Cowboys Fans

Mercifully, another pro football regular season is over. Dallas Cowboys fans are used to this mixed feeling of "How could they do this?" versus "We'll win next year". Hope springs eternal. Disappointment does too, for Cowboys fans.

At least Cubs fans and Chiefs fans don't get their expectations up too high. But the Cowboys seem to be in the hunt every year. It's like they want to tantalize us, cat-and-mouse if you will.

It's all made worse by their advantages. A $1 billion stadium that seats 100,000 fans. A franchise worth over $2 billion. I'd rather they play in a rented college stadium and wear used uniforms, if they could get into the play offs.

You'd think Cowboys fans would bale on them, but once you are a part of Cowboys Nation, it's hard to renounce your citizenship. Being loyal, I proclaim again, "Go Cowboys!!"

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Hobby Lobby

I asked on my Facebook wall, "What should Hobby Lobby do?" The responses have been prolific, provocative, and insightful. Here are some highlights.

1) Disobey the Judge, and pay $1,300,000 a day in fines till out of existence. 2) Obey the Judge for now, set aside a multi-millions dollars legal war chest to try to kill the injunction permanently. 3) Refuse to pay the fine, and go to jail. 4) Realize they are a commercial enterprise, not a religious organization, and accept the fact that only religious organizations are granted religious freedom protection.

5) Christians are already known way too much for what they are against; avoid a long drawn-out court war over this. 6) Resist the injunction, even if it means the worst of all possible outcomes. 7) Close their doors. Use the money they would have used for legal fees and give their employees a nice severance package. Run a PR campaign to let people know why they did this.

For the full load of opinions, check out my Facebook wall. Pray for Hobby Lobby. Pray for our country.

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Head-cold Family Bonding

My daughter-in-law says no holiday is complete till someone gets sick. Charleigh has stomach flu. Five of us have had this miserable head cold.

I am grateful for anything that encourages family bonding, but this is nuts. I'd rather we all put a puzzle together, even though I hate to work puzzles. We could play board games; I dislike board games.

Just about anything would be better than being sick together. I don't do sick well. I am the world's biggest woos.

I do have one huge advantage at times like this. I have the world's greatest nurse, the babe, Babe Ruth.

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Read the Old Testament

If reading the whole Bible in one year is a bit intimidating, and you've already read the entire New Testament, how about trying to read through the Old Testament in one year?  The following is a systematic way to do so. Each month has proportionate readings. To cover the entire Old Testament in twelve months, you need to read only 76 verses a day. That's doable.

January through March 

January, Psalms, Proverbs 

February, Genesis, Exodus 

March, Leviticus, Numbers 

April through June  

April, Deuteronomy, Joshua

May, Judges, Ruth 

June, I & II Samuel 

July through September 

July, I & II Kings 

August, I & II Chronicles 

September, Ezra through Song of Solomon 

October through December 

October, Isaiah, Jeremiah 1-26 

November, Jeremiah 27-52, Lamentations, Ezekiel 

December, Daniel through Malachi 

Read the New Testament

Annually reading the entire Bible is the number one spiritual discipline of my life. Hands down. Nothing is even a close second. For some people, though, the thought of trying to read the entire Bible in one year is overwhelming. Let's strike a compromise. How about reading only the New Testament? You can read the entire New Testament if you cover only 22 verses a day. That's right. Only 22 verses per day. You can do this.

The attached schedule might help. It gives a systematic way to read the New Testament in one year. Each quarter begins with one of the Gospels; each month has proportionate readings.

 

January through March 

Matthew, Hebrews, and James are three heavily Jewish writings. 

Also read Romans. Paul wrote about 25% of the New Testament, second

only to Luke.

January, Matthew 1-19 

February, Matthew 20-28, Hebrews 1-10 

March, Hebrews 11-13, Romans 

April through June 

Mark, I and II Peter, and Jude, books heavily influenced by Simon Peter,

account for about 11% of the New Testament. 

Also read I Corinthians to Philippians. 

April, Mark 

May, I and II Peter, Jude, I Corinthians 

June, II Corinthians to Philippians 

July through September 

Luke and Acts were penned by Luke, who wrote 27% of the New Testament, more than any other author. He was the only Gentile to write a Bible book. 

July, Luke 1-16 

August, Luke 17-24, Acts 1-10 

September, Acts 11-28 

October through December 

John, I, II, and III John, and Revelation were written by the apostle, John the

Beloved, who wrote about 200/0 ofthe New Testament. 

Also read Colossians to Philemon. 

October, John 1-17 

November, John 18-21, I, II, and III John, Revelation 1-17 

December, Revelation 18-21, Colossians to Philemon. 

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Second Coming Joy

Christians should be looking forward to a better, happier day than we're experiencing now. We say we believe our Master will someday rule Earth, but I sense lots of despair among God's people now.

Many believers dread the thought of Jesus' second coming. Ruth and I one night went out after church with a young married couple. After a fun time, Ruth and I stood to leave. The other lady grabbed my arm and told me to sit back down. She then poured out her heart about the absolute terror she was constantly living in because of what she was hearing from preachers about the Second Coming. I remember her despair, and I remember my disappointment in preachers. What a shame that we have created a future scenario that scares rather than uplifts believers.

This doctrine is intended to be a source of joy, but we have often made it an Armageddon disaster of such cataclysmic proportions our people are terrorized by it rather than blessed by it. Please let me help us all here. Here are the essential ingredients of what we know for sure. Jesus is bodily coming to earth again someday to rule as King of kings and Lord of lords. All the rest is speculation theology. Possibly true theology, but still speculative.

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Newtown

I'm awake. Was able to sleep after writing my last blog. Woke up praying for parents and grandparents.

When I looked at my calendar, I noticed this is December 15, my Grandpa Hill's birthday. He would have been 116 today.

I couldn't help but wonder. What would Grandpa think about some of the terrible events that have happened in recent years in the country he fought to defend in two World Wars? Made me sad.

Pray for the Newtown families. Pray for the USA.

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Connecticut

It's the middle of the night. I can't sleep. I'm thinking of little children's bodies being removed from a school under the cover of darkness. I'm praying for parents and grandparents whose nightmare is only beginning. I'm hurting.

Yesterday's luncheon was fun, a wonderful time of laughter. Just as I got back in the car, my phone rang. Our Missions Pastor, Vince Blubaugh, broke the news to me.

After hanging up the phone, I cried out to Heaven, saying "No, God! No, Jesus!" repeatedly. Back at the office I caught a few quick news updates, and then immersed myself in work to keep my sanity.

