FIVE MINUTES WITH TOM MOOTY
As Published in the Newport (TN) Plain Talk
Release Date – Feb 2, 2012
Column Number - 1205
“WHO ATE LUCY’S HALF OF THE PIE?”
My older brother, Freddy (“The Big Ugly”) is a little bit weird – well, a lotta bit weird, actually; but we won’t go there. Please forget I said that.
Anyway, he was in the eighth grade when Fred Marvin and Josephine Celeste decided to yank us out of our roots, load up the Studebaker, and move to Frogpond, a suburb of Eastport, a suburb of Newport.
Some of his weirdness (oops, I said it again) is found in the fact that he was always a bit backwards in the friend-making category. I mean, it took him eight years to make one friend, and he really didn’t want to leave that one friend; and so, he stayed behind with my Aunt Frank and Uncle Paul. (Yes, I said, “Aunt Frank”. Don’t ask!)
Oh, ok, since you asked: Mom’s family had four girls who were named “Tootle”, “Jo”, “Frank”, and “Bill”. A brother, Alvin Thomas (for whom I am named) came along in the pecking order at some point in time; but I always thought that having an “Aunt Frank” and “Aunt Bill” was really surreal (before I even knew what “surreal” meant. I just liked using that word).
Anyway, Freddy stayed behind with Frank and Paul until he graduated and then Fred Marvin and Josephine Celeste went to get him, and drug him kicking and screaming up the two lane behind the aforementioned Studebaker.
Did I mention that “Big Ugly” had a problem making friends because he was so backwards?
Well, one friend he made (two actually) were twins, Wiley and Lucy Morgan, who lived over on Woodlawn. Since Freddy is so very much older than I, that must mean that Wylie and Lucy are --- well, you know.
There was no cafeteria at Newport Grammar until 1950; so we poor unfortunate, lunch deprived students had to fend for ourselves in the necessary daily intake of calorie-laden nourishment. I mean, Josephine Celeste’s mater sammiges were really good, what with all the mayo slathered on both sides; but, as the poet said (or should have said), “Into every life some soup beans must come”.
Seems that Lucy and Wiley just lived right over across that big rocky crevasse that separated their house from the school; and little Wiley wanted to go home to mama’s home cooking.
There was a homemade pie on the window ledge (remember when they used to do that); and Wiley was famished from cramming so much learning into his cranial cavity; so he took out his pocket knife, wiped off all the dirt, fingernail crust, and toenail jam; and proceeded to cut that pie in half and started munching as he sauntered back to the salt mines.
The only problem was that he ran out of pie before he ran out of path; so, he made the decision to do the only manly option open to him and turned around to go back and get the other half of the pie (Lucy’s half?). This time he was ‘bout purt near out of time; and had to put the pedal to the medal to make it back in time.
To this date, Lucy doesn’t know who got her half of the pie; and, since this information was shared with in the strictest confidence, I for one will never tell; but that doesn’t mean you can’t.
Now, you see, you would never have known that such a nefarious, pie-swiping character was living in our midst if it were not for me!
Ok! That’s enough of that since my friend Wiley has long since been forgiven from such a heinous act of atrociousness (and all his other sins) by acceptance of the shed blood of Jesus Christ; but I cannot help but wonder if maybe at least one of you, my dear readers, might still have sins clinging to you like tenacious barnacles on a stagnant boat bottom.
There is one answer; and only one! His Name is Jesus The Christ; and He is ready, willing, and available to wash you clean of your sins and put your feet on the Rock; and take you to heaven when you die, or He returns (whichever comes first).
Don’t know how to make that transaction? I do! Wiley does! And we will surely share!
These columns are written by Tom Mooty, Pastor of Newport’s West End Baptist Church; and can also be found on the church website: www.webaptistchurch.org. All comments can be sent to tommooty05@comcast.net or P.O. Box 851, Newport.
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Tuesday, January 31, 2012
"Tebowing in Everyday Life"
FIVE MINUTES WITH TOM MOOTY
As Published in the Newport (TN) Plain Talk
Release Date – Jan 26, 2012
Column Number - 1204
“TEBOWING IN EVERYDAY LIFE”
I usually try to follow the leadership of the Lord in planning my sermon “menus” well in advance; knowing that nothing ever catches the Lord off guard; and if something comes up at the “last minute” that I might have to deal with; I have all assurance that God knew all about that in the “first minute”, and if I am supposed to deal with it, He already has it covered. That way, I do not have to spend desperate Saturday nights working on a “Saturday Night Special” sermon; because every word, every phrase, every nuance is of utmost importance and could very well mean gaining or losing eternity in heaven for someone!
And eternity is a loooonnnnnnggggg time; and I take that position very seriously!
The same thing should be said about these little column excursions into seeming utter chaos which you are new reading. I assure you, I have a point in mind; and if you hang in through all the fluff at the first, you will see the point paragraph at the last.
For the past three weeks, I have brought messages on Sunday mornings on the general titles of “Knowing Jesus”, “Showing Jesus”, and “Going For Jesus”; and this Sunday, we will compile all these thoughts together in one big wad with ”Tebowing Jesus”!
Simply speaking, if you “know” Jesus Christ, you will quite naturally “show” Him by “going” for Him – in the style and on the stage God gives you.
Some Christians have extremely huge “pulpits” or “platforms” from which to expound on “knowing, showing, and going” Jesus Christ.
While I must say, I do not agree with many of the huge media “ministries”; there are a few that provide a very useful place of “knowing, showing, and going” for Jesus Christ. It must be said these massive ministries can have enormous circles of outreach (but sadly, many of them have deteriorated into worldly, secular seed beds of “seed money” and “show business”)!
