Tears of Joy

Serena and Cathy just left for the airport.  In the conflicting jumble of emotions connected to that event I sat down at my desk and sorted it all out.  I'm going to miss her terribly, and I'm sorry to see her go back to Maryland.  But I am also very proud of her.  Since she's my favorite . . . daughter . . . (I only have one daughter so I can say that!) I mentioned her first.  (It's an inside family joke!  My kids will get it.)  Beneath all the banter and fun my reason for being proud of my daughter is important.  She loves the Lord Jesus and she follows Him.  I can say that about all my children, and my daughters-in-law.

That's Brighton, above, our youngest granddaughter.  Cathy and Savanna probably look like many mother and daughter-in-law pairs, but they are far from ordinary.  Jeremy and Savanna have three children, Bristol, Eldon, and Brighton.  I know my grandchildren are going to be just fine because their parents love Jesus, and follow Him.  Serena isn't married yet.  I told her she can start dating when she's thirty, and now that she's thirty, I guess she'll get started with that!  Whatever God has in store for my daughter, I know she had a godly mom.  Like Cathy, Serena is a godly woman, and so are my daughters-in-law.

  

That's Tawny, Jeff's lovely wife.  She's about to give birth to their second son, Troy.  Like Serena, Tawny grew up in a home that practiced Christian values, that honored and loved the Lord Jesus.  Her mom and dad are two of the godliest people I know.  And she loves the Lord Jesus and follows Him.  The interesting thing about Tawny and Savanna is that they are two very different women, both very different moms, and yet both amazing.  I watch them with the kids and I wonder how I could be so blessed to have two wonderful women married to my sons.  The thing is, both women are amazing because they walk so closely with the Lord.  I see that in both of them and it makes me glad.

Jeremy and Jeff are amazing men of God.  They are great friends, work well together, and have similar values.  Watching them love their wives and children fills me with joy.  They even love their sister, even though they know she's my favorite . . . daughter.  As a pastor I had a lot of people weighing me in the balances, and finding me wanting.  What a surprise!  I'm a sinner saved by grace.  I have no other claim.  Only Jesus!  However, when I look at my children I realize that as short as I fall of the mark, God has blessed me beyond measure!  And I can honestly say that it's all Jesus!  I thank and praise Him for His blessing!  Cathy and I weren't perfect parents.  We made a lot of mistakes.  But we weren't the focus.  Jesus is!  I have wonderful sons and a wonderful daughter (my favorite . . . daughter) because they belong to Him.  He has made them new and He defines who they are!

Sometimes my grandkids just melt my heart.  I sat down on Cathy's hope chest and as soon as Eldon saw where I was sitting he wanted to sit next to me.  Later he brought his mug, because I had my mug.  My grandkids love me!  Despite my shortcomings, they love me!  I had to pause there, for a moment, to wipe away a few tears of joy.  Cathy and I have a favorite song when it comes to our kids and grandkids.  Because He Lives!  Bringing innocent children into this sin-stained and tainted world is a scary thing.  But we know who holds the future!  It's Jesus!  The lovingkindness of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children's children!  (That's in Psalm 103 if you want to look it up.)

Tears of joy!  I love them, even if they give me a sinus headache!  Because He lives, I can face tomorrow!  Because He lives, all fear is gone!  Because I know He holds the future, and life is worth the living, just because He lives!  Amen!  So my favorite sons, daughter, and daughters-in-law, my beloved wife and favorite grandkids, remember that!  This world can be pretty scary sometimes, and life can become a heavy burden.  Just turn to Jesus.  He makes it all better!  I love you all very much!  

That First Christmas

What was it like that first Christmas?  I know there were people poised and ready for the Messiah to come.  Somewhere in Persia, men who studied Daniel's prophecies knew when He was born, setting off, following the star, arriving perhaps twelve to fifteen months later.  And in Jerusalem there were those who knew when He would be born.  They had figured the year and knew the place.

Who was waiting in Bethlehem?  Almost everyone there was there for the tax census, but among them there must have been many who were anxiously waiting for the Savior.  We're not told how Joseph and Mary ended up in a house.  Did someone give them a house to live in?  Someone who had been waiting for this precious moment?

