Reuben and Maggie Bishop: Faithful

 

 

 1 Samuel 12:24 ESV

Only fear the LORD and serve him
faithfully with all your heart.
For consider what great things
he has done for you.

Together They Loved And Served

Together they loved and served their Lord together
over the course of fifty-five years
centered on Him who saved
and called them into sharing
their family—their children, their hopes and their
dreams together trusting in their faith
and in their church with Jesus
as their guide and Savior—
loving and laughing and working and playing
and praying and worshipping
always together whether
in joy or in sadness—
and they in their faithful, their full-hearted service
made a difference for others seeking
for direction and purpose—
finding their all in Jesus.

********

As I grew up in the fifties and sixties, I often wondered why older folks got so excited about that really old song, “Give me that old time religion.” After all, I was growing up in a world excited about the space race to the moon, frightened by the nuclear arms race, getting used to all kinds of new music and lots of weird, yet somehow exciting new ideas. People were experimenting with new hair lengths, new skirt lengths, new styles, leisure suits, bell bottom trousers, and tie-dyed anything and everything. “Old Time Religion” seemed a bit out of tune with the modernity of the sixties. Yet, I have to admit I never lost my admiration for all those faithful folks who sang about their religion—day-by-day because they faithfully and visibly lived it out in the ups-and-downs of raising families on tight budgets with genuine faith in Jesus as their Savior.  And they always did so with enthusiastic participation in church ministries. So many of these families placed church right in the center of the priorities, and those of us growing up among them were truly blessed by their hearts for Jesus. So, I have to admit I actually came to admire their very real “Old Time Religion.”

I grew up appreciating so many such families, but Reuben and Maggie Bishop particularly blessed me as they and their large family shared life with our family at Glencoe First Baptist Church . Reuben had been born in 1922, as one of five children. He grew up to serve in the Navy during World War II. Maggie had been born in 1924. They married in September in 1944 and spent 55 years together. Reuben worked for 30 years at Goodyear Tire, while Maggie worked as a stay-at-home Mom until all of her children were in school. Then she worked at a downtown department store. They had five children: Alice Goss, Theresa Thompson, Sammy Bishop, Anita Landers and Tina Chun. (Imagine poor Sammy, growing up in a house with no brothers, but four sisters!)

 

As, I have said it was clear even to me, that they built their family on the strong foundation of their Christian faith. Anita says, “My parents were Christian parents who lived the Christian life. They had a huge impact on many people in our Church.” For instance, Reuben started teaching a Sunday School Class of fifth and sixth graders, and taught them every year until they graduated from high school. He discipled those guys through their school years, always pointing them to Christ. At his funeral several of them served as pallbearers; now—that’s a lifelong testimony.

Anita also shares this testimony: “During a revival at our Church Junior Hill was preaching. Dad and I were working in the garden and talking about the service from the night before. As we talked, Dad explained the Roman Road of Salvation, and I accepted Christ as my Savior right there in the pea patch.” What a beautiful place to meet the Lord!

Now, growing up in the Bishop family had its perks and its challenges. Maggie was an excellent seamstress and made most of the girls’ dresses, including one particularly beautiful formal for Anita’s Junior-Senior Prom. However, she also remembers her junior year, playing in the the band, and having gone to a Saturday competition. Even though she did not get home until 3 A.M. Sunday morning, she was awakened right on time and told to get ready for church. Her parents believed firmly; if you could participate in a band trip,  you could definitely make it to church. She explains she was the only band member who made it to church that day. 

Maggie never missed Sunday School, Training Union, WMU and Prayer Meeting. For both Reuben and Maggie, their family life centered around their Christian life. Maggie also took an active part in ministering to church and community families in times of grief. She continued this work well into her eighties.

 

Another daughter, Tina, adds that both her parents taught Sunday School. Their Dad worked with the R.A.’s and served as a Deacon. They enjoyed hosting ice cream socials for the teens. She mentions how their closest friends were members of their Church. Tina further mentions how she, her sisters and her brother were always encouraged to participate in church groups and youth camps. She says, “We all grew up learning  all about the Love of Christ.”

The Bishops were always known for their garden, and they always grew much more than even their big family needed. Neighbors and church families were welcome to come and gather fruits and vegetables. After Reuben passed away, Maggie became known as the bean lady. She would grow more green beans than anyone could handle.  Tina  gives this beautiful tribute to her parents: “We were loved.”

Anita recalls how both of her parents remained active in the lives of their children, their grandchildren, and even their great-grandchildren. Often they traveled all the way from Alabama to Texas to see baseball games and spend fun times with the younger members of the family.

You can easily see why I feel  so blessed to have grown up in a church family with the Bishops. Above all, in the midst of their busy lives, they were faithful to their Lord Jesus, faithful to their family, and certainly faithful to their church family. 

In the midst of all of this they dealt with mighty challenges. As it turned out, Reuben, developed a hereditary issue which severely complicated his breathing. In fact, for many years, he seemed to gasp for every breath; yet he never let that stop him from giving a powerful witness to His Lord. He loved Jesus truly, and could be counted on to encourage various preachers with hearty “Amens!” as they preached the Gospel. He and Maggie kept their focus on God and His Goodness throughout these years of suffering. They continued to focus energy on loving their family, serving others and growing and their delicious fruit and vegetables. 

Getting back to that “Old Time Religion” makes just as much sense today as it did back in my growing-up days. Christian families like the faithful one Reuben and Maggie led so faithfully,  still provide a powerful witness for Jesus and the eternal Kingdom He continues to build in the hearts and lives of  such servants as the Bishops. I enthusiastically praise God for such wonderful and fruitful lives as theirs.

Jesus: God’s Perfect Lamb

 

 

 

Since Easter 2006 much in our lives has changed. During those nineteen years our daughter and our son  have  graduated from high school and college,  Both have married, and our daughter and son-in-law have  presented  us with a wonderful red-haired grandchild. Also, since then Becky and I have finished our service in Nigeria when we relocated north to Niger before we finally retired from missionary service and moved back to the U.S. Yes, circumstances have obviously changed. Yet, in reality, our lives remain substantially unchanged. We continue to love and serve our Savior, who has wondrously saved us and called us and allowed us to serve and worship Him. We still worship our God who continues to fulfill His Eternal Gospel Plan through the power of of the Holy Spirit, living and guiding us, giving us the opportunity to share His Gospel in a loving, growing, worshipping and witnessing Church. So, as another Easter comes marching in with the great Good News that Jesus is risen, I look back on all He has done to save us, to redeem us and to share with us perfect joy, perfect peace and perfect Love. Even after nineteen years, I still proclaim “Jesus Is God’s Lamb!” The poems below still speak to me as I hope they will speak to you during this Holy Week when we remember again how dearly Jesus paid for our sins on the Cross. Our lives have been made gloriously new and free and purposeful in serving and worshipping Him. That beautiful Truth makes all things new because of not only Jesus’ death, but also because of His resurrection. So, I  also add to these older poems a new one, my words  of praise since we serve a risen Savior: “The Birds And The Flowers Encourage Us: Rejoice!“ After all, Easter is all about this truth: “He is risen! He is risen, indeed! Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! Amen!”

