“Nothing Stays in the Closet Nowadays”

Remember when Hollywood executives sought to cover up the scandalous activity of their stars in order to avoid severe damage to box office receipts?

Today, anything goes. In fact, the executives now holding those high Hollywood posts actually go out of their way to parade, publicize, and promote the most brazen immorality of the folks they have under contract. They have concluded (rightly so, obviously) that scandal actually helps one’s career, so vastly different are the moral standards of the public from days gone by. 

Forget Dorian Gray. Nothing stays in the closet nowadays.

Meanwhile, American Christians continue to drink freely from these polluted waters, desiring hipness over holiness, entertainment over enlightenment, and mindless conformity over the counter-culture lifestyle that Jesus commanded.

It’s a very sad state of affairs.

As an ancient seer put it, “Like a trampled spring and a polluted well is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.” (Proverbs 25:26, NASB)

Real Religion Is Both Other-Worldly AND Historical

“The first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen. To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God.” (Acts 1:1-3, New American Standard Bible)

I love this beginning of Luke’s Book of the Acts of the Apostles, emphasizing as it does Christianity’s grounding in real-time, verifiable history. This is seen most clearly in Luke’s care as a historian, in the trustworthiness of his account to an inquiring friend, and in how he begins his letter by reference to the evidential nature of Jesus’ physical resurrection as shown to so many witnesses and in so many “convincing” ways, including His physical presence, other miracles, and the divine wisdom of His teaching.

Ours is a religion of divine, other-worldly origin, to be sure, but God was pleased to unfold His revelation (and the awesome plan of salvation through the atoning sacrifice of Christ for our sins) in human history. That, in itself, is terrific grace.

By the way, this painting of Luke the physician, historian, and missionary was painted by Giorgio Vasari (1570-1571)

The Trumpets Sound!

Here is a stirring passage from John Bunyan’s classic, The Pilgrim's Progress. It comes from Part Two of that classic allegory and describes what occurs after Mr. Valiant-for-Truth is summoned to the Celestial Gate by the Master. Mr. Valiant-for-Truth makes his will, as it were, then speaks his parting words and departs for glory.

“Then said Mr. Valiant-for-Truth, ‘I am going to my Father’s and though with great difficulty I am got hither, yet now I do not repent me of all the trouble I have been at to arrive where I am. My sword I give to him that shall succeed me in my pilgrimage, and my courage and skill to him that can get it. My marks and scars I carry with me, to be a witness for me that I have fought His battles Who now will be my rewarder.’

When the day that he must go hence was come, many accompanied him to the riverside, into which as he went, he said, ‘Death, where is thy sting?’ And as he went down deeper, he said, ‘Grave, where is thy victory?’

So he passed over, and all the trumpets sounded for him on the other side.”

By the way, the illustration of Mr. Valiant-for Truth comes from an 1894 edition. The figure was designed by Frederick Barnard and the woodcut engraved for the edition by Dalziel Borthers.

The Surefire Investment Plan: Get Yourself a 'Paradise Portfolio'

If you were to believe the advertisements of many brokerage firms and insurance companies, you would think that a safe, even luxurious, future was yours if you simply sign on the dotted line with them. But that certainly doesn’t make sense for those who can hardly keep up with expenses now.

The truth is in the numbers; a fellow who lives from paycheck to paycheck just doesn’t have enough to build up a cushion for retirement.

Now don’t get me wrong. Financial planning, frugality, savings, and prudent investments are all good things.  But the best investment plan of all – and the only surefire one – is the one explained by Jesus when He explicitly told us to lay up our treasures in heaven.  This is a fantastic opportunity for us!  Indeed, all of God’s children are saved from the penalty of sin through faith in God’s grace alone.

However, the Scriptures are also clear that believers will receive heavenly rewards by living lives of obedience, trust, and love.  And that heavenly savings account (I’ve taken to calling it my paradise portfolio) is completely safe from thieves, natural forces, and all the sin-stained politics of this earth.

This investment plan, by the way, has nothing to do with your income, your pension, your Social Security or Medicare.  It has only to deal with your faithfulness to God.

No, after paying our bills, we may not have a nickel left over to put into stocks, bonds, or precious metals. But we can always make investments in heaven, adding every single day to that glorious paradise portfolio that the Lord is saving for us as part of our forever inheritance.

Now that is great news!

Gratitude Down the Manhole

Returning home after walking my regular course one afternoon, I came across an unusual scene.  In front of the Christian school that I pass by were two men I know who worked there. One was kneeling beside the sewer opening at the curb while the other was actually lying on the pavement and trying to reach down inside.  A nicely-dressed woman was standing nearby.

I stopped to help and discovered they were trying to retrieve a schoolbook that had a girl had dropped down into the sewer and which was lying, safe and dry for the moment, on a bit of concrete shelf.  Being dressed down in shorts and T-shirt and already dirty, I offered my help and got down beside my friend.  Though taller and having a longer reach, I couldn’t get to the book either even though I got down as far as I could into the sewer opening.  Even using a pole with a gripping device wouldn’t work.

Well, we worked at it quite awhile before my friend thought about possibly prying the manhole cover from its rust-encrusted position so that he could drop inside.  It wasn’t easy and the iron cover proved heavy and cumbersome -- but finally we got it off.  Once we had, it took just seconds for him to drop down, retrieve the book, and but another minute to maneuver the manhole cover back into place.  

Hooray! Our efforts had produced a successful conclusion and we all felt a wonderful sense of achievement. But the most notable detail of this story was one that wasn’t wonderful at all for that was the inaction of the young girl whose book had been saved.  

During the whole time of the adventure -- 15 minutes since I had showed up and who knows how long before that -- she had merely sat in a nearby car, messing with her phone.  It was the girl’s mother who had stood alongside watching our efforts in her daughter’s behalf. The mom was encouraging and very grateful.  But, even when the book was retrieved, the girl herself displayed absolutely no gratitude, not even any interest. 

The mother was terribly embarrassed by her daughter's attitude and she finally had to order her daughter to roll down the window and thank us for getting her book. (Remember, it was her book and she was the person who dropped it.) The girl, visibly perturbed, let the car window come down, snatched the book from her mom’s hand, gave us what was more of a quick smirk than a sincere smile, and…zip…up went the window and she returned her attention to her phone. The mom repeated her own thanks and assured us that her daughter was grateful too.  The evidence of that, however, could hardly been weaker.

I shook hands with the other guys and thanked them for their efforts in behalf of the student.  I thanked them too for letting me be a part of the project for, when all was said and done, it had been kinda’ fun. 

But, as I walked the rest of the way home, I thought about how sad an example this presented of modern youth, even in Christian circles.  Self-centered. Ungrateful.  A haughty indifference to elders -- even when beholden to them. Indifference to parental expectations or feelings. And being so tied to “social media” that true social responsibilities are ignored.

