Category Archives: Christian Discipleship

THE HOUNDS OF HEAVEN

Christian Discipleship, History, Humor, Spiritual Growth, , , , ,

the-hound-of-heaven-dj-front-gh105The Hound of Heaven was a famous poem written by English poet Francis Thompson.  The name of the poem is strange, but the truth behind it is unmistakable.  “As the hound follows the hare, never ceasing in its running, ever drawing nearer in the chase, with a steady and sure pace, so does God follow a fleeing soul by His Divine grace.”  I’ve often heard people say that while in a backslidden or unbelieving state, the “Hound of Heaven”– the Holy Spirit– pursued and chased them until they finally surrendered to the chase.  It’s a beautiful picture of God’s love and grace.

But in today’s post, I want to go to a different place with the “hound” imagery.  In this case, I will go with a more literal interpretation of the hound of heaven, with a twist of the miraculous.  You’ll like it, so keep reading.

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JOY AND GLADNESS

Biblical Truth, BMMC, Christian Discipleship, Spiritual Growth, , , , , , , , , ,

happy-sad-faces-3Hl18G-clipart“Let me hear joy and gladness, let the bones you have crushed rejoice.”  Psalm 51:8

I just saw a report that the majority of Americans feel sadness more often than gladness.  That’s a sobering stat, but I understand why.  The majority of people in this country do not have a living relationship with Jesus.  Those who know Christ intimately do not live life as the rest of the world.  Christians DO live the same environment, face the same challenges, and hear the same depressing news reports on a daily basis.  But believers can possess something the world cannot give– Joy and Gladness.

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BIRTHDAYS AND BIG DAYS AT MAMA SIMS’ HOUSE

Christian Discipleship, History, Humor, Small Town America, , , , ,
picture 3
Mama Sims

I always rolled my eyes when I heard my parents and grandparents talk about the “good ole days.”  They talked fondly about having to use outhouses in the freezing cold, and walking three miles to school every morning.  What’s up with that?  It’s like the grass was always greener during the Great Depression.  Whew!  That was way before air conditioning.  No, thank you.  But now that I am a parent and grandparent, I find myself doing the same thing, especially when I get together with my siblings and cousins.  How we idolize those magical days of our past!  Maybe the reason the good ole days are so nostalgic to us is because we are only able to touch them again in our memories.

I say I miss those days,  but when I think about it, they weren’t all so wonderful– at least not when I lived them the first time.  Good ole days are always better re-lived that first lived.  When nostalgia hits me, my mind especially takes me back to those birthdays and big days we spent at Mama Sims’ house.  There were two birthdays that were more important to us than those belonging to Washington or Lincoln– Mama Sims’ birthday, and Little Grandmaw’s birthday.

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MY AUGUST SUNSHINE

BMMC, Christian Discipleship, Master's Commission, , , , ,

Picture 1The first time I met her I felt her warmth. Like a day with bright sunshine, everything felt better.  It was the last night of Samford University’s campus ministries retreat in August of 1975.  I married Peggy Skinner exactly three years later– August 22, 1978.

Our first meeting was all small talk in the midst of a dozen or more friends.  I’m not sure she noticed me, but I sure remember her and the way her eyes sparkled.  They still do.  We had all gathered just inside the entrance of the retreat lodge, about to make our way to a typical late night “Kumbaya” bonfire.  She was standing there with her older brother Larry who towered over her like a personal bodyguard– making sure she made friends, but keeping any fast moving guys at arms length just by the look on his face.  My roommate and closest friend, Andy, spoke a little Spanish– and practiced it on Peggy and Larry.  She spoke back to him in Spanish.  How I wished I could speak Spanish that day!

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EAU DE PARFUM

Biblical Truth, Christian Discipleship, History, Spiritual Growth, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

my sin perfumeWho remembers this famous brand of perfume?  It was all the rage from 1924 to 1980– at least for true perfume aficionados. My Sin (Mon Peche) by Lanvin, was created back in 1924 by a mysterious Russian lady called Madame Zed.  Here is its description by professionals who obviously have better noses than mine:

This feminine, provocative and dangerously seductive fragrant composition begins with aldehydes, bergamot, lemon, clary sage and neroli. The middle notes are: ylang-ylang, jasmine, rose, clove, orris, lily-of-the-valley, narcissus and lilac. The base is oriental – woody with vetiver, vanilla, musk, woody notes, tolu balm, styrax and civet.

Whatever.

My dad owned a small town drugstore in Ashland.  He always carried My Sin (only one bottle of it) but kept it locked up in a glass case along with one tiny bottle of Chanel #5.  It was a handy gift possibility for some panic stricken semi-wealthy guy who forgot his wife on Christmas, Valentines Day, their anniversary, or her birthday.  It’s amazing what people will pay when faced with the probability of lifelong scorn.  I can’t say for sure that I ever smelled the expensive perfume.  My mom didn’t wear it; neither did either of my grandmothers.  They stuck with Jungle Gardenia, White Shoulders, and Tabu.  I might have gotten a whiff of My Sin’s legendary fragrance when some rich lady sashayed through our church foyer, but who knows?

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