First imagine a young boy for the first time loving so much the perfect lamb he helped to choose for the Passover. Then realize how torn this boy’s heart would be when he realized what price their lamb must pay. Imagine how this boy’s father would also feel about the sacrifice of their very own perfect lamb. Imagine now how you are standing just some small distance away from the cross watching closely the awful events of that Good Friday. Imagine looking upon our blessed Lord Jesus suffering there before you, beginning with His feet and slowly shifting your eyes all the way up to His ghastly crown. You might express your feelings something like this:

 

Jesus Is God’s Lamb
Easter, 2006

It Was A Lamb

It was a lamb
he loved—this boy,
chasing, laughing
under fresh, blue
skies—this lamb
this boy’s delight—a
partner for his play.

It was a lamb
he sought—a boy
choosing, hugging
to his heart
obedient
yet troubled, wholly
perfect innocence.

It was their lamb
he knew—this man,
this boy’s father—
illustrating among multitudes
sin’s terrible price
demanding death—
God’s awesome plan.

Jesus is the Lamb
I know—“God’s son!”
living, breathing,
truth burning bight
In the darkest night,
self-surrendered Light—
Love’s work must dawn.

 

His Feet

His bleeding pierced feet
bear His awesome weight
tortured by His burden,
every breath He gasps
stretching on the spike
which pins Him to a cross.

His feet so soiled with mud
Jerusalem’s dirt and blood,
our Lord and Savior, Servant
who washed our dusty feet—
Mary washed His with her tears
and wiped them with her hair.

His feet which touched the earth
bear scars, His humble birth,
Who trod our tiresome roads,
Who walked upon the waves
Who struggles for us all,
bears all our sins away.

His Knees

I close my eyes and see
Him down upon His knees,
under Heaven He pleads
so anguished that He bleeds,
the sin that fills His cup,
tastes like bitterest dregs.

His knees are rough with scars,
they’ve borne Him kneeling hours
upon some mountain side
praying to His Father
though now His head is bowed—
where is Heaven’s power?

The flesh upon His knees
like His battered body bleed,
they’ve borne a flagellum’s cruel strokes
which have torn Him all apart—
even off that tree He
could not now bow upon His knees.

His Hands

I’ve seen His hands touch softly
a child upon his knee,
those hands which touched a leper
and helped a blind man see—
which fashioned for His mother
sturdy, well-built furniture.

A man’s hands large and strong
with fingers lean and long,
their touch brought peace and calm,
brought hope when there was none—
His hands pressed upon my shoulders
assured, His Presence blessed.

The world has stripped Him bare
and mocks Him hanging there—
His hands which touched with Love
now nailed to splintered boards;
I wonder at such hatred
as I stare at His punctured hands.

His Side

That gash deep in His side
proves my horror—He has died,
yet I wonder, still He bleeds,
water mixes with His blood
in proof beneath His cross—
His body now a fountain.

The winds now pierce my ears,
the clamor raising fears
as Heaven howls with rage—
the blessed King of Jews
now dead between two thieves
rejected by His people.

I stand here horrified
by the way my Master died
still, yielding as a lamb
doomed, a temple sacrifice—
Love surrendered to a mob,
the pathway back to God.

 

 

His Breast

Now His head hangs on His breast,
our leaders satisfied with  His death—
now He bears His head alone
where His heart absorbed our sin;
strong in His sturdy chest,
now who will bring us rest?

He who hugged our children
on the behalf of Heaven,
holding them to His breast,
offering them His best—
Now, His heart has burst
slain by mankind’s worst.

His bruised and bloody chest
leaves me empty at His death—
I knew He was Messiah,
so now I wonder why
my Master had to die—
Earth heaves, the heavens cry.

His Heart

A soldier pierced His heart,
has fulfilled the prophet’s
gentle, muttered words,
Simeon’s temple warning
now haunts Mary’s mourning,
her heart sword pierced, she weeps—

His heart spear-pierced so deep.
His heart they burst asunder—
such hate for Love? I wonder,
must we spit at goodness,
crucify all His gladness
taking the sinner’s part?

Is His Heart just too pure
to survive earth’s atmosphere
where pride and hatred thrive?
Can holiness survive
awaiting our Messiah
who brings God cleansing fire?

His Head

His head, His face, His eyes
haunt me as He dies.
His Head must wear a crown
more worthy than those thorns—
He who lived to bless the world
and bore Himself, our sorrows.

Mark His face with glory
not grimy, dirty, bloody—
His face which healed with smiles,
gave hope to weary souls,
overpowered evil
and welcomed home the lost.

Those stark and staring eyes
which show no life, they’re lies
for His are lit with fire
which illuminates our lives,
points us ever higher
with Truth which never dies.

 

The Birds And The Flowers Encourage Us: Rejoice!

Every single year I see the yellow daffodils
practically giggling as they bravely
peek up above the frosted ground
and dance together in the chilly breezes
while they race against the red camellias
who also dare those northern winds
to  attempt to be the first to shout
their hallelujahs in their enthusiastic praises
to our Lord who has eternally conquered
sin and death, “He is risen from the grave!
He has prevailed against the gates of Hell!
He has crushed the serpent with His heel.”

While the daffodils and camellias begin to
disappear the grass begins to green while yellow
wildflowers gladly spread their homely splendor
in praise to Him who makes all of nature break out,
displaying the splendor He has created in joy
as if the resurrection of our Savior has declared
a celebration in looking to the consummation of
God’s Will for all of His Creation—and then the Irises
bright and white and deep royal purple call out
their praises while red bud, dogwood and snowball
trees add their own unique glories for His Praise
to Him who willingly died to save His beloved world.

Then the roses bud and azaleas reveal their colors
as they join the Springtime chorus in worship
of the One who shows His grandeur in each and every
blossom while the birdsongs grow in joy and in
their coupling praises as they prepare their nests—
all of nature seems to ring with all this gladsome
noise and with all the colors rioting all around us
as if to wake us from our slumbers and  our doldrums
all to draw us back to that resurrection morning
when our Savior rose victorious from the tomb
which could not hold Him as Earth and Heaven
join together singing, “He is risen!  Indeed!, He is risen!”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jesus Chooses Glory

 

 

WHEN I SURVEY THE WONDROUS CROSS
Isaac Watts
When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast
Save in the death of Christ, my God.
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.