I wonder -- will those of us who are older finally recognize the trouble our youth are in (and, through them, the whole culture) because of the counter-productive polices we’ve practiced in the schools, the church youth programs, parenting priorities, and the tragic extent that we have allowed kids to be engulfed in technology, fad and fashion, and Hollywood media? 

And, even if we recognize the situation, will we begin to take steps to instruct (and require) our youth in respect, responsibility, a work ethic, humility, real life skills, rites of passage to adulthood, and a personal devotion to both the precepts and the power of biblical Christianity? 

Make no mistake, this is a critical matter, one that must be seriously and continually addressed. If not, the future of Christian culture (short of heaven) is bleak indeed. Lord, please help us to help them.

For a Purposeful Life, Look Not Back

 Old adventures over? Well, in God, new adventures are available!

“Many people cannot reconcile themselves to seeing their finest adventures spent and declining. Well! The answer lies in the surrender of our lives to God, for He is the very source of life, a source that is always new. He brings one adventure to an end only to open another to us. He is tireless and inexhaustible. With Him we must be ready for anything. At any moment an unsatisfying life may become once more a grand adventure if we will surrender it to Him. What is different is the spirit in which it is lived; the person sees things in a different light -- the glow of the adventure…

How many disillusioned souls there are who no longer believe that any success is possible in their lives! Success is always possible for a person who will look, not back, but forward, who will not persist in dwelling on old adventures that are finished, but who will wait on God for new beginnings.” (Paul Tournier, The Adventure of Living, 1965, pages 196-8)

Oh, My! A "When Swing Was King" Update

My, oh my; has it really been 16 years since we presented our first “When Swing Was King” program in a senior care facility?  Goodness. That first show was presented at Life Care Center where my Mom was then living. And it was intended to be an entertainment feature at a party we were throwing for Mom and some of the other residents who were her friends there. That’s right -- one simple party. So who could have ever guessed what would end up happening? For within 2 months of that party, and without any promotion on our part whatsoever, we were creating new shows and playing to audiences in a half dozen senior facilities. Before the year was out, we were at 12 facilities with brand new shows every month.

And doing it, as we do now, completely free of charge.

We have now presented...drum roll, please...over 1,900 shows with each always-unique presentation made up of 12 songs, a couple hundred striking photos, and an informative and fun commentary backing it all up. We are freshly amazed at what the Lord has done. And we absolutely love the ministry it involves: creating each show from month to month, entertaining each audience (average numbers ranging from 12-40), and, because we go to the same facilities every month, establishing lively and inspirational friendships with so many people. Lord, thank You so much for “When Swing Was King.”

By the way, “outsiders” are always welcome and so you too can come along and find out just how fun and uplifting these events are. Claire posts the schedule on the Vital Signs Ministries website every month and we (and the senior residents themselves) would love to have you be a part.

By the way, you might find of interest the songlist for our June shows:

1) “Moonlight Cocktail” (Glenn Miller Orchestra with Ray Eberle & the Modernnaires)

2) “The More I See You” (Al Martino)

3) “I’ve Heard That Song Before” (Harry James Orchestra with Helen Forrest)

4) “Nevertheless, I’m In Love with You” (The Mills Brothers)

5) “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B” (The Andrews Sisters)

6) “Blue Skies” (Benny Goodman Orchestra with Art Lund)

7) “You’re Driving Me Crazy” (Guy Lombardo Orchestra with Kenny Gardner)

8) “Twilight Time” (The Platters)

9) “Sh-Boom” (The Crew-Cuts)

10) “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair” (Mitzi Gaynor)

11) “Mr. Meadowlark” (Ted Weems Orchestra with Perry Como)

12) “Swingin’ on a Star” (John Scott Trotter Orchestra with Bing Crosby & the Williams Brothers)

Denny Remembers Quint Coppi

The history of Vital Signs Ministries has been a long, challenging, and eventful one yet, by the grace of Almighty God, we have experienced remarkable victories and blessings along the way. And in almost all of the adventurous years of VSM’s Christ-centered pro-life ministry, Quint and Carol Coppi performed the most steadfast, winsome, and absolutely invaluable service. Carol has been enjoying her heavenly reward for 4 years now but Quint only joined her in the presence of Jesus last week. With his death, an important chapter of Vital Signs’ story has closed, but the effects of his and Carol’s influence (and prayers) will continue until the Lord’s upward call comes to the rest of us who so eagerly await it. 

Claire and I join the Coppi family (and scores of other believers who are Quint’s and Carol’s friends and colleagues) in mourning their passing, in cherishing memories of their purposeful lives, and because the Coppi’s eternal salvation is quite secure in that they had trusted Christ’s death on the cross as payment for their sins, we join also in the celebration of their new adventures with the Triune God, the angels, and all the redeemed saints who have gone before.

I first met Quint and Carol when I was asked to speak at the church they were then attending, Prince of Peace. That was sometime, I believe, way back in 1984. They both took the Lord’s call to pro-life activities very seriously -- and very quick. They joined us in peaceful protests of abortion, in sidewalk counseling as we attempted to minister to young men and women with abortion appointments, in various educational outreaches such as the VSM information booth at the the Nebraska State Fair, a whole lot of prayer meetings, the founding of the AAA Crisis Pregnancy Center (now Assure Women’s Center), letter writing parties, field trips to such places as the National March for Life in Washington D.C., and more. In fact, Quint became a member of the Vital Signs Ministries Governing Board very early in our history where his tender-hearted encouragement, his wise counsel, and his willingness to be of whatever service was needed, proved his character as a genuine man of God who had embraced the mission.

And he served in all of these ways for many, many years. Wow.

Even in his old age when he moved to Florida to be with family, Quint continued to be a treasured member of our sidewalk counseling team by joining us in real-time prayer via telephone. Oh my, but everyone loved and admired and was grateful for Quint’s ongoing loyalty and fellowship.

But, in addition to our ministry partnership, Claire and I will forever cherish the Coppi’s joyful, thoughtful presence in the book club we formed. They were in fact present at the very first meeting of the Notting Hill Napoleons, a group of pro-life colleagues who gathered one evening every month to discuss classic literature. It was a unique fellowship that lasted over 30 years! And some of my most beloved memories of Quint come from the Napoleons’ weekend retreats we took every autumn at out-of-town B&Bs. He and I would get up very early on those mornings to have the most engaging and serious talks, encouraging one another spiritually and then praying over the Scriptures that had come up in our conversation.

Now Claire and I engage in a lot of social activities and we do an awful lot of home entertaining, but there were very few social affairs that Claire and I hosted over these last four decades in which Quint and Carol were not “star participants.” For instance, in kicking off the Christmas season where we host many dinner parties, the first invites always went to Quint and Carol. And I can’t remember an Epiphany evening in all those years they were not delighting us with their presence. Oh yes; one of the most wonderful of our parties was when we hosted Carol’s art show and sale -- what an exciting and delightful afternoon! Perhaps here is where Claire and I proudly boast that we have the largest collection of Carol Coppi art outside of Florida! 

