My Greatest Prank
I did pull one of the greatest pranks ever and ended up falling in love and marrying my co-conspirator. As a midshipman at the Naval Academy, I attended “Youth for Christ” every Saturday night with a bunch of my friends from the academy. We always had a few of the local girls who lived on the academy grounds attend as well. We would hang out afterwards in Annapolis and we always had fun. One of the girls who went with us was Lynn Scruggs. Her father was a Captain and head of the Dental department at the Academy. I knew her because we taught Sunday School together in the Academy chapel program. I also knew that she dated some of my classmates and we often talked about her new relationship with Christ. She had only recently accepted Jesus as her Savior and she was always drilling my buddies and me about the Bible, wanting to know more about God and the Bible. I thought she was cute and smart, but she was four years younger than I was. (I had spent two years enlisted in the Navy, so I was older than most of my classmates.) I never thought in terms of dating her because of our age difference.
One Saturday, she had asked four of us if we could come by her house and pick her up for “Youth for Christ”. We had all said yes and had planned to pick her up and walk together to another home on the academy grounds before going to “Youth for Christ”. We often met at this home before walking to the church in town that hosted “Youth for Christ”. The home belonged to another Captain who taught academics at the academy. His daughter, Dora was part of our group and was always inviting us to her house for snacks before going to “Youth for Christ”. Well, this particular Saturday, I went to pick up my buddies to go and get Lynn, but each one of them made some excuse as to why they could not go with me and promised to meet us at Dora’s house. So, I ended up going alone to pick up Lynn.
On the way to Dora’s. Lynn began showing me a new ring she had just gotten from her grandmother. It was a very nice ring, and I was impressed. Then out of the blue, Lynn said, “Terry, why don’t we tell all our friends at Dora’s that you just proposed to me and gave me this ring?” Now you need to understand, we have never even dated once up to this point. We were always with our friends whenever we were together and had never even talked about dating before. So, I agreed, not believing that anyone would actually believe us.
We arrived at Dora’s and Lynn immediately began showing off the ring and telling everyone we had just gotten engaged. Most of the girls were a bit upset with Lynn for not telling them sooner. All of my buddies were congratulating me and encouraging me. Needless to say, both Lynn and I were absolutely in shock and surprised at how easily everyone accepted our story. We acted like we were engaged the rest of the evening before telling everyone we were just playing with them. When I took Lynn home that evening, we talked about how surprised we were at how quickly everyone accepted our “engagement”. I told Lynn that I really enjoyed being engaged to her even if it was just a joke and I asked her if she would consider dating for real. She said yes, and the rest is history. Three years later we were married.
Thoughts for Reflection:
Do you think the Lord might have a sense of humor?
Are you ever surprised by the way that God works in your life?
What humorous event in your life turned into an amazing event that changed your life?
Romans 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
Dolly Parton
I cannot stay quiet any longer. I’ve read and heard too many people question whether Dolly Parton was a true Christian. Some argue about her salvation because she did not openly condemn homosexuality and often showed kindness toward the LGBTQ community. Yes, Dolly was an interesting personality who rubbed shoulders with Hollywood elites and musical giants of every genre. And yes, I’m sure I would have disagreed with her on many beliefs and practices. But I have no doubt that this remarkable woman knew Jesus and loved Him with all her heart.
Salvation is not based on our deeds, our associations, or our social circles. It is entirely dependent on a loving God and His plan to save us through the sacrifice of His precious Son on the cross. Paul reminds us, “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13)
Dolly was born about thirty miles from where I was born, just one year before me. She grew up in the same Appalachian culture, in the same kinds of churches, and she made a commitment to Christ as a little girl in those Tennessee hills. She learned to sing about Jesus in church long before she ever stepped onto a national stage. I wasn’t there when she professed her faith, and I don’t know the details of her theological upbringing. She never claimed to be a theologian. She simply lived as a humble Christian in spite of her extraordinary talent and worldwide fame.
She rose from extreme poverty to extraordinary wealth through her ability to write beautiful songs and sing with genuine joy. America fell in love with her, and she climbed to the heights of stardom. I’ve seen thousands of people achieve similar fame only to fall into sin, excess, and self‑destruction. They surrendered themselves to the temptations around them. Dolly, on the other hand, remained humble, grounded, and generous to the end. Her life overflowed with kindness. Her theology may be questioned by some Christians, but her life was one of the strongest testimonies of faith I have ever witnessed.
She lifted East Tennessee out of deep poverty almost singlehandedly. She was a brilliant businesswoman and a gifted musician, and she built Dollywood with the dream of providing jobs and stability for the people of Sevierville and Pigeon Forge. Whenever disaster struck Tennessee, Dolly was the first to give out of her abundance.
