Is Regifting Even an Option After 21 Years?

Regifting

            Late on Christmas night, I dug deep back into one of the lower level kitchen cabinets searching for a vintage Tupperware turkey storage container. During my search for this seldom used rust colored plastic container, I discovered mini-bread pans and two bread tubes that I hadn’t laid eyes on in years.

            The next morning, I was a little wider awake. After breakfast, I began investigating the rediscovered bread baking utensils. I remembered baking in the mini bread loaf pans in the days I was teaching, but not the bread tubes.

I opened the flower- shaped bread tube and pulled out a small leaflet with interesting recipes. I handed to Mother the sheet with various recipes. Then, I turned my attention to the second box that held another canape bread tube in the shape of a heart. Mother’s handwriting had written on it: from Bernadean  12-19-98.

I opened one end of the box to see if it had the same canape bread recipes. To my amazement, the shiny Pampered Chef Valtrompia Bread Tube (in the shape of a heart) remained encased in its original plastic covering. Mother had never opened it!

            I exclaimed, “Mother, you have never used this tube. You haven’t even opened it!”

Without a moment’s hesitation, she asked, “Do you want to regift it?”

            I responded with a slightly elevated voice, “Mother, I can’t regift it. I gave it to you. You would have to regift it.”

She glanced at me sideways and immediately said with conviction, “Well, I wouldn’t want to hurt your feelings.”

We stood in the kitchen and laughed uproariously. Several times during the day that one-two minute exchange brought smiles to our faces and laughter into the room.

Upon reflecting about this day-after-Christmas conversation about a gift given 21 years earlier, thankfully, Mother and I were able to turn what could have been a sticky situation into rib-splitting laughter. 
Over the last seven years of returning to live at the farm, I have learned Mother prefers sophistication and elegance in her attire when leaving the farm for church or any other place. On the other hand, tastiness is the main goal in her cooking which, even at age 95, continues to be par excellence. Those canape bread tubes are far too frou-frou for her. I now question why I ever gave her something so impractical for her kitchen. (However, one of my resolutions for the upcoming year is to use the Pampered Chef Valtrompia Bread Tubes to bake at least one loaf of canape bread in the flower shape and another in the heart shape.)

Another thing I have learned upon returning to the farm is to not take situations too seriously. Mother laughs about everything. For over 50 years, she has quoted this verse to me. Maybe I am beginning to learn to live by it.

A merry heart does good like a medicine.

Proverbs 17:22

A Christmas Remembrance of Masham Youth

                Almost on a weekly basis, my mother, Bernyce Smith Gates, mentions, with admiration, some remembrance of the young people at the Masham Baptist Church in the late 1950s-early 1960s. She always characterizes them as “good” young people. Teaching these “good” teenagers, over 60 years ago, continues yielding an ongoing reward to her.

                In the latter 1950s, Pastor Ray Hart led some committed Christians to begin the Masham Baptist Church. He had pastored previously the Big Bend Baptist Church in the Big Bend community.

                Brother Hart implored my maternal grandparents, Calvin and Gladys Rainey Smith, and my parents, Edmund, Jr. and Bernyce Smith Gates, to come across the river and join the believers seeking to form a congregation in the Masham area in Pawnee County. He quoted from the passage of Paul’s vision in Acts 16:9 -10, using the words, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”

                In verse 10, Luke wrote “immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.” After prayerful consideration, the four of them joined forces with the little flock in the rural community of Masham across the Arkansas River in Pawnee County.

                Almost immediately after joining the newly formed church, Mother and Dad began working with the youth of the church. Dad taught the Sunday School class for the teen boys with Mother serving as the teen girls’ Sunday School teacher. At that time Dad was 35 years old with Mother at 30 years of age.

                Recently, Mother located a remembrance of their Masham young people 61 Christmases ago. She found the names of 20 teenagers who purchased a beautiful, blue wool blanket as a gift at Christmas in 1958. Mother had written these names: Elaine Wills, Charles Wills, Gordon Laird, Vonnie Laird, Janice Wolfe, Lance Ben Mitchell, Larry Mitchell, Nancy LeForce, Sue Schultz, Paul Warnock, Tony Warnock, Wayne Robbins, Roy Lee Robbins, Kenneth Woolery, Mary Jo Thurber, Reynolds Thurber, Johnny Thurber, Delbert Zolduske, Beverly Bright, and Linda Bright. The thoughtfulness of these young people continues warming Mother’s heart. 