Goodness, I mustn’t omit the truly outstanding trip that we took with Quint and Carol to London and its surrounding areas. It was fabulous fun planning it, fabulous fun experiencing it, and fabulous fun reminiscing about it for years afterward!

My, my; Quint and Carol are both sorely missed because we loved them so. And our lives were enriched beyond measure by their love and loyalty to us. It is in knowing, however, that they are both enjoying -- right this very moment -- the wholeness, the holiness, the happiness, and the harmony of being present with the Lord Jesus that brings comfort and excitement. We look forward with great anticipation to the day we will greet them on the streets of the New Jerusalem and re-boot the friendship.

Thank you, dear Father, for the gifts which were Quint and Carol Coppi. 

One more item -- As an added tribute to Quint Coppi, my dear brother in Christ, my friend, and my fellow-soldier in Christ’s service, I offer a link to a story I wrote years ago as a birthday present for him. It is a very short story whereby I took details from Quint’s childhood and turned them into the kind of adventure tale he had so loved as a kid. It is entitled “The Secret of Sagamore: A Christmas Mystery (A Quint Coppi Adventure written by Denny Hartford)” and will be posted for awhile on the Vital Signs Ministries website right here.

What's A.I. Saying About Vital Signs Ministries?

After a conversation with a friend lately about the increasing presence and influence of A.I. on all aspects of our lives, we decided to try a couple of experiments. We thought you might find the results of interest also.

Here’s the deal -- we asked an A.I. program to “tell us about” 1) Vital Signs Ministries, 2) “When Swing Was King,” 3) my novel “The Christmas Room,” and finally 4) Vital Signs Blog. Here were the answers...

Vital Signs Ministries

Vital Signs Ministries is a Christian nonprofit organization based in Omaha, Nebraska, founded in 1982 by Denny and Claire Hartford. The ministry describes itself as “Christian activists in the service of ‘the least of these’” and operates with a core commitment to a comprehensive sanctity of life ethic. 

Here are the key aspects of their work:

Mission Focus: Their primary goals include preaching the gospel, making disciples, and serving others through education, direct action, intercession, advocacy, and fellowship. They are particularly known for their pro-life stance and efforts to promote a culture of life. 

Key Programs: Pregnancy Counseling: They established the AAA Center for Pregnancy Counseling to support women and families.

Sidewalk Counseling: They engage in prayerful, peaceful, and winsome sidewalk counseling at abortion facilities. 

Senior Outreach: They run the popular “When Swing Was King” ministry, which provides entertainment and companionship in senior care facilities. They also conduct Sunday services at local senior living communities like Aksarben Village. 

Media & Education: The ministry has produced radio broadcasts (“Vital Signs” and “Vital Signs Weekend”), maintains an active blog and social media presence, and hosts book discussions and film showings. Also, founders Denny and Claire Hartford have conducted thousands of speaking engagements across the U.S. and internationally. The organization remains active in 2026 continuing its long-standing work in Omaha and beyond through various outreach and educational initiatives.

“When Swing Was King”

“When Swing Was King” is a ministry program by Vital Signs Ministries designed to bring joy, memory stimulation, and social connection to seniors in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. The program features a live presentation that combines big band music from the 1930s and 40s (featuring artists like Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, and Frank Sinatra) with a slideshow of 240–265 era-specific photographs depicting fashion, cars, military life, and daily life from that time.

Hosted by founders Denny and Claire Hartford, the show includes a DJ-style commentary that adds humor and historical context, followed by personal visits with residents to foster friendship. While primarily an entertainment outreach intended to combat boredom and lift spirits, it also serves as a winsome witness for the Christian faith, often opening doors for spiritual conversations and prayer. The program began in July 2010 as a single event for Denny’s mother but has grown to serve multiple facilities monthly.

“The Christmas Room”

Denny Hartford’s novel “The Christmas Room” is an inspirational Christian fiction story set within the walls of a nursing home, focusing on themes of faith, dignity, aging, and the enduring spirit of the elderly.

Plot Summary -- The story begins with Grace Trinisi, a woman in the ICU who is unaware that Christmas has passed. Her son, Tony, fulfills her wish to see a Christmas tree in her room, creating a small sanctuary of holiday cheer that becomes known as “The Christmas Room.” This space not only comforts Grace but also inspires the hospital staff. Grace survives her illness but is diagnosed with frontal lobe dementia, leading her son to move her to Villa Vista Care Community, an innovative nursing home. The Christmas Room travels with her, becoming a central, year-round fixture of the facility under the guidance of the visionary director, Carolyn Kovacs.

The narrative weaves together the lives of various residents and staff, exploring their struggles and triumphs. Key characters include: Clark Gritzner, the difficult son of a resident whose actions create a medical emergency for his wife, Mattie, and who hides a personal crisis; Carolyn Kovacs, the dedicated director who manages the facility's daily challenges, from lawsuits to expansion plans; Rita Costello: a nurse aide whose compassion leads to professional growth; and Ralph Yarborough, an elderly custodian whose heroic actions in a restaurant change the facility’s future.

The plot balances the day-to-day realities of long-term care with a mystery involving Clark Gritzner and a broader message about the value of every human life, regardless of age or ability 

Reception and Reviews -- The book has received a 4.4 out of 5-star rating on Amazon based on reader reviews. Readers and reviewers consistently praise the novel for its realistic and empathetic portrayal of nursing home life.

Emotional Impact: Many reviewers describe the book as “uplifting,” “heartwarming,” and “full of love.” It is noted for bringing tears and joy, resonating deeply with those who have cared for aging parents or worked in healthcare 

Educational Value: Several readers, including those working in senior care or studying for Clinical Pastoral Education, highlight the book’s ability to provide insight into the “blood, sweat, tears, and joy” of nursing homes. It is often recommended for training staff or helping families understand the aging process 

Spiritual Depth: As a work of Christian fiction, the story is praised for its exploration of faith, forgiveness, and the healing power of love. One reviewer noted it felt like “a bit of heaven in this cursed world.” 

Realism: While the setting is idealized, reviewers appreciate that it does not shy away from difficult topics like dementia, abuse, and family conflict, ultimately showing the potential for nursing homes to be places of dignity and community. One reviewer, a pastor, mentioned that while they initially wanted to deduct a star for the idealized nature of the facility, they awarded five stars because the book shows what nursing homes “can and should be.”

Vital Signs Blog

The Vital Signs Blog is the commentary platform for Vital Signs Ministries, a non-profit Christian organization based in Omaha, Nebraska. The blog is primarily written and curated by Denny Hartford, who co-founded the ministry with his wife, Claire, in 1982.

The blog and its content center around several core pillars:

1. Cultural and Political Commentary

Hartford writes extensively from a traditional Christian, conservative, and pro-life worldview. He frequently provides commentary on current events, local and national politics, and what he describes as the “culture wars.” This includes curating consistent roundups like “The Top 5 Plus,” where he highlights and critiques media articles on topics ranging from religious freedom to societal trends and geopolitics.

