"Playing" God and Baptizing Cats

Recently we crossed paths with a homeless, hungry, scared addict at Wal-mart.  She was given some money for food and our phone number if she wanted more help.  Last night she made the call.  But in the midst of mega drama, her hiding from her pimp or boyfriend or whatever he is, him supposedly beating on her as she was trying to get away, us trying to find her at Wal-mart to take her to dinner, hear the rest of her story and help her...she got paranoid.  And hid, then changed her mind, then wanted help, then got scared again, then hid again.  One hour and two trips into town later, we had to let it go.  Later in the night she said she'd leave but only if we took her back to his place to get her stuff first.  I'm not exposing myself to that sorry excuse of a man who was beating on her just a couple hours earlier.  Today she is back to wanting help, promised to go to a rehab, but doesn't want a ride there.  Wants some cash first, rehab later.  We can't give her cash knowing it would go to more drugs.  Food we can do.  Helping find shelter we can do.  Driving her to a safe place or rehab we can do.  But she has to be willing to meet us, to want to help herself, to want to change.  As much as I want to scoop her up and fix her poor, sad broken life, I can't.  Only God can truly change lives.  

While on lunch break today I took a hike in the woods and was praying for her and pondering what I could do.  It's one of those things I had to hand over to God and let go.  Thinking about it made me think of a story from when I was very young.  Another time when I thought I could "save" someone...or something.

Growing up we had an outdoor momma cat and some kittens that were a few months old. Somehow I became completely convinced that this whole family of cats was in dire need of baptism. And I was the person chosen to "help" them. I grew up with an intense list of sins, sins that in reality were mostly human appointed rules.  My cats were breaking several. I wasn't allowed to wear pants, forget pants, the cats ran around naked!  And we weren't supposed to eat unclean meats, while the cats would have eaten bacon daily if given the chance.  And Sundays? That was a day of rest, not to be outside playing or eating at restaurants, again the cats in willful acts of sin and rebellion, continued to hunt and play on Sundays. Surely they needed saving from their many transgressions.

After filling up a 5 gallon bucket with water I proceeded to round up the kittens. Momma cat refused to participate, but the kittens were too stupid to realize that they were about to be "saved." Ceremoniously I lifted the first kitten, sat up straight and in my best "preacher voice" announced "I now baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit!" And put the kitten in the bucket of water.

I knew I had said the proper words but the kitten screeched, clawed and fought to not go under. Now having attended an independent Baptist church until age 5 (at which point our family joined a cult, true but different story) and having been "properly" dunked in the independent Baptist fashion myself at age 4, I knew this partial wetting of the kitten was not sufficient for its salvation. In my mini self-appointed God-like status I had put myself in, I had to fix that.

Looking around I found the bucket lid, pried the kitten's claws off the buckets edge and while sympathetically but desperately trying to explain to it that I had to finish baptizing it the correct way, I slammed the lid on.

Next I (somewhat) gently shook the bucket to insure a complete water-soaked dunking. As I opened the lid it literally flew out of the top of the bucket and went running far, far away. To this day I do not know how it propelled itself so high or so far.

The remaining kittens sat close by, oblivious to their impending salvation....or doom, depending on how sorry you are feeling for the kittens at this point in the story.  And just in case they had decided to slip out of "church" my little brother, whom I had ordained as my deacon/usher, was on guard to keep my mini parishioners from escaping.

This whole process was then repeated for kittens #2 and #3 before I decided that the remaining kittens weren't worth my scratched arms and attempts at salvation!

So, while we can be light to others, we can pray for them, we can help, we can share God's love and we can share the truth, WE can't save people.  We aren't God and He is our ONLY way of salvation.  Tonight I continue to pray for "Wal-mart" girl....and I promise not to "play" God and half drown her in an attempt to save her!