Simeon knew.  How his heart must have swelled when he first held Jesus!  He'd been studying Isaiah, because he quotes Isaiah 42:6 in his blessing.  And how bold was he to quote that particular verse in the Temple?  One thing the Jews didn't want was a Savior who would bring light to the gentiles . . . to the Romans!  We know there were those who hated that knowledge because they ended up hating the Messiah!

This is one of my favorite depictions of the Angel bringing the Gospel to the shepherds.  Imagine!  Lowly shepherds being visited by the Lord to announce the coming of the Messiah!  Did they know then that in Christ position, wealth, health, or past mattered nothing?  Could they sense that all men were created equal and before Him were equal?  I hope so.  I like to think so.  And on that night, that most blessed of all nights, when the message came they went to see Him.  Did they stand there in front of the stable in disbelief?  Wow!  The Savior, and He's here, in this stable!  This is no way for a King to come!

The imagery of Philippians 2:5-11 comes to mind.  Jesus did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself.  He came as a Servant.  The King of Kings and Lord of Lords who created all things came with nothing, becoming a real man.  Like Pastor Chris said:  "Jesus had a belly button!"  It's often hard for me to think of Him as a human being.  That part of the eternal Christ actually had a beginning!  It happened one evening long ago, when the Holy Spirit put a human baby in Mary's womb, and Jesus joined Himself to that human body!  And now He has the first resurrected body!

I love Christmas, because it reminds me of the greatest gift given.  Jesus.  Do you know that Jesus loves you?  He doesn't care what you've done, who you've been, if you're tall or short, fat or skinny, pretty or homely, rich or poor, or anything else.  None of that is important.  What is important is what He can do for you.  If you believe in Him, and accept Him as your Lord and Savior, He will give you life, not the living death we experience apart from Him!

Isaiah described Him in chapter 42 with some interesting words.  Look at verse 3.  A bruised reed He will not break, and a dimly burning which He will not extinguish.  Life apart from Him can feel that way.  I am a reed, easily broken, bruised, weak.  Before I met Jesus my light burned so dimly!  But then I met Him.  I asked Him to be my Lord and Savior.  I asked forgiveness for my sins and received it.  I asked for a new life in Christ and He gave me a life of abundance and light!

Don't get me wrong!  I'm not rich, in the eyes of the world.  Nor am I important, according to the world's standards.  I have no power or position of which to boast.  But then, I don't live here any more.  Oh, yes!  I dwell here, but only to sojourn for a time.  My home is heaven, where Christ is.  Every spiritual blessing is mine!  I have peace.

Nothing can take away my light, or my life.  My body can die, but the spirit within, me, the person that uses this body for self expression, does not die.  Nor does this person live in darkness anymore.  Is Christmas special?  You bet!  Every year it gets more wonderful for me.  If only we could recapture the wonder of Christmas!

Alas!  My culture does everything to destroy what it means.  In my world Christmas is something the devil wants to remove!  Sometimes it seems that he is winning that battle, but then I celebrate the season with those who can recapture the wonder!  And I capture the wonder once again.  How blessed this Christmas is!

Thank You, Jesus, for coming!  Thank You for Christmas.  May I never forget the wonder that is the celebration of Your birthday!  I love You.

  

Christmas Wish

Christmas lights, decorations, trees, wreaths, Santa Claus, manger scenes (who are those white people?), wrapping paper, boxes, toys, pine cones, ribbons, the sound of children's voices raised in excitement, bells ringing, Salvation Army ringers collecting for that worthy institution and wishing everyone a Merry Christmas, Christmas movies, and Christmas music, all delightful and wonderful reminders of this amazing season.  Jesus is the reason for the season!  The greatest gift ever given in all of history is celebrated in this season!  It motivates us to give.  Just like Old Saint Nick was motivated to give and started the wonderful tradition of Santa Clause!

