Author, educator and commentator Dr. James Denison has been pastor of Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas since June, 1998. Prior to that, he was pastor at churches in Atlanta, Georgia, as well as Midland (at First Baptist) and Mansfield, Texas. So advised John Heywood in 1546. Apparently you can tell how old a horse is by checking its teeth, though I have no expertise on the subject to share. But we get the drift—when someone gives you something, be grateful.
Take [Monday's] holiday, for example. If you're out of school or off work for "President's Day" you may not care why, but here's the story. "Washington's Birthday" was the first federal holiday to honor an American citizen. For years we actually observed his birthday on his birthday (February 22). But that made too much sense, so Congress enacted the Uniform Monday Holiday Act in 1971, shifting the day to the third Monday in February. Since it is usually adjacent to February 12, Lincoln's birthday, the two now must cohabit the same holiday and we call it "President's Day."
As a result, if you're ever elected president you get your own holiday (so long as you're willing to share with your presidential colleagues). William Henry Harrison (February 9) and Ronald Reagan (February 6) were born close enough to President's Day to merit consideration. But the four presidents following Mr. Reagan are nowhere in the ballpark, being born on June 12, August 19, July 6, and August 4 respectively. Mr. Obama has been president for less than a month, yet he gets to join the party. I'm sure he's grateful.
So is Matt Kenseth, your Daytona 500 champion for 2009. Today's New York Times tells us that Mr. Kenseth, winless last year, cried as he was awarded NASCAR's most coveted title. He had just taken the lead when a rainstorm forced an end to the race with 48 of the 200 laps still to go. Bad luck for most was good luck for one.
What was the last gift you received but didn't really deserve? Janet and I were honored last night by Park Cities Baptist Church upon the conclusion of our ten years of ministry with this great congregation. Very kind things were said and done, all of which were more gracious than deserved. Today we start our new ministry, beginning the Center for Informed Faith and serving Texas Baptist churches as Theologian in Residence. I will continue writing GodIssues Today, of course, and am excited about new additions to this Internet ministry. But this morning I am also overcome by a sense of gratitude for a church family which has been so kind to our family.
So it is with grace. Someone acronymized (is that a word?) "GRACE" as "God's Riches At Christ's Expense." You are loved this moment by the Lord of the universe. You can do nothing to earn or lose his love for you. Have you thanked him yet for grace?
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