DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY CHRISTMAS (Part 2)

All families are ‘dysfunctional.’ They just differ in degree of dysfunctionality.

Jesus had a long history of family dysfunction.

A long time ago in a Galilee far, far away…a Star appeared over the place a child was born.

Jesus’ family Christmas story is chronicled in Matthew 1, the gospel that serves as a swinging gate between the Old and New Testaments. Jesus is presented as the Christ, the Messiah, the King of Kings.

In the middle of Matthew’s gospel is the big question asked by Jesus of his followers. “Who do you say I am?”

Peter responded, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”

The Christmas story can be summarized in that glorious declaration, “God is with us.” The Creator of the universe became a person to live among us, to die for us, to dwell in us, and to reign over us.

It is no accident that Matthew’s account begins with Jesus’ earthly family tree, a very dysfunctional Christmas family.

Matthew had a Jewish heritage and a professional career as a tax collector for the Roman government. That made him very familiar with the Biblical prophecy and the Jewish family lineage connected to the promised Christ.

Interestingly, we usually skip over this introductory section in Matthew’s account of the birth of Jesus. Why? The list of names is long and boring. This genealogical version includes forty-seven names of forty-two generations. We do not know these people.

It is similar to sitting through a graduation ceremony where your main interest is one person. Your attention span is directly linked to where his/her name lines up in the alphabet. We treat this Scriptural section like the fast-forwarded credits at the end of a movie.

Matthew’s account goes back to Abraham. Luke’s records go back to Adam. John traces the family story back to the beginning with God.

The family tree could be labeled with the movie title, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.

Follow along as Aunt Savannah reads us their stories from the #1 Christmas Book.

  • Abraham-the father of our faith. His nickname might have been Pinocchio, because he always lied to save his hide; but he believed God. He had a lot of skeletons in his closet that were not hidden from heaven’s view. The divinely edited version calls Abraham “the friend of God.”
  • Isaac, the son of Abraham—He was used as a picture of the coming Son of God who would be sacrificed in our place in order to save us. As a dad, Isaac foolishly blessed the wrong son.
  • Jacob, the con man—His name meant “trickster or pretender.” He was a perpetual liar and cheater, but this heavenly edited version reminds us God gave him a new name with a new blessing. He and his descendants would be called Israel, the Prince and People of God. Note: There was an earlier time that no one wanted to be linked to that family tree of liars, fools, and con men. By Matthew’s time, one had to be from the lineage of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to have any “street cred.”
  • Judah and his brothers were the twelve patriarch tree limbs of the family tree. Family get-togethers resembled using a blender without the top. These great family markers were men of jealousy, rage, and revenge. They were as unreliable as a weather forecast on April Fool’s Day. The guys sold their brother, Joseph, into slavery and lied to their father that he had been murdered.
  • Perez and Zerah were sons of Judah. Their mother was Tamar, a gossip tabloid headliner.
  • Tamar-Here is the first woman named in the family tree. That in and of itself was considered repulsive to the Jewish patriarchal tradition. Her scandalous story needed editing to hide her unwed pregnancy as the result of an immoral relationship with her father-in-law built on deception, prostitution, and shame. The flaws and stains in her third-marriage scandal had to be silenced from the tabloid gossip headlines. Nobody wanted to talk about Tamar. (Note: I imagine Tamar was cut from the early social media family photos.)
  • Next comes a bunch of hard-to-pronounce names which we would all want to skip over for the sake of brevity and disinterest unless one of them was your grandfather who was a military veteran. You would be angry with the speaker who failed to recognize his contribution.
  • Rahab was the wife of Salmon—This is an attention getter in the family storyline. Look her up on Wikipedia. Rahab was a former prostitute, a street hooker, a harlot. She was Julia Roberts’ Pretty Woman. She believed God. The Lord used her to help God’s people take down the mighty fortress of Jericho. She was rescued by a scarlet thread, not a prince in his convertible. I am certain she was a woman of interest. Now, which one is she in the picture?
  • Rahab gave birth to Boaz who would become a successful and kind businessman. Boaz married Ruth, the outsider of this family. She was a foreigner from the country the entire family hated. Ruth was also a poor, grieving widow. She did not start out as a media darling or a welcomed addition to the family. Ruth was a footnote in the family story until the birth of her great-grandson, David.
  • David—the little shepherd boy, the giant killer, the songwriter, the warrior king. The poster child of the family also needed some editing to his story because of the one standing beside him in the family photo keepsake. Everyone wanted to see what she looked like.
  • Bathsheba—David had an adulterous affair with the married Bathsheba and then ordered her husband murdered. However, David’s character is forever written in God’s Word as “a man after God’s own heart.”

Note: Do you see a pattern here in this family tree? All these people related to Jesus have their life stories edited to a good ending. Their parts in the family story are recorded to give the rest of us encouragement and hope.

BEING RELATED TO JESUS CHANGES YOUR STORY TO GOOD. The bad parts are erased, the suffering parts are useful, and the worst actions are covered in the family portrait by the blood of Jesus.

There were fourteen generations to David and then fourteen more to Jesus.

  • Solomon, the son of David’s adulterous affair, became the wisest and wealthiest king in all of history. His mystifying grandeur was accompanied by an exploration into the foolish world of vanity.
  • We will skip the rest of the names because of time. They carried labels such as rebel, slave, exiled, evil, half-hearted, unfaithful, idol worshiper, good guy. Then, there is the pogo stick king, Jumping Jehosaphat.

Look them up. Learn their story. It helps me feel better about being related to the notorious robber, “Pretty Boy” Floyd.

Jesus’ immediate family must have had some dysfunctional moments. His brothers “did not believe in Him” (john 7:5) even though they were recipients of his selfless love and knew from their mother about the Star’s appearance at his birth.

They even considered him to be crazy, a lunatic instead of the Lord. They claimed he was “out of his mind” (Mark 3:21). Have you ever heard similar words? Irrational? Hypocritical? Judgmental? Unloving? Irreconcilable? Crazy?

Jesus was well aware of the dysfunctional faith in his family. Jesus referred to himself as “a prophet is without honor in his hometown and even in his own family” (Matthew 13:57). I wonder if he wanted to be home for Christmas.

It took years for the unbelief of family members to change. That means there is still hope for you and your family. The story is still being written, and God always writes the last chapter.

Do not stop praying. Do not stop hoping. Do not stop loving.

History is what it is. It cannot be rewritten. You and I cannot change where we came from. We cannot change our family members, although some try. We cannot change our family experiences, good or bad.

However, by God’s grace, we can stand in the family picture next to Jesus. His Person creates a lens filter through which others see us in a more favorable light.

Our names are written in the family story with descriptions like “child of God” or “heroine of the faith”or “follower of Jesus”or “redeemed from slavery to sin” or “dear to God’s Heart” or “beloved family member” or ““the one whom Jesus is not ashamed to be his/her brother.” Some of you are described as “a bride adorned in beauty”or “a good soldier” or “the righteous one.”

Look at you in God’s family photo. “The apple of his eye…His vessel of honor…the dearly beloved…the called and chosen…the child of promise…His crown of glory.”

What about all those bad moments in your life? The skeleton in the closet? The moment of unfaithfulness? The bad attitude and even worse actions? What about the mistakes you made and the messes you caused?

What about family conflicts? What about those moments where you fell and failed? What about when you were the last, the least, and the lowest?

None of that is in the family Christmas story!

There is your picture and your name right next to Jesus. You are called “God’s joy…a new creation…God’s light in this world…the perfection of beauty…the one blessed forever…God’s masterpiece!”

Step back and see the big picture. Jesus LIVES in you to LEAD you to others He intends to LOVE through you.

God carries on His perfect plan with imperfect people. Jesus brings about individual change and generational change. The mistakes lead to miracles. The big messes produce the majestic colors of God’s masterpiece.

Take this to heart:

WE ARE ALL MORE SINFUL THAN WE COULD EVER DARE TO IMAGINE and WE ARE ALL MORE LOVED AND ACCEPTED AND BLESSED THAN WE COULD EVER DARE TO HOPE.

THAT IS OUR FAMILY CHRISTMAS STORY!

Here is our Christmas message:

LOVE ONE ANOTHER!

LOVE FIRST! LOVE MOST!

I pray you hear the Christmas Bells ringing the sounds of Hope and Love.

DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY CHRISTMAS (Part 1)

Jesus had a long history of family dysfunction. You might too. Before we discuss these issues, let me introduce you to some church families I met one Christmas season.

Once upon a time, I was asked to speak at a church Christmas festival in an unnamed town in the state of chaos. Two large families left a lasting impact. To maintain confidentiality for those now under FBI protective custody, I will refer to them as the Hatfields and the McCoys.

These feuding families were not the actual descendants from the frosty hollers of Appalachia. They also did not show characteristics of any direct links to the three wise men from the Orient.

The pastor waited until after the celebratory fistfight to inform me that the Hatfields were notorious for their wild tempers and questionable fruitcake concoctions, while the McCoys were noted for their stubbornness and pecan-pie petty pride.

