Section 2

Section 2

DEER LORD

On our way back to Austin one evening I took an unplanned census on the road between Eden and the 281 bridge...for all my huntin' friends out there, I can emphatically state that the Central Texas deer population is hearty, healthy, plentiful, speedy quick, and still dumb as a post!...and the possums, raccoons and 'pepi-la-pews' are equally fitted as well. All along that stretch of Hwy. 71 from Brady to Llano...well...let's just say the national deer convention was in full force. I have never seen so many of those reason-less car dodgers...there musta been a thousand or more. I sorta have somewhat of a hard time settin' the cruise just exactly on the speed limit...my finger just can’t accomplish the task...but I ain't stupid either...so I figured 67 was the number to punch...fast enough to get home but slow enough for quick reactions...turns out it was.

Jeniece is fast asleep in the back of the suburban so it's just me and the as yet untagged conventioneers. I'm feelin' accomplished havin' out maneuvered several road crossers over the past 20 miles or so when I come motivatin' down a hill, cross a little bridge and start back up the next rise...and there he is...the stud muffin' of the herd...smack dab in the middle of the road...less than fifty yards away...givin' me the stare down as if to say 'do ya know who I am?'...'Hey antler boy, does the term 'roadkill' mean anything to you'! Based on previous encounters my normal reaction would be to start screamin' at the top of my lungs...but I'm rememberin' the little one’s in that deep slumber which she loves and I want her to continue to enjoy it without disturbance. So without hesitation I commence to whisper prayin' as loud as I can...'deer Lord...deer Lord...deer Lord'!! Havin' missed several of these little bounders before this fella made his entrance I'm already anticipatin' 'mister standstill's' next move as I'm flippin' the highbeams like a madman and decidin' how I'm gonna be able to slow down as fast as I need to without slingin' Jeniece out the bed. Well...I'm beginnin' to think 'hood ornament' when ol' 'my name is stupid' starts runnin'...not across the road cause that woulda been too easy on bothus...and either way woulda been fine cause I'm thinkin' I've still got some dent avoidin' time left. Unfortunately, that's not in doofus's plan though...he starts runnin' away from me...up the same piece of hill I'm travelin' on! I've finished the prayers and begun holler whisperin' 'you can’t out run me you ignernt hairball'!...and I'm gainin' on him more than he's gainin' on livin' longer! I get about 10 feet from him...by now I'm hopin' the folks who loaned us this vehicle might not hurt me real bad since I've got a nice 12 point rack for their mantle and enough venison to last out the year—and if I'd whomped him I promise I'd a tied him to the hood with underwear-n-t shirts cause he was dang sure makin' the trip to the taxidermist-n-the freezer!—when the other actor in this fiasco decides to swerve left at the same time mister stupid has a flash of brilliance-n-makes a hard right...givin' me the familiar signal that he was indeed a white tail...or else he was moonin' me!...I don't care either way...cause I missed him!! Yessirree!...no dents, no antler scratches, no imbedded hair patches...not even a nose-slosh on the side panel...just another successful run through the deer-molition derby!

My heart was beatin' so fast the change in my pocket sounded like a tambourine! Then I realized that in the midst of it all I'd somehow turned off my headlights!...deer-dodgin's kinda hard if ya can’t see 'em!...didn't notice it for a few miles cause my eyes were dilated-n-open wide enough to where I could actually see the rings-o-Saturn! After checkin' to make sure none-o-my personal parts had malfunctioned...and turnin' to see that my travelin' partner remained in uninterrupted sleep...I remembered this..."And God blessed them, and God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth'." (Genesis 1:28) ...and pahdnah I was sure exercisin' my own little piece of that 'every livin' thing that moves' dominion' right then-n-there!

Ya know?...in His 'bigness'...durin' all our life disruptions...I'm pretty dadgum sure God knows the difference between 'dear' Lord and 'deer' Lord. Every time we "call on the name of the Lord" (Romans 10:13) He always hears us. He always answers too..."Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things which you have not known" (Jeremiah 33:3)...like this one...did ya know there are exactly 14 whiskers on a deer's nose?...I do cause I was able to count ever dern one of 'em! Seriously y'all...even in somethin' as seemingly meaningless as a confrontation with a deer, the 'Dear of our soul' proves our identity once again, while showin' us that He is indeed our shield and our sword. You and I are "a people saved by the Lord, the shield of your help, and the sword of your triumph" (Deuteronomy 33:29)...thank ya Dear!