Mother identified so many faces but here are the names that she could recall:
Beverly Bright, Dorothy Wills, Loretta Wills, Vonnie Laird, Nancy  LeForce, Gary
Moon, Sue Schultz, Janice Wolfe, Wayne Robbins, Lance Ben Mitchell, Roy Lee
Robbins, Paul Warnock, Bro. Jim Warnock, Gordon Laird, Mary Jo Thurber.
Dad is on the front right. This was taken in 1957. Mother is assured some of
these "young people" can identify every person in the photo.

                Mother preserved some snapshots taken during youth parties a year earlier in 1957.  Three of the photos have parents photographed during the parties. Most of the parties were hosted by parents inviting them into their homes. Usually the hosting family provided the refreshments.

Sue Schultz and Delbert Zolduske with Bea
Mitchell, a parent sponsor, smiling in the doorway

The young people anticipated playing silly, but fun games. One was a rhythm game which incorporated claps, pats, snaps and involved players calling numbers. The game demanded attentiveness and coordination. Another favorite activity called Airplane tricked the blindfolded player to think they were “flying.” Mother recalled these high school students had much fun and the photos confirm it.

In warm weather, they played outdoor games. Mother commented she could outrun all of them when playing “Flying Dutchman” with them. She can only dream about those days now as a nonagenarian!

                This era shines brightly in Mother’s memory because of committed parents who had taught their children to respect and obey them. These same parents willingly involved themselves in their high schoolers’ activities. They set and taught standards they expected their young people to uphold. As a result, she and Dad worked with teenagers open to the commands of God’s Word and easy to chaperone at parties.

Ernest Robbins, a parent host, and Reynolds
Thurber enjoying the eats.

Mother recalls Larry Mitchell, Janice Wolfe,
Nancy LeForce getting a laugh as she gets taken
in one of the games. The girl standing on the
right is unidentified.

                Mother, at age 95, hopes “these young people” (all of whom are in their 70s and 80s!) continue to hold to the Biblical truths they learned at the Masham Baptist Church. The never-changing principles will steer all of us through the tumult of the 21^st century. The Christ we celebrate at Christmas is to be honored by our words and our obedience all year round. Each of us can impart to the youth of today the relevance of the same truths learned by these “good kids” over six decades ago.    

Sue Schultz and Charles Wills participating  in
a fun game.

           

  Mother wishes a blessed Christmas to the Masham Young People of yesteryear and success as they impact their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren in the principles of the Lord in 2020.

Other Links of Interest:
https://bernadeanjgates.blogspot.com/2015/04/easter-sunday-and-60-cent-trio-book.html

https://bernadeanjgates.blogspot.com/2018/07/not-putdown-but-badge-of-honor.html

Larry Mitchell, Roy Lee Robbins, and Wayne
Robbins (back to camera) take Beverly Bright on
the airplane ride.

Vonnie Laird, Roy Lee Robbins, Sue Schultz, and
others enjoy a good time

Gordon Laird, Roy Lee Robbins, and Paul
Warnock enjoy a "pop" - a rare treat

Memories Around a Timeless Children's Christmas Carol

                As Christmas approached, I pulled some music from the Christmas section of the many shelves of music above the little spinet piano where I often practice. In my hand was a vintage Little Golden book. 

                My earliest Christmas memories included that Little Golden Book since I have always loved music, including Christmas carols. At age three and four singing was never enough but my musical enjoyment often included dancing and playing my tiny piano.  

            I flipped the Little Golden Book open with surprise to see printed neatly “Angela Gates.” Never as meticulous as my sister, she had felt the need to take ownership of the book. I taught her the formation of letters when she was just three. Being more haphazard than Angie, I was quite a bit older before I began putting my name on books or music I owned. As we grew up, we shared printed music such as our piano lesson books and all other music in our household.

                The pages most imprinted on my little mind from the little Christmas carol book featured young angels in colored robes with wings tinted in pastel hues. Having been taught the story of Jesus’s birth from my youngest days, I knew angels didn’t dressed like this, but was drawn to the colorfulness. The second verse of “Away in the Manger” appeared on those two pages. How I loved that song with its expressive motions illustrating the message of the perennially-loved children’s Christmas carol! These words lodged in my mind, encapsulating the fathomless love of Jesus, His presence at the right hand of His Father in heaven, and yet present with me each night as a sleeping little one:

I love Thee, Lord Jesus! Look down from the sky,

And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh.

