The Beverly Hillbillies and Us

 

Come and listen to a story about a man named Jed
A poor mountaineer, barely kept his family fed,
Then one day he was shootin at some food,
And up through the ground came a bubblin crude.
Oil that is, black gold, Texas tea.

Well the first thing you know ol Jed's a millionaire,
Kinfolk said "Jed move away from there"
Said "Californy is the place you ought to be"
So they loaded up the truck and moved to Beverly.
Hills, that is. Swimmin pools, movie stars.

Some of you reading this will recognize the words above.   If you grew up in the 1960’s as I did or if you are a fan of old television shows, you will probably recognize that these words came from the theme song of “The Beverly Hillbillies” television show.   A man who lived far back in the hills one day had the fortune (or misfortune) to have oil discovered on his property making Jed Clampett and his family rich.  

Suddenly, Jed Clampett and family headed to live in a mansion in Beverly Hills, California.   Most of the comedy in the show came from the fact that though the general public and the bank knew that the Clampett family were rich, they did not act  like it.   For example, they felt they had to make their own soap and had to hunt for their dinner instead of going to buy  it at their local grocery store.   Their mindset came telling them they were poor when they had riches that were the envy of many. 

I believe the story of the Beverly Hillbillies is a spiritual metaphor for so many of us.   Though the Bible tells us in Phillipians 4,  “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus our Lord”,  we (like Jed Clampett and family) have a poor, “woe is me” mindset.  So much of the time, we listen more clearly and attentively to what the world tells us instead of the truth of the gospel.   We know the “treasure” of the abundant life in Christ but let the cares of this world make us blind to that truth.  

Friends, you are sons and daughters of  the mighty, omnipotent God who offers you more than you can ask and imagine.    Live in the joy and riches of His grace.   Have a joy-filled week.-   Pastor Randy Wall

PRAYER --   God, thank you for the riches that are found in your abundant grace that is more than we ask or imagine.   Forgive me for the times I fail to live like it.  Help me to abide more fully in you; through Christ our Lord.  Amen. 

Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Bojangles

 

There is a chain restaurant  in our area named Bojangles.   It is well known for  two things: their chicken and biscuits.   My wife Ann and I have been known to frequent that place every now and then or to wait  in line at their drive-thru window.    There was someone else at a local Bojangles location a few months ago:  Dale Earnhardt Jr.   If you are NASCAR fan or a racing fan, you probably know of Dale Jr.  He was recently elected as a member of the NASCAR Hall of Fame having retired from racing a few years ago.  From news reports, Dale Earnhardt Jr. was not in the restaurant eating a biscuit or in the drive through ordering a meal.  No, he was working in the restaurant.  He is a spokesman for  Bojangles, and I suppose it was a way to bring publicity to Bojangles.  While there is nothing wrong with working at Bojangles.  I am grateful for those  people that do especially on those days when I am one of their customers.  However, I never thought that he would be working at a local Bojangles location.  

The Book of Jonah is a short book in the Old Testament.    Why, it is only 4 chapters long.   Even those who are not believers and read the Bible regularly know about Jonah in the belly of the fish (or whale).    While I will not take time to discuss every aspect of this book of the Bible, one of the things that Jonah tells us about is that while Jonah is in the belly of the fish, he prays to God.  God hears his prayer and Jonah winds up being spit up  by the fish on the shore.   None of us would expect Jonah to be in the belly of a fish or for God to show up there hearing the prayer of Jonah anymore than most racing fans  would expect Dale Earnhardt Jr. to show up to work at local Bojangles Restaurant.

We serve a God who always shows up in the most unlikely times and places:

God shows up for Elijah not in the thunder but in a still small voice

God shows up for Moses in a bush in the desert that is burning but is not consumed

God shows up for Paul in a bright light on the road to Damascus

I  would not expect Dale Earnhardt Jr. to show up working in my local Bojangles Restaurant but he did.  Thanks be to our God who shows in the most unlikely of times and places.   Have a joy-filled week.-   Pastor Randy Wall

PRAYER    Almighty God,   we give you thanks that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.   Thank you, Lord, for always showing up.   Give me a vigilant hear to see you;  through Christ our Lord.   Amen. 

Changes Come and Go

 

Have you noticed?   The days are getting shorter.  Though there are still many warm days, there the temperatures are not as  hot as they were in July.   Fall is officially here and it is starting to look like.  The times are changing.   One of the gifts of living in my part of the world is that we indeed experience all 4 seasons.   I cannot imagine what it would be like to live in a place where you never saw snow on the ground or ice glistening on the tree limbs… or saw the tree leaves change from green to hues of orange, red, or yellow.  

Changes is hard for all of us.   Many struggle when a software they use in their job has an upgrade.   Students struggle when they adjust to a new school or a new teacher.    What car driver has not found themselves confused when they encountered a detour on a familiar road or a new traffic pattern.

While change is sometimes hard, it also can be good.   When an infant cries, sometimes perhaps they cry because they need a change of a diaper.   Change sometimes is not just good, but change sometimes is of God.   Here are a few examples:

·         No one but God could have changed a man named Saul from a persecutor of Christians to a great missionary

·         No one but God could have changed Peter from a rocky commitment to Christ Jesus into the one who preached a sermon on Pentecost that led to  3000 souls giving their life to Christ

·         No one but God could have changed David from being a shepherd boy to be a great King and Psalm writer

·         No one but God could have changed Joseph from being a little brother shunned by his elder brothers to being the prime minister of Egypt

·         Last but not least, no one but God could have changed a dead, crucified Jesus from one whose life was over into the risen living Lord

The times are changing.   Thanks be to God for the miraculous changes He works in all of us.  Have a joy-filled week.-  Pastor Randy Wall

PRAYER    Almighty God,  we give thanks that though the seasons change and the world changes that your love changes not.   We give thanks for the changes you have wrought in our lives; through Christ our Lord.  Amen.