See, from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down.
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small.
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

Here is the greatest paradox of all. God, Incarnate, Perfect, nailed to a cross for my sins and yours. Laid in a tomb cold and dark. Raised up triumphant proving His victory over death. God proving His great love once and for all. I am so glad you and I serve God who is high and lifted up, and  yet performs the ultimate act of humility—choosing to come among us as the incarnate God. Coming as the Son Of God and Son of Man, and having committed no sin, He willingly dies to bring forgiveness to those of us who choose to follow Jesus. Acting as One, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, in perfect, unbroken unity. Choosing the Way of the Cross for Jesus as the way of Salvation for us. Surely there is no greater Love. Throughout His life on Earth Jesus chose the Glory of God over the sins of the world.

During His life among us on earth, Jesus chose obedience as the path to achieve God’s ultimate glory and our ultimate good. Even as a twelve-year old boy in the Temple, Jesus chose God’s Glory:

John 2:48-51 ESV

And when his parents saw him, they were astonished.
And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you
treated us so? Behold, your father and I
have been searching for you in great distress.”
And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me?
Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”
And they did not understand the saying
that he spoke to them. And he went down with them
and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them.
And his mother treasured up all these things
in her heart.

 

 

After  Jesus’ baptism, the Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness where He fasted for forty days, and where He depended on God’s Word to refuse the powerful temptations Satan brought against Him. Faithfully, Jesus again chose God’s Glory and our good.

Matthew 4:1-11 ESV

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness
to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days
and forty nights, he was hungry.
And the tempter came and said to him,
“If you are the Son of God, command these stones
to become loaves of bread.”
But he answered, “It is written,
“‘Man shall not live by bread alone,
    but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Then the devil took him to the holy city and
set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him,
“If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down,
for it is written,
“‘He will command his angels concerning you,’
and“‘On their hands they will bear you up,
    lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”
Jesus said to him, “Again it is written,
‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain
and showed him all the kingdoms of the world
and their glory.
And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him,
“Be gone, Satan! For it is written,
‘You shall worship the Lord your God
    and him only shall you serve.’”

Then the devil left him, and behold,
angels came and were ministering to him.

 

 

Jesus boldly and purposefully chose to heal the man born blind on the Sabbath, once again, to bring glory to God and good for us. Again He set for us the example—do God’s work while you can, no matter who may stand against you.

John 9:1-7 ESV

As he passed by, he saw a blind man from birth.
And his disciples asked him,
“Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents,
that he was born blind?”
Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned,
or his parents, but that the works of God
might be displayed in him.
We must work the works of him who sent me
while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.
As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
Having said these things, he spat on the ground
and made mud and said to him,
“Go and wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent).
So he went and washed and came back seeing.

 

 

Choosing to steadily, willingly travel toward Jerusalem and the Cross, Jesus chose His Love for each of us so beautifully pictured in His Love for Mary, Martha and Lazarus. In choosing His Perfect Love He was setting into motion HIs ultimate Act of Obedience in response to God’s Eternal Gospel Plan.

John 11:38-44 ESV

Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb.
It was a cave, and a stone lay against it.
Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister
of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time
there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.”
Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed
you would see the glory of God?”
So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me.
I know that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around,
that they may believe that you sent me.
When he had said these things,
he cried out with a loud voice,
“Lazarus, come out.”The man who had died came out,
his hands and feet bound with linen strips,
and his face wrapped with a cloth.
Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

 

 

Jesus did not enter Jerusalem under the cloak of darkness. Rather, exactly as Zechariah had prophesied, He continued to proclaim God’s Glory as He deliberately moved toward His sacrificial act of love for us.

Luke 19:36-40 ESV

And as he rode along, they spread
their cloaks on the road.
And as he was drawing near—already
on the way down Mount of Olives—the whole multitude
of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God
with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen,
saying, “Blessed is the King who comes
in the name of the Lord!
Peace in Heaven and glory in the highest!”
And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him,
“Teacher, rebuke your disciples.”
He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent,
the very stones would cry out.”

 

 

In Jesus’ life there were no easy choices, but He made every single one of those choices for God’s glory and always for our good. Praise His Holy Name!

Matthew 26:38-44

Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful,
even to death; remain here, and watch with me.
” And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible,
let this cup pass from me;
nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”
And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping.
And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me
one hour? Watch and pray that you may not
enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing,
but the flesh is weak.” Again, for the second time,
he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.”
And again he came and found them sleeping,
for their eyes were heavy. So, leaving them again,
he went away and prayed for the third time,
saying the same words again.

 

 

Only Jesus, the perfect Son of God and the perfect Son of Man could declare God’s Eternal Gospel Plan finished. And so, with faith in the hope of the Resurrection, He did—again for God’s Glory and for our good. Hallelujah! Praise His Holy Name!

John 19:28-30 ESV

After this, Jesus, knowing that all things
were now accomplished, that the Scripture
might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!”
Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there;
and they filled a sponge with sour wine,
put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth.
So when Jesus had received the sour wine,
He said, “It is finished!”
And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

 

 

Parables Of Redemption: The Chronicles Of Narnia, Part Two

 

 

PARABLES OF REDEMPTION:
THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA, Part Two

Hebrews 13:8 ESV
Jesus is the same yesterday and today and forever.

In every book and in the life of every character in his Chronicles of Narnia, C.S. Lewis writes powerful testimonies of people who encounter and bow to the amazing love and power of Jesus. In the stories of Narnia Jesus is represented by the great Son of the Emperor Beyond the Sea, Aslan, who gives His life to overcome sin and death in the land of Narnia and beyond. In The Lion, the Witch and Wardrobe, Edmund sells out to the wicked White Witch, foolishly believing her lies under the influence of the Turkish Delight he gobbles up as fast as he can. So, Aslan lays down His own life to destroy not only the hold of death on Edmund, but on all of Narnia. He arises victorious, breaking the Stone Table of Sacrifice forever. In the story,  Prince Caspian, Aslan appears in a future Narnia, having fallen under the rule of the Telmarines, who have driven the Old Narnians still true to Aslan into hiding, as He brings freedom to all who choose to follow HIm.  What a powerful picture of redemption C.S. Lewis presents in the person of Eustace Scrubb in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. What a an amazing example of having our dragonish, sinful, self-centered skins peeled away by Jesus who uses His own power to gives us genuine re-birth and freedom from our own sinful selves.