                 How thankful I am for parents and grandparents who took the opportunity of Christmas to introduce us to the coming of the Savior. As all children, the glowing lights, sparkling ornaments, vibrant colors, delicious baking smells and beautiful music heightened our excitement. The adults in our lives purposefully steered us in learning of the incomprehensible descent of the perfect Son of God into our world to redeem imperfect, undeserving humans. With tender hearts, we embraced the beauty and truth of the Baby Jesus coming solely to love the unlovable. My parents and grandparents believed the words of Jesus when He said, “Let the children come to me.”

                One of the foremost English pastors of the late 19^th century preached a sermon entitled “Come Ye, Children” in 1897. Charles Haddon Spurgeon, the prince of preachers, spoke forthrightly to his parishioners with these words -

Anything we do to hinder a dear child from coming to Jesus greatly displeases our dear Lord. He cries to us, “Stand off.  Let them alone. Let them come to Me, and forbid them not.”

                This Christmas let’s commit to remind ourselves and those we meet, especially the little ones, of the precious Messiah whom we celebrate this season. Look for creative sights, smells, tastes, and sounds, especially music, for deepening our relationship daily with the Christ of the Christmas season. That's the real way to celebrate!

Remembering Lewis Rainey on His 125th Birthday

This week will mark the 125^th birthday of Lewis Elbert Rainey. According to the records of my grandma, Gladys Rainey Smith, her older brother, Lewis, was born on December 10, 1894, in Terral, Indian Territory, just north of the Red River.

Four months before Lewis’s 6^th birthday, his family expanded with the birth of my grandma. At times, they appeared to have an adversarial relationship. Both exhibited strong wills, wickedly active minds, never-say-die work ethic and unyieldingly ensconced opinions. When they were kids, Lewis accused Grandma of ruining his nose when she hit him with a hammer. She related of similar incidents aimed her direction from her big brother.

The work ethic of Uncle Lewis and his wife, Aunt Pearl Bierman Rainey, knew no bounds. I recall as a preschooler how they spent several days helping us relocate to our new home in 1961. Mother recalled vividly Aunt Pearl carrying quart after quart of canned vegetables and fruit into the refurbished cellar at the newly built home.

Recently, Rick Rice brought a box of keepsakes he had received after our great aunt’s death. Aunt Emma Buckley had saved an article about Uncle Lewis and his older son, Leo. The article entitled Fertilizer and Good Farming Restore Land to Production written by Ramon Martin appeared in an issue of The Farmer Stockman in 1950. Since Aunt Emma, Grandma’s younger sister, resided and worked in Washington, D.C. at that time, I think Grandma may have mailed it to her.

Photo from the Article

The article indicated Uncle Lewis purchased a 160-acre “farmed-out” parcel of ground in 1932 in the middle of the Great Depression and the worst drought Oklahoma ever experienced. No one had much hope for productivity for him with this “worn-out” land. Within 22 years, he and his older son, Leo, had increased the land farmed to 1,134 acres. By 1950, they owned 320 acres and leased 814 acres.

Osage County agent, A. A. Sewell characterized Rainey’s operation as “a perfect example” of building “worn-out land…into highly productive land.” He included Uncle Lewis’s farm on every farm tour he led.

His remedy for reclaiming the land featured terrace building, planting Bermuda, and growing cowpeas and later planting sweet clover. Of course, his early years of reclamation predated mechanized farming in the Bend so he utilized teams of horses. He also applied tons of lime and rock phosphate as well as fertilizer.

I worked on this blog posting in conjunction with reading the book, Dirt into Soil by Gabe Brown, a North Dakota farmer who is a proponent of regenerative agriculture. As I read this quote from Uncle Lewis, I realized his strategies for successful farming mirror to some degree Brown’s 21^st century approach.

Cowpeas are the best soil builder for field lands. Bermuda is best for stopping erosion. I wouldn’t farm without both of these crops, Bermuda and cowpeas. I figure cowpeas are the cheapest fertilizer any farmer can plant.  – Lewis Rainey

In his later years, this self-made successful man was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. As his condition worsened, he and Aunt Pearl moved from the Bend to Pawnee. The summer prior to his death, my grandparents went almost daily to visit. Grandma and Grandpa even picked the abundant crop of peaches from the tree in their yard. Grandma helped Aunt Pearl process and freeze those delicious peaches while Grandpa visited with Uncle Lewis.