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COACH

One of my favorite Bible stories tells of a shepherd boy and an uncircumcised philistine giant. What I always appreciated about that youngun was this...in spite of the situation and no matter the perception of others--he's too big to hit if you will--he didn't give fear an opportunity. Instead, he stepped right up in faith...it's like he told himself 'he's too big to miss'!

Way back in high school we were gonna play against a team with an all-state, all-american, all-everything defensive tackle. Me bein’ an offensive tackle, linin’ up directly in front of him meant he was gonna be my responsibility for the entire game. My coach—who incidentally was the main earthly reason I got a college scholarship—told me this fella had the ability to beat me up one side the field-n-down the other. He even told me this bruiser might be too good...too big for me to block...on-n-on he went about the superlatives of this big stud duck...how he was probably gonna embarrass me right there on our home field...in front of my momma and my girlfriend! I was so sick of hearin' his name-n-how good he was-n-how he was probably gonna do this-n-that to me...by the time we took the field I was lookin’ forward to openin' a can of whup-hiney on ol' mister duck...and I did...for the entire game...I tore him a new pair of britches! (I got my share of butt-whuppins back durin' my playin' days...but this wasn't one of 'em.) Anyway...that game caught the attention of Darrell K. Royal, the head coach for the Texas Longhorns and was the reason I got the opportunity to go to college at The University of Texas...one game my junior year...48 minutes without fear. I won that confrontation before the first snap cause my coach wouldn't let me even think 'afraid'.

Anyway...sittin' in the locker room after the game, I told my coach that ol' new britches wasn't all that much of a stud after all. Here's why I'll always love Joe Granato, my offensive line coach...'respectin' your opponent's one thing, fearin' 'em's another'. For the entire prior week's practice I was too bushwhacked to think of fear. Joe wouldn't let me be afraid...he prepared me so well for that confrontation I didn't have the opportunity or the energy to be afraid. And the interesting thing about that week is--which, incidentally, was also consistent through every week of preparation---Joe always emphasized the first play...the moment of that very first contact...'hit him in the mouth on the very first play'...fear wasn't mentioned a single time. Consequently, there was none...the enemy was too big to miss!

Our coach...our Life coach...our Life...the King...has prepared us all for it all. I've never found a spot in Scripture where it says we are to be afraid of this circumstance or that situation...where we're to fear somethin'. Ya see?...we can’t be anywhere God isn't...He's always with us, always in us..."I will never leave you nor forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5)...so what's to be afraid of?..."For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38)...where's the fear in that? Plus y’all, He knows everything about us..."Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered" (Luke 12:7)...we cannot fail..."These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). When the deceptions in life stand before us...like the ratman, his minions and the proprietors of this fallen world..."stand firm" in the reality..."Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who has loved us (Romans 8:37)"

The deception?...it's too big to hit. The reality?...it's too big to miss. Point the Word of God at whatever it is and let-‘er-rip boys..."The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before you; they shall come out against you one way, and flee before you seven ways" (Deuteronomy 28:7). Fear not, only believe...right from the beginning...before the first snap..."For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, 'but the righteous man shall live by faith'." (Romans 1:16-17). Now that's a Coach!

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TIME

Jeniece and I were talkin' this afternoon about 'time'...’how much time do we have’--‘is this the right time for this or that’--’what is time anyway’. I get sidetracked at times, tryin' to figure this time thing out. I spend so much time figurin' on the best time to spend time takin' time for time. Gosh, what a cat-n-tail thing that merry go round is! There's only one kind of time ...it's called the temporal realm. Isn't life lived in the moment? If that's true, then every moment is indeed temporal. Thank goodness we don't live in the temporal...okay, we exist in the temporal physically, but our true identity is eternal. And, there can’t be time in the eternal realm because as children of God we're "one spirit" with Him (1 Corinthians 6:17). If He isn't limited by time, and if we're indeed one with Him, why in the world do we spend so much time wishin' we had more time or wonderin' where the time went? Maybe it's because we spend so much of our lives tryin' to figure out how much more time we have that we forget this: "As for man, his days are like grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourishes. When the wind has passed over it, it is no more, And its place acknowledges it no longer. But the lovingkindness of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children's children" (Psalms 103:15-17). I think we sometimes live our lives in 'the wind' rather than in the "everlasting to everlasting"...the eternal..."He has set eternity in their heart" (Ecclesiastes 3:11). And one more..."while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:18). I don't think God supplies time, I think He supplies the eternal..."I know that everything God does will remain forever; there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take from it" (Ecclesiastes 3:14). Know why?...cause there ain't enough time!...Ha!!