At Christmastime we sing "Joy to the world, the Lord has come", often forgetting the joy came because the sad was already here in abundance. We celebrate the birth of the Light of the world, often forgetting our planet was shrouded in deep darkness. Jesus came because our world desperately needed Him. It still does.

"Thank you, Jesus, for coming to us in the Bethlehem event, and for coming to us in the Connecticut event, Please comfort us as only You can. Amen."

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Bible Year

Thanks to everyone who responded to my request that you let me know if you read the whole Bible in 2012. I think my guess of 40 to 60 is still a good estimate. Huzzah to you all!!

There has been one huge surprise, though--the unbridled enthusiasm of the responses. People are not only doing the reading, but also thoroughly enjoying it. That warms a Pastor's heart.

I've never known anyone who regretted reading the entire Bible. Maybe 2013 will be your year of reading and enthusiasm.

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Whitefield and the USA

In 1740 George Whitefield wrote, "All things concur to convince me that America is to be my chief scene for action." Thank you, Lord, for giving George Whitefield to us for the next thirty plus years. Historians often say American as we know it could have never come to be without his leading role of unifying the Colonies in the pre-Revolutionary War era.

He was the first nationally noted celebrity in America, founded our first benevolent institution (an orphanage in Savannah GA), preached to slaves and helped give them material for their Gospel songs, and even gave us the phrase "Cleanliness is next to Godliness."

One of his greatest contributions to our country was what happened to his converts. People by the thousands were born again, but then faced the difficulty of not having any churches of like mind to join. The mainline churches, Anglican and Congregational, opposed the concept of being born again. The result was that a flood of new converts entered lowbrow backwater Methodist and Baptist churches, starting a wave of momentum in these two denominations that still washes over this land today.

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Triskaidekaphobia

You know I love new long exotic words. I proved that when I led us two years ago as a church in celebrating our quasquicentennial anniversary.

Triskaidekaphobia means fear of the number 13. Lots of people seem to have it, and this unrealistic phobia is increasingly manifesting itself as we approach a new year, 2013, which has the dubious distinction of ending with the number 13.

The number 13 has always had a tough row to hoe. I notice that in tall buildings, when I ride the elevator, the floors often go directly from 12 to 14. I've often wondered if the people on the 14th floor have ever pondered the fact they are actually the 13th, no matter what the lit button on the elevator says.

The problem with this obsession over the number 13 is that it has absolutely no basis in sound reasoning. It's nuts, but superstitious people would never admit that. They would rather suffer with their triskaidekaphobia.

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Grand Oak Windfall

Twitter @john316marshall
www.facebook.com/john316marshallGrand Oak had recently reached a low ebb, but today God's provision was abundant. Reliable Chevrolet brought in five pick-up loads; Second brought in eight.

Dinah Ensor says they have enough food on hand for two weeks. It's been a long time since Grand Oak had that much food on hand. Thank the Lord.

Coffins

A picture is worth a thousand words. I don't know why this photo hit me so hard, but I feel compelled to say something about it. These are coffins made by people in our unreached people group. They are kept underneath their houses.

I guess the image made me think of the reality of death. Every one of these people will enter eternity someday. Death is coming. We at Second must do whatever it takes to get the Gospel to them.

We have worked some 14 years among them. Only 200 or so are believers. I pray for revival to come among them every day. I would appreciate your taking upon yourself this prayer burden with me.

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Armistice Day Wedding

World War 1 ended on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. November 11 was celebrated as Armistice Day till President Eisenhower changed it to Veterans Day in 1954.

On the 30th anniversary of Armistice Day, in 1948, my parents married. They eloped, riding a train from Northeast Arkansas to Memphis TN.

Unfortunately, all the marrying places in Memphis were closed. They found a taxi driver who said he would drive them to Hernando MS for $20.

There they found a Pastor Vincent. (I met him about 30 years later.) He performed their ceremony. Mom was 15; Dad 21.

The can driver served as their witness. Mom remembers he was an odd looking fellow who had a v-shaped hole in the top of his left earlobe. Stranger than fiction, yet all true.

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Grand Oak

Bob Roberts and I visited Grand Oak today. Dinah Ensor gave us the grand tour. It had been 16 years since I was there. I saw clothes, food, books, poverty, and the love of Jesus on display.

It is easy to stay isolated from poverty on the southeast corner of town. I don't see the raw side of life often. Grand Oak's work is made more poignant by the fact it is less than half a mile from where a large contingency of homeless people live in a wooded area.

The work of the Lord is being done at Grand Oak. It is a Greene County Baptist Association treasure. I'm glad Second is a part of what they are doing. We have for years fed the poor in November through Grand Oak. After today, I'm grateful for every item or penny we send their way.

By the way, while there, Bob asked how the center got its name. I expected to hear a grandiose explanation about a huge tree somewhere on the property. Nope. Not that glamorous. It sits at the corner of Grand and Oak Park Street. Mystery solved.

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Machine Guns or Oldness?

When I go vote this morning, will my ballot box be guarded by a machine gunner or a little old lady? Isn't it grand to live in the land of the free?

Of course, to be totally honest, let me remind you, if you do anything at the voting place that breaks the rules, you might prefer tangling with a soldier rather than that little old lady. Don't underestimate the resolve of those seemingly innocent poll guards.

Vote. Many paid the ultimate price to give us this privilege. God bless America.

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Missionary Suitcase

I love sermon props. Rarely do I get "out-propped", but Kenny Qualls slam dunked me at the Missouri Baptist Convention. Just before he brought the annual sermon, a group of men carried a casket (thankfully empty) onto the platform. You can see a picture of it on my Facebook wall. Kenny had our attention.

Several minutes into his sermon, Kenny asked us what we saw beside him. We all of course thought a casket. He then said it was not a casket, but rather a missionary's suitcase. He told us when missionaries left the USA in the old days, they took all their belongings with them in a casket, thereby picturing the fact they intended to never come back home.

The silence in the room was deafening. Dying to self took on a whole new meaning to me in that moment. Thanks, Kenny, for a powerful word.

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MBC Officers

Dr. John 3:16 Marshall, Pastor
Second Baptist Church
3111 E. Battlefield Road
Springfield MO 65804
417-887-3111 x110

Twitter @john316marshall
www.facebook.com/john316marshallHere are the new Missouri Baptist Convention officers (left to right). Wes Hammond, Pastor at FBC Paris MO, is President. Neil Frank, Pastor at FBC Branson, is First VP.