Grandma loved her brother dearly and admired what a success he had become. Yet she knew in his early adult years, he told her of "breaking up" a fight between two preachers. That incident turned him from valuing spiritual truths and most things associated with the church. That pained Grandma since she had embraced wholeheartedly her relationship with Jesus. She prayed faithfully for him.
 Almost coinciding with Uncle Lewis's last summer, Grandma found a modern translation of the New Testament. He accepted the copy of Good News for Modern Man when she gave it to him. Her decades of prayers were answered when one of the most respected farmers in the Bend and more important to her, her beloved older brother said, after a few days of reading, “Now I finally understand the Bible.”

Afterthoughts - Uncle Lewis’s grandson-in-law, Lester Anson, still lives in the Bend. Mark Anson, Uncle Lewis’s older great grandson continues the farming endeavor begun by his great grandfather. Numerous times, I told Ethan, Kelsey, Bailey, and Logan, the children of Dawn and Mark Anson, how much Uncle Lewis and Aunt Pearl would love them and revel in their accomplishments.

Bailey and Kelsey in 2010

Logan in 2010 

Ethan Anson, age 17 after winning 2010 Football State
Championship in Class A (I think this was left on Mother's
refrigerator so long it may have gotten water damage - but I
liked the photo and the memory.)

A Deteriorating Stable and a Couple of Polaroid Photos

…You shall love your neighbor as yourself…

Over and over this phrase appears in God’s Word. The phrase appears in these eight verses (Leviticus 19:18, Matthew 19:19, Matthew 22:39, Mark 12:31, Luke 10:27, Romans 13:9, Galatians 5:14, James 2:8). Clearly, Jesus taught the value of the people who are around us.

The Dilapidated Stable

Over the last few years, I have stumbled upon items Dad made. Without use and maintenance, things fall into disrepair. One example is the stable Dad crafted for our church’s simplistic, but meaningful depictions of the nativity. Numerous little Marys and Josephs have stood, sat or knelt in the shadows of the quaint, little stable. Yet as is evidenced by the photograph, it can no longer be used and is ready to be discarded.

            Jesus warned about earthly stuff being susceptible to “moth” and “rust” destruction. This happened to the little stable constructed by Dad. Then I located a couple of pictures.

Front: Shawna Crowley, Darren
Crowley, and Leona Tanner
Back: Charlie Knifechief and Frank
Burch

Front: Dale Bledsoe  and Lee Bryant
Bledsoe  Back: Kendall Richardson

The photographs were taken following one of the children’s performance in the church Christmas program during the 1970s. They have grown into responsible adults -educators, a school superintendent, Bible teacher and numerous other honorable careers. (Lee Bryant Bledsoe III, a Desert Storm veteran, still lives in the Bend.)
Some of these young people conveyed at Dad’s death what an impact he had on their lives from teaching some carpentry skills to sharing small snippets of wisdom for living life to always having a cheerful, personal greeting for them. Countless times I heard Dad say, “I like to teach a young man.” Nothing meant more to Dad than encouraging a young person.

            Earlier I mentioned about the warning of Jesus from the chapters denoted the Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 6:19-20, we hear our Savior's command,

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal;

But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither mother nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.

Jesus said not to focus and put our primary attention on the earthly stuff like the wooden stable. Instead the all-important vision of reaching out to people must grab our interest and time.

                At the outset of this post, I listed eight passages that commanded the love of “your neighbor” – anyone who crosses your path. People – our family, our neighbors, our coworkers, and anyone who comes into our periphery– become our emphasis if we obey Him. As we enter the Christmas season, let’s remember to emphasize people as we encourage, teach and share the love of Jesus with them. What better gift could be given to the Savior whose birth we celebrate!

Lord, as we launch into this season celebrating Your miraculous entrance into our world, help us to treasure what You treasure. You treasure individual people. You chose to come into this world to bring salvation to those who would receive You. Never let our concern for selecting or purchasing gifts blind our loving care for the person receiving the gift. Give us hearts for valuing people as You do. Only then will we have made room in our hearts for You this Christmas season.

Bedlam Bend Connections

          Most people in the Bend are probably siding with either the Sooners or the Cowboys as Bedlam rolls around.  But there is a little one with Bend ties who knows a Bedlam coach. As Dad would say, “If that little man walked in the room, Mike Gundy would recognize him.”

