DON'T STEP ON THE GRENADE

Can you imagine what stepping on a grenade could do to you? How would that happen anyhow?

I did not serve in the military and never been to war. However, in today's up front and personal news reporting, we see all to regularly the affects of war.

This past week, Wanda's brother, Jerry Davis, stumbled upon a grenade while on a construction work site. He is a contractor and all of a sudden there was a grenade. It made the news in Tallahassee, FL., where he works. Thankfully no one was hurt.

You can read the news report at the following sight.

www.wctv.tv/news/headlines/67432917.html

What is the take-a-way from this story? Well, there are many are others types of potential "life grenades" that can wound us if we're not alert. Bitterness, jealousy, hatred, fears, anxiety, and all other manner of internal issues can hurt us. Poor choices can damage us and cause life-long problems.

No, I don't expect to find a real live grenade, and, if I do, I hope I'm alert as Jerry was. I am sure other types of grenades are lurking in the shadows. It is up to me to disarm them before they can do damage.

A PLACE CALLED FAILURE

When I was a teenager, we had a Bible quiz team in my home church that entered our state denomination's quiz competitions, and we lost the final championship game on the last question. I failed to give the correct answer on the final question, and the other team won. I felt like a failure, defeated, and depressed.

But failure isn't final. We were being quizzed on the Book of Mark. and I had learned Mark from front to back. It was my first earnest study of God's Word. We lost the quiz championship, but I won in a far bigger sense. It was the beginning of a much deeper and fuller study of God's Word that has been life-long habit.

I love this quote: "Victory isn't final. failure isn't fatal. What counts is the courage to continue on." I don't know where I heard this quote or the source, but it has real truth.

Bill Walsh, the late great college and NFL football coach, wrote in his book The Score Takes Care of Itself, "I would never write anything that suggests the path to success is a continuum of positive, even euphoric experiences--that if you do the right things everything will work out. Frequently it doesn't; often you crash and burn. This is part and parcel of pursuing and achieving very ambitious goals.........Almost always, your road to victory goes through a place called 'failure'."

Bill Walsh probably would not be allowed to struggle threw failure in the NFL today as his first two seasons were terrible seasons. His teams only won a hand full of games those first two years. Yet, he failed his way into leading his team into one of the great football dynasties which led to 5 Super Bowl wins.

Many greats from the Bible miserably failed and rose up from failure to achieve greatness for God.

Moses failed and fled only to finally lead the children of Israel from Egypt.

Joseph failed and angered his brothers but yet was used to blessed them and provide for them.

David failed and sinned and found grace.

Simeon Peter failed and cursed our Lord but became empowered to help build the Church.

All of our roads go through the valley of failure sooner or later. That is where God takes our brokenness and turns our sorrow into joy. He is a big God and works for those who have courage to continue on and to trust Him.

WHAT ARE YOU READING?

I love to read.

My reading appetite is varied and begins with the Bible, devotional books, ministry resources, marital information, sports, motorcycle riding, and other topics found in books, magazines, blogs, Internet resources, using my personal library and city library and various others sources. I love to read the newspaper though I have left it off my reading list for a number of months. Now I look more to Internet to occasionally read the local paper and various other news sources.

Reading is more than a hobby to me. It is a source of insight, knowledge, growth, and blessing. It opens the world to me both in a spiritual sense and in a practical everyday manner. It is a quick way to glean from the knowledge of others and most of all from God and His Word.

What am I reading beyond the Bible and sermon resource books?

My current reading list includes:

You Were Born for This by Bruce Wilkinson

Devotions for Couples by Patrick Morley

Branding Yourself by Sherry Beck Paprocki and Ray Paprocki

The Score Takes Care of Itself by Bill Walsh

Organizing Your Day by Sandra Felton and Marsha Sims

Motorcycling Excellence by The Motorcycle Safety Foundation

Proficient Motorcycling by David L. Hough

I loved to read National Geographic and Reader's Digest and sports magazines and Southern Living and Traditional Home and motorcycle magazines. Whew, that is a lot of reading with lots of enjoyment.

I enjoy stopping by the local library once a week or so to browse for a while and read magazines and check out the new book shelf. It saves lots of money to use the library and not spend so much on purchasing books that once read will sit on the shelf.

There are many favorite books that I enjoy and I love biographies of great historical figures. Fiction is not at the top of my list but there are some great stories that inspire and add to life. Oh, I also enjoy good joke books. I have a large stack of them with thousands of jokes and humorous stories to find a great laugh. Reading is a wonderful way to open the world right into your family room and broaden one's view.