Every two years, the feuding families alternated firing the current pastor and selecting the subsequent one. So, every pastor arrived to the church celebrated and condemned, awaiting execution by accusation.

The current pastor had his bags packed. Apparently, his suggestion to cancel the church Christmas festival was the last straw. As one family lamented his holiday departure, the other joyfully prepared for a new season.

The only thing these two clans agreed on was that the other family was loonier than a squirrel in a moonshine still.

Christmas should have been a time for peace, but not in this church. The families arrived armed with casseroles and a box full of grievances. The tension in the air was thicker than the gravy on the mashed potatoes. The Christmas tree hid behind the piano awaiting the impending drama.

No one warned me. In fact, all the families greeted me as if I were the driver of Santa’s sleigh, loaded with presents for every boy and girl.

I shared the Biblical reason for the most important thing in life no matter what the season. A few people from different sides of the church yelled “Amen.” At first, I was encouraged, then worried. I quickly finished with a closing prayer.

The “Amen” adulations quickly evolved into a shouting war of words. “Preach it, brother; they need to hear this!” That ignited a response of “Hypocrite!” which was countered by another name for Jack’s Donkey!

The atmosphere cooled for the children’s Christmas play. It was not a good idea that Joseph and Mary came from different tribes, but probably non-negotiable.

The innkeeper’s bad attitude felt real and not like acting.

The kings and the shepherds were not talking. No peace accord was on the table.

The angels had frowns larger than their tinsel halos. While the shepherds rounded up their stray cats, the three kings brought gifts to the plastic baby in the manger. There was fruitcake, pecan pie, and a half-eaten candy cane.

The peace was temporary. It was only intermission!

Someone struck up the band, and the music entertainment took center stage. The competition returned with the carols.

The Hatfield kids sang ‘Jingle Bells’ at a tempo that would make a bluegrass band rush and blush. The McCoy angelic host countered with a moaning version of ‘Silent Night’ that lasted over twenty minutes.

The soft sounds of ‘Away in the Manger’ came next, but it was not the cattle who were loudly ‘lowing.’ I think it was Granny Hatfield. They begged Uncle Leon to sing his version of ‘Noel.” (My mind was flooded with the lyrics from my friend Jeff’s version of “Noel spelled backwards is Leon.”)

Next came the gift exchange. The feuding heightened as one side repetitively complained it should have been a Secret Santa gift-swap. As the back-and-forth escalated in volume and intensity, each gift was returned or thrown in the trash.

By dessert time, all hopes of peace melted faster than the Jell-O mold. Sister Grace stormed out the back door and left the building with Elvis. Cousin Cletus tried to spike the punch with a homemade bottle of Moonshine Kindness.

Grandpa Herman pulled off the snowman’s corn cob pipe, stuck it in his mouth, and began sarcastically wailing, “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”

Aunt Gladys snatched the pipe out of his mouth and shouted, “No Smoking! The Hatfield’s dry fruitcake is highly flammable.”

Well, the insulted Mother Mary Fruitcake responded by calling the pecan pie, “tasteless garbage.” Her pecan-pie toss in the trash missed its target and splattered across the tile floor.

That was the spark that lit the keg of explosives. The ladies shoved one another.

Someone rang the bell and the fisticuffs began flying. So did a few fruitcakes and pecan pies!

Some cheered as others tried to stop the fight, slipping and sliding on the smashed pecan pie. Thankfully, a few gained enough traction on the hardened fruitcake to separate the scuffling squaws.

Loud curses drowned out the grand finale piano sounds of “O Holy Night.”

Some wept. Some laughed. Some left. Strangely, no one looked surprised. Except me. This was a horror show.

Eventually, the chaotic flare-up settled into a time of mutual confusion over what to do next.

The pastor had everyone join hands as he prayed for “Peace on Earth and Good Will to All Men.” Everyone echoed an “Amen. God bless, everyone.”

The pastor shook my hand as he informed me that the departed Sister Grace was supposed to give me the honorarium check. He would leave a note for the next pastor.

“Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound.” I have been waiting ten thousand years with no less days to receive my pay than when this had first begun.

My counselor friend, Jeff, once told me, “All families are ‘dysfunctional.’ They just differ in degree of dysfunctionality.”

In Part 2 we will consider Jesus’ dysfunctional family Christmas story as chronicled in Matthew 1, and where you fit in through all of this.

The Christmas story can be summarized in that glorious declaration, “God is with us.” The Creator of the universe became a person to live among us, to die for us, to dwell in us, and to reign over us.

Families face conflicts behind closed doors. There is tension in times of stress and hurt. Perhaps you are very familiar with those feelings.

Back in the times of the American Civil War, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow penned his feelings of grief as well as hope. His country was politically divided by the war. His wife had died in a tragic accident. His son was brutally wounded in battle.

With the thunderous sounds of cannons pounding in his thoughts, grief filling his hearts over his household torn apart by conflicts within and without, he heard some Christmas Bells. He wrote this poem.

And in despair I bowed my head;
“There is no peace on earth,” I said;
    “For hate is strong,
    And mocks the song 
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!”

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
    The Wrong shall fail,
    The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men.” (Christmas Bells)

God is alive! God is at work! Do not despair.

Political divisions, family dysfunctions, conflicts, problems, troubles, and hate might be strong. But they will not prevail. THERE IS HOPE!

Step back and see the big picture.

God carries on His perfect plan with imperfect people. Jesus brings about individual change and generational change. The mistakes lead to miracles. The big messes produce the majestic colors of God’s masterpiece.

Take this to heart. We have a family Christmas story that is beautiful!

(Much more of that Biblical truth in Part 2.)

This is our Christmas message:

LOVE ONE ANOTHER!

LOVE FIRST! LOVE MOST!

I pray you hear the Christmas Bells ringing Hope and Love.

THE NEVER-ENDING WAIT AT THE DOCTOR’S OFFICE

Patience is waiting with a smile. At least that is what I teach my grandchildren.

Surely, you have experienced the never-ending wait in a doctor’s office.

If patience is a virtue, then the waiting room at my doctor’s office is the Vatican of self-restraint. My journey began at 9:00 AM. I arrived early. I had preregistered. Still, I was given a clipboard with questions to answer. I took my seat and waited for the nurse to call my name.

Little did I know, I was about to enter a time vortex where clocks are merely decorative.

The receptionist, a cheerful gatekeeper, assured me the doctor would be with me shortly. I soon learned that “shortly” in medical-speak translates to “before the next leap year.”

Settling in, I skimmed through a stack of magazines so old that the hottest tech gadget was the flip phone and fashion tips included bell bottoms. The celebrity star was Elvis. I am pretty certain Elvis had already left the building.

Across from me, a toddler constructed a Lego fortress, while a retiree completed an entire crossword puzzle book. I exchanged sympathetic glances with fellow patient waiters or waiting patients, each of us silently agreeing never to book another early appointment or look at the other person again.

Every time the nurse opened the door and called a name, we all sat up straighter, hope flickering in our eyes, only to be crushed as someone else shuffled in.

The suspense was palpable. Was this a waiting room or an audition for “Survivor: Healthcare Edition”?

I rose to my feet to help an elderly woman get through the office door while carrying her super-sized carry-on purse, Stanley cup drink, cell phone, and oxygen tank. She was appreciative. She said it was very kind of an “elderly man” to be so courteous. Next time, this old man will not notice you, lady.

What followed her insensitive comment was not part of my medical exam package. After her detailed weather forecast, she continued to engage me in conversation about politics and grocery prices. We were wasting TIME while TIME stood still.

Lady, I do not want to talk. I helped you get through the door so I can see my doctor.

Eventually, after memorizing the pattern of ceiling tiles and considering a career as a Tik Tok social influencer, I was summoned, not to see the doctor, but to reaffirm my insurance company. I asked if I might be eligible for a mail-in rebate to help with the snack costs of my extended wait time.

TIME. That is an interesting word. It has no meaning in a doctor’s office.

TIME seemed to stretch on, morphing from minutes to light years, as my phone battery dwindled and my sense of life purpose slowly eroded. I began to believe I aged another year sitting under the fluorescent lights, contemplating the mysteries of the universe and the reason for plastic plants.

By the time I finally heard my name, I half-expected to receive a congratulatory certificate for surviving the marathon wait and to be handed a commemorative “I love my doctor” coffee mug.

I sat in the chilly exam room, shivering in my paper gown, desperately trying not to crinkle it too loudly every time I shifted. The wall clock ticked on, its hands moving slower than the DMV line. I was wrong. TIME had stopped.

My best friend is a doctor and the only time he made me wait was while he was putting for an eagle on the golf course. Glad he made it because we needed to hurry to my wedding!

Finally, Dr. Fairway strolled into the exam room sporting a golf cap and a golf tee tucked above his ear. I could not help but ask if he had been on the course that morning, but he just smiled mysteriously.

To my confusion, he started going over my lab results using the back of a golf scorecard, shaking his head and muttering that my cholesterol was ‘two-over par’ and the iron shots did not lower my numbers.

The Doctor stepped out of the room. I assumed he was just grabbing my chart. But after ten more minutes, I began to wonder if he was reading War and Peace in the supply closet.