          Here’s how the grandson of our neighbors, Greg and Vonda Goad, developed a friendship with Mike Gundy. Harrison, their grandson, attended most of the Stillwater High School’s home football games. His uncle, Tucker Barnard, coaches the varsity football team of Stillwater High School. Gunnar Gundy leads the charge for Coach Barnard’s Stillwater Pioneers. Gunnar Gundy is the one of the sons of Mike Gundy, the head coach of the Oklahoma State Cowboys.

Coach Gundy and Harrison

Recently, Greg let Harrison
open the gate when checking
cattle. Harrison waited until
his grandpa drove through
and promptly shut the gate.
As he climbed into the pickup,
he turned to Greg and spoke
with utmost sincerity, "Baboo,
Thank you for letting me open
the gate."  
 Oh that we would respond with
such gratitude to the tasks God
gives us to do!
(Baboo or Babu is a term of 
respect from the Hindi 
language.)

          Harrison, his little sister and his parents, Suni and Mark Carter enjoyed preferred seating with his maternal grandma, Denta Carter and his aunt, McKale Carter Barnard. Harrison’s outgoing personality compelled him to greet the man sporting the mullet. As a result of his first meeting, Harrison made a friend. During some home games, Harrison and Mike Gundy spent a little time visiting.

          Harrison’s actions during high school football season stands as an example of what Jesus meant when He said, “Become as children.” Children have a trusting nature. Harrison didn’t have to “size-up” Coach Gundy before deciding to talk with him.

Young children are seldom respecters of persons. Harrison had no idea the resume of Coach Gundy. He just wanted to be friendly. Proverbs 18:24 says “A man who has friends must himself be friendly…”

Jesus included in one of his prayers recorded in the New Testament the need for adults to be like children in order to understand and enter into a relationship with God.

“Father, You are Lord of heaven and earth. I thank You because You have hidden these things from people who are wise and know many things. But You have shown them to people who are like children.” Matthew 11:25

Jesus continued thanking His Father for revealing God’s multi-faceted nature to the world through Christ’s life. He then issued one of the most compelling invitations in scripture.

“Come unto me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

In the next couple of verses, Jesus requested tenderly for those who “come” to Him to “yoke up” with Him in service and in turn, “find rest for your souls.”

A few years ago, another young one with Big Bend connections illustrated the request of Jesus to “yoke up” with Him. The little-four-year-old anticipated with great joy every Big Bend visit to his “Grand Pere” as he referred to Hubert Hutchens, his great-grandfather. He loved laboring alongside his much-loved “Grand Pere.” Charlotte, Hube’s wife, said their little great-grandson, Damien, insisted on shadowing Hubert one entire late summer weekend. The little guy stayed right beside Hube as he fed the animals and even gathered prickly okra from the garden with him. Being in Hubert’s presence and working right next to him was this young one’s only desire.

Imitation of these children is necessary if we truly follow Jesus. As we recall the actions of these precious little ones with Bend ties, may we remember the words of Jesus immediately after He had taken little children in His arms and blessed them.  

“Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” Mark 10:15

Notes

• Tucker Barnard descends from J.I. and Nora Womack who lived in the Bend in the 1930s and 1940s.
• Suni (Goad) Carter descends from Otis and Lucille (Rice) Goad, lifelong Benders.
• Denta Wayman Carter and her children mentioned in this post, McKale (Carter) Barnard and Mark Carter descend from Sidney and Laura Armstrong, who lived in the Bend during the 1930s and 1940s

Thankfulness Prompted by Using a Frost-Free Hydrant

                Have you ever looked at an object only to have a name or a face come into your mind? This happens to me almost every day.

                Each morning, I turn on the hydrant nearest the house for fresh water for our cats. Sometimes I remember the cold winter day a couple of years ago when I flipped up the faucet only to have no water come out. I walked to the old north chicken yard and ran water from the hydrant installed by my cousin, Tim, for Dad several years earlier. After several bitterly cold mornings, I decided I needed to lobby for a new one near the house to replace the old, worn-out one.

                Mother readily agreed we should replace it, so I called Jim Hutchison, our plumber. Soon Jim and his plumbing apprentice, Shawn Brandenburg, arrived and replaced the old hydrant with a new one that worked just fine.

The Hydrant That Causes
Thankfulness

                So many mornings, I have been thankful for how promptly Jim responded to a call from Mother or me. He would turn his schedule on its head to accommodate Mother. Mother had been the Sunday School teacher for his sister, Nelda, when they lived in the Masham community in the late 1950s. Then his mother, Mrs. Wilson, enjoyed Mother’s adult women’s class at the Ralston church.

