Timothy J. Pruitt's Blog, page 386

Eddington Caffeine and Bullets

Caffeine and bullets are both good motivations for running. I prefer the former to the latter, but the woman with the bullets didn’t ask me. Neither did her driver, but I was just glad I had my keys.

I barreled into the car, turned it over, and hit the gas. I grabbed my seatbelt with one hand while attempting to steer out of the path of ammunition with the other. My assailant, a fifty some year old lady, that was probably someone’s grandmother.

I would never see her that way. To me she would always be the assassin. It’s melodramatic, but things like that go through your mind when your arm is bleeding. I was getting tired of mess, and was ready to end it.

I called Joe, praying he was at work, and could rain down a storm of officers on the crazy person behind me. I got his voicemail, the day wasn’t going as planned. Neither would the night, but I wouldn’t know that til later.  

Right now, I was being chased by people I didn’t know, and didn’t care to know. All that was obvious was, car chases end, and usually badly for the vehicle in front. That gave me a thought, in retrospect, it was stupid, but all that I had.

I swung wide, turned the car around, ducking all the time. As fast as I could, I drove towards them. That was when I saw fear, not in her eyes, they were cold. Her driver wasn’t as tough, he blinked, and he was controlling the car.

The guy swerved just enough for me to get by, and I drove to the nearest police station. Who knew what I would have done if they had pulled in, fired, and left. Thankfully they didn’t, and while bleeding and pulling my nerves together, Joe called back.

Sketch Blue Fountain

Tonight I hope you like this sketch of the Blue Fountain.

Sweet For Sweeter

From 1942 to 1947, the Kit Kat bar we know, was altered due to the war. Milk shortages forced it to become dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate. Also, its packaging was changed from red to blue.  

During the war effort, alterations and sacrifices were made to win the war. This new year, we face various battles, and commitments have been made to win. Even in something as small as a chocolate bar, during the war, they were willing to do what was necessary to succeed.  They traded the sweet for sweeter.

This month, let us commit every facet of our life to drawing closer to God, our loved ones, and reaching the lost. Whatever your goals in 2017, make sure that they are focused on relationship. The primary relationship of our life is The One who made us His primary goal from Bethlehem to Calvary.

Our Senior Pastor, Pastor Denny Livingston, has preached two incredible messages on commitment to our walk with God in 2017. I encourage you to listen to both. Our world is changing like never before, and only a life committed to God will see victory in this war.  

So we must not view any changes that are required as sacrifices, but necessities to obtain a much sweeter prize. Victory in our souls, our families, and The Kingdom Of God are the most precious goal. As for me and my family, we are committing to God this year more than ever!

Sketch Country Home

We hope you enjoy this sketch of a “Country Home”.

2017

Start 2017 off with the person who made this gift for you. A new year is a package full of hope, mixed with battles to be won, laughter to experience, and loved ones to share any tears.  While we don’t know what all it will bring, we do know this. It will bring something new.

New by definition has strength, energy, and adventure.  Renew your mind today in God’s presence. Let Him prepare you for the new things He wants to do in you today.  

We are heading to Point Of Mercy in Nashville to start the new year off right. I encourage you to do the same. It’s time to Worship, and to rejoice, Happy New Year!

The Titanic, Shakespeare, and Bob Hope

This is post from March 2015 that I thought would be a good lead in to 2017.  2016 was a tough year, but it does not define us. God, and our commitment to pursue, defines us.

Hundreds of passengers survived the Titanic. The most well known tragedy the sea has to offer had survivors.  People who could say I was on that ship, it was a nightmare, but I made the lifeboats!  Whatever you’re facing today, survival is more than a possibility. You just have to reach for the lifeboats.

In a new book, Shakespeare Saved My Life, Dr Laura Bates documents how one prisoner credits the playwright’s work for his survival. She also shares how those sessions changed other prisoner’s lives.  The plays of a famous writer inspired others to live.



We hear it quoted often, it’s the only Shakespeare many know, but “To be or not to be” isn’t really the question.  I much prefer another line of William’s. “Now, God be praised, that to believing souls gives light in darkness, comfort in despair.”  Do we believe strongly enough in something to hold on?  That’s the question that will propel us to survival.



At times, the most unexpected things bring hope.  From World War II to the Persian Gulf, a comedian named Hope gave more than a bag of jokes to the troops.  On face value it might not seem like much, but it connected them to home when they were far from it.



What could a baggy pants comedian do to relieve the burden of war? How could a long dead poet encourage a prisoner in solitary confinement?  How could anyone survive one the greatest tragedies in history?  They believed they could.



They made it to the lifeboats, and then they made it to the relief ship, and finally to shore.  It happened in stages, you won’t get there overnight, but hold on, you’ll get there.  Like the prisoner, you’ll learn some things along the way.  



Above all, find ways of laughing, it will break up the tears, and remind you that there is hope.  I don’t know what you’re facing, but you are not alone.  There are people who care rooting for you, they’re in your corner.  



Believe that whatever obstacles, no matter how invincible they look, are just delays.  They aren’t going to stop you, they may slow you down, but they can’t make you quit.  No one can, nothing has that power over you, you can make it!  Hold fast, stand tall, and with God’s help, you can conquer whatever gets in your way.