Joshua Hedger, Pastor at Freshwater in Bolivar, is Second VP. David Krueger, Pastor at FBC Linn, is Recording Secretary.

These four men will do an excellent job for Missouri Baptists. We are going to miss two former officers.

Micah Fries, who served as Second VP, is leaving MO to work with Lifeway in Nashville. Jamie Hitt, who served as Recording Secretary, is moving to Amarillo TX.

Prisoners

Dr. John 3:16 Marshall, Pastor
Second Baptist Church
3111 E. Battlefield Road
Springfield MO 65804
417-887-3111 x110

Twitter @john316marshall
www.facebook.com/john316marshallThe Ralston Purina building in St Louis sits on the location of the Gratiot Street Civil War prison, where Ruth's great great grandfather, Shadrick Jones, was incarcerated.

The Confederate prisoners dug the sewer system still in use beneath this site. Ruth's ancestor died while here. A brother-in-law retrieved his body, and brought it to Kelso MO for burial.

Rocking My World

I feel a tremor beneath my feet. Andy Stanley's book "Deep and Wide" is shaking me up.

Do I agree with everything in it? No. But what I do agree with is changing me. The purpose of the book is to convince us we should be striving to create churches unchurched people love to attend.

I can't shake his opening premise. Sinners loved hanging out with Jesus. They should thus enjoy hanging out with the Church, His current body on Earth. I'm having trouble breaking free from that thought.

I'm reading every word on every page. It's making me wish I could meet its author. Maybe someday. I hope the book has made me a more effective Pastor.

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Washington DC

I am almost home. Be it ever so humble . . .

I miss Ruth.

Rich Miller, Vince Blubaugh, Matthew Creath, and I are returning from a three day discovery trip to meet three church planters in the DC area.

The first contact was with a Pastor whose church plans to start churches near Marine Corp bases across the USA.

The second planter works underground in the midst of a group hostile to Christianity. He reminds me of the Apostle Paul. No fear.

The third is making inroads into hip-hop culture, having great success with Hispanics and others who brace this kind of music.

If you like eclectic groups, you're going to love our efforts in the DC area.

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Tea and Me

Dr. John 3:16 Marshall, Pastor
Second Baptist Church
3111 E. Battlefield Road
Springfield MO 65804
417-887-3111 x110

Twitter @john316marshall
www.facebook.com/john316marshallThe picture of my tea left on top of the van has brought a lot of razzing my way. I laughed at it myself.

It seems tea is a part of my every day life. That's appropriate. Mom taught me well. One of my earliest memories is Mom standing over the floor furnace, with her dress puffed out like an umbrella, drinking her ice tea.

I didn't catch the tea habit early in life. Caffeine free diet Coke was my drink of choice for many years. But finally, Mom's DNA caught up with me. Decaf tea has become the beverage for me. I can't imagine a day without it.

A Billy Goat Curse?

Today is a happy day for Cardinals fans, but Cubs fans are again bemoaning the failure of their team to make the postseason. I have a special place in my heart for the Cubs. Surely, when they make it to the World Series again, everyone will, at least secretly, hope they win it. A century is long enough to suffer.

My interest in this today was caused by reading something I had never heard of before. On this date in 1945, Billy Sianis, owner of the Billy Goat Tavern, was thrown out of a World Series game at Wrigley Field because the odor of his accompanying pet goat was bothering other fans. Sianis telegrammed team owner Philip Wrigley, "You are never going to win a World Series again because you insulted my goat." They never have won one since.

I don't for one second believe a goat has anything to do with the Cubs' fortunes, but I did find the story absolutely fascinating. It reminds me how stupid we baseball fans can act sometimes. "Lord, help be reasonable in my sports loyalties."

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Shirley

No discussion of John M Edie would be complete without talking about Shirley. Every good man I ever knew out-married himself. John and I are no exception to the rule.

Look around our building. You will see Shirley's touch everywhere. When Ruth and I see in other churches bad decor, we say, "They need Shirley Edie".

She has annually made Second's building one of the most beautiful in Springfield at Christmas. When we first arrived in Springfield, she took Ruth to see houses. When my son went through a tragic time and desperately needed to sell his house, Shirley oversaw an army of volunteer laborers, and also worked tirelessly herself.

Thanks, Shirley, for 24 years of faithful service to Second.

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John Edie #2

When I came to investigate the possibility of coming to Second, John M Edie was my host. The key moment came when he took me to see the new auditorium under construction.

I knew a building like this, being constructed without a Pastor, was a tribute to the man who was hosting me. The steel girders were making a massive building skeleton.

John, knowing a preacher's heart, took me to a huge mound of dirt. He had me climb it with him. When at the top, he said, this is where the pulpit will be. It was a surreal moment, overwhelming. I think John knew it would be a clincher for the deal.

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Edie #1

I was Pastor at East Side Baptist Church in Ft Smith AR when Bill Shook, chairman of deacons at Second, called to see if I would consider coming to Second. He said my friend and former Minister of Education, Cliff Jenkins, had recommended me.

I called Cliff and asked him to tell me what he knew about Second. He had been doing Sunday School consulting at Second.

After he had bragged on Second a while, Cliff said, "They have the best Minister of Education in America today, John Edie." And that's how it all began.

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Our College Group

To say Ruth and I are enjoying our college small group would be a huge understatement. We are literally discovering a whole new world. Ruth says she is grateful God let us be a part of this.

Some of the students' comments fascinate me. They are amazed to be in a home. Life in a dorm or apartment isn't for them the same as being in a home. They marvel at how clean Ruth keeps the house. They love our elderly advice and humor.

One trait of theirs especially fascinates me. When my generation goes to the kitchen for food, we fill our plates and then head to living room to chat. The college students stay in the kitchen, stand, and form a tight knit circle around the food, and talk there. I think they could visit for hours while standing. They love interaction with each other.

Ruth and I are learning a new way of doing small groups. So far so good.

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Missions to and from USA

Missions still makes my heart skip a beat. The Great Commission is branded deep in me. Because I love it, I study it, and read about it.

Christianity Today (April 2012) magazine reports that the USA sent out more than 127,000 Christian missionaries to serve around the world in 2010. This makes us the largest missionary sending nation in the world.

That same year, 32,400 missionaries were sent to the USA from other countries. This makes us the largest missionary receiving nation in the world. I pray missionaries will come here from all over the world, and bring the anointing of God with them. We need revival.