                For several years, we worshipped with Jim and Diana, his wife, in our congregation at Ralston. Jim exuded a pleasant countenance and a willing spirit. Jim valued prayer and almost every time we spoke, he gave an update on prayer requests for which we were praying.

                Jim never operated in a frenzied pace. He seemed to deescalate a difficult situation, even a ticklish plumbing issue. I recall on a church workday that Jim chose to do a tedious carpet cleaning task that many avoided. 

Jim's Photograph from his
funeral service folio. Mother
comments frequently, "I liked
Jim."

                His death was so shocking to his children, his family, his employees, and our congregation. Diana, his wife, while in the throes of grief, received a call from his oncologist. He told her that Jim would have faced intense, excruciating pain had he lived the few months that were speculated he may have been able to survive. Diana responded, “So you are saying his sudden death was a blessing.” To which the doctor replied, “No, it was the grace of God.”

                As Diana walks this road of grief, she trusts the Lord, finds daily comfort in His word, and continues to serve the Lord in our congregation. She can attest that God gives "grace to trust Him more."
                This month of Thanksgiving will provide us opportunities each day to spy an object that reminds us of a person who blessed our lives. It may be a person still living who has expressed kindness in small or large ways to us. Express your thanks to that person. Don’t shrug off or ignore reminders of those who blessed our lives but are deceased. Let their family members know how their loved one impacted your life. What a comfort that can provide to them on their journey of sorrow!

The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot. Proverbs 10:7

                Finally, let's give God thanks not just during this month, but every day of the year, for those people who have enriched our lives. The act of expressing thanks to the Lord will lift us up as we go through our days.

Jelly Fungus

                A couple of months ago, as I gathered limbs before mowing, I noticed twigs with curious-looking appendages on them. I snapped some photos and then began researching. 

Twig with jelly fungi on it and Black Panther, our
black tom cat, barely got his legs in the photo

               I knew it was a type of fungus. My searching revealed this “jelly” fungus could be found on living and dead trees.
This unusual example of fungi is sought out for its medicinal purposes in other parts of the world. Patients find it beneficial in treating cancer. Others extol it as a blood thinner. Even though Western medicine has not embraced it, other cultures look to the Auricularia auricula-judae for its properties useful in lowering cholesterol.

                The common name of this peculiar fungus is Judas’s ear. This stems from the tradition that Judas Iscariot hanged himself on an elder tree, but his body fell to the ground. Tradition also proports the elder tree sports the only remains of the betrayer, Judas Iscariot – his ear. The elder tree characteristically hosts jelly fungi more than other trees.

Close-up of the Jelly Fungi, that was named
Judas" ear

                Steering away from tradition, let’s look at scripture. Jesus chose Judas Iscariot, along with the other eleven disciples, to experience life with Him, learning daily from the words and observing the actions of the Son of God. We know Judas Iscariot appeared to be the most trusted by the twelve since he served as their treasurer.  John succinctly noted this in John 12:6 with this phrase, “having charge of the moneybag.”

                Each time Judas Iscariot is mentioned an underlying theme of greed rears up in his words and actions. Almost every situation recorded about Judas centers around money. Jesus said in Matthew 6:24, “…You cannot serve God and money.” Money is much like water and fire. It can be used for tremendous good. Yet money controlling a person is as destructive as the uncontrolled water of a raging flood or rampant flames of a wildfire.

Judas Iscariot criticizes Mary of Bethany harshly when she anointed Jesus lavishly with expensive perfume just days before His crucifixion. He suggests piously this indulgent woman should have sold the exorbitantly priced oil and donated the proceeds to the poor. John comments on Judas Iscariot calling him a thief who cared nothing for the poor but in my vernacular “dipped frequently into the till.” Jesus reprimands Judas for his criticism of Mary saying, “Leave her alone…”

                Immediately following Judas Iscariot’s censure of Mary of Bethany, the Gospel writers, Matthew and Mark, record Judas Iscariot’s negotiation with the chief priests for his betrayal of Jesus. These words from Matthew 26:16 put Judas on a doomed trajectory against the Son of God and Savior of the World. The one who would forever have his name linked to the ultimate act of betrayal had chosen as his final mission in life the betrayal of Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. (Some say the amount was equivalent to around a half-year's wage.)