“Ain’t It Funny How TIME Slips Away?” (Willie Nelson)

When twenty minutes passed, I was convinced he had gone home, changed into pajamas, and was binge-watching TV medical dramas for inspiration.

As the minutes slowly ticked by, the doctor returned accompanied by the nurse. They spoke in hushed tones about the complications. I overheard mention of higher handicap risks because of too many strokes and using his slice to cut corners.

The doctor remarked about so much water that he did not have enough balls to finish. He asked the nurse to pray for an extra driver and a miracle.

My anxiety about needing surgery grew.

After Dr. Fairway took a couple of practice swings with his stethoscope, he yelled. “Fore!” My fears intensified when he mentioned consulting another professional before the condition worsened.

He suspected it was a severe case of the Yips, a nerve disorder. Shaking his head in frustration, the doctor lamented about too many lip-outs. He stared at the nurse and declared he should have let the last one die in the hole!

That was the last straw! I could not wait any longer. This patient and his patience stormed out the door…until a sudden breeze reminded me my hospital gown was wide open.

Back to waiting with a smile.

The doctor felt I was surviving well. He thought my patience was running a little thin. He prescribed something for an attitude adjustment.

I asked him how long it would take to see results. He simply shrugged, saying, “Be patient. These things require TIME.”

TIME.

What is TIME? Does anyone really know what TIME it is? (title of a Chicago song).

TIME is both a scientific tool and a philosophical topic for understanding measurement in the sun’s movement, the seasons’ changes, and human aging.

One thing that unites all humans is our complicated relationship with TIME.

TIME is the only dimension that can both heal all wounds and give too many wrinkles. TIME plays tricks on all of us. Is it TIME already? Where did the TIME go?

Sometimes TIME stands still. On other occasions, TIME runs too fast or too slow. Things take TIME but never give back TIME lost. TIME always runs out except when it goes into overtime.

How does the weekend sprint by like it is training for the Olympics, while Monday mornings move more slowly than a snail doing yoga?

Scientists say TIME is constant, but I am convinced it is powered by caffeine during holidays and by molasses during meetings.

TIME might be a super-hero. It flies by hyper-fast in a heated rush when you are enjoying some celebratory occasion. Then it suddenly stops, frozen in its tracks, while you hope for a quick end to an unpleasant experience.

How does TIME drag its feet when you are waiting for something important—like a package delivery, or your turn at the DMV?

Why does five minutes in a dentist’s chair feel longer than the entirety of high school? Why is a pizza in the microwave for thirty seconds not the same as thirty seconds at a stoplight?

Then there is the phenomenon of TIME stopping altogether. This usually happens at the most inconvenient moments, like when you meet someone from your past but do not remember their name. TIME does not actually stop; it hovers, taunting you, refusing to budge until the awkwardness reaches critical mass.

But the greatest trick TIME pulls is making you think you have plenty of it—until you don’t. “I’ll do it later,” we say, only to discover that “later” sneaks up on us faster than socks disappear in the dryer.

In the end, TIME is the ultimate comedian: unpredictable, relentless. All we can do is laugh, cherish the fast moments, survive the slow ones, and try not to get stuck when time decides to freeze…like in a doctor’s office when the gown blows open!

1. Understand Time as a Precious Gift from God.

“So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12).

Our days are limited and precious. The #1 Textbook offers timeless wisdom about how we should view, use, and appreciate our Time in this life. By asking God to help us “number our days,” we acknowledge our mortality, our dependence, and our divine gift that has intention and purpose.

2. Recognize the Importance of the Present.

“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it”  (Psalm 118:24).

Rather than dwelling on the past or worrying about the future, the Bible urges us to embrace the present. Each day is an opportunity to experience gratitude and joy, recognizing it as a unique creation of God. Each moment is an opportunity to love God and love others in this Time Machine.

3. Enjoy the Seasons of Life.

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1).

Life is a series of seasons, each with its own challenges and blessings. What season of life are you in? Understanding God has planned this Time helps us accept change, experience spiritual growth through transitions, and trust that God has a purpose for every stage of our journey.

4. Make the Most of Every Opportunity.

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16).

We are called to live wisely and not waste our time. This means being intentional in our actions, prioritizing what matters, and seeking to use our time for good, even when the world presents distractions or difficulties. It means finding joy in this time…right now.

5. Be Patient and Trust in God’s Timing.

“God has made everything beautiful in its time” (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

We want things to happen according to our schedule. The #1 Textbook teaches us to trust in God’s timing, believing that everything will unfold as it should, and that beauty and purpose can be found in waiting…waiting with a smile!

TIME. Appreciate each Moment.

Use your Time Wisely. Cherish the Good Times. Edit the Difficult Times.

Learn from the Teaching Times. Trust God’s Perfect Timing.

EYES UP…ALL THE TIME!

I LOVE YOU…MORE EACH TIME!

FALLING LEAVES…BLOWING IN THE WIND

It was a gusty autumn afternoon, and the leaves had places to be. Forget lazy drifting—these were drama queens in disguise, skydiving through the air with all the urgency of latecomers at a Black Friday sale.

Some leaves were tumbling over one another in a chaotic conga line, while others flapped and flailed like kids discovering jazz hands.

One particularly ambitious leaf attempted a daring leap from the curb, only to get snagged on a rolling tire and hitch a ride down the block, clinging on as if auditioning for an action movie.

A cluster of leaves attempted to storm our front porch but were foiled by a closed door and ended up plastered against the welcome mat, forming a makeshift, crunchy welcome committee.

All the while, the wind orchestrated this leafy ballet with wild abandon, sending the autumn leaves somersaulting into gutters and providing a blanket of leaves to cover my neighbors’ lawns.

My house has one large tree, the only one in the neighborhood—so my issue with falling leaves is minor compared to what others experience.

My brother’s wife rakes their large yard to protect the pecan harvest while he remains busy coaching football. Thankfully, his team is still in the playoffs.

My ninety-four-year-old mother-in-law lives on a cul-de-sac that is mostly out of view from others. She keeps her yard looking so immaculate that one would think she catches each leaf before it hits the ground.

Raking or mulching leaves from my single tree is not hard—just a minor annoyance.

I am faced with the challenge of being a considerate neighbor to those who reside nearby. My neighbors invest significant effort into maintaining their impeccably landscaped yards. Unfortunately, fallen leaves from my property often accumulate in their well-kept lawns.

That identifies me as the Neighborhood Nuisance, the person causing inconvenience and annoyance.

What can I do to be a good neighbor?

  1. Do you want a good neighbor? Call State Farm for help. I cannot tell you the number of times their slogan, “Like a good neighbor, they will be there” comes up in my conversations with their less than neighborly representatives about insurance claims—not lawn care.

2. Wait for the wind to change directions. How terrible is it that I check weather forecasts to coordinate my non-raking schedule?

3. Pray for stronger wind gusts to scatter my leaves several blocks away.

4. Share with my neighbor about the fascinating aspects of how the sovereign Creator God:

  • Designed Trees with unique leaf structures.
  • Specifically located each tree in its special environment.
  • Planned the four seasons.
  • Changes the color of the leaves.
  • Controls the wind’s direction and force.
  • Influences the movement and fall of each leaf.
  • Establishes the exact landing spot for each leaf in a manner more precise than any NASA space return.
  • Does everything wise, right, and good.
  • Wonders why my neighbor would complain about where the leaves fall.
  •  Questions why I would mess with His design.

I thought it was best to have that conversation while the song lyrics floated in the air from my headphones.

They say that all good things must end someday
Autumn leaves must fall
But don’t you know that it hurts me so
to say goodbye to you (neighbor and leaves)
Wish you didn’t have to go
No, no, no, no

However, in the chill of the moment, I chose to compose a text to my neighbor explaining my response to his dilemma.

__________________________________________________________________

Dear Neighbor,

I see you standing on your pristine lawn, brow furrowed at the golden blanket of my tree’s leaves that have, quite inexplicably, migrated to your side of the property line. Before you reach for your phone call to the Homeowners Association or assemble a leaf tribunal, allow me to offer a most reasonable explanation.

My tree is a generous soul, wishing to share its autumnal bounty with the world. But alas, I am not its only beneficiary. The real culprit here is none other than Mother Nature’s most mischievous child: the wind.

It is the wind who, with glee and no sense of property boundaries, lifted my leaves in the dead of night and deposited them like confetti at your doorstep. I assure you my weekly raking schedule was no match for her gusty ambitions.

Now, I know what you are thinking: shouldn’t I be responsible for these wayward leaves? But let us turn to the ancient wisdom of property law (and neighborhood etiquette): once a leaf detaches from its branch and takes flight, it becomes a free agent, a citizen of the world, belonging to no one, answerable to no one.

If the wind has chosen your lawn as its canvas, who am I to interfere with the artistry of nature and the sovereignty of its Creator? It is not as if I am deliberately moving all these fallen leaves into your yard, which I would if I could.

Next time my tree’s leaves end up on your property, I promise to refrain from all celebratory expressions. In the spirit of harmonious peace, would you please delete your video of me dancing around my lawn with my rake held in celebration above my head?

