On this final day of Thanksvember, I have decided to save the very best for the climactic moment:

#30: I am thankful for LIFE in Jesus Christ.

At the ripe old age of six years, having lived all my life in the home of a Baptist minister, I said, "Yes," to Jesus Christ. Why? because I am a sinner, falling short of God's design for my life. The only way, according to Scripture, for me to "make the grade" was to accept the payment Christ made on the Cross some 2000 years ago. And so I did. I've learned that I cannot be good enough, work hard enough, or pay dearly enough to earn the Life that is available simply by accepting the substitutionary payment Jesus made on the Cross.

The payment is sufficient for a couple of reasons: Jesus was not marred by the sin that corrupts the lives of all other humans. Secondly, Jesus was not defeated by that execution. Instead He rose again conquering Death for all of time and eternity. The way to this salvation? Through Him (for a more detailed description of how to have this LIFE, click here). I would love for you to say, "Yes," to my Jesus today.

For this I am fully thankful.

We're almost at the end of the month and I have two important posts (today's and tomorrow's), so you'll want to read these for sure.

#29: I am thankful for friends.

We've done the "family" thing, and the "church" thing, and all the different "things" things--now I want to get down to business. Today we're talking about friendship--not the Facebook kind (my page says I have over 850 friends, and I love you all, I really do), nor are we talking about those acquaintances who you're nice to or polite with when you pass them on the street (although I'll be meeting with a group of these in just a few minutes). No, today we're talking about those friends who are really friends. The brothers/sisters that you get to choose (because your parents didn't let you choose the ones you like when they came home with that one from the pound hospital). These are the people who meet your soul and know you. The ones who pick up where you left off a dozen years ago. The ones you know you can count on when you really need a helping hand, a shoulder to cry on, an ear to bend, or a sage voice to advise you. You can probably count them on less than a handful of fingers--these people who are that kind of friend. One of mine has gone on to his reward. He was not only a friend but a mentor, a hero, and an inspiration to me. We called him Brother Bill.

Another is Jeff. He lives on the other side of the world. We really get in contact about once every five to seven years--besides Christmas cards and email. Even so, when we do see one another it is like I've found a missing coin--Knowing him enriches my life. Do you have a friend like this? Be thankful, let them know, and give them a "kudos" for being a friend right here in the comments section. Details aren't required, just a "shout out." Because I'd like to know who you're thinking about and being thankful for as your real friend. And together we can be . . .

Thankful.

(and now for the obligatory sappy song that you knew was coming today:)

#28: I am thankful for technology.

Today is "Cyber-Monday" and -- while I am not (I repeat not; let me say it louder NOT) shopping online today (but have been known to do so), I am grateful for the opportunity if I so desire (did I mention that I have been known to shop online?) -- I would like to take a moment to express my gratitude for our cybernetic overlords.

I think technology is great, and I think you should think it, too. In the 500 years we have moved from walking (or at least riding animals or in animal-drawn vehicles) to iron horses, horseless carriages, and even to multi-horse powered cars. We looked to the skies and began to fly, audaciously walking on the moon, and in space and exploring strange new worlds in search of new civilizations.

We've advanced from two cans and a string, to operator-manipulated connections, to rotary, then pulse, then digitally dialed telephones (see that discussion here). These phones which once kept us tied to the kitchen wall or den desk became cordless, then wireless, and finally cell driven. Communication became easier.

We've (in the last 100 years) moved from radio waves to transistors and on to satellite radio. We learned to make movies, add sound to them, then give them color. We've learned to combine these radio and movie industries to create television which changes from year to year. Small distorted black & white pictures have given way to high definition ultra-detail color pictures on screens that are larger than life.

In the last fifty years we have seen the birth, re-birth, re-birth, and re-purposing of electronic computers. Information that once took entire rooms--no, buildings--to contain can be housed on a tiny chip small enough to rest on the tip of your finger. Business computers gave birth to personal computers which in turn gave birth to laptop and notebook computers. These opened the way for pocket-sized electronics which can carry applications as varied as gaming to calculating the appropriate tip at a restaurant. Technology has become the tool of choice that helps us communicate with one another, express ourselves, and do our jobs--you're reading this today because both you and I have access to modern (if not the very latest) technology. So. . . .

for this I am thankful.