Now, let’s take a look at other individuals and peoples who are truly born again, thanks be to God, as Aslan intervenes on their behalf in the final four books of The Chronicles of Narnia. 

In The Silver Chair Lewis creates another appropriately named character,  the marsh wiggle, Puddleglum, the very epitome of a pessimist, who faithfully and protectively accompanies  Eustace Scrubb and Jill Pole on their dangerous journey to free King Caspian’s lost son, Prince Rilian. At the crucial moment in the story, where Aslan’s Truth battles this wicked queen of the underworld’s lies, see how Puddleglum’s faith in Aslan and his courage save the day:

Then he did a very brave thing. He knew it wouldn’t hurt him quite as much as it would hurt a human; for his feet (which were bare) were webbed and hard and cold-blooded like a duck’s. But he knew it would hurt hurt him badly enough; and so it did. With his bare feet he stamped on the fire, grinding a large part of it into ashes on the flat hearth. And three things happened at once.

First, the sweet, heavy smell grew very much less. For though the whole fire had not been put out, a good bit of it had, and what remained smelled very largely of Marsh-wiggle, which is not at all an enchanting smell. This instantly made everyone’s brain far clearer. The Prince and the children held up their heads again and opened their eyes.

Secondly, the Witch, in a loud, terrible voice, utterly different from all the sweet tones she had been using up till now, called out, “What are you doing? Dare to touch my fire again, mud-filth, and I’ll turn the blood to fire inside your veins.”

Thirdly, the pain itself made Puddleglum’s head for a moment perfectly clear and he knew exactly what he really thought. There is nothing like a good shock of pain for dissolving certain kinds of magic.

From that moment on Prince Rilian and Puddleglum, along with Eustace and Jill, knew the truth. They realized the witch must be destroyed. With that accomplished, the people of the underworld were freed at last. Then the Narnians and their visitors found  their way to the surface, so that according to Aslan’s plan, Narnia was protected by the return of Prince, soon-to-be-king Rilian.

The Horse and His Boy is all about role reversals. Bree, a talking Narnian horse, rescues Shasta, who has been thought to be a fisherman’s son,  but has actually been Cor, the Crown Prince of Archenland. They meet Hwin, a second talking Narnian horse, a mare, who is escorting a Telmarine Tarkeena of noble maiden, named Aravis. They all want to get to Narnia. The stallion, Bree, the mare, is proud and pompous, but Hwin is actually more courageous and certainly wiser. Aravis, a young noblewomen, is also proud, and at first despises Shasta, assuming he is beneath her. However, it is he whose courage saves them from a seemingly terrible Lion, actually Aslan. Below, Aslan explains to the very exhausted, discouraged and hopeless Shasta how he, Shasta, had been protected and guided all along his way—by Aslan, Himself.

”Don’t you think it was bad luck to meet so many lions?” said Shasta.

”There was only one lion,” said the Voice.

”What on earth do you mean? I’ve just told you there were at least two the first night, and—“

”There was only one: but he was swift of foot.”

“How do you know?”

”I was the Lion.” And as Shasta gaped with open mouth and said nothing, the Voice continued. “I was the lion who forced you to join with Aravis. I was the cat who comforted you among the houses of the dead. I was the lion who drove the jackals from you while you slept. I was the lion who gave the Horses strength of fear for the last mile so that you should reach King Lune in time. And I was the lion you do not remember who pushed the boat in which you lay, a child near death, so that it came to shore where a man sat, wakeful at midnight, to receive you.”

In the end, all the roles are re-reversed, and Cor becomes the Crown Prince of Archenland, while he and Aravis eventually marry. Bree and Hwin return to Narnia, where they enjoy their freedom as free talking horses.

Thanks to C.S. Lewis and his vivid, God-honoring imagination, we actually get to watch as Aslan sings Narnia into existence in The Magician’s Nephew. Here is this amazing moment:

THE LION WAS PACING TO AND FRO about the empty land and singing his new song. It was softer and more lilting than the song by which he called up the stars and the sun; a gentle, rippling music. And as he walked and sang the valley grew green with grass. It spread out from the Lion like a pool. It ran up the sides of the little hills like a wave. In a few minutes it was creeping up the lower slopes of the distant mountains, making that young world every moment softer. The light wind could now be heard ruffling the grass. Soon they’re were other things besides the grass.

*******

Can you imagine a stretch of grassy land bubbling like water in a pot? For that is really what was happening. In all directions it was swelling into humps. They were of very different sizes, some no bigger than molehills, some as big as wheelbarrows, two the size of cottages. And the humps moved and swelled until they burst, and the crumbled earth poured out of them, and from each hump there came out an animal. The moles came out just as you might see a mole come out in England. The dogs came out, barking the moment their heads were free, and struggling as you’ve seen them do when they are getting through a narrow hole in a hedge. The stags were the queerest to watch, for of course the antlers came up a long time before the rest of them, so at first Digory thought they were trees. The frogs, who all came up near the river, went straight into it with a plop-plop and loud croaking. The panthers, lepers and things of that sort, sat down at once to wash the loose earth off their hindquarters and then stood up against the trees to sharpen their front claws. Showers of birds came out of the trees. Butterflies fluttered. Bees got to work on the flowers as if they hadn’t a second to lose. But the greatest moment of all was when the biggest hump broke like a small earthquake and out came the sloping back, the large, wise head, and the four baggy-trousered legs of an elephant.

In Narnia at her birth, Aslan creates each creature with a uniqueness, a beauty and a dignity all its own. And in the process people are gifted the opportunity and the responsibility of being stewards under the King to care for every living being well.

Imagine watching the destruction of the Old Narnia and the glorious beginning of the new, the real and eternal Narnia, with Aslan intimately involved in both. Such is the substance of The Last Battle. Lewis brings all of old Narnia to an end as he introduces the new, the eternal Narnia and the glorious life there for those Aslan as they are finally and fully redeemed. And in a reflection of C.S. Lewis deep belief in the goodness of God, all is truly well—ever better than anyone could have imagined on their own.

And as He spoke He no longer looked to them like a lion; but the things that began to happen after that were so great and beautiful that I cannot write them. And for us this is the end of all the stories, and we can most truly say that they all lived happily ever after. But for them it was only the beginning of the real story. All their life in this world and all their adventures in Narnia had only been the cover and the title page: now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story which no one on earth has read; which goes on forever; in which ever chapter is better than the one before.

I would say that no matter how many times I either read or listen to or see the Narnian stories of Lewis, my heart is lifted up, my spirit is strengthened, and my mind is captivated. C.S. Lewis set out to encourage war-traumatized British children—and he, indeed, succeeded. As he portrays the effects of the life and death and resurrection of Jesus in presenting Aslan in Narnia, Lewis draws many of us deeply into the Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus. Praise God for such stories that honorably and faithfully entertain us while filling our hearts and minds and souls with a deeper love for our faithful Lord Jesus.

