You Are My All in All

We have all been captivated these past two weeks with the pictures and videos from the country of Haiti. Devastated by an earthquake, the city of Port-au-Prince is essentially destroyed with the loss of lives numbering in the hundreds of thousands and the numbers continue to rise. It’s hard to watch the videos of children being pulled from rubble; the hands of adults reaching for a bottle of water; the bodies of the dead lying in the streets; and the cries of those who lost everything. Where is God, and why?

Only a few days later when relief efforts were beginning; citizens were receiving much needed medical assistance; temporary housing units were being built; another quake hits this island nation and creates more turmoil and death. Where is God, and why?

As a Christian and believer in Jehovah God, at times like this it pushes my limits to remember that God is in control of all things and that a loving God could allow this to happen. Yet, in the midst of the destruction of those first days, one sight appeared on the television that gave me pause to think. A group of Haitians gathered outside the rubble of a fallen building. Their eyes were full of tears, their clothes were dirty and torn, yet their hands and voices lifted high toward God. Singing in their native language, the melody of their song was familiar, so I went to one of my music books to find it. The title is “You Are My All in All” with the primary lyrics being,

“You are my strength when I am weak,
You are the treasure that I seek,
You are my all in all.
When I fall down You pick me up,
When I am dry You fill my cup,
You are my all in all.”

Here are people having survived one of the worst catastrophes ever, yet they are singing to God that He is their strength, their treasure. Here is a group having lost families, homes, churches, and schools, yet they know that their God will pick them up and restore them. Why are they singing and lifting their hands toward God? Why are they not asking where God is?

The reason is the most wonderful word….faith. They know their God is in control and trust Him with their homes and country. The apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the church at Corinth, “…we are afflicted, but not crushed down….struck down, but not destroyed.” This is our hope during those long nights of worry over a sick child, a lost relationship, financial stress, job loss, or just the problems of everyday living. God promises us that He is present in all our circumstances, however because we live in an ungodly world, bad things do happen. God did not cause the earthquake in Haiti; it was a force of nature. God was not punishing the people of that small country; it was just the time for those earthly plates to shift. God was there that morning and is still there crying over the loss and holding those precious people in His arms.

So for today my friends, this has been the gospel according to Jimmy.

The bells of peace continue to ring

We all have our favorite holiday television specials that we look forward to each year. Some like the Charlie Brown specials, others the classic movies, and still others enjoy the many musical programs. I fall into the latter category and may even miss my (almost) daily N.C.I.S. marathon viewing for a good Christmas music program. My favorite each year is the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas Special that blends traditional music with contemporary and always stirs my spirit with the massive choir and orchestra. This year was no different; however, one portion of the service captured my thoughts for the days since.


Actor Edward Herrmann told the story of how Henry Wadsworth Longfellow came to write the words we now know as “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.” The story goes that the happy Longfellow family suffered tragedy during the early 1860s when a house fire claimed the life of his beloved wife, and then shortly thereafter, Longfellow received word that his son was seriously wounded in one of the early Civil War battles and not expected to live. With his country at war with itself, and the loss of two family members, Longfellow tried to cope with these tragedies by penning the words that so strongly described his despair and lack of hope.

“And in despair I bowed my head; “There is no peace on earth,” I said. “ For hate is strong and mocks the song of peace on earth good will to men.”

If Longfellow had stopped here, this work would never have become one of the favorites of Christmas and especially one about the hope of Christmas. Over time, he and his remaining family began to heal emotionally and spiritually. Longfellow recounts that several years later as they were out on a carriage ride in the snow, he heard the bells of town churches beginning to peal and he realized that the bells were still ringing out the news of hope, of peace, and that God is still in control.

“Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: “God is not dead, nor does He sleep; the wrong will fail, the right prevail, with peace on earth good will to men.”

Just as Longfellow, people around still suffer loss and tragedies that are magnified during the Christmas and New Year holiday season. Divorce, financial hardship, death, moving, loss of jobs, many things can affect our emotions that may lead to wondering where God may be during this time. They may need someone to help direct them back to the bells of hope and a future. We can all do this either as individuals or as groups. Say a kind word to those you pass in the store, stay off the car horn if someone is a bit slow in starting when the light changes, be more patient if a crying child is in the same restaurant with you; just be nice to other people. You can also volunteer with county agencies that help others. Henry County is fortunate to have so many organizations that help others where you can plug in. Connecting Henry, A Friend’s House, Haven House, Henry County Cancer Services, The Fuller Center for Housing, Henry County Life Management Solutions, and many more.

