Psalm 100:5
For the LORD is good
and His Love endures forever;
His faithfulness continues
throughout all generations.

The longer I live the more I understand how my life must be built on God’s Truth. Otherwise, I am like the foolish man who built his house on the sand; or when the storms came, it could not stand. So, in walking with Jesus as my Savior, I am being led by the Holy Spirit as I read the Bible, as I experience the power of God’s Truth active and powerful in and around my life.  In so many other ways, I rejoice there is available, truth that never fails in all the many ways He touches and surrounds my life. Praise be to His Holy Name! How did I select the following truths? These are truths which make my heart sing, which fascinate my mind, and which secure my soul in my relationship to God. Each time I hear these truths my whole being responds, “Amen! Amen! Amen!”

My Ten Most Treasured Life Truths

1. God is Agape, Self-Existent, Eternal, Sacrificial Love.
2. Jesus is my Savior, my Shepherd and my Lord.
3. The Holy Spirit empowers, cleanses, guides and directs me.
4. The Enemy ALWAYS lies.
5. My sin horribly harms me, those who love me, and all those around me.
6. The Bible, God’s Word, is the perfect guide for me.
7. Prayer is as necessary as breathing.
8. Obedience places me securely in God’s Hands.
9. Loving others as God loves me demonstrates His Love in me.
10. In God life is eternal.

Psalm 119:105 ESV
Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.

God graciously used my godly parents to bless me in many ways.  One of these many is that they both loved reading; and so , encouraged us to love reading. I remember many, many trips to the library when we were young, and how excited my brother and sisters and I were, to have a stack of books to take home and read. A really good book feeds me deeply with God’s Truth as it works out in the everyday, and in some cases, imaginary world. For me, experiencing life with God and Good and Truth and Joy and Justice in reading a good book,  just makes God-Centered living more real than just about any other activity . So, here are the wide variety of books which have delighted me with God’s Goodness and Enjoyment and Inspiration time after time.

My Ten Most Meaningful Books

1. The Bible: (It’s the Word of God and the Word of Life. Obviously it is the best literature ever written because it is God-breathed and so, illuminates the hearts and minds and souls of those who read it.)

2. The Chronicles of Narnia: (Somehow C.S. Lewis manages to capture almost every true challenge, inspiration, and feeling Christians experience in life. His characters, plots, settings and themes speak God’s Love and Truth deeply inside our hearts.)

3. The Lord of the Rings: (JRR Tolkien captures the grand scale of the battles between good and evil in this world. God’s absolute power to destroy evil takes place in amazing ways which ironically demonstrate there is no person too small to play a role in God’s Redemptive activity in history.)

4. The Pendragon Cycle:  (Stephen R. Lawhead tells from a Christian perspective the stories of King Arthur and his Knights in Britain. Again we are allowed to experience the faith-building reality that God works in all circumstances for His Good and for our joy.)

5. Many Waters: (Madeleine L’Engle imagines what Noah and his family might have experienced during the years leading up to the Flood. L’Engle makes the days leading up to the flood real and deeply moving—as He reveals His love for individuals in remarkable ways.)

6. The O’Malley Series: (Dee Henderson creates an enjoyable group of stories about a family who “adopt” each other in an orphanage and grow up to engage in a wide variety of careers serving people, even as they one-by-one, eventually  come to Christ. In this remarkable family we read the stories of a doctor, a psychiatrist, a fireman, a police negotiator and a builder.)

7. A Tale of Two Cities: (Charles Dickens tells a tale of ultimate sacrifice and redemption in the midst of the French Revolution. We experience through this powerful tale a story in which the reality of redemption inspires a man who goes to the guillotine for another as a type of Christ.)

8. Les Miserables: (Victor Hugo tells a grandiose tale of the role of redemption in a prisoner’s life which leads to an epic battle between good and evil as other people are miraculously transformed by the deeds of one life redeemed.)

9. The Wingfeather Series: (Andrew Peterson creates an enjoyable story filled with humor, miraculous escapes, much despair, and faith until three children fulfill their destiny for good and for God.)

10. Blessed Child: (Ted Dekker and Bill Bright who founded Campus Crusade for Christ,  imagine together how a child miraculously blessed from birth might bring redemption in the midst of a perilous, corrupted and  modern world.)

I must add this note: Since there is never enough time to read as much as some of us desire, I have discovered how enjoyable it is to listen to audio versions of books like these as I exercise or do the daily chores that must be done. Sometimes listening is even better than reading, allowing my mind to imagine the characters and the setting, and the drama taking place in extraordinary lives.

For God who said,
“Let light shine
out of the darkness . . .”
has shone in our hearts
go give us the light
of the knowledge
of the glory of God
in Christ Jesus.
(2 Corinthians 4:6)

At the beginning of each year it seems like  all kinds of people do all kinds of thinking, either looking forward with resolutions or aspirations or hopes or dreams or strategy plans or . . . whatever. Other types of people enjoy thinking back and either reflecting or celebrating or regretting the year which has just finished. Some folks make lists of the best of this or that: movies, books, TV shows, football teams, actors, athletes; etc. So, I got to thinking about how grateful I am for all of the treasures God has placed in my life year-after-year. So, I prayerfully came up with several lists: My Most Treasured Scriptures, My Most Admired Bible Characters, My Most Treasured Life Truths, My Most Treasured Books, My Most Treasured Songs, My Most Pivotal Historical Events, My Most Admired Historical Figures. And as I reflect on all of these blessings, I am once again reminded; all of life moves me toward bringing glory to God as He works in and around me, revealing that in mine and every life—IT’S ALL ABOUT JESUS. Life is all about finding God in the life of Jesus.

This week we will consider my first two lists; My Most Treasured Scriptures and My Most Admired Bible Characters.

John 3:16 says it all:
God loves each of us in His World.
He gave us His Son.
If we turn to Him with faith in His Goodness;
He gives us the incredible gift
of eternal life with Him.

My Most Treasured Scriptures

1. John 3:16–For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (Here it is: One Scripture verse that says it all: (a)God has always loved all the people of the world. (b) He gave Jesus as our Sacrifice for sins and as our Savior. (c) Believing in Him brings eternal life.)

2. 2 Corinthians 5:17–Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (God gives us a brand new birth and a brand new life when we put our faith in Christ.)

3. 2 Corinthians 4:6-7–6 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. (God reveals His glory and His true nature in Jesus Christ.)

4. Lamentations 3:22-23–22–The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (God’s Love is always with us; He is merciful to us forever; His mercy is new each day; His faithfulness is ever sure.)
5. Hebrews 13:8–Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (God’s Love in Christ is always the same, yesterday, today and forever.)
6. Revelation 7:9-10–After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (The day will come when people will be gathered in heaven from all nations, tribes, peoples and languages to eternally give praise God and Jesus the Lamb.)
7. Isaiah 43:2–When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. (God will guide His people through every trial; indeed, He will pass through each trial with them; they will not suffer deadly harm.)
8. Matthew 11:29-30–“Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Jesus offers His steady, His sure, but gentle leadership to all people who choose to follow Him.
9. Psalm 23:1–The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. (Actually All of Psalm 23: God acts as my shepherd; I am blessed every day and in the midst of every circumstance.)
10. Isaiah 40:30– Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. (Actually All of Isaiah 40: All people grow tired, but those who put their hope in God receive His strength to soar like eagles; they run without growing weary; they continue walking and never faint.)

