many. Now, she resides at the same place she regularly visited many, many others whose independent lifestyle had come to an end.
Yes, this is a bittersweet time for me and all of Mema's family. She will turn 92 in August of this year and we are trusting God to help her get there and beyond. But, if not, we will simply rejoice that her journey here has ended and now she can sing a new song in a new everlasting home in company with the family she loved so much here on earth.
None of us knows all the particulars about life after death, but we know this for certain - God our Father will welcome us to His eternal home and Jesus will be there to give light and love to that forever family. That's enough! HALLELUJAH!
She also wrote down many, many songs that were popular during her lifetime. Most of them are love songs which I am certain she sang over and over. She still sings some of them to the residents and staff at the nursing home, although she may only remember a few words. She wrote a lot about politics and America and her church and her love of Bible study. But, she mostly wrote about family.
In this final installment I want to share with my readers something she wrote on October 22, 1998. This was near the end of her writing because she was beginning to experience the effects of Alzheimer's and she spent most of her time reading through her journals over and over, very little writing. She titled this "TEACHING CHILDREN".
" 1. TEACH VALUES OF DEVOTION.
2. ENCOURAGE INDEPENDENCE.
3. BE YOURSELF - They can always spot a phony.
4. PROVIDE FAMILY ACTIVITIES.
Raising kids in the 90's is really no different than in the 20' or 30's. Parents have a great responsibility to supply much love and firm convictions in strength of duty and honor to our children. Let them know they have your undivided attention. Show much happiness in your life and discipline toward them. Be very truthful in your living a wholesome, good life before them. We are living models in all ages so be true to yourself and to others. MEMA HAZEL"
I sincerely appreciate all the comments you guys have shared with the Rose and me. Mom would be truly proud to know that so many people, some she has never met, have so many kind things to say about her. She would react with true humility and try to deflect those comments. But, she is an AMAZING mother, grandmother, great grandmother, mother-in-law and friend to so many. Now, she resides at the same place she regularly visited many, many others whose independent lifestyle had come to an end.
Yes, this is a bittersweet time for me and all of Mema's family. She will turn 92 in August of this year and we are trusting God to help her get there and beyond. But, if not, we will simply rejoice that her journey here has ended and now she can sing a new song in a new everlasting home in company with the family she loved so much here on earth.
None of us knows all the particulars about life after death, but we know this for certain - God our Father will welcome us to His eternal home and Jesus will be there to give light and love to that forever family. That's enough! HALLELUJAH!
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
The Chronicles of Amazing Mema #24
After my Dad left us in 1991 Mema obviously spent many days reading through his Bible and the lessons he taught in Bible classes. She had collected a full file folder of the handwritten notes he had used to teach his classes and they were special for her and still are to all of us. In 1995 she began to write a long retrospective of many Bible passages she had memorized and continued to learn from. I share here the second installment of what she titled - "Everlasting Touch".
"Harold taught 1 Corinthians 13 to a lot of people in classes and his Bible shows he studied hard. He just about wore the New Testament pages out and I glued it together. I bought this Bible for his birthday June 6, 1970. He has really enjoyed his Bible. He has underscored many lines and now I study them too. He marked every line in the book of Jude. God's divine word made him a beautiful, happy life here in south Marshall county Kentucky.
How beautiful it is to learn all the necessary ingredients for happy, wholesome living and learning from our master teacher Jesus Christ. His gospel is good news to a lost and dying world. My prayer is for all our family to keep in the way of righteousness and never lose our Everlasting Touch in the Lord.
Harold marked many passages in Psalms. These were a great part of his life. They give strength and courage to know as David did that God is always in control. Faith to a Christian is a great key to our lives. The Bible is our Everlasting Touch of God in our lives. We give thanks always as we trust and serve him."
When I was a young husband, father and preacher my Dad often called me on Sunday mornings just to encourage me. After asking about all the kids and the Rose, he would say something like "What are you preaching on today?" We would then briefly discuss it and he always would tell me "Sounds like a good one". We lived away from Kentucky for a lot of years in many far away cities so those phone calls were always a special opportunity to connect with my primary spiritual mentor.
I am now very grateful to Amazing Mema for holding him up to all of our family and sharing her memories with us in her journals. She idolized him in every way and always made sure he got the best piece of fried chicken. They were something to behold. HALLELUJAH!
"Harold taught 1 Corinthians 13 to a lot of people in classes and his Bible shows he studied hard. He just about wore the New Testament pages out and I glued it together. I bought this Bible for his birthday June 6, 1970. He has really enjoyed his Bible. He has underscored many lines and now I study them too. He marked every line in the book of Jude. God's divine word made him a beautiful, happy life here in south Marshall county Kentucky.