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FINALLY

The ol' chair was cold again today, but I hopped in anyway. Every once in a while, Jeniece gets a little teary...you know, emotionally spent with all this stuff. Shoot...so do I...who wouldn't fer-cryin’-out-loud! Well, I went to the chair to pray for her spirits to be lifted and peace to fall afresh and comfort to abound...okay, I prayed for this crud to just go away! I found myself asking the Lord to give Jeniece strength...but I don't think He's really in that line of work...I think He's in the weakenin' business. Guess it has to be that way...cause if not, we wouldn't need faith, or a Savior either for that matter. So there I am, prayin' another one of my promise-less prayers when...'shut up Bobby, just read about Me'. And there it was..."finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might" (Ephesians 6:10). I'm sure you've read and recited the 'be strong' and the 'strength of' parts...but have you ever camped on that first Word...'finally'. Me neither ‘til today. Is it possible that Jesus is the ‘finally’...the finality, if you will...of all these goins on? I think so..."It is done. I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost" (Revelation 21:6). Yep...He's the finally...the middle...the starting point....."behold, I am making all things new" (Revelation 21:5)...including my angel...I mean, His angel.

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AMAZING

I sat today in the rays of grace, totally amazed that God chose me. His Word confirms His love for me..."By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him" (1 John 4:9). Does that amaze you too? Try this one, "And we have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him" (1 John 4:16). God (that would be the one-n-only God!) abides in you-n-me. Now that's amazing! Have a look at this, "And the witness is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son." (1 John 5:11). He gave us eternal life!...our eternal life is in His Son! I think that, my friends, is the most amazing thing ever.

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GRATEFUL

Chair time was special today...I spent most of it just bein’ grateful. Do you remember this sayin': ‘I'm not what I oughtta be, I'm not what I'm gonna to be, put thank God I'm not what I used to be’? I don't necessarily think the first two parts are correct for the "righteousness of God" (Romans 3:22) since 'ought' has no place in freedom and we're definitely already completely free in Christ. But that last one is right on the money over here on my side of the block...I am forevermore grateful that I'm not what I used to think I was...lost!

I like readin' the simple little books of the Bible...found a real corker in one today..."for you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord" (Ephesians 5:8). I've wasted way too much time, energy and money attemptin' to ‘undark’ myself with all the self-effort formulas I could muster along with advice from other 'pooped-out' people who were on the same performance trip. I believe truth is always truth...whether we acknowledge it as such or not, it's still truth...and this right here is truth for you and me...we were formerly darkness, but not any more!

I'm juiced about bein’ ‘formerly’...all the ‘darkness’ I think I'm in, or about, is a lie. My actions do not make me 'dark' again, anymore than goin' into the garage makes me a car...God doesn't work that way..."All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out" (John 6:37). Formerly means formerly doesn't it?..."it is finished", "it is done" (John 19:30)...yessir, the old man is formerly...he is no more. "But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ" (Ephesians 2:13). I used to be formerly...but now I'm light. God says all His chlidren are...makes ya grateful huh.

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BASKING

Something happened today that was so beautiful. Many of you know Jeniece is not only a great speaker and style counsel (excuse my prejudice!) but she is also a dang good writer. She read one of her poems tonight while we were visiting with friends. I sat a ways from her watchin' the moment. She was sittin' in my chair...yes, that chair...all bright and shiny, reading those sweet words she got from the Holy Spirit. I was enamored with her aura...that 'Christ in you'-ness that is always visible; not only in Jeniece, but in all God's children...."thanks be to God for his indescribable gift" (2 Corinthians 9:15)...thanks indeed! I was sittin' there thinkin'...to me, she is the perfect 'expression' of my Savior. Her voice is soft and tender but full of wisdom, she is meek but full of hope, there is suffering but it doesn't drown the rejoicing, there is pain but it can’t dim His spirit in her, there are tears but they only precede the laughter and joy, she gives of herself but only from what she's been given, she hurts more for others than herself, her faith is unstoppable and her love is unbeatable. Gosh, what a holy moment.