Rather than attributing blame, I suggest we recognize the powerful influence of the wind and consider that raking leaves may not be as essential as often assumed. It is beneficial to appreciate the natural protective and fertilizing properties of fallen leaves while collectively hoping they may all be carried further south by prevailing winds.

Blowing in the Wind,

Your loving neighbor

_________________________________________________________________________________

Do you ever do crazy things like this? I come from a long line of family members who historically draft truthful, but inappropriate, letters of protest or complaint that should never be sent to the intended recipients. Never.

Thankful to spousal editing, most are discarded in the trash. A few are kept in a desk, just in case the wind shifts.

Write it. Read it. Delete it.

For this Windy Wisdom, the decision was made to consider the #1 Textbook instead of the proposed text to my neighbor.

Autumn’s shedding leaves provide a striking metaphor for spiritual growth, symbolizing how we adapt to life’s unpredictable changes.

“Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins sweep us away like the wind” (Isaiah 64:6).

This verse poetically compares human frailty and the fleeting brevity of life to autumn leaves fading and falling, blown away by the wind.

Fallen leaves drifting in the wind reflect our experience of uncertainty, loss, and change.

Just as leaves detach from their branches, there are moments in life when God calls us to let go—of comfort, expectations, or even past relationships.

A spiritual lesson contrasting the confidence of faith to “blowing in the wind” is recorded in James 1:6:

“ Be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.“

The metaphor of wind to convey instability and uncertainty effectively underscores how doubt can leave individuals feeling unsettled and without clear direction, resembling autumn leaves cast adrift by the wind.

True faith not only survives but thrives through wind-blown changes. Unexpected challenges, undesired losses, and messed-up opportunities require adaptation.

Rather than resisting these forces or finding ourselves defeated by them, the process of spiritual growth invites us to surrender anew to God’s sovereign goodness, trusting that letting go is not an end, but a transition to something new.

Through it all, God never lets us go. He always gives us strength for today and bright hope for all our tomorrows.

The journey of a leaf does not end when it falls; instead, it becomes part of the earth, nourishing new life in the seasons to come. Similarly, the changes and losses position us to be a bigger blessing to others.

Spiritual growth is not a one-size-fits-all journey, but a deeply individual process shaped by life’s unpredictable winds. Each leaf uniquely dances along its divinely designed path. When the wind blows, the person of faith grows stronger, wiser, and more compassionate toward others.

Letting go of the past and embracing what lies ahead is a vital part of our spiritual journey. Rather than viewing loss or change as defeat, we can see those moments as invitations to deeper trust and renewed purpose.

Press on through the seasons of life. Each chapter is entertaining in its beauty, helpful in its changes, and faith-growing in its unpredictability.

With each fallen leaf, be reminded:

  • We will always face circumstances beyond our control.
  • We can always find renewal during change.
  • We will always become a better blessing to others when we live by faith.

Trust God in the cycles of life. Each new season is filled with beauty and blessings.

And each changing circumstance enlarges your opportunity to LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.

There is the answer to all the problems of every season of life. Love God by loving my neighbor.

I am going outside to rake the wayward leaves back into my yard. I will save the text message for another windy day.

Winter is only months away.

EYES UP!

How many times can a man turn his head
And pretend that he just doesn’t see
The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind
The answer is blowin’ in the wind

THE LEANING TOWER of Broken Arrow

IS THE NEW WATER TOWER IN BROKEN ARROW LEANING? OR JUST AN OPTICAL ILLUSION?

Once upon a time in the charming town of Pisa, Italy, the townspeople gathered for a grand celebration. They had just finished building a beautiful, tall bell tower next to their cathedral.

The entire town was buzzing with excitement—until someone noticed something odd. The tower, instead of standing proudly upright, was tipping ever so slightly to one side.

The tower leaned four degrees to the left. This was the result of an unstable foundation which could not properly support the structure’s weight, or the architect pressed the ‘ITALICS’ key on accident.

“Mama mia!” cried the mayor. The townspeople tried everything to straighten it out. They pushed, they pulled, they even tried propping it up with spaghetti noodles.

Some blamed the leaning on the town’s annual pizza-eating contest, claiming all the extra weight shifted the ground. Others insisted it was because Pisa’s pigeons always perched on the same side.

The townspeople decided to embrace the lean, and soon tourists flocked from all over the world to see the famous tilting tower.

People took silly photos pretending to hold it up or kick it over.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa became the most famous “oops” in architectural history. The townspeople, now experts in creative problem-solving, continued to enjoy their pasta, pizza, and pigeons—always with a slight tilt to the left, just in case.

Now my city has erected a nearby water tower which strangely resembles the Leaning Tower of Pisa. It appears to tilt. I call it “The Eileen Tower of BA.”

Is it an optical illusion? City officials say the tower is completely vertical and blame the perceived tilt on the sloping terrain around the site. I guess the problem is the Leaning Landscape.

The water tower looks like me—about to give up and give in to gravity.

My vision must be four degrees off to the left. Every year, our Christmas tree leans to the left.

Early in my marriage, I hung a large picture in our living room. My handyman skills were on full display to impress my new bride. Instead of relying on my male intuition, I used a measuring tape, pencil mark, hammer, nail, and level.

My wife was not amazed. “It is leaning to the left.”

Tilted left. I rearranged the wire hanger. As I stepped back, the picture swung upside down. I think it was a critique of my skill set. I straightened it again. I announced to the empty room, “Perfect.”

Vicki entered and stopped in her tracks, just as museum visitors do when they see a famous painting. She did not say a word, seemingly spellbound at the magnificence of my handiwork.

She quietly removed the picture and the nail. She stepped back staring at the barren wall. I stood there ready to offer all the necessary tools including my Swiss army knife.

With the patience of a saint and the precision of a NASA engineer, she marked a spot on the wall. She put in the nail and hung the picture.

When she stepped back, the painting was so centered that even the furniture seemed to applaud.

Oh, I measured. I thought it was slightly leaning to the left. It hung in perfect symmetry.

The girl is gifted. Throughout all our years, she hangs every picture. Picture Perfect.

On one occasion, she stuck a gold-star sticker on my chest in gratitude for me not trying to help.

In college, I built a Leaning Tower of Pizzas. My roommate described it as lean cuisine.

I also routinely stacked books, papers, and cups of coke on my desk. One night I must have leaned into my studies too hard. I stared in frozen fear as the pile of books began to slowly tilt, sliding further and further, like some slow-motion disaster movie.

As I reached out to stop it, the entire tower of textbooks crashed down, sending the Coke spilling over my term paper. I was so depressed that all I wanted to do was lean my head on my arm and stare into space. That went on for so long I had to change arms.

That pretty much sums up most of my life.

Lean to the left and then lean to the right.

Thankfully I am also a Learner as well as a Leaner.

The #1 Textbook has advice for leaners and learners.

“TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND DO NOT LEAN ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING; LOOK TO GOD IN ALL YOUR WAYS, AND HE WILL ALWAYS POINT YOU IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION” (PROVERBS 3:5-6).

What about you? Do you lean into cultural changes or lean on the Rock of Ages? What would others say? What would be the report from a heavenly plumbline? Are you leaning on the everlasting arms of God? Or are you an optical illusion?

In a world that is constantly changing, where trends, opinions, and values shift with the tides of society, the importance of leaning on God and one’s convictions based on God’s Word cannot be overstated.

Convictions—deeply held beliefs and principles—form the bedrock of truth to guide decisions, inspire courage, and provide emotional stability in turbulent times. Leaning on God’s Word is about maintaining integrity, purpose, and authenticity amidst pressure to conform to the latest cultural whims.

The #1 Textbook serves as a moral compass to navigate complex situations with clarity and confidence. This enables one to face ethical dilemmas or peer pressure equipped to make choices that align with true values, rather than succumbing to external influences.

This is where character is forged and direction in life has purpose. Leaning on God becomes the anchor that holds firm amid the storms of change, the spark that ignites courage, and the foundation upon which authentic relationships are built.

Life is filled with moments of joy, sorrow, uncertainty, and hope. We can lean on God’s Word for wisdom, comfort, guidance, and stability.

Moreover, leaning on God’s Word helps us endure hardships, understanding that God has a greater and better plan, even when circumstances appear bleak.

Learn to Lean on God. Trust God’s Word. You will find strength for today and bright hope for all your tomorrows.

In the ever-evolving landscape of modern society, cultural norms and values are constantly shifting. This drift can manifest in various aspects of life, affecting individuals, families, and entire communities in profound ways.

One of the primary dangers of moving away from God’s Word is the erosion of absolute moral standards. The #1 Textbook provides clear guidelines on what is right and wrong, serving as a moral compass for every person in every age of time.

Lean on this timeless and unchanging truth. God is always with us and for us.

Without a solid foundation, individuals will lean on base personal preferences or societal trends shaped by the changing winds of culture. They will struggle with issues of identity, self-worth, and existential despair. The substituted pursuit of material success or fleeting pleasures always fails to provide lasting fulfillment, resulting in widespread anxiety, depression, and hopelessness.