                All four Gospels describe the shadowy, nighttime moment of betrayal in the garden. Only Matthew and Luke, the writer of Acts, mention the remorse of Judas Iscariot resulting in his suicide by hanging. The unforgivable sin of Judas was not his suicide but having a remorseful heart instead of repentant one. Remorse according to Merriam-Webster is a gnawing distress arising from a sense of guilt. But repentance is the action of turning from one’s sin to Jesus. Remorse involves only one’s emotions. Whereas, repentance is an act of one’s will that redirect his life.

                I’m not sure how often you see jelly fungus but maybe a future sighting of it will serve as a reminder of Judas Iscariot, what he loved, and his end. In our own lives, let’s embrace remorse momentarily then immediately repent knowing only it will bring forgiveness and peace.

The Power of Boundaries

Boundaries

            The freeze brought a marathon mowing season to an end. The rains of the spring and summer of 2019 were welcomed but ramped up my mowing schedule considerably.

            Over and over this summer, I have been thankful for Rick Rice locating a used, well-cared-for John Deere lawn mower. This upgrade made my mowing job easier.

            Good boundaries can limit weed eating. Each of my mowing sessions began with a slow, methodical creation of a perimeter boundary. The John Deere clipped a clean, close edge each time. After mowing a well-defined border of the lawn, as Dad would say, I could go a scootin’ as I finished the weekly mowing task. 

The dependable new-to-me
John Deere mower
established  an outer
 boundary.

            As I steered the trusty mower through the final round, I mused on the importance of boundaries in our lives. From toddlers to those advanced in years, parameters are needed for safety and well-being.

            Our speech, relationships, commitment to quality scripture study, and family foundations are just a few areas where boundaries are essential. Here are some passages that give guidelines.

Speech

Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips. Psalm 141:3

Relationships

Make no friendship with an angry man, and with a furious man do not go. Proverbs 22:24

Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.” I Corinthians 15:33

Bible Study

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15

Foundation for Raising a Family

[Spoken by Joshua near the end of his life] “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15

            Other boundaries, such as thankfulness and compassion, act as buffers against Satan. He plots to erode our borders of protection. Jesus said the wicked one comes to "steal, kill, and destroy." In the same verse in John 10:10, after exposing Satan's sinister plan for humans,  Jesus contrasts His mission to give "abundant life."
            On their final missionary journey, Paul and Silas ministered in Berea. Luke, the writer of Acts, extolled the commitment of the Berean Christians to study:

The people here were more open-minded that those in Thessalonica, since they welcomed the message with eagerness and examined the Scriptures daily to see if these things were true. Acts 17:11

If we are like the Bereans, we check what is taught with our gold standard – God’s Word. When it rings true to the scripture, we can embrace what we've learned wholeheartedly. Setting up scriptural principles as our boundaries in all areas of our lives ensure peace and contentment.

Lord, give us a discerning heart endowed with Your wisdom in establishing boundaries for living a life that honors You. When tempted to defy our principles, give us courage and decisiveness to stay within the boundaries wherein we have committed to live. May our days, months, and years continuing in Your boundaries bring glory to Your Name.

Where Was I Looking?

                 I Was Looking at Too Much

                As winter rapidly approaches, I have been thankful for a good hay season. Yet those summer days of hay moving presented a "standard” crisis for me.

                After a fashion, I taught myself how to stack round bales about two years ago. My brother-in-law did give me a few pointers. My number one guide was the single spike on Dad’s old pickup. When I turned my head around and centered that spike in the center of bale, I was almost guaranteed of stacking each bale with the rest in a pretty organized way.

                This summer as I moved hay out of the field, I used the “grid” of the back window of the pickup so graciously loaned by Vonda and Greg Goad for our use. Who knows why I choose to use the “grid” of the pickup’s back window? To compound my dilemma, I was looking through the truck's headache rack, too. The numerous vertical and horizontal aspects of the window grid and the headache rack were so much more complicated than focusing on the single spike of Dad's old winch. In consternation, I questioned why the rows of bales were not as uniformed as other times.

A glimpse of the back window and the headache
rack as I looked back to spike large bales.

                Suddenly, the realization of looking at the wrong “standard” explained the problem. I began focusing exclusively on the two spikes of the hydraulic hay lift as my sole directives while I backed up to load a bale. Then the bale rows began straightening up almost as if by magic. Not only did the rows of bales improve in appearance but the task became easier.

                As I moved the final bales out of the meadow, I reflected on life. Living life demands standards. Every person has a code that guides decisions, relationships, and worship. Humans worship something or someone. If a person says they worship nothing, usually the person engages in self-worship.