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Greene County Baptists

Tomorrow night, Sunday September 9, the Greene County Baptist Association, consisting of over 90 congregations, will have its 140th Annual Meeting (6-8pm) and Missions Fair (5pm) at Second Baptist Church. In 1873, seven Baptist churches came together to form the Association. Second joined them when we started as a church in 1885.

Of the many partnerships Second Baptist has, the Greene County Baptist Association is the longest lasting, 127 years and counting. This truly is amazing.

The main theme for tomorrow night's session is church planting. Greene County Baptists, under the leadership of our Director of Missions Dr. Mike Haynes, is on the cutting edge of how associations should be leading the way in helping our congregations plant new churches. I consider it an honor to be part of the progressive, forward looking, Greene County Baptist Association.

By the way, I'm preaching at the meeting tomorrow night. My assigned topic is church planting. I can do this.

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Too Much A Secret

What may be the best kept secret about Second Baptist? I think Victory Garden would have to make the finalists' list. I want to share some statistics with you. This report can be extremely boring, unless you remember that behind every number are poor people all over our area who had extra to eat because of these numbers. Feast your eyes on this.

3,740 tomatoes (my favorites--I could eat fresh grown tomatoes at every meal year round), 3,000 green onions, 2,500 bulb onions (bad breath, but great eating), 3,500 radishes.

115 gallons of green beans, 26 gallons of peppers (sweet, mild, and hot), 50 gallons of squash and zucchini, and 260 gallons of cucumbers (Did I mention I'm addicted to pickles?).

1,150 pounds of lettuce, 488 pounds of potatoes, 9,600 pounds of corn. The latter number came alive to me when a friend told me his dad planted 1.5 acres of corn, and harvested only 8 ears due to raccoons and drought.

Our Master told us to care for the poor. Thanks to everyone who labored in our Victory Garden to help us obey Him.

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Our Unreached People Group

Last night we had a high level strategy session to discuss our church's work among the Bells of the big country, our unreached people group. Twenty-seven people made reservations to come; all twenty-seven came. 100% attendance. Impressive.

We have been working among the Bells for 15 years. We have 5 years to go on our 20-year commitment. The work has been slow. Maybe 400 have become believers. There are logical reasons why the last groups are the last groups. The main problems with the Bells are language, travel, isolation, and terrifying animism.

We are praying about sending a missionary to live among the Bells. We would pay the salary. The International Mission Board would provide oversight. Depending on the timing, we will be either the first or second church in the Southern Baptist Convention to partner with the IMB in this way. Please join me in praying daily for the Bells. God branded them deep within my psyche.

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Legacy

I've been thinking quite a bit lately about the legacy I want to pass on to my grandchildren. The main thing I hope they will be able to remember is that I was a man to whom holiness mattered most.

What we pass on to those who come behind us truly does matter. We are stewards of our legacy. Spurgeon wrote, "Our prayer ought not to be that we should see the whole of our success." We should live in such a way that our lives leave an echo for God.

We don't want to be like King Hezekiah, who was flippant about his legacy (2 K 20:19). We have better examples to follow. David gathered material for his son Solomon to use in the temple. Moses commissioned Joshua and Eleazar to lead the nation. Joshua told the people, "Choose you this day whom you will serve." We each have only one life to live here; pray each of our lives will reverberate to the Lord's glory long after we're gone.

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Hall of Famers

I am a sixth generation preacher. Five were Baptists; the first was a Methodist circuit riding preacher. The circuit riders have always been the hall of famers to me. God used them mightily. Historians say Methodism began to decline when the circuit riders dismounted.

We preachers can have somewhat of a martyr complex, feeling under-appreciated and overworked. Laypeople have trouble understanding the never ending, subtle, under the surface pressures that never leave us, even in the middle of the night. For all our complaining, though, we are grateful to have the greatest job in all the world. To think, God called us to be the ones He would entrust with the message about His unspeakable Son.

Speaking of hardships, I read last night in a history book by Roger Finke and Rodney Stark, two highly trusted writers, a brief summary of the circuit riders' plight. "The life of a circuit rider was one of extreme hardship. Of the first 700 Methodist circuit riders, nearly half died before age thirty, 199 of them within their first five years of service."

Makes me want to cry. Makes me proud to stand in their wake. Makes me want to never whine again. Thank You, Jesus, for letting me have the privilege of serving you as a Minister of the Gospel.

Myanmar

Baptist have for generations suffered persecution in Burma, now called Myanmar. Even our own State Department has recognized the horrible treatment they have received, and continues to give Baptists fleeing Myanmar top clearance to come to the USA. Makes me proud to be an American.

There has been much pressure lately from the international community for Burma to grant more freedom to its citizens. The worldwide attention given to Nobel Peace Prize winner Suu Kyi during her years of house arrest helped highlight the people's plight.

Burma claims to be making progress. Recently I met and visited with a Baptist preacher from Myanmar who is touring the USA. I privately asked him how things are. He said everything was very much better. Freedom was the order of the day. He was very humble, grateful for the liberty to preach there, and for the freedom to travel abroad. Amen. Good news for religious liberty. Adoniram Judson, our first USA Foreign Missionary, poured out his life as a missionary to Burma. He would be proud.

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Olympics 2012

It's that time again. The best athletes from all over the world are coming together to compete. We'll see people run, jump, dive, and swim. There will be tears of joy, tears of sorrow.

Be sure you don't miss one of the most exciting competitions--fencing. Fencing? Yes fencing. I must tell you my sentimental attachment to the sport.

Ruth took fencing in college. I asked her why. She said she was looking for a PE class in which she did not have to throw a ball, catch a ball, dodge a ball, or hit a ball. Fencing filled the bill.

My sweet babe took fencing. Therefore I like it. Bring it on.

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50 Magicians

Allow your Pastor to have a heart-to-heart talk with you. I've read blogs and reviews about a new book "Fifty Shades of Grey" and a new movie "Magic Mike". Evidently, the book contains sexually explicit reading, and the movie is about male strippers. I have seen neither the book nor the movie, and do not plan to. Thus, rather than deal with specifics in the book or movie, I will limit myremarks to the general idea of Christian purity.

Books and movies like these are regularly being released. The difference this time is the seemingly positive response these two are receiving within the Christian community.

Whenever we confront a cultural phenomenon like this, we as believers have to find an appropriate Biblical response.  We all agree the Bible speaks about purity of heart in sexual matters (Prov. 7:25), speaks against lust in one's heart (Matt. 5:28; Job 31:1), and against any type of sexual activity apart from marriage (Heb. 13:4; Prov. 5:15-19).