She's sleeping now...I'm sittin' here basking in the presence of the One Who created her...and I can’t stop sayin' thank you. As much as I don't want to, I even thank God for this time in her life...in our lives. Thankful. Ya know?...I think without the clouds and rain there couldn't be sunshine in the song of life. I'm startin' to be more content I think...not complacent mind you, but content with the clouds-n-rain...after all, they only originate from His hand. He is providing His peace...that peace I can’t really explain...that peace I can’t deny...that 'surpasses all understanding' stuff Scripture talks about in Philippians 4:7...peace. I'm not sure which comes first...am I thankful, then at peace or at peace and then thankful...I think its both...simultaneous...it doesn't really matter though I guess. What matters is we can be thankful and we can have peace in the same instance..."let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful" (Colossians 3:15).

Those clouds and rain are real, but they are servants too...the Son is always out!..."grace, mercy and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love" (2 John 1:3). Good place to bask.

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CRANBERRIES

Jeniece-n-I decided to call a friend who's been havin' some surgeries-n-just check up on him. Well, he's doin’ pretty good tonight; we caught him at the country club celebratin’ a bevy of birthdays for some in his family and some in other families. It was a fun conversation...we got to talk to a bunch of old friends and just had us a wham-bam!

After we hung up, I commented 'wasn't that fun'...see I thought it was and so did Jeniece really. Big ol' tears came to her eyes as she said 'everybody's out havin' parties but we're not able to', or somethin' close. Anyway, we talked a little more, dried some tears...then the princess said 'tell me somethin' good'. So I started jugglin' words, thinkin'-n-sayin' all sorts of 'good' things about where we are...'some folks had to come home in the traffic, get dressed for the second time today, head back out in the traffic, put on the ol' 'ain't life grand' routine, talk about nothin', lay out the success stories, play the part, eat bad food, laugh at all the jokes, drink enough to be able to stand all the fuss, get home, pay the babysitter...and here we are at home in our pajamas enjoyin' the calm-n-quietness of each other, callin'-n-bein' called by friends-n-family, seein' people who love us, spendin' every day with the two people we love the most, each other-n-Jesus, where there's a party every day...yep, pretty much stinks don't it angel'. Without battin' an eye she hit me with one of my all-time favorites...'you’re the cranberries on my turkey.'

I've been called a lot of things in my life...most are not repeatable, some we're devastatin', some were uplifting (those I still carry with me). A long time ago, right after we were married a spell, I told the bride 'I want to be your knight in shinin' armor'. She nonchalantly said 'then put on some armor' as she continued putterin' around. (I think you ladies 'putter' to keep from whacking' us up side the head when we need it-n-we 'sit-n-stew' cause most of us hairy-legged types wouldn't know a feelin' if it bit us on the behind much less how to talk about it...can I get an Amen somebody!!) Anyway...at that particular moment I was hopin' for somethin' along the lines of 'oh you are, you are'...shoot, anything besides that dang 'armor' thing. Fast forward to the here-n-now and by-golly I got me some armor! Ladies and gentleman, I come before you proud to be the 'cranberries on Jeniece's turkey'..."like an apple tree among the trees of the woods, so is my beloved among the sons" (Song of Solomon 2:3).

A bazillion moments ago, the God of all things created us...perfect for each other...me and mine, you and yours...we're beloveds...it's a dadgum miracle! Through the blood of Christ, He made us perfect for one another..."for by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified" (Hebrews 10:14). Perfect! My friends, if that ain't armor I'll kiss your cranberries!!

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WHENS

I didn't make it to the chair today...spent most of my by-myself-time thinkin'...maybe I was daydreamin'...a little of both I suspect. Read some in the Book...did a little prayin' too. This position Jeniece is in can be a real bear at times...for both of us, really, but especially for her. She wants so much to get up by herself, walk to the bathroom or the livin' room or the kitchen or out on the veranda, take a little drive out in the country...just go 'out there' somewhere...without the constant irritation of that stinkin' pain. Honestly, I can put a positive spin on anything...it's just the way God made me I guess. So when Jeniece hurts I tell her it's the death of those cells that have no place in the body of Christ and the results of the battle goin' on to remove them. I want so much to be right about that...for her. I believe that's what's happenin'...for her. I pray like a madman for healin'...for her. I tell that mountain to hit the sea...for her. But when you get right down to the licklog...it's not up to me. It's not up to Jeniece either. It's not up to you or anyone else who wants, believes and prays for the same things...for her, and for your loved ones too. It's up to Him...isn't it?

