Criticism - 28 August 2007

Gave the benediction at Laura Hamilton’s funeral tonight. I started my service to the American Legion just a few days ago. She started serving the Legion in 1957 – 50 years ago this year. What a track record. What a journey she had. What a legacy she has.

I didn’t know Miss Laura but there were tons of friends at the service who were greatly effected by her life. I listened to the tributes and learned you never had to wonder how you were doing around her. She’d let you know, straight up without embellishment, if you were on or off track. And everyone agreed it was best to listen – ‘cause she was right! But she wasn’t a caustic critic. She gave you her what’s what because she wanted it done right and wanted you to get it right, because she cared.

You know my Grandfather taught me something about this criticism thing…
He told me, “Rooster (his nickname for me… ;-) , Rooster there’s two groups of folks who will criticize you. The first group does it because they want to hurt you, the second group because they want to help you. Well, for those who want to hurt you, they’ll have to find at least a grain of truth in their criticism to make it effective. FIND THAT GRAIN OF TRUTH and learn from it.. If you’ll do that, they’ll actually end up helping you even if their plan was to hurt.. As for the second group, if they are trying to help you then By God LISTEN TO ’EM! There few enough people in the world who care about you anyway. Listen to them, find the truth and make the change needed.”

It sounds like Miss Laura would have been in that second group of folks my Granddad talked about – caring enough to give you the truth in love, so you can get it right.

There’s probably a few more Angels flying right tonight…. Keep’em straight Miss Laura!

25 August - Anchors

Let me tell you a story.

The other day I was sitting at a restaurant overlooking a whole bunch of boats anchored out over the bay. I could look out past them and see the inlet where the bay opened into the ocean. It was a gorgeous day, a beautiful view, great meal, it was just a great day. I like being on the water. It was nice. I was sitting close to a couple of guys eating at the next table. Being notoriously nosey, I was listening in on their conversation.

I realized not only were they eating lunch but this was also a de-brief between a student pilot and his instructor. They were going over their last training flight. Being a nosey old pilot myself, this peaked my curiosity. The instructor turned to the student pilot and said "Let's go over emergency procedures. If you're at cruise altitude and you have a power failure what do you do?" The student pilot looked at him and said "Well, first I would turn into the wind." The instructor interrupted him and said, "OK, look outside and give me three indicators of where the wind is coming from."

Of course, I did the same. I saw some flags fluttering in the distance. Then I noticed the waves and the ripples in the water… I was searching for a third indicator when I heard the student pilot say, "The boats!". I turned my attention to the 30 or 40 boats that were anchored in the bay and he was right. It looked like they were all pointing into the wind. Since they were all anchored from their bow, (the front of the boat for you 'lubbers') the wind was pushing them around so they were all pointing into the wind.

However that wasn't totally true, the instructor said, "Look closer at the boats." Not all of the boats were pointed into the wind. I thought that was kind of strange. Most of the larger boats, the sailboats and yachts all appeared to be pointing toward the inlet where the bay opens into the ocean. I noticed a couple of other boats that were pointed off in a totally different direction towards the harbor master station. Based upon their position, these few had direct access to the harbor master. Most of the boats were pointed to the wind, but the big ones were pointed to the ocean and a couple were pointed to the harbor master. I thought that was strange. The instructor pilot said obviously in most cases looking at anchored boats will give you an indicator of where the wind is coming from but you certainly can't be dependant on it.

Can you tell me why the big yachts were pointed towards the ocean? If anyone is a mariner it's not too hard a question. They were pointed in that direction because of the tide. When the tide comes in, the force on the bottom of the boat (the keel), if it is deep enough, will move the boat around and point it in the direction of the tide. The power of the tide, for these big boats, was stronger than the power of the wind and that's why they were pointed in the direction of the tide.

Can you tell me what would cause the couple other boats to be pointed away from the tide, away from the wind? Once I looked closer I realized they were using more than one anchor … ;-) By using multiple anchors they had complete control over their direction.

I got to thinking as I looked at those boats how much my Christian life has been like them. Many folks, when they become Christians, anchor their lives by a saving faith in Jesus Christ. That is the beginning of their Christianity, their anchor to the rock of Christ. Christians have that assurance of salvation, that they are going to heaven, but that is the only anchor they've got and they are tossed and turned by every breeze of trouble that comes along.

Don't get me wrong, the tide isn't pushing them down the bay and there is no fear of them losing the anchor of their salvation. But for these single anchor Christians, the winds of trouble, the normal winds of living in this world of problems, blows them around easily.

Then I thought about the big boats. The ones that have the deep keels that go deep below the surface. It reminded me of this new success gospel, this new abundant life prosperity scheme that says, if you are a Christian you should be rich. This gospel of consumerism is not the gospel, it's a lie. I see many Christians that, (based upon changes in their lifestyle because they became a Christian) end up becoming successful in the eyes of the world. They have tithed, they have dropped many if not all of their destructive behavior after becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ and because of that, they have come to have success in the world. That tide of success, (even though they have that Salvation anchor in Jesus), is such a strong and powerful force, it has turned their attention from the Lord to all of the riches in the world. Their success (because of their trust and obedience to God) has turned them away from God.