The Trinity:
God the Father . . .
God the Son . . .
God the Holy Spirit . . .
Three-in-One . . .
An Absolute Reality
An Awesome Mystery.

My Most Admired Bible Characters

1. God, the Father, God, the Son, and God, The Holy Spirit, Three-in-One; begins, sustains and concludes everything for ultimate good.
2.  Moses lived a long life, divinely spared as a baby boy; raised in Pharaoh’s household; having fled into the desert as a murderer;  divinely called by God in a burning bush;  having faced down Pharaoh amidst God’s ten plagues; having led the Israelites out of Egypt and though the midst of the sea; having received from God His Ten Commandments; having faced the murmuring and complaining over and over again, forty years in the wilderness; forbidden to enter the Promised Land for angry disobedience; and finally divinely blessed to view that Promised Land even as he died.
3. Mary, the mother of Jesus, humbly and obediently accepted God’s Divine Call.
4. Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus, faithfully responded to God’s Angel, taking Mary as his wife and provided loving care for her and the Baby Messiah, Jesus.
5. Noah, in the midst of sinful people, took on the huge task of building the Ark, trusting faithfully God’s Word, even in the face of incredible evil and disbelief—completing his task, and with his family, giving the earth a new start.
6. John, the Beloved Apostle, who bore a lifelong testimony to Jesus, His friend and Savior and Lord; who wrote down God’s Divine Word in John 3:16, the Seven Divine Signs and the Seven I Am’s, who outlived his brother apostles, faithfully pastoring God’s People; and who experienced Jesus’ Revelation as God pointed to His accomplishment of His eternal plan and the establishment of New Heaven and New Earth.
7. Paul, who had murderously opposed the early Church, met Jesus on the road to Damascus, became just as determined to spread the Gospel of Jesus, and accelerated the spread of the rapidly spreading Church. He wrote letters to local churches which established the basic doctrines which continue to serve as a strong foundation for Biblical Christian faith.
8. Ruth lovingly accompanied Naomi, her fellow widow and mother-in-law; humbly gathered grain in Boaz’s field and won his love, married him, and became the mother to Obed, the grandfather of King David, entering the family line of Jesus.
9. Joseph was born to Jacob and His beloved Rachel, and led a tumultuous yet ever faithful life, trusting and honoring God, even as he was sold into slavery by his own brothers, imprisoned because of the lies of the jilted Potiphar’s wife, and forgotten by Pharaoh’s cup bearer; only to be raised in God’s Plan to serve Pharaoh in saving Egypt and neighboring lands from a devastating plague—saving Jacob’s descendants who become the Children of Israel.
10. Esther rose as Queen to the occasion to save the Jews in exile in Persia from a murderous plot which would have wiped them out.(I know. I know. Why not Abraham? Why not Peter? Why not so many others? Remember, this is a list of those whom I most treasure, not a scholarly judgment. Make your own list. Share it with me. All God’s people are treasures because they are His.)

Always, always, always, the Written Word points to God’s Redemptive Purpose in the midst of every life—pointing always to the life, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. So, as we begin 2025, we do so with a deep and abiding faith in our gracious God who has always been, is even now, and always will be, glorifying Himself as He loves people into His Kingdom through the Witness of the Holy Spirit and the Person of Jesus—loving, living, entreating, challenging, redeeming—saving people and bringing them to new life in Him, restored to their relationship with God as His born-again children. 

Always, always, always
our Heavenly Father looks
for His Children turning
from their wandering way
in answer to His Only Son calling
and the Holy Spirit drawing
as each child one-by-one
turns to Him in faith
as He welcomes them joyfully Home.

Next week we will continue discovering the beauty and the power of God’s Plan as we consider the next three lists; My Most Treasured Life Truths, My Most Treasured Books, and My Most Treasured Songs.

THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS:
Are they really ALL ABOUT JESUS?
Well, let’s see.

The Twelve Days Of Christmas
may seem like a nonsense, silly song,
but it actually serves as a parable of sorts
exploring the deepest teachings
of Christianity.

Perhaps you were like me when I was growing up. I usually got annoyed when we had to sing “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” There was just too much repetition and way too many weird gifts to hold my attention for the time it took to work yourself through all twelve verses. However, I do have a vivid memory of one version they always performed on a Birmingham TV Station (Channel 6 back then) when they had a group who had changed the lyrics to poke fun at the commercialization of Christmas, that had lyrics which made me laugh, because I understood and laughed at  “the gifts” they had chosen to sing about. Their “gifts” made sense and said something which reminded me of the true meaning of Christmas.

Well, the original “Twelve Days Of Christmas” featured “gifts” which represented the basic teachings of the Church during dangerous times, when teaching children those truths could bring persecution. So, each gift represented a basic belief. Now, the first version of the song actually taught traditional Catholic beliefs, in particular; but in later times other Christian groups adapted and used the same song with what most of us would say were the true Biblical teachings.

Many Christian traditions still observe some form of the actual twelve days of Christmas between Christmas Day and Epiphany, or January 6. Many have viewed January 6 as the day the Magi or the Wise Men arrived in Bethlehem to worship the Christ. In Europe some Christians hold parades and celebrate each of these days as they only begin their Christmas celebration on Christmas Day and conclude it on January 6. This is how “The Twelve Days Of Christmas” came to be popularized and how it also came to be used to cleverly pass along precious Biblical truths when there arose persecution for teaching them openly.

So, let’s take a look at each gift and what it originally meant, and what it might mean to us as Christians standing on Scripture as we live in faith during these modern days:

THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

On the first day of Christmas
my true love gave to me
a partridge in a pear tree.

Why a partridge in a pear tree? Well, the people in that day identified the mother partridge as the only bird who would give her life to save her young nestlings. As they sang this verse, believers remembered that the first and best gift of Christmas was Jesus, our Savior who died for our sins.

On the second day of Christmas
my true love gave to me
two turtle doves . . .

 Two turtle doves? To these believers in Europe, two turtle doves represented the Old Testament and the New Testament, the very foundation for their faith. So, in the first two verses we are reminded of the Living Word and the Written Word.

On the third day of Christmas
my true love gave to me
three French hens . . .

On the fourth day of Christmas
my true love gave to me
four calling birds . . .

And now, four calling birds? Think about it . . . The four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. These are the written accounts of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

On the fifth day of Christmas
my true love gave to me
five golden rings . . .

Well, five golden rings? These reminded these believers of God’s gift of the Law, the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible as we know it: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. These provide the history and the very foundation for God’s People, based upon Creation, the Fall, the Flood, the Exodus and the Giving of the Law. These provide the Beginning of God’s Story of Redemption through His Son, the Lamb, who would be born from among His Chosen People.

On the sixth day of Christmas
my true love gave to me
six geese a-laying . . .

On the seventh day of Christmas
my true love gave to me
seven swans a swimming . . .

On the eighth day of Christmas
my true love gave to me
eight maids-a-milking . . .

On the ninth day of Christmas
my true love gave to me
nine ladies dancing . . .

On the tenth day of Christmas
my true love gave to me
ten lords a leaping . . .

It’s hard for me to picture, lords a leaping. Now, what in the Bible is numbered as ten? Got it? Ten Commandments: (1) Have no other gods before Me. (2) Make no images to worship. (3) Do not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain. (4) Keep the sabbath day holy. (5) Honor thy father and mother. (6) Thou shall not kill. (7) Thou shall not commit adultery. (8) Thou shall not steal. (9) Thou shall not bear false witness. (10) Thou shall not covet. Notice how these lay a foundation for for the good life as people choose to obey them.