2. Pro-Life Advocacy

A major focus of both the ministry and the blog is anti-abortion advocacy. Hartford uses the blog to share insights on pro-life theology (such as analyzing biblical texts regarding the preborn), promote local activist events, and discuss political initiatives, particularly within Nebraska.

3. Literature and the Arts

Beyond politics and theology, Hartford frequently shares his personal reflections on classic literature, films, and history (he holds a master’s degree in history). He has a deep affinity for classic authors like Charles Dickens, Alexandre Dumas, and G.K. Chesterton, often drawing moral or spiritual applications from their works. He also runs a closely related secondary blog called The Book Den, which is dedicated more strictly to literature and popular culture reviews.

4. Ministry Updates and Community Engagement

The blog serves as a ledger for the ministry’s practical outreach programs. This includes updates on their “When Swing Was King” program (a multimedia big band music show they present at senior living communities and nursing homes) and their regular “letter-writing parties” aimed at advocacy and encouragement.

You can read his updates and commentary directly through The Blog - Vital Signs Ministries or follow his personal, ongoing posts at the standalone Vital Signs Blogspot.

Dr. Jefferson Wouldn't "Just Stand Aside"

From the late Dr. Mildred Jefferson, a highly acclaimed surgeon at Boston University, the first African-American woman to earn a degree from Harvard Medical School, and a co-founder of National Right to Life.

“Many people try to hide behind the confusion of not knowing what happens before a baby is born. But we do not have to be confused. We in medicine and science have a different name for every stage of the development of the baby, but it does not matter at all whether you know those names or not. When a young woman has not had much opportunity to go to school and she becomes pregnant, no one has to tell her that she is going to have a baby.

“I became a doctor in the tradition that is represented in the Bible of looking upon medicine as a high calling. I will not stand aside and have this great profession of mine, of the doctor, give up the designation of healer to become that of the social executioner. The Supreme Court Justices only had to hand down an order. Social workers only have to make arrangements, but it has been given to my profession to destroy the life of the innocent and the helpless.

“Today it is the unborn child; tomorrow it is likely to be the elderly or those who are incurably ill. Who knows but that a little later it may be anyone who has political or moral views that do not fit into the distorted new order? To that question, ‘Am I my brother's keeper?’ I answer ‘Yes.’ It is everyone's responsibility to safeguard and preserve life. A child is a member of the human family and deserves care and concern.”

If a Good Book Is a Good Friend..."

If a good book is a good friend -- and it is -- then why on God’s green earth would you not want to enrich your life by hanging out with good friends? I’m delighted to say this has been a priority in my life since I was little kid. Well, yes; there was a tragic period in my terribly misspent teen years where I departed from that lifestyle. But first with Thornton Wilder’s Our Town and then with Fyodor Dosteovsky’s The Brothers Karamazov, I see now how the Lord was using good books to draw me away from my intellectual and moral slide -- and towards the supernatural light and liberty He offered me through Calvary’s atoning sacrifice.  I began to read again. I began to think again. And I began to dream, aspire, and appreciate again. 

I thank the Lord for His rescue of my soul and my mind...and for continuing to bring the good gifts of good books my way. I thought of this the other morning when I mentioned to someone having had such delightful times the past couple of months in hanging out with old friends. “Really,” he asked. “What friends are you talking about?” I smiled and told him: C.S. Lewis, Francis Schaeffer, J.R.R. Tolkien, Charles Dickens, Rafael Sabatini, and the writers of the Old Testament books of Joshua, Judges, Ruth, I and 2 Samuel. Very good friends, indeed.

Charles William Eliot once observed, “Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers.” He was spot on. And I pray I will effectively live out that conviction until I’m allowed entry into the libraries of the New Jerusalem!

“The Earth Is the Lord’s” -- Arbor Day vs Earth Day

In 1872, right here in the state of Nebraska, a journalist turned politician began a campaign that he hoped would help stabilize and beautify the rather sparse landscape of his state.  The man was a Nebraska City resident who believed that such a campaign would be a good idea in other places too.  And it was.

J. Sterling Morton’s call for tree husbandry was answered by the National Agricultural Convention meeting in St. Louis that year and by numerous municipalities, newspaper editors, and thousands of citizens.  The result was that the very first Arbor Day, April 22, saw almost a million trees planted.

But though J. Sterling Morton was a tree planter extraordinaire, he was not a tree hugger.  His attitude towards the natural world was the traditional one; namely, that the earth was the Lord’s and man, acting as God’s servant, was to effectively oversee nature, to subdue it in a rational way, to beautify it, and properly benefit from it.

Morton was thus acting in accordance with the biblical mandate -- the program originally given to Adam in the garden of Eden -- a call to responsibly appreciate, nurture, and enjoy the created things with which God had adorned the earth.

And most of the people who answered the challenge of Arbor Day were operating in the same spirit.  They were planting trees because trees were good things.  They bore fruit that man could eat.  They helped with soil conservation and provided protection from wind.  And they were pretty.

These people understood that trees were pleasant and productive plants, but they were for man’s use.  They were good things, not fellow souls.

Indeed, J. Sterling Morton (a conservative Democrat who served as Secretary of Agriculture under Grover Cleveland and whose son became a prominent Republican who was Secretary of the Navy under Theodore Roosevelt) was a faithful Episcopalian.  His understanding of the monumental difference between man (created in the express image of God) and nature (created for the enjoyment and benefit of man) was part of the basic Christian worldview.

The kind of conservation ethic he represented was rational, healthy, far-seeing, and well-rooted in sound environmental ideas.  It was the same enlightened conservation ethic of farmers like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, of visionaries like Johnny Appleseed, and conservation champions like Teddy Roosevelt and George Bird Grinnell, and other sportsmen who led the way in establishing our national parks and wildlife refuges. It was part of the longstanding tradition of taking care of the environment for man’s use -- not for nature’s sake.  It was the perspective of the farmer, the rancher, the hunter, and fisherman that we all be responsible and take care of the environment in order that man -- both in the now and in the future -- may be best served.   

Thus, Arbor Day was (and, by the way, still is) a responsible event, one that calls for individual volunteer efforts rather than government coercion.  In fact, the people associated with Arbor Day are decidedly apolitical.  “The only stand we take,” says an official with the Arbor Day Foundation, “is that it’s a great thing to plant trees.”  No demands for government intrusion.  No insistence on group think.  No call for Nanny State regulations and taxes. No worshipping Gaia or Mother Earth.

What a dramatic difference this is from the “holiday” that has tried to bully its way over and past Arbor Day, the extremely political, propagandist, and manipulative event that pirated the same day, April 22, and now tries to crowd out the very memory of Arbor Day. That event of course, is Earth Day. Or as the United Nations calls it -- International Mother Earth Day. To be sure, this newly-invented, politically-charged “holiday” is often dominated by socialist (even pantheistic) tenets and, therefore, absolutely ignores who the true heroes of American environmentalism are; namely, those hunters, fishermen, and other genuine conservationists mentioned earlier. 