Let 2010 be the year we give hope to others. Let 2010 be the year we become more involved outside the walls of our homes and churches (Jesus did not sequester himself inside the walls of a synagogue). Let 2010 be the year we take care of others face to face, one by one.

So for today my friends, this has been the gospel according to Jimmy.

Even goats deserve a nice funeral

Dogs, cats, birds, hamsters, fish…these tend to be the most commonly thought when asked about what pets you might have. Then there are those who have snakes and other reptiles, horses, and even cows for pets even though these are the type of pets I would want to curl up with on a winter night in front of a roaring fire. Nonetheless, whatever you may deem to be your pet, it is your pet and you mourn and grieve when they are gone. Most folks also engage in some type of farewell burial or service for their beloved animals. For instance, when one of my mom’s pet finches died, she was more than ready to put it in a zip-lock bag and hurl it out into the trees and privet at the back of our yard which borders Camp Creek. The horrors of her aim being a bit off and having a dead bird-in-a-bag hung up on a tree branch and twirling in the wind was more than my brother and I could imagine, so we talked her into a nice burial by the bird bath with a stone marker. Of course, mom already had her back-up plan ready in case birdie-in-a-bag landed in the tree. “Well, I’ll just get the BB gun and shoot at it until it falls into the privet,” was her quick reply. I sincerely doubt most folks have such discussions over their pets, but, you just need to know my family.
Recently, my friend the catwoman, was telling us of her uncle’s pet goat, Mitch (names have not been changed, since Mitch is dead and…..well, Mitch was a goat). Uncle Hemphill used to take Mitch to local schools and carnivals because all the boys and girls in that part of DeKalb County loved to see and pat Mitch the goat. However, mean neighbor lady didn’t care so much for the noise and smell of Mitch, so one dark day (Uncle Hemphill suspected), she slipped some poison to poor Mitch and he transitioned into goat heaven.
Uncle Hemphill and his brother, Eufort, were so distraught that they imbibed a bit too much of the spirits and became a wee bit too verklempt over poor Mitch. Actually, Uncles Hemphill and Eufort would use most any occasion to imbibe: waking up in the morning, lunches, any new phase of the moon, the arrival of the daily mail, get the drift? At least in the midst of their “happy grief,” they had the sense to not shoot the mean neighbor lady, so they dug a grave for Mitch and decided to give him a 21-shotgun salute. Yep, they fired those squirrel-hunting rifles into the air right in the DeKalb County neighborhood where Uncle Eufort lived. Mothers began grabbing kids from the yards; catwoman’s aunts grabbed them from the back porch while hollering at Uncle Hemphill and Uncle Eufort to quit shooting off those guns in the neighborhood because of a dead goat. Uncle Hemphill replied that “he’s my goat and he deserves a good send off.”
Personally, I think the 21-gun salute is better than spending all of eternity as a twirling dead bird-in-a-bag on the banks of Camp Creek, but who am I to know?

Jimmy Cochran lives in McDonough, works part-time at the Stockbridge Public Library and drank goat’s milk as a boy. This is why he was so touched by the story of Mitch the goat.

