"A PERSPECTIVE ON THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS (PART 1) - THOUGHTS ON CHRISTMAS SHOPPING"

Needless to say, Christmas is a busy time of year. I’ve been so busy that I haven't blogged during the past few days.

The Thanksgiving season used to be the beginning of the Christmas shopping season ... however, these days stores put up their Christmas displays the day after Halloween! (I can just imagine some child opening a Christmas gift with Halloween candy in it.)

Some get their Christmas shopping done early, others wait until the last minute. If you are reading these words on Wednesday, December 19, you only have five shopping days left (unless you have to settle for a convenience store on Christmas day ... then you have six.)

How much will Americans spend on Christmas gifts this year? AOL forecasts $450 billion dollars. That’s a lot of Christmas presents.

PNC Bank of Pittsburgh takes the shopping prediction a step further. According to the bank, the total cost of the Christmas gifts listed in “The Twelve Days of Christmas” song (“On the first day of Christmas, my true gave to me ...”) would be $19,507.19 at today’s prices, an increase of 3.1% from last year.

PNC Bank has tracked the Christmas Price Index (CPI) since 1984. The lowest cost was in 1995 at $12,481.65. If you want the convenience of on-line ordering, the 2007 cost escalates to $78,100.00. The bank consults merchants, unions, professional organizations, and other experts in determining the costs. The only gifts to see no increase In 2007 are the three French hens, the seven swans a-swimming, and the nine ladies dancing. The gifts seeing the greatest increase in 2007 are the five golden rings and the eight maids a-milking ... a costly year to propose to a milkmaid but a money saving year to date a dancer!!! There’s a great video of this financial report at the PNC website: www.pncchristmaspriceindex.com.

Whether it’s $450 billion or $19 thousand, Christmas shopping can be expensive. However, the greatest Christmas gift of all cannot be bought or sold. According to the Bible, it cost God the Father immeasurably: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Have you received God’s gift of life? If you haven’t, receive it now by praying to Him. If you have, share His gift with others this season.

As you shop for “that perfect Christmas gift,” remember that God picked it out for you before you were even born.

Well, I must close. Must go Christmas shopping!

This is just one pastor’s (and shopper’s) perspective.

"A PERSPECTIVE ON HOLIDAYS (PART 2) - MORE THOUGHTS ON THANKSGIVING"

1872. One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two. Miles. That’s how far we drove round trip to Waco and then to Kansas City to visit with our children for the Thanksgiving holiday season. Twenty-eight hours. In a PT Cruiser. Seventy-five gallons of gas. Five nights in motels. Twenty meals dining out. That’s a lot of money. And a lot of time. But, like the TV commercial reminds us, even though all of the above things come with a price tag, there is one that is priceless - time with family.

We raised our children to be independent and we accomplished that goal! Our daughter and son-in-law have made a new home in Minnesota. Our son currently lives in Texas with a possible future on the west coast. My wife and I keep the home fires burning in Arkansas. If you’re children live close by, be thankful. But even if they live far away, be thankful. I’m thankful that I live in an age where distance doesn’t have to mean separation. Cars, cell phones, e-mail. We correspond and talk with our children often and travel to visit with them when we can.

Christmas is coming ... and the kids come home! Except this year. Our daughter and son-in-law are taking a cruise in Hawaii. But that’s OK. They both work hard and deserve it. I’m thankful that they have the resources to go. Who knows ... some Christmas in the future mom and dad may do that and leave the kids behind!

Yes, this modern age can be a good time to be alive. Be thankful for your family no matter where they live ... next door, next state, or next country.

This is just one pastor’s (and one father’s) perspective.

"A PERSPECTIVE ON HOLIDAYS - THOUGHTS ABOUT THANKSGIVING"

Thanksgiving is one of the few religious legal holidays that our nation observes and perhaps the most appropriate one for all citizens. President George Washington, in his “Thanksgiving Proclamation” of 1789, proclaimed: “Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be ... that we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country ... that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions ...”

Most Christians certainly celebrate Christmas (the birth of Jesus) and Easter (the resurrection of Jesus), but all Americans ... whether Christians, Jews, Muslims, other World Religions, Atheists, and all nonreligious ... should certainly be thankful for the great nation in which we live.