In Memory of Master Sgt. Hoyt Amos, my American Hero Granddaddy

(Retired) Master Sergeant Hoyt David Amos 3/12/1921 - 4/15/2014 Hoyt David Amos 93 of Marietta died Tuesday April 15, 2014. He was the second of 10 children born to the late William (Bill) and Roxie Amos, March 12, 1921 in Roanoke, Alabama. Hoyt graduated with honors from Campbell High School of Fairburn, Georgia in 1939. He received a B.S. in Business from Georgia State University in 1975 with an Associate’s degree from Kennesaw Jr. College in 1969. He married Mary Carmilla McDade in 1944. They met at the State Fair in Jackson, Miss. and wed 2 ½ years later, the love of his life. After high school Hoyt joined the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) being stationed at Mount Mitchell in N.C. He later joined the Army Air Corps (Air Force) spending two years in New Guinea during World War II where he flew 50 combat missions as a photographer/gunner. After the war he continued his military service with a total of 20 years served attaining the rank of Master Sgt. After military service he worked as a photographer for the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta for 20 years. He was passionate about his family, photography, education, and community service. He was a volunteer for the Cobb County Auxiliary Police Force in the 1960’s, PTA President at Powers Ferry Elementary, and the Past President of the Alumni at Kennesaw State University. Hoyt was an active lifetime member of the VFW Rainbow Post 2681 in Marietta serving several years as Post Trustee. He was a member of Roswell Street Baptist Church. Hoyt is survived by his wife of 70 years, Mary Carmilla Amos, sons: David (Pat), Richard (Glenda), Donald (JoBeth), Michael (Pam), Steve (Janice) Amos, and daughters Brenda (Bill) Cole, and Frances (John) Thompson, 21 grandchildren, 35 great grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren. Also surviving are three sisters; Betty Jean Clack, Joyce Crowe, Joan Hancock and multiple nieces and nephews. A viewing will be held 6:00-8:00 p.m. Friday April 18th in Marietta at Carmichael Funeral Home. The funeral service will be held at the same location on Saturday April 19th at 2:00 p.m. Burial service will follow at Cheatham Hill Memorial Cemetery.

  

18th Wedding Anniversary

Tomorrow Ron and I will celebrate our 18th wedding anniversary!  Well, actually we decided to do most of our celebrating today as the forecast for tomorrow's weather is stormy.

We have a picnic backpack that holds plates, cups and utensils for two, a thermal wine holder and a thermal zipper section for cheeses.  I bought this and have been anticipating using it on a romantic picnic for a while now.  One of the things I appreciate about Ron is that while we have gone on some great trips or eaten at incredible restaurants on previous anniversaries, he and I can also have just as good a time chilling together on the beach.

There is a road from Navarre Beach to Pensacola Beach that is 7-miles of nothing but beach, dunes and the road.  It is beautiful and Ron had never seen it.  So this is where we decided to head for our picnic.  We dropped the top down on the car and headed out to beat the rain.

We found a secluded spot on the vast empty beaches and spread out the picnic.  On our way there we had stopped at Fresh Market and the lady in the cheese section did an incredible job of helping us to select some cheeses.

Our picnic ended up consisting of all-natural grain crackers, olives, summer sausage, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, smoked sharp provolone, black wax asiago, smoked gouda, Don Julian 12-month manchego (a pricey cheese), aged gouda and mini baby bell laughing cow cheese.  As well as a chilled bottle of Blondie Chardonnay.

We had a great time eating, chatting and talking about how far we have come and future dreams.  A relaxing time to just enjoy each other and watch the waves crash up on the shore.  We both agreed that if we had it to do again, we would both marry each other again.  It's nice to know that we aren't together just because that is how it is, but because we are still in love with each other.  Probably even more so than when we first got married.  Back then it was just feelings; now there is a bond of raising children, maneuvering through life, moves to new cities and a new state, travels together, good times, bad times, silly times, sad times, basically 18-years worth of memories and life together that makes for a love that is deeper than just our feelings.  Right as we finished packing up our picnic it started raining. Grateful that we were able to have that time before the rain hit.

During our picnic I took this photo of our wedding rings.  They say the ring is a symbol of unending love, with no beginning and no end.

Happy Anniversary, Ron.  I love you!

Even at the 11th Hour...

Have you ever seen something from only one perspective, and then when you finally see it from another you are like WOW, how have I missed that?!

I did that today with  a parable in the Bible.  The parable of the workers.

