Clean Slate

This is not a usual post, it is actually a word for word copy of today's devotion from Voices of the Faithful , available here: http://imbresources.org/index.cfm/product/detail/prodID/1378/page/1 Ephesians 3:20 Amplified Bible (AMP) 20  Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do super abundantly, far over  and  above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]— "Please pray for Mrs T. I think she's getting really close to making a decision." Our short-term missionary friend continued to meet with Mrs. T weekly.    One such trip had been especially harried. We were running late. As I tried to turn the van around on the crowded ice hill of a parking lot, my stress grew. "All this work for someone who's probably never going to believe anyway." I sighed to myself.    I had never been t...

   As a parent I find myself rhetorically asking my son how many times he needs to be told to do something. The answer should be once but that is not the reality. I am working on stopping that question because every time it comes out I am reminded by the Holy Spirit that I am guilty of needing repeated warnings, reminders and training in my life.   I watched and listened to a sermon by David Platt given at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary recently. Three Questions from Luke    I had to listen to it three times and I know I will go back to it again. Platt is a fine preacher of the Word but I think his greatest strength is his passion for the Lord. It is palpable. It draws you in and makes you examine God's word and how it applies to you. That is a powerful gift and he uses it well. His message or better yet God's message clearly stated in Luke is a call to serve Him unconditionally and to love your neighbor as yourself . I am guilty of making le...

Written and delivered by his pastor at New Market United Methodist Church in Hartsville, South Carolina. It is truly a rare honor when one has the privilege of celebrating the successful completion of a lifelong venture. Today is such an honor. The Reverend George Cook, or as we love to call him "Brother Cook" was truly one of the most successful people I have been privileged to know. His success was not financial, it was not in terms of human recognition or fame, he did not build great institutions, or any of the other things by which most of today's society judges a man to be successful. Brother Cook succeeded at the most difficult task any of us face. He succeeded at life. He was true to his faith, true to his calling and true to his commitment. He was, in my opinion a true Christian, as God calls us all to be. I really believe he lived in the manner Christians are called to live, as the name "Christian" suggests, "Christ like". From tim...

   Let go, let Jesus. It sounds simple. We should all do it if we trust and believe in the Lord but do we? I can speak for myself and readily acknowledge that it is a daily battle. My pride and ego surface regularly and push the Lord aside. He is before all things, and by Him all things are held together. He is also the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He might come to have first place in everything. (Colossians 1:17-18)     I believe those words yet so often fail to let Him do his job of holding all things together. Frustrations, anxieties and the daily grind end up pushed in front of Him and instead of behind Him. I have felt the sweet comfort of relying on His strength and power but I am still in training to make it a daily habit.   My father is visiting us now. We have a truly full house with Tsengel, myself, the three kids, my father-in-law, my Dad and Carolina Girl-his Boston Terrier. My Dad has f...

   Well today is my birthday and we should celebrate all things me. I agree. Let us celebrate Louis M Cook. But that is not me. I am Louis M. Cook, Jr. That is a fact I made sure my teachers knew and acknowledged as a young and probably bothersome youngster. My Dad is Louis M. Cook. He can put a Senior behind his name or not. As the first one, he has that option.    I do not want to forget my Mom but she has told me that giving birth to me was not a tough ordeal. The next few decades were much more trying for her. I wanted to write this last night but I laid down with my wife and son and told them a few stories about my Dad. The sad fact is that my sons and soon daughter do not and will not know the Dad who raised me. His mind has been attacked by a heinous disease known as Primary Progressive Aphasia. I write this and other stories and tell tales to my kids so that through me they might know and remember him.   He made a living and a unique life through wor...

  A Clemson friend of mine responded to my post yesterday about how the 1977 last minute loss to  the Tigers cemented my affection for and loyalty to Carolina. He said, "Only a Gamecock would cite a loss as the moment that glued you to your team." He is right. For the young whippersnappers like my nephews who think the Red Sox have always been winners having now won three World Series titles in a decade. It was not always so. The Gamecocks are riding a 17-game home winning streak. It is the longest active streak in college football. With two or three games left to play, the tiny 5 man Senior class already has 40 wins and no Gamecock class has ever done that before. And yes they have beaten Clemson every year since Obama has been our President. My first thought was to quote the Jefferson's theme song here as it has taken a lot of hard work for the Gamecocks to get to this point.    My Dad once had a variety of jobs and one was as a salesman and on-air talent fo...

   As a native son of the Palmetto state exiled across a continent, this week perhaps more than any other makes me pine for home. It is the week of the Clemson game, Carolina-Clemson week. Most states have their particular rivalries and think that they are the best. It all depends on your perspective. For me the finest NBA player ever is Alex English. Our nation's best actress is a tie between JoAnnne Woodward and Andie MacDowell. Then the best rivalry is South Carolina and Clemson. Out here in Northern California, they call the annual contest between Cal and Stanford: The Big Game. When you feel the need to label it as such then it is probably not that big a deal. It reminds me of a sports talk radio host from my days in the Holy City. He called himself The Big Kahuna. I met him and yes he had a big gut but was not that big a dude. He was not Hawaiian or a surfer. Just a former male cheerleader. I don't judge, just reporting the facts.   At Carolina Elementary Sc...