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.

John 20:5-7
And stooping to look in, he saw linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in.
Then Simon Peter came, following him and went into the tomb,
He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus.

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!

FROM THE HANDS OF GOD:
OUR OWN METAMORPHOSIS

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)

What a delight!
What a reborn miracle!
Right there on my fingertip!
Praise the Lordd!

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.

EVERYDAY! ALL MY LIFE,
ALL MY HEART, ALL ALL MY SOUL, ALL MY MIND, ALL MY STRENGTH:
IT’S ALL ABOUT JESUS!

Caleb Adeshina

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

The Adeshina Family
together exemplifies how God blesses His people
and equips them to secure
victories He makes available to them
through faith and courage and diligence.

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. 

Caleb has experienced the blessing
of living out a godly heritage
as he explores his own
Promised Land opportunities
to succeed and bring God glory.

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.

God honors his own people,
blessing them with multi-faceted
gifts and abilities,
to bring glory to His Name.
Art Work By Caleb Adeshina

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.

Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV
Therefore, since we are surrounded
by so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely,
and let us run with endurance the race
that is set before us, looking to Jesus,
the founder and perfecter of our faith,
who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross,
despising the shame, and is seated
at the right hand of the throne of God.

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.

Caleb’s is one more example of God’s calling
and equipping His children to glorify Him
as they diligently work to make
God’s gifting a blessing to the people around them.

John 3:16 and Psalm 23

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.

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.

Wherever Jesus goes,
whatever the crisis,
whenever the time,
He is the Light of the World.

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.

For every person
in every place
and in every time
God offers redemption
in the life, death,
burial and resurrection
of our blessed Lord Jesus.

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.

Every day brings its blessings,
every day also brings its challenges,
but praise God,
every day also brings
Jesus as our Good Shepherd.

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!

All the time,
everywhere,
Praise the Lord—
Jesus by my side!

Jesus and His Tears

Jesus Our Master Teacher

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.

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.

As a long-time and widely admired teacher,
Joey had the honor of announcing
Jack and Carly’s names
at their high school graduations.

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.

Joey invested himself in all of his pupils,
challenging them to do nothing
less than their absolute best—
like his son, Jack, in golf.

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.

Joey’s impressive record as a teacher
was no doubt, inspired by one of his own
godly teachers, Mr. Edge,
and by his sister, Sharron Yancy.

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.

While Joey’s life has been characterized
by the hard work and the over-filled schedule
of a dedicated teacher, he has been blessed
with a wife who shares his commitment
to giving only the best in living for Jesus.

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.

Listen to what Carly has to say about her relationship with her Dad: “My dad has made all the difference in my life because of the choices he has made. He has been an unwavering, steady rock for his family. He’s consistent, he’s disciplined, and he’s supportive. At Vanderbilt ,the most challenging and most rewarding yeas of my life, I got a message from my Dad every single day.”

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.

Each teacher who treasures our Jesus
is a blessing from God who so loves us
He places in our lives His models to follow
as we seek and find His Heavenly Way.

John 20: 30-31
Now Jesus did many other signs
In the presence of the disciples,
which are not written in this book;
but these are written so that
you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,
and that by believing you may have life in his name.

As the Apostle John wrote the Gospel According to John, he clearly intended to bring a compelling case for people to see Jesus as His Lord and Master.  Jesus, as His risen Savior came as God Incarnate, as Immanuel, to offer God’s Redemption to all the people of the world. This is clearly what Jesus knew about Himself. He uses the phrase, I AM, seven times as He points to Himself as God who comes to meet the needs of His people—and most essentially, to bring them deliverance and salvation from the Son. John also gives first hand accounts as an actual witness for Jesus as He reveals His power in magnificent and miraculous acts only God-Among-Us could do.

John 2:9-11 ESV

When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine,
and did not know where it came from
(though the servants who had drawn the water knew),
the master of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him,
“Everyone serves the good wine first,
and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine.
But you have kept the good wine until now.”
This, the first of first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee,

Shortly after Jesus began His ministry, He attended a wedding in Cana, where He performed His first sign. The need Jesus met at the wedding may seem less significant than some of the other signs, but in the culture of His own people, the need was crucial—to save face for close friends, possibly family members of His own mother. His actions kept them from being shamed, which carries tremendous importance. Weddings in those times reflected great joy for families. Even in those troubled times, families and friends would struggle mightily just to stage a joyful wedding celebration for everyone they knew. So, Jesus, at the urging of His mother, actually saves the day for the families involved in the wedding. And of course, the wine Jesus creates is the absolute best. Everything Jesus touches is transformed into the best of the best. Jesus among friends and family brings heavenly and perfect joy. Weddings celebrate life and the promise of new life. Jesus chooses this beautiful, this homely occasion to give the first sign of His Messianic power.   And of course, Jesus later proclaims in John 15:1; “I am the vine.” Who else would have the power to miraculously transform  simple, cleansing water into the very best wine?