How beautiful it is to learn all the necessary ingredients for happy, wholesome living and learning from our master teacher Jesus Christ. His gospel is good news to a lost and dying world. My prayer is for all our family to keep in the way of righteousness and never lose our Everlasting Touch in the Lord.
Harold marked many passages in Psalms. These were a great part of his life. They give strength and courage to know as David did that God is always in control. Faith to a Christian is a great key to our lives. The Bible is our Everlasting Touch of God in our lives. We give thanks always as we trust and serve him."
When I was a young husband, father and preacher my Dad often called me on Sunday mornings just to encourage me. After asking about all the kids and the Rose, he would say something like "What are you preaching on today?" We would then briefly discuss it and he always would tell me "Sounds like a good one". We lived away from Kentucky for a lot of years in many far away cities so those phone calls were always a special opportunity to connect with my primary spiritual mentor.
I am now very grateful to Amazing Mema for holding him up to all of our family and sharing her memories with us in her journals. She idolized him in every way and always made sure he got the best piece of fried chicken. They were something to behold. HALLELUJAH!
Monday, April 4, 2011
The Chronicles of Amazing Mema #23
Faith is the personal reality of things we cannot see or touch but have a sure hope of in the future. When a person carries this hope around in their heart the evidence is always unmistakable, clearly recognizable by words and actions.
Mema is, and has been all of my life, a person of unshakeable faith and hope. She was raised in that kind of faith but it's more than a family hand-me-down like an outgrown dress or still wearable pair of shoes.
On February 2, 1995 she wrote about that hope we all have in Jesus. Since this is quite long I will divide it into three parts. She titled it "EVERLASTING TOUCH".
"The Everlasting Touch is the good life and I am thankful to have lived it with a wonderful husband for fifty four and one half years. He was a devoted Christian man and loved his family above all on this earth. He was a scholarly student of God's word, the Holy Bible. We learned much from his guidance and he counseled many people over the seventy four years of his life.
When we study and put it into practice, it is the good life. The precepts and principles from God make a person happy and free. Can't improve on them. Learning the first chapter in Genesis gives us a great beginning to learn of God's creation. I have known Genesis`1:1 all my life. We memorized it together and now in my later years at 75+, it still remains important to me and sustains my life in the faith of Jesus Christ and his church.
This first verse in God's Holy Word takes me to John 3:16. God SO loved that he provided all mankind with everything we need for the "Good Life"! It takes a lot of years of living to know by experience of God's love for everyone. Jesus loved us even while we were yet sinners. OH! but the love of God is the greatest life to live on his earth and in heaven.
I have never read the Bible through in my lifetime but have learned to study it from cover to cover and NO ONE can ever master its contents. Every lesson or sermon I hear just amazes me that although I have studied the Bible all my life, I still learn something new from every passage I memorized long ago. They are part of my life - renewed over and over again. The Lord's Prayer is one I learned from early childhood days and it still blesses me every day of my life. Jesus taught his disciples to pray and to me it is EVERLASTING."
One thing I feel I have missed out on is never hearing my Mom pray. The theology our family embraced from several generations back did not allow women to pray out loud when men were present. I'm not sure my grandfather or my father believed it was such a huge sin for a woman to pray out loud in the presence of men, it just was never done that I am aware of. So, I've never heard my mother pray. Makes me kind of sad because I am absolutely certain she would have prayed as good or better than most men.
I am thankful to my heavenly Father that all of my children, their spouses and their children have heard their mother and grandmother PRAY OUT LOUD IN THEIR PRESENCE! OFTEN! I am thankful that both of our grown daughters pray often in our family gatherings. In fact when we were all together for Thanksgiving dinner last year I asked one of the young granddaughters to offer thanks for our food. She honored my request with a sweet honesty that touched every heart, including I'm sure, the heart of the One to whom that prayer was directed. HALLELUJAH!
Mema is, and has been all of my life, a person of unshakeable faith and hope. She was raised in that kind of faith but it's more than a family hand-me-down like an outgrown dress or still wearable pair of shoes.
On February 2, 1995 she wrote about that hope we all have in Jesus. Since this is quite long I will divide it into three parts. She titled it "EVERLASTING TOUCH".
"The Everlasting Touch is the good life and I am thankful to have lived it with a wonderful husband for fifty four and one half years. He was a devoted Christian man and loved his family above all on this earth. He was a scholarly student of God's word, the Holy Bible. We learned much from his guidance and he counseled many people over the seventy four years of his life.