Now, which book shall I go read now?

DOES GOD WATCH FOOTBALL?

Is it possible that the Creator of the Universe watches football?

He is a really big God and watches over all of us. His ways and understanding are so far beyond our puny minds to comprehend, and I know that. However, after watching Saturday's football game between Alabama and Tennessee, I just have to believe that He might have attended that game.

He had to be sitting on the Alabama side and helped that huge 6' 5" 365 lb. Alabama defensive lineman Mount Corey block two, yes I said two, field goals to win the game for Alabama. I don't ever remember watching a team block two field goals in one game, but it happened Saturday.

Probably "The Bear" suggested that God send an angel to give that big lineman an extra push. I am sure that is what happened. You know, God does use angels to work miracles.

Lest you think God plays favorites, maybe He will help the Vols next game, but I'm glad He was sitting on the Alabama sidelines this past Saturday.

Oh, maybe He'll attend an FSU game soon to help Brother Bobby over in Tallahassee. He seems to need a little help this year.

STAY AWAKE WHILE DRIVING

I have witnessed numerous car accidents through my many years of driving. For twelve years of my ministry I was in mobile ministries requiring driving all over the South. Once on I-75, I watched a car pass me going over 80 mph and then begin rolling over and over. Twice I saw the undercarriage of the vehicle as the car rolled in front of me.

I thought passengers would come flying out of the car as one of them literally had his legs hanging out the back window. Amazingly, I passed it to its left and watched it roll the third time. No one flew out of the car. It was wild.

Wednesday as we traveled, a car some 50 yards or so in front me flew off the interstate and crashed into a tree right in front of me. The driver had fallen asleep. As I screeched to a halt and ran to car, it was smoking and looked like it would explode into flames. It didn't, but a mother came screaming out of the vehicle saying her baby was in the back seat. We got it out and she had bumps and cuts and they were all in shock.

I prayed over the infant and calmed the mother. It was a scary few moments but thankfully turned out OK. It just shows that accidents can happen in a moment. They were tired and had struggled to stay awake. It almost cost their lives.

I pray often when driving and give thanks to God for a safe return home. Prayer helps on Goldwings too.

FIVE COUSINS

Family is the best history and family reunions are one great way to keep up to date. All of us, and I mean all, come from the same family tree. There is one initial tree from Adam and Eve, and we all go back to “The Garden”.

But the family has many branches and our family branch on the Dykes' side got together on Tuesday for a family update. It has been three years since I was at the last one and lots of changes have occurred.

It is fun to get the updates on who is where and what everyone is doing. My generation is producing more and more grandkids who are now finding their places as teachers, doctors, business people, and thankfully great Christians of faith. That last part is what matters the most.

I love the picture of five little boy cousins born the same year 60 years ago. Three are preachers. One is a businessman and one is a teacher. Can you tell which one is me? Look close. I am the last one on the far right.

We took the current picture of the five cousins at our reunion with Ky Adams in Newfoundland live on Skype in the picture above the four cousins present. We have all grown up and changed. We were four years old when this picture was taken. Now we’re all sixty. Wow! Where did the time go?

Max and Darlene along with Mom and Dad were present from our immediate family. I enjoyed introducing Wanda to many who had not met her. It was a great time getting updates on family history. What fun!

Only wish more could have come. Some have gone on to heaven and are waiting for us to cross to the other side. Life in this world passes quickly. Make every day count.

FRIED TWINKIES AND CLASSIC CARS

Did you ever have a fried twinkie?

Wanda and I rode our Goldwing to the Callahan County Fair on Saturday morning. You know. County fairs include rides, animals, crafts, cotton candy, candy apples, and this fair had fried twinkies. Now add that to a Philly beef and cheese and you have some mighty caloric eating. Can someone check my cholesterol?

It was fun and we got to enjoy all the sights, sounds, and smells of a county fair. You know, all the pigs, goats, rabbits, chickens, and cows and bulls that fairs offer. I haven't had eaten a twinkie in a long time, but I just couldn't resist a fried one.

After touring the fair, we headed over to Fernandina Beach and enjoyed a classic car show. The

area was blocked off where classic cars lined the streets. Fernandina is a quaint little town with antique shops. It is a ladies kind of place and they added classic cars for the guys. They had some beauties and some very proud owners.

Wanda and I are having a super time exploring Northeast Florida on our Goldwing. What fun!