On the eleventh day of Christmas
my true love gave to me
eleven pipers piping . . .

Now, this one is like a trick question. It’s a number of people in the Bible, with one being left out for obvious reasons—so, that would be the eleven remaining faithful disciples after Judas’ betrayal: Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James (the son of Alphaeus), Simon the Zealot, and Judas (the son of James). God bless them, everyone! (Oh, that’s a whole ‘ nother story.)

On the twelfth day of Christmas
my true love gave to me
twelve drummers drumming . . .

Now, see there? We made it. For those using “The Twelve Days Of Christmas to teach basic Christian beliefs to children and new believers, a basic statement of faith, the Apostles Creed, summed up everything. The twelve drummers drumming were a figure of the teachers trying to drum into the new believers’ memory the basic truths of the Christian faith. Some of us had to learn the multiplication tables or the state capitals or maybe some powerful Bible Verses, by repeating them over and over and over—like drummers repeating their rhythm as the foundation for a song. 

(This information was taken from “The Twelve Days of Christmas Lyrics: Meaning and History; Christianity.com, December 18, 2024.)

Just to sum all up, I would present this more directly, perhaps more openly clear version, without the clever symbolic gifts, explained above: Only repeat the verses at your own discretion. I won’t.

On the first day of Christmas
our Good God gave to us
our Lord Jesus the Christ.
On the second day of Christmas
our Good God gave to us
two testaments . . .
On the third day of Christmas
our Good God gave to us
love, joy and peace . . .
On the fourth day of Christmas
our Good God gave to us
four Gospels true . . .
On the fifth day of Christmas
our Good God gave to us
five books of the Law . . .
On the sixth day of Christmas
our Good God gave to us
His grand Creation . . .
On the seventh day of Christmas
our Good God gave to us
seven spiritual gifts . . .
On the eighth day of Christmas
our Good God gave to us
eight Beatitudes . . .
On the ninth day of Christmas
our Good God gave to us
nine spiritual fruit . . .
On the tenth day of Christmas
our Good God gave to us
the Ten Commandments . . .
On the eleventh day of Christmas
our Good God gave to us
eleven Disciples faithful . . .
On the twelfth day of Christmas
our Good God gave to us
twelve Bible truths . . .

You know, in the original version each verse begins with the phrase, “ . . . my true love gave to me . . .” Now, who is “ . . . my true love . . . ?” Well, in the original it would be a boyfriend, or perhaps a girlfriend. However, remember this song is a symbolic picture of Christian beliefs; so, “. . . my true love . . .” Is the gift-giver, our Lord Jesus. He is the heart of Christmas. He is the heart of God’s eternal plan to offer salvation to all of us in this world. He is the heart of our hope for eternity with Him in Heaven. We celebrate Christmas because Jesus being born in a manger emphasizes how deeply God loves us. We celebrate Christmas because Jesus chose to become a child, a boy and then a man—and our eternal Savior. We celebrate Christmas because Jesus bore our sins on the Cross and rose victorious on the third day to emphatically assure of forgiveness and our eternal Home with Him in Heaven. CHRISTMAS REALLY IS ALL ABOUT JESUS. 

NO MATTER WHO WE ARE,
NO MATTER WHERE WE LIVE,
NO MATTER OUR CUSTOMS
OR TRADITIONS:
OUR LIVES ARE ALL ABOUT JESUS
AND WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR US.

For God so loved the world
He gave His only begotten Son
that whosoever believeth in Him
should not perish
but have everlasting life.
John 3:16 KJV

Mary and Joseph
dedicate Jesus
in God’s Temple.

Luke 2:21-38 ESV

 And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised,
he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel
before he was conceived in the womb.
And when the time came for their purification
according to the Law of Moses,
they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord
(as it is written in the Law of the Lord,
“Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”)
and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord,
“a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.

Praise God for Mothers and Dads who take seriously God’s Law and do everything He requires as they accept the responsibility and blessing of raising a child. Praise God for Mary and Joseph who follow the letter of the Law in circumcising and then presenting Jesus  to be dedicated as a first-born male to God in the Temple. Having heard from an angel, both Mary and Joseph understandably use their meager resources and their precious time to do as God has instructed His people. They make Jesus a Son of Abraham in his circumcision. Then they present Jesus in the Temple for His dedication to the service of God as a firstborn male. In doing so, they demonstrate the steadfastness of their faith. How blessed they are as God gives them two wonderful faithful and elderly witnesses to proclaim the holiness and the promise of this child.

That gets me to thinking. You know, we owe much to parents who did much even as Mary and Joseph did. They raised us in the midst of love within our families. Yet they also raised us in the midst of love within our church families—blessed by the believing example of trust and faith and obedience in the lives of those  who assisted as our parents raised us to love and serve the Lord. When I think back to my own childhood, I would thank God for many godly men and women, just to name a few; Mr. And Mrs. Starnes, Mr. And Mrs. Culberson, Mr.and Mrs. Hale, Mr. And Mrs. Swinford, and Mr. And Mrs. Whaley. Each of these and so many others walked right along side my parents in teaching me the Way of our Lord Jesus. What a blessing!

Praise God! He sent to Mary and Joseph, first-time new parents, two venerable and praiseworthy witnesses to assure them and bear testimony to the world; they had heard the angel correctly—they held in their arms  Jesus, Son of God and Son of Man, promised to Israel by the Prophets, now come as this baby being dedicated in The Temple. And how they rejoiced; Simeon and then, Anna. They had served God so long, they certainly knew the work of God when they saw it. In this baby Jesus they saw God’s most miraculous Act of Love as they looked up the newborn Messiah and Promised One, who would grow to become the Savior of the World.

Simeon rejoices,
for when He sees Jesus
He realizes God has
kept His Promise
that he would see the
Savior of the world
In his lifetime.

Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon,
and this man was righteous and devout,
waiting for the consolation of Israel,
and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit
that he would not see death
before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
And he came in the Spirit into the temple,
and when the parents brought in the child Jesus,
to do for him according to the custom of the Law,
he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
“Lord, now you are letting your servant[e] depart in peace,
according to your word;
for my eyes have seen your salvation
that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 
a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”
 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him.
 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother,
“Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel,
and for a sign that is opposed
(and a sword will pierce through your own soul also),
so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

Now, Simeon had lived a long and faithful life in service to the Lord God. As a good-hearted Jew, he looked forward to the coming of the Messiah. In fact, in Simeon’s close communion with God, the Heavenly Father had promised him he would see the Messiah before his life in this world ended. So, on the day Mary and Joseph brought Jesus into the Temple to dedicate Him, God fulfilled His Promise, as the Holy Spirit told Simeon in his heart that here before him, in Mary’s arms, lay the Promised One who would bless Israel and even the Gentiles with the Good News of God’s Love. How he rejoiced! How he praised the Lord! How he bore testimony to those who heard him in the Temple: Here, indeed, was the Messiah of God! Here was the One born to bring God’s Salvation to the world. What joy for Simeon! What encouragement for Mary and Joseph! What glory for God!

Anna also rejoices
as the Holy Spirit
Reveals to her the infant
Jesus as God’s
Redemption for Jerusalem.