         It is wrong for a believer to watch any scene that would cause lustful thoughts, or to read any sexually explicit material, even if it has a good story line connected with it (Rom. 13:13-14). We as believers have to be extra careful in our conduct. Otherwise we find ourselves doing what the worldly culture around us does.

         This is no minor matter.  Danger lurks in activities like this. They can be slippery steppingstones into further sin.  They can obsess attention, spawn fantasies, and cause discontent within marriage. As your Pastor, I urge you to be careful.

I ask you to follow a simple Bible guideline. Ask yourself, would Jesus read this, would He watch this? The Bible reminds us we should engage only in activities Jesus would be pleased with.

I pray God will make you wise to do right in all situations. A more detailed blog by Pastor Todd Carnes about the movie and book is accessible at this link.  http://toddcarnes.com/2012/0/50-shades-of-porn/#more-649

 

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College Small Group

This Fall Ruth and I hope to host a weekly college small group in our home. We are working with our college minister Daniel Hood to figure out how best to do this.

The obvious question is, why would we try this? Good question. I want to influence the next generation for God. That's one obvious reason. But there's more.

I feel totally isolated from lost people, the ones God is sadly missing at His table. I think I need to be proactive in trying to make a dent in the kingdom of evil.

Here's the plan. We will gather around us a group of believing college students. We will take a few weeks to bond with them and then try to create a safe zone where we can bring unbelievers.

We will ask our group members to bring unbelievers with them to our house once we feel we can all trust one another not to "blow it" too bad if a lost person does something we might find offensive. Pray for this experiment. Maybe you would like to do something similar. I'll keep you posted.

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Home Sweet Home

Ruth and I have been away doing the Lord's work for over a week in New Mexico. I preached six times at a youth camp for AWANA students.

The camp is located 15 miles up in the mountains northwest of Las Vegas, New Mexico (not Nevada). Ruth and I had a hard time breathing at the 7600 feet altitude.

We drove over 1700 miles. I must tell you the truth. I enjoyed every second I spent in the car with Ruth.

The only problem was communication with the outside world. We had WI-FI in the dining hall. This made email and social networking possible, but I did not talk on a telephone from Saturday to Thursday. It's hard on a preacher to not be able to talk to whomever whenever.

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Harvest Hill Church

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The progress being made in the former Colonial Freight building in Strafford is unbelievable. Our church plant, Harvest Hill, is back in town. Huzzah!!

"Missourians on Mission", a nonprofit mission group that seeks to serve God through construction, transformed the interior of the building Harvest Hill recently purchased.

The church will soon be needing construction volunteers from Second. Be ready to serve. I am proud of Pastors Craig Coppenbarger and John Edwards. They and their wives are some of the finest young adults I've ever known.

Bells Genius

Eureka! Yesterday I found the world's most knowledgeable person regarding Second's unreached people group, the Bells of the Big Country (name cryptic). I had heard about him off and on through the years, but for obvious reasons, he has not been in the forefront of missions publicity.

He is a European. I have been exchanging emails with him. We have never met personally. I feel like I have found a long lost friend. He knows about things I have always wondered about. He is brilliant. He is a believer. He is a translator. He is passionate about the Bells. I think I have found a soulmate. Amen. Thank You, Jesus.

Second still has five years to go on our 20 year commitment to the Bells. My new acquaintance will help us be better focused and more strategic as we continue our work.

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Glen Campbell

Few names bring back more pleasant memories for Baby Boomers than Glen Campbell. He was a folksy singer who had a wonderful personality, topped off by a TV variety show many of us watched regularly.

Alzheimer's is stealing his beautiful mind. My brother, who is in Utah visiting family, attended a Glen Campbell concert last night. It's his farewell tour. Charles told me Glen's two sons and a daughter were performing on stage with him and helping him. Charles said Glen stumbled over the words a few times, and his children would help him. Also, they helped him at times with his efforts to talk.

Charles' most touching story involved the reaction of the crowd. He said when Glen Campbell was singing, if he began to stumble over the words, the crowd would take up the song and sing it for him and with him. Deeply touching. I like that.

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Coming home

Twitter @john316marshall
www.facebook.com/john316marshallWe enjoyed the Southern Baptist Convention in New Orleans this week. Ruth and I moved here 40 years ago to attend seminary.

When we arrived, the seminary chapel did not have a steeple. It had a stunted platform above the clocks.

Ruth and I well remember the day the steeple was set in place. It's an exact replica of the steeple at the First Baptist Church of America in Providence, Rhode Island.

Found Him

Twitter @john316marshall
www.facebook.com/john316marshall Ruth has been determine to find the doctor who delivered John 2. I felt it was an effort in futility. I was wrong.

Ruth, the super sleuth, found him. We knocked on his door. He joyfully greeted us, though we were strangers. Ruth and I were grateful to be able to thank him for his generosity to a poor young seminary couple.

By the way, to get to his house, we turned left on Hickory, then left on Dickory, and then right on--you won't believe, brace yourself--Dock. No kidding!!

An African-American President

History captured the Southern Baptist Convention today. We elected our first African-American President, Dr Fred Luter, Pastor at Franklin Ave Baptist Church in New Orleans.

I and many hundreds of others cried with joy. This is no small event for a denomination that was birthed on the wrong side of the slavery question.

I'm proud of my denomination. We have problems and weaknesses aplenty, but today for one brief moment we stood tall. Yay for Southern Baptists.

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Fathers Day Reflections

Fathers don't get the respect mothers do. This is understandable. Nothing can compare to a mother's love. I think there's something about Mom having a nine-months head start.

USA Americans spend multiplied millions more to celebrate Mothers Day than to recognize Fathers Day. Not too long ago, more collect calls were made on Fathers Day than on any other day of the year. Ouch.

My family has always bucked the "neglect Fathers Day" trend. They treat me like a king every year. This year was no exception to the rule. They gave me one of my best days ever!! I am a man greatly blessed.

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Fathers Day 2012

Fathers, you need to take your parenting role very seriously.  Your duty is performed unto the Lord.  In the parent-child relationship, parents stand as God to the child until the child matures spiritually.

When parents conceive, they enter the secret sacred chamber of God's act of creation.  Children exist due to God's creation through parents. They are His agents.

At conception parents take on the role, and at birth take on the responsibility, of standing in the position of God for the child. A parent's highest honor is to live before his or her children as a worthy representative of God.

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Unreached Peoples

I just finished a debriefing with three of our people who recently returned from a trip to Asia. We are trying to re-up our church's work with the Bells of the Big Country (fake name). In 1997 Second voted to adopt the Bells for 20 years as our unreached people group. Five years remain on our commitment.