And, of course, International Mother Earth Day also ignores the innumerable passages in Holy Scripture which deal with God as the Creator and Sovereign King of the earth...and those which testify to the glory of Almighty God that is revealed in His creation...and those which exhort men to carefully serve as responsible stewards of the natural order...and the eventual destruction of the earth which occurs not through man’s ecological failure, but rather by the holy judgment of God. 

The last item, by the way, occurs just before God creates a new heaven and, yes, a brand new earth. 

International Mother Earth Day vs Arbor Day? For the Bible-based Christian, the choice is an obvious and easy one.

Flying Over the Rainbow?

Among the songs in our “When Swing Was King” performances that most strongly connects with our audiences is Judy Garland’s gorgeous rendition from 1939 of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”  It is, as you well know, a hauntingly beautiful song, one that underscores the human yearning for home, beauty, innocence and wonder...for escape from a world of drudgery, loneliness, and pain.

“Birds fly over the rainbow; why then, oh why can’t I?”

Our audiences love the song. And so do we.

But, of course, it is all too clear that when the strains of the song fade away, the listener is left only with the yearning, a sweet wishful longing that there might somewhere be a place of safety and bliss instead of this dark, troublesome, and increasingly decadent world we live in now. But “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” is only of the many songs that reflect this desire, songs that resonate with our intrinsically human longing for beauty, love, purity, and peace. “There’s a Place for Us” and “Somewhere, My Love” are examples. So too are “Rainbow Connection,” “A Summer Place,” “Up, Up and Away,” “Moon River,” “Bali Hai,” “There’s a New World Coming,” “Age of Aquarius,” and on and on. Plus, that’s not even beginning a list of the stories, movies, poems, and fairy tales that take our imaginations into pretty, idyllic pastures where we “live happily ever after.” 

What’s behind all this? Randy Alcorn is spot on with the answer in his marvelous book, Heaven. “We are homesick for Eden. We’re nostalgic for what is implanted in our hearts. It’s built into us.”...“Desire is a signpost pointing to heaven…I’ve never been to heaven, yet I miss it. Eden is in my blood. And the best things of earth are souvenirs of Eden, appetizers of the New Earth.”

Donald Bloesch in his Theological Notebook (1989) agrees. “Man’s greatest affliction is not anxiety, or even guilt, but rather homesickness -- a nostalgia or ineradicable yearning to be at home with God.” I couldn't agree more with these remarks. Indeed, two of my favorite authors C.S. Lewis and G.K. Chesterton also speak of his matter eloquently and often, as do Joni Eareckson Tada and David Jeremiah in their excellent books about heaven. There’s no doubting the undeniable fact that man is created in the image of God and is wired for paradise. Alas, we lost Eden through our sin but God, in His great mercy and to glorify His Name, has offered mankind something far better than even Adam’s garden. Through the promise of the gospel, the Lord offers us the wholeness, security, love, and bliss which will be ours forever in the New Jerusalem. Wow. And wow again.

So, while I certainly don’t suggest you stop loving songs like “Moon River” or “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” or “Moon River,” I do urge you to remind yourself often of the rock-solid reality that is our eternal inheritance, one that the apostle Peter describes as “imperishable and undefiled [which] will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you.” 

“I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is among the people, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.’ And He who sits on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’ And He said, ‘Write, for these words are faithful and true.’” (Revelation 21:1-5)

And, in celebration of that immeasurably wonderful home that awaits us (a home that our Lord Jesus is personally creating and customizing for us!), may I offer you a song full of confident, joyful expectations of that stronger, weightier, infinitely more beautiful home beyond. 

Check it out right here...

“The Monstrous Crime of Abortion: An Old Testament Perspective.”

A careful look at Exodus 21:22-25 results in a profoundly important understanding of the Creator God's value of preborn human life. And though the passage has been repeatedly misused by those who seek to “soften” the crime of abortion, even explain it as excusable violence, Exodus 21:22-25 is actually a strikingly clear passage -- when translated correctly.

Indeed, the opportunity for pro-abortionists to misinterpret the passage is aided by poor translations of the Hebrew text. For instance, the original Wycliffe translation and the Douay-Rheims version of 1899 insert words into the passage that are simply not in the authentic Hebrew text. Instead of simply translating the Hebrew words, the scholars preparing both the Wycliffe and the Douay-Rheims versions made remarkable presumptions, laying down their own ideas rather than honestly transliterating the text as it stood. Their errors were quite serious in that they created for some readers of the Bible a false impression that the life of a child in the womb is not as valuable in the sight of God as the life of the mother. 

I print those poor translations below.

Wycliffe -- “If men chide, and a man smiteth a woman with child, and soothly he maketh the child dead-born, but the woman liveth over that smiting, he shall be subject to the harm (he shall be subject to a fine), as much as the woman’s husband asketh (for), and as the judges deem (appropriate). Soothly if the death of her followeth (And if her death followeth), he shall yield life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burning for burning, wound for wound, sore for sore.”

Douay-Rheims 1899 -- “If men quarrel, and one strike a woman with child, and she miscarry indeed, but live herself: he shall be answerable for so much damage as the woman’s husband shall require, and as arbiters shall award. But if her death ensue thereupon, he shall render life for life. Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.”

You can easily see how these versions suggest that the preborn baby’s life isn’t measured by the same standard as the mother’s. The passage thus mistranslated implies that if the child is harmed in a premature delivery caused by the men’s fighting, it is merely a cause for a fine. Only if the mother is harmed does the strict law of retribution kick in. Does such a conclusion fit in with other Scriptures that deal with the sanctity of prenatal life like Psalm 139:13-16, Jeremiah 1:5, Luke 1:21, Isaiah 49:15, Job 31:15, Psalm 22:10, and so on? No, they don’t. Not even close. So, what is going on in Exodus 21:22-25?

As I suggested, the problem simply arises out of poor translations and, of course, the desire of certain people to minimize the seriousness immorality of abortion. Abortion advocates have thus sought to use this passage to claim the Mosaic law did not consider preborn boys and girls to be worthy of the same value as adults. But more authentic, more responsible translations present a much different case. 

Here, for example is the passage taken from Young’s Literal Translation: “And when men strive, and have smitten a pregnant woman, and her children have come out, and there is no mischief, he is certainly fined, as the husband of the woman doth lay upon him, and he hath given through the judges; and if there is mischief, then thou hast given life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.”

Let’s note a couple of important Hebrew words that are necessary for a full understanding of the passage. In the first case, the word translated “mischief” in Young’s version above is the Hebrew word “ason.” It means harm, hurt, injury. It is only used three other times in the Old Testament (Genesis 4:24, 38 and 44:29) where the word is used each time to describe Jacob’s fear that physical harm (including death) might befall his beloved son Benjamin. The second important word is one that isn’t here in the text at all. That is “lah,” the Hebrew word for woman. If God through Moses wanted to specify that only the woman’s life and health were to be protected by the law of retribution, He would certainly have used it here. But He didn’t. Rather, the statement is left open, meaning that lasting damage inflicted upon any innocent person must be paid by the law of retribution. An eye for an eye.