The question of wearing a tie is usually not one that I raise often. When I was in the classroom as a teacher, I typically wore a tie every day. As a pastor I do when necessary (funerals, weddings, etc.) and when I preach it is often in an open-collar, but just as likely as with a tie on.

And then comes Christmas. I like wearing scenes of the season, but from the religious and the civilian traditions. So, when you visit our church during the Holiday season you'll see me "simply wearing a wonderful Christmas tie!" (enjoy the song that inspired this post:)

#27: I am thankful for grandparents.

I am fortunate to have known all of my grandparents. Although they have all moved on and out of this mortal life now, each of them was special. But today, I am thankful for my children's grandparents. It is special to me that not only do my kids have two sets of wonderful grandparents who love and teach love to my children, but that my children have had opportunity to get to know all four of their grandparents more than just through pictures.

But today, I am even more thankful for those grandparents who aren't really my children's grandparents, but are grandparents to my children anyway. Where I serve as pastor, there are several couples who fill the void of grandparenthood that is left by geographical distance from their "biological" grands.When it is only possible for our kids to be with their grands only once or twice (maybe) a year because of the physical distance and cost of travel, and when they are surrounded by friends whose grands live around the corner, down the street, or at most a two-hour drive away, it is a blessing to have these "surrogate" grands living near enough to provide that loving touch. Just yesterday, we were in need of grandparents to watch the children for an extended time while the Blushing Bride and I participated in an all day event (that would have seemed three to four times longer for both us and the kids had they been forced to come with us), and one of the couples from our church stepped in. (Specific thanks to D & J.)

There are enough of these couples in our church family that it is sometimes difficult to decide which grands to ask to watch the kids in an emergency or for a date night. We try to spread it around enough so that no one gets overworked and no one misses a turn. What makes this service so great for our family is that most of these couples are actual grands whose time is monopolized by their personal bundles of joy--and they take time to love our kids, too! Of course, often they try to find times when they will be entertaining their own grandchildren to have ours brood over so all the little children will entertain each other. What a service.

For this I am thankful.

#26: I am thankful for hugs.

Little Bit (my 5-year-old) came in this morning early, arms loaded with stuffed bears, and said, "I want to sit in your lap." She is one of the best huggers I know. And she's not stingy with them either. You need one? She's got one for you. It's okay, she'll make more.

We have some little ones at church who are good to hug the preacher's neck, too. And it always makes my day. Some are kind of shy about hugging, though, and that's all right, too. They'll usually pony up with a "five" for me.

When I pick up the kiddos from school, most of Little Bit's classmates are good with a high five for me, even if I'm not their pastor. Yep, I must say I love hugs (or high fives in a pinch).

And for this I'm thankful.

The Blushing Bride spelunking in NW Arkansas August 2011

#25: I'm thankful for my Blushing Bride

If this is so important, one might ask, why didn't it come up earlier in the month? Well for a special reason--today is the 11th anniversary of the day that we stood before our fathers, a company of others, and our Creator to pledge our love and troth to one another. Yep, today's my freedom day--free from the tyranny of wanting to find the right woman, and freedom to love her as Christ loved the church.

Just to let you know, here's why I'm thankful that she said, "I do" back in 2000:

• She's my lovely
• She's delightful
• She's a great mother
• She treats me like a king
• She laughs at my jokes
• She cooks for me 
• She looks good in a dress or in pants
• She's a good kisser

Check it out: Top 10 Destinations for Holiday Lights

Today, I'd like to suggest that we adapt an old Andy Griffith commercial (sorry couldn't find it on YouTube): The old actor says, "What are you hungry for when you don't know what you're hungry for?" And then answers himself, "Something on a crisp Ritz(r) cracker."

Being as today is Thanksgiving Day, I say let's ask it this way, "What are you thankful for when you don't know what you're thankful for?"

May I also suggest the answer?
"For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life." (Jesus quoted in John 3:16, HCSB)


Happy Thanksgiving!