Our culture is leaning, from its towers to its trenches. The plumbline of current culture assures us all is as it should be. Things are properly aligned even though they appear leaning right or unbalanced on the left.

Is it just an optical illusion? Are straight and true now in the eyes of each beholder?

I know what I see in our culture. It is definitely not an optical illusion or a tourist attraction leaning four degrees to the left.

My natural inclination is to complain, criticize, and condemn. I want to respond with peacetime apathy or warlike hatred.

What about you? Are you concerned? Afraid? Judgmental? Hopeless?

The present leaning tailspin toward worldliness and cultural Christianity should not surprise us. “The whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19). God’s rightful ownership will be manifested at His appointed time.

Until then, what should we do? We wait, not passively or cynically. We weep. We pray. We shine as lights in the darkness. We use our platforms of influence for love and for good.

This is not about leaning politically to the left or to the right. We do not own or rule our culture. We serve its people with love for God and love for them. Our goal and actions are dedicated to illumination, not domination.

God accepts anyone and everyone with a love that changes one’s desire and direction in life. We must do the same. Let us commit to be learners and lovers who LEAN on God and LIVE in God’s Word.

The #1 Textbook gives us light to navigate the tidal waves of changing culture.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding; look to God in all your ways, and he will always point you in the right direction.”  

  • Who is the Lord? God is the eternal Creator and everlasting ruler of this universe and each one of its inhabitants.

”In God you come up against something which is in every respect immeasurably superior to yourself. Unless you know God as that—and, therefore, know yourself as nothing in comparison—you do not know God at all. As long as you are proud, you cannot know God. A proud man is always looking down on things and people: and, of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you” (C.S. Lewis in Mere Christianity).

Do you realize what a mystery and what a wonder it is that the self-existent, self-sufficient God who is so above us and beyond us is the God who comes down to us and talks with us and makes himself known to us?

  • What is trust? Trust involves reliance on God’s character and promises. It means believing that God is who He says He is and that He will do what He has promised. Trust is not merely an intellectual agreement but a deep-seated confidence that influences actions and decisions (Jerry Bridges).

Trust is not a passive state of mind. It is a vigorous act of the soul by which we choose to lay hold on the promises of God and cling to them despite the adversity that at times seeks to overwhelms us.

Trust is faith in God’s unfailing love and unending faithfulness.

  • Trust…with all your heart, entirely and exclusively. How?
  • DO NOT LEAN on your own understanding or rely on your own insight.

That does not mean you do not think or make good decisions. It does mean you saturate your thinking and navigate your decisions in life relying on God’s wisdom.

God-given wisdom allows you to see life from God’s perspective and live life according to God’s playbook.

  • In all your ways and with all your heart acknowledge God. Live God’s way in God’s world. Lean on God. Learn from God.
  • and God will make your paths straight. There is a God-designed path for your life. There will be rough spots and potholes, but you will never go wrong if you stay on the pathway that leads straight to the goal.

God does not provide a full map of your life from beginning to the end of this earthly journey. God points to the path step-by-step. Trust God to guide you.

BE A LEARNER AND LEAN ON GOD.

  1. “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this” (Psalm 37:5).
  2. “Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord is the eternal Rock” (Isaiah 26:4).
  3. “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me” (Psalm 28:7).
  4. “Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream” (Jeremiah 17:7-8).
  5. “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise— in God I trust and I am not afraid” (Psalm 56:3-4).

Leaning on God for spiritual encouragement is a fundamental aspect of our faith journey. In a world filled with uncertainty, challenges, and moments of weakness, seeking divine support can provide a foundation of strength and hope.

This is God’s world. Let God point to the path. Trust Him. He is with you and for you every step of the way.

This is God’s house. Let God hang the pictures. They will always be perfect.

I am praying for you. Please pray for me.

This week I am leaning towards staying in bed—every single morning. I told my family not to worry. Like the ‘Eileen’ water tower, it is just an optical illusion.

EYES UP! God loves you and I do too!

ADAM & EVE Best Movie Quotes GAME

Here are some romantic things Eve suggested Adam could say in case God records these things in a book for future generations of movie-goers.

[How many of the movies can you name? Google the correct answers after the game. There is also a LISTEN version https://soundcloud.com/rexblankenship23/adam-and-eve-movie-music-game )

  • To me, you are perfect!
  • Here’s looking at you, kid!
  • I wanted it to be you. I wanted it to be you so badly.
  • Do you want the moon? Just say the word and I will throw a lasso around it and pull it down.
  • You have bewitched me, body and soul, and I love, I love, I love, I love you. I never wish to be parted from you from this day on.
  • It was a million tiny little things that, when you added them all up, they meant we were supposed to be together…and I knew it the very first time I touched you.
  • You should be kissed, and often, by someone who knows how.
  • Winning that ticket, Rose, was the best thing that ever happened to me. It brought me to you…and I’m thankful for that, Rose.
  • My heart is, and always will be, yours.
  • I want all of you, forever. You and me. Every day
  • I want the fairy tale.
  • Love means never having to say you’re sorry.
  • If you love someone, you say it, you say it right then, out loud. (Plus I say a Little Prayer for You group song)
  • I think I would miss you even if we never met.
  • When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.”
  • How do I love you? Let me count the ways...all my life, and, if God choose, I shall but love thee better after death.
  • It’s like in that moment, the whole universe existed just to bring us together.
  • I would rather share one lifetime with you than face all the ages of the world alone
  • In another life I would really like doing laundry and taxes with you. (English translation)
  • We’ll always have Paradise.

HOW DID YOU DO?

0-5 points (You are really romantically out of touch. Throw away the black book on your spouse and watch a good movie together.)

6-10 points (Use one of the romantic quotes in a notecard. Include a gift.)

11-15 points (You are a longtime romantic at heart. Take it to another level.)

16-20 points (You watch too many movies. Read your Bible more.)

ADAM and EVE: WHY?

Adam woke up feeling there was something different about him. As he sat beneath the shade of a sprawling fig tree, he noticed a subtle ache just below his chest. A sense of emptiness, as if a piece of him had gone missing.

That evening, God introduced him to his missing rib who joined him by the riverbank. Eve’s beauty was radiant; her smile was like sunlight on water. Adam quickly realized that his missing rib was more than a physical absence; it was a change in the way he perceived the world.

Adam smiled every time Eve laughed. His eyes stared in amazement at her beauty. His thoughts slowed at her suggestions.

Adam found himself hesitating before speaking, searching for words. It seemed more of a blessing than a curse because Eve enjoyed doing most of the talking. The downsize of the transaction was man’s attention span became severely lessened by the loss of his dominant rib.

Eve’s feelings echoed through the Garden as her curiosity pounded Adam with questions. It seemed as if Adam only had two responses. “I do not know” and “I never thought of that.”

In the absence of one rib, Adam discovered a new way of being complete. He experienced the joys of unity, compassion, and creative collaboration.

Adam had a big job: name every animal in Eden. That is when Eve, ever resourceful, decided to help. That is how our world has animals called lions and tigers and ducks, instead of hairy horses, striped cats, and waddling web-foots.

The #1 Textbook recorded all the key details. Even though her memory was perfect, Eve kept a diary of all the stuff between the lines of the Bible verses.

Before we look at some of the recent archeological discoveries from Eve’s diary, let us focus on the important truths from God’s account.

God first revealed Himself to us as the Creator of all things (Genesis 1).

On the sixth day of creation, God created the first man from the dust of the ground and made him a living-being created in the image of God (Genesis 2:7).

God literally breathed life into the man and gave him a soul. The body design inside and out is amazing and still being studied for its magnificent and intricate workings (Psalm 139).

God taught the first man everything. Everything was perfect, but not complete. Then God caused Adam to realize there was no created being like him. He was alone, without a companion. Paradise enjoyment necessitated a companion to share the joy and love.

The perfect man needed a helper (Genesis 2:18).

God took a rib from Adam to create a beautiful companion who rocked his private world with love and conversation. Perhaps, that is why most men love a good rib.

Why did man lose a rib and part of himself as originally created? What really happened to Adam’s rib?

I might not be able to safely say, but I think I can correctly say, theologically speaking, it was because of a woman.

Theologically speaking.

That sounds impressive. Theo-logy is the study of God, His Name, Nature, and Ways. The only source is God’s Word which is God’s self-revelation. Hearing, reading, understanding, and obeying God’s Word is the only way to know God.

What happened next? Comedian Rodney Dangerfield says he got the story straight from Adam’s account.

After God created Adam, Adam came to God and said, “You created all the animals and each one has a mate, but I am alone. Can you create me one also?”

God replied, “Well Adam, I can create a mate for you. It will be the crown of my creation, someone who will serve you, and your every need and desire. The most beautiful and loving creature. She will take care of you always. She will give you all the respect that you deserve.”

“The only thing is, it will cost you an arm and a leg.”

Adam thought for a second and said, “What do you get for a rib?”

No wonder Dangerfield made a career saying, “I just never get any respect!”

What really happened when God provided Adam a companion?

GOD ALREADY HAD A PLAN BEFORE MAN REALIZED HE HAD A PROBLEM.