And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel,
of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years,
having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin,
and then as a widow until she was eighty-four.
She did not depart from the temple,
worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.
And coming up at that very hour
she began to give thanks to God
and to speak of him to all
who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

Anna, a prophetess, a widow for many years spent in the Temple serving God and His people, saw Jesus and immediately began giving thanks and worshipping God. She joyfully proclaimed God’s Redemption coming in the life of this child. Again, how blessed was Anna to so behold and recognize the Son of God. Again, how lifted up were Mary and Joseph to hear this ancient one’s joyful testimony. And again, how glorified was our God in the words of such a faithful one among His people. The testimony of two in recognition of God’s anointing resting on Jesus, reflected the Jewish tradition requiring the testimony given in agreement of two witnesses in any court proceeding. Simeon and Anna stood tall and faithful, in the wisdom gained from all their years of serving and loving God. We can believe their testimony. Indeed, Jesus is gloriously born to become our Savior and our Lord!

Our first pastor at Goudel Baptist Church in Niamey, Niger was blind. He peached, using the Braille Bible by which he had been taught to read. It was in English, although he preached in Zerma or in French, he read the Scripture in English.
Praise God! That was such a blessing to Becky and me
as we struggled to learn French.

In the very small Christian community in Niamey our pastor was well-loved and appreciated. He preached with deep conviction, deep wisdom and with powerful influence. Although the picture above is not actually his own, this image helps us recognize the dedication it took for him as a blind man to train and then to proclaim the Gospel throughout his long life. His testimony as a blind man who loved and served the Lord faithfully, even at his advanced age, had a dramatic impact on all who knew Him, believers and non-believers alike. When health complications claimed his life, several hundred came out to show their respect and love for such an aged and faithful servant of the Lord. Although we understood only small bits of his sermons, we certainly enjoyed His reading of the Scripture, but more than that; the love for the Lord Jesus he so clearly revealed in day-to-day living and ministry. Like Simeon, he recognized Jesus as the Savior and bore testimony with all the years and wisdom he had been given by God.

After our pastor’s death, his widow continued to provide wisdom and leadership to the other women, the young families and the youth among the faithful believers worshipping at Goudel weekly. (This image is not our actual pastor’s wife, just one more beautiful African lady reflecting her love for Jesus.)

Each Sunday morning as we entered Goudel Baptist Church, we could count on seeing  our Pastor’s wife sitting at the front, brightly smiling and welcoming everyone who entered. She obviously treasured each faithful soul who came out  for worship on Sunday mornings in a city where there were few believers, and only widely scattered and very small churches. She and two friends, as older and wiser believers,  had experienced all the hardships of following Christ in Niger. Still they could testify to the victories of living out their faith in Jesus in a place where very few knew him. They stood as pillars  of strength for families old and young and for youth and children, in proclaiming their absolute love for and confidence in their Lord. Becky and I treasured their hearty smiles and friendly greetings. In a way Goudel Chuch had Three Wise Women who faithfully pointed us all to the Lord Jesus as a Savior worthy of our love and service and worship.

Christmas definitely reminds us that our lives really are ALL ABOUT JESUS. Praise the Lord! He is good and loving and faithful every minute of every day. He is the perfect Lord to serve with joy, love with our whole hearts, and to worship fully and truly. May each of us know our very best Christmas as we focus on Him first, others next and then ourselves. Amen!

There is joy in Christmas
for Jesus is born
to bring salvation light to all the world.
All of our lives, every moment
and every day of our time—
IT IS ALL ABOUT JESUS!

CHRISTMAS;
IT’S ALL ABOUT JESUS
AND CHANGES OUR LIVES
FOR THE BETTER FOREVER

Luke 2:1-20 ESV

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus
that all the world should be registered.
 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
 And all went to be registered, each to his own town.
 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth,
to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem,
because he was of the house and lineage of David,
to be registered with Mary, his betrothed,
who was with child.
And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.
And she gave birth to her firstborn son
and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger,
because there was no place for them in the inn.

Bless their hearts! Joseph and Mary have been portrayed in all manner of Christmas Nativity plays. Becky and I recently had the pleasure of seeing “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.” In that movie Mary and Joseph were played by very dirty, very naughty, very needy—and yet very much beloved by God—children whose parents struggled to care for and raise them. So, Imogene, the cigar smoking oldest girl, and Ralph, the next oldest in the infamous Herdman family, play Mary and Joseph in a Christmas Pageant that teaches them about Jesus who loves them and changes their lives forever. You know, that’s what Jesus has done for us. I never smoked a cigar, but I sinned just as surely as did Imogene and Ralph—and I needed forgiveness Jesus came to Earth via Bethlehem to give. That’s the great good news of Christmas. Jesus takes the Imogene and Ralph in each of us, and loves us to the point of giving His life to transform us and make us brand new people just like them. Praise God for Jesus at the heart of Christmas!

ALL ABOUT JESUS:
SHEPHERDS ABIDING,
KEEPING FAITHFUL WATCH
OVER THEIR FLOCKS

⁸And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field,
keeping watch over their flock by night.
And an angel of the Lord appeared to them,
and the glory of the Lord shone around them,
and they were filled with great fear.
 And the angel said to them, “Fear not,
for behold, I bring you good news of great joy
that will be for all the people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior,
who is Christ the Lord.
 And this will be a sign for you:
you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”
 And suddenly there was with the angel
a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!

Although they did not have the best of reputations, these Christmas shepherds were doing what they were supposed to do. The were tending their sheep out in the fields at night, while their families in Bethlehem were sleeping. We might even say Shepherds were like the misfit Herdmans of their day. I remember in  elementary school we had a family like the Herdmans, and no one wanted to hang out with them. They did not have clean clothes. They did not have decent shoes. They were pretty much ignored, and occasionally teased. Unlike the Herdmans, though, they never hurt anyone, nor bullied, nor stole things. They pretty much suffered in silence. Now I know how much Jesus loved them, how much they needed to know His love in the midst of their very difficult lives. I also know that Jesus saw me as rather dirty and rather rough and  rather unattractive. Yet just like he sent good news to the shepherds by the angels, he sent good news to me by the way of good and faithful Christian men and women. It is good for us to remember it was these humble shepherds God chose to send the first news of Jesus’ birth. It is not about being worthy, it is about being loved by God.

THE FAITHFUL SHEPHERDS
FIND THE BABY WITH MARY AND JOSEPH
JUST AS THE ANGELS HAD TOLD THEM.

When the angels went away from them into heaven,
the shepherds said to one another,
“Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened,
which the Lord has made known to us.”
And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph,
and the baby lying in a manger.
And when they saw it, they made known the saying
that had been told them concerning this child.
And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.
 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.
 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God
for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

When God gives you His message of Great Good News, you better believe Him. The Shepherds did, and so they hurried into Bethlehem and found Jesus just as the Angels had said. Of course, they worshipped Him; and then they went out and told everyone what the angels had told them, that Christ the Lord had been born in their own Bethlehem. The shepherds made it clear they had seen the baby born their Messiah, and everyone who heard them wondered at this amazing news. In the meantime, Mary pondered—she must have remembered her visit from an angel—and now his impossible news had come true. Jesus was lying beside her in a manger. How remarkable this must have been to this faithful, trusting, girl who dared to believe and dared to obey. Imagine how Jospeh must have felt—now so glad he had believed his own vision of an angel—who convinced him to also believe and obey. May we find in this Christmas that same strong belief and that same steady obedience. And may we also, like the shepherds, glorify and praise our most glorious and gracious God. Amen!