Take time this Thanksgiving season to write a “Thank You Note” to a political leader and/or a religious leader and thank them for their efforts to keep this great nation such a great place to live and, for those of us who are religious, to worship. And, while you’re at it ... may I suggest that you follow President Washington’s proclamation and “render unto him (the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, and that will be) sincere and humble thanks for his kind care and protection ... and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions."

This is just one pastor’s (and thankful citizen’s) perspective.

"A PERSPECTIVE ON CHURCHES - THOUGHTS ABOUT THE COMMUNITY THANKSGIVING SERVICE"

Recently, I had lunch with three pastors and one layman of several area churches to plan the annual Community Thanksgiving Service. (That’s me on the left in the photo. See if you can pick out the Missionary Baptist pastor, the Assembly of God pastor, the First United Methodist pastor, and the Second Baptist layman. Bonus points for guessing who ate the most!)

Although the Baptists outnumbered the Others by three to two (sounds like a baseball score), there were no “winners” or “losers” at the encounter. On that day (and every year on the Sunday night before Thanksgiving), the emphasis is not on what divides us but on what unites us ... the proclamation that Jesus Christ is the only Savior and Lord.

Make no mistake, I’m thankful (and a little proud) to be a Southern Baptist .... but I’m more thankful to be a Christian. And, I’m thankful to live in a town where churches can see past our religious backgrounds and heritages. We not only do this at Thanksgiving time to worship, but year round through the food ministry of “Christ’s Corner.” (We will receive an offering at the Community Thanksgiving Service to help stock this food ministry.)

I hope that you’ll come to the Community Thanksgiving Service on Sunday night, November 18, 6:00 at the England Elementary School Cafeteria. You’ll hear some great music from many of the area churches and some great preaching by our host this year, Mike Brogan of First Assembly of God.

This is just one pastor’s perspective.

"A PERSPECTIVE ON TIME - THOUGHTS WHILE CHANGING THE CLOCK (PART 2)

Central Standard Time resumes this weekend. I have one other story that comes to mind when thinking about “changing the clock” and, like last week, it involves my mother also. She would tell me this story often, from my earliest childhood memories up until shortly before her death in 1997.

Back in 1944, “Poppy” (my mother’s father) traveled from Paragould, Arkansas, to St. Louis, Missouri, to bring my older brother Dub home from summer vacation and to pick up “Grandma” (his wife). My brother Dub was ten at the time, I had not yet been born.

“Poppy” (who was sixty-five) took ill the next morning. My mother took him to the city hospital. A short time later, “Poppy” had a stroke that impaired his speech.

Two days later, “Poppy” began to wave his left hand in the air and call for my mother over and over with the only words that he could utter: “Two, four, Ruby! Two, four, Ruby!” My grandmother called for my mom to come to the hospital to try and make sense of what “Poppy” wanted.

Not knowing what “Poppy” could possible mean, she realized what he wanted as soon as she entered the hospital room and saw him gesturing as if drinking while saying, “Two, four, Ruby! Two, four, Ruby!” My mother simply said, “Poppy, do you want a Dr. Pepper?” “Poppy” shook his head “yes” as tears came to his eyes. He drank two bottles of Dr. Pepper ... the soft drink first marketed as “Good for Life” at ten o’clock, TWO o’clock, and FOUR o’clock.” My mother, when she was a young girl, would bring “Poppy” a Dr. Pepper at those times of day. He couldn’t say “I’m thirsty” or “I need a drink of water,” but somehow he could form the words to ask my mother to quench his thirst like she did when she was a little girl. (The top picture at right is a picture of my mother and her "Poppy" at about the time she would take him Dr. Peppers out in the fields ... about 1920. The bottom picture is a picture of "Poppy" and "Grandma" Turpin and my mom shortly after his stroke.)

Later, when “Poppy” recovered somewhat, he told people: “I think that I would have choked to death if I hadn’t gotten a Dr. Pepper. It saved my life!”

“Poppy” died in 1955 at the age of seventy-seven. Even though I have no memories of him, I think of him every time I see a Dr. Pepper and especially every time I look at my Dr. Pepper clock (pictured with me at right) with the big red ten-TWO-FOUR numbers. (The clock is the first of my soda pop clock collection ... in fact, it started my soda pop collection.) I found it in a little country store in Hollywood, Arkansas. I told the owner this story, tried to buy it, but he gave it to me instead!