THAT IS A LESSON FOR ALL OF US TO LEARN WELL.

God already has a plan to turn your problems into greater good. Always. Even the problems you face now and the ones you will face in your tomorrows.

Do not worry or fear. Trust God.

For this writing, the focus is more on HOW God created the woman, not the WHY (Genesis 2:21-22).

God caused Adam to fall into a deep sleep. God operated on the man and took out a rib which God used to form a woman (Genesis 2:23).

When Adam initially saw Eve, he said those famous words, ’Wow! You complete me!”

I imagine Eve’s first words were, “Do you love me?”

Adam responded, “Of course, Babe. I said, Wow!”

Adam continued, “There is no one else in this world but you.” God told him to stop talking.

It was then that Eve understood she needed to do the talking for both, which led to her second saying, “You had me at Hello.”

Then she followed up with, “I’ve Got You Under My Skin.”

(All of that is written between the lines of Genesis 2:23-25.)

It was not too long before Eve questioned why Adam could not read between the lines the way she could. Adam used his lost rib as an excuse.

When the first love birds were evicted from Paradise, Adam just wandered around trusting his one less rib gut for directions. He was determined not to ask for directions even if there had been someone else on the road.

Eve took a different route. She took a chip from the missing rib and invented Siri who was programmed with an annoying version of Eve’s voice to harass and correct Adam’s sense of direction.

That also explains why no one has ever found the way back to Paradise.

Adam lost a rib and his home in Paradise.

Don’t it always seem to go
That you don’t know what you’ve got
Till it’s gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot –(Joni Mitchell, Big Yellow Taxi)

Adam and Eve. Why? WHY?

With a missing rib, man started to mess up. Missteps, mistakes, and misgivings are now part of every man’s makeup.

Gardening and relationships are now hard work. Laundry became a necessity. House-hunting causes headaches. Forbidden late-night snacks come with heavy consequences.

What happened? Is the lost rib the missing link to all major male deficiencies? The cause of increased frustration levels in all women?

Men can drive a woman mad, even when she is the backseat driver. We need an answer for man’s mess-ups which force women to plead temporary insanity as the excuse for their emotional responses.

I wish to confirm what medicine has suspected for generations.

There is a reason for a guy’s shortcomings. One does not have to read between the lines to understand the faux pas attached to a man and woman who “paved Paradise and put up a parking lot.”

Faux pas–an embarrassing or tactless act or remark in a social setting.

Man is a walking, talking faux pas to his assigned companion.

This is not about Love Languages or Women are from Venus and Men are from Mars.

Here is the definitive answer in one simple, yet profound, statement.

The cause of a man’s faux pas and many frustrating shortcomings is THE MISSING RIB.

Who knew that one rib was so important?

When God took way the rib:

  1. Man lost the ability to read minds. Women now possess exclusivity in that area.
  2. Man lost the thought process to have a good reason for his actions. When a woman asks a man, “Why?” she already knows there is no reason.
  3. Man lost any capacity to engage in a meaningful conversation which should not be a shock to any woman.
  4. Man lost the capability to communicate, listen. and remember. That is why God doubly blessed the opposite sex.
  5. Man lost the skill to drive without needing directions spoken in a woman’s voice. Women have always dominated communication skills. Siri is a Norwegian word meaning “a beautiful woman who leads you to victory.” The American dialect is more closely affiliated with “Are you kidding me, sir? You are an Idiot!”
  6. Man lost the potential to think for himself or make any wise independent decisions. One does not have to read between the lines for affirmation.
  7. Man lost the ability to alter his tone of voice before it comes out of his mouth the first time. If he could only think before talking, but, alas, that too went away with the rib.

Obviously, the lost rib does not prevent man from thoughts of wonder and sarcasm! I offer myself as proof.

For the record, man never had heartburn until after marriage. To be fair, the woman never had a headache until she shared the spare rib.

Adam never had to hear about all the other guys Eve could have married, and she never had to hear about his mother’s cooking. They never had problems with meddling in-laws or books on how to raise children.

I also wonder about when Eve got jealous. Did she count Adam’s ribs while he was asleep?

Archeologists have published excerpts from Eve’s Diary found hidden in ancient tree trunk.

  1. Adam is always talking to God about the Rams, Bengals, Cardinals, Ravens, Tigers, and something about the future of the Cowboys.
  2. Adam is still naming things. He just called this furry thing an aardvark. I think Adam just likes to say the word. He named a squirrel “Steve.”
  3. Adam gave me a tour of the Garden. He told me to stay away from this one tree and not talk to the snake. He just acts as if he is in charge of everything. When I asked him if that meant he would help with the dishes, he acted as if he did not hear me.
  4. I tried to teach Adam how to dance. I had to check to make sure he did not have two left feet.
  5. At least the snake talks to me.
  6. I live with a perfect man in a perfect place with perfect health and perfect provisions. Why am I NOT happy?
  7. Since Adam is so perfect, why doesn’t he think of something more romantic to say than, “I love you, too.” (Check out the Winsday Bonus attachment: Best Love Quotes in a Movie Game. You might enjoy the LISTEN version.)

Seriously, the #1 Textbook is filled with important truths recorded from those unwritten words first spoken by God to Adam and Eve.

  • Imitate God and walk in love just as God loved us (Ephesians 5:1-2).
  • Love God and love others (Mark 12:30).
  • Love First and Love Most (Ephesians 1:3-4 & in between the lines of every verse from Genesis to Revelation).

God gave man a worthy companion to help him learn and practice those love lines.

Thankfully, God made someone extremely beautiful, wise, and loving with my missing rib.

Now, if someone would just explain to her how to lower her expectations!

EYES UP!

I LOVE HER AND YOU!

____________________________________________________________________________________________

ADAM and EVE MOVIE LOVE QUOTES GAME

Here are some romantic things Eve suggested Adam could say in case God records these things in a book for future generations of movie-goers.

[How many of the movies can you name? Google the correct answers after the game. There is also a LISTEN version https://soundcloud.com/rexblankenship23/adam-and-eve-movie-music-game )

  • To me, you are perfect!
  • Here’s looking at you, kid!
  • I wanted it to be you. I wanted it to be you so badly.
  • Do you want the moon? Just say the word and I will throw a lasso around it and pull it down.
  • You have bewitched me, body and soul, and I love, I love, I love, I love you. I never wish to be parted from you from this day on.
  • It was a million tiny little things that, when you added them all up, they meant we were supposed to be together…and I knew it the very first time I touched you.
  • You should be kissed, and often, by someone who knows how.
  • Winning that ticket, Rose, was the best thing that ever happened to me. It brought me to you…and I’m thankful for that, Rose.
  • My heart is, and always will be, yours.
  • I want all of you, forever. You and me. Every day
  • I want the fairy tale.
  • Love means never having to say you’re sorry.
  • If you love someone, you say it, you say it right then, out loud. (Plus I say a Little Prayer for You group song)
  • I think I would miss you even if we never met.
  • When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.”
  • How do I love you? Let me count the ways...all my life, and, if God choose, I shall but love thee better after death.
  • It’s like in that moment, the whole universe existed just to bring us together.
  • I would rather share one lifetime with you than face all the ages of the world alone
  • In another life I would really like doing laundry and taxes with you. (English translation)
  • We’ll always have Paradise.

HOW DID YOU DO?

0-5 points (You are really romantically out of touch. Throw away the black book on your spouse and watch a good movie together.)

6-10 points (Use one of the romantic quotes in a notecard. Include a gift.)

11-15 points (You are a longtime romantic at heart. Take it to another level.)

16-20 points (You watch too many movies. Read your Bible more.)

THE WEAKEST LINK

CHILDREN’S BOOK 3:

Do you ever feel as if you are THE WEAKEST LINK?

Imagine a quiz show where the questions are tough, the clock is ticking, and the host has the same warmth as a tax audit. Welcome to The Weakest Link—a game where teamwork is essential, but betrayal is inevitable, and the only thing more brutal than the trivia is the elimination process.

In each episode, contestants work together to answer general knowledge questions and build up a cash prize. But just when you think you are in this together, the time comes to vote off the player who is dragging the team down (or, more often, the one who looks like a threat).

Then comes the dramatic music and the host’s icy glare as she declares, “You are the weakest link. Goodbye.” Apparently, this phrase is legally required to be delivered with maximum sarcasm.

The real fun? Watching contestants desperately try to explain why they voted off their grandma, or why they banked only $10 after six correct answers when there was a possibility of winning $100,000.

The host makes Cruella de Villa and the Wicked Witch of the West look like camp counselors. She skewers contestants with dry wit and deadpan put-downs, making losing almost as entertaining as winning.

The Weakest Link is perfect if you love quiz shows, enjoy watching the drama of contestants under pressure, or are just interested in watching strangers get embarrassed for not knowing the capital of France or the name of Mickey Mouse’s girlfriend.

I guess it helps me to feel better about myself.

Do you ever feel as if you are THE WEAKEST LINK? In your family? Church? Culture?

That is a common reaction for many of us when faced with the challenge that Jesus LIVES inside you to LEAD you to others He intends to LOVE through you.

