We’re getting close. In spite of the recent cold front that took our minds back to winter, summertime is not too far ahead. And that can only mean that the 28th annual Southside Lectures are just over the horizon.

I attended the funeral for W.R. Jones last week. Though it sounds strange to say that a funeral service was enjoyable, this one truly was the celebration of a good preacher and an even better man. Judging by the standing-room-only crowd gathered to pay their last respects, it was evident that he touched the lives of multiple generations of people. For me, it brought back some special memories of why I loved him and love him still.

The Minor Prophets are not minor because they are less important, but only because of their smaller size. Their importance is not negated by their size, either. They are descriptive in a special sort of way, in that they tend to graphically describe our present time, though they were written thousands of years ago.

Jesus said in His mountain message, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matt. 6:34). What a telling statement. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the value and beauty of a single day.

You would think you were reading a novel. A ship full of prisoners rocked by violent winds and waves. A storm so fierce that neither the sun nor stars were seen for several days. A situation so desperate that it led to the loss of the cargo, the boat, but not one life. Hollywood couldn’t touch this story. It was scripted by God Himself.

The fundamentals of anything are its essential parts; and its essential parts are just that—essential. Without them whatever the project or enterprise, it cannot function properly. In the Christian life there are certain fundamental parts that are essential. Let me call to your attention three things which are fundamental to who and what we are.

The trees are starting to bud. Little green blades of grass are peaking out where the lawn had gone dormant for the winter. People are beginning to notice pollen and mold spores and other allergens floating toward their nasal passages. These are all signs of spring. Soon, even our clocks will “spring forward.” And that means it time for a good spring cleaning.

We live in a time where leisure is the goal of nearly every person. We work so we can play. We work so we can relax, enjoy life, find the happiness that comes from the pursuit of our own personal wants and desires. Few people work for the joy of working; they work for the joy of leisure.

What are your recollections of Hurricane Rita? For most of us that was so bad we never want to go through that again. There was confusion and traffic gridlock. It is hard to forget being stuck on the freeways for hours during a very hot time of the year. Some had car trouble. Most had trouble getting to any safe haven, then on returning, we were relieved that the storm had largely spared our area, but yards needed clearing and many of us were without electricity, some for days. It may be all we can think of about Rita is bad, bad, bad!

What does God look like? Is He tall? Does He have hair? Are His clothes white? These are things my kids want to know. These are things that I want to know. And while we may never be able to answer such questions on this side of heaven, that doesn’t stop people from wondering.