This handout was included with our LifeWay Sunday school material for this past Sunday. I like LifeWay and their study helps for Bible Study. I'm not sure that it is a fine greeting to send someone on Thanksgiving Day if you are going to call them "Turkey" in the process. (I know that's not what was meant by this graphic, but the arrangement is kind of telling.)

So, Happy Thanksgiving Turkey! (mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, etc.)

#24: I am thankful for being thankful.

That's right. Today is Thanksgiving Day, the day set aside (at least in my neck of the woods) for people to express their gratitude. For the parades, for the football games, for the feasts, for the family, for the travel, for the staying at home, for the preparing for the Christmas season, for the cheesy TV specials, for all that Thanksgiving has come to mean . . .

. . . I am thankful.

As a seminary student, I had the privilege of serving on staff at Edgemont Park Baptist Church in Mesquite, Texas. One of the deacons was my good friend--he didn't necessarily mean to be, but he was. Periodically, I would reach into my suit jacket pocket (the decorative ones on the side of the jacket), and discover a twenty dollar bill there. The first time or two I was oblivious, and then one Sunday, I caught him. I felt the tug on my coat, and looked over my shoulder in time to see him with a sheepish, guilty grin.

He was also ready with sage advice--whether he agreed with you or not (and he had no qualms in letting you know he disagreed--but he did this agreeably), he loved you and you knew it. His love for the pastors and staff of his local church was simply an extension of his love for Jesus.

I learned today that he's gone to his reward. He will be missed. My heart aches with the memory and with the knowledge that some new Youth Guy won't have that touch and wisdom to bless him. Good-bye Doug Hendrix, you will be missed. Welcome to an eternity with your Savior.

#23: I am thankful for providence.

I don't know what else to call it--those times when for whatever reason you find everything falling into its proper place. Today (I'm writing this on Tuesday night), I needed to go to the big city to pray with a church member as she went in to surgery. I did not know when the surgery was. I did know that it was at one of the larger hospital complexes. So I decided to take a chance--if I missed praying with the patient before the surgery, I'd just find the family in the surgical waiting room and put in my pastoral appearance (I also had to get back to the village for our after school program--I was on schedule to do a Thanksgiving devotion this afternoon).

I arrived at the hospital, and as I was headed to the Information station to see if she was in surgery, recovery, or what, and looked to my right. There she sat with her daughter. The docs had postponed her procedure until early afternoon, she had about fifteen minutes before heading up to pre-op. I was able to visit a minute or two, pray with her before the procedure, and still make it home in time for the devotional. Thank you, Lord, for staying in control.

For this I am thankful.

#22: I am thankful for telephones.

As much as I despise getting what I like to call "ear-spam" (I like to call it that because it has a high gross-out factor and I'm still a Junior High boy at heart)--you know, those telemarketers that keep calling all the time, often just at the moment you're trying to put your children to bed, even when you've put all your numbers on the national "do not call" list (run-on sentence over). Even with all that, I love telephones. I like rotary dial, pulse dial, digital dial, land lines, cordless phones, bag phones, mobile phones, cell phones . . . I like 'em. And here's why:

If we use them properly, we can talk to people who aren't in the same room--not even in the same zip code, or the same country(!)--as we are. And we can also receive news about a need to pray for, a happening event, or just catch up with old friends or family. If you're not trying to sell me something or plug a political candidate, if you have news to share (good or bad), give me a call.

For phones, I am thankful.

#21: I am thankful for working together.

So often the churches in small communities battle against one another. They see the limited number of people available to fill their pews as something to be vied for. I don't live in one of those communities. I live in a place where we look for opportunities to work and serve together. Last evening, we did it again. We had our annual community Thanksgiving service. The Spirit was moving, the worship excelled, and the fellowship was fabulous.

For this I am thankful.

#20: I am thankful for the "frontliners" in the battle for orphans.

November is National Adoption Awareness month. Yesterday was National Adoption Day. You probably didn't know that, so now you do. As I celebrate Thanksvember and as Thanksgiving Day approaches apace, my mind turns to those who have so much less to be thankful for than I do.

