admin – Page 11 – Jackie Calhoun

Bo Donkey

One of the most inspirational animated movies I have enjoyed is “The Star”. It has to do with the birth of Jesus Christ from the perspective of a little donkey named Bo. He is a little donkey whose lot in life is to grind grain by going round and round at a grinding wheel. But he has a heart’s desire to be one of those to pull the king’s carriage of that country. The older donkey, who is walking the grind stone with him, tells him that his dream is impossible, but the old donkey does what he can for the young hee haw to have his freedom. The old donkey is successful in getting the youngster free, and from that point on, one adventure follows another. First, the pursuit of his owner to get him back into captivity is one thing, then, he is up against an evil force that seeks to stop and destroy anything that gets in the way of its evil intent, including what the little donkey is all about. Ultimately, through many tests and trials, the young dreamer has his dream fulfilled, not in the way he thought, but in a way much greater than he ever expected.

There are two lessons in the movie that really touches me. First, it does not hurt a thing to dream big. Joseph had a big dream, and he had to go through some stuff, but his dream came to pass. Sometimes we need to let ourselves just dream “out of the box.” It’s a “shoot for the stars and if you miss and just hit the moon” thing. Hitting the moon is pretty good. That’s better than just hitting the top of a tree. But the second lesson is the greater lesson to me. Anyone who desires, can be a part of the entourage of the King of kings and Lord of lords, including the dogs who were part of the force to destroy him (you gotta see the movie to know about that).

The King of kings came in the humility of being born in a barn to embrace everybody from the most lowly, insignificant person on earth, and the most evil person on earth, to the highest and the mightiest person on earth with forgiveness and a place in his kingdom. For that, all bow down and worship him. He is not just a religious teaching and philosophy concocted by some man. He came from the heart of God for the good of all. He is a living person who was actually born in a barn. For what he did to honor his Father, there is no person who will not bow down and do him obeisance, one way or another. The Father will have honor given to him by every person. Every animal and person in the barn bows to him for who he is. With joy and gratitude I willfully bow to him for who he is and for what he has done. Thank you Lord Jesus.

Bo Donkey

Training in the Walk

Waylon and Willy, my two little furry canine friends, generally get a walk every morning and every evening, sometimes early and sometimes late. They don’t like rain and storms, so on those days they prefer to just stay in their quarters. But with the normal daily interaction, I have opportunity to drop a word on them, lead them into a specific action, and offer a reward with successful completion of that action. This, repeated on a daily basis, quickly brings an association in their mind which trains them to those specific words. At the command “Inside!” they have learned if they run into their pen they will have a delicious glucosamine jerky treat that they love. To train them for that, I first led them through the motions the first few times, repeating the word “inside” to them, and when the action was completed they received the reward. I did the same thing with the word “bench”, leading them to jump up on the wooden bench in the yard, except the treat for bench was simply a barrage of petting, hugging, and saying “good boy”. On a good day, I can be walking them in the yard, and by getting their attention and giving them a good enthusiastic “inside” they will run into their pen and dance around and squeal a little bit eagerly awaiting their treat. It’s the same with “bench”, and I always reward them with some good “lovin’”. The other day I was with a friend in the yard and I had the dogs out. I gave them the “bench” command and they quickly ran over to the bench and jumped up on it excitedly. I petted them generously. In a couple of minutes I got their attention and spoke the “inside” word. Instantly they both simultaneously ran into their pen as fast as they could go. The friend was impressed and I was proud of them.

As we spend time with our heavenly Father and allow him to lead us by his Word into specific actions repeatedly to receive the reward of those actions, we learn that his Word is alive and really works. We learn that his Word can be trusted. Jesus is that living Word. As we walk with Jesus in this way, we grow in grace and faith, and we receive the reward of his power manifesting in our lives. It takes some commitment, some following his leadership, and some repetition, but the rewards are worth it. As we are trained in this way, we become excited to “run with the Word” because we know the reward is sure. Not only is there great peace and joy in this response, but we can know the Father is very proud for all to see the reward of his goodness in the lives of those who will walk with him in harmony with his Word.

