Deacon's Diary

Deacon's Diary is a weekly feature that appears on the back side of the bulleitn at the First Baptist Church of Avalon, Texas.

What I think I know.

I've left there many times thinking that I wished I had what he had. The guy is always happy. Always had a good joke ready. Always had a smile on his face. Never seen him get upset about anything. But last week, after several years, my opinion changed.

It changed because for the first time in all of our meetings we had time to get a long conversation going. And during this conversation I learned more about this guy than ever before. I learned about some of the problems and challenges he has faced over the years.

I heard about surgeries on himself that he has had to endure. And the recent surgeries on his wife too. He told how heart wrenching it was to see her suffer. He also told me about some major problems at his church, too. And then he told about some problems he has had with his employer. And with fellow employees. And I heard a story or two about some disagreements with some of his kin folk.

Like I said, it was a long conversation. He even told me about some of the challenges he faced growing up as a black man in the sixties and seventies. Some of racism he has seen. Injustices that he has endured. Unfair treatment encountered just because of skin color.

Don't get me wrong, our conversation was not at all a one sided rant from this man. He was not even complaining. With every story he told about every problem he has ever had he let me know without a doubt exactly how it is he got himself through each of these challenges and problems. He let me know that God was right there beside him every step of way. He explained how he saw God's hand at work in his life in great detail. Awe inspiring detail.

I no longer think I want what this man has. Now I know that I do. 

Deacon's Diary is a weekly feature that appears on the back side of the bulletin at the First Baptist Church of Avalon, Texas.

Behind the mask.

Even though I had seen the movie once before, I watched it again yesterday. It is a pretty good one and worth a second viewing.

I'm talking about that Jim Carey movie titled "Mask". Carey plays a bank employee that finds a mask with the strange power to transform anyone that puts it on into something totally different. Kind of stupid, I know, but it's comical and somewhat entertaining.

As the movie plays itself out, the main character tries to better understand the said mask and the power that it possesses. He concludes that while the mask does give the wearer some quite amazing superhuman ability, it really didn't change the person at all. It just exposed and amplified the inner feelings and emotions that the wearer already had on the inside. And as it happened in the movie, that mask had a totally different result that was, of course, totally dependent upon who it was that wore the mask.

So, in effect, that stupid thing was not really a mask at all. You could call it the ultimate 'unmask'. By putting the mask on, one was really doing nothing more than unmasking one's true self. By putting the mask on, the inner contents of the heart came out.

We can all be thankful that such a mask, or unmask, does not exist. As displayed in that movie, the unmasking of the innermost desires of the heart coupled with superhuman ability is not good.

But it did get me thinking about the need for all of us to at least explore our own hearts. On this Valentine's Day let us do exactly that. Let's search our own hearts today. If the desires within were unmasked, what would that be like? If we find things in our hearts in need of removal, there is only one way to do it. Just ask Jesus!

Deacon's Diary is a weekly feature that appears on the back side of the bulletin at the First Baptist Church of Avalon, Texas.

Ad or subtract.

You have not seen it yet. Neither have I. In fact, very few people have seen it, yet a whole lot of people are already talking about it.

On talk radio, in some of the newspapers, and most of the cable news programs people have already given their opinions about it. Some like it and some don't. Some are all for it and some think that it should not be seen at all. Opinions are flying around from both sides like nothing that I have ever seen before in my life time.

I'm talking about the superbowl ad that will be aired today during the first quarter of the game submitted by Focus on the Family. According to all the talk about it, it will feature Florida football star Tim Teebow and his mother bringing to us a pro-lfe message.

When I first heard about the controversy I was left wondering why anyone would have a problem with a message such as this. Who would think that a story such as that of the Teebow family is one that might is some way be unsuitable for viewing. Why would any person that would call themselves 'pro-choice' have a problem with an ad that really does nothing more than tell us about one of the choices.

But after I thought about it a little I think I figured out why some don't like it. They don't like it because the other choice is all but impossible to sell in the same manner. Think about what such an ad might look like. Who would get on TV and tell us that they're so glad that they got an abortion. Who would get on TV and tell the whole world watching that their kid turned out so bad that they wished that the kid had never been born. How could anyone possibly put together an ad telling us that their life is so much better today because they once decided to end the life of another.

Deacon's Diary is a weekly feature that appears on the back side of the bulletin at the First Baptist Church of Avalon, Texas.

Truth for sale.

Everyday we all are subjected to all kinds of advertising. Bill boards, TV commercials, and radio spots. Newspapers, magazines, and in store front windows. In all kinds of print and formats, individuals and corporations continually try to get our attention.

One has to wonder how much truth is in some of the 'pitches' that come flying at us. We can know for sure that not all of it is totally honest. According to the advertisers everything out there is the best, the newest, or the most effective anywhere to be found. With a little simple logic, we know all of them can't be telling the truth.