I guess I could draw comparisons to “the living water” of which Jesus spoke that quenches spiritual thirst (John 4:10-14), but I intended no sermon in this story ... just warm feelings for a mother that I miss and a grandfather that I never knew. If you have a mom and a grandpa around, hug them for me. Maybe there is a sermon in this story after all: “Honor thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise” (Ephesians 6:2).

This is just one pastor’s (and son’s and grandson’s) perspective.

Rick Hyde - England, Arkansas
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"A PERSPECTIVE ON TIME - THOUGHTS WHILE CHANGING THE CLOCK"

Daylight Savings Time (DST) ends this coming Saturday night. I'll leave it to another columnist to tell you why ... I'm sure she understands the rationale behind it much better than I. I think it's "fall back and spring forward," but the weekend we do each keeps changing. By the way, I collect clocks. Pictured is one of my favorites ... my "bird clock" that chirps every hour on the hour (except in the dark). More about clocks in my next blog post sometime next week.

I've lived long enough to remember when Arkansas did not observe DST. I was born and raised in St. Louis and when we would visit my grandmother in northeast Arkansas in the early sixties, my dad would have to change his watch in the summer. Missouri observed DST, Arkansas didn't back then.

Changing the clock reminds me of our changing times. In this modern age, we don't even have to change some clocks anymore ... they change automatically! It's the same with life ... some things we can change, some things we can't, and some things change for (or in spite of) us. It reminds me of something I wrote when my mom died ten years ago. Click on this link and think about it while you change the clock this weekend:

http://one-pastors-perspective.blogspot.com/2007/10/perspective-on-aging-part-3-thoughts.html

It's just one pastor’s (and son’s and husband’s and father’s) perspective.

"A PERSPECTIVE ON LIFE - THOUGHTS ABOUT BASEBALL"

The last few columns have been a little on the serious side ... time for the lighter side.

It’s World Series time ... or as Cardinals pitcher (and Arkansas born and bred) Dizzy Dean used to say, “World Serious” time. I love baseball. I was born and lived in St. Louis until I was almost thirteen ... so naturally I’m a Cardinals fan. If you’re not a baseball fan, read on ... perhaps you’ll get something from this column anyway.


“There’s always next year.”

We Cardinals fans don’t have to say the above statement nearly as much as Chicago Cubs fans (in fact, they’ve said it every year since 1908) ... but we have to say it this year. The 2006 World Series Champions St. Louis Cardinals played like the 1962 New York Mets, whose record was 40-120 with a .250 winning percentage, the third worst in major league history. (The three worst records? See if you can figure it our before the end of this column. Here’s a hint - think before 1936. One team doesn’t exist anymore, the other two have moved to different cities.) The Cardinals 2007 record of 78-84 with a .481 winning percentage wasn’t quite as bad, but bad enough to keep them out of the playoffs. (Playoffs ... that could be another column: “A Perspective on Life - Thoughts on Changing the Rules to a Accommodate Losers and Greed.” But, I digress.)

“There’s always next year” in baseball ... for the fans. Not always for the players, the managers, or the front office personnel. Players jump to different teams for more money. Managers and front office people get fired. Professional baseball is not a game anymore. Oh, for the days of Dizzy Dean, Stan Musial, and Babe Ruth.

“There’s always next year” in baseball, but not in life. Professional baseball may not be a game anymore, and neither is life. Too many people look at life that way. As Scarlet O’Hara (Southern belle of “Gone with the Wind” fame and Atlanta Braves baseball fan) would often say, “Tomorrow is another day!” But no one is guaranteed “tomorrow.” Rhett left Scarlet. The Cardinals didn’t make it to the World Series this year. Many people will never get that “tomorrow” to do what should have been done today. The Bible warns us: “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2). Take care of the important things today. Don’t treat life as a game.

Well, since I turned “world serious” - let me close on a light note. Hang in there, baseball fans. A true fan stays loyal. Just ask England Kroger produce manager and die-hard Cubs fan Bill Newton. I want the Cubs to go to and win the World Series once just for his sake. Next year would be a great time to do it ... 100 years since the Cubs’ last world championship. The Cardinals have won the World Series ten times since then! (I just couldn't’ resist pointing that stat out.)