Matthew 20:1-16 “For the Kingdom of Heaven is like the landowner who went out early one morning to hire workers for his vineyard. ² He agreed to pay the normal daily wage and sent them out to work. ³ “At nine o’clock in the morning he was passing through the marketplace and saw some people standing around doing nothing. ⁴ So he hired them, telling them he would pay them whatever was right at the end of the day. ⁵ So they went to work in the vineyard. At noon and again at three o’clock he did the same thing. ⁶ “At five o’clock that afternoon he was in town again and saw some more people standing around. He asked them, ‘Why haven’t you been working today?’ ⁷ “They replied, ‘Because no one hired us.’ “The landowner told them, ‘Then go out and join the others in my vineyard.’ ⁸ “That evening he told the foreman to call the workers in and pay them, beginning with the last workers first. ⁹ When those hired at five o’clock were paid, each received a full day’s wage. ¹⁰ When those hired first came to get their pay, they assumed they would receive more. But they, too, were paid a day’s wage. ¹¹ When they received their pay, they protested to the owner, ¹² ‘Those people worked only one hour, and yet you’ve paid them just as much as you paid us who worked all day in the scorching heat.’¹³ “He answered one of them, ‘Friend, I haven’t been unfair! Didn’t you agree to work all day for the usual wage? ¹⁴ Take your money and go. I wanted to pay this last worker the same as you. ¹⁵ Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be jealous because I am kind to others?’ ¹⁶ “So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last.”

Occasionally I see this just in the aspect of the very last sentence regarding those who will be last will be first. But more often I view it as earning what you are promised and not comparing wages to others.  In both my past job and my current job I've shared this parable as coworkers have discovered what another coworker makes. Yes, it can be irritating to think someone is working the same, or even less, but making more than you. But I remind them, and myself when irritation creeps in, that we are working for the wages we agreed on (its different when your responsibilities change).  Everyone in the story worked the hours and job they were asked and were paid the wages they agreed on. Even though to us it seems that those who worked less, deserve less.  Or at least those who worked more should get more.

Up until today I have never seen this parable as anything else.  I saw a comment on this parable in Our Daily Bread devotional that triggered this blog post. This can also be a parable about grace.  It's so much easier for us to accept God's grace for those who ask for it and then go on to live good lives.  But what about those who accept God's grace on their deathbeds, or even on death row in prison?  What if they did something despicable, inhuman or incomprehensible?  How easy is it to then accept that they too, at the 11th hour, can be a recipient of God's grace?  Much harder isn't it?  It is for me.  

A friend and I were talking about child molesters yesterday, discussing with (righteous) anger, how they can ruin the life of another and how they deserve hell.  We tend to put child murderers, molesters and anyone who harms or damages children at the bottom of the worst of the worst list.  But even they can have a heart change and if they accept Jesus' death, burial and resurrection as payment for their sin, can go to heaven.  Much like in the parable, we gripe and complain and say it isn't fair.  

On the other hand my grandpa accepted Christ as his Savior three months before he died.  My grandma accepted Him many years before she died last week.  In this case, I'm so grateful that God forgives and redeems, even at the 11th hour.  Albeit, it's much easier to be grateful for as he was a good and loving person.

My thoughts today - Am I really so full of pride that I think I deserve God's grace more than someone else?  Am I really that hateful that I resent the love of God and His kindness that is shown to others?

The landowner went out seeking workers.  Some of them weren't working, not because they were lazy, but simply because no one had hired them, no one had given them a chance.  Do we pass up sharing the Good News of salvation because we think someone isn't deserving?  God's grace is for EVERYONE.  As an unworthy recipient of His grace myself, I should be be telling those who have never heard and sharing the good news.  Not sulking because in my own prideful opinion I think someone else isn't as deserving.  Maybe they aren't accepting His grace simply because no one has shared it with them, much like the workers who weren't working only because no had taken a chance on them and hired them.

Who can you share God's grace and mercy with today? How can you apply this to your life? Is there resentment over the showering of God's grace and love on someone who think doesn't deserve it?  Stop and take a minute to realize that you are also a recipient of His undeserved grace and mercy.

Today I'm thanking God that He hasn't given ANY of us what we deserve, instead He has shown His kindness to ALL who accept Him.