THE SHEPHERDS
GLORIFIED GOD
FOR HIS GOOD NEWS
ABOUT THE BABY JESUS
THEY HAD SEEN.

One of our favorite Christmas activities in Jos took place every Christmas Eve when Hillcrest School held a special service filled with beautiful music, Scripture, wonderful worship and fellowship. One year the Hillcrest community staged this celebration on the hillside on the outskirts of Jos, literally in the hills which appeared so much like we might have seen had we been there with the shepherds long ago in Bethlehem. During that service I kept looking around, wondering if those shepherds might make a miraculous, encore appearance to glorify God for all the things they had seen—exactly as God’s angels had told them—particularly the Savior for them and the whole world for all times, theirs and ours and for all people everywhere in the world. As it grew dark around us on that hill, I searched sky and enjoyed looking among the stars, wondering how Jesus’ very own star must appeared. Needless to say, it was a beautiful service setting us up for a delightful Christmas the next day. I am reminded that wherever we are, God’s glorious news at Christmas still rings true. We do, indeed, have a Savior, and He is indeed, Christ the Lord for the whole world! Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!

The rocky hillsides in Jos
definitely remind you of
those shepherds and those angels
when Jesus was born.

FATHER IN HEAVEN, GIVE US HEARTS

Father in Heaven, give us hearts
which like the shepherds
fall on their knees
before your glory,
yet open their hearts to hear Your
great good news with faith
and trust and joy
and hope hurrying
over to Bethlehem to
see the Christ our Lord
establishing
our our lives in Him.

Father in heaven, give us hearts
immediately
faithful like Mary,
obedient—
convinced and sturdy, trusting like
Joseph, convinced and
dependable, strong
and resilient—
Father, allow us to worship
and glorify Your
Name even as
Your angels.

Christmas brings wonder
to our hearts and souls!
Oh, what joy Jesus brings!
Hallelujah! Amen!

GEORGE AND RAMONA WEEMS:
LEADING LIVES OF JOY IN THE LORD
ALL ABOUT JESUS!

ROMANS 15:13 ESV
May the God of hope
fill you with all joy
and peace as you trust in Him,
so that you may overflow with hope
by the power of the Holy Spirit.

God Makes His People Shine

God makes His people shine
with His own glory divine
just like the stars in the night
brighten the darkened skies.

He blesses their lives with
joy and hope as they live by
faith in Him helping others
who take His godly way.

It is as if they lift up
candles lit by Him  along
the shadowy ways they
take in following Him.

Always His glory shines
bright in their delighted smiles
as they live their lives 
placing their trust in Him.

Always it seems you can hear
them laughing and in joking,
enjoying wholesome fun—
rejoicing in their good Lord.

God gives them His delight
as they serve Him by blessing
others as He blesses
them in the way He loves.

Truly God makes His precious
people shine as they display
His glory, His joy and  His peace
and in His love divine.

George always found real joy in playing and coaching sports.

Ramona always had that smile
that reflected her Love of Jesus.

Praise God! We all know people who bless everyone their lives touch. It seems He grants them loving energy  as He invests in Kingdom Building through their lives. I know I have been especially blessed to have known such people in abundance. God has crowded my life with men and women, youth and children who seemed to take my hand in theirs so they could lead me further into His Kingdom. I will eternally remain grateful. Sunbeam leaders, R.A. Leaders, Sunday School Teachers, Training Union Leaders, Pastors, Youth Pastors, youth, (both boys and girls),  children, (both girls and boys), school teachers, co-workers, school superintendents and directors, school workers; well, this list could go on forever. Praise be to God. He builds His Kingdom by surrounding those He is intent on reaching with glorious examples of His redemption through Jesus. So He renews and transforms people in their day-to-day living.

George and Ramona
stand with pride
as their son, Wes,
marries Sherry.

I write this week about another Christian couple, one I have admired greatly for many years;  although our paths crossed only  briefly, yet always inspirationally. George (Luke) and Ramona  were both born in 1936, he in Gadsden and she in Moulton, Alabama. He went to Glencoe High School, where he played football as a running back, and graduated in 1954. Interestingly, he got the nickname, Luke, when Coach Wilson called him “Loopy” for his curly hair, which was shortened to “Loop” and eventually became “Luke.” And to complicate the name game even more, some family members always called him Ed. She went to Gadsden High School, also graduating in 1954. Theirs was a high school romance, and they had a June wedding shortly after they finished school.

Over the years George served in the Alabama Army National Guard, where he attained the rank of Sargeant. As a longtime firefighter, he served at the Gadsden Fire Department where he eventually retired as a Commander of Station Number 3 in Gadsden. He also worked as a house painter during his “spare time.” Ramona worked at Sears during the 60’s and 70’s. She also served as a substitute teacher at Glencoe High School during the 80’s and 90’s. Then she worked at gift shops after the turn of the century. They had one son, Wes, their daughter-in-law, Sherry, and their grandchildren, Brittany and Cody, whom they loved dearly.

In fact, George and Ramona centered their lives on family and faith. They directed youth groups at Louis Street Baptist, and then at Glencoe First Baptist. They also served as youth Sunday School teachers for many years. George coached Pee-Wee football and R.A. Basketball, winning the state tournament in 1973. He also coached men’s and  women’s softball for many years. She served as the Etowah Baptist Association’s Acteens Director and then, as WMU Director. Ramona later became a long-time adult ladies Sunday School teacher. She was also known as the “Cookie Lady,” since she regularly supplied drinks and cookies for youth meetings over many years. Look back over this list and you will be as impressed as I have been, by their energy, their reliability, their readiness to serve in every way possible to bring young people to faith in Christ. They certainly spent the time and effort required to see young  lives changed by faith in Christ. They lived as profound examples of lives devoted to service for Christ before so many youth over the years.

Family and faith always
brought joy and happiness
to George and Ramona.

I know God blessed their marriage, and He made it strong, and He used it well as a witness for how Jesus makes all the difference. I know there are hundreds of folks who are no-longer young people, who continue to be blessed by the truth of the Gospel shared in the midst of food and fun and sports and missions and Bible Study—all centering on the the blessed Lordship of Jesus in individual lives, in families, in churches, on basketball courts and on football fields. Once, when I was teaching in St. Marys, Georgia, I had the opportunity, through Jim and Celeste Dunnington, my sister and her husband, to do some Bible study sessions with the Glencoe First Baptist youth near Orlando. I was able that weekend to see how naturally and how lovingly both George and Ramona related to the youth—sharing freely and lovingly their faith in Christ. 

George loved coaching
as he poured out his life
into the lives of football,
basketball and softball players.

I know, too, that they both served faithfully and effectively at Louis Street (where I was baptized) and Glencoe First Baptist, (where I grew up). I know that they both expended all of their energy for their investment in the Kingdom of God. As Becky and I served together on the Mission Field, we experienced first hand how faithfully Ramona lived out a passion for missionary education and support, along with praying for missionaries. When we would be home for furloughs, we had the opportunity to see how effectively she worked in leading Etowah Baptist young women and women in support of missions. 