The answer to the trivia question: the 1935 Boston Braves (.248), the 1916 Philadelphia Athletics (.235), and the 1899 Cleveland Spiders (.130).

2008 is just around the corner. Go, Cardinals! The photo above is one I shot when our son and I were at Game 4 of the 2004 World Series in St. Louis when the Boston Red Sox finally won another World Series. (Hey, Bill, it can happen! Maybe the Cubs can do it someday. And maybe pigs can fly.) More of my baseball photos can be seen by clicking on http://englandfbc.org/message2.php?messageID=403&churchID=405. Here's a bonus photo of Bill and me from 2005 ...

This is just one pastor’s (and baseball fan’s) perspective.

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"A PERSPECTIVE ON AGING (PART 3) - THOUGHTS ABOUT MOM"

I just read my good friend David Holder's blog (you can find the article here http://drdave3.blogspot.com/2007/10/dear-folks.html) about his parents and it reminded me of something that I wrote about my mom way back in 1998 in The Malvern Daily Record newspaper. (My daughter the engineer pointed out that the dates first mentioned didn't jive with my math. I hope I got it right as corrected below. Thanks, daughter.)

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Mother's Day - May, 1999

Last Saturday, my family and many of our friends gathered in northeast Arkansas for my mother’s funeral. She lived a long life and when death came to her at almost 87 years of age, she died peacefully in her sleep. As we prepare to celebrate Mother’s Day this Sunday, let me share some memories of her that teach the biblical importance of mothers.

I wish that I a nickel for every time that I heard my mom say, “I hope that I live long enough to ...” I guess that she was concerned that since she was in her forties when I was born that her time would be up before my adult life began to unfold. Back when I was a young boy, forty seemed like old age. Now that I’m 46, I can understand my mother’s perspective on how quickly time passes. The Psalmist understood this, too. “As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth” (Psalm 103:15). Since time does pass so quickly, let’s make the most of it as parents.

My mom would say often, “I hope that I live long enough to see you graduate from high school.” I’m the last of seven children, born seven years after the sixth. My oldest sister has a child older that I am. When I was young, kids my age often thought that I lived with my grandparents. My education was important to my mother. Most parents see the importance of academic education. Do you see the importance of spiritual education? The Bible teaches parents to “bring children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). My parents missed this important foundation in my early years, but thankfully both they and I got involved in church when my dad retired and we moved to Arkansas when I was twelve. Parents, don’t forget to teach your children about the ABC’s and about the Lord.

As time passed, my mom started to say, “I hope that I live long enough to see you graduate from college.” Well, she did ... four times, in fact! I received my bachelor’s degree in 1975, a master’s degree in 1976, another master’s degree in 1988, and my doctorate in 1992. But, of all the things that I learned as I studied, I discovered that the greatest truth is the simplest one: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Our daughter is just completing her first year in college. How time flies! It seems like only yesterday I was completing mine. Parents, teach your children the principles they’ll need in a way that will honor God. “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth” (3 John 1:4). I think that mom was pleased with the way that I “turned out.”

While I was in college, mom then started saying, “I hope that I live long enough to see you get married.” Well, she did ... in 1975. Mom knew that my life would be happiest if I had someone to share it with. She was right. “A virtuous woman ... the heart of her husband doth safely trust in her. She will do him good all the days of her life” (Proverbs 31:10-12).

After we got married, mom began to say (yep, you guessed it): “I hope that I live long enough to see your first child born.” Well, she did ... our first child was born in 1980. I remember that when we found out we were expecting our first baby, I called home and joked with her, “Mom, if you can hold on for another six months, you can die a happy woman!” She not only “held on” for the first baby, but she saw our second one born, too! My mom took great joy in her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. “Children’s children are the crown of the old” (Proverbs 17:6). It’s important to pass on our heritage to the next generation ... our family traditions, customs, and, most importantly, our faith.

What would my mom say now if she could speak? How about this: “I hope that while you live, you not only hope for things to come to pass but you do the things that pass along hope to your children.” For a lady who began at age 40 to “hope” a lot for me, she “did” a lot for me in the years before her death. “... In time to come your children might speak unto our children, saying, ‘What have ye to do with the Lord God?’” (Joshua 22:24). None of us know how much time we have, so let’s make the most of it for our sake and the sake of our children. I hope to live long enough to see the things come to pass that my mom hoped for. But, if I don't, I hope that I have spent the time doing those things that show our children “what we have to do with the Lord God.”