Many original colleges and universities in the United States were started as outreaches of religious ministries to provide Bible training (sadly, many of them have deteriorated into worldly, secular seed beds of unrest and disbelief).
Many original hospitals and clinics in the United States were started as outreaches of religious ministries to provide healing to the masses (sadly, many of them have deteriorated into worldly, secular seed beds of political correctness).
Great publication empires have been started by religious ministries to provide reading materials to advance the cause the Christian Ministry (sadly, many of them have deteriorated into worldly, secular seed beds of watered-down, non-offensive pablum).
Everyone knows about young Dwight Lyman, who was struggling to eke out a living working as a shoe cobbler. He was uneducated and destined to become nothing more than a statistic until the mostly illiterate seventeen year old was led to the Lord by his Sunday School teacher, Edward Kimball; and founded the Moody Colportage (“publishing”) Company; Moody Bible Institute, Moody Memorial Church, and the Moody Evangelistic Association. Of course, his full name was D.L. Moody!
We all have “pulpits” from which we are to “know, show, and go” for Jesus Christ! Mine is not the same as yours and vice-versa; yours might be larger than mine and vice-versa; but we all have someone who needs to hear the message of Jesus The Christ!
Quarterback Tim Tebow of the Denver Broncos has a massive, world-changing “pulpit”: not a church, column, or broadcast – no, he has a football field; and his simple act of kneeling to thank the Lord Jesus for His blessings has caused millions of people to at least give a second look at The Lord – because they can see something that is real and unique in this young man’s life.
Thus, a new word has emerged on the scene: “Tebowing”; and its originator didn’t even graduate from “preaching school”. Imagine that!
These columns are written by Tom Mooty, Pastor of Newport’s West End Baptist Church; and can also be found on the church website: www.webaptistchurch.org. All comments can be sent to tommooty05@comcast.net or P.O. Box 851, Newport.
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As Published in the Newport (TN) Plain Talk
Release Date – Jan 26, 2012
Column Number - 1204
“TEBOWING IN EVERYDAY LIFE”
I usually try to follow the leadership of the Lord in planning my sermon “menus” well in advance; knowing that nothing ever catches the Lord off guard; and if something comes up at the “last minute” that I might have to deal with; I have all assurance that God knew all about that in the “first minute”, and if I am supposed to deal with it, He already has it covered. That way, I do not have to spend desperate Saturday nights working on a “Saturday Night Special” sermon; because every word, every phrase, every nuance is of utmost importance and could very well mean gaining or losing eternity in heaven for someone!
And eternity is a loooonnnnnnggggg time; and I take that position very seriously!
The same thing should be said about these little column excursions into seeming utter chaos which you are new reading. I assure you, I have a point in mind; and if you hang in through all the fluff at the first, you will see the point paragraph at the last.
For the past three weeks, I have brought messages on Sunday mornings on the general titles of “Knowing Jesus”, “Showing Jesus”, and “Going For Jesus”; and this Sunday, we will compile all these thoughts together in one big wad with ”Tebowing Jesus”!
Simply speaking, if you “know” Jesus Christ, you will quite naturally “show” Him by “going” for Him – in the style and on the stage God gives you.
Some Christians have extremely huge “pulpits” or “platforms” from which to expound on “knowing, showing, and going” Jesus Christ.
While I must say, I do not agree with many of the huge media “ministries”; there are a few that provide a very useful place of “knowing, showing, and going” for Jesus Christ. It must be said these massive ministries can have enormous circles of outreach (but sadly, many of them have deteriorated into worldly, secular seed beds of “seed money” and “show business”)!
Many original colleges and universities in the United States were started as outreaches of religious ministries to provide Bible training (sadly, many of them have deteriorated into worldly, secular seed beds of unrest and disbelief).
Many original hospitals and clinics in the United States were started as outreaches of religious ministries to provide healing to the masses (sadly, many of them have deteriorated into worldly, secular seed beds of political correctness).
Great publication empires have been started by religious ministries to provide reading materials to advance the cause the Christian Ministry (sadly, many of them have deteriorated into worldly, secular seed beds of watered-down, non-offensive pablum).
Everyone knows about young Dwight Lyman, who was struggling to eke out a living working as a shoe cobbler. He was uneducated and destined to become nothing more than a statistic until the mostly illiterate seventeen year old was led to the Lord by his Sunday School teacher, Edward Kimball; and founded the Moody Colportage (“publishing”) Company; Moody Bible Institute, Moody Memorial Church, and the Moody Evangelistic Association. Of course, his full name was D.L. Moody!
We all have “pulpits” from which we are to “know, show, and go” for Jesus Christ! Mine is not the same as yours and vice-versa; yours might be larger than mine and vice-versa; but we all have someone who needs to hear the message of Jesus The Christ!
Quarterback Tim Tebow of the Denver Broncos has a massive, world-changing “pulpit”: not a church, column, or broadcast – no, he has a football field; and his simple act of kneeling to thank the Lord Jesus for His blessings has caused millions of people to at least give a second look at The Lord – because they can see something that is real and unique in this young man’s life.
Thus, a new word has emerged on the scene: “Tebowing”; and its originator didn’t even graduate from “preaching school”. Imagine that!
These columns are written by Tom Mooty, Pastor of Newport’s West End Baptist Church; and can also be found on the church website: www.webaptistchurch.org. All comments can be sent to tommooty05@comcast.net or P.O. Box 851, Newport.
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