The natural application of the Hebrew text would be that if a premature birth occurs as the result of a pregnant woman getting between two fighting men -- but there follows no “ason” to either the mother or her children (the Hebrew here is a plural noun, broadening the application to twins or more) -- then the penalty is merely a financial one. However, if there is “ason” (again, injury, let alone fatality) to any innocent party, then the law of strict retribution is then applied. Rather than being a passage that undermines the value of life in the womb, a careful look at the authentic Hebrew text proves the exact opposite.

Let’s allow the Amplified Bible (another literally-based translation) to also weigh in here: “If men fight with each other and injure a pregnant woman so that she gives birth prematurely and the baby lives, yet there is no further injury, the one who hurt her must be punished with a fine paid to the woman’s husband, as much as the judges decide. But if there is any further injury, then you shall require as a penalty life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.”

But what’s the deal with the law requiring a financial penalty of the fight’s instigator -- even if the premature birth doesn’t seriously harm either the mother or her baby? The commentary by reformer John Calvin explains: “Since it could not fail but that premature confinement would weaken both the mother and her offspring, the husband is allowed to demand before the judges a money-payment, at their discretion, in compensation for his loss.”

But let’s not stop yet. Let’s hear a bit more of what Calvin said about this passage. It’s a good way to dismiss further the attempted twisting of the Scripture by pro-abortion liberals. Calvin writes that Exodus 21:22-25 might “at first sight seem ambiguous, for if the word death only applies to the pregnant woman, it would not have been a capital crime to put an end to the foetus, which would be a great absurdity; for the foetus, though enclosed in the womb of its mother, is already a human being, and it is almost a monstrous crime to rob it of the life which it has not yet begun to enjoy. If it seems more horrible to kill a man in his own house than in a field, because a man’s house is his place of most secure refuge, it ought surely to be deemed more atrocious to destroy a foetus in the womb before it has come to light.”

“On these grounds,” Calvin continued, “I am led to conclude, without hesitation, that the words, ‘if death should follow,’ must be applied to the foetus as well as to the mother. Besides, it would be by no means reasonable that a father should sell for a set sum the life of his son or daughter. Wherefore this, in my opinion, is the meaning of the law, that it would be a crime punishable with death, not only when the mother died from the effects of the abortion, but also if the infant should be killed; whether it should die from the wound abortively, or soon after its birth.”

I hope this brief exposition helps those of you who may have (or someday will) come across people who try to pervert the true meaning of Exodus 21:22-25.

Shining the Light Through Letters: A Few Examples

Here are a few sample letters from yesterday’s 2 Vital Signs letter-writing parties...

Dear President Trump, 

I want to commend you for your tireless work on behalf of the American people in the areas of the economy, defense, immigration, law and order, and in many other ways. We so appreciate that you endure the continuous “slings and arrows of outrageous fortune” from so many on the left. Thank you and keep fighting. You are prayed for daily.

You have done more for the pro-life movement than any president -- thank you. However, I do know you “signaled” compromise on the Hyde amendment and I needed to write with a strong encouragement for you to NOT concede anything to the Democrats on this critical matter. In addition, I urge you to push HHS Secretary Kennedy to ban the horrendously dangerous abortion pills. These are terrible for unborn babies, of course, but they also can be downright deadly for moms. Mr. President, you can cement your place as the “great defender of the defenseless” by pursuing these things with greater zeal. Thank you.

Again, we pray for you daily that you would seek God, hear His voice, and obey Him with courage, wisdom, and strategy. 

With great appreciation and respect, John Malek

Dear Congressman Flood,

I’m asking you to do all you can to support the House version of Senator Josh Hawley’s Safeguarding Women from Chemical Abortion Act. Mifepristone and misoprostol are both highly dangerous to women (though the truths about this has been carefully and maliciously hidden). At the very least, these drugs need to be stripped of their protection from American lawsuits from the harms (including death) they are causing to women.

Perly Schoville

Dear Senator Fischer,

Recently, a dear friend and neighbor who has been part of our crew that travels to Colorado every summer to hike a 14er, finally received his green card. This was after 10 years of waiting and praying and trying to do everything right! 

His case highlights the bizarre condition created by the Biden administration where illegals flooded into the United States in uncountable numbers -- illegal aliens that also included the most vile, barbaric, and anti-American criminals. Well, President Trump finally acted to stop that travesty and we, like almost all Americans, are deeply grateful to him. 

However, we now need to pursue the parallel action of ensuring justice AND America’s healthy future; namely, reducing the foolish, counter-productive red tape and ideological bias that keeps valuable, pro-American immigrants from making this country their legal and beloved home. Let’s get this done ASAP, okay?

Denny & Claire Hartford

Dear Vice-President Vance, 

I can’t thank God enough for your winning the election as our Vice-President. Your kind of leadership is what makes this country so richly blessed. And we pray that God continues to protect you and give you wisdom and courage for the task. The enemy of our soul is roundly defeated whenever we Christians put our faith and trust in almighty God. The key to God’s favor is to stay humble so He can pour out his blessings to all who respect Him. 

Love in Christ, Don Kohls

Governor Pillen,

I want to commend you for your continued support of pregnant moms and their unborn children. In addition, your advocacy for sane and fiscally responsible legislation is greatly appreciated. And finally, thank you also for working to keep men out of women’s sports. All of these things are deeply appreciated. With much respect,

John Malek

Dear Mr. Musk,

Thank you for all you have done to help fight fraud and corruption and wasteful spending. I know you took a lot of criticism and even endured great financial loss because of your patriotic service. I am so thankful for what you did with DOGE and all of the hard work and sacrifice since then. Please keep up the good work! Thank you.

Hope Golden

Dear Secretary of War Pete Hegseth,

Thank you immensely for your sincere, urgent, humble, real, and beautiful prayer on March 19th that you modeled for all Americans regarding our prayers for our troops. I thank the Lord that God has placed you in this position for this crucial time. May our Lord bless you richly and your service to our country. 

Sincerely, Debbie Pederson

To the staff at Immanuel Village, especially Vicky and Sammy,

Just a quick thank-you for your ongoing and ever delightful friendship to the ministry of “When Swing Was King.” It is such a delight to present the shows there and you girls are always so helpful and encouraging and fun to work with. We know your impact is profound in so many ways there, but we certainly are grateful for your services to us! 

(The card was signed by everyone at both letter-writing parties. In addition, there were several other letters or cards that were signed by the entire assembly.)

Dear Congressman Bacon,

A few points: 1) Please fight for the Hyde Amendment;

2)  Please co-sponsor the House version of Senator Hawley’s Safeguarding Women from Chemical Abortion Act and vigorously act in its behalf;

3) Please support the President’s bold moves against the drug cartels even as you fight the pernicious dangers of legalized marijuana here within our country.