Then I thought of those couple of boats that were anchored in such a way they pointed to, and had easy access to the harbor master. I was thinking that in my spiritual life that relates to more than one anchor. In other words, yes we have the anchor of salvation but we also hunger for the anchor of real fellowship with other Christians. We require the anchor of studying the word, the anchor of a deep and meaningful prayer life and the anchors of a purposeful mission and ministry. These multi-anchored boats are the true servants of the Lord pointing their whole life towards their Harbor Master.

I know that throughout my Christian life I have been every one of these three boat types. As a young man, I had so totally screwed up my life, the only thing that saved me from being lost forever was anchoring my life to Christ. He truly saved and changed me. Those changes resulted in success. As he remade me into something new, success came. And that success took my eyes off the Lord and back onto myself and the riches of the world. What a mistake.. Now as I'm using these essential anchors of worship, fellowship, bible study, a mission and ministry, my little boat is once again pointing in the right direction - the only truly important direction for me - being a Christ-follower.

Where is your boat pointing? I don't know how it is in your life but I need a lot of anchors. If ya need'em too, go get'em.


Ephesians 4:14 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming...

22 August - End of Summer

Saw this pic and it reminded me Ocean City will be empty soon - save for the 'locals' among us. With school opening earlier each year (it seems) the back to school frenzy is in full swing..

Keep an eye out for School Buses! Precious cargo on the roads soon..

Guess Who

A famous United States General wrote a small manuscript called ‘Daily Sacrifice.’

Here is a small portion:

“Direct my thoughts, words and work, wash away my sins in the immaculate Blood of the Lamb, and purge my heart by thy Holy Spirit . . . Daily frame me more and more into the likeness of Thy Son Jesus Christ.

Thou gavest Thy Son to die for me; and has given me assurance of salvation, upon my repentance and sincerely endeavoring to conform my life to His holy precepts and example.”

Can you guess who wrote it?

Hearing Test

You know, my neighbor's dog is SO strange. By that I mean, all of a sudden I will be in my house and I will hear my neighbors dog start barking. There is nothing going on and nobody around. There is nothing that I can discern that would indicate why he should be barking. Then a few minutes later, it seems like minutes but it's not that long, but a little after I realize what is going on, my neighbor pulls up in his car. The point I'm trying to make is that dog can hear his master long before I have any ability to make that determination. He can hear his car, and can discern the sound of his master's particular car long before I can pick up on the fact that my neighbor is coming home. Wouldn't it be great if we could hear GOD speaking to us the same way?

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27

7 August

Russell called me. He mentioned that Jim Boston had back surgery and could I send him a fruit basket. I called Joann and set that in motion. Joann mentioned that Jim Collins is doing pretty well..


The Commander handed me a letter last night. It was a plea to help a disabled Vet whose electric had been disconnected. The Post isn't responsible for, nor can it pay Vet's utility bills. It sounded like a matter for the Chaplain. There was no phone number - only a name and address so I drove over to investigate.

As I drove by the address I couldn't tell if the electric was on or not. All the blinds and shades were pulled down tightly. No vehicles in the driveway and a big NO TRESPASSING sign was in the front window. I turned around and drove by again without success. I got to the end of the development thinking, 'Well I've done the best I can.. I can't tell if the electric is on or not, but with no vehicles there, the middle of the day and No Trespassing signs easily read and no phone number to call... I think I've done the best I can do...' I started to turn onto the highway but stopped. My WWJD bracelet turned me around. I drove up to the house, ignored the empty driveway and the big NO TRESPASSING sign and knocked on the door.

It took a while, but after a couple of minutes, Ken opened his door. After a brief introduction, he welcomed me into his home. Lights were on and it was cool inside. In his late 60's, he's a Vietnam Vet with over 270 jumps to his credit. Partially paralyzed on his left side, he gets around pretty well with a cane. His service is Army and Merchant Marine and we had a good talk about some of his ports of call. While I was there we decided to go for a ride. I put my top down on the little convertible and off we went. We drove over to the Upper Ferry and before he knew it he was going for a boat ride too! We crossed the Wicomico River - hot, steamy day - reminded him of Vietnam.... I told him that I had heard they charge twice as much to cross back the other way ;-) After returning we had a time of prayer and I was off.

Ken's electric was fine. Lessons Learned: I had made the right decision to turn around. Go the extra mile especially when it's hard, because there just might be a lonely Vet on the other side of those tightly closed window blinds and No Trespassing sign. What a wonderful job I have.

6 August

Executive Committee Meeting

At 19:55 I was nominated and elected Chaplain of American Legion Post 64, Salisbury, Maryland.

Work to be done....