  

Someone asked me:  "If you could have one wish for Christmas, what would it be?"  I was quite surprised to realize that I didn't have to think about it!  I knew exactly what my one wish would be!  Perhaps you'd like to know what it was?  Yes, yes!  Get with it Bill  and tell us!  I wish that every person in the world could look into the loving eyes of Jesus, see and understand the depth of His wonderful love for us, and respond to that love with faith and obedience, loving each other as He loves us!

Grandchildren teach us a lot about wonder and discovery.  I love children and their exuberance.  They tend to love us in a sweet and innocent way.  Would that you and I could learn to express our love and excitement about each other in the same manner.  But we tend to be too stuffy and reserved, afraid to express our true emotions.  I think about the expressions of heaven when Jesus came!  So come on!  Let's get excited about Christmas!  Let's get excited about love, and giving, and generosity, and family, and friendship, and raise our voices in song and praise together to the reason for the season!  I love You Jesus!  I'm going to tell everyone:  "Merry Christmas!  Jesus loves you!"  

Thirty-Ninth Anniversary!

Yesterday Cathy and I celebrated our 39th Anniversary.  It was also Father's day and my sons, daughter, daughters-in-law made it a very special day.  Time has a way of surprising us, passing so quickly we don't realize how much of it has slipped away.  But yesterday we paused for a moment to celebrate that passage of time together.  I remember this young woman, remember all the promise I saw in her when we first met, and am so proud of how she has fulfilled that promise.  So, with my heart full, I sat down and wrote a short poem.

Full

By Bill Bennett

Celebrations commemorating a steadfast heart,

Thirty-nine years full of life’s challenging ways,

Still holding hands like we did at the start,

Meeting each challenge together facing each day.

Love does not wane nor does it grow cold,

For the Author of love fills our hearts overflowing,

Until bursting with song His praise is told,

Sharing our faith in terms fully glowing.

Or, with tears, and trembling expression,

Our fears and heartbreaks are openly shared,

Taking strength from His love and shared profession,

We face life with faith for He never errs.

A kiss, a soft glance, gentle touch and embrace,

Words softly spoken with truth and deep feeling,

Like apples of gold in silvery lace,

Take simple love and give it soaring wings.

And so today my heart is full,

My Lord, my wife, my children and all,

Remind me to listen to His heart’s pule,
So I am ready to answer love’s call.

My, how the years have changed us!  I remember when I could run and play with the kids, ride my bike, hike and swim and split wood all day.  Some days I still think I can do those things!  Well, I can still ride my bike, but not with the strength and vigor of my youth.  And Mrs. Bennett!  Every day she grows more beautiful and precious to me.  Truly, I am a blessed man.

The secret to our full and blessed lives is the Lord Jesus.  He is my only claim.  By His grace and mercy I am a sinner, saved, forgiven, and changed forever!  We may not have it all together, but when we're together we have it all!  I'm sure Cathy feels the same when it comes to our faith in Christ.  To Him be the glory!

Beauty in the Midst of Busy

Simply studying this photograph calms me.  This beautiful Pennsylvania stream is in a peaceful, quiet place, away from the roar of automobiles, trucks, and busses, the constant cacophony of noise from the city, a place of solitude and rest.  One can sit upon one of the rocks, or a fallen tree, and simply soak in the beauty of the spot, finding solace and peace in the pause.  I love this stream.

In the hustle and bustle of my life over the past weeks I am reminded that I need to visit places like this, but getting to them often involves hard work!  Hiking in to this spot near Mt. Gretna isn't easy.  There are no direct paths to the stream, just animal trails.  Thorns, nettles, and other irritants mar the journey, grabbing at my pants and sleeves like the annoyances of each day seek to make me hesitate, change direction, become frustrated. Life is like that.  And then, in the midst of all that frustration, hard work, sweat and effort, a moment of beauty comes upon us.  This morning was one of those for me.

I woke up happy, my heart filled to overflowing with joy from the Lord.  I sang sweet songs of praise, poetry set to music, the poetry of the soul in ecstasy, basking in the love of the Lord!  Sure, I'm still busy, my day is full, but that momentary reflection of beauty and quiet filled me with passion again!  Instead of facing a busy day with frustration and fatigue I am facing it with a sense of purpose and echoes of that joyful moment.