Our work among the Bells has waned the last two years or so. We need to find a way to wisely use these next five years. Souls hang in the balance. We may need to send someone to live there among them for a while to help us re-establish networks vital to our efforts being successful. We'll see.

One thing stood out as paramount in the meeting. The three travelers' hearts were literally crushed on behalf of the Bells. I know the feeling. It brought back sentiments about the Bells I've suppressed for a good while. The meeting caused irresistibly strong inner passions to surface again. I felt myself overcome with compassion for this unreached people group numbering about three million, of which only 200 or so are believers. We must do our best to win as many of them as possible to Jesus.

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My Brother's Birth

52 years ago today, my brother Charles was born. He was almost born in the car. He came 10 minutes after we arrived at the doctor's clinic in Chaffee MO. We had to drive all the way from Cape Girardeau because Dad had found a doctor who would deliver preachers' kids free.

I remember the event well. It's hard for an 8-year-old boy ever to forget watching and hearing his mother in agonizing labor. It didn't help hearing Mom and Dad talk about maybe having to deliver the baby in the car. Maybe this is why I never had any inkling of a desire to be a Gynecologist.

Mom had grown tired of being pregnant. The night before Charles was born, she took castor oil, an old family recipe for hastening births. I have other extended family members who have tried the same elixir. My guess is, Charles came when he wanted to, without regard for any liquid influence. I know I could be wrong. I often am.

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Tank Man

I've been surprised at the seemingly small amount of attention that has been shown today to the Tank Man. Today in 1989 he singlehandedly stared down a column of Chinese tanks near Tiananmen Square. It was one of the most electrifying moments of my life. The whole world held its collective breath.

No one knows for sure what happened to Tank Man. Some say he was arrested and killed by a firing squad. Others say he disappeared into the crowd, and is hiding out somewhere in China. To me, the most intriguing theory as to his fate is one I recently read. Some think he has never come forward because he does not know of his international fame. Pictures of the incident are forbidden in China. Thus, the unidentified rebel may not know he has inspired millions around the world.

I hope we find out someday who he is. I would love to meet him, and talk with him person to person about that moment. We need to thank God for the freedoms we enjoy here in the USA.

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John's Birth

Today in 1974 my son John was born at Lakeside Hospital for Women in Metarie (New Orleans) LA. I was in the delivery room. The doctor did not spank him, but gave him a shot instead.

Our Christian doctor, James Seese, told me to learn a lesson from John's first cry. He said his breath did not come from within him, but was borrowed from God's atmosphere. It was a lesson highlighting our utter dependence on God.

John was born at 12:44pm. He has from that first moment been a delightful son. Ruth and I are proud of him.

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Memorial Day

These are the only two pictures on my basement study wall at home. They are of my maternal grandfather, Rev. Aubrey Beal Hill. That's his actual shingle that hung on his tent in France. He was a veteran of both World Wars, a doughboy in WW1, an army chaplain in WW2.

He was a man always driven by duty. When Pearl Harbor was attacked he was already 45 years old. When he went to the recruiting office, they laughed at his thinking he could enter the army at that old age. However, as months went by, and the casualties mounted, they let him in.

He was the most contented man I ever knew. He and Grandma sat side by side in matching recliners for 25 years. They watched PBS (preachers, baseball, and soap operas). He died at 90. Grandma's first request was that his recliner be moved out. She couldn't bear looking at it with him not in it.

It's Memorial Day weekend. Thank a veteran.

Back to Oats

Since my weight has been up lately, I have decided to return to oats for breakfast. It's as easy as 1-2-3-4.

1 cup of oats. 2 cups of water. 3 to 4 minutes in microwave, depending on the consistency you prefer. Add nothing. No brown sugar, no sweetener, no fruit, no nothing, except a dash of salt. Happy eating.

Pedicure

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Four-year-old Lilly Ruth had her first pedicure yesterday. She told the lady, "I want green, blue, yellow, orange, red. I can't do purple because I don't have six toes."

More Broken Wrist Thoughts

My recent blog about breaking my wrist while in the act of preaching, which happened in April 1981, brought back a few other salient memories about the event. It did not hurt much until the nurse at ER who was checking me in asked what happened. When I said I broke it while preaching she laughed, and slapped my hand, saying, "You're kidding!!". I saw stars and almost fainted. I would not encourage this technique among ER workers.

An older gentlemen was sitting in the ER waiting area by me. When I told him what had happened, he chuckled, and said, "The Lord sure does speak in mysterious ways." I never did for sure know what he meant by that.

On my last visit to Dr. Glogovac, I told him I would never hit a pulpit hard enough to break a bone again. He laughed and said, "Don't worry about it, it's impossible to break the hamate bone." They always referred to me as the guy with the broken hamate. For it to break, I think three bones had to hit each other end to end at a perfect angle. Only people in car wrecks or other crushing incidents ever broke a hamate, as far as they knew. Wouldn't you know it would happen to me.

By the way, I never have hit a pulpit real hard again ever since then.

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Blue Slings

Lilly Ruth fractured her left elbow. When I saw her in a blue sling, I immediately had a flashback to 30 years ago when I had to wear one.

Lilly Ruth broke her bone by falling off playground equipment. I broke mine by hitting a pulpit wrong. Yes that's right. As far as I know I am the only preacher to break a left wrist while in the act of preaching.

I hit my fist on a Criswell Bible at the wrong angle. I knew immediately I had broken it, but made it through to the end of the sermon without anyone knowing I had hurt it.

At the end of church I immediately found Ruth, and told her I needed to go to ER. She was kind. To this day, she still doesn't razz me about my pulpit stupidity on that day.

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Mothers Day Thoughts

Yesterday was a blessed Mother's Day for me. I spent all day with Ruth. I was the obvious winner in that deal.

On Friday night we had the three mothers together for a party. I'm grateful my wife is the mother of my children. I'm grateful Rebekah and Amanda are the mothers of my grandchildren.

I sent my mom her favorite gift, a $50 gift certificate to McDonalds. Yes, that's also what I send her for her birthday and Christmas. She truly believes I am a great and dutiful son. One thing is sure, Mom is always easy to buy for.

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Ruth Kidnapped Me

At 3pm yesterday Ruth kidnapped me (or as she said, husband-napped me). She felt I needed time away.