Dolly loved people. She never required them to look or act a certain way. She was kind and caring to everyone she met. She loved children deeply and continues to bless families across America through her “Books for Children” ministry. She was one of the most unselfish individuals I have ever seen.
James wrote:
“What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? … So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead… Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” (James 2:14–18)
I know Dolly is not in heaven because she was a “good person.” But I do believe her deeds were evidence of her faith in a loving Savior. For those who doubt her salvation because of certain choices she made or friends she embraced, I challenge them to consider the truth: she had a heart as big as the stars, she consistently gave glory to God, she loved to sing about her Lord, and she loved to give to those in need.
I fully expect to see Dolly Parton in heaven.
Learning to Tithe
“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.” — Malachi 3:10 (NASB)
As a pastor for 35 years, I quickly learned that people—especially church members—really don’t want you talking about money from the pulpit, particularly tithing. Yet, I also know that failing to teach on these things is not pleasing to God. When we ignore this subject, we rob people of the tremendous blessings that come to the tither and the cheerful giver. If you check out the word “tithe” online, most believers would be shocked at how often God commands His people to give.
First of all, let me clarify what the word “tithe” means. It literally means ten percent. It is the personal statement of the individual, that God owns all that I am and all that I have. It is designed by God to provide for the earthly ministry of His people, His church. Under Moses it became the means to support the Levitical Tribe of Israel who were given the primary responsibility of caring for the Tabernacle and the spiritual needs of the nation. It continues to be the method by which God desires His pastors and churches to be supported by the body of Christ.
I have heard teachers argue that since Jesus never really taught about tithing, except to point out the hypocrisy of the Pharisees in their tithing, that we no longer need to tithe. While Paul teaches that God loves a cheerful giver and does not actually command us to tithe, I do not believe that the New Testament stops the expectation of God’s people to tithe. I think you can support statistically that if every professing believer were to actually tithe today, that every church would have more funds than they could possibly imagine and that overnight we could assume the role of ministering to the poor and hungry far better than any government agency.
Let me clarify my position on tithing. To the children of Israel, the tithe was a command. While Jesus and the New Testament writers do not present it as a legalistic command, they do not abandon the principle. There is a clear expectation that we give faithfully to the Kingdom work of God. I believe the tithe is the model God established, but He leads us to give not out of obligation, but from a willing, cheerful heart. Giving systematically and sacrificially is the method approved by God to demonstrate our love and commitment.
Let me relate to you my personal experience with tithing. My wife and I have tithed from the beginning of our life together. While we are certainly far from being wealthy as people measure wealth, God has blessed us beyond measure. We have two cars, a nice home, healthy children and grandchildren, more food than we should be eating, and God has met our every need. To be sure there have been times when things were so tight we had to struggle to make ends meet, but God has always blessed and we have never ceased to give our tithe. I could spend hours telling stories of how God has provided for our family. I am constantly amazed at the Lord’s provision.
But the truth is, I have not always tithed. I began working as a fourteen-year-old for Rand McNally in Hammond, Indiana. The next year, I began working for a local print shop as an apprentice. Every week, I would sign the back of my paycheck and hand it to my mother. She would pay all the household bills, but the first check she wrote was always our tithe. Even though we were technically below the poverty level, we never lacked for anything.
Then, I joined the Navy. I was making far less than when I was working, but I determined to help my folks by sending some money home. After about nine months, I began to notice that I never had any money. I couldn’t understand it; the Navy provided uniforms, shelter, and food. I had no bills, yet I had no money for even a candy bar. I should have had money piling up, but I didn’t. Even after my first promotion and pay raise, I was still broke. I was trying to live for Christ. I had great Christian friends who mentored and guided me. Sure I was sending some of my money home, but that didn’t explain my predicament.
Then one weekend, I invited a couple of my buddies to go with me to Chicago and visit one of the churches my family had been instrumental in starting years before. We caught a bus and went to the Palmer Park Baptist Church. I was blessed by the memories, but the message changed my life. I really don’t remember the message that morning but when they began taking the offering, it was as if a light went on in my head. Since I had joined the navy, I had not been tithing. My mother had always taken care of this for us, but now it was my responsibility to ensure that I tithed, that I gave back to the Lord. I repented that morning and promised the Lord, I would never fail to tithe again and that with His help I would make up for the past year that I had failed to give. My life turned around that day. I have never regretted one dime that I have offered to my Lord. He has always provided whatever I have needed. I know tithing makes a difference in my life and I know that it will make a difference in any one’s life if they will faithfully and cheerfully give. I challenge anyone, no matter what your financial situation, to begin tithing today. Test the Lord in this, He is good.
Questions for Reflection
Have you discovered the blessing of giving a tithe? Have you found a ministry that you trust enough to give faithfully to?
What keeps you from giving “cheerfully”?
Do you believe God can do more with the 90% in your life than you can do with 100%.
Scripture to Meditate On
Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. Malachi 3:10