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Buttercups and I never got along very well. I believe it began when I was a young lad and my mother would scold me for mowing down her springtime clusters. Every year I would declare war on her precious yellow clods. Through my seasoned years I have grown to appreciate the beauty, timing, and presentation of this seasonal bloomer. Winter has been a chilly one this year with more snow than years combined. For a cold weather lover I have caught myself looking forward to spring. Driving down Madison St. in Clarksville , TN. you discover a breathtaking sight every March. A hillside of literally hundreds of thousands of buttercups. They are planted in perfect parallel rows one after another. Yellow flags exploding on a still wintry gray landscape. I don't know who the keeper is but great care goes into the preparations of that hillside. Each spring all the leaves and limbs are removed and the landscape is groomed. When the bulds explode the colors are stunning. It's like God and t...

Where all men think alike, no one thinks very much - Walter Lippmann This world would be a boring place if we all thought alike. The music producer hears a sound and thinks through a tune and produces a melody that captures our heart. An architect imagines a project and in turn creates a national treasure. An artist meditates on an image and by imagination paints a masterpiece. Our lives are enriched by those who think differently. One person thinks poetically and another analytically. Each is uniquely important to making this world interesting, different, and ...beautiful. As we grow in Christ we can celebrate and rejoice in the wonder of every person and appreciate their gifts and deliberation. The challenge for most of us is to see the uniqueness of each persons thoughts and perceptions as a contribution rather than a distraction. This is not to say we shouldn't think alike about many things but the beauty and creativity that enhances much of our world is the work of diverse min...

iPhone Begin forwarded message: Our God is an awesome God. JMT >

Yesterday was a long day at TSC. I was called in to work a couple of shifts so today is my first day in Nashville at the hospital. For the entire TWO people that read my blog, pray for me today that I may be a vessel of service! iPhone

It doesn't get any better than looking out over the summits of The Great Smokey Mountains National Park. Angie and I spent our honeymoon there over 25 years ago. We go back as often as we can to take in the sights, sounds, and smells of the smokies. I can picture it all in my mind right now as I blog. Every time we vacation there we find it hard to pack it up and head home. We always talk about how neat it would be to own a mountain top chalet and live up where the air is clean and surrounded by wildlife. And the view!!! Absolutely amazing Eventually, reality sets in and we make our way back down off the mountain to the valley below and head home. It's important to have mountain top experiences as we walk with God. When we stand on the peak we can see where we've been and where we're going, but to get where we're going we have to travel through the valleys. Things grow in the valley. Life is lived in the valley. You can't enjoy the awe and beauty of the mounta...

Tonight I led the devotions at a basketball tournament hosted by our church. There were over fifty teams represented with all the parents and grandparents in tow. What a treat. My topic was how would Jesus play the game. 1 Cor. 10:31. ... whatever you do, do all to the glory of God • He would be a good sport • He would play fair • He would give 100% Give 100% no matter what your 100% looks like - Lance Armstrong Blessings JMT iPhone

I appreciate eveyones prayers for me as I continue the CPE training at the Veterans Hospital in Nashville. The work is different than my experience as a pastor but in some ways it is the same. Ministering to the sick is the primary part of a Chaplain but the surprising opportunities of ministering to the clinical staff is altogether new. Yesterday I passed out bibles to the patients on 2north and as I wound my way around to all the rooms nurses, technicians, and custodians also began to clamour around to get a free bible. It gave me an opportunity to share the love of Christ and establish friendships to the ones that are working alongside of me to bring healing to the sick. If your reading this blog, please pray for me especially on Monday through Wednesday. Pray that I will be like Christ in all my patience, counsel, and love. Please pray that God will open doors as I pursue what he has planned. It's my desire to continue with the chapain in reside...

It takes about 24 hours for me to know if a movie made an impression on me or not. It takes a while to process all the information or stimulation I've exposed my mind to. The next thing I do is start asking people if they have seen "captain corelli 's mandolin" or "bourne identity" (two of my favorite movies). Before realizing it, I'm anxious to share it with others. We talk about what we think about...and we think about what we love. The more I think about Christ, the more I talk about Him. It may be in the context of a sermon from my pastor or a devotion I've read. Even if it made me uncomfortable, I roll it over in my mind subconsciously weighing it's impact on my life. The scripture says, blessed is the mind that stays on him, and the mind of the spirit is controlled by the spirit. Lord, help my heart and mind be consumned by you. I ask that my thoughts be your thoughts and my ways be your ways. Open my eyes to see your works that m...