Sometimes you just have to reboot

Probably two of the most frustrating things in my life are my computers. One sits and taunts me from the top of my desk and the other lies in wait on the bookshelf next to my recliner. Back when they were fresh out of their boxes, I firmly believe that the desktop (the older sibling) whispered to the new laptop (the baby), “Hey, let’s gang up on Jimmy, and make his life miserable at the most every opportunity. It’ll be fun, you’ll see!” So, the fun began…or at least for them.
Over the past several months, I have been plagued with viruses, adware, dead batteries, the slowest speeds imaginable, temperamental CD drives, total crashes, etc. Finally, it has gotten to a point where the blue screen of death is a welcome sight to see. After dealing with the ringleader desktop computer until the wee hours of the morning, I finally decided to wipe it clean, reinstall operating systems and programs, and start all over again. It seemed a much better option than spending the money for a new one when this renegade is not that old. It just needed an attitude adjustment.
It happened. Without any warning, I began the next day by sneaking up and accessing the dreaded DOS system and began to reformat. Kicking, screaming, and making all manner of threats against me, the PC finally succumbed and I spent the better part of the morning restructuring it into the machine I wanted. The machine it once was. Since that time, with all new (and free) programs to monitor for viruses, adware, malware, and the other type of –wares, I have a very safe and secure system that operates quickly and exists solely to keep me happy. The laptop will have a similar appointment coming; however, I need to keep that day a secret - especially since it is sitting on my lap as I type.
Many times our own internal operating systems become messed up and we cease to operate as God wants. We let down our protective guards and allow all manner of viruses and hurtful elements to enter our hearts and minds. The Word of God should be the only guard we need to keep harmful things out of our lives. However, they are often so attractive that we rationalize that “just this time won’t be a problem, will it? Will it?” Like a computer virus, once it has a toehold in our life, then it spreads to all areas.
Is that movie the most appropriate to see? Is it something that God would approve of one of His children watching? Is that website or chat room a place where you might compromise God’s standards for a few minutes of selfish enjoyment? Is that word or phrase you just spoke one that builds up someone, or tears them down? How about the places you hang out for fun and the company you keep?
With a finger pointing back to me, I ask….how did we come to this point? We allowed the virus of disobedience to enter our life and it is taking over. God is being shoved further and further into the background because we know He wouldn’t be pleased. Then the point finally comes where we need to be rebooted. We have to make the painful choice to erase and remove all the worldly influences and allow the renewal drive of God to take charge once again. These periods of cleansing are not always easy, but they result in a happiness and joy unlike any other. Is it time for you to be rebooted?
And for today my friends, this has been the gospel according to Jimmy.

Things have been rather wild in Jimmy-world lately. Working at the Library in town, doing media/press for a local Mayor's re-election campaign, finding and writing grants for a Children's Literacy campaign, plus all the responsibilities of a church musician. Not that the wildness has been a bad thing, just a wild thing.

For some reason, I have been consumed with reading over the past few months....even to the point where I have neglected my writing and music. All this has thrown me off-kilter somewhat. Not good, Jimbo.

It's been a year ago this week that I was in the hospital with a "mild" heart episode and was made to realize that it was time for me to leave my newspaper job and find something else. However, the downside of working for the paper was I kinda lost my touch of writing for the fun of it....for the enjoyment...for the God of it. It has been a week of thinking back on that time and figuring out where I am now. But, as Jeremiah tells us, God knows the plans for my life better than I could ever could. (Jer. 29:11).

My time seems to be consumed with concern over a family member who is struggling with alcoholism and pharmaceuticals. Not admitting the problem, this person continues to create a lot of worry and stress, yet I still feel the need to fix it. There doesn't seem to be anybody here on earth for me to talk with about it...friends are all facing their own crises and I don't need to add to their burdens (or allow them to add their burdens to mine). I just want someone to listen to me. Because of the family situations and dynamics, I am not able to go a minister...been to a Christian counselor, but that didn't help except to spend an excessive amount of money and creating more debt.

The bright side is that I am really, really blessed with a good family, friends, and church family. I just hate feeling that I need to keep "the Christian happy mask" on all the time when I would just like to crawl into bed for awhile....or camp out on the sofa in the sunroom....or go to the beach....or the mountains...just go somewhere. But, I do know that God is walking with me. Guiding. Nudging. Whispering. Hugging. Letting me know that He is in charge and I really don't need to worry. So, I'm working on that half (the worrying part, that is), and it is working better with each day.

I knew I could get some thoughts out here on "Being God's"...whether anyone reads or not. This was my intent in the beginning; to share about the struggles and joys of a single guy trying to live a life for God in a very hostile world.

Until then, for today this has been the gospel according to Jimmy.

The past doesn't make your present or your future

My church recently celebrated a Homecoming Sunday. For those who are not in the “church know,” that is a time when former members come back to the church to renew old friendships, hear good music and preaching, and of course, eat lots of good food. The problem is, that it is very easy on those days to remember a time when a church had more people, more money, more staff, more programs, etc. This leaves us in a feeling of the good ole’ days are over and things just ain’t gonna be the same. We focus on these material and temporary things and not necessarily look at the important part of the spiritual well-being of the church. Are we growing in our faith, are we reaching our community and beyond with the knowledge of God, and are we experiencing true worship?