Over the years we came to know Ramona as a prayer warrior. In her Acteen and WMU work, in their youth work together with her husband, George,  she not only advocated for prayer, but personally practiced it constantly and deeply. The other ladies at Glencoe First Baptist certainly came to rely on Ramona for her ready smile, her encouragement, and her prayers. She and George both had a way of doing what Jesus did with His disciples—focusing on each one as uniquely important to God, and so very, very special in His eyes. One note about how she communicated this to me—while she was working at a gift shop, she saw the perfect small sculpture for me—a small boy, with a butterfly net, watched over faithfully by an angel. And, on that little boy’s nose was a beautiful butterfly. Now, many of my friends know how special butterflies (and their metamorphosis parable of being born again, as they change from creepy crawly worms into beautifully-winged creatures). Ramona somehow knew my heart and how God spoke so powerfully to me in this particular way, and found the perfect treasure to communicate that wonder I felt in God’s redemptive way. I still treasure this perfect gift today.

Ramona formed deep
and abiding Christian
friendships over the years.

Ramona lost George at a comparatively young age. I believe he just wore his body out, working so hard for God’s Kingdom and in providing for his family. Still, she faithfully continued their pattern of serving God, loving others and certainly, loving their families for many years. Becky and I had the privilege to visit and pray with Ramona as she was entering the final months of her long-time battle with cancer. She still had her beautiful smile. She still had a heart overflowing with love for God and His people. She still had joy in life, and her powerful desire to live more and serve more. She believed that there was  going to be a miraculous healing for her;  but if not, the joy of at last being in the Presence of her glorious God she and George had so long served together. Both George and Ramona were those kinds of godly people who left big holes in the lives of the many people they had loved and served in Jesus’ name. And surely, they left a legacy to their son, his wife, and their children, and to so many, many others they had long loved in Jesus, along their way—a legacy of serving a God who loves us so much, we can never find enough in this life, to give back to Him. And yet in Heaven; . . . well, for George and Ramona, and I trust, for ourselves, all of us, that will be “ . . . a whole ‘nother story.” A wholly divine story which continually deepens in His glory and for our joy.

You can read stories
like this one about people who have made their lives
ALL ABOUT JESUS
in the book by that name.

PSALM 34:1-3 ESV
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall continually
be in my mouth.
My soul makes it boast in the LORD;
let the humble hear and be glad.
Oh, magnify the LORD with me,
and let us exalt his name together!

As Thanksgiving approaches, and as we as God’s children remember all that He is and all that He does; giving praise to Him should come as naturally as the breath He gives us. So, in our weekly reminder that life really is ALL ABOUT JESUS ALL THE TIME, let’s explore Psalm 34 and what this Scripture declares about praising God, boasting in the LORD, experiencing gladness, magnifying Him, and exalting Him together.
1. Since the psalmist says praise shall be in his mouth, or we might say, on our tongue; surely it should be so with us. We should feel the Spirit’s reminder throughout our day to find the joy of praising our LORD.
2. You know how we boast about everything; our children, our teams, our gardens, our cars, our thrifty purchases, etc.; then, surely we should not find it so difficult to boast about our LORD.
3. Of course, we know (but we too often forget) how glad we feel when we are truly and wholeheartedly praising our LORD.
4. When we are together, how joyfully we magnify the LORD. Our oneness in lifting our praise to Him is both an encouragement and  a blessing to us.
5. What a privilege to come together in worship and exalt or lift up His name. What a blessing to rejoice as One faith family in our LORD.

HERE IS AN IMPORTANT NOTE: ANYTIME YOU SEE LORD WRITTEN IN ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, YOU ARE SEEING THE PERSONAL NAME OF ALMIGHTY GOD. JEWISH SCRIBES WROTE THIS NAME IN A PARTICULAR WAY BECAUSE THEY FELT IT WAS DISHONORING HIS GLORY TO ACTUALLY SPEAK HIS NAME. SO, WHEN WE SEE IT, WE SHOULD  KNOW IT IS THE UNIQUE TO OUR GOD, AND HIM ALONE. THERE IS NO OTHER BEING WHO CAN BEAR THIS NAME. ONLY THE LORD. (Praise His Name!)

PSALM 134:4-7 ESV
I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
Those who look to him are radiant,
and their faces shall never be ashamed.
This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him
and saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the LORD encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.

Here is a testimony every believer can declare: When I seek the LORD, he answers me. Praise be to His Name. Give attention to David’s own declaration of praise:
1. God delivers me from my fears. He proves Himself more powerful than any fearful challenge this world or even the Enemy may bring against me.
2. We all know those who truly trust in them for their faces and, indeed, their whole lives shine with a radiance which reflects His glory.
3. And so, those who have given themselves into His Care will never find cause to be ashamed of Him. In fact, he takes the most difficult of circumstances and turns them into His glory, and in doing so, brings us joy.
4. When the poor man, (and all of us are poor in one way or another), turns to Him and God redeems our troubles; He turns our defeat into His victory.
5. The Angel of the LORD, His loving Presence, surrounds His people, those who give Him worship, who recognize His greatness and His overwhelming power; with His victorious deliverance.

PSALM 34:8-10 ESV
Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints,
for those who fear him have no lack!
The young lions suffer want and hunger;
but those who seek the LORD shall lack no good thing.

David’s testimony continues confidently: Truly the LORD is good! David knows this, for he has experienced many crises in life. God has always been faithful to provide the strength to overcome. So He gives these challenges:
1. You can look to the LORD and his works day and night and forever; He will meet your needs and He will provide for you the strength and the abilities you need to overcome.
2. People who find their hiding place, their safe place; they find themselves blessed in HIm.
3. Fear, respect, worship, obey the LORD. That is what saints do, for they have recognized His greatness and their weakness.
4. In nature even the strong and mighty young lions may become hungry; but those who faithfully seek the LORD will never lack any good gift from Him in the end.

PSALM 34:12-14
I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
What man is there who desires life
and loves many days, that he may see good?
Keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from speaking deceit.
Turn away from evil and do good;
See peace and pursue it.

FEAR OF THE LORD demands that we recognize God for who is. FEAR OF THE LORD keeps us seeking Him and His Way over the ways of this world. FEAR OF THE LORD makes us serious as we seek to go where He leads, do as He says, and to speak as He inspires.
1. We do need to be empowered and taught by the Holy Spirit to FEAR THE LORD.
2. All people desire life; we love the idea of living many days; and we seek to experience and do good in our lives.
3. We must, even so, keep our tongues from committing evil; and we must keep our tongues form declaring lies.
4. We allow God to lead us as we turn away from evil so that we do good.
5. We seek peace with God and with all people; we actually and purposefully pursue peace.

PSALM 34:15-18
The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous
and his ears toward their cry.
The face of the LORD is against those who do evil,
to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
When the righteous cry for help,
the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.
The LORD is near to the brokenhearted
and saves the crushed in spirit.

Righteousness reveals a heart which fears and upholds, and so is blessed by the LORD. He sees and hears them, and so meets their needs. In love the LORD opposes those who do evil, and just so He attempts to turn them from the disaster of evil. So, the LORD both hears the righteous and answers their call for help. Even so, the LORD remains near those whose hearts are broken.
1. You can count on it: God’s eyes are on you when you obey Him. His ears do hear your crying out to Him.
2. You can count on it: Oppose the LORD and He will oppose you; for in Love He would turn you from self-destruction.
3. You can count on it: If you find yourself in trouble as you follow HIm, He will surely deliver you.
4. You can count on it: When the world breaks your heart, God is near, and when the world crushes your spirit, He saves you.