A New Creation

 

 

Just last week I sent an e-mail anniversary card featuring butterflies to one of my close friends in Nigeria. His response? “Thank you for the beautiful card. Always butterflies!” I could just hear him laughing. So, what is it about me and butterflies. It began during my first years of teaching when a couple of my friends and I discovered a beautiful picture book for adults, HOPE FOR THE FLOWERS, by Trina Paulus, telling a simple tale about Stripe and Yellow, two caterpillars who wonder about the meaning of life until they discover they can spin a cocoon and become a butterfly. In doing so they bless the earth with beauty and new life—and lots of flowers. In addition to her imaginative story, her illustrations are glorious. Her story rang true in my heart and powerfully captured for me the truth of the Gospel as stated in 2 Corinthians 5:17: “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.” Now, for me, that captures perfectly the reality of what God does for us when we are reborn in Christ. So, this week, as Spring begins and as Easter approaches, I just want to meditate on God’s remarkable parable of redemption, resurrection and regeneration.  In Him we are, indeed, new creatures.

Let’s consider a few facts about how perfectly the creator of all things designed the butterfly to delight and spread beauty throughout the Earth. Here are some fascinating facts about butterflies found on the insectlore.com website. 

1. Butterflies bless with their presence all of the continents, except Antarctica, with their unique loveliness. What a blessing to almost all the earth!

2. Butterflies “love” colors and can see and process nine colors, while people can only process three. They are attracted to red, yellow, white, purple, pink and orange flowers. God equipped butterflies to seek and find the nectar they need to survive.

3. Butterflies drink only liquid. They have a proboscis so they can drink the nectar of flowers. They also love the juice of fruits and even salt and minerals they drink from mud puddles. I always wondered why when I saw a bunch of beautiful butterflies in the mud!

4. Butterflies can fly from five to twelve miles per hour, and some even fly as fast as thirty miles per hour. Monarchs can travel from Canada all the way to the forests of Mexico. True story: I was once teaching at Baptist High School in Jos, Nigeria, and looked out of the window to see a very extensive stream of beautiful butterflies flying toward who knows where. Wow! Talking about a welcome distraction from a grammar lesson! 

So, our Creator knew just what He had in mind when He created the Butterfly; so He created them so that He has meticulously built into their being everything they need to bless people all over the world.

When a butterfly emerges fully formed and ready to fly, the chrysalis is left empty, just as Jesus’ burial cloths were left empty after His glorious resurrection. Even so, He resurrects us and recreates us when we surrender our hearts, souls, minds and bodies completely unto Him. We are, indeed new creatures, reflecting His glory.

I believe God’s Spirit draws many of our hearts to butterflies because they  so remarkably, spiritually and inspirationally act out one of God’s most beautiful parables. Caterpillars begin their lives with nothing spectacular about them. They scurry along the ground on their way from one green leaf to another. They grow fatter and bigger until an irresistible sensation draws them as they seek a secured stem on a bush or in a tree. There they discover they have within themselves the ability to spin a silk cocoon, inside which they sleep while the Creator transforms and reshapes them. They emerge from their chrysalis, no longer a worm, but rather, as a bright new creature proclaiming with every flutter of the wings the miracle God has worked. They are reborn from their chrysalis dust of the earth as they are delivered into the heavens. Now, they fly resplendent with beautiful wings painted gloriously to reflect the Lord Jesus Himself’s resurrection promise and love. God makes every butterfly and every reborn human soul a unique illustration for His redemptive purpose. He looks to each of us to find His eternal purpose for our hearts and souls and bodies as we become blissfully His. Amen!

 

OUR OWN METAMORPHOSIS

Would you imagine with me if only you could,
walking outside on a warm springtime day
enjoying the breezes caressing your face
as they rain down tiny, tiny white blossoms?

And you’re enjoying the chattering chirping
while tiny birds and their mates seek out the
straw and the stems for constructing their nests
for the first of the season’s pastel dyed eggs.

And you can’t help but look up to the heavens,
give praise to Him who paints every beauty
so vivid before you, your heart beats with wonder
before Him as you praise Him, your Maker.

And to your delight a butterfly swarm flutters
and then lands on your daisies, each one as if
they are lifting their magnificent wings in praise
as your soul rejoices in God’s mercy and His grace.

He speaks Gospel truth through all of this beauty—
each of these wonders so marvelous, so lovely;
like them we’re born, it seems, for crawling the ground
like caterpillars awaiting their own metamorphosis.

You and I live caught up in the midst of our own ways
with no hope of escaping from crawling in the dust
we were made from, we so need to be changed fully—
permanently set free from our earth-bound, nature fallen.

Jesus Christ, Son of God, Son of Man, came among us
to open our eyes to God’s glory above and His
wonder—then He lay down His life and rose up
victorious, offering us our own metamorphosis.
M.S. (March 2025)

I WONDER IF I COULD FOLLOW A BUTTERFLY

I wonder if I could follow a butterfly some day
from flower to flower from blossom to blossom
luxuriating in all of the sensations they feel
as they flutter along while they are dancing
upon one breeze and then another in the midst
of God’s glory transcendent in flowering trees,
in the greenest, the freshest of grasses and
wildflower patches scattered around on the ground—
I wonder if I could somehow comprehend their own
pleasure in gathering the nectar while pausing
for just one instant on one brilliant flower while
fanning their wings as a part of God’s spectacle
luxuriating in the beauty of His glory refreshing
and blessing as is His perfect nature—I wonder
if in their being they are able to marvel in all such
splendor and beauty and loveliness and glory.
M.S. (March 2025)

 

So, got it now? Why the butterfly all the time for so many years? Let’s summarize: In saving me from my sin, Jesus has given me a brand new birth. He has transformed me. I am no longer a sinful, earthbound, creature eating the dust as I scurry from one green leaf to another. His Spirit living in me took me inside the cocoon and miraculously made me a brand new creature—no longer a caterpillar, but now a butterfly, free to fly as His breezes lead me to enjoy the sweetest of nectars among His blossoms. And He uses my joy to bring Him glory and spread from one meadow to another His own glorious flowers. How beautiful and how adventuresome He makes all my life until one day He brings about my ultimate metamorphosis and sets me finally, fully free in Heaven.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Caleb Adeshina

 

IT’S ALL ABOUT JESUS:
LIVING UP TO AN HONORABLE NAME: CALEB

 

 

