Sunday in the South (Feb. 28, 2010)

As we drove over the mountain from Arab (Ala.), beautiful Lake Guntersville came into view. A wave of nostalgia hit 14-year-old Kelly, and suddenly she was 5 again and on her way to hear “Pox” preach at his church.
We arrived at the church, Mt. Carmel Baptist (on Georgia Mountain), between 10:30 and 11, went in a side door and began to run into people who recognized us simply because I do look like my dad. For me, it took a while for some of the names and faces and their positions in the church to fall into place, but before the day was over I had connected most of the dots.
Sandra Preston came up to me and hugged my neck, then burst into tears. “You look so much like your dad,” she said.
We took our seats near the front of the sanctuary, where we had always sat when we visited the church and where my mother sat to listen to my dad’s preaching.
The current pastor, Dean Timbes, was new to me, but he talked about how in his nearly five decades of ministry he had never been in a church where the name of the former pastor came up as much as Clyde Hartley’s name did. My dad loved his church, and they loved him in return.
I had never heard the choir, led by Jennie Clark and accompanied by Mandy Chandler, sound better. Seeing Jennie reminded me of the time she approached Alice and me after Sunday School and told us Faith and Kelly were going to be singing “Amazing Grace.” Kelly was maybe 4 at the time. Alice and I looked at each other and both said, “Kelly doesn’t know ‘Amazing Grace.’” But she stood there anyway with Faith and pretended to sing. Her lips were moving but nothing much was coming out. She’s since become a pretty good singer and does solos in the church quite often. She even knows “Amazing Grace” now.
Chuck Knight was the guest preacher for the morning service. Chuck had been a member of my dad’s church in Albertville, Union Grove Baptist. My dad had baptized Chuck, had given him his first position in a church as his youth minister at Mt. Carmel, and Chuck helped preach my dad’s funeral. He wouldn’t let us pay him for that, saying it was an honor to preach Clyde Hartley’s funeral and he couldn’t take money for it. In his brief message from Philippians 1, he talked about how he had been a Timothy to my dad’s Paul. I noticed further on down in that chapter the words my dad quoted in the days shortly before his death, in verse 21, “For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”
After Chuck’s sermon the original building committee was called forward to read the plaque that dedicated the new educational building and fellowship hall to my dad’s name, and they burned the note to the building since it was now officially paid for. In part the dedication read, “In gratitude for the labors of all who love & serve this church; in remembrance of those who have finished their course, we celebrate this note burning service this morning.”
The deacon chairman, Don Campbell, spoke of a time that he felt the need to be re-baptized. My dad counseled him about it and told him he knew he was saved, but if being re-baptized would make him feel better then he would do it, and he did. I think Sunday was a pretty emotional day for Don.
The associational director of missions, Randall Stoner, said a prayer of dedication.
The Sunday School superintendent, Johnny Edmonds, shook my hand at least three times. He didn’t have much to say but he did seem to really appreciate that we had made the drive down.
The church provided a pitch-in lunch in the fellowship hall following the service. A few of the members commented to me that my dad always found a way to be at the front of the line when lunch was served. I pointed out that he was usually the one to say the prayer, and he’d position himself by the table at the front of the line to do it. When I was around I’d usually stand next to him, because I knew his tricks…
Bro. Timbes, Bro. Stoner and I talked some and discovered we had mutual friends, some I had gotten to know through the campus ministries at Jacksonville State, and some from other places.
While we were talking to one of the church members, Joan Hughes, Kelly mentioned that the only thing missing from the day was the Juicy Fruit gum that “Nana” used to give her during the worship service to keep her occupied.
One new couple in the church introduced themselves to me. They had family from Roanoke, in east central Alabama where I had grown up. They asked if I knew any Brooks. Dave Brooks has been my best friend for 39 years and this was his cousin. So we talked for awhile.
Until a cute little 20-year-old girl stood in front of me and I asked, “Am I supposed to know you?” I knew who she was. Alex Hughes is the same age as my oldest daughter, Faith. They somehow had maintained a friendship of sorts over the years even though they hardly ever saw each other. The way she stood there and smiled as she talked to me, I knew she had to be smiling because I reminded her of my dad.
Alice, Kelly and I had our picture taken holding the dedication plaque close to where it’s supposed to be placed. Then we changed clothes and went on out to the car.
We drove by my folks’ old yellow brick house on Lindsey Lane across the road from Lake Guntersville just to see the old homestead, and then we began the seven-hour journey back to Southern Indiana. Kelly bought some Juicy Fruit gum along the way…