She surprised me by bringing me to the Elvis Presley Suite (room 409) at the Best Western Rail Haven Motor Lodge on Glenstone Ave. I have wanted to do this for years. I love it here. I am surrounded by Elvis memorabilia, including a neon Elvis on one of the walls. This is living life in tall cotton.

Elvis and his mom stayed here in May 1956, when he did a concert at the Shrine Mosque. Ruth brought me here in May 2012 to celebrate that big event. To say this is a wonderful gift would be a huge understatement. I'll be talking about this for years to come. Thanks, sweet babe.

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Baseball and WW2

I love baseball. I love American history. Recently I read something that combined the two. Many baseball players walked away from their careers to serve in World War 2.

On December 8, 1941, the day after Pearl Harbor was attacked, Bob Feller, arguably the best pitcher in baseball at the time, walked into a recruiting office to volunteer for the US Navy. He was the first of many pro baseball players who signed up, including such famous names as Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra, and Stan Musial.

If potential statistics for what some of these men would have done had they not gone off to war are added to their career totals, the numbers can be stunning. Makes singing the national anthem at the beginning of a baseball game take on added significance, doesn't it?

By the way, Bob Feller became a gun captain aboard the USS Alabama. He was decorated with five campaign ribbons and eight battle stars. Play ball!!

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Playing Catch-up

Times have changed. Not too long ago I scheduled at least one hour of office work for every day away from the office. That's no longer the case. Smart phones changed everything.

Everywhere I go I am able to do office work: telephone calls, emails, text messages, sermon editing, etc. When I return to the office, there is much less stacked up to do. That's the good news.

Now the bad news. You never totally escape work. A full day's Sabbath rest seems elusive. You feel yourself torn between taking time to rest while away, or whether you want a smaller stack on your desk when you return to the office. It's a trade-off I struggle with daily.

As you know, I love my iPhone. It is my traveling companion at all times in all places. It allows me to stay connected, but I have to admit, somedays I think I would be better off disconnected for a while. Please don't tell my phone I said that.

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Headed Home

Ruth and I are leaving a restaurant in West Plains, heading home from a family wedding I officiated in New Albany MS yesterday evening. Josh Hill, the groom, attended Second for four years when he attended MSU.

Josh, my first cousin once removed, went to Law School at Ole Miss, and now serves as a lawyer in the Marines. He is a Captain.

When he left Speingfield, he told me he wanted to find a beautiful, Godly Southern Belle to marry. His wish came true. I'm happy for him and his bride Lauren.

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The Chess Game

For some unknown reason, today I remembered an event from before Ruth and I married. We would play chess occasionally in those days. I always won. But one time Ruth had me in a trap, yet let me win.

Today I asked her, "Why did you let me win?" She said, "You were whining about what an embarrassment it would be if you had to tell your friends a girl beat you at chess."

As she told me this, I apologized profusely. What a dunce I was. My consolation is, Ruth wasn't going to lose me over my stupidity. Thank You, Lord.

By the way, Ruth and I have not played a game of chess in forty years.

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Titanic Mania

This weekend marks two ominous events in world history.  President Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth, and the mighty Titanic, the ship that not even God could sink, sank.  I can certainly understand our fascination with Lincoln's death, but I marvel at our continued obsession with the sinking of the Titanic.

It for sure rocked the world.  Ruthie's grandpa Varble, even fifty years after the sinking, would often sing a song about the Titanic that was popular in his generation.  The hysteria that followed the sinking changed the maritime world.  It is said that the safety changes that came about from the sinking of the Titanic actually saved many more lives than it took down.

I guess it's the tragedy of 1500 lives that holds us captive.  Every story, to be spellbinding, has to have a tragedy in it.  The Titanic has 1500 spellbinders connected to it.  I would like to know what you think.  Why does the Titanic continue to control our collective consciousness?

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Dr John Yeats

I am watching leadership personified in our new Executive Director of the Missouri Baptist Convention. For three hours this afternoon I watched him unveil page by page, step by step, a blueprint for the future of our state convention that is nothing short of brilliant.

I have the spiritual gift of teaching, not leadership. But I know good leading when I see it, and I saw it today. We should all be thanking God for sending our state convention a man of vision, and a man who can articulate specific methods to achieve that vision.

Ruth and I have enjoyed Dr and Mrs Yeats since the first moment we met. Enjoyment has grown to love, and love has progressed to respect. Today certainly multiplied the latter. The first thing I did after the meeting today was to call Ruth and tell her my excitement. Thank You, Jesus, for blessing Missouri Baptists.

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Prayer Walking Insights

This morning I finished my third trek of prayer walking in my neighborhood. We're asking all our Second Baptist people to do this for Holy Week. I'm finding it helpful.

I've never been a huge fan of prayer walking. I remember when I first heard the phrase, "walking on site with insight." I thought is was a bit cheesy. Time, though, can soften an attitude.

Here's what I'm learning. Walking does help me stay focused in prayer. I have a serious problem with my mind wandering while in prayer. Prayer walking lets my legs, rather than my thoughts, wander.

Prayer walking also lets me have a chance to mingle with folks. Here's what I've learned thus far. If you want to interact with your neighbors, 7:30pm is too late to prayer walk, 7:10am is too early, 7:30am is just about right. This morning I had opportunity to tell a neighbor I am praying for her. She said thank you, and I think she really meant it.

One more benefit of Prayer walking is, I'm becoming more burdened for my neighbors. What can I do to help them? How can we all become better acquainted? My son John and his wife Amanda are having a block party for their neighborhood this Saturday. I need to do likewise soon.

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Paraprosdokians

My ever humorous cyberspace friend, Pat Day, has introduced me to a totally new concept. Paraprosdokians are figures of speech where the last part of the sentence is totally unexpected, and thus usually humorous. Winston Churchill loved paraprosdokians. We're at the end of a long work week. Maybe a few from Pat would brighten the start of our weekend.

The last thing I want to do is hurt you; but it's still on my list. Light travels faster than sound; this is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak. You're never too old to learn something stupid (I can relate to this one).

If I agreed with you, we'd both be wrong. You need a parachute to skydive only if you plan to do it twice. Evening news starts with "Good evening," and then proceeds to tell why it isn't. On my application, when I see "In case of emergency, notify whom?" I write "Doctor." Money can't buy happiness, but it sure makes misery easier to live with.

In life, humor helps. When you quit laughing, you might as well quit, because when you're through laughing, you're through.