In Nigeria names are prayers which rise from the hearts of the family—parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and others dear to the family—on behalf of a newborn child. In devoted Christian families these prayers express faith and trust and obedience to God’s Will for their blessed child. For example, take Caleb Ituraoluwa RedzieBene Adeshina, born on November 17, 2003, the second child of Durojaye and Hannatu Adeshina. Caleb’s Christian name hearkens back to the courageous witness of Caleb, who along with Joshua, stood alone with faith in God and His Covenant to grant the Children of Israel the Promised Land .  They opposed the unfaithful and ungodly advice of the other ten spies sent to examine the Land of Canaan. In fact, Caleb and Joshua even stood against the terrified Children of Israel  who threatened to stone them. Out of that generation of adults who had been delivered from Egypt, only these two stood with Moses and Aaron to trust God who had delivered them over and over again. Basically, the entire nation, except for Caleb, Joshua, Moses and Aaron said to God, “We do not trust you.” So, the unfaithful were condemned to wander in the wilderness for forty years until all of them had died, except for Caleb and Joshua. So, Caleb Adeshina was given a name  which spoke a prayer over him as a child, asking God to make him faithful and wholehearted for God  even as His namesake was.

Caleb was given his Yoruba name, Ituraoluwa (God’s Delight) by his Yoruba father and his side of the family. He received his Irigwe name, RezieBene (God’s Righteousness) from his Irigwe mother and her family. So, the family prayed, based on their godly heritage, for Caleb to be strong and faithful before God, to live a life of righteousness which would bring delight to God. 

 

Now, both of Caleb’s parents have lived obedient and faithful lives together in passing on such a heritage. The daughter of a deeply dedicated Baptist Pastor and his wife, Hannatu established her record of trust and obedience in her years as a student at Baptist High School, Jos. Her dedication grew deeper in her studies at the University of Jos,  and in her answer to God’s Call into ministry through becoming a teacher at Baptist High School, Jos.  She continued to do so in giving leadership to other Baptist schools in the area, including Baptist High School, Masaka as Principal and Baptist High School, Jos as Vice-Principal Admin. Presently she is serving as Acting Principal at Baptist Model High School, also in Jos. She has also been active in the Baptist Lydia missions organization for secondary school girls.Her husband, Durojaye has used his gifting to travel with Covenant Players, a Christian group of actors.  He has directed for many years the Torchbearer Drama Group of Baptist High School, Jos.  He has continued to  serve other Christian schools and ministries. Currently he ministers as the Evangelism Director for the Philadelphia Baptist Association in Jos. He also leads the True Love Waits program in five Jos schools. 

From the moment of Caleb’s birth, God established His call and protection over his blessed life. As his mother was nearing delivery, the power supply went out, so there was no light in the delivery room. His mother confesses she feared he might fall off the narrow birth bed. At the naming ceremony his father attempted to give him the name Aaron, but the grandfather insisted on Caleb. His mother gave him the name, Ituraoluwa (God’s Delight) based upon Zephaniah 3:17, honoring his Yoruba heritage and (RedzeBene) God’s Righteousness) giving tribute to his Irigwe heritage.

What a beautiful heritage to pray over their newborn baby boy. Caleb was led to faith in Christ by his mother, Hannatu, when he was in primary five (fifth grade) at Rechabites Christian Academy. Caleb had his share of childhood accidents, but God always brought healing. He graduated from Baptist High in Jos in 2020, where he was baptized. While at Baptist High he sang as a member of the choir, acted in the Torchbearer drama group, directed by his father, and also participated as a member of the Royal Ambassadors. Caleb is now a third year student at the University of Jos, studying Business Administration. He also plays the keyboard at his home church, Haske Baptist in Jos. In addition to this, God has given Caleb a gift for vividly capturing the personalities of people around him in his art work.

 

As a young man, Caleb developed a strong dedication to body building and running. So, at a point, he felt God leading him to participate in the International ECOWAS (an inter-governmental developmental organization in West Africa) Marathon. Although he had never participated in such a race, he trusted the Lord and shared his desire to participate with his parents, who prayed, and asked for God to provide accommodations in Abuja, so he could complete his training there. When a friend’s parents agreed to do, Caleb’s father and mother gave their approval. He had actually begun his training four years earlier. He would rise each morning at 4:30 to go running for one hour. He timed himself and carefully computed the distance he needed to cover each week. He carefully made his weights himself and kept increasing the kilograms he was lifting until he reached fifty. He watched his diet carefully, reducing his carbohydrates and increasing his protein, eating soya beans, millet, eggs, groundnuts (peanuts) and beans. He also ate spinach, cabbage and other vegetables. So, on every front, Caleb persevered and accomplished every difficult task along the way to fulfill this particular call of God on his life.

When the race came, all of Caleb’s faithfulness to answer God’s Call and his determination paid off when he placed sixty-fifth out of over 700 runners. He certainly found God acting in his life as he did the hard work required to answer that Call,  in spite of all the obstacles that would have made less trustworthy people excuse themselves and give up. Not only was this a victory for Caleb, but also for His God and his own faith, along with his parents and the entire family. 

I believe Caleb’s accomplishments for the Kingdom will only increase as He lives up to the prayer his parents, divinely led, prayed forth for him a life of godly faithfulness, even as they named him. Oh, and by the way, Caleb is already planning and preparing for next year’s race. Some Nigerians would encourage him by saying, “More grease to your elbows!” That is, “Well done! Keep it up!”

HERE STANDS CALEB

Here stands another Caleb
standing tall and strong
relying on God’s own strength
and His dependable faithfulness
as he looks over all the hills
and the mountains he must
cross to reach God’s holy
Promised Land even
though He must expect
to fight mighty men and
giants as he conquers
in answer to God’s own Call,
in using God’s gifts and
abilities Holy Spirit breathed
securing through persistence
victories Heaven secures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

John 3:16 and Psalm 23

 

Jesus is my Savior
and He is my Shepherd—
He is the gift most precious
God as my Father
has in His mercy
and in His grace
and for His glory
in His Love granted.

Jesus is my Savior
for God in His glory
has provided my Master,
His Son, who came
down from Heaven,
lived His life perfect,
died for my sins,
rose up victorious.

Jesus is my Shepherd,
teaching God’s Way, blessing
His disciples beloved,
and every person
hungering for truth
and salvation—
His Living Water
His Bread of Life.

Praise Him with your heart,
oh, praise Him with your soul,
and within your mind,
with all your strength,
shout hallelujahs;
He is the Way,
He is the Truth,
He is the Life.

In my Quiet Time with God each morning, I return daily to particular words from His Word which speak to me of God’s goodness and His faithfulness. I begin with 1 Corinthians 4:6.