Redeeming the Time

A devotional on the importance of maintaining a daily quiet time:

Colossians 4:
2 - Continue in prayer, watching in it with thanksgiving, 3 - praying together also concerning us, 4 - in order that God may open to us an opportunity to spread the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, the cause for which indeed I have been bound, in order that I may manifest it as it behooves me to speak. 5 - Walk in wisdom toward unbelievers, redeeming the time.

We are commanded in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 to “pray continually.” According to John Pollock, Billy Graham was once asked how often he prays. He answered, “All the time.” While I served as a counselor in two Billy Graham Crusades (in Louisville and Indianapolis), I never had the opportunity to meet him. But I don’t believe Billy Graham prays “all the time.” I think that more likely he has an attitude of prayer at all times.
In Colossians 4 we are urged to continue in prayer. Prayer should be a part of our daily quiet time, as we seek God to direct our steps. It should also be a part of our daily walk, and we should continue in an attitude of prayer throughout the day. We are likewise urged in verse 2 to “watch in it with thanksgiving.” As we study prayer in the Bible, it can be noted that thanksgiving is the proper way to approach the throne of God. We don’t go in with our petitions, and list everything we want and expect from God. We go in with a right attitude, approaching Him as the Supreme Being of the entire universe, and as our close friend, being thankful for what He has already supplied us with.
“Watching in it” – the first circumstance that brings to mind is Gethsemane, where Christ prayed before he was crucified. And all He asked his friends to do while He prayed was to watch and wait. And of course they fell asleep. That’s what this is conveying to us to avoid. Rise, be awake, stay awake…
The apostle Paul here is asking for the prayers of the saints so that he may have an open door to spread the Gospel, to testify about Christ, which is exactly what got him into trouble in the first place. He still yearns for chances to speak about Jesus as the Spirit moves him.
Verse 5 is the focal point of this study. We are to walk in wisdom as we witness. “Redeeming the time” in this instance is an imperative to make the most of what we have, in time and in opportunities, to rescue the time from being lost. There are 1440 minutes in a day. We don’t get any of them back. Use them wisely…
God expects us to tithe our money. We know that. We’re expected to give at least a tenth of what we have. But tithing should include not only a tenth of our money, but a portion of our time as well. Jesus spent time, and lots of it, in worship, thanksgiving, prayer, meditation and spreading the Good News. Shouldn’t we follow His example?

Take Up Thy Cross and Follow Me

One weekend, when I was 25 years old, I was invited to go to a Missions Conference with a vanload of students from the Baptist Campus Ministries group from Jacksonville State (Ala.), where I was in my first year there as a student. I wasn’t interested in the conference, but I was interested in getting out of Jacksonville for the weekend, so I rode along.

That Friday night, 30 years ago today (Feb. 20), I committed my life to the Lord. Until then, I didn't know what having Jesus as the Lord of my life meant.
As the son of a Southern Baptist pastor, I had grown up in church. I knew all the Bible stories. I knew all the right answers. I had the head knowledge. But Jesus did not rule in my heart as the Lord of my life. Then, at Binkley Chapel on the Southeastern Seminary campus in Wake Forest, N.C., through the preaching of William Hendricks and the music of Ken Medema, the scales fell from my eyes, and that knowledge was opened to understanding.
I didn't know what the future would hold (still don't), but I knew I didn't want to face it without God. And I promised Him I'd go anywhere He wanted me to go and do anything He wanted me to do. And I've tried to follow that promise since. I'm still open to going anywhere He wants me to go, and doing anything He wants me to do.

I wish everyone could have that same experience, to come to the point in their lives where they understand what really following Jesus means. It gave me a sense of purpose and direction I had never known before, and turned my life completely around.