                The code or standards can be set by acquaintances or friends, a religious organization, an organization to whom one pledges loyalty, or an eclectic approach. The eclectic approach has gained popularity since one can pick and choose to accept or reject the tenets to embrace and believe. This eclectic style for selecting a code of life often leans heavily on social media, never questioning the validity of the source of this “truth." This mix-and-match approach readily modifies on a whim - whenever the situation calls for it.

                The eclectic method resembles my use of the back-window grid of the pickup and headache rack as a conglomerate guide for picking up a bale of hay. In frustation, I questioned why this task seemed so difficult? I had tried to center each bale in line with the apparent central section of the window. Yet no attempt resulted in spiking a bale from the meadow in a perfect spot.

               But when I focused entirely on the two spikes as my guide, I found success. I had eliminated from my mental concentration all the other distractions. The headache rack and window grid were still there but I chose to converge my visual acuity on the two spikes alone. The two spikes reminded me of the perfect guide of God’s Word and His Holy Spirit.

The stalwart two spikes at the back of
the bed that proved to be perfect
guides for loading accurately -centered
large bales.

The psalmist, David, wrote in the longest chapter of the Bible, Psalm 119, in verses 5 and 6:

Oh that my ways were directed to keep Your statutes!

Then I would not be ashamed when I learn Your righteous judgments.

God’s Word will guide our actions if we read it regularly and obey unwaveringly what we read.

                After the last supper, Jesus told his disciples the Holy Spirit would come and “He will guide you into all truth.” Later in Jesus’s final prayer recorded, He prayed, “Your Word is truth.” Jesus bound the two necessary guides - the Holy Spirit (His very spirit) and the Word of God - together in His last few exchanges prior to His arrest in the garden.

                Finally, The Apostle Paul wrote to the Roman Christians about following the Holy Spirit and what it reveals. Romans 8:14 states:

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God.

Only willing obedience to God’s standards, as revealed in His Word, can result in being led by the Spirit of God. Nothing else can bring peace, order and a comforting sense of His presence like the two guides – His Word and His Spirit.

The Puny Tomato Plant

            Even though I planted late, all twelve tomato plants survived. Two more plants were given by our dear neighbor, Hubert Hutchens. Hube had grown his plants from seeds he planted indoors during late winter.

Most of the latter summer days, those plants provided slices of bright red, tasty tomatoes. One of the Celebrity tomato plants drew the lot of being planted in the narrow west bed, one of the least productive areas of the beds used by my grandma for her flowers. (To understand the background of my tomato planting narrative, go to https://bernadeanjgates.blogspot.com/2015/11/the-broken-limb-of-tomato-plant.html or https://bernadeanjgates.blogspot.com/2016/11/give-us-this-day-our-daily-tomato.html.) These are a couple of the numerous writings I have posted on my journey as a tomato gardener.)

            Of course, the tomato plant in that section appears puny. It has yielded no tomatoes even though I have faithfully put our “compost” of pulverized eggshells, coffee grounds, and chopped-up banana peelings on it just like the others.

Recently when the freeze was predicted, I questioned whether to protect the puny tomato. After vacillating about what to do, I noticed a miniscule yellow blossom. My decision was made. I grabbed a trash bag, furled it open and turned it upside down to cover the unproductive plant. As I bent down to securely tie the bag’s ties around the sturdy stem of the plant, I thought Little Plant, I am giving you a chance to produce           

What a surprise to find two little yellow blossoms the next morning! Time and weather will determine the outcome for the puny tomato’s productiveness. 

           As I cared for this weakest of the tomato plants, I thought of Paul’s writings to the church of Corinth in the first century, A.D. He wrote in I Corinthians 1:27, 29, 31:

But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;

…No flesh should glory in His presence.

He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.

            How like the puny tomato plant we are in this world! Most of the time, I feel weak in innumerable ways - courage to face trials, physical strength to do what needs to be done, emotional stability to persevere, boldness to speak for the Lord, and faith to obey and not waver.

 Just as I provided water during dry stretches, put out our “compost” nourishment, tilled around the spindly plant and even covered it in preparation for the cold night, so God provides for us. He alone gives us life, breath, strength, opportunities for service, wisdom, protection and direction during dark seasons. Most importantly, only He provides salvation through His Son, Jesus.

As we recognize our innate weakness, we should immediately respond to His strength ready to work in our daily lives. Then when moment by moment, He empowers us to do what we could never do in our own finite power, may we give praise to Him. He alone is worthy of the honor and glory.