4) Please support enthusiastically the SAVE Act and all other efforts against voter fraud. 

Denny and Claire Hartford

To CBS News, 

Your efforts to revitalize the network by cutting inefficient programs and staff and your move to bring CBS News away from orbiting solely around a liberal pole are to be heartily praised. Also, your recent expose of the massive hospice fraud in California was terrific. It was an excellent example of the type of quality journalism and healthy concern for American values that CBS News once exemplified. Way to go!

Denny and Claire Hartford

Dear Secretary Rubio, 

I’m so thankful that God has raised you up into this leadership position. I pray for you daily and I know He hears our prayers. May His Holy Spirit give you the wisdom and encouragement to navigate the crazy waters our nation has found itself in. May the Lord bless you and keep you. May His light shine upon you and give you His peace. 

Don Kohls

Dear Justice Thomas,

We write with deep and abiding gratitude for the bold, brave, and wise leadership you have shown on the Court. Your efforts have, without a doubt, gone a long way in preserving American ideals -- for at least a while longer! Thank you so much!

As an encouragement I send along an inspirational poem by the pen of William Cowper.

Blessings, Denny and Claire Hartford, Omaha, Nebraska

Dear Department of Homeland Security,

We are so pleased to see the effectiveness of the new U.S. policies regarding illegal immigration. Way to go! However, I write to urge that the parallel action also become of grand importance; namely, easing the legal confusion and waiting times for welcoming all of those immigrants our nation DOES need -- people who love America’s historic ideals and want to be a part of our grand country!

Denny and Claire Hartford

Dear Mr. Sasse,

We are just two of the many, many people across the country who hold you in very high esteem and appreciation. We did so when you were one of our Senators here in Nebraska and we do so now with your impassioned, visionary, and wise counsel to Americans regarding politics, culture, family life, and the liberating gospel of Jesus Christ. Thank you, dear brother. Stay the course for our Lord; our redemption draws nigh! 

Denny and Claire Hartford

Dear Mr. President,

Among the many things for which we are most grateful to are your steadfast, bold, and pro-American moves in our military and economy and border security. Thank you! We are also pleased that your efforts are succeeding in protecting American lives from the critical dangers of illegal drugs coming in from foreign thugs. But Mr. President, we are also aware that the culture is under grave danger from marijuana -- that extremely mind-numbing, soul-corrupting drug that is so much more powerful (and available) than the “flower power” days of my misspent youth. Please keep after that danger as well. 

Denny Hartford

Dear Mr. President,

The latest report reveals the heart-wrenching crisis of the persecution of Christians around the world. Indeed, that persecution is the most violent and widespread ever in the earth’s history and there looks to be nothing stopping it getting worse -- nothing unless the USA gets serious about interceding in behalf of those innocent people under the sword of harassment, terrorism, imprisonment, and murder. America’s intercession must include clear and bold speech from US leadership which will better enlighten (and warn) the world about what is happening. But the victims of persecution (and the cause of justice itself) also deserve U.S. intercession which uses our strategic positioning and economic might to punish the murderers and manipulators. 

Please, President Trump, use your influence to move ever forward America’s defense of freedom of faith and conscience around the world. Thank you so much!

Denny & Claire Hartford

“Complimentary Living”

“Complimentary Living”

(Denny Hartford, Director Vital Signs Ministries)

“Praise is warming and desirable. But praise is an earned thing. It has to be deserved like an honorary degree or a hug from a child. A compliment, however, is manna, a free gift.” (American poet Phyllis McGinley)

As Phyllis McGinley suggests above, a sincere compliment is a gift we give to others, a special gift that has the power to encourage others and help lighten their burdens. Compliments reflect a servant-oriented life that generously expresses kindness and goodwill as we selflessly delight in the virtues, skills, and demeanor of those whose lives touch ours for the good. Indeed, giving the gift of compliments should be a normal part of our relationships -- and part of our winsome witness of loving in word and deed. 

Think of Jesus’ compliments to Nathaniel, to Mary Magdalen, to the widow who gave her mite, to the Roman centurion, to the Syrophonecian woman, to Mary of Bethany, to the churches in Revelation, and to all the saints who will one day hear, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” And note also the many compliments we read of in the ministry of Paul and the other writers of New Testament letters as they followed the lead of their Lord’s example by expressing praise, appreciation, admiration to other believers.

No, there’s no doubt about it. The conscientious student of the Bible realizes that “complimentary living” is a serious thing to pursue for compliments are a precious, important, and inspiring gift. We should most definitely be handing them out more than we do. They have a beneficial effect to others even when they might seem small and insignificant. Robert Breault, the famed operatic tenor, once wrote, “There is no effect more disproportionate to its cause than the happiness bestowed by a small compliment.” And Mark Twain agreed with the sentiment. He wrote, “I can live for two months on a good compliment.” Oh, yes, even the very small compliment has a dynamic effect. 

And once we realize that basic truth, to refrain from “complimentary living” is a serious omission of our light-bearing, salt-spreading, love-sharing duties as Christ’s ministers. We are commanded over and again in the Scriptures to love our neighbors, to bless and honor them, to thank and encourage them, and, when deserved, to praise them for jobs well done. So to fail to perform these duties is disobedience. It is a form of hoarding -- selfishly hiding away in the cellar those compliments, kind words, expressions of gratitude that would richly bless others and “encourage them to love and good deeds.”

Certainly, many of the reasons that we do not engage in “complimentary living” relate to our pride, fears, envy, a sense of competition, ingratitude, lack of humility, and so on. There’s also a problem of ignorance. Because of poor teaching and a lack of role models in our past, we haven’t learned the social skills necessary to effectively stimulate our fellow believers to pursue “further love and good deeds.” We thus need motivation (and frequent practice) to learn how to best express praise and thanks to others for the purposes of lifting their spirits, encouraging them in the Faith, strengthening friendships, and making our witness to the world more winsome. We will get to some specific examples of how to do that in a moment.

But first a word about flattery. Granted, the Bible does warn against flattery. But those passages condemn the false-hearted man who uses kind words and other gifts as a bribe or a seductive trap. Language can be perverted by base motives as when compliments are used to dishonestly move people to like us, or to distract from our bad behavior, or to try and manipulate people into doing us favors. God forbid such exploitation. But again, the sin in such cases is not the spoken blessings. It is the flatterer’s motives and purposes that are wicked, not the compliments themselves. We must not, therefore, avoid words of lovingkindness, esteem, and gratitude merely because they can be misused by manipulative people. Rather it is our spiritual duty to “love in truth” and thus honor others with words that come from honest, sincere, and servant-oriented hearts.