Matthew 16:24 immediately became an important verse to me, where Jesus said, “If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross, and follow me.” Simply put Jesus is asking us to forfeit our lives to Him and let Him decide how we’re to live them. Of course that’s easier said than done, but studying the Bible as often as you can, every day if you can, and praying makes it a more attainable goal. As Christians we shouldn't make decisions without God's guidance.

Another passage from Matthew that soon became important to me was The Great Commission, in chapter 28, verses 18-20. Jesus assured His disciples just before He ascended into Heaven, “And lo I AM with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” I took that assurance to heart.

Ironically, of course, these are considered to be “missions” verses, and even though I wasn’t interested in missions before I left for that weekend, I am now, and have been since. I may not get paid to be a missionary, but I certainly feel called and ordained by God to be a missionary, and feel that call is meant for every other Christian as well.

Job Well Done Auburn Staff

I wrote the following and posted it to Facebook over two years ago (Jan. 9, 2009). Re-reading it made me realize how well this "new" staff has met my expectations as an Auburn fan of some 50 years. It was previously entitled "Welcome New Auburn Staff":

Now that Gene Chizik's new football staff at Auburn is practically complete and all in place, I'd like to welcome them to the Plains and give them a few pointers that will make life easier for all. For those who have worked at Auburn before these are mere reminders. For those new to the staff, these are the basics - the requirements of the job.
For starters, Auburn's reputation and tradition is smashmouth. So any talk of a new spread offense (that may or may not be a spread) needs to be tempered with the realization that the offense needs to be able to pick up a yard at the goal line or on fourth down by running the ball right down the esophagus of the opponent. Auburn fans won't stand for less. The defense also needs to be smashmouth. It's expected on both sides of the ball...
Having said that, if you wanna pass the ball like Utah did against Alabama, that's okay. Alabama didn't seem to have an answer for Utah's offense, so the spread offense can't be all bad. And speaking of Alabama, that's a must-win on the schedule. You can lose to other teams and it won't matter as much (don't lose too many though), but you HAVE to beat Alabama. Every year. Or it could cost you your job. Tommy Tuberville was 7-3 against Auburn's cross-state rivals. The second time he lost to them (about eight years ago), there was a little plane ride to Clarksville, Ind., and an attempt to hire the Louisville coach to replace him. That failed. Then he caught on and beat Alabama six years in a row. The next time he lost to them, this past season, he "resigned" and there was an opening for you...
Let me re-emphasize: You HAVE to beat Alabama. Auburn fans live with Alabama fans 365 days a year - some in the same household (these are referred to as mixed marriages). So the Iron Bowl (dubbed that by former Auburn coach Shug Jordan when THE GAME was played in Birmingham every year) is a topic of discussion every day. All year long. It's called braggin' rights. But, as Frank Broyles once commented while covering the game for TV, "It's not a matter of life and death. It's more important than that." The Auburn family doesn't want to beat Alabama just on the field. It would be nice to beat them in recruiting too.
Which brings me to my next point. It's NOT the Auburn nation. It IS the Auburn family. Nation is so impersonal. And pertinent to other schools. Auburn is family. Always has been.
You may wonder, what does "War Eagle" mean? It's what Auburn fans shout when the ball is kicked off. It's what Auburn fans chant when the mascot is circling the field in an emotional pre-game ceremony. It's what Auburn fans say to each other as a greeting, whether in Auburn or in an airport in Tokyo. You see an Auburn t-shirt on another family member and there's an instant connection. There are many legends, but the one I believe says that a young man came across a wounded eagle at a civil war battlefield. The eagle appeared to be the only survivor. He nursed the eagle back to health, and later became a professor at Auburn. During Auburn's first football game against Georgia, in 1892, the professor was in the stands with his eagle when it broke free. The students, who recognized the old eagle, chanted "War Eagle" as it circled the field while Auburn marched its way to the game-winning score. The eagle then collapsed and died, having given all its effort in ultimate victory.
There's also the Auburn creed, which you'll need to learn. It ends by saying, "I believe in Auburn, and love it."
The bottom line is you're expected to win. Don't ever cheat, but win. Now. Auburn has the talent. The talent needs you - coaching. As much as you don't want to lose to Alabama, don't ever lose to Vanderbilt. Auburn had never lost to Vanderbilt in my lifetime, and I'm 52, until this year. Had Auburn been able to score from the 1-yard-line against Vandy, that streak would be intact and Auburn would've gone to a bowl. You'd probably still be coaching somewhere else. Don't EVER lose to Vandy. And don't forget, every recruit you sign, every preparation you make, during the season and in the off-season, needs to be something that will help Auburn beat Alabama. It's time to get another streak going there...
Hope this helps in your transition. Do these things and you will be an Auburn man.