The poet and philosopher, George Santayana once said, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." I think he was speaking to us on a couple of levels. From a personal level, we need to learn from our mistakes. We need to learn to forgive ourselves and others then get past it, not dwelling on it. On a church level, we need to continue looking forward to continued ministry and not become fixated on the temporary things of our past. My mom goes to the same church where I grew up and they still provide an active and vital ministry in their community with 20-something people as they did when there were 200 people….and in many ways a better and more heartfelt ministry.
Janie, a friend of mine from church, told me that she was riding along the highway recently and saw one of the vintage Dodge Darts alongside her car. Remember those (at the time) fancy push button transmission buttons? They are certainly a reminder of days gone by. It seems that more and more cars that I owned as a high school and college student are being seen with antique car license plates. As this friend and I continued to talk along these lines, her thoughts were so good that I asked her to write them down for me to share with you.
“Remember when life seemed simple? Less complicated? We all have memories of a time when life seemed much simpler. Our lives today are filled with so many pressures. So many demands. Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to go back to a time when life was simple and we all could feel peaceful? In an attempt to bring back pleasures from the past, manufacturers have re-made cars to look life our favorite muscle cars, furniture to look like the furniture we grew up with and CD’s to compile each decade of our favorite music. We can even go to Cracker Barrel and purchase candies and gifts from our yesterday.

“We see commercials promoting quality time with our families by having game nights and dinner together at home. As cozy and wonderful as these things are, they can only provide temporary comfort and peace that we as humans so desperately long for. Only by having a relationship with God and His Son, Jesus, can a lasting peace be found.”

After our conversation, I began to think that this is the secret to looking back and looking forward. Jesus can help us take our past and move us forward through His love. As my friend Kirk Talley sings, “He can bring us past our past, and then we can go on.”

So for today my friends, this has been the gospel according to Jimmy.

It was all Marley's fault

I really did not want to go to church this week, but try as I might I just could not come up with a believable excuse. To start off, I guess several late nights had put me in a sleep deficit because it was just far too difficult to get up and my eyes just refused to stay open. Even as my body began to function, my mind was still in slumber mode and craved just a few more hours. Plus, I made the mistake of putting in the final CD of the “Marley and Me” audiobook. Even though I knew how the book ended, it was very sad to hear it on my way to Conyers, especially as it brought back memories of my pet, Murphy. By the time I pulled in the parking lot at 8:00 a.m., the tears were still flowing and I just wanted to go somewhere and curl up for awhile…not go in and hit the keyboard in performance mode. I guess it was just one of those days that I would have rather not been bothered with the church thing and felt it more appealing to be at the lake, in the mountains, at the beach, or just sitting on the back deck at home.

In the first service, just about everything that could go wrong did go wrong. The lights were dimmer than usual so I could not see the music well which created quite a few bizarre notes. Microphones were acting up, computers were on the fritz, musical rhythms were off, and on and on. As the service ended, I was hoping for the best in the next service, until…I clicked the organ on and…no sounds came forth. Lights were on, cables were connected, but no sound. Sheesh, It was one of those days when everything seemed destined to say, “Jimmy, you should have just stayed at home today.”

As I sat during the sermon time and listened to the pastor speaking about healing of hearts, minds, bodies, my heart began to listen and realize it wasn’t anyone’s fault but mine that I was in this attitude. I could not blame anyone else for my not getting enough sleep for several nights. It surely wasn’t Marley’s fault…he’s a dog…and on a CD in my car. I couldn’t blame the lights, computers, microphones, or even the organ. My heart and my attitude needed the healing and once I realized it and opened my heart to God, the healing began and I was finally glad to be at church with my church family.

What keeps you from the enjoyment of going to church? Too early? Your kids complained what you wanted them to wear? You sat on spilled Froot Loops at the kitchen table and had to change clothes at the last minute? You have an afternoon of ballgames, tennis, and golf to watch? You worked all week long, spent Saturday doing yard work, and feel like you really deserve a day on the boat?

You know, the most remarkable thing is that despite all the excuses we can come up with to miss this once a week time with God, He is faithful to stay with us. The Scriptures tell us that He delights in our presence, yet we try to come up with any reason to avoid a couple hours of worship and communion. Why is this? Why do we begrudge a few hours a week when God has given us all we have and provided a path for eternal reward out of His love for us? All He asks is that we love Him and tell others. Let’s work on that this week, okay?

And for today my friends, this has been the gospel according to Jimmy.