Truth aside, the main goal of the advertisers out there is to get us to remember the product, service, or cause that they are trying to sell. And to that end they will employ every tactic and trick in the book. Some use humor. Others will tug at your heart strings. Still others will use testimonials from their customers to persuade us.

Not only will they use any approach to reach us, but they will spend any amount of money to reach us as well. It is estimated that a thirty second spot during the upcoming superbowl will cost the advertisers about 3 million dollars. Those advertisers that will be seen during this year's game have been working on their ads ever since the end of last year's superbowl. Dedicated for sure.

As Christians, we too have a message that needs to get out there. The Bible tells us that we should be ready to give an account of the life saving grace that we have found in Jesus Christ. So let us be as dedicated to our message as are the advertisers at the superbowl. But we don't have to take up all the crazy tactics and tricks like they do. Because we always have the truth on our side.

Deacon's Diary is a weekly feature that appears on the back side of the bulletin at the First Baptist Church of Avalon, Texas.

Dream on.

Myself, I have never been much of a dreamer. It's in my nature to just take things as they are and just deal with them I guess. Kind of like that ole' comic strip, I could be considered as a so called "Plugger." I plug along, going with the flow for the most part.

Thank God everyone is not like me. This world we live in needs dreamers in the worst way. Those who believe that things need to change and that they can change. Those that grab hold of a dream and then work to see them come true. And as they work toward that dream, they sometimes inspire others to work with them.

For example, Martin Luther King was such a dreamer. He not only had a dream, but he put work clothes on it. His "I have a dream" speech is all the evidence we need to know what his dream was.

A worthy dream indeed. So much of a worthy dream that our nation celebrates not only the life of the man tomorrow, but we celebrate his dream as well. The dream of how things should be.
One reoccurring theme in some of the commentary that I read this morning concerning Martin Luther King is that he never saw his dream come true. That he died before much progress was made towards it. Or that his dream will never be realized here or any where else. To that, I must disagree. Totally disagree. I argue that the good doctor saw every bit of that worthy dream come true.

That is if he went to heaven like I think he did. And if you think about it, even if he didn't. He dreamed of a world where people were judged by the content of their character rather than the color of their skin. God promises that much to each and every one of us.

Deacon's Diary is a weekly feature that appears on the back side of the bulletin at the First Baptist Church of Avalon, Texas.

Win or go home!

Win or go home! When the football season reaches this point, that is the situation that all the teams still around find themselves in. Win or go home. Lose one game and it is all over. End of story.

As a fan of game I just love the play-offs. The pressure of the win or go home scenario makes an already enjoyable contest just that much more enjoyable. Every play from the line of scrimmage is important. Every snap of the ball could turn things around for either team. Each play called from the booth or the sidelines can change the direction of the game. Any penalty can be devastating for one team while helping the other. Each and all actions matter.

What's not to love about the match-ups, too? The regular season has eliminated most of the teams for us so that only the best remain. The talent level that takes the field in each of the games remaining is tremendous. And not only that, the teams that are still in it have had all year to work on their game. Lots of thought and practice have turned these teams into finely tuned football machines. Very good stuff I tell ya! A football fans favorite time.

As Christians let us think upon this as we live out the rest of our lives. Let us live in 'play-off' mode from now going forward. Let us study God's word and practice his precepts and concepts and turn ourselves into finely tuned saving machines. Let us be mindful that all of our actions matter. Every penalty can be devastating. Let us know that every play we call could turn things around for some one else. Let us invite every human being that we meet to join our team today. Because in the play-offs, we all know what's at stake. It's win or go home in football.   But in life, it's win or go to hell.

Deacon's Diary is a weekly feature that appears on the back side of the bulletin at the First Baptist Church of Avalon, Texas.

Travel nightmares.

I read about the travel nightmares just this morning. About how the winter weather all across the mid-west of our country has made it very difficult for some folks to reach their Christmas time travel destinations. The backed up airports. The closed highways. Leaving people stranded somewhere in the middle of their journey.

Not only did I read about it, I saw some of this first hand on Christmas Eve night.  On my way back from a late emergency delivery to Little Rock, AR, I arrived back in Dallas about midnight. I was not alone on the highways. Not even at that late hour. Traffic was backed up because of the ice on all the bridges. Highways were blocked due to accidents and stranded vehicles.

 Some folks traveling through Dallas were, at the very best, late to their destinations. And I would just have to imagine that some of the less fortunate ones did not make it all. Some of those that were involved in the many accidents probably had to cancel their trips all together. Not a good travel day at all. A nightmare, indeed.

I found myself at prayer for those folks while I was stuck there in all that traffic. Those folks that were trying to get to family and friends for Christmas that encountered the travel problems and were either late, or absent altogehter, certainly are in need of our prayers.