I grew up in a stable, loving home; with my own Mom and Dad. I did not lose them at an early age to any outside source--crime, drugs, neglect, apathy, or death. Our world is running deep with children who are neglected or forgotten and in need of a loving home like yours and mine. Our country has foster programs which are designed to help these children have a more stable, normative life. But even more what they want and what they need is a family to call their own. With this in mind I'd like to highlight two of the organizations that work diligently to match these children who desperately need to have something for which to be thankful with the families that can provide that place, enhancing the lives of both the children and the parents/families.

First, I want to focus on what is known as Domestic Adoption--matching families with children in our own country. Since I am a resident of Illinois (and an Illinois Baptist) I want to introduce you to an organization that works specifically with Illinioans (Illini?) to find homes for children in need of adoption in this state. They are the Baptist Children's Home and Family Services (BCHFS). They started in Carmi, IL as the Baptist Orphan's Home. Today they work with troubled kids providing Residential Care, with individuals and families on the cusp of falling apart through the Pathways Counseling services, and with young women who are in crisis/unwanted pregnancies to help them make godly decisions and even to offer (if appropriate) their children to stable, loving homes through Angels' Cove.

(Click here for a video introduction to the Angels' Cove ministry of BCHFS.)

Another option for adoption services is an organization with headquarters in my native state of Texas. Their name is Buckner. Their mission is to care for the orphans around the world. If you are interested in making a difference through International Adoption, contact Buckner to learn more. Here's a testimony from one family who worked through Buckner to grow their family:



I am declaring today "Adoption Awareness Sunday". There are a number of agencies like these two who help orphans find families and families find orphans. Pray about what you should do with this information and like me be . . .

Thankful for those on the frontlines.

#19: I am thankful for health.

All that goes with it, too. The ability to get up in the morning, the intelligence to brush my teeth at night. Doctors, nurses, pharmacists--all the people who help me take care of this magnificent physique that is my gift from God. I'm thankful for the food that makes it strong, the sleep that keeps it fresh, and the ability to move from place to place. I'm thankful for the vitamin pills that make the course corrections needed when I eat more of the wrong stuff than I should. Just the ability to breathe in and breathe out.

For this I am thankful.

My children are home from school today. My blushing bride (who works as a reading aide at the school in a neighboring town) is home from school today. No, they are not all sick. No, they are not playing hookey. It's a holiday. Didn't you know?

Happy Hunting

#18: I am thankful for Hymns.

I know what you're thinking--isn't this guy thankful for anything besides music?--but then again, you should read Day 6 again. Even so, this is different. This is hymns--those songs that some people think are archaic (there are new hymn writers doing some really great things in the 21st century).

First of all I am thankful for the old, old hymns that spoke volumes to me as I learned faith from them. Hymns like "Fairest Lord Jesus", "The Haven of Rest", and "Face to Face with Christ My Savior." I'm thankful for some of the old hymns that are being rediscovered by some of today's artists, partly because of the words that say so much more than just the words--words like a new remix of the old hymn "One Day" (on Casting Crowns' latest release under the title "Glorious Day").



I'm also thankful for new writers like Chris Tomlin and Keith Getty who are writing new hymns in the old style. Songs that are filled with sound doctrine, and songs whose words speak to the deepest reaches of our hearts.

For this I am thankful.

#17: I am thankful for new life.

Yesterday, I had another pastor opportunity. One of the couples of my church became grandparents for the first time late on Tuesday evening. Naturally, I needed to make a trip to St. Louis to see the new boy. I got pictures to prove that I was indeed there, and I was again reminded of how precious, delicate, and promising new life is.

What a special memory his birth will bring, too. On Tuesday, we had the home-going celebration for this young mother's aunt (a 2-year battle with cancer). As the family gathered at our church for a meal after the graveside, one cousin (also expecting) left the hall with her family in tow (her little girl was born early on Wednesday morning--2:00). At that same moment, our deacon's wife was on the phone with her son-in-law with the understanding that they were on the way to the hospital. God, even as he welcomed one home, was giving to this extended family two bundles of joy! And life is a good thing.

Enjoy this new chapter Tiffany and Trevor. Count all the joy that your new little boy will bring. Thanks for letting me meet him.