How are you doing this week? Would you be voted by others as The Weakest Link?

Let us deal with the truth. Some of us are ready to be out of the game. Life can be filled with incorrect responses to simple lessons about loving others. Others are eager to blame you.

Honestly, what was your latest response to the question, “Who should you love first and love most? How many of us stood there with a blank stare, an empty brain, and a frozen heart?

It is as if we cannot produce a correct answer. Then come the flashcard pictures of our latest encounters. Our only defense is to vote that person out of our life as the weakest link instead of us.

It can be humiliating to be voted the weakest link on a game show or in real life. It is miraculous that Jesus uses weak links like empty stone jars and flawed humans to show the greatness of His glory.

I reflected on that situation this week as I continued to read the Gospel of John. As I previously mentioned, I am trying to slowly read it with the eyes and heart of a child.

There is a remarkably interesting life directing statement in Chapter Two that builds in importance as the bigger story unfolds.

DO WHATEVER JESUS TELLS YOU TO DO!

Do you remember the story setting?

Once upon a time, in a small town called Cana, there was a big wedding. Everyone was happy, laughing, and dancing. Jesus and his friends were invited, and so was his mother, Mary.

But suddenly, something went wrong—the host ran out of wine! This made the host very embarrassed and worried.

Mary told the helpers, “Do whatever Jesus tells you to do.”

Jesus asked the helpers to fill up six large stone jars with water, all the way to the top.

When the jars were full, Jesus told the helpers to take some out and give it to the person in charge of the wedding reception. When the host sampled it, he was amazed—it was the best wine he had ever tasted!

Jesus showed the glory of God’s love described as the theme and purpose of John’s gospel:

The Word became human and made his home with us…

and we have seen his GLORY, the glory of God’s one and the only Son…

full of GRACE and truth (unfailing love, unending goodness, and everlasting faithfulness) (John 1:14).

This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first of many times Jesus revealed the great goodness of God’s glory and his disciples believed in him.

The disciples saw Jesus do many other miraculous signs in addition to the ones recorded in this book. But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name. (John 20:30-31).

THE GLORY OF GOD IS REVEALED IN GOD’S GRACE THROUGH GOD”S WORD TO THOSE UNABLE TO HELP THEMSELVES SO THAT WE WILL BELIEVE IN JESUS.

As I looked at this first SIGN, I noted several simple life-lesson applications among the deeper theological truths being revealed.

  1. Jesus can make something beautiful out of a bad situation.
  2. Jesus helps those who cannot help themselves.
  3. Jesus can use an empty vessel to bless others.

This is a story of The Weakest Link.

An empty vessel. Filled by Jesus. A blessing of LOVE to others.

I was the weakest link. Do you feel that way? God uses the weakest link to bless others.

Jesus announced He came to call the sinners, not the good. Jesus chooses the weakest links in the family and culture.

This is God speaking to us. “Do whatever Jesus tells you to do.”

Your obedience is an action of FAITH which highlights the goodness of God’s GLORY.

God’s Word is a living being…the re-creator of new people. Empty pots become full of His goodness and useful as a blessing to others.

GOD USES THE WEAKEST LINK TO SHOWCASE HIS GLORY.

That is the point of God’s Glory in your life’s story.

YOU ARE A SIGN FOR OTHERS TO SEE THE GLORY OF GOD’S GOODNESS.

Jesus LIVES inside of you to LEAD you to others He intends to LOVE through you.

DO WHATEVER JESUS TELLS YOU TO DO. LOVE FIRST. LOVE MOST.

When you do what Jesus tells you to do, you change from the weakest link to one of the many miraculous SIGNS of the goodness of God’s glory.

Jesus takes your weakness and brings out the best in you. A beautiful blessing in a bad situation.

GOD INTENDS TO USE YOU AS A BEAUTIFUL BLESSING IN A BAD SITUATION!

It might even surprise a lot of people who voted you as The Weakest Link.

CHILDREN’S BOOK 2: RESCUE MISSION

It was test day in Calculus 202 during my second year of college. This was the semester I realized I was in far over my head. I was drowning in an ocean of knowledge while surrounded by surfers riding the biggest waves and scuba divers plunging the greatest depths.

I stared nervously at the empty pages of the blue book on my desk. The final exam allowed three hours to answer one question. My academic future depended on my mathematical solution to the assigned dilemma.

“Neil Armstrong is stranded on the moon. Using your best knowledge, explain how you would bring him safely back to Earth.”

My hand was shaking; my head was spinning. I gulped and glanced around.

Tanaka was already scribbling furiously—probably already exchanging calculus equations with the stranded astronaut. Thomas was writing equations with his security blanket draped over his head like a spacesuit.

Benazir was leaning over her blue book as if she were guarding all the gold in Ft. Knox. Her father never faced this problem while ruling Pakistan. My sidekick, Charlie, wore a tiny astronaut helmet to cover his egotistical grin.

I followed my childhood instruction for handling times of stress. Take a deep breath and think.

I sighed and wrote:

Step 1: Tell the stranded astronaut not to panic. (That was a little ironic for me to write since I already needed a restroom break to avoid an embarrassing classroom reaction to the stress.)

Step 2: Call NASA. If they do not answer, try calling Shuttle Service. If unavailable, call on individuals to use their own rocket to pick up astronaut’s Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. Call it Uber.

Step 3: Build a very tall ladder. This had been tried once before in Babel, but the project was never finished.

Step 4: Bake lots of cookies for fuel. Astronauts need energy, and besides, cookies make everything better.

Step 5: Set up a large trampoline in the Earth landing area, just in case Neil Armstrong tries to take “one giant leap for mankind.”

Step 6: Send me on a rescue mission with Tanaka’s calculations. He acts as if he knows what to do. I hate it that his writing is too small for me to read and copy on this blue book.

Step 7: If all else fails, transport my friend, Jeff Buzz Lightyear, to join the stranded astronauts. He will be of absolutely no assistance. However, his constant sarcastic agitation will force Armstrong to generate lunar distance from him. The greater the distance, the closer to a solution.

I put down my pen. I looked at my blue book and decided this was not rocket science, but at least I had a plan.

The next semester, at the advice of my English major roommate, I was studying the writings of Samuel Johnson. He made some memorable philosophical statements, but he had no clue when it came to moon rescue missions.

As I mentioned in the previous Winsday Wisdom, the Apostle John was entrusted with eternal truth written in simple expressions. He shared the most important things in life in ways a child can understand. There is a lifetime of lessons about love, faith, and hope which serve to lead us to join in the simple to understand but infinitely indescribable magnitude of the wonderful confession of Thomas, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28).

I first heard about John’s book as a child when I learned one verse. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son so that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

I understood I was stranded in a place where I was doomed. There was no hope of human calculations or strategies to rescue me. Like the Moses led Israelites who disobeyed in the wilderness on the way to God’s Promised Land, I had no hope of help to escape the deadly poison of unbelief (Numbers 21).

God already had a rescue plan. It was so simple I could understand it as a child. I now stand amazed at the divine love whose width, length, height, and depth exceed human understanding.

Jesus enlightened the inquiring Nicodemus about God’s rescue plan for sinners trapped on a dying planet. “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life” (John 3:15). “When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people to myself.”  He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die…on a cross (John 12:32-33).

The crowds asked, “Who is this Son of Man?”

I am jumping from my chair with my hand raised in the air. “Teacher, Teacher, I know! The answer is in John 3:16!”

Here is a brief outline of God’s rescue plan:

  • For (purpose clause explaining why Jesus must be lifted up on a cross)… God (main subject)…so loved (main verb)…the world (object of God’s love).

We tend to think of the word, so loved, as a description of the magnitude or intensity of God’s love. God soooooo loved us with our arms spread wide from infinity to infinity.

That is true but the “so” word means “in this manner.” It emphasizes the specific way of HOW God loved’ In the original Greek, the word “so” begins the sentence…For in this manner, God loved the world..

The world in this verse is not the created heavens and earth in Genesis. This world exists as the people who do not know God, the sinners. God loved ME. God loved YOU.

  • that God gave His one and only Son. Jesus is the GIFT of God’s love…not something God was required to do or something we deserved.
  • So that (next purpose clause as fulfillment of the initial purpose)…Whoever (anyone without exclusion who wants God’s gift)… Believes (accepts and trusts God’s promised gift)…Should not perish (will not be eternally lost or destroyed)…But have (contrasting conjunction of a different eternal destination and experience)… everlasting life (with and like Jesus forever).

THIS IS A RESCUE MISSION EVEN A CHILD CAN UNDERSTAND AND BELIEVE!

IT IS NOT ROCKET SCIENCE. IT IS A LOVE STORY!

God showed His great love for us by giving Jesus to die in our place so we can live forever in God’s immeasurably limitless and infinitely endless love.

I was not sitting in a college calculus test. I was a young boy at home with my parents when I told them I understood God had a plan to rescue me. I knelt beside a green leather-torn footstool and told God I believed Jesus came to save me.

What happened in that moment was real and life changing.

As a young boy, I tried to picture God’s love like the snow falling softly, covering everything with a forgiving blanket. I went outside and made a snow angel. (Yes! That is the closest my actions ever got to being angelic!)