Okay, now for a few specific applications. Consider the following scenario. The Christian committed to a “complimentary living” walks into someone’s house and is looking for ways, not only to bless and encourage his host, but also to build a stronger foundation for their friendship. Therefore, he regards his surroundings before saying, “Oh my, what a lovely and inviting room this is. And an interesting one too. That photograph, for instance, is stunning. Is there a story behind it? And those figurines in the breakfront, they are also quite fascinating. What’s the deal with those?” What might you imagine to be the response from such a pro-active complimentary introduction? The homeowner would quite reply, “I don’t think anyone has ever asked me about the figurines or about the photograph on the wall. And that’s always been a bit of a disappointment. You see, I suppose we all decorate our homes in a way that we hope will be attractive and interesting to visitors, yet no one ever seems to notice. So, thank you so much for noticing and being interested...and for complimenting me on them. I really appreciate it.”

What a blessing it is -- a simple, but way too rare a blessing -- to take notice, to express sincere interest, to pass along compliments.  And that goes for compliments expressed in hundreds of other ways. The lady with a chic new hairstyle. The young man’s diligence in mowing his grandpa’s lawn. A sibling’s thoughtful birthday card. The cook’s beef stew. The elderly woman’s smile that lights up a room. You get the idea. And don’t forget that before the spoken accolade, showing your attention to the other person is in its own place quite invaluable. As Ann Sophie Swetchine observed over a century ago, “Attention is itself a tacit and continual compliment.” 

Now please keep in mind that, though I take nothing away from the legitimacy of praises for a person’s orderly garage, someone’s fingernail polish, or the humorous piece of bric-a-brac they won at the county fair, the compliments which are the most important and lasting of all are those which note with appreciation the practice of biblical virtues. Indeed, the highest compliments (like the ones you read of so frequently in the Bible) point to a person’s godly character and action: perseverance in prayer, faithfulness, generosity, obedience, holy behavior, purity of thought, purity of doctrine, courage, preaching the good news, abiding in Christ, endurance, sacrificial love, care of the needy, wisdom, remembering God’s providential care, laying up treasure in heaven, and so on. To be sure, these passages provide excellent motivation and direction for how best we engage in “complimentary living.”

And speaking of the best compliments, let me share something which illustrates the importance of our selecting the most relevant, and motivational compliments possible. Many years ago, Claire and I created a couples game that involved spouses trying to match their respective answers to questions about their history, opinions, aspirations, etc. It always made for a fun evening but one which was also provocative and enlightening. For instance, one of the questions we asked in the game was, “What compliment does your spouse most like to hear from you?” Well, we played this game with maybe 150 couples over the years but, surprisingly enough, only 3 or 4 times did the responses of the married couples match to this question. Isn’t that something? It didn’t mean, of course, that the spouses were failing to pass along to one another any compliments at all. But it did reveal that the compliments each most desired to hear from each other were going largely unsaid. 

Example? The husband might have frequently been complimenting his wife on her beauty and/or her gracious spirit while she praised her husband on his ability to fix things around the house and his generosity. Yet, the answers to the game’s question revealed that the wife would have preferred even more to hear her husband praise her for her dedication to pro-life ministries or her patience and skill in teaching their children to read. And, despite the love and admiration and gratitude the husband knew was given him by his wife, he still yearned to hear her express appreciation for his courage or his consistency in Bible study or how closely his work ethic resembled that of his father’s. In other words, all compliments are not equal. Therefore, we must carefully watch and listen to others so that we are more in tune with their spiritual adventure. And, as we do so, our compliments (as well as our words of challenge or correction when needed) will be more relevant, more welcome, more profound.

One final thing. How should you receive a compliment? Well, you should definitely avoid offending your brother in Christ by thoughtlessly dismissing his kind words. How often it happens that, in an attempt to be humble (or perhaps, merely to appear to be humble), people treat heartfelt compliments as insignificant or, worse still, as illegitimate. At all costs, avoid doing that. For instance, do not disrespect a brother’s compliment by shrugging your shoulders and saying, “No problem” or “No big deal” or “Well, I had nothing better to do.” And don’t play the sanctimonious Pharisee with a response like, “Oh, my misguided brother, praise not the arm of flesh! For I am nothing but a profligate sinner, a low-down knave in whom there dwelleth nothing good. No, be not deceived; if there was anything of value in my deed, it came not from me but from the gracious kindness of God Who condescended to use such a worm as I. Therefore, tempt me not to pride by thy honeyed phrases but rather confess there is naught in any of us that is worthy of a compliment.” Yipes! 

Much more appropriate, humbler, and more loving responses to sincere compliments are things like “You’re more than welcome. I was honored to do it and I’m really pleased I was able to be of help.” Or “I’m so glad you liked it. That makes my day.” Or a simple, sincere “Thank you.”

Okay, let me wrap this thing up. And I’ll start with is 1) My earnest compliments to you for patiently reading through this whole article! 2) I heartily encourage you to be more complimentary to others. Pay attention to them so that when you do speak kindness into their lives, it is of the most relevance and value. 3) Be liberal and frequent in your praises. Don’t be like those described by American humorist Kin Hubbard, “Some folks pay a compliment like they had to go down in their pocket for it.” And finally, 4) Let your compliments be sincere, kind, and designed for a person’s spiritual good. Concentrate on expressing thanks and encouragement for things relating to character and virtue.

“Everybody likes a compliment.” (Abraham Lincoln)

"Why So Much About Heaven?"

“Why do you suppose God gave us so much information about the future? Why does the Bible end with vivid descriptions of the new heaven and the new earth?

Because nothing is more relevant to how we live today than what we believe about tomorrow. God didn’t fill the Bible with details about the future just to satisfy our curiosity or to spark theological debates. He gave us these promises to strengthen our lives today.

The truth is that heaven is transformational. Yes, we will be transformed when we enter our eternal home, but I’m talking about today! Heaven transforms us now. It works in our hearts and minds. It gives us perspective. It makes us hopeful, steady, forward-looking. It infuses us with strength, comfort, confidence, and a sense of purpose. The Bible’s teaching about heaven is like a rocket booster, pulling us forward toward the most meaningful life possible.” (David Jeremiah, “The Promise of Heaven,” page 258)

And note this important reminder of the next Vital Signs Saturday Brunch coming up on Saturday morning, March 28 beginning at 10 and ending before noon. As usual at our brunch parties, the meal will be delicious and plentiful, but the primary blessing of the event will be the heavenly fellowship you’ll experience with like-minded Christians. And, in this case, I mean heavenly in a very literal sense because the subject to be discussed that morning is just that -- heaven! Please consider joining us. 

What's This About Work in Heaven?

I am really enjoying David Jeremiah’s new book, Heaven. Yes, I’m a big fan of the heaven-oriented books written by Randy Alcorn and Joni Eareckson Tada, but this one is also an impressive work. Enlightening. Inspiring. Full of exciting hope and joyful expectation. 

Let me give you an example from Chapter 20 of the book,“Won’t Heaven Be Boring?” After citing such key verses from Revelation as 7:15, 19:5, and 22:3, David comments, “When we enter heaven, we won