What Do You Know Good?

“Preacher, what da’ ya’ know good?”  asked D. B. Whittle.  This was always the first question the aged brother would ask when I went to visit him in the nursing home.

It’s been a lot of years since we lived in Palmetto, Florida. I was a young preacher.  Learning. Growing.  Making mistakes.  But trying to get better.  And the brethren helped me.   Our family has great memories of those 9 years.   Wonderful friendships were formed that exist to this day.

I’ll never forget brother Whittle.  He lived to be 105.  He was a successful businessman.  A dedicated Christian.  And a well-know name in Manatee County.  Now he was retired.  In the twilight of his life.   But there was still a twinkle in his eye.

For some reason I got to thinking about him again today at lunch.  And about that question.  Maybe it’s because there is so much bad news.  Discouraging news.  Depressing news.  And I’ve been writing about some of it.  Trying to reprove.  Rebuke.  But encourage us to stay strong.  And be faithful.

Yet, there sure is a lot of good news.  A lot of good people left.  A lot of good things going on.

Where I preach at Hickman Mills in Kansas City, we have some great people.  Good-hearted.  Ministry-minded.  And faith focused.  In the past six weeks, four people have given their lives to Christ.  One a young man.  Another a co-worker of one of our members.  And lately a husband and wife who were united spiritually in Jesus.  That’s good news!

Several years ago some friends of ours suggested Norma Jean and I begin a “Good File.”  Whenever we get a special note, card, or “thank you” we put in our good file!  It reminds us of people who have encouraged us.  Helped us.  Shared with us.  It’s filled with good news!

I know bad news sells.  The newspapers and internet sites are filled with stories of heartache, tales of tragedy, and accounts of evil doers and their bad deeds.  I thought there should be a site of good news.  So, I googled “Good News.”  And there are several.  The Huffington Post Good News.  The Daily Good.  Good Newsnetwork.  HappyNews.  And many more.  That’s good news! Here’s a few stories from those sites.

◆A 911 operator loaned a wedding dress to a bride-to-be whose dress was stolen.

◆A Red Sox fan caught two home runs in one game and gave both balls away–one to his brother, and the other to a kid attending his first Major League game.

◆Larry Lawton, an ex-con, has turned from a life of crime to helping kids stay away from crime.  His selfless and heroic work has earned him recognition as an honorary police office.  The first ex-con to receive this honor.

◆A Florida soldier, Ryan Timoney, received a hero’s welcome home with a police escorted motorcade.  Hundreds of volunteers participated.  Including an entire school whose students waved American flags as he went past.

◆Since 1989 volunteerism in America has grown by more than 25 million people.

◆”DailyGood tells the story about John Kralik who at age 52 had lost everything, but decided to find something to be thankful for.  He began writing thank you notes.  352 days and notes later he says that it turned his life around!

All of this is good news!  And there is a lot more!

But then I remember what the Bible says, “Truly God is good…”  He is the giver of good gifts.  He is a God of goodness.  Love.  Mercy. Compassion.  And forgiveness.

And through the goodness of God, He sent Jesus to die for my sins.  And yours.  And that my friend is the Gospel Truth.  The ultimate GOOD NEWS!  Today.  And everyday.

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman

Do you have some good news?  Take a moment and share it with the rest of us.  I guarantee you, we’d all love to hear it!