A New Season of Life

I notice since the last low temps we have had the leaves have really turned brown, and a lot of stuff that was sort of hanging on with color met its final denouement. The role has been played, the work has been done, the season has been served, and it is time for the glory of what has been, to pass on into the next glory of what is to be. The beauty of the cycle of life is that there is a grand design in all things, and as we acquaint ourselves with the Designer, we find peace and consolation, and thanksgiving in all things. As we see and understand to some degree the grand design that God, the Designer, created and put into motion, we can truly know thanksgiving from our innermost being. Much of what we don’t understand, in our acquaintance with him, we can know that he who is good, he who is just, he who is compassionate and he who is of tender mercies, knows all about it and is working his goodness for us in the midst of all the twists, turns, and blows of life. We are only finite in our present place, but he is infinite, and through our trust in him we can draw strength, peace, and even joy in the midst of the “whatevers” of life. Sometimes life seems like looking at the backside of a tapestry with no perceived pattern to be seen, but when it is turned around to see the other side, we see the divine design that was worked in the midst of all that occurred. Central to God’s design is his Son, Jesus, and the work that he accomplished on our behalf. He did what he did, he gave himself as the sacrifice, to take our sin away so we can live a life connected to God by the indwelling life of God. For this we can be thankful.

No matter what the seasons of life, the Son is given for all. It only makes good sense to submit to what God has provided, to receive his life, which is eternal life, connected with God. The seasons come and go. The role is played, the season is served, and the time comes for all that the glory that has been known will pass on into a greater glory if we are in the life of God. He who is good, he who is just, he who is compassionate, and he who is of tender mercies, welcomes all finite ones who come to him just the way we are to be changed by him according to his infinite design. What a grand provision he offers to us in his Son Jesus Christ! Of all the things of which we can give thanks, the greatest thing of all is to be able to give thanks for Jesus Christ being our Savior and Lord. Please make sure you know him so that this is your supreme thanks before God as you enter a new season of life.

Spotlight on Joy

I guess you could call my wife the Lady of Lights. We have solar lights scattered throughout our 1.67 acre place, and she started putting Christmas lights out in both the front and back yards at the beginning of October. She started so early because she has so many to put out, and, she just loves Christmas and everything associated with it. When some people offered her their wonderment at her putting them out so early, I offered her some justification by reminding her that the stores were already putting Christmas stuff out at that time. She took my consolation and kept right on trucking, which she would have done anyway without my input. The spotlight that shone on JOY in the back yard went out. The light itself had been immersed in water a couple of times due to the Noah level of rain that we received, and it corroded to such a degree that it no longer burned. With a flat headed screwdriver I scraped around on the inside of the base and wiped it sort of clean with a paper towel. We put a new bulb in it and it shone brightly. We decided to try the old bulb and we were surprised to see it burn, but only dimly. It did not burn brightly enough to be put back into the place that it had occupied. It was no longer qualified to fulfill its original “call”. Oh! There we both knew, that will preach!

When we become immersed in the elements of life, corrosion sets in, which if not attended to, will completely put our light out. We have no real testimony of Jesus. Or, even worse still, we keep professing to know him, but the light we give is seen by others to be corrupted, and whatever respect for the gospel that had been gained, is lost. Jesus said if the salt has lost its savour, it is good for nothing but to be cast out (Matthew 5:13). I personally don’t want to be useless, dirty salt, not good for any nutritional purpose but fit only to be thrown out. If the cares of this life have corrupted us, we need to own up to it and deal with it, if we are going to be in the kingdom of God. If we lose the qualification of our original calling, by repentance and faith in Jesus we can at least be saved even if it is yet so as by fire (1 Corinthians 4:15). God is merciful to those who turn to him with a true heart. When God cleans you up, he will put a new bulb in your life that will shine brightly. With the new bulb in that cleaned up fixture, the word JOY now shines brightly in our back yard. Let God clean your fixture up and put a new bulb in your spiritual socket, and JOY will shine brightly in your yard, too.

Honoring All Veterans

I recently read a Face Book post bringing attention to the fact that in our society actors and sports figures are some of the most highly honored, yet the least needed in our society. It brought out several examples of people that are needed by us all such as farmers and other everyday not-so-glorious types of occupations. I realize the list could not be exhaustive in the short post, but there is one category of people that should have been included in the examples given, and that is veterans. It is a guarantee that without the service of veterans, we would not be enjoying the freedoms that we enjoy. I am not a veteran, but I have two brothers and some cousins who are, and many kinfolks in generations past who were. This Monday, November 11, 2019 is Veteran’s Day, a national holiday set aside to honor veterans of the United States Armed Services. It was initially set up to remember that the major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, when the Armistice with Germany went into effect. There will be a Veterans Day parade in Hot Springs with my brother Joe serving as Grand Marshall of the parade. I plan to be there to honor him and all veterans. To all my readers who are Veterans, I give you a hearty “Thank You!” for your service to us all.