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41 Years and Counting

41 years ago tonight, Ruth and I tied the knot. My Pastor, Dad, and Ruth's Pastor, Loren Robinson, were the officiants. Two of my cousins, and two of my uncles, were my groomsmen. The two cousins, Rod Wisdom, my best man, and David Queen, still live in St Louis County. My Uncle Don still lives in Jackson MO; my Uncle John still lives in Benton MO.

Ruth's attendants were her two cousins, Rebecca Varble Hanlon, still of Chaffee MO; Sherry Huey of Cape Girardeau; my sister Esther of St Charles County; and Carol Proffer of Millersville MO, the maid of honor. Carol is the only participant in the wedding we have lost contact with.

Music was provided by singers Charlotte Moore of Ellington MO, and Tom Beck. The organist was Tom Sieberg. Everyone did a wonderful job. The ceremony remains a wonderful memory.

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Easter Expectations

We hope every member of Second will seek to implement this simple plan for the unchurched as we approach Easter. One, pray for them. During Holy Week, prayerwalk your neighborhood; ask God to send neighbors your way so that you can invite them to Easter services. Choose one or two close friends or family members to pray for specifically. Without prayer, there can be no blessing on our efforts.

Two, invite them to come to Easter services. Surveys show the unchurched in the USA are more likely to come to church on Easter than on any other Sunday. Three, sit with them in church. We have no Sunday School classes that day. This gives you the perfect chance to give your undivided attention to an unchurched friend. Your presence beside them will be the most helpful thing you can do to make them feel comfortable in unfamiliar surroundings.

Four, take them to eat, or have them in your home for lunch. The latter is what Ruth and I will be doing with the two friends we have coming with us. Eating with them shows you care for them as people, not as notches on a belt to denote conquest. Five, invest in them. We want this Easter to affect every day thereafter. If an unchurched person comes with you on Easter, they are opening a door for further interaction. Don't waste the opportunity.

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Baptist Freedom

What is the best gift Baptists have bequeathed to the people of this world? Immersion in water, once saved always saved, Bible authority, or religious liberty?

We have made huge contributions in all these areas, but religious liberty is our chief gift. I've long known Baptists championed freedom of worship, but not until my research of recent days have I realized we stood alone on the issue for over 100 years.

Our forebears paid a terrible price to pass this rare and precious jewel to the masses. We Baptists have plenty of weaknesses to humble us, but on this issue, we have always stood tall. Makes me glad to be a Baptist.

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Missions Can Be a Zoo

Last Sunday night we gave $65,000, including over $2000 in change and currency from our children, to help Baptist Global Response minister to people's physical needs around the world.  If we were to gather all the animals we are providing, we would have our own zoo.  For you who like lists, here's the rundown on what we bought.

28 $1000 water systems for developing countries; 139 $25 water filters for a family; 88 $35 sewing machines; 29 $100 AIDS in-home care kits; 284 $5 mosquito nets; 79 $20 blankets; 124 $15 chickens; 81 $25 pairs of rabbits; 111 $50 goats; 41 $250 cows; 60 $50 stocked fish ponds.

Thank you, Second Baptist. Ruth and I radically love you.

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Missing Pujols

Yes I miss Albert. I was doing better until I read these stats about him on the Major League Baseball web site. Since coming to the Majors in 2001, the nine-time All-Star and winner of two World Series rings leads all of baseball in batting average (.328), homers (445) and RBIs (1,329).

He ranks second in slugging (.617) and intentional walks (251). He is third in on-base percentage (.420) and hits (2,073). In Major League history, no player has ever hit more home runs through his first 11 seasons (Eddie Matthews is second with 399).

I did not realize Albert's record was this stunning. I wish him well in California. Go Cardinals!! Maybe we'll face him in the World Series. Wouldn't that bring a lot of drama to baseball?

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Washington's 3 birthdays

Washington is the only person I know of that has three birth dates celebrated in his honor. We now officially use Presidents Day for the observance, but I grew up honoring only February 22, which I still feel an emotional attachment to. That's two dates. What's number three?

The family Bible says he was born February 11, a date many of his admirers celebrated throughout his life. Where did this third date come from? Washington was born under the Julian Calendar. When he was an adult, the British and their colonies switched to the Gregorian calendar, which delayed the observance by 11 days, thus February 22.

It is no surprise Washington's birthday would be an enigma. He was always a bit distant and hard to know real well. A mystique enveloped his person. Thus it is appropriate that even his birthdate would mystify us.

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Ruth's New Knee

We have much cause for rejoicing with regard to Ruth's second new cobalt chrome knee. We are glad the doctor moved the surgery up two weeks. That helped.

We are happy at the new pain medicine regimen being used this time. Her pain is much less than last time. We are rejoicing that Ruth will come home this weekend.

We are happy to serve a praying church. By the way, Ruth also says she's happy she was born with only two knees.

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Grieving Men

I think Jonathan Fann's new book, "Grieve Like A Man", is a must-read for Pastors and others who try to minister to men who are grieving. Men and women do not grieve alike, and this difference has brought about the demise of many a marriage.

Jonathan and his wife Heather are members at Second. I have walked the road of grief with them. Theirs is an example worth following.

If you know of a man going through the grieving process, find a way to get Jonathan's book in their hands. They will be blessed by it.

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Presidents' Birthdays

My wife and two children share Presidents' birthdays. Ruth was born on Lincoln's birthday. Tomorrow I celebrate the birthday of my number one lady and my number two President (Washington remains number one in my books).

My son John shares John Kennedy's birthday. I was only eight years old when JFK ran for President, but I vividly remember the absolute furor that raged through many Baptist preachers at the prospect of electing a Roman Catholic. I also remember the assassination with deep sadness.

My daughter Rebekah shares Ronald Reagan's birthday. We all four remember him, and hold him in high esteem. We know he was not perfect, but he did restore for us pride in our country. He made it okay to be patriotic again. I liked that about him.

I share a birthday with no President. In fact, as far as I know, nothing of huge significance has ever happened on December 22. Sad.

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Washington's Credit Card Debt

President George Washington may not have had a plastic card in his wallet, but he did maintain an open line of credit with merchants in London which kept him in financial straits for much of his adult life. He was not extravagant in his tastes, but he did live at the high level expected of Virginia gentry in the 1700s.

What struck me about his debt is that he blamed the merchants for the first few years. He complained about their being too strict in bill collection, their shipping inferior goods, their taking too much time to send items ordered, etc.

However, as maturity took over, he finally began to realize the debt was his own fault, driven by his and Martha's desires to live at a high level. In his later years he strongly counseled against the use of excessive debt. Moderation became his theme. Dave Ramsey would have been proud of our #1 citizen.

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