Dear Friends:

This message will go out on Mother’s Day weekend. Whether you are a mother or daughter, father or son, cast-off and orphaned or held close in family in friendships, I hope that this message that I first sent out seven years ago will bless your day and week with the tender mercy of the Lord who loves you.

. . .
I visited a client’s office late on a hot Wednesday afternoon. I announced myself to the administrative assistant, Mignon Mosely, and sat down on a chair opposite her desk. Mignon is a lovely woman, always immaculately dressed, gracious and helpful without fail. She is shrewd in dealing with the demanding clientele of her employers to whom she is invaluable and their number one public relations asset which I hope they realize. She loves Christ and has shown me a thing or two over the years about following him.

The counter in front of her desk frequently has a brightly colored can collecting donations for the causes like children’s health or breast cancer research that are her passion. I took a look at that and then glanced at the photographs and decorations around her desk. There was a round piece of white paper with blue circular printing around the rim. accented with musical notes. It said, “I Sing Because I’m Happy.”

The song rolled up out of my heart.

Why should I feel discouraged,

Why should the shadows come,

Why should my heart be lonely,

And long for heaven and home,

When Jesus is my portion?

My constant friend is He:

His eye is on the sparrow,

And I know He watches me;

His eye is on the sparrow,

And I know He watches me.

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I sing because I’m happy,

I sing because I’m free,

For His eye is on the sparrow,

And I know He watches me.

–Civilla Martin

“I sing because I’m happy,” I said out loud quoting the lyric of the chorus. “I sing because I’m free, for His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.”

Mignon said the last line of the chorus with me and added,”That was my mother’s favorite song.” Read more »

Dear Friends:

When they reached Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax came to Peter and said, “Does your teacher pay the temple tax?” He said, “Yes, he does.” And when he came home, Jesus spoke of it first, asking, “What do you think, Simon? From who do the kings of the earth take toll or tribute? When Peter said, “From others,” Jesus said to him, “Then the children are free. However, so that we do not give offence to them, go to the sea and cast a hook, take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a coin; take that and give it to them for you and me.” (Matt. 17:24-27)

It’s a bad idea to go out without Jesus. I should have known better before coming downtown today.

I am a commercial fisherman who wants to be a disciple. Part of being a disciple is to make one’s teacher look good, right?

But I never saw this coming. I understand catching fish with nets. I know from experience that nets meant to entangle fish can become entangled in weeds and rocks.

That’s how I am feeling after the tax collectors ask me, “Does your teacher pay the temple tax?” out there in the market place with everyone listening.

“Yes, he does” I tell them without a moment’s thought.

Their knowing smirks tell me that I’m in big trouble. I hate this. They don’t know Jesus like I do. I am with the man day and night. I have never seen him pay the tax, but neither have they! No, wait…that doesn’t sound so good.

Let me think. I am an intimate associate of the hottest preacher and I want him to succeed. I mean what kind of legitimacy will he have to the church and the community if he doesn’t play by the rules. After all, I’ve heard him say myself, “I have come not to destroy the law, but to fulfill it.” Read more »