Jesus is a Veteran of a war he fought for us all and won. By his victory, we all can enjoy freedom in every way now and for all eternity. He fought sin, flesh, death, and the devil, and whipped them all, and gave us an example of how we can do the same. When we believe on him and become a fellow soldier with him, we can take up the boots, helmet, and battle gear and weapons he provides, and go into battle to win. With the robe of righteousness and feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace and taking the shield of faith and donning the helmet of salvation, we are dressed for battle. We can take the weapon of the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God and the walkie-talkie of prayer in the Spirit, and by bold speaking the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ we can fight and defeat the opposition we encounter (Ephesians 6:11-20). As Jesus had a victory parade, triumphing over all, so can we share in that victory if we follow him and his ways closely. There are enemies. Fighting is required. If we learn to use the weapons of our warfare under the direction of our Commander, we can ride in the victory parade under the Grand Marshall’s leadership right on in to glory. Thank you Lord Jesus!

The Lifestyle of Love

He who loves another has fulfilled the law…you shall love your neighbor as yourself. Love works no ill to his neighbor (Romans 13:8-10). Whosoever is born of God does not commit sin; for his seed remains in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever does not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loves not his brother (1 John 3:9,10). God is a merciful God, but sin has no mercy, and the wages of sin is still death which is eternal separation from God. Many people adjust to a lifestyle of sin, of living in strife, hatred, malice, unforgiveness and grudges. With a religious experience under the belt, we can fully justify living in sin by going back to our religious experience for security. We might do that, but Jesus told us that many will come before him and say “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works?” These people had religious experience, but Jesus went on to say, “And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:21-23). It is the same end result for the person who holds unforgiveness, hatred, and malice in their heart as the person who publically renounces the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Both receive no forgiveness from the Father.

We think we can live outside the lifestyle of love and righteousness and still be right with God with a future of eternal bliss. That finds no support in the Word of God. That is just natural thinking, hoping, and wishing. Oh yes, we can justify our corruption by the way others have treated us, but that also finds no support in the Word of God. We can persist in our unforgiveness and ill will toward others – for whatever reason. But the Word still says “if you do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses” (Mark 11:26). Jesus himself told his followers “your Father” will not forgive you if you do not forgive others. That might not fit your theology, but I’ll guarantee you, the Word of Jesus will be the final Word, even while you say “Lord, Lord.”

The good news is that we can all turn from our sin and make it right. The blood still cleanses completely. The love of God is still shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5). The only freedom and eternal life we find in the Word of God is the lifestyle of love by the Spirit of God in Christ Jesus the Lord. “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14).

It Was There All the Time

My wife has a little word game called Wordscapes on her phone that we often play together. It consists of usually about seven letters that you make combinations to form words that go into a crossword puzzle format. When you get all the spaces filled with the words points are earned. It is fun and relaxing to do the puzzle when you want a moment of simple entertainment. Often it will work like this. You think you see all possible combinations of the letters to form words that fill in the blanks of the puzzle. You try and try to see a combination that will form a word to fill in those last blanks of the puzzle, but no matter how hard you try, you just don’t see it. The other person might get in on it and see it instantly, or, you lay it down for the moment and come back to it later and see it right away. It was there all along, you just could not see it at that time.

So many times this is the way things work in life in general and in the kingdom of God. It is well known that if you are facing a problem that you are making every effort to solve, you can often “sleep on it”, lay it aside a while then come back to it with a fresh perspective, and the solution will be found with hardly any effort at all. In things of the kingdom of God, there are truths that are well established in the Scriptures that we know about but we don’t “see” them, they are not really made real to us. Suddenly, one day we look at it and boom! There it is! It was there all the time, but we just could not “see” it.

Jesus said “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled” (Matthew 5:6). Jesus is all we need. Everything is in Jesus. In him there is forgiveness of sin and eternal life. There is fullness of the Holy Spirit and supernatural power and gifts of the Spirit. There is physical healing and health. There is salvation for the family. There is prosperity and abundant life in every way. All is paid for and provided to us for enjoying in this life and for spreading the good news of Jesus. Often we see only part of it, and lay the puzzle aside, leaving many word spaces blank in the game of life. God wants us to enjoy it all or he would not have provided it. It is all in the Bible. Just because we don’t see it today does not mean we won’t see it tomorrow. The key is to keep coming to Jesus, the Word, and let him show you the combinations that will form just the word or words that you need to fill the spaces of your life. Don’t miss a thing God has for you here and now, when it has been there for you all the time.