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”
has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge
of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

This verse always reminds me of the incredible gift of Jesus as the Son of God, who came to walk among us and show us face-to-face the glory of God. This is how dearly God loves us. Next, I recall Lamentations 3:22-23.

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;
His mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.

How good to be reminded how steadfast is the love of God. It NEVER ceases. His mercies never end. Every morning they are new. We are blessed by His perfect faithfulness.

Then I treasure John 3:16 and Psalm 23. In my heart they present and explore the incredible power of the Gospel lived out in the life and death and resurrection of Jesus. And then, how beautifully Psalm 23, through the inspired words of David, describe how fully God shepherds and cares for us. For me these two scriptures harmonize the Love and Goodness He desires for each of us as His children. And daily I am reminded how blessed I am to have been saved by His grace so I may live in the midst of His proven, ever living love.

Imagine, being a disciple of Jesus while He lived in Israel. Imagine, waking up every morning to see His smile and hear His voice. Imagine walking along the road each day, hearing His teachings and His perfect examples, His jokes and His laughter. Imagine sharing meals with Him each day. Imagine watching and listening as He taught the multitudes. Imagine being a witness to His miracles. Imagine watching as He raised the dead. Imagine watching as He healed the lame, the blind, the deaf. Imagine watching as He came out on the stormy waters walking. Just imagine the blessing of being in His Presence. Imagine such sweet fellowship with Jesus.

 

Well, you and I who have believed in Jesus, we have such fellowship promised as the Holy Spirit awakens our hearts and minds each day to draw near in prayer and through God’s Living Word, into precious times with Him so we can watch and listen and find unspeakable blessings in His Presence. The more we get to know Jesus, the more we long to be with Him in such daily fellowship. As I begin my time with Him each day I repeat and pray these scripture passages. John 3:16 and Psalm 23—and as I do, I discover how God’s precious Word, as spoken by Jesus and David, fits together so perfectly. For, indeed, Jesus is my Savior, and again, Jesus is my Shepherd. How I need Him as both as my Savior and as my Shepherd every single day. Hallelujah! Is always there.

John 3:16 KJV
For God so loved the world,
that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in him
should not perish but have eternal life.

 

How can I begin to express the riches of God’s blessings captured in John 3:16?  As Jesus compassionately challenges the Jewish leader, Nicodemus, during their nighttime meeting, He comes to this most beautiful of all God’s promises, focusing on seven words: (1) GOD, Himself, the great I Am, Hashem, Yahweh; the Eternal, the Creator; Great God Almighty loves the world in the way only He can love.  His (2) LOVE acts in self-sacrificing, purposefully surrendering AGAPE love on the Cross. He offers His LOVE to the (3) WORLD, on behalf of all people in all nations because of their universal sinfulness and need for a Savior. Our great God freely and willingly (4) GIVES His (5) SON and His perfect, sinless, unblemished life as the perfect Lamb and sacrifice for all of our sin. Because He performs this unimaginable act incorporating perfect mercy and grace, (6) WHOEVER, (anybody, everybody, anywhere, anytime); you and I and all we know and love and the many we do not know nor yet  love—ALL are included in this divine invitation to salvation. Then any who (7) BELIEVE—they are transformed from death to life eternal. Those who choose a life-changing, complete commitment to  Jesus as the Lord of their whole lives, receive eternal life in the blessed presence of God.

No wonder this verse alone has brought countless people into God’s Kingdom. No wonder this verse speaks inside the hearts of believers throughout the world in more languages than any other. This truly is the heart of the heart of God and His desire for all the people of the world to have the opportunity to find Jesus as Savior.

I can surely speak to the truth and reality of this verse .  I know GOD LOVES me as one among all the people in the WORLD—and I continually discover His LOVE meets our every individual need. He GIVES us His SON as He redeems us day-by-day as we are among the WHOEVER people who BELIEVE in Him.

Psalm 23 KJV

The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
he leaders me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul:
he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;
thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me
in the presence of mine enemies:
thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

 

Not only is Jesus our Savior. He is also our Shepherd. I find it remarkable to note how powerfully David’s Psalm 23 explores  Jesus’ role as our Shepherd centuries before He came to live among us in this world. I find it even more remarkable how Psalm 23 illustrates His desire to LOVE, not only David, but each of us in such tangible ways. I am awed by the universal nature of God’s LOVE. Throughout out lives Jesus as our Savior and our Shepherd  inspires us to BELIEVE in Him as God’s SON, He provides for us our deepest needs (GREEN PASTURES) and (STILL WATERS.) He does redeem and (RESTORE) our very souls. He leads us in His Way (THE PATH OF RIGHTEOUSNESS) for the glory of His Name; and, by the way, sharing with us His own deep and abiding joy. As we BELIEVE and serve and trust in HIm, He prepares, provides for and protects us. He guides us both through and beyond our troubles. In giving us everlasting life, He makes us His children, so that His blessing becomes a testimony to His faithfulness even before our enemies. He treats us with the love of our royal Father for His children. Every day of our lives on earth and all of eternity with Him in Heaven become His good and perfect gift. We are blessed. THE LORD IS OUR SHEPHERD. 

In eternity Jesus is our Savior and our Shepherd. Today, Jesus is our Savior and our Shepherd. Forever in glory Jesus will be our Savior and our Shepherd. This is what our dying world so desperately needs to know. Here at home and all around us. Further afield, throughout our state and our nation. And to the ends of the Earth. This is not a multiple choice invitation with only one answer. It is an all of the above commandment and explanation for everyone of who has responded to GOD, His LOVE, for all the WORLD, expressed so powerfully as He GAVE His SON, so that (WHOEVER , that’s us) we have the opportunity to make the choice to BELIEVE and trust and follow Him, and so possess AND share eternal life.

What blessed and inspiring and challenging words to consider as I begin each day. Standing on the foundation of Jesus as my Savior and my Shepherd, truly makes each day one filled with wonders to behold as He loves and leads me. I cannot imagine missing such these precious times with my Savior and my Shepherd each and every morning.

Then I am prepared to pray for those God lays on my heart, and to intensely study and meditate on His Word as His Holy Spirit applies it to my heart for the day. He prepares His servant to bear testimony to His Glory and His Love each and every day. Amen!

 

Jesus and His Tears

Jesus Our Master Teacher

John 3: 2 ESV
 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him,
“Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God,
for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.”