Dear God,
Thank you for sending your one and only son, Jesus Christ, to earth to seek out and save those of us who are wondering around the market place,lost and without purpose.  Thank you that you share your kindness with all who accept.  Thank you that you didn't write me off when I spent time living for myself and that You showed me Your grace no matter what time of day or where I was at.  Help me share that grace and love to others.  Thank you that You never give up on us, even if it is at the 11th hour or if we seem hopeless or worthless to all others. Your loving kindness is overwhelming and incomprehensible.  You deserve all my worship and praise.  Free me from my pride so that I can freely praise you with all of my mind, soul and body.

Reminders at My Desk

This is a photo of some trinkets I have on one of the ledges at my desk.  They are my reminders.  Why reminders?  Because how easily I forget lessons and how often I need a visual reminder.  They are also a great subtle way to share with others who ask what my eclectic collection is. 

The cotton ball I picked in Georgia - it reminds me that the fields are ripe to harvest and also that our sins are washed white. 

Wooden signs are self explanatory. 

Feather in old jar- it reminds me to write His words on my heart as well as to rise up with wings as Eagles (an eagle is often sitting on the beach near where I found this feather). 

Old green bottle, old aspirin bottle, driftwood, shell, claw and seed- all reminders that not all washed up and broken things are trash to be discarded. What we may see as trash, God scoops us up and displays as treasure.

In Memory of Loraine Sheeks, my Beloved Grandma

Loraine Catherine Sheeks

ALBANY - Loraine Catherine Sheeks, 88, of Albany, GA died Friday, March 28, 2014 at her residence. A 25-year cancer survivor, Mrs. Sheeks bravely battled heart disease for 30-years before succumbing to heart failure. She often said she was too stubborn to die and with a tenacity rarely seen as she fought and conquered many health battles as well as blindness. Her positive attitude and determination to carry on despite her growing limitations inspired many of those around her. She loved life and aimed at living it to the fullest, right up until the end. She had “big shoulders” with a compassionate heart and listening ear so that many of her friends and family found wise counsel and solace from her.

Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday, April 1, 2014 at 3:00 PM at Mathews Funeral Home. Mr. Ross Powell and Rev. John Spencer of Sherwood Baptist Church will officiate. Mrs. Rebecca Miller and Mrs. Deborah Berry will provide the song service. Interment will follow in Floral Memory Gardens Cemetery.

A native of Lanett AL, Mrs. Sheeks adopted Albany, GA as her home, after moving from Ft. Lauderdale, FL in 1949. She was a homemaker, a member of Sherwood Baptist Church for over 30-years and an active participant in the Agape Sunday School Class. She received much joy in sharing with almost everyone she came in contact with what the Lord Jesus Christ had done in her life. As a member of the SOWGA Chapter of the Good Sam Club and The Winnebago Camping Club she enjoyed traveling all over North America with her husband and family, often taking her grandchildren with them.

Mrs. Sheeks is now reunited in heaven with her husband, Garland Sloan Sheeks. Her sisters, Jennie Gregory and Mary Rollefson, as well as her brother, Hammett Parker, all preceded her in death.

Survivors include her daughter and her son-in-law, Pam and Mike Amos of Albany, GA. As well as her eight grandchildren, Hannah Bowyer and husband Ron, Thomas Amos and wife Christina, Nathan Amos and wife Jewell, Joel Amos and wife Wendy, Catherine Mutter and husband Lance, Jonathan Amos, Caleb Amos and wife Katie, and Elliot Amos. She is also survived by eleven great-grandchildren. Her faithful and loyal Chihuahua of 12 years, Bell, has been adopted by Dr. Love of Bush Animal Clinic.

She was known to all as a prayer warrior, and her friends and family saw many answers to her requests to her heavenly Father. One such notable prayer request was when she first began battling health issues she prayed that she would live long enough to see one great-grandchild. Not only did that happen, she joyfully welcomed great-grandchildren ten and eleven to the family in January of 2014. A pillar of the family, she is leaving a Godly legacy to the grandchildren and great-grandchildren that she loved so dearly. She will be greatly missed by the many lives that she touched.

Those desiring may make contributions to Albany Community Hospice, 320 Foundation Lane, Albany, GA 31707 or Albany Rescue Mission, 604 N. Monroe Street, Albany, GA 31701.

The family will receive friends Monday from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM at Mathews Funeral Home.

To sign our online registry or to send condolences to the family, you may visit Mathews’ website at www.mathewsfuneralhome.com.