Trusting God Unto Joy

Perhaps it was a tradition of my family only, or it could have been a tradition of international proportions among all societies. From a child’s perspective, I had no clue. The one thing I do know is that as far back as I can remember there has been a little interactive jingle that always brought bursts of laughter and great delight to a child being held by a parent. The child is sitting on the parent’s lap facing the parent with the parent holding the child on the upper arms. As the child is bounced on the knees, a little song goes like this: “Old Billy Ruby going to town, riding a billy goat, leading a hound, hound barked, billy goat jumped, old Billy Ruby fell on a stump!” With the “fell on a stump” the parent would spread their legs and while continuing to hold to the upper arms, quickly drop the child down between their legs with the childs legs still up on their lap. This would cause shrieks of laughter in the child along with an enthusiastic call for “do it again.” Usually, the activity was successfully stopped with everybody happy only after many trips of Old Billy Ruby going to town.

Every good parent enjoys seeing their child have a good time and enjoy life. Parents will often go to great extent and sacrifice in order to provide their children that good time in life. Father God is no different. If a good natural father will not give his child a scorpion if he asks for an egg, so much more will the heavenly Father not give a bad thing if the child is desiring a good thing (Luke 11:9-13). Life and lusts and opposing spiritual forces will lay bad things on a child (James 1:1-15). Jesus came to give us life abundant in every area, spirit, soul, body, family, financial, social, and eternal (John 10:10). To have that, our laughter might need to turn to mourning for a season of turning from our way to his way, but joy comes in the morning by repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. In that way, as we are being held by Father God, we can experience the joy and delight of fellowship with him and having a good time in his love for us. The Bible does say he sings over us (Zephaniah 3: 17). So as he sings over you, know that he is holding you tightly to give you the desire of your heart. He wants you to enjoy the journey by trusting in him. With great sacrifice, the sacrifice of his only Son, God has provided and has in place everything you need to have that abundant life in every way. His will for you is written in his Word. Persistently take his Word and apply his Word by speaking it into your life out loud, and know the joy of “Old Billy Ruby going to town.”

Nailed It!

I considered that since I had a couple of the very small room air conditioners sitting around doing nothing, and that we have a hundred degree weather upon us, I will just install one of them in Waylon and Willy’s doghouse. I studied it a little bit and saw how it could be done fairly easy. So I got some two by fours cut and got my nail gun out and proceeded to put together the frame. In the third shot of the nail gun, it shot double. The first nail went into the wood. The second nail, due to the recoil, went past the board and into my second and third fingers as I held the board. I laid the nail gun down and looked at my fingers and said to myself, “Well I’ll be! I shot myself in the finger!” My first thought was to go to an urgent care facility, but it was too early in the morning for that. I did not want to go to ER. So I said, “You’ll just have to get it out yourself.” I also knew I had better do it quickly while the fingers were still in shock, before the pain sets in. Working quickly, as I could tell the numbness was already starting to wear off, I went and got a pair of plyers and went to the bathroom where there was some alcohol, and proceeded to pull on the nail. It would not budge. Those coated, ring-shanked sixteen penny nails really hold, even in a finger! I knew I would have to twist and pull, and that I did, and that with force. I was glad to see it start moving, and I worked it on out. I got it washed with alcohol and bandaged up, and went back out and finished getting the AC installed. I also spent the morning painting and doing some other miscellaneous things around the house. Later, I met with an electrician and we did some work together and finished out the day.

Sometimes life hits us with the unexpected. We can either panic or praise God that it was not worse than it was, and deal with the situation and move on. One thing is always certain, in whatever situation we find ourselves, we can know that God is there to help us and make a way to deal with it. KJV says it like this: “God is faithful who…will with the temptation…make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13). When the trials hit, know that through the work of Jesus, God is there to impart grace to enable us to do what needs to be done to overcome. All the glory goes to God in Jesus’ name. And by the way, at this moment my phone says it is 101 degrees outside, and I checked on them and Waylon and Willy are now snoozing in their air conditioned dog house.