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IT’S ALL ABOUT JESUS . . .
Joe and Deb Nabors
Living Lives Of
Faithful Stewardship
Together

Parables are purposeful puzzles, which in the solving, make us wiser in the ways of God. As we put together the pieces of a parable told by Jesus, we see more and more clearly how God works with people who proclaim faith in Jesus. Parables often manage to teach hard lessons to tough and resistant hearts, which need some hard knocks to wake them up before time runs out. A parable is a brightly burning torch Jesus lights with truth to lead those who would follow Him to rare places where God’s treasure is hidden. Then those with wide-open eyes can discover and wonder at the power and beauty of God’s Way.  Parables challenge us to recognize and respond to God’s Word in faith which acts and blesses others.

In Jesus’ Parable of the Talents, Jesus implores us to act in accordance with the following powerful lesson: God gives each of us work to do in His Kingdom. He blesses us with all that we need in order to minister to others in the Name of Jesus. Then, he watches with pleasure as His servants use His resources to minister in His Name and for His Purpose. He rejoices when His servants take all that He places in their hands to go and bless others. In this way He builds His Kingdom.

In the Parable of the Talents, we meet three servants. The first is given five talents, and the second two. The third servant receives one coin only. Those  servants who have received five and two coins respectively,  go and work to double the number of coins entrusted to them. . Their commitment and effort draw their Master’s praise, for they have understood the opportunity given them to serve their Master with dedication and effectiveness. They are blessed in blessing their Lord with their work and in their commitment. 

However, the servant entrusted with one coin makes it worthless by simply hiding it. He misses out on God’s  reward because he fails to understand that the Master has placed in his hands a coin in order to earn another.

Joe and his parents
celebrate a big day
as he is called into service
as a judge.

Praise God! Jesus never wastes a single word in His parables as he paints bold stories filled with unforgettable characters, their trials, their triumphs and their testimonies.  His stories provide examples of God placing His trust in His followers as He equips them to go and bless the world.

Sadly those listening casually to His parables  never understand  His meaning. Jesus suffered disappointments and dilemmas, for He was not only the Son of God, but also the Son of Man. So, He labored hard in His Father’s fields and gathered a rich harvest. This parable  portrays how blessed we will be if we take assignments from our Lord as opportunities to bless Him by giving our best.  This parable also pictures  how sadly we fail when we refuse to take God’s blessings and use them to bless others. Faithful servants always earn more gifts to share with others as they bring glory to their Lord. Unfaithful servants lose this chance to so glorify Him. 

You and I, we are so greatly blessed by those who have served faithfully before us, being used by God to powerfully multiply His Kingdom. Peter, John, Paul, Ananias and Sapphira, Lydia—and so many others we read about in Scripture; all of these have served hard and long in our Father’s fields. Even now, when I look around me in my family, in my church, in my community—all over the world, faithful workers serve even as God continues to grow His Kingdom. We praise Him as He blesses each of these in His service. 

This week I will give just one example.  I am so blessed to share with them our faith family’s worship and fellowship. I am further blessed to study the Word with them in the same Growth or Sunday School Group. I am speaking of Joe and Deb Nabors. I still remember how their love and prayers  blessed our children when they were young, When we as a family came home on Stateside Assignment, they thoughtfully and lovingly encouraged Rachel and John David. Then, as our children grew older Joe and Deborah continued to step up and encourage and pray for our family.

Joe has been a Glencoe guy for a long time, since he actually moved to our town when he was four. He was saved at Walnut Grove United Methodist Church, his grandmother’s church. He grew up in the East Gadsden United Methodist Church, where he continued to grow in his faith.  Eventually Joe became an Alabama State Trooper, and after a considerable time of service transferred to the Alabama Bureau of Investigation,  where he retired as a Captain. During that time he attended the Birmingham School of Law and earned his law degree. After retiring from the ABI he practiced law for several years. Then in 2015 he was appointed as a District Judge.  He has won further terms without opposition. He continues to serve even now. During Joe’s years as a State Trooper and as he served with the ABI he had some really challenging  experiences. He encountered the very best and worst among the people  he served, as he and his fellow law enforcement partners protected us all. He will tell you to this day how God protected and empowered him throughout these years.

