Now That's A Good Job!

We live in a day when it seems that a lot of workers do not have much pride in their work.  I just came from an eating establishment here in West Plains and by the time I left, I was feeling so sorry for the workers because we had put them out SO MUCH by purchasing our supper.  Now this is said "tongue in cheek" but I would say, that is a common occurrence for a lot of people.  I do give allowance for people having a bad day because I have those too, but when it is every time you go...come on!

"Well what do you expect for minimum wage???"  Hmmmm... When I was 8, 9...10 years old my Dad built houses for a living.  During the summers Ralph and I would work for him and I received the good hourly wage of $1.00 (Don't bother with the comments about how someone walked five miles through the snow, uphill both ways, worked twenty hours day for two-bits a day)  That was a good days pay for a young boy in the early 70's so what did I do to earn that?  I swept the house that was being constructed and kept the inside/outside work area clean.  First, my Dad showed me the proper way to use a broom...and a dust "pan".  Then he started me at one end of the house sweeping, picking up scraps and trash and hauling it out to the burn pile.  By the time I had worked my way to the other end of the house, they had messed it all up behind me!  My Dad kept instructing me until he was satisfied with the job and corrected me when I was doing it wrong (You don't sweep sawdust down through knot holes in the sub-floor...it's food for termites!)  I learned how to stack lumber, pick a straight board, properly (there is a proper way) to start a fire in a burn pile, how to hold a board that's being cut off, how to use a tape measure and so much more.  I guess what I'm saying is, my Dad was proud of his building abilities and he would settle for no less with his employees.

Where did this peevish rant come from you ask?  Look at the picture below and tell me your first impression.  Just an old rock culvert that is in need of repair??  What you are looking at is a 2'x2' rock culvert under the old Current River Railroad grade (abandoned) that ran from Willow Springs, MO to Grandin, MO.  This is part of the grade just west of Winona, MO.  Some man or men had such pride in their work, that they built something that would last in the middle of relative wilderness.  Oh...I didn't tell you the official plans for this railroad were dated 1918 but from research this culvert could have been built as far back as the 1880's.  I looked at two such culverts in a one-half mile stretch of grade and both of them were still draining water and in relatively good shape.  That didn't happen by chance!  They were built with skill and with an eye for stability and beauty (Yes, I think they're quite handsome!).  I've had it up to my ears with the "just do enough to get by" and "You expect me to do THAT for what they're paying me??" attitudes in our culture.  America needs to get back to pride in workmanship and providing a good, honest days work for the wage we receive.

(and please don't give me the spiel about slave-driver employers...I may rant on that in a future post)

That's MY King!!

That's My King - Part of a sermon by Rev. S.M. Lockridge.  If this don't light your fire...Your wood's wet!!

"That's My King"

The late Dr. S. M.  Lockeridge, a pastor from San Diego, California
said these words in a sermon in Detroit in 1976:

My King was born King. The Bible says He's a Seven Way King. He's the King of the Jews - that's an Ethnic King. He's the King of Israel - that's a National King. He's the King of righteousness. He's the King of the ages. He's the King of Heaven. He's the King of glory. He's the King of kings and He is the Lord of lords. Now that's my King.

Well, I wonder if you know Him. Do you know Him? Don't try to mislead me. Do you know my King? David said the Heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows His handiwork. My King is the only one of whom there are no means of measure that can define His limitless love. No far seeing telescope can bring into visibility the coastline of the shore of His supplies. No barriers can hinder Him from pouring out His blessing.

He's enduringly strong. He's entirely sincere. He's eternally steadfast. He's immortally graceful. He's imperially powerful. He's impartially merciful. That's my King. He's God's Son. He's the sinner's saviour. He's the centerpiece of civilization. He stands alone in Himself. He's honest. He's unique. He's unparalleled. He's unprecedented. He's supreme. He's pre-eminent. He's the grandest idea in literature. He's the highest personality in philosophy. He's the supreme problem in higher criticism. He's the fundamental doctrine of historic theology. He's the carnal necessity of spiritual religion. That's my King.

He's the miracle of the age. He's the superlative of everything good that you choose to call Him. He's the only one able to supply all our needs simultaneously. He supplies strength for the weak. He's available for the tempted and the tried. He sympathizes and He saves. He's the Almighty God who guides and keeps all his people. He heals the sick. He cleanses the lepers. He forgives sinners. He discharged debtors. He delivers the captives. He defends the feeble. He blesses the young. He serves the unfortunate. He regards the aged. He rewards the diligent and He beautifies the meek. That's my King.

Do you know Him? Well, my King is a King of knowledge. He's the wellspring of wisdom. He's the doorway of deliverance. He's the pathway of peace. He's the roadway of righteousness. He's the highway of holiness. He's the gateway of glory. He's the master of the mighty. He's the captain of the conquerors. He's the head of the heroes. He's the leader of the legislatures. He's the overseer of the overcomers. He's the governor of governors. He's the prince of princes. He's the King of kings and He's the Lord of lords. That's my King.

His office is manifold. His promise is sure. His light is matchless. His goodness is limitless. His mercy is everlasting. His love never changes. His Word is enough. His grace is sufficient. His reign is righteous. His yoke is easy and His burden is light. I wish I could describe Him to you . . . but He's indescribable. That's my King. He's incomprehensible, He's invincible, and He is irresistible.

I'm coming to tell you this, that the heavens of heavens can't contain Him, let alone some man explain Him. You can't get Him out of your mind. You can't get Him off of your hands. You can't outlive Him and you can't live without Him. The Pharisees couldn't stand Him, but they found out they couldn't stop Him. Pilate couldn't find any fault in Him. The witnesses couldn't get their testimonies to agree about Him. Herod couldn't kill Him. Death couldn't handle Him and the grave couldn't hold Him. That's my King.

He always has been and He always will be. I'm talking about the fact that He had no predecessor and He'll have no successor. There's nobody before Him and there'll be nobody after Him. You can't impeach Him and He's not going to resign. That's my King! That's my King!

Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory. Well, all the power belongs to my King. We're around here talking about black power and white power and green power, but in the end all that matters is God's power. Thine is the power. Yeah. And the glory. We try to get prestige and honor and glory for ourselves, but the glory is all His. Yes. Thine is the Kingdom and the power and glory, forever and ever and ever and ever. How long is that? Forever and ever and ever and ever. . . And when you get through with all of the ever's, then . . .Amen!

Homegoing!

I posted this on March 10th and little did I know that just a few days later I would be updating it.  Our old friend and Sister in the Lord has made the crossing and we attended her funeral today.

Saturday night, Tami and I had the privilege (one more time) to be with Sister Rosa Hatfield at the Midway Pentecostal Church in Thayer, Missouri.  Sister Rosa is almost 102 years old and still "sharp as a tack"!  Sister Rosa has been preaching since she was a young lady and still gets happy and preaches from her pew!  I love to hear her talk about the ways the Lord has helped her through the years....Especially the story of how the angel walked through her bedroom door, stood at the end of her bed and spoke words of assurance concerning a problem she was facing.  When I say "walked through" I don't mean "open the door and walk through"...I mean "walked through" a closed door!  Gives me cold chill bumps just typing it!!

I testified at church tonight about the sports figures, actors, actresses, musicians and other famous people who are lifted up as heroes and heroines.  They are beautiful, talented, muscular, handsome, have the perfect figure...and most of them have the character and moral standards of an alley cat.  The people I respect and want to pattern my life after are the "Rosa Hatfield" types.  As Vance Havner said "they've been faithful to the fight, faithful to the faith and (will be) faithful to the finish"!  God Bless'em!