JUST FIVE YEARS OLD

Five years old is big, especially if you've just turned five years old. Actually it is big for parents and grandparents as well as step-grandparents. Wanda's granddaughter Paige celebrated her fifth birthday this weekend as her parents gave her a wonderful party. Wanda and I drove down and met other family members to join in the fun.

Kids love opening presents and their friends love to help and play in the paper. Of course grandparents enjoy watching the excitement and fun.

Julie and Alex and Nic came over from Tampa and got in on the fun as the grandkids enjoyed playing with the pumpkins they found in the pumpkin hunt. Not they didn't hunt eggs, just pumpkins. That was a different treat.

I can still remember when I was five -- though just barely. I have memories of being in church in a tent when my Mom and Dad were starting a church in North Alabama. We met in a tent

a couple of winters. Brrrr....it was cold. I remember Mom accidently starting a brush fire out in the country where we lived when they started that church. It almost caught the house on fire. Oh, and I remember when the tent almost caught on fire from smug pots that were used to heat the tent during winter. I remember most of all finding Christ as my Savior not long after I had turned five.

Five is a special time just before 1st grade. Life changes then. Happy Birthday Paige. You are a beautiful little princess.

FREEDOM EMANATES FROM TRUTH

Freedom is what makes America great.

Ultimately, all freedom come from God. How sad that some misconstrue the truth of God's Word as a binding force. Without truth there can be no real freedom. Without God and His Word, there is no real truth. Isn't it sad but yet interesting that the most depressed and impoverished nations of the world are nations that do not honor God? God and the freedom that flows from His righteousness and truth are a blessing.

Truth sets people free. Now, we are living in an age where truth is being exchanged for a lie. Lies always lead to bondage, corruption, and death.

Want some examples?

What about David Letterman? He laughed about moral people until he was found to have been living immoral and had to apologize to his wife, family, other employees, as well as his audience. The lies he had winked at and mocked have now shamed him.

What about the numerous national government leaders who have resigned in shame due to immoral actions. The world laughs and mocks morality until the ugly truth is found out that a lack of virtue is a shame and a reproach and leads to bondage.

When I was a teenager working my way through college, I worked a construction job one summer. I was a christian and let my light shine. I wasn't afraid to share God's love and stand up for my convictions.

Every Friday the boss would joke and kid me about going to party with the gang. "Let's go get some beer and women and let's have some fun," he would poke at me. Of course, I wouldn't go and they would rag me even more.

Until one Friday I told I would go with them. They just about fell off the roof where we were working in amazement. "You're going to party with us," the boss asked?

"Yes," I responded, "But with one condition. I get to party and have your teenage daughter for the night."

Well, that ended the kidding and poking fun at me. They never brought that subject up to me again. The boss didn't want his daughter hurt, or taken advantage of, or to become pregnant. The truth of immoral consequences hit him right between the eyes.

The lies are in our Nation are many and cover sexual, economic, and governmental immoralities. Of course the ultimate source of all these lies is Satan, the father of lies.

I am praying that God will show mercy to our Nation and that the truth of God's Word and His righteousness will shine bright again. I am praying that the foolishness of sinful choices will hit Congressional leaders right between the eyes and the that truth of immoral consequences will be exposed for the lie and shame they are. I am praying that righteousness and truth will cover our Nation again.

So sadly our President has declared that America is not a Christian Nation. How shameful that such a stance would be taken. Can't our leaders see that God has blessed America as we have stood upon judeo christian ethics and principles.? Can't they see that blessings come from following and applying truth in our lives? Can't they see that shame is the result of veering from truth found in God's Word?

Oh God, please have mercy on America . Reveal truth in the high and low places. Let truth reign again so America can be free.

101 THINGS TO DO

I am reading a book entitled 101 Things You Should Do Before Going to Heaven. This book caught my attention while browsing in the library's new book section. Heaven is my goal and sooner or later I plan on walking on streets of gold. Until then, there are still some things I want to do.