What caused this?  I was in Revelation this morning, the scene of the throne of glory in chapter 4.  In my mind I imagined the Seraphim leading a great hymn of praise, and then, throughout heaven, the echo of a whisper from every lip saying:  "Holy!"  Just writing about it brings chills again.  He is worthy to be praised!  Praise Him today!

Everything Necessary

Outrageous, unusual, and frightening concept though it is, this 1924 Layat had everything necessary to be classified as an automobile.  Most prominent was the propeller shield, laminated propeller, propeller boss, and airfoil-shaped metal strut at the front of the vehicle.  Behind the propeller, an 8 bhp (brake horsepower) motor built by Scorpion powered the car.  A teardrop plywood fuselage gave it the shape of an airplane without wings.  Mounted on a rigid front axle and a steering cabane at the tail the two-seater body resembled a small plane with 3 sets of double windows and a door with four panes of glass set in a square at the front.  Note the lack of any safety regarding that huge wooden propeller and the added danger of steering it from the back wheels at high speeds.  Propeller driven by the flat twin engine this vehicle could reach the frightening speed of 106 mph in a bone-jarring ride.

On the other hand, the vehicle to the right is modern and also has everything necessary to classify it as an automobile.  Okay!  So it looks like somebody farted in a smart car!  Maybe it was conceived by a professional bowler!  It is a three-wheel vehicle, also steered from the rear, has no reverse gear, and if necessary, one can roll it home if it stalls!  Funny!  Both of these vehicles look very different, operate differently, but serve the same purpose.  They are transportation, as ridiculous as their design may be, unique to their creator, and able to fulfill each one's purpose.

Everything God created serves its Creator in fulfilling a unique purpose.  Peter expressed the same thought to us in his second letter, chapter 1, verses 2-7.  He outlines quite clearly a course by which each of us can fulfill our divinely appointed purpose in His Kingdom.  Note how he introduces this simple lesson:  "Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord."  In our world we often live as if there is no peace, choosing to move at a pace so hurried we miss the daily blessings God sends our way because our attention is focused on too many things at once.  Yet Peter begins by bringing us to an abrupt halt to appreciate what we have in the Lord.

 "His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence."  Wow!  What a beginning!  Life can be confusing if we take our focus off of the Lord.  In Him we have everything necessary pertaining to life and godliness.  I love that!  I'm called!  I have a purpose!  It is unique to me as I serve my Lord and Savior!  My purpose is to live a godly life as He directs.  If I try to live a godly life that is directed by someone else I end up like the child in this picture.  I've got the tools, but I don't have the power to make them work!

"For by these (His own glory and excellence) He has granted to me His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them I might become a partaker of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust."  Remember the parable about the man who sought a pearl of great price, and when he found it he sold everything he had to purchase it?  His gift is His precious and magnificent promises!  I can change, if I allow Him to change me.  I partake of the divine nature!  And when I do, with diligence, I can fulfill my purpose in His Kingdom!

  The mill pictured on the right needs the waterwheel to turn it, and the waterwheel needs the stream running into the river to turn it.  Simple and beautiful this illustration reminds us that with His power to move and motivate we can do whatever He wants us to do.  So, applying all diligence in my faith I allow Him to "supply moral excellence, knowledge from that moral excellence, self control from that knowledge, perseverance and godliness produce brotherly kindness, and brotherly kindness produces love.  Simple!

Left is a YJ engine from a 1966 Bonneville.  This one was bored, balanced, and blueprinted, given a turbo charger, and now produces 575 bhp!  Talk about power.  Yet it serves no purpose at all if it is not mounted in the car and allowed to be used for what it was designed for.  Many believers today take their engines out of their cars, put them on stands, polish them, and admire them, but never use them.  Always tinkering with the engine it never actually serves its purpose.  In other words, we're good at speaking the right words, but not so good at actually doing the right things.  That is sin!  No!  Peter meant for us to use everything the Lord has given us!  How often I fall short of that!  I have everything necessary pertaining to life and godliness, but instead of choosing to live and be godly, I fall back into the death from which I was rescued.  Take my advice friends.  Be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you!  I will do my best by His grace and power.

