Moving on to “New Ground”
Introduction: I prefaced remarks made on Facebook a few days ago with the words, “I don’t know where to start.” There are so many issues which need to be addressed. More each day I come to realize people simply refuse to address the elements of the issues of a case.
A man who has made a great impact in his career as an educator in Gordon County sent me a very encouraging note allowing for great insight to the manner with which responses should be met. I am taking the liberty of quoting his message since it is already “out there” for public reading: Dr. Gary D. Lemmons said in response to my remark that I didn’t know where to start, “Ah, Coach, I stopped publishing defenses of my writings a long time ago when I came to the realization that my friends do not require them and my adversaries will not believe them.” Dr. Lemmons further added great observations about two groups of people: He said, “Honorable people may disagree with you but they will read rationally. Others are lost in their own prejudices.”
Dr. Lemmons condensed the whole of the issues being discussed in a concise and wise statement. He has demonstrated this ability over the years with letters to the editor and articles he has written for the Calhoun Times. He is one of the people I have admired over the years because of his exceptional ability to know his position and articulate that position in a wonderful way.
The great singer Jim Reeves, who died in a plane crash in 1974, began one of his warm and romantic songs with the words, “With pen in hand I try to write this note to you,” and later added “I know now where I stand.” He then asked the question, “How can I write on paper what I feel in my heart.” So do I know where I stand – and I might add “Why I stand where I do.”
So knowing where I stand and I am willing to discuss the “elements” as they say in court situations. I have found that it would take a
The headlines of the article on the front page declared “Churches become homeless shelters.” The subhead said from “From Idaho to Maryland, congregations open their doors to strangers in need of food and rest.”
There are so many directions I could go in discussing the issue of benevolence toward those in need. So often all of us locally of different religious persuasions reach out to individuals and families on a temporary and one-time effort. In no way do my words today reflect upon those who give or those who receive assistance in times of emergencies or temporary situation. We are really considering two different aspects of the needy. Often, in years gone by when I was jogging in cold weather well before daylight, I would reflect (while running or jogging for long distances give pause for serious reflection on many subjects) on the possibility of churches opening the doors of their facilities for those in need.
I remember well one cold morning when, well before daylight, I came across a young man somewhere toward the downtown area. He asked me a question I have never forgotten: He asked me where the post office was located. He explained to me that he was passing through town and he was cold and hungry. I had never thought of the post office being a place of refuge for one needing comfort from the cold. The young man explained that he had often gone to post offices in various towns and rested on the floor. I concluded from our conversation that the post offices are never locked.
I have only begun to discuss the subject and I see I have used too many words. This is an issue I am determined to address further. We all need to consider this one of the three great works of the church Jesus established. I refer to first, Preaching the gospel; second, Edification of the saints and third, The work of benevolence (helping the needy).