But there are some other folks that need our prayers even more. I'm talking about those that go through the motions and traditions that come along this time of year that really don't have anything to do with the real reason for our celebration. Those folks that never take the time to think about the real gift from God above. Those that celebrate with no mind of Jesus. A nightmare, indeed.

Deacon's Diary is a weekly feature that appears on the back side of the bulletin at the First Baptist Church of Avalon, Texas.

Tiger by the tail?

The bigger they are the harder they fall. All of us have not only heard that saying before, but we have all seen it happen first hand more than once. It would appear that maybe the only thing that we as human beings enjoy more than building each other up is tearing each other down. Given the opportunity to do so, of course.

The latest example would be that of Mr. Tiger Woods. Just a short time ago he was at the top of his game and respected the world over. Tiger stood upon a man made pedestal as an example of good character and athletic excellence. It was thought by most everyone that he possessed a rare amount of self discipline that was seldom found in our society. He was, indeed, on top of his game. On top of the world. He had it all in the palm of his hand.

Until the great fall, that is. Like a big line of dominoes it all came crashing down on him in a very short amount of time. First one thing and then another. Now it seems that with each passing day something new is reported about his troubles. Who knows if or when his descent will end. One hard fall? Yep. You bet it is.

I bring all this up not to pick on Tiger Woods. I bring it up only to make a bigger point. Today's media does not need any help from me in knocking Tiger off of that pedestal that they put him on.

The point is that given the opportunity anyone can have a similar fall. The Bible tells us that our sins will be found out. Only those that walk the walk will escape a similar great fall like this one.

As far as I can tell, there has only been One that has managed to pull that off. Jesus Christ has passed the test of time. 2000 years and counting. It is a sure bet that there is no fall in store for Him!

Deacon's Diary is a weekly feature that appears on the back side of the bulletin at the First Baptist Church of Avalon, Texas.

Over the river and through the woods.

There is an old Christmas song that has kind of got stuck in my head this past week. You too, no doubt, have heard the song before. I'm talking about the one that goes something like, "Over the river and through the woods, to Grandmother's house we go."

I've heard that song all my life I reckon, but I can't ever remember having that song stuck in my head like it has been lately. It's a good little song with a catchy little tune, but the lyrics never resonated with me in the past. Not like they certainly do now.

That little song tells us about the journey to Grandmother's house at Christmas time. The expectations of goodness and sweetness that surely would be waiting there upon arrival. That song is nothing more than a tale of the joyful and happy travel time to Grandmother's house at a joyful and happy time of the year.

As a kid growing up I was always less than a mile away from my Grandmother's house. I could just walk there for all our Christmas time get togethers and family reunions. Some of my cousins and other family members had some traveling to do to get there, but not me. We lived just down the road and around the corner. So the travel time to Grandmother's house never applied to me as a kid.

That changed last week. Grandma left this world to be with Jesus  in Heaven right after Thanksgiving. Just in time for Christmas.

That's why that song is stuck in my head now. For the first time  in my life I've got some traveling to do to get to Grandmother's house. Perhaps over a river of tears. Through the woods that surely are the rest of my life. But it's to Grandmother's house I go.

Deacon's Diary is a weekly feature that appears on the back side of the bulletin at the First Baptist Church of Avalon, Texas.

Expect to be inspected.

We have all either heard someone say, or said this old saying ourselves. "There is a first time for everything."  With a little thought, all of us have probably experienced multiple situations where that phrase would apply.

I had one of those just last week on my way to Little Rock. There is weigh station just the other side of Texarkana that I have been through many times before without ever being called in for inspection. It had gotten to the point that I had pretty much decided that I didn't have to worry about that place at all. After years of going through there without getting stopped, I just took it for granted that it would never happen. But last week proved me wrong.

And to top it all off, when I walked through the door, the DOT officer there gave me cause to think upon that phrase once again. He gave me a choice. We could go through an inspection or not. He left it up to me. That never happens.

Once the shock of being given the choice wore off I decided to go ahead and get the inspection. I knew all my paperwork was in order and I knew the truck was in good shape. The inspection would go in my favor. And a clean and clear inspection is always good for the record. I had nothing to worry about and had plenty of time. The first time I ever had the choice, I was good to go.

When I left the weigh station I thought about some of the other times that I had been through there when I might not have been so ready. I thought about how lucky I was that it was at this time that I got called in. I remembered a couple of times that I sure was glad I didn't get called in. And you can bet that if I had been called in on a bad day, there wouldn't have been a choice.

All that thinking got me to thinking about something else. Something a lot more important than any DOT inspection. I thought about the more than just a couple of times that I came close to death in my younger and wilder days. Brushes with death when I didn't come close to having everything in order.

I pondered over these things on Thanksgiving. How grateful I am for all the blessings that God has given to me. How grateful I am for my salvation. And how truly grateful I am that God did not call me in when I was not ready.

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