Hibernation

Great googlie mooglies!  It seems I've been in hibernation!  If so, I'm awake early in the season!  Ahem!  Actually, I've been occupied with trying to get my books published, the Thanksgiving and Christmas season at work and at home, and haven't budgeted any time to my blog.  To even the casual observer it should be obvious that the hustle and bustle of this season has taken its toll.  This season the toll was a pleasant exhaustion from totally enjoyable pursuits!

Gail Possert of Grace Resource Center worked closely with me to put together our POWER Plus curriculum for our pilot program in 2013.  It began on January 2.  We are hoping that this 12-week class will impact the lives of our students and help them develop the skills and attitudes they will need to move forward in positive ways toward a better life.  Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings we have their undivided attention for three hours to encourage, strengthen, and challenge them to reach further and higher than ever before toward success.

Christmas!  Serena was home for Christmas and the Bennett clan got together several times for joyous celebration.  We even found the time to have a family photo shoot!  This is a photo I will cherish.  God has blessed me with a wonderful family!  We get along, love each other very much, and like being together.  Even better, we love the Lord.  My sons, daughter, and daughters-in-law have conducted themselves in such a way that I am deeply moved by their walk with God, and find it quite easy to sing praises to the Lord for His lovingkindness in blessing me with such a wonderful family.

Especially fun this Christmas was Serena's humor.  Cathy made little name cards to put on our plates to indicate where we should sit around the table.  Unable to resist her creative urges Serena edited them.  Her plate card read:  Serena (n):  1. Awesome  2. The favorite.  My plate card read:  Bill (n):  1. Father, musician, writer, faithfully committed to God and family  2. Lover of Pepsi and Ford; hater of Mac computers 3. Has an awesome daughter.  Cathy's plate card read:  Cathy (n):  1. An amazingly wise woman of God.  A wonderful mother, mother-in-law, Maga, and friend  2. Bearer of two demon spawn and an angelic daughter.  Jeremy's card read:  Jeremy (n):  1. A creative father, husband and artist who paints his world with ingenuity, individuality and dedication  2. Has an awesome sister  3. Not the favorite.  Jeff's card was much the same, with the notation that he was not the favorite child.  Savanna and Tawny both had cards that said they had an awesome sister-in-law, (not each other).  She is so creative in her humor.  We all enjoyed her humor.

We missed Savanna's mom and dad, Mark and Celecia, and Tawny's mom and dad, Ruben and Debbie Badano this Christmas.  Our thoughts were with both those families and though we didn't get together for Christmas the kids managed to fit them into their busy schedules.  Family is important.  When your kids get married, you get the added benefit of extended families.  God has blessed us with an amazing extended family that we love and enjoy whenever we get together.  Pictured here are Mark and Celecia at Bristol's birthday party in September of 2011.

At Grace Resource Center over a thousand people gathered for our Graceful Christmas celebration.  Debbie Badano, Luke Badano, and Tawny Bennett joined me in singing Christmas favorites.  Luke and Tawny played the guitar and I played the keyboard.  We had a great time singing for the crowds.  Santa and Mrs. Clause were there to greet the kids and we turned our dining hall into a toy store so each child could enter and pick a toy for Christmas.  Everyone on staff at Grace pitched in to make this the best Graceful Christmas ever!  I got to work closely with Lynda Elmes, our event coordinator in planning and putting everything together for the event.  Her tireless efforts, and the efforts of the other staff members, made this a very blessed Christmas event I will cherish for many years in my heart.

So now I'm out of hibernation and will be sharing some of my thoughts once again in this blog.  My turtles are in semi-hibernation mode, not eating much, and not moving much as they await the return of warm weather when I can put them out in the sun again.  I'm sure they send their greetings as well.  My hope for all of you reading this is that you will have a blessed new year and experience a deep and abiding relationship with Jesus Christ in 2013.