PSALM 34:19-22
Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
but the LORD delivers him out of them all.
He keeps all his bones;
not one of them is broken.
Affliction will slay the wicked,
and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
The LORD redeems the life of his servants;
none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.

God knows just how difficult life on this earth can be. After all, Jesus . . . “in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrew’s 4:15, ESV) So He truly understands our trials and our temptations, and He has such strength to share with us, so that we can also stand righteous with Him.
1. The psalmist declares: The righteous face many afflictions, but the LORD stands ready to deliver them out of them all.
2. The LORD is so particular in His care for us, He keeps watch over each of our bones, even the parts of our lives which are hidden from view.
3. He does not force Himself on the wicked, so they will fall prey to the consequences of their sin.
4. The LORD redeems the life of those who serve Him. Those who find their security in Him will be secure from condemnation.

So, there is no wonder that David expresses praise and thanksgiving to God. And as we meditate on not only the more visible blessings we enjoy everyday, but on the spiritual blessings we may not notice; our hearts have every reason to praise and thank our good God for all He is and all He does as He truly acts redemptively every moment of every day we live on this earth. We are even so assured by His Loving Presence now, that our eternity in Heaven will fill us with even more wonder as we gather around His Throne to worship Him forever.

THANKSGIVING

Thank our GOD forever.
His NAME deserves our praise.
Always give HIM glory.
Never refuse HIS gifts.
Keep HIM on the throne.
Surrender your all to HIM.
Glorify HIS blessedness.
Intensify your obedience to HIM.
Verify  HIS goodness.
Invite HIS loving presence.
Name HIM as your HEAVENLY FATHER.
Give to GOD all glory, honor, and praise.

Deacon Matthew Ayoola Fabunmi
A Faithful Laborer For God
ALL ABOUT JESUS

COLOSSIANS 3:23-24 ESV

Whatever you do,
work heartily,
as for the Lord
and not for men,
knowing that from the Lord
you will receive the inheritance
as your reward.
You are serving the Lord Christ.

SO BLESSED BY THOSE WHO SERVE

We who are so blessed
through the love of Jesus
to be called
God’s own children
are so especially
blessed by our Father,
our Savior, the Son
and the Holy Spirit,
Almighty God,
Three-in-One and all
together proving
always perfect love;
we are surely blessed
by His who have
answered His Call
are gifted for
proclaiming His Word—
and yet in a most
empowering way
we are blessed by
His men and His women
who serve with their hands
so often scarred
by the marks of
their faithful labor
ministering His
practical love
even as Jesus did
in a carpenter’s shop.

In April of 1982 as I began a missionary career, I recall being excited just to be serving side-by-side with heroes who had already seen God accomplishing so much as they shared the Gospel among so many who had never heard. I realized how blessed I was to see in them God using sturdy and courageous servants ready and determined to do His work. So, as I felt privileged to work beside such giants as John and Louise HIll, Wiley and Geneva Faw, Jane Ellen Gaines, Mary Jane Whorton, Ward and LouAnn Nicholson, Larry and Trish Davis, Gene and Marian Leftwich, just to name a few; I felt great joy in the Lord’s work.

However, I must confess, that  I discovered heroes in God’s service I had not really expected. In setting up my housekeeping, in facing the daily chores of simply living in a very different land, I quickly realized how needy I was. To my relief, and over the years, to my very great benefit, I began to discover such faithful servants of God as James, an electrician, Joseph, a plumber, Dayo, a mechanic, Esther, a housekeeper, and later, Mrs. Elkanah, a nanny, Michael, a mission driver, and Gideon, a literal jack-of-all-trades. I discovered in getting to know these wonderful Christian men and women, fellow laborers in the work of seeing God’s Kingdom grow all around me.

Deacon and Mrs. Fabunmi
worked hard and long
to establish a strong Christian Heritage
in the lives of their children.

As I write with deep gratitude for their assistance, which made possible any work I was able to do in service for the Lord, I particularly think of Deacon Fabunmi, as I always knew him. He had a very strong reputation among our missionaries in Jos, as an excellent, a dependable and an affordable carpenter. So, as a young, and at that time, single missionary, in setting up house keeping, I inevitably needed some basic furniture. Deacon Fabunmi came highly recommended.

I soon recognized how faithful he was, how wise, how skilled, and especially how clear in his Christian testimony he lived out openly before the world. Every chair, every table, every project he undertook, he took as a trust, as a challenge to produce the best, and to do so at a fair price that never had to be questioned.  All I had to do was to share with him my unfocused request, and he would ask the right questions, do the correct measurements, and put into a design and a proposal, how he could produce not just what I had imagined, but more importantly, what I needed. Perhaps his crowning achievement as a carpenter came as he designed and built a movable screened in room to sit on our patio, which would allow our children to play outside without being targeted by the pesky mosquitoes. He did this so expertly, it was even strong enough to be transported outside the town, so that it could continue to serve when we were moved from one house to the other. 

All of Deacon and Mrs. Fabunmi’s children
praise God for their parents’
loving yet strict upbringing
in a joyful Christian household.

Not only did I have the privilege of seeing his excellent work as a carpenter, but I also got to know some of his children as students at Baptist High School.  I had the privilege of leading two of his sons in discipleship, so I got a close-up view of how deeply they devoted their lives to Christ and how strongly they had been taught their faith at home. Simeon, one of his older sons, now serves with his wife as missionaries in Malawi. In paying tribute to his father, Simeon commented that he had always been strongly supported by his parents, even though God was leading them to Malawi, a huge distance away on the other side of Africa. Tunde, a younger son, has settled into life in Arkansas with his family, where his career has carried him. He is presently a deacon in the local church. I also knew his daughter Bose, when she was at Baptist High, and her now husband, Samson, who was in Tunde’s discipleship group. Now they serve together where Samson pastors an exciting, deeply ministering church on Victoria Island in Lagos. She  holds a Ph.D in Medical Physics and is a lecturer in the Department of Physics at the University of Lagos. Others among Deacon Fabunmi’s children reflect that same godly character along with educational professional achievement. Moses has retired as an Internal Auditor at the national institute of veterinary medicine in Vom, Plateau State, near Jos. Thomas is Professor of Crop Production at the Federal University of Agricullture in Abeokuta. Foluke is a Lecturer in Estate Manaagement and Valuation at the Federal University of Technology in Minna. Sarah teaches at the Love Paradise Academy in Bauchi. Oladayo serves as the Customer Experience Lead at Mixta Africa in Lagos. Tope is a teacher at Alfred Jonah International School, Sapele, in Delta State. Even more impressive than all of this, though, is that every single one of these Fabunmi children is involved in leadership at some level within their local churches. I am reminded, “Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22: 6 ESV) Deacon Fabunmi was never able to get a formal education, but he worked incredibly hard to provide it for each of his children. What a wonderful twin heritage he and his wife  provided for their children; a deep, abiding faith in Christ which serves others, and a determination to excel and contribute to society in their chosen profession.

The Fabunmi’s children are working hard
and serving faithfully
In Nigeria, and in the U.S.,
through their local churches,
while one serves with his wife
in Malawi as a missionary.