Lying in the cold, I stared at the sky, feeling small but somehow special. I whispered, “Thank you, God, for loving me this much.”

As the years passed, I gained a greater comprehension of the magnitude and wonder of God’s gift. God’s love is bigger than any mistake, any mess, any worry, any problem.

I still seek to grasp a better understanding of how God’s love never ends, never gets frustrated or angry, never grows tired, and never lessens.

God gives hope for stranded souls! His divine rescue mission is far greater than the hypothetical Moon rescue or the real-life Apollo 13 challenge.

This is the fullness of God in the simplest understandable terms. It is a children’s story to be read again and again even when you already know the ending!

GREATNESS IN SIMPLICITY (John’s Gospel is a Children’s Book)

Some simple moments in life have lasting lessons. Have you ever read John’s Gospel as if it were a first-grade reader?

I was blessed to share repeated nighttime readings of a children’s book with my daughter. Those simple moments became more than familiarity with the story characters, plot, and conclusion. It developed into lasting lessons about love, comfort, and connection.

Almost every night before bed, my daughter Kala would hand her mother or me the same well-loved children’s book, The Monster at the End of the Book. Its corners were frayed, the pages bore the wrinkles of countless readings, and Grover’s blue fur was faded from the fear of the monster. But Kala’s eyes always sparkled with anticipation.

I could recite the story by heart. Who am I kidding? Kala could perfectly recite the story without ever opening the book. [Spoiler Alert]

Screenshot

However, the joy was in holding the open book as her head nestled against my shoulder. I could feel the warmth of her small hand holding mine.

Years earlier, my eyes beheld her loveliness for the first time as the nurse pulled back the cover of her blanket. As I teared up with joy, Kala’s hand reached out and took hold of my little finger. I felt and heard her heart.  “Hello, Dad! I love you!”

My life has never been the same.

As we read the same children’s book for the umpteenth time, Kala would chime in with her favorite lines, giggling at the silly parts, and whispering along with the quiet moments.

The story was straightforward. Grover from Sesame Street asked us not to turn the page because he was scared of a monster on the next page. He tried to stop us by giving warnings, tying knots, building walls, and stacking bricks. But each night, something more valuable happened between the pages, beyond Kala’s gentle reassurances that it was safe to turn the page.

Our nightly ritual was more than reading words on a page. It was time carved out of busy days, a nightly promise that the world could wait. Through repetition, Kala experienced peace and love. Dad learned patience, seeing how every reading brought new questions, new giggles, new discoveries.

Kala learned to recognize the words. She took over the reading. The moments became even more memorable.

Over time, Kala started to notice details she had not noticed before—She learned kindness, caring, and courage–just as her father learned about the ever-growing heart of a child.

The book became a thread weaving us closer together, a testament that love is found in small, repeated words and actions, not just big gifts or grand gestures.

Years later, when Kala had outgrown the book, she kept it tucked beside her bed. Its worn pages were a gentle reminder that lessons of love are not always loud or grand. Sometimes, they are whispered each night, in the familiar rhythm of a story shared, again and again.

My wife stored that special children’s book for future grandkids as she continued the routine with each one huddled in her lap. Full of smiles. Full of love. Full of future memories.

The opening verses of the Gospel of John are among the most profound and poetic lines in the entire New Testament. Yet, what most readers might not realize is that this book was originally written in simple, childlike Greek, captured in the English translation. This is a first-grade reader.

John’s Gospel follows the simplicity of a Learn to Read book. “See Spot run…I see a cat…The bird is blue…Jack and Jill walked up the hill.”

Matthew wrote from the perspective of a contemporary eyewitness disciple. Mark penned Peter’s account of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. Doctor Luke was Paul’s missionary partner. His account comes from multiple interviews with eyewitnesses.

John also followed Jesus. He saw and heard all these things which Jesus said and did over those three years.

However, John writes from a different perspective. His gospel was recorded several decades after the extraordinary events of Jesus’ earthly life. John was an old man who spent years in reflection and narration about the importance of those times.

The landscape had changed. Jerusalem had fallen and the Temple had been destroyed by the Roman invasion. All the other disciples had died, many of them martyred.

This is an old man entrusted with eternal truth writing in simple expressions. His target audience features the present and future grandchildren of the children who lived through those years. This is Timeless Truth. This is Greatness in Simplicity.

He is sharing the most important things in life in ways a child can understand. As that child grows up, he/she realizes there is a lifetime of lessons about love, comfort, and connection which serve to lead us to join in the simple to understand but infinitely indescribable magnitude of the wonderful confession of Thomas, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28).

John is well aware there are more things about Jesus beyond what this children’s book can contain.  Now there are many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written (John 21:25).

Here is Greatness in Simplicity. These things are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name (John 20:31). [Children’s Homework: Check out how many times believe and life are connected in this children’s faith book. Maybe more Next Time.]

I first heard about this book as a child when I learned one verse. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son“ (John 3:16).

God loved ME.

Who among us has not had those moments feeling as if no one loves us. Why would they? We are unlovable. Messed up. Unsalvageable. Without Hope. So, we dread, fear, even believe no one does or could ever love us for who we are.

But NO! God loved ME…and YOU!

I stand amazed in the presence of my Heavenly Father and wonder how He could love me, a sinner. Are you amazed at why? Do you wonder how?

The New Testament reveals the Creator God as OUR FATHER. That is the Christian name for God. Who is His Son? His Name is Jesus. John knew Jesus and wrote a children’s book about the simplicity of His glorious greatness!

Our Father asks us to climb up in His arms and read this children’s book about Jesus. It is written in our Father’s own Word. There is not a Monster at the End of the Book. You will want to read the story again and again.

Open the first page.

John begins with, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

Each phrase uses basic vocabulary, echoing the language a young child might understand. Rather than employing complicated theological terms, John’s choice of simple words invites everyone into the mystery of Jesus’ identity.

It sounds like the beginning of the Big Book. In the beginning, God (Genesis 1:1). God spoke. His WORD was the agent of His creation.

Hebrews 1 records that God spoke His last full self-revelation to His creation. Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power (vs. 1-3).

John shares this same truth in childlike simplicity.

In the beginning was the WORD. (In Greek, the Logos.) It means much more than the logic of correct reasoning.

The WORD is the self-expression of God. God’s own revelation of Himself, His thoughts, His purpose.

John’s children’s book states it this way.

THIS IS THE POINT—WHAT JESUS SAID AND DID ARE THE WORDS AND DEEDS OF GOD HIMSELF WHEN GOD WAS WITH US.

The next verses continue this pattern: “He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.” [maybe more on this Next Time}

This use of childlike Greek is significant. It reflects John’s desire for his message about Jesus—the Word, the source of life and light—to be understood by all, regardless of education or age. It is a reminder that the greatest truths are often best told in the simplest words.

These are ideas that can be pondered for a lifetime, yet they are expressed through language that is direct and clear. The simple story is divinely designed for familiarity that will make us cherish our favorite verses, smile with joy at the good parts, and ask thoughtful questions about the life lessons.

This is the fullness of God in the simplest understandable terms. It is a children’s book to be read again and again.

THIS IS A GREAT READ EVEN WHEN YOU ALREADY KNOW THE ENDING!

Simple…yet filled with the most profound and cherished statements of Jesus’ identity, divine nature, and eternal purpose. With each subsequent reading, we notice new depths to the characters, the actions, the words, and the lessons of love, comfort, and connection.

The Gospel of John is like an ocean. There are parts shallow enough for a spiritual toddler to splash around in joyful safety. There are other parts to these simple words where the deepest spiritual thinkers can spend countless hours floating in its fathomless depths.

JESUS SHOWED US GOD, And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his GLORY, glory as of the only Son from the Father, FULL OF GRACE AND TRUTH.(John 1:14). [maybe more Next Time]

The first four verses of John’s Gospel continue to welcome readers of every background into the wonder and hope at the heart of the Christian faith.

I pray you will pick up John’s Gospel and climb into the arms of your heavenly Father…again. No one loves you as much as God does. Undeserved. Unlimited. Unending.

“Truly, truly, I love you so much I gave My Son for you. Child, I love you!”

OH, HOW I NEEDED TO HEAR THOSE WORDS TODAY!

I hope you will read the simple words…again.

I challenge you to read portions of John’s Gospel this week as if you are a child with a first-grade reader. Read each word slowly with childlike wonder. Read them again as you wade out into greater depths of understanding.

In…the…beginning…was…the…WORD…and…the…Word…was…with…. God…and…the…Word…was…God.

…and…we…saw…His…GLORY!

…full…of…Grace…and…Truth!

Read the Book again. There is God at the beginning and the same God at the end of the Book. As each page is turned in fear or excitement, “Do not let your heart be troubled. Believe in God and me…Believe God the Father is in me, and I am in the Father” (John 14:1,11).

Read the WORD with your Father and become amazed at the lessons of love, comfort, and connection.

EYES UP! KEEP TURNING THE PAGES! THIS IS THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD!

I pray you will hear this child’s words, “I Love you, too!”