I am saved and in the process of being sanctified and the top three things I want to do are to glorify God with my life, bless my family, and finish my life strong.

But scanning this book pushed my to see if my "to do" list before going to heaven should be expanded. As I ran down the list, many of the things the book suggests I have done, but there are some that I would like to do that the book suggests that haven't been checked off.

The first thing on their list is "to risk looking stupid." Well, I know. You think I have already covered that one. The last thing on their list is to do "what's last on your list." I guess that means that after you have checked everything on the list but one, then you do it.

Here are a few other of their suggestions in the order they listed:

5. Clean Someone Else's Toilet.

12. Record Your Life Story.

32. Become an Undercover Encourager.

33. Let Go of The Grudge.

53. Explore Your Family Tree.

60. Walk in the Redwoods.

69. Visit a Former Battlefield.

83. Weep with Those Who Weep.

88. Travel Outside of Your Comfort Zone.

90. Greet the Dawn.

95. Shun Planes, Trains, and Automobiles.

96. Find Beauty in Broken Things.

Each point is followed by a brief devotional and encouragement. They all actually make sense once you've read their comments which follow. If you don't like this list, why not make you own list. You are going to heaven aren't you? Get your ticket now. The train is about to load and you may be boarding sooner than you think. So hurry up and get with the list. Time is wasting.

A BETTER MARRIAGE

Generally speaking, what you work on in life is what works. Diligence is a good word and makes all things better. That carries over in marriage too.

This weekend we had a marriage video seminar with Mark Gungor and enjoyed his teaching on Laughing Your Way to a Better Marriage. Mark has fabulous and enlightening teaching on how men and woman differ especially in their thinking processes. He is a hoot!

He also does a fabulous job sharing the Biblical view of sexual relations in marriage. The world offers the most foolish approach to sex, but the Bible is the highest truth on any subject including marriage relations.

Check Mark Gungor out. Google his name. You won't be disappointed.

FOUR GREAT QUOTES

I enjoy great quotes.

I have numerous books with nothing but quotes and find myself reading quotes that are highlighted in magazines. What is your favorite quote? Which quote has impacted your life the most?

My favorite quotes actually come from my father, Oscar Dykes. He says some funny but pointed stuff. This is what he often told me as I grew up.

"Keep you nose clean, even if it takes both shirtsleeves."

"Every tub has to sit on its own bottom."

"Don't try to figure her out, just love her."

"Every dog has its day."

Now, I am sure that those quotes cover much of what is important in life. They have helped me stay on the right course, and get back on course when I missed a turn.

LAURA BUSH IS GREAT!

Monday I attended an all day motivational at the Jacksonville Municipal auditorium with speakers former First Lady Laura Bush, former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Zig Zigler, Terry Bradshaw, Gen. Colin Powell, and others. It was an inspiring day and I left motivated and encouraged.

To me, Laura Bush was the most moving speaker of the day. She was gracious, poised, transparent, and inspiring. It is amazing the incredible things her family has accomplished and how they have stood with such integrity in spite of harsh criticism and even personal attacks. I could not have been prouder of her as a former First Lady at the manner she presented herself. She was such a "first class act."

What did I learn at the seminar?

I learned that the past is the past. Go forward in life.

I learned that smiling is better than frowning.

I learned that working smarter is better than just working hard.

I learned that "not so smart" people can succeed.

I learned that diligence is important.

I learned that gifts can be developed.

I learned that being prepared helps you for things that you might not anticipate.

I learned that family counts most, after God.

I learned that no one makes it alone.

I learned that a winning belief system is the assurance of things not seen. (The Bible calls that faith.)

I learned that some people are internally motivated and some are externally motivated. (I haven't learned just which category I fit.)

I learned that I have a lot to be thankful for.

I learned that famous people face the same issues that the rest of us face.

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.