As a longtime deacon at the historic First Baptist Church in Jos, Deacon Fabunmi led among that church family in many ways. He taught Sunday School for many years. He coordinated a home cell group. He served as the Chairperson for the Board of Deacons for many years. He assisted the Pastor in ministering the Word of God. He led prayers and prayer meetings, and assisted families in conflict resolution. He also served as the head of the Church Training program. No wonder we see his and his wife’s many children carrying on, serving the Lord through their local churches.

In tributes to their father after he entered glory a few years ago, his children and their spouses spoke of this love, his using Scripture to discipline, his smiles, his jokes and his laughter, and his serving as a strong foundation for each of their now successful and blessed lives. I must say I am not surprised. I remember my times with him as he worked on our roof, or as he delivered one beautiful example of his carpentry or another. He was always gracious, forthcoming, wise and trustworthy. Many of us have been blessed to have such godly, such hard-working, such unselfish, such Christ-like parents. Deacon Fabunmi was always the kind of man any person would be proud and privileged to call Father. Praise be to God for his life and for the joy He now experiences in the presence of our Lord he served so long and so faithfully.

John 3:16 In Yoruba
Johanu 3:16
Bíbélì Mímọ́ Yorùbá Òde Òn
16 “Nítorí Ọlọ́run fẹ́ aráyé tó bẹ́ẹ̀ gẹ́ẹ́, tí ó fi ọmọ rẹ̀ kan ṣoṣo fún ni, kí ẹnikẹ́ni tí ó bá gbà á gbọ́, má bà á ṣègbé, ṣùgbọ́n kí ó lè ní ìyè àìnípẹ̀kun.

EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING
AND IN CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP:
MR. JOHN ADISA
A GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT
MAKING LIFE FULLY
ALL ABOUT JESUS

Proverbs 4:25-27 ESV

Let your eyes look directly forward,
and your gaze be straight before you.
Ponder the path of your feet;
then all your ways will be sure.
Do not swerve to the right or to the left;
turn your foot away from evil.

THE GODLY KEEP THEIR FEET STRAIGHT ON THE PATH

The godly keep their feet straight
on the path laid out before them
whether its way leads beside
a pleasant stream in
the midst of a fresh green
meadow filled with lovely
flowers or through a rocky,
dried up field cluttered
with nothing but cracks and
crevices and challenges.

God’s own faithful people
keep Him in mind both when
their trek seems simple and
when every step seems
painful and difficult—and
in the end they leave a trail
honorable to a destination
so beautiful every single
challenge along the way
proves it perfectly beautiful.

Praise God! I have had the privilege of serving under very fine Christlike leaders—who made my paths along the way essentially good and certainly beneficial in following the ways of God. In my very first job I worked for Mr. Gurley who ran a small grocery store just across the street from our church. He definitely kept to the pathway of integrity even as he and his family worked hard to provide through his modest business a good living.  Then I worked for the visionary Marsha Eichenberg in our Baptist Association’s Summer Mission Program. In my first teaching job I had the privilege of serving under another faithful, godly man, Mr. Bill Owens. Next, I had the honor of serving in our Etowah Baptist office, being supervised by Rev. George Y. Williams as our Associational Missionary. Then I was off to south Georgia once again, coming under the leadership of Principal Charles Estes in St. Marys. While teaching there I also served under Rev. John Goad as one of the youth directors at the First Baptist Church. When I began teaching at Baptist High School in  Jos, Nigeria, I taught under the supervision of our Principal, Rev. Dr. Musa Bawa and our Vice-Principal, Mr. John Adisa, the well-deserving subject  of this post. At Hillcrest School, also in Jos, I became the Secondary School Principal under our Superintendent, Mr. Dick Seinan. When we moved to Niger, I again worked as the Secondary School Principal under our Director, Mr. Brian Bliss and under Miss Beverly Farrer, now Mrs. Beverly Bean. Finally, I taught at Westbrook Christian School, under Mrs. Cindy Greer and Mrs. Rachel Neal.  I can truly say, each of these leaders became mentors and examples used by the Lord to open up His Good Way for me.

I have chosen to write about Mr. John Adisa, the Vice-Principal at Baptist High School, Jos, because he truly exemplified and taught me the lessons of hard work and integrity in leadership. When I arrived at Baptist High School in Jos, he had already spent many years as a chemistry teacher and then, as Vice-Principal. He had been born in April of 1934 in the Manguna area of Bokkos in Plateau State. He attended primary school in Kafanchan, Kaduna State, and the Boys Secondary School in Gindiri, back in Plateau State. He also completed studies at the Teachers Training College in Gindiri, after which he began teaching at the Boys Secondary School in Gindiri before moving to Kwai Girls Secondary School back in Kaduna State, where he taught chemistry, physics, biology and additional (or advanced) mathematics. At  that school he developed a love for photography, and so became the school photographer. He earned his B.Sc at Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria in 1980, and then his Master’s at the University of Jos.

In the meantime he met his future wife, Monilola , while she was completing her nurses training at the Wesley Guild School of Nursing and Midwifery. They were married on April 27, 1967. Then they moved to Jos where Mr. Adisa went to work at Baptist High School in 1974. He began his work under Mr. Sambo, the first Nigerian Principal, and continued his service under Rev. Dr. Musa Baka. While his first job assignment was as the chemistry teacher, he faithfully served in many roles, as an academic adviser, as a chapel preacher, and certainly as a Christian mentor to many Baptist High School teachers. I certainly count myself as one of those teachers blessed to have  had him as a role model.

Mr. and Mrs. Adisa were blessed
with four girls and one boy,
and their house was always filled with
the joy and laughter of these,
along with beloved
nieces and nephews also.

He was always recognized for his devoted and loving family life as fine Christian husband and father. The staff house where they lived on the BHS campus was typically full, overflowing with family and friends and enjoyable activities. He lived as a highly principled and disciplined man, who clearly spoke out in the face of any questionable activities. This sometimes led to a misunderstanding of his personality, which not only remained constant and disciplined, but also featured a heart filled with compassion. He was quick to offer comfort and help and support as students and other staff members met various challenges.

Now, Mr. Adisa, an extremely hard worker himself, had high expectations for other teachers, and certainly his students. Some students, as they will, complained about his being overly tough and thorough in his teaching. Many of them came back later and paid tribute to him for “pushing” them to success. In the midst of the challenges he faced at Baptist High School, he faithfully worked through them, pointing to God’s own faithfulness. Having proved his excellence in teaching and in working among other teachers, he was appointed as Vice-Principal.

Mr. Adisa helped to establish
a heritage of excellence in
chemistry student’s performance
at Baptist High School.

I had the privilege of leading his son, Akin, in a small discipleship group. Akin always impressed me with his intelligence, his desire for Christian growth, his delight in our times of fun and fellowship, and in his sincere desire to become a godly man. He reflected in every way the very best of his father’s heart for God, his loving respect for other people, and in his determination to do the right thing in the face of every challenge. For me Akin always exemplified the goodness of his godly father.

When time came for him to finish his service at Baptist High School, Mr. Adisa was certainly recognized for his godliness, his hard work, his excellent teaching, and his faithfulness to God’s Way over the world’s way. There is no doubt that he accomplished God’s Purpose for him as he gave a lifetime of service to countless students and their families through his teaching, his mentoring and leading students and teachers in the Way of his Lord Jesus. Mr Adisa truly made his life a powerful influence for good. He demonstrated clearly how to make life ALL ABOUT JESUS.

How blessed we are
to walk in the footsteps
of godly educators
like John Adisa.