When Nicodemus came seeking Jesus in the night, he came seeking a teacher, but much more than a teacher. He came seeking the teacher who did mighty signs from God, proving the unique truth of His teaching. This Jewish leader had heard about those mighty signs of power. Probably he had seen one or more of those signs. We cannot say  this for sure, but who knows? Could it be possible Nicodemus, himself, had been among the circle of teachers who had been so amazed by Jesus, who as a twelve year-old, had so impressed the professional teachers of the Law? We do know this: This teacher himself, recognized Jesus as the Master Teacher.

Jesus Our Master Teacher

God blesses His people with gifted teachers
who study His Word and follow His Spirit’s leading,
who purposefully love all of His children
who model their lives upon Jesus their Master.

Jesus the Savior is our Master Teacher,
He gives His best to each of His pupils,
He teaches truth, direct and simple,
He inspires us with His own light from Heaven.

God develops His teachers to search out
His best for each of His pupils, giving
them conviction they can achieve; they
each have His own wonderful potential.

Jesus the Savior is our Master Teacher,
He gives His best to each of His pupils,
He teaches truth, direct and simple,
He inspires us with His own light from Heaven.

God directs His teachers to knowledge which
excites and invites discoveries
as they seek deeper, ever deeper
making their learning a grand adventure.

Jesus the Savior is our Master Teacher,
He gives His best to each of His pupils,
He teaches truth, direct and simple,
He inspires us with His own light from Heaven.

 

 

---

First of all, I have to admit to a natural bias in my writing this week. I have spent a huge part of my life teaching. Throughout my own years as a student in elementary school, high school, university, and post-graduate school, I found myself blessed by God-called, Holy Spirit-led teachers. These teachers taught me day-in and day-out as they lived out their hard-working lives before me—presenting lessons which laid the groundwork for my learning to read, write, and do all manner of arithmetic problems. Many of my teachers taught according to the Jesus model, laying down their lives so we students could not only learn all of the necessary facts, but also grow in our understanding of life, living with others and finding the path God has for us. I was especially blessed to have in my home church, First Baptist Glencoe, many godly teachers. I had particular teachers who lived as living testimonies of Jesus’ own life-shaping investment in the lives of His disciples. Certainly, when I began teaching, I had Jesus and followers of Jesus as wonderful role models. 

So, this week I am writing about Joey Sims, a highly respected and appreciated teacher at Glencoe High School. Having known Joey and his family, at First Baptist Church; I have long admired his commitment to Jesus, his godly leadership of his family, his commitment to teaching and his dedicated involvement in the community through teaching and coaching, always as a dependable and faithful man.

I believe Joey’s favorite Bible Verse speaks clearly of the investment he has made in living His life led by faith:

 

Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV
Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.

 

So, let’s begin with a synopsis of Joey’s school life, both as a student and as a teacher. He graduated from Glencoe High School in 1982. He had earned letters in varsity football, basketball and baseball. In football he was selected as the all area quarterback his senior year when he led the Yellow Jackets to an area title and a play-off berth. In basketball he was voted the Most Valuable Player in the 1982 Etowah County Tournament. In baseball he played as a four year starter. He won over 20 games as a pitcher, while maintaining a .400 batting average as he also played shortstop and third base. 

Joey attended Gadsden State Community College on a baseball scholarship, playing as a pitcher. He then attended Sanford University, also on a baseball scholarship, where he actually pitched against players like Bo Jackson and Deion Sanders. He set records for the most wins, the most innings pitched and for the most complete games in a season. He continued as a Dean’s List student during each term of his college career. He graduated with a B.A. degree in education, majoring in both math and English. Joey was recognized as Samford’s top graduate in English for the Class of 1987.

Then Joey worked as a graduate assistant for Rudy Abbott, a legendary baseball coach at Jacksonville State. As the pitching coach, he helped JSU reach the Division II College World Series in 1988, and to win their first national championship. He received a masters degree in Math Education in 1988.

He began his high school teaching and coaching career as the head baseball coach in Newnan,Georgia. He led that team to the state playoffs while he was there. He then moved to Saks High School, where he taught math and coached baseball, football, and junior high boys’ basketball. In 1996 he returned to Glencoe, where he has taught math, coached boys’ golf, tennis and junior high boys’ basketball. His basketball teams won over 100 games in nine years, including two county championships. His golf teams won over 500 matches and made seven state championship appearances. Two of his golfers appeared in the top five in the state finals, including  Jack, his son. He finished second in the state tournament twice. In 2014 Joey was chosen as Glencoe High School’s Teacher of the year.

Throughout his school career as a student and as a teacher and coach, Joey focused on serving Christ through Glencoe First Baptist.  He has taught Sunday School to junior high students and to senior-age men. He has served as a deacon. He has sung in the choir and on the praise team—all the while encouraging others to join him in giving praise to God through music. He is certainly known as one of the most caring and friendliest members of the church—always smiling and joking and making so many folks feel welcomed and loved.

 

Kathy, Joey’s wife has, of course, provided him loving encouragement in every way since they were married. He has done the same for her. When they had their son, Jack, he spent some time watching Jack while she worked as a nurse. In order to play golf, he carried Jack with him, even to the golf course. As Jack grew to love golf, Joey supported him in every way. It is not surprising then, that Jack loves golf so much.. Then with Carly, their daughter, who loved cheerleading, Joey also supported her. When he was at Samford, Joey earned an opportunity to attend Vanderbilt for graduate school, but his love for baseball took him to Jacksonville State, instead. So, when Carly chose Vanderbilt, she completed the cycle, graduated there and is now working in the field of biomedical engineering. You can bet Joey and Kathy are continuing to support Jack, his wife Kelsey, and Carly. One example of Joey’s level of commitment came as he and Jack took a high school graduation trip to the famous Pebble Beach golf course. Here is what Jack says about his dad: “His unwavering presence has been a constant source of comfort and strength, showing me the true value of being there for others.” Kelsey mentions how Joey is deeply passionate about helping others. Wes Weems a fellow teacher/coach  and a lifelong friend, speaks of how blessed he is to call Joey his friend and his fellow teacher.

I have long admired seeing examples of Joey’s meeting the needs of his students. Joey came to the rescue when John David, our son, needed a math coach to get him through his first year at Jacksonville State. Joey went out of his way and came to the rescue, and John David will always be grateful. In fact, when John David had been much younger, and we had come home for Stateside Assignment, Joey gave him a treasured keepsake, his very own baseball autographed by his hero, Joey, of course.

Praise God! We all have enjoyed having teachers and coaches who have blessed our lives forever by following in the steps of Jesus, our Master Teacher. And I am sure Joey would say to us all with that huge smile of his, along with a slap on the back; “Go and do likewise.” Jesus gives each of us the opportunity to teach His loving Way to others. May we be as faithful as Jesus and the teachers like Joey, whom He has taught to do so and bless us all.