When we study and put it into practice, it is the good life. The precepts and principles from God make a person happy and free. Can't improve on them. Learning the first chapter in Genesis gives us a great beginning to learn of God's creation. I have known Genesis`1:1 all my life. We memorized it together and now in my later years at 75+, it still remains important to me and sustains my life in the faith of Jesus Christ and his church.
This first verse in God's Holy Word takes me to John 3:16. God SO loved that he provided all mankind with everything we need for the "Good Life"! It takes a lot of years of living to know by experience of God's love for everyone. Jesus loved us even while we were yet sinners. OH! but the love of God is the greatest life to live on his earth and in heaven.
I have never read the Bible through in my lifetime but have learned to study it from cover to cover and NO ONE can ever master its contents. Every lesson or sermon I hear just amazes me that although I have studied the Bible all my life, I still learn something new from every passage I memorized long ago. They are part of my life - renewed over and over again. The Lord's Prayer is one I learned from early childhood days and it still blesses me every day of my life. Jesus taught his disciples to pray and to me it is EVERLASTING."
One thing I feel I have missed out on is never hearing my Mom pray. The theology our family embraced from several generations back did not allow women to pray out loud when men were present. I'm not sure my grandfather or my father believed it was such a huge sin for a woman to pray out loud in the presence of men, it just was never done that I am aware of. So, I've never heard my mother pray. Makes me kind of sad because I am absolutely certain she would have prayed as good or better than most men.
I am thankful to my heavenly Father that all of my children, their spouses and their children have heard their mother and grandmother PRAY OUT LOUD IN THEIR PRESENCE! OFTEN! I am thankful that both of our grown daughters pray often in our family gatherings. In fact when we were all together for Thanksgiving dinner last year I asked one of the young granddaughters to offer thanks for our food. She honored my request with a sweet honesty that touched every heart, including I'm sure, the heart of the One to whom that prayer was directed. HALLELUJAH!
Saturday, April 2, 2011
The Chronicles of Amazing Mema #22
Over the last four years that the Rose and I have lived with Mema we have enjoyed and been blessed through her singing. Until a year ago she woke up singing, sang through most meals and I often heard her singing late at night in her bed. In fact just this week the activity director at the nursing home told me she has been entertaining the staff and residents with her singing. She can only remember a few words of most songs but she still has that spirit and still loves to entertain.
On June 8, 2001 she wrote about her love of singing, especially hymns. She grew up in a singing family on all sides and has passed that on to her own family. Breaking out the hymnals and singing for an hour or two has always been a big part of our family gatherings. I recorded some of those times and am thankful to still be able to hear my Dad, Mom and even Grandma Lottye and Rosie's Dad, Papa Joe, singing in our basement when they all came to Detroit for a Thanksgiving visit.
Here is what Mom wrote, which she titled - "WHAT A DAY THAT WILL BE"
What a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see,
And I look upon His face, the one who saved me by his grace;
When he takes me by the hand and leads me to the promised land,
What a day, glorious day, that will be!
This song lives in my mind sometimes and inspires me to sing it. I was born into the Pace and Darnall family who were great singers, and when I became a Sutherland they were also good singers. Harold and I invited people to our house many times and we would sing together. What joyful times in our family singing many years. Our home has always been open to many family and friends eating and singing together which is a bond of love and appreciation for the good things life has to offer.
This year Harold has been gone 10 years and life goes on for me and all our wonderful family scattered her and there all over the country. But I'm never sad or have regrets. Life is too short to be unhappy about anything. LIVE and be HAPPY!
I haven't seen a doctor for over two years now and I hope my health holds out. Being 82 and no doctor's appointments is a MIRACLE. I eat every four hours and sleep eight hours every night which is the greatest blessing, REST AND FOOD!!
I have the GREATEST FAMILY of approximately 34 people in the WHOLE WORLD! Missing Harold more and more after 10 years alone in his house. But every memory is good. So much happiness prevails. NO BAD MEMORIES makes my life worth living."
Jesus made an everlasting promise to all who would believe and trust in him and the love of the Father - "This is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life, and I will raise him up at the last day." John 6:40 NKJV HALLELUJAH!
On June 8, 2001 she wrote about her love of singing, especially hymns. She grew up in a singing family on all sides and has passed that on to her own family. Breaking out the hymnals and singing for an hour or two has always been a big part of our family gatherings. I recorded some of those times and am thankful to still be able to hear my Dad, Mom and even Grandma Lottye and Rosie's Dad, Papa Joe, singing in our basement when they all came to Detroit for a Thanksgiving visit.
