A Lesson From the Fro of Bob Ross

I know many of you can probably remember watching Bob Ross on PBS, actually I watched him just the other week. Bob Ross really had the ability to paint nature scenes that you could stare at for hours. He is possibly know for his popular phrase "happy trees" which he says as he was places towering trees on canvas. Still to this day I sit and watch him with amazement that creating something so beautiful could be so simple. I find myself going back and forth in amazement and also anticipation of wanting to see the finished product. But as always I sit and watch till that white mans Afro turns around with words of encouragement to attempt what he just painted. Then you see it... the complete picture... what Sir Bob Ross has been working toward the whole time. Then that moment of satisfaction comes... you see the towering snow capped mountains, the river, the morning dew resting slightly above the river, the fluffy clouds in the sky, and the happy little cabin over to the left corner. You finally see what he wanted to create the whole time!

I had the opportunity to experience that moment in a different matter yesterday. One of my "College Roommates" became more developed as a work of God. Not finished, but refined. Gods painting on his life became more clear. The tools that he has been given have been developed as a specific skill set for this time in his life. I could not agree more with the body of believers and the senior pastor that support him. I don't think I have ever experienced or felt the vibe of when so many people are in agreeance, but when it was brought forth to the congregation the spirit of overwhelming support just rested in the sanctuary. Which just means more paint was added to the pallet and the picture became bigger.

God worked and developed him to what he has been called to be all along. God equipped him with the tools for this season. which is a boat load of encouragement to me. Overwhelming joy for my brother because I've seen him through some tough times, but all that was the background for the masterpiece that is being (present tense) created. The spiritual tools (gifts) and skill set are different than The "tools" I've been given are paint to my pallet, but God showed me through this moment I will Begin to see a picture more defined in my life than ever before. The thing I've got to remember is no two paintings are alike.

- Jimmy

Brats, Birds, & English Muffins

I had couple of minutes to spare the other sunday between practice and the service for FBC Greer. So with a legalized crack house (Starbucks) being near I decided to go spend some time in the Word. For all my coffee snob friends, do not fear ... I drank a Tazo green tea.

Really cool vibe for a Sunday morning. The background music was soft and full of summer, and coupled with the morning light really created a moment I could've sat in for hours. As I read through proverbs 6 I would look up just to soak things in occasionally. A family had been eating breakfast outside, and as they got up from the table the little girl was given the task of throwing away the trash that had been collected. As she walked to the trash can with arms full I noticed she was dropping crumbs rom an english muffin. Now being raised with the "guidance" (out right fear) of Tommy McFarlin my initial reaction was ... "well that little brat needs to pick up after herself!" Even the mom walked behind her and didn't even bother to pick it up! So there sat many pieces of english muffin on the ground for an employee to pick up ... everything in me just wanted to scream "yo mama don't work here! pick it up!" Completely distracted by that moment I was totally unprepared for the visual lesson I was about to receive.

I went back to reading and writing my thoughts. A few minuted had past as I looked back out at the crumbs of English muffins. As a stared, the smallest bird that I think I have ever seen hopped over and cautiously approached the crumbs that had been left by the brat. It took the Bird a moment just to ensure its safety and then began to eat at a frantic pace. It would select a piece of the English muffin and hop over to the shade of a table to consume the vittle. Me, being the mild (cough cough) A.D.D. type, just sat there an watch this bird eat its weight in English muffin!


Simple truth to comprehend in these days of hard times and trials that My father, who takes care of a bird through a brat, will make sure I have exactly what I need ONLY when I need it. As for the third party that watched this all happen ... well ... lets just say that my thoughts about the child, mom and even the bird are useless.

The lesson of the story is kids (me included). God's promise to take care of us and give us what we need was shown to me through this situation.... I just thought it was a cool moment, and wanted to share it with you ... and when God showed me that he was going to take care of me with this visual illustration... for a moment ...I was the guy sitting in Starbucks, by myself, laughing from the joy that recieved through seeing this illustration..... have a restful day in the Lord.

- Jimmy