Pastor Buddy’s Blog

Well, Journal,

Yeah, I know. Looks like I’m on an ‘old timey’ run again. Well, how’s bout if I was to jest tack a short Bible study of sorts at the end of this here journal entry? That would make things a bit more spiritual. Well, that is exactly what I’ll do. For the time being, jest hang in there so’s I can talk about ‘old timey things.’

Yep, the teenager standing up on the wagon of logs is my grandfather, John Allen Martin. The teen sitting beside him is his brother, Jessie. And, oh yes, the oxen master is Ben Odom. And indeed they are pulling logs with eight oxen. That was the way it was done way back them.

I remember Ben. He would offer to hire any of us boys to help round up his horses that ran wild in the woods. Said he would give us one if we’d help. I never took him up on the offer and don’t rightly remember if any of my kin did. Anyway, they say that old Ben lived to be 106 years old. Hmmmm.

This picture goes to show that we aren’t too far removed from pioneer times.

Well, my grandpa Martin would be my grandchildren’s great-great grandfather. Grandpa Martin was born in 1876, just 12 years after the Civil War. He died in 1950. I did get to know my grandpa for a short time. (About six months.) We lived with him and grandma in what we sometimes called the ‘old blue house.’ The house had a breezeway down the center with rooms on each side.

I remember grandpa would sit on the front porch with his guitar and a cup of coffee and sing gospel songs. (Why does that sound so familiar?) Also remember watching him playing his guitar and singing in the little country church that we attended. One of my uncles told me that when grandpa entered the church, he always made a sign of the cross. This came from his mother who had been raised Catholic.

Actually grandpa had a good dose of French, Spanish, and possibly Apalachee Indian in him, along with some English. (As near as I’ve been able to ascertain in my genealogy project.) His mother spoke very broken English. My mom remembered her well.

Another thing I remember is that grandpa had a country store. But the store was closed after grandpa departed for his home in the sky.

Well, that’s mostly it about grandpa, for now. But there is something I need to add — All we cousins had a special name for our grandma. We called her ‘Grannie Dumplins.’

After grandpa passed, Grannie was like a mama hen. She would make the rounds to check on her biddies. Course most all we younguns lived on land that came from grandpa, so grannie didn’t have to go far on her rounds. And she could make the most wonderful cathead biscuits that you’d ever want to put pure ribbon cane syrup on.

By the way grannie dumplings is on the right. That’s her sister-in-law, Elizabeth Martin Knight on grandma’s right. Notice how dark Elizabeth is. She and grandpa Martin were siblings. (That’s a fancy word for brother-sister kin.)

See if you can follow this — Grannie’s sister-in-law was her husband’s, that is, grandpa Martin’s sister, which, in turn was really my grannie’s second cousin. I know this sounds like the song that says, “I’m my own grandpa.” But matter of fact my grandpa and grandma were both Martins. That’s just the way we are. We likes to keep everything in the family. (Know what I mean Vern?)

Here’s another ‘by-the-way.’ — Just listen to this here song and you’ll get the picture.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=nWW7pm7W7mE

Ok, all else to the side. I do need to put something spiritual into this writing. Here goes…

Remember friend as you pass by…

When my great grandfather died in 1905, my grandfather made a headstone for him. Encased behind a glass he placed a paper, which read …

- Remember friend, as you pass by,
As you are now, so once was I.
As I am now, you soon shall be.
Prepare my friend to follow me. -

The paper is now barely readable. I’m one of the few people who knows what it actually says. Yet it might be said of my great grandfather, ‘Though he is dead, he still speaks.’

It wasn’t simply my great grandfather. His father, and his father’s father were believers. They passed their faith in Jesus on to their children. My wife and I have passed our faith on to our children. They in turn to their children. That’s how it is with God’s people.

As the Bible records the lives of the righteous we often read, “And he died.” This applies only to the physical. The righteous belong to the Lord. They are very much alive. As for what God’s plans are for His people, the writer of Hebrews says, “Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.” Heb11:16

What else did God promise His people of old? He promised them a Redeemer. He promised that one day they would inherit a transformed earth. He promised them a holy and heavenly city. And now we ‘the people of the cross’ have become heirs of the same promises. We were in God’s plan from eternity.

This is why God’s people look at death through a different set of glasses.

When the Spirit of Jesus enters the heart of a believing one, heaven makes its home in the deepest of our being. In that very moment the Spirit goes to work casting out fear. Once God’s perfect love has completed its work, the only fear that remains is called ‘the fear of the Lord.’ This fear connects us to a holy God. It is filled with love, respect, and reverence for our heavenly Father.

For the child of God the fear of death actually loses its power. In the heart of the believer is an upward longing for those things that lie ahead. Paul said it best, “Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Phil3:13,14

For many years I’ve had a habit of visiting cemeteries where some of my fore-bearers have been laid to rest. When you do as many funerals as I do, cemeteries have much to say. Sometimes I get my children to accompany me. When I talk with them about their ancestors, I try to point out how they believed in Jesus.

It has been my deepest desire to instill in my children eternal and heavenly values. Some of my sweetest memories have been those of talking with my children about Jesus, about the heavenly Father, and all that belong to Him.

Some year ago when my daughter was very young, I was in my study, when I heard a small knock on my door. There she was. Shana looked up at me, and said, ‘Daddy, I don’t have anybody to hold me.’ Quickly I scooped her up and then sat her in my lap. I would have her look out our French doors at the birds flying around. There I talked with her about God’s creation, and of His love for us.

I did the same with my sons. We would be out raking the yard, when I would have all three of my children sit down with me under a tree for a quiet time. Our dog would lie there between. We would let the heavenly Father love us in His quietness. Then again I’d hear my youngest say, ‘Daddy, everybody needs a hug, huh? Even God.’ ‘Yes, baby, everybody needs a hug. Even God.’

Isn’t it amazing how a child can speak such wonderful things.

Does God need a hug?

I think so. I love to hug Him. Does God love to hold us? Yes, I believe He does. How much does God love us? We are unable to measure such a love. But He loves us enough to give His own Son as a sacrifice for our sins. As the writer said, “One sacrifice for sins for all time.” Heb10:12

God doesn’t want his children to be afraid. I think this is what my grandfather wanted to say when he wrote the inscription for my great grandfather’s head stone. It wasn’t written to cause fear, but to cause those who walked by to think a bit on the eternal.

Sure it is true — The apostolic writer said, “And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to died once and after this comes judgment….” Isn’t it interesting that when folk quote that verse, they often forget to look at the rest of the sentence? The rest of the sentence says, “…so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.” Heb9:27,28

Notice it says “without reference to sin.” The sin problem was settled long ago for those who know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. In the meantime we walk in our testimony to the Lord.

Well, thank you granddaddy for writing those ‘remember friend’ words. They have done well for my preaching.

Think about it.

Brother Buddy