IF I COULD LIVE MY LIFE OVER, WOULD I LIVE DIFFERENTLY? Yes, I would…

1. Not have eaten that bucket of un-ripened cherry’s when I was ten.
2. Not have touched the electric fence at my Grandpa’s farm. It was a shocking experience to say the least.
3. Have listened to my mother when she told me not to climb to the top of the apple tree in my front yard (I fell down and almost broke my neck).
4. Have taken my father’s advice when I bought my first car (it was a real lemon to the point that when we drained the radiator, lemonade came out!
5. I would not have eaten a half gallon of ice cream at one setting (oh, was I sick!). Fortunately, I got over it!
6. Not have gone on that “snipe” hunt when I was a Tenderfoot Boy Scout.
7. Not have stood up in the canoe as a teenager (the river was very cold in Toronto in April).
8. Have put sun screen on when I sun-bathed.
9. Not have put my tongue on the steel frame of my sled as I cascaded down the hill in mid-January. It took 4 hours to stop the bleeding!
10. Not have climbed up the poison ivy-laden tree to fetch our cat who was afraid to come down.
11. Have taken the Red Cross swimming training class instead of being thrown into the river by some “toughs.” I almost drowned; but for my cousin, I would have.
12. Not have gone on the whale sighting cruise in British Columbia where I got unbelievably seasick.
13. Have brushed my teeth after every meal and thereby saved several choppers.
14. Have passed on the root canal because the dentist slipped and hit a nerve while poking around up in there. I let out a yelp and vowed I’d never go through that again.
15. Not have yanked on my neighbor’s cat’s tail when I was about seven years old. I still have the scars to prove it.
16. Have dug the trench around my pup tent, thereby avoiding a floating sleeping bag (with me in it!).
17. Not have cut down the tree on the golf course and dragged it home. My father said we couldn’t afford a Christmas tree that year, so I took it upon my self to secure one. Only problem was that the caretaker saw me do it (I was just a boy at the time). No supper that night!
18. Not have thrown those rocks up on Mr. VanderMortel’s front porch as a Halloween prank. Somehow he ID’d me and called my parents. I paid dearly for that.

As you can see, my life growing up was just a series of unfortunate happenings. I lived under a cloud of almost daily despair due to some wrong choices. On the other hand, think about the lessons learned. Perhaps it was a good thing that these blunders occurred. Experience can be a good teacher. Its only when these blunders are repeated that one’s sanity is questioned.

IT HAPPENED ON A DARK SPRING MORNING. I still can’t quite believe I did it. I swung into McDonald’s for a cup of coffee before hurrying on to a meeting. As I approached the drive-through I noticed that there were about five cars ahead of me, just sitting there. I sat there thinking it might be quicker just to park and go on in the restaurant. But then the cars in front of me began to move slowly. I stayed with it. I ordered my usual: “Senior’s decaf, please.” I proceeded to the first window, paid the 54 cent fee and drove right past the next window without getting my coffee. As I started to leave the parking lot, it dawned on me---they have my 54 cents but I don’t have anything to show for it. I was able to back all the way to the proper window and get my coffee. The young lady was holding my cup, waiting for me, with a big smile on her face. I could tell that she had seen this before. “She said, “Here you are, have a nice day!” Flushed as I was, I managed to blurt out, “Life gets a little hectic at times; sorry about that!” I knew at that very instant that I had contracted that dreaded social disease, “scurry.” That’s right, not scurvy, but scurry. My body was in drive, but my mind was in neutral.

I don’t think I am terribly different from the average twenty-first century American. We’re all running to and fro and need to pause now and then, to catch our breath---especially our spiritual breath.

“Time Out!” “Take Five!” “Recess!” “Break Time!” These are terms that we are all familiar with. They scream for the need to rest, relax, and recuperate. And it really doesn’t matter whether one is using them in reference to work, athletics, or education. It is a fact of life that we all need periods away from the routine of our lives---time to regroup and refresh our bodies, psyches, and emotions.

But what about our spirits? Do we value our relationship with God enough to “push the pause button on our life” in order to be refreshed inwardly? Jesus set the example for us by taking time away from His ministry to be alone with His Father. Dare we do any less?

Let’s face it, we are living in a hectic world. The pace at which most of us operate is frightening. We have deadlines to meet, places to go, meetings to attend, schedules to keep, and multi tasks to accomplish. More than ever before, we need to budget our time so that we can achieve our desired goals. Each of us must decide what our priorities must be. We do not want to be enslaved by the “tyranny of time,” yet often we find ourselves kneeling at its feet. In our quest for a balanced life, we need to hear again the voice of the past, saying, “Beware of the barrenness of an over-busy life.”

Sad to say, many believes do not schedule into their lives a time to get alone with the One who can refresh their souls and thereby bring a sense of normalcy to an otherwise frantic agenda. According to a recent poll by George Barna, quiet times do not rank very high on the believer’s list of priorities. That which should be most important is often pushed aside and neglected, resulting in lives that are spiritually anemic.

Quiet times are like spiritual baths. They cleanse, they refresh, they restore. When we take time to listen to God and meditate upon His Word, something miraculous transpires. We are inwardly equipped to face the day’s challenges, to make a difference, to share His love.

This is the age of distractions. We are bombarded by them. Noise pollution takes its toll on every one of us. Radio and television sets blare all day long. Telephones ring constantly. The intruding sounds of cars and jet planes drown out the beauty of solitude. Oh, how our souls long for a place of retreat---a pause that will refresh. That’s partly what this book is all about—an attempt to assist the weary traveler to stop by the roadway of life, rest under the shade of one of God’s great oaks and drink deeply from His many wells.

We need to quench our spiritual thirst, often. There is little hope of living victoriously unless we spend time regularly with our Father. So, sit a spell, relax in God’s presence and allow Him to rejuvenate you on your journey to His eternal home.

MY PASTOR IS AN ELVIS IMPERSONATOR—THE 70’s VERSION! Well, not really. It’s something he does for fun now and then---whenever the opportunity presents itself. And I must say that he is rather good at it. Around the church he is affectionately known as the “king.” Please notice that the “k” is in small caps because he is anything but royal,unless you take into account his standing before THE KING.

I suppose if he ever had to go bi-vocational, he could appear at Graceland Community Church and sing such notables as…
Blue Suede Shoes of Peace
Heartchange Hotel
Love Him Tender
All Shook Up by the Spirit
Philippian Jailhouse Rock
Hard Headed Sinners
Suspicious Cults
Viva Las Jesus
Don’t Be Cool
Return to The Sender
Are You Searching Tonight?

Fortunately for his congregation, he hasn’t yet lost his focus and broken out in an Elvis song during a sermon (although I suspect he has come close a couple of times).

Rumors of his demise are greatly exaggerated. In fact, he was spotted in Burger King the other day (come to think of it, he goes there quite often).

At a recent fun event, as he was serenading the audience, some OLDER women went quite berserk as they screeched in apparent delight. Moved by their affirmation, he sang an extra verse or two. It was a hoot. Missing were his rhinestone Bible, cape, and Cadillac (the official Board put thumbs down on the later).

It was reported that a mysterious gentleman was observed in the rear of the auditorium. When asked the reason for his presence, he said that he was looking for new talent for his record company. He did not state his name but simply referred to himself as “The Colonel.”