Joe and Deb’s story of faithfulness
continues in the lives of their daughter,
Ashley and her husband, Colby.

Now, during those years as a State Trooper, Joe met Deb in the emergency room of the Regional Medical Center in Anniston.  Deb had been raised in Alexandria with five brothers and one sister. She actually grew up in Saks, and attended the First Baptist Church there until the family moved to Alexandria when she was in the third grade. They became a part of Mount Zion Baptist Church there. She was actually saved during a revival at Alexandria First Baptist Church, where she was baptized. Deb finished her schooling and began a forty-year career as a nurse in the emergency room at the Regional Hospital in Anniston. Interestingly, both her mother and her daughter have been nurses.  After meeting in that emergency room, Joe and Deb married in 1985. They joined First Baptist Glencoe after their daughter, Ashley, was saved in a revival at the church. Since then, both Joe and Deb have been active and busy in various ministries—and Joe was ordained as a deacon in 2001. 

As I mentioned, I have really enjoyed getting to know both of these faithful servants  in Sunday School. They have always played an active part, with Joe doing some teaching and playing an active and positive role in sharing his Biblical knowledge during class discussion. Deb has often facilitated  ministry efforts on behalf of the class—helping to keep us focused on serving others even as we enjoy the Lord’s blessing while we study His Word and grow together in faith. Prayer very much strengthens and encourages us as a class, and Deb and Joe sensitively pray among us and for us. I know from experience their faithfulness and ongoing commitment to prayer. How God blesses those prayers! John David, our son, would be one of those to attest to that.

Joe and Deb have both ministered in the larger community—reflecting our Savior’s Love for those who seem to need Him most. They have done so in their work, and in their strong involvement in blessing those who face difficult challenges in life. Using healing hands (Deb), and the law and justice (Joe), and recognizing those who are often not only ignored, but too often abused and mocked (Deb and Joe); they have certainly reflected the Love of our Lord. 

While both Joe and Deb have faced tough challenges along the way, they have always maintained a strong commitment to continue serving the Lord Jesus they so obviously love. That brings me back to the Parable of the Talents. Both of these dear friends have demonstrated throughout their lives how our Lord can count on them to take every bit of gifting, talent, training and experience, and use it for His Glory first, and then for the blessing of others. They definitely help me picture Jesus and his teaching to His early disciples—“When I place five talents in your hands, they are there for serving My Kingdom and for blessing others as you do.” And I must say this, or both of them may “take me to the woodshed,” so to speak. They give all the glory to God, for to them, it is ALL ABOUT JESUS!  Praise the Lord!

Matthew 25: 21 ESV
“Well done, good
and faithful servant.
You have been
faithful over little;
I will set you
over much.
Enter into the
joy of your master!”

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

When I look around my life with my eyes wide open, I notice the glories God has created both in the heavens and on the earth. When I look further, I stand amazed at the variety of beauties and wonders revealed in the wide variety of trees, flowers, birds, animals and fish—all good gifts from our Creator and Father. When I look even further into the eyes and the hearts of people around me, I cannot but recognize God’s Glory shining forth in the uniqueness of each of God’s own children created in His Image to praise and know and be blessed by Him through lives of obedience and faith. God truly does all things well. His Creation, His divinely designed nature, and every person, reveals all clearly and powerfully declare His Glory. So, when it comes to history, both my heart and my mind, recognize what seems to be the truth—wise and godly people speak of His Story and not of history. If you understand my thinking, you will not be surprised at my last two lists: My Ten Most Pivotal HIS-torical Events and My Ten Most Admired HIS-istorical Figures.

Psalms 104:24-25 ESV
O LORD, how manifold are your works!
In wisdom have you made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.
Here is the sea, great and wide,
which teems with creatures innumerable,
living things both small and great.

Among so many other gifts from his heritage, my father gave me a love for history. In fact, I almost chose history as my major rather than English while I studied at the University of Montevallo.  In the end the more creative side of me won out as I majored in English and minored in history. I actually took almost as many history courses as English, and I thoroughly enjoyed them all. In fact, as I have studied the Bible more and more over the years, I have marveled at the historicity of the Good News as divinely inspired and written according to God’s Spirit.