Eddington Cocoa Cappuccinos

“Sire, he lives a good league hence, underneath the mountain; Right against the forest fence, by Saint Agnes’ fountain.”

Most people know the first verse of Good King Wenceslas, or at least the first few lines. The second verse is not as popular, but after Otecko finished his story, its become very familiar to me. Once all the children had went to bed, he gathered the adults to tell us a story.

“Until now I’ve been hesitant to share the whole story with you, but now, the time is right. One reason is, part is legend, and part is fact. Much like the song Good King Wenceslas.”

“I was hesitant because I knew his motives, but I did not yet know Rastilav’s motivations. His viewpoint very much affected how to proceed, and what to focus on. Now that I know, I can give you the tart, with a little less powdered sugar.”

He winked at us and grinned. “Of course, to make it entertaining, perhaps a light dusting.” With a wink and a nod, all of us, were kids again listening intently. Covered in Christmas blankets, sipping cocoa cappuccinos my Wife had just whipped up, and grinning from ear to ear.

He sang in a hearty voice verse two of the song, and then continued. “That verse became a road map to the four jewel’s protectors, much like the duke, called king, became a symbol. ‘A good league, under the mountain, right against the forest fence, by the fountain.’ ”

“Only a band of good men, or souls with no ill intent, can be trusted to guard the treasure. For they will guard it, under the eyes of mountains of those who would use their symbolic strength to crush others. That is why the treasure is hidden.”

“This is what every protector is told. ‘The forest fence tells us to do whatever is necessary to keep it out of evil hands. Last of all, the fountain tells us where to hide it. In a place of activity, calm but vibrant.’ ” I looked at Otecko with a question all over my face.

“I understand the others, but the last one, I don’t understand.” He laughed. “That’s because it’s not supposed to, it is a test. One which must be passed before a protector is truly trusted.”

“They are given half the riddle, or you could say the map. You might say, once it is proven they will not dig up the treasure for themselves, they are given the coordinates of where to dig. Also, in case someone like Rastilav learns the riddle from a weak protector, it is useless without knowing the rest.”

Lights Off The Tree

It started out years ago, that they would only remain the rest of this month. Now, you find Christmas lights in weddings, flower arrangements, and interior decorating. An why not, light should be present every day of the year. Especially The Light of Christmas.

One of my very closest and best friends sent me a text yesterday, reminding me that Christmas isn’t over. This is a wonderful person who’s kindness and generosity is consistent throughput the year. She celebrates Christmas, and shares it’s message of hope regardless of the calendar.

Whatever your Dec 25 was like, don’t pack up the Light and the joy with the tree. Let it accentuate your special occasions, bring fragrance to your life, and decorate your every day. The Light of Christmas belongs on display every moment of our lives, not in a box in the garage.  

iPainting General Cashew

On Dec 26, we thought you’d enjoy our version of the nutcracker. We call him “General Cashew”.

The Native Pauls Nativity

Hebrews 1:6

And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.

The Apostle Paul covered many subjects. One he spoke very little on, was Christ’s birth in Bethlehem. Except for this verse, and I had passed over it for years.

There’s only one event in The New Testament it could be referring to. Like Hebrews, it involved The Christ, angels, and shepherds. I like to think of this verse as Paul’s Nativity.

Luke 2:13-15

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

They say Francis of Assisi started the first Nativity scene in 1223. He did this, after a visit to Israel, where he saw Bethlehem. He wanted to encourage the worship of Christ.

The same as the Apostle Paul did here. He was speaking to the Jews about what he had received, just as the shepherds had in Luke 2. After receiving, they visited the Christ child, and shared the announcement with everyone.

In Paul’s conversion, Christ spoke to Him, and conversation led to transformation. The troubler of churches, became the Apostle to the Gentiles. The same message that Gabriel announced years before, brought Paul peace on earth.  

According to the book of Revelation, a Pastor is called the Angel of the local Church. He is both a minister and a shepherd, sharing the vision of Heaven, and caring for the flock. To Paul, as it should be to us, it was more than a Christmas story. 

Whether it’s on a plain in Bethlehem, a Roman prison house, or your local assembly, Angels still announce the good news. Bethlehem is more relevant today than it has ever been before.

God did arrive, born of a virgin, to save a lost and hurting world. Angels, we have heard on high, not in glowing robes, but suits and jeans. The message alters all it touches, from the messenger to it’s recipients.

That transformation doesn’t stop at conversion. It continues from the day you experience it, until the day the angel announces His return. He doesn’t offer a shallow reassurance, but a concrete hope. 

There are real problems today, just as then. Only unlike Him, we don’t face a murder plot in the first two chapters of our lives. Some would have stood against all who attempted the attack. Instead, He chooses a redeemed murderer to share the Gospel. 

Paul knew firsthand the limitless power of the message of Jesus. He voluntarily went from jailer to jail cell, because He believed. Paul believed enough to be born again. Whether you’re a believer, or a skeptic, I challenge you to revisit it today, reading with an open heart. 

Hear the angel, see the shepherds, and meet The One who came to Bethlehem, knowing its road would lead to Calvary. Christ believed in us enough, to be born to die. Shouldn’t we believe enough to allow Him in our hearts?