I hope you have a blessed Mother’s Day. I will because of what my mom hoped would come to pass in my life. And, even more, I will because I know that some day I will see my mother again in God’s eternal Heaven because we both trusted Him.

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Well ... since I wrote that column 8 years ago, let me update you on our family. I'm now 54 and Kay and I moved to England, Arkansas. Our daughter graduated from college and married a wonderful Christian young man and they live in Minnesota. Our son graduated from college and is in seminary in Waco, Texas.

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The graphic at the top right of this post is my mother's page from our church's "Book of Life." In her own word and in her own handwriting is her account of her salvation and baptismal experience. I'm so glad I have it!

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This just one pastor's (and one son's) perspective.

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"A PERSPECTIVE ON PREJUDICE - THOUGHTS ON THE 50th ANNIVERSARY OF THE LITTLE ROCK CENTRAL HIGH INTEGRATION"

I have lived through something that few people will ever have to remember - racial strife.

I taught public high school at Sparkman, Arkansas from 1976-1982. The 1982 school year began as any other in one way, and as no other in another way. A few days into school that August, two of my seventh grade students were tragically linked with murder - one the victim, the other the perpetrator. Details as to manner and motive were sparse - I’m not sure that anyone even today knows the complete story. I don’t. The two boys appeared to be the best of friends. The town appeared to be a harmonious community. The appearances were deceiving.

However, I do know this - the seemingly non-racial tragedy of murder became a community tragedy of racial strife. Two families scarred forever. The school was boycotted. Friendships were destroyed and/or damaged forever. Businesses closed, People moved away. The boycott ended, but the community never fully recovered.

This is the 50th anniversary of the racial strife at Little Rock and the 25th anniversary of the racial strife at Sparkman. Many people will remember and recall the events at Little Rock of 50 years ago. Few remember or recall the events at Sparkman 25 years ago. May we learn from the past or, as one philosopher so aptly put it: “Those who don’t learn from the past are condemned to repeat it.”

What did this pastor / school teacher learn from that personal experience of 25 years ago?

Simply this ... prejudice is an ugly thing. It’s not just a “white” thing or a “black” thing or a “brown” thing. It’s not just a “Caucasian” thing or an “African American thing” or a “Hispanic” thing. It’s an ugly thing. It is sin. The Bible tells us that “there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). We must learn to live together not simply because it’s the American way or it’s the politically correct way, but because it is God’s Way. One famous preacher has said that the most segregated time in the United States is Sunday mornings at 11:00 a.m. I would like to think that we attend different churches not because we have to do so but because we choose to do so ... many of us prefer different styles and lengths of music, preaching, and worship - not just because of racial heritages but within cultural differences, too. The Savior that I worship was not a fair, blue eyed white Anglo Saxon but a swarthy, dark eyed Jewish rabbi. If I profess to love Him, I must also love all who are my brothers and sisters: “If a man says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar: for he that loves not his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?” (1 John 4:20).

As you think of the events of 50 years ago at Little Rock, think of the events at Sparkman 25 years ago. And, pray not only that those sinful things will never happen in our community but that we, all of us, will do what we can to promote God’s love for all people.

At Thanksgiving, the community of England will gather for our annual Community Thanksgiving Service. Hopefully, we will gather as God’s people at one of God’s churches ... not at “this kind of church” or at “that kind of church” but at “His kind of church.” I hope to see you there.

This is just one pastor’s perspective.

Rick Hyde
First published in the "England Democrat" the week of September 24, 2007.

"A PERSPECTIVE ON AGING (PART 2) - THOUGHTS ON AIRPLANES AND FIRE TRUCKS"

Continuing from last week: Some more thoughts on aging ... prompted by rides this week on an airplane and a fire truck ... or, more thoughts on how to grow older without growing old.

Last Thursday, I went for an airplane ride with pilot Tommy Anderson and retired teacher / principal Mrs. Lucille Hall. Mrs. Hall’s ride was a door prize gift certificate from Tommy’s Flying Service as part of our “Skool Daze” celebration honoring our area educators back in August.