My Ten Most Pivotal Historical Events

1. God created the world, blessing Adam and Eve with the perfect Garden of Eden, and yet they fell into disobedience through disobedience and sin.
2. As people outside the garden spread out and multiplied, they increasingly ignored the Good Will of God and committed disobedience and sin against Him and each other. God stepped in and flooded the earth so that they, through Noah and the Ark, could begin again.
3. God called Abraham and his family out of a pagan land and led him toward the Promised Land.
4. God redeemed Moses and used him miraculously to call out the Children of Israel and freed them from their slavery in Egypt.
5. God delivered to His People and the world the Ten Commandments, establishing the foundation of the Law; loving God and honoring Him, and loving others as we love ourselves.
6. Jesus, the Son of God/Son of Man, was born to live the Perfect Life, die the necessary Sacrificial Death, and rise victorious, providing victory forever over sin.
7. God gifted humanity with the ability to observe, ponder, learn and discover—providing the foundation for science and the opportunity to grow continuously in knowledge of this world and beyond.
8. God gifted humanity with the potential to serve as stewards of the earth and all her riches, to bless all humanity.
9. Horrific wars have historically destroyed some empires and nations as others were raised, imposing horrible suffering on humanity, all because monstrous leaders have selfishly set out to establish their own kingdoms in opposition to the True Kingdom of God.
10. Those wars will end, as will sin when Jesus triumphant returns again so that New Heaven and New Earth will be eternally established.

The more I read both history and His Story, the more convinced I become; Jesus is at the heart of both. So, the Bible begins and ends with God’s eternal plan to reveal His glory through the process of Jesus serving as the unique focus of those looking forward from Creation and the Fall. Then some of those blessed to look personally upon Jesus in-the-flesh, recognize Him as God among them. Now we look forward to the culmination of all history and His Story, when New Heaven and New Earth are established—and we see God and the redeemed in Jesus at last living in the midst of His Glory and in the sharing the perfect joy they experience together because of His Love.

My Ten Most Admired Historical Figures

1. Jesus Christ effectively divided history, before and after His birth, and established the Kingdom of God among men to eventually triumph over all who would sinfully and foolishly oppose Him.
2. George Washington unselfishly and heroically served the United States as they fought desperately for freedom.
3. Abraham Lincoln unselfishly and heroically served the United States on behalf of those who had been enslaved.
4. Winston Churchill stood strong for England and inspired the free peoples of the world to fight and defeat the terrifying might of Adolph Hitler and Germany.
5. Franklin Delano Roosevelt put the United States back to work after the Depression, and led his country to join England in fighting to defeat Germany and Japan.
6. Ronald Reagan faithfully served the United States in bringing to an end the dangerous Cold War.
7. Margaret Thatcher courageously and boldly served England as Reagan served the United States in giving democracies victory over Communism.
8. Martin Luther King Jr. fought and literally gave his life to begin to overcome racial inequality and bigotry in the United States.
9. Missionary women around the world served selflessly and courageously all over the world with their husbands and/or all alone, to serve unselfishly in taking the Gospel to all peoples in all lands.
10. Harriet Tubman served as one of many African Americans who at great risk to themselves, brought freedom to their enslaved people.
    
    So goes the story of His Story, along with a tiny fraction of the people He used in the telling. Come to think of it, each of us, we all play a part in His grand Story; for He calls each of us to take advantage of His redemption, and to faithfully serve among His people as He transforms this fallen world through growing His Holy Kingdom throughout the Earth. What a wonderfully and thoroughly beautiful purpose for each of our lives: We have the eternal privilege of being His created, His redeemed, and His resurrected children.

NOTE: Of all my writing efforts, my attempt at naming ten most admired historical figures proved most difficult. So, I would in no way suggest that my choices as written, reflect anything more significant than very personal preferences and perhaps, prejudices. In HIS STORY or in HISTORY there are far, far too many people who have lived admirably—being used by God to continue His progress in redeeming His world. Often God has used rather despicable rulers and others to accomplish His Purpose. After all, He is God and they are not. Nebuchadnezzar comes to mind. The point is: our faithful God is faithfully crafting and shaping HIS STORY and HISTORY for His eternal purpose—REDEMPTION and SALVATION. Someday in GLORY we will all be surprised as Process and His People are revealed. After all He is the ALPHA and the OMEGA. 

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