"The mountains may disappear, and the hills may come to an end, but my love will never disappear; my promise of peace will not come to an end, says the Lord who shows mercy to you" (Isaiah 54:10)...could all this really be a picture of His love?...is this mercy? "The ways of God are without fault; the Lord's words are pure. He is a shield to those who trust him" (2 Samuel 22:31)...could this way really be without fault?...is there really a shield? "Rain and snow fall from the sky and don't return without watering the ground. They cause the plants to sprout and grow, making seeds for the farmer and bread for the people. The same thing is true of the words I speak. They will not return to me empty. They make the things happen that I want to happen, and they succeed in doin’ what I send them to do" (Isaiah 55:10-11)...so this really isn't empty? God wanted this to happen? This is hard to admit--primarily regarding that last one--but I just couldn't come up with any answer other than 'yes'. (I'm not makin' proclamations about or tellin' y'all how to believe here...Lord knows I'm searchin' too.

"When"...not if..."you pass through the waters, I will be with you"--"When"...not if..."you cross rivers, you will not drown"--"When"...not if..."you walk through fire, you will not be burned, nor will the flames hurt you" (Isaiah 43:2). We all have our 'whens', and He has to know about 'em since He owns 'em "God has chosen his Son to own all things" (Hebrews 1:2)...He owns them! Our circumstance...yours...all of them really...just another victorious showing of His love..."but in all these things we have full victory through God who showed his love for us" (Romans 8:37). Makes ya think doesn't it?

"With God's power working in us, God can do much, much more than anything we can ask or imagine" (Ephesians 3:20). I'll take His much, much more any day...from Him...for her.

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WHADDAYAKNOW

The chair was comforting today; I hopped in during the little one's 2-hour powernap and proceeded to harangue the ratman...then realized Who was actually on the Throne! I think I forget that sometimes durin' my 'I bind you in the Name of Jesus' episodes. So I started readin' in another of those short books I like so well and found this..."for I know". Okay bigboy, whaddayaknow? There's more there, but I stayed on point for a minute...that little phrase always takes me to whatever it is I think actually know...and most of the time it's those things I can see, taste, smell, hear or touch...you know, the 'real world'. That bein’ said, is there some other world out there?...one that's 'unreal' or somethin'? Well...I don't think its unreal, it's just that we can’t live it in our senses; it's real all right...just eternal, not temporal. I can describe the ocean or a jalapeno cause all five of my senses have experienced them. Scripturally, I know what faith is...but because I've never seen it or tasted it or sniffed it or heard it or felt it...is it any less real? I don't think so...just eternal.

The rest of that 'for I know' verse is "that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:19). No matter what 'happens' in our lives, the Bible says we will be delivered!! You, me, Jeniece too!...'for I know'...by faith..."faith is the assurance" (Hebrews 11:1). What I don't know is this: "and being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all" (Philippians 1:25). I don't know Jeniece's glory day...or mine either...don't think I wanna know...today's good 'nuff for me.

A good while back a faith robber came into a hospital room...mine. He said he wanted to talk about dyin'. I told him that would be the room next door cause this here was a livin' room. He said somethin' to the tune of his responsibility is to tell me this-n-that and to make sure I know such-n-which...that's when I started gettin' out the bed...grabbed the thing I was hooked up to and headed in his direction. He asked me what I thought I was doin’ so I told him I was fixin' to throw him out on his keester if he didn't get the sam-fat outta my livin' room!

Crud-dangit y'all, sometimes you just gotta stand firm..."for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day" (2 Timothy 1:12). See...that fella didn't, doesn't and will never know the precise moment I'm goin' home...I don't even know that!! I'm pretty sure God calls the shots in that regard. The Bible says even in death we win..."I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me will have life even if they die" (John 11:25)...well whaddayaknow!!

Sharing the Journey...

I believe God's gift of life is a free gift...as is this ministry...any longevity will be proven by His blessings. With that as our premise, friends have inquired how they might encourage Music Mountain Ministries: first of all, the Bible tells us prayer is always effective--if God says the same, pray for us...secondly, purchase one or all the songs and the books...thirdly, invite us to come share our gifts and talents with you...finally, you may send a monetary contribution--please know, however, since your contribution is not tax-deductible at this time, we will receive it believing it comes at His urging.

Visit as often as you'd like...read and listen to all you want for as long as you want. We're honored you come.

''There is a fountain, on Music Mountain, where that living water flows

On Music Mountain, from God's own fountain, the blood of Jesus, it overflows'

Blessings.

Bobby