Billy Graham's favorite hymn, 'And Can it Be' written by John Wesley in 1738: 1) And can it be that I should gain An int'rest in the Savior's blood? Died He for me, who caused His pain? For me, who Him to death pursued? Amazing love! how can it be That Thou, my God, should die for me? Refrain: Amazing love! how can it be That Thou, my God, should die for me! 2) 'Tis mystery all! Th'Immortal dies! Who can explore His strange design? In vain the firstborn seraph tries To sound the depths of love divine! 'Tis mercy all! let earth adore, Let angel minds inquire no more. [Refrain] 3) He left His Father's throne above, So free, so infinite His grace; Emptied Himself of all but love, And bled for Adam's helpless race; 'Tis mercy all, immense and free; For, O my God, it found out me. [Refrain] 4) Long my imprisoned spirit lay Fast bound in sin and nature's night; Thine eye diffused a quick'ning ray, I woke, the dungeon flamed with light; My chains fell off, my heart was free; I rose, went forth and followed Thee. [Refrain] 5) No condemnation now I dread; Jesus, and all in Him is mine! Alive in Him, my living Head, And clothed in righteousness divine, Bold I approach th'eternal throne, And claim the crown, through Christ my own. [Refrain]

Welcome to Day 2 of this brand new year, and, I bid each one a hearty hello on this Friday, January 2, 2026. If you use any of the social media apps you are aware of the flood of artificial intelligence aided postings, mostly of altered photographs. In the above photo, the top picture is of yours truly taken in a studio project we did last November. The bottom photo is of how ChatGPT altered that image making me into the quinsintential Coca-Cola Santa. To resemble that particular image of the jolly old elf has been my goal since beginning the Santa adventure some 16 years ago. I didn't post the photo in my blog today to get your response on how well I am doing in reflecting this image, rather, I posted it because it reminded me of what people should see when they look at and interact with us as individuals. Okay. Here I go with another song I grew up singing:

 

 Let The Beauty of Jesus

words: Albert W. T. Orsbom (1916)
music: Tom M. Jones (1927)

Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me,
All His wonderful passion and purity;
May His spirit divine all my being refine,
Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.

When somebody has been so unkind to you,
Some words spoken that pierces you thru and thru;
Think how He was beguiled, spat upon and reviled,
Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in you.

From the dawn of the morning to close of day,
In example in deeds and in all you say;
Lay your gifts at His feet, ever strive to keep sweet,
Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in you.

 

I will tell you this about that. Because we still have what the Apostle Paul named as the 'old man', (Ephesians 4, and Romans 6), living in us, showing forth our Savior when it really counts, that is, in our day by day living, well, it can be challenging. Don't make me go into detail how I know that to be true. My point in bringing it up is that we should not give up. Sure. In reading a number of lists that people have posted as new year resolutions, the 'be kinder' came up often. True kindness to others for believers is when we reflect our Savior and our identity as His own as we go about our daily living. Again, the Apostle Paul calls on believers to have the mind of Christ, Philippians 2:5, and, that's likely where I need to work going forward in 2026 and beyond. You've got this covered already? Good for you! Sorry to disappoint you, but, I am, at best, a work in progress with a long way to go. You will pray for me? Thanks so much because I need all the help I can get. 

I will close with this. How about us praying one for another that we will make progress this year in the area that matters most, our spiritual walk. Got it? Good. Take care now. You hear? And, may God add His blessings. Amen.  

"Another year! Use it kindly; you will not have it long, and almost ere you are aware, it will be past." ~ Charles F. Raymond, "This Banner Year," Just Be Glad, 1907

Okay. Here we go. It is the one and only first day of 2026, written as January 1, 2026. Happy Thursday and I do have some resolutions to share with you today. The first is heartfelt. I mentioned to my long-term proof reader that it appeared I might be drifting towards a wee bit of wordiness. She was quiet. She didn't argue but I, based on some 64 years of experience, interpreted her response: "You think?" Point taken. I will think about trying to do better. In fact, I resolve to think about thinking about doing better. How about that for a solid commitment of resolve? I updated the tag on my blog. I will confess I had trouble coming up with a rhyming word for 2026 but thanks to Google AI, I was able to do this one: Still In the Mix in 2026. It does give a smidgen of presumptiveness, however, if I am able to climb the stairs and sit in the chair on any given day and if I am able, using the electronic means to produce another edition, well, I consider myself to still be in the mix fully knowing that it could change at any time. I'm sure some out there wanted a clarification on that one. Not really? I also added the qualification that states I will, if the Lord agrees, turn 80 in this upcoming August. (I think most are aware that we believe life begins at conception, therefore, since my mother carried me 9 months, well, do the math, I am already well over 80.) But given how age is counted, if I make it to my official birthday in August I will join the narrowing percentage in that this male population group makes up roughly 3.3%, (80 or older), in our country. Back in the day when I worked in downtown Houston in the high rise, since I was a department head the company provided me with a membership to the historic Houston Club. I did think I was somebody. Think about it. The company provided the membership cost. The company paid the monthly expense. I ate there often and I did get to rub shoulders with folks who thought they were somebody too. Many of them were very much more recognizable than me. Truth is, looking back, as Paw Paw Mac would say, "It didn't amount to a hill of beans." I recently heard a preacher talking about a major newspaper interview with the mayor, at that time, of New York City. When the reporter asked about how the mayor viewed his accomplishments in office, he replied with something like this: "If there is a God and if there is a judging process then there is no doubt in my mind that I will be first to go into heaven based on all the good I have accomplished." Those comments were in the published interview. The pastor went on to lament how the world pretty much sees it the same way. If there is a judgment, then the good will be weighed against the bad and if I've done more good than bad, I get in. Sounds good. Right? Well, that, my friend, is not how it works. It doesn't matter if you are burned at the stake for your stated fidelity to your faith, unless you know Jesus as Savior and Lord, you will find your place in hell. If you give all you have to the poor but you do not know Jesus in the free pardon from sin, well, you too will find your place in hell. Okay. I admit it. I decided to postpone the curtailment of wordiness until tomorrow. You know. Sing along with me: "Tomorrow, tomorrow! I love ya tomorrow! You're always A day Away!" Back to the matter at hand. I'll leave us all to consider what many believe to be some of the most chilling words spoken by our Lord, "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’" (Matthew 7:21-23 English Standard Version). I suppose this sounds like a welcome to my menu for the first day of the new year: Conviction, conviction, conviction! I do take responsibility for it, but, I must tell the truth again, I sat down, you know like someone ready to play the piano, and, this is the song that came forth. It did. It really did.

 

I would like to think that paragraph looks longer than it really is. What? You too! At least we have found agreement on something. I do have some aspirations for this upcoming year. Essentially, they have to do with growing in the grace of our Lord and Savior. At my age? Don't be alarmed, but, yes! If I do grow, then many of the areas I wish to improve will show up in my serving during the time I have left. Those areas include use of my time, my talent, my treasure, and, my testimony. Those pretty much cover impact on my family, my brothers and sisters in Christ, my friends, and, any and all others I come in contact with, oh yeah, including those I have trouble getting along with. The bottom line, and I don't mean to sound morbid, but, I have so much to do and so little time to do it. You are right. I should have started earlier. Without any malice or forethought, I think my response to us all is this: Physician heal thyself. Until next time, have a great day and may God, who is timeless, in the time we have available in this brand new year, bless us all, for His honor and glory. Amen.