As we prepared to board the plane, it occurred to me that perhaps I should have brought a step stool to help Mrs. Hall get into the cockpit. (It’s a pretty big step from the runway to the foothold.) However, in a matter of seconds, she bounded right up onto to the foothold and right into the plane with only a steadying arm from Tommy and me. On the other hand (and foot), it took me several minutes to get my bulk squeezed into the back seat. (And much longer to get out when we landed.) As we taxied for take-off, I asked Mrs. Hall about her first plane ride. “When I was 19, a plane landed on our farm at Roland. The pilot offered our family free rides in exchange for a ride to the post office to display his ‘Plane Rides for $5’ sign. That first plane ride was almost seventy years ago!” Mrs. Hall’s anticipation and excitement about Thursday’s plan ride equaled that of the plane ride long ago. Mrs. Hall has this “aging thing” figured out ... growing older doesn't have to mean growing old. If you would like to see some photos of our flight, click here.

And speaking of planes, Mr. Rex Capps Sr., who passed away last week, was a farmer and pilot. Mr. Capps had this “aging thing” figured out, too. He may have stepped back from farming and flying, but he never “slowed down” in his senior years. Despite arthritis, he was very active up until a few weeks ago when an unexpected illness brought about his unexpected death. He would arrive at church a good half hour early on Sunday mornings to distribute the Sunday School records, bulletins, and adjust the thermostats. I’ll miss him.

Last Wednesday I got to sit behind the wheel of an antique fire truck. Like a little boy, I really wanted to run the siren and flash the lights, but I exercised some restraint. I didn't get to go for the ride. (Pilot Tommy Anderson this time drove the antique fire engine ... boy, he sure gets around!) Several of the kids that attend our church and our minister of children did. I bet a least one of them made a siren sound. I hope that, like Mrs. Hall and Mr. Capps, these kids don’t grow old as they grow older. Maybe I’m starting to figure out this “aging thing” after all ... bodies may have to grow old, but spirits don’t.

This is just one pastor’s perspective.

Rick Hyde
First published in the "England Democrat" the week of October 8, 2007.

"A PERSPECTIVE ON AGING - THOUGHTS ON THE PASSING OF DON PAUL MORGAN"

Don Paul Morgan was an expert on growing older.

Notice that I said “growing older” and not “growing old.” There’s a difference. The first you can do joyfully. The second people do sadly. Don Paul grew older, but he never “got old.”

Physically, Don Paul was 80 years old when he passed away last week. Spiritually, he was a lot younger. And I don’t mean because of the physical and emotional challenges which tended to limit his body and mind. Spiritually, he wasn’t limited ... he challenged me and everyone he met.

Don Paul challenged us to be happy. Every last Wednesday of each month when we gathered to worship with the folks at England Manor, he challenged us. I can still hear his laughter as he challenged us to sing the old Southern Gospel songs that many of the “younger” folks weren’t too familiar with. (Don Paul, with a big smile, would yell out: “Sing ‘On the Jericho Road!’ Sing ‘He Bore It All! Ha! Ha! Ha!” I’d have to remind him every time with my own smile that it was “one to a customer.”)

I will add Don Paul’s philosophy about aging to some other great philosophers of our age. George Burns, the comedian/actor who lived to be 100, once said, “Growing old is just a matter of mind ... if you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter!” “Grandpa” Jones, the country singer who lived to be 85, once said, “I want to live to be 112 and then shot dead by a jealous husband!” Don Paul Morgan, the resident comedian at England Manor, said often, “Ha! Ha! Ha!” ... maybe not as witty as George Burns or “Grandpa” Jones, but as joyfully as anyone can be. How could he have such joy when we consider his lot in life? He could have such joy because he did not let “his lot in life” bother him.

Even though I grieve at Don Paul’s passing, I find this hope: Because he had committed his life to Christ at an early age (and subsequently became a member of Landmark Missionary Baptist Church here in England), someday in heaven I’ll hear him say again: “Sing ‘On the Jericho Road!’ Sing ‘He Bore It All!’ Ha! Ha! Ha!” I know he’s singing there now ... no limitations, no wheel chair. But, those things never bothered Don Paul anyway. And those things shouldn't bother us, either.

I hope I grow older as well as Don Paul did and not just “grow old” as some other people I know who don’t even live at England Manor.

This is just one pastor’s perspective.

Rick Hyde

First published in the "England Democrat."