Here is what Mom wrote, which she titled - "WHAT A DAY THAT WILL BE"
What a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see,
And I look upon His face, the one who saved me by his grace;
When he takes me by the hand and leads me to the promised land,
What a day, glorious day, that will be!
This song lives in my mind sometimes and inspires me to sing it. I was born into the Pace and Darnall family who were great singers, and when I became a Sutherland they were also good singers. Harold and I invited people to our house many times and we would sing together. What joyful times in our family singing many years. Our home has always been open to many family and friends eating and singing together which is a bond of love and appreciation for the good things life has to offer.
This year Harold has been gone 10 years and life goes on for me and all our wonderful family scattered her and there all over the country. But I'm never sad or have regrets. Life is too short to be unhappy about anything. LIVE and be HAPPY!
I haven't seen a doctor for over two years now and I hope my health holds out. Being 82 and no doctor's appointments is a MIRACLE. I eat every four hours and sleep eight hours every night which is the greatest blessing, REST AND FOOD!!
I have the GREATEST FAMILY of approximately 34 people in the WHOLE WORLD! Missing Harold more and more after 10 years alone in his house. But every memory is good. So much happiness prevails. NO BAD MEMORIES makes my life worth living."
Jesus made an everlasting promise to all who would believe and trust in him and the love of the Father - "This is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life, and I will raise him up at the last day." John 6:40 NKJV HALLELUJAH!
Friday, April 1, 2011
The Chronicles of Amazing Mema #21
Although Mom always insisted that she never felt lonely or depressed there were surely times during all those years she lived alone that she had to fight off the temptation to feel kind of sorry for her situation. She was never a brooding kind of person and always was able to see the bright side of virtually every situation. I see that side of her as she sat down to write the following on Christmas Eve morning (7:15 a.m.) 1998. She gave her entry the title - "SUNUP"
"Sitting in our home has its great moments - very peaceful and breathtaking beauty. For example, on this eve of December 25th, I see the very beautiful day breaking as the BIG SUN rises over the hill on our homeplace. When I was growing up here I didn't notice as closely as now - sitting in our living room watching God at work for us all. My prayer is continuously of THANKS and now I'm living on my knees every daybreak.
What blessings flow and I have the greatest place to see so much around me. My Dad and Mom always talked about a South Marshall community and it now is just what they predicted, and our lovely family are all in the middle of it. We have always been surrounded by love and may the Lord bless and keep us forever his. Let our light shine as the Everlasting Sunup!!"
Contentment is a gift from God, the result of a solid faith based in knowledge of God's word and long experience of his care and love. Every stage of life produces its own set of challenges and often the leftover baggage from each stage can pile on more and more discontent. BUT, a person of real faith will always get back to that place of peace because faith and fear or anger or depression cannot reside in the same heart for very long. At some point we have to confront our discontent with the simple question, "AM I A PERSON OF FAITH OR NOT?"
I am deeply grateful to God my Father that Amazing Mema remained a true person of faith through some difficult challenges and has lived her last years without any fear or anger or depression. Even now at almost 92, living every day surrounded by so much that can be deeply depressing, she always has a smile and a word of love and encouragement to all who come in contact with her. She is more amazing now than ever. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
"Sitting in our home has its great moments - very peaceful and breathtaking beauty. For example, on this eve of December 25th, I see the very beautiful day breaking as the BIG SUN rises over the hill on our homeplace. When I was growing up here I didn't notice as closely as now - sitting in our living room watching God at work for us all. My prayer is continuously of THANKS and now I'm living on my knees every daybreak.
What blessings flow and I have the greatest place to see so much around me. My Dad and Mom always talked about a South Marshall community and it now is just what they predicted, and our lovely family are all in the middle of it. We have always been surrounded by love and may the Lord bless and keep us forever his. Let our light shine as the Everlasting Sunup!!"
Contentment is a gift from God, the result of a solid faith based in knowledge of God's word and long experience of his care and love. Every stage of life produces its own set of challenges and often the leftover baggage from each stage can pile on more and more discontent. BUT, a person of real faith will always get back to that place of peace because faith and fear or anger or depression cannot reside in the same heart for very long. At some point we have to confront our discontent with the simple question, "AM I A PERSON OF FAITH OR NOT?"
I am deeply grateful to God my Father that Amazing Mema remained a true person of faith through some difficult challenges and has lived her last years without any fear or anger or depression. Even now at almost 92, living every day surrounded by so much that can be deeply depressing, she always has a smile and a word of love and encouragement to all who come in contact with her. She is more amazing now than ever. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
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