Make the Best of What You've Got

I got to be friends with another stay-at-home dad when Faith was in elementary school. One day we decided to get together at the house and write a song. At the time our house and car were pretty much in the shape mentioned in this lyric. Not so much now. The lyric still lacks a melody:

This house has been around awhile
And you might say it’s getting old
The plumbing needs a lot of work
The garage door won’t stay closed
The roof leaks and the gutters
The AC’s out again
Every time I turn around
Got to call a repairman

But if you can’t have the best of everything
Make the best of what you’ve got
Be thankful that you have a house
And don’t live in a vacant lot
Sometimes we keep on searching
Always wanting more
While what we have may be
What others are longing for

This car has been around awhile
Might get me where I need to go
Cross my fingers when I turn the key
‘Cause you just don’t ever know
She needs a carburetor
The tires are wearing thin
Seems every time I turn around
It’s in the shop again

But if you can’t have the best of everything
Make the best of what you’ve got
Be thankful that you have a car
And don’t push a shopping cart
Sometimes we keep on searching
Always wanting more
While what we have may be
What others are longing for

Copyright 1997 by Ken Biggs and C. Randall Hartley.

Leaving the Dead and Wounded

I was living in Muscle Shoals (Ala.), the hit recording capital of the world at the time, trying to make it as a songwriter, when I had dinner at my cousin Norma Jean's house one evening. I was laying on the floor listening to the TV news when the correspondent said, about wherever the battle was going on in 1978, "The fighting was so intense they were leaving the dead and wounded behind." That comment sparked this lyric about war, the old West, love, trying to make it in the music business, and/or growing up in a small town. Reader's choice:

LEAVING THE DEAD AND WOUNDED

Challenging Boot Hill one more time.
Challenging the law of averages
By now the odds should be mine.
Going up against the lone one
This time I've got to win.
Hope it's not the wrong one
Just can't do it again.

Leaving the dead and wounded
Only the dead and wounded
Leaving the dead and wounded
Behind

The dead they just won't live
Ain't no use in trying
To change the way things are
Inside I think I'm dying.
The wounded keep on trying
But soon they stop believing
Thinking it's not worth the pain
The dream is deceiving

But I'm leaving the dead and wounded
Only the dead and wounded
Leaving the dead and wounded
Behind
Leaving the dead and wounded
Only the dead and wounded
Leaving the dead and wounded
Behind

Maybe it’s the strong that survive
And make it to the next cattle drive
Never look back over your shoulder
If you can’t weather the storm you get colder
Tomorrow fades into the sunset
Yesterday’s time to forget
A tenderfoot duped by fool’s gold
In this world a young man is old

So I’m leaving the dead and wounded
Only the dead and wounded
Leaving the dead and wounded
Behind

Copyright 1978 by Randy Hartley

Over and Done

The morning after
World War III
Fallout has settled again on you and me
Stone cold silence
Comes creeping in
When you slip out, you leave me sleeping in

(CHORUS)
Over and over and over again
I try to reach you but you just won’t let me in
You turn your back and you walk away
It’s just a foolish game, no way to win
I guess it’s over and over and done

Another morning
And it’s still cold
Buried in your paper with your cup of cappuccino
What has happened
To you and me?
We promised better or worse for all eternity, but

(REPEAT CHORUS)
Over and over…

(BRIDGE)
If reality
Matched our fantasies
Then all the dreams that we once shared
Would still be coming true

(REPEAT CHORUS AND FADE)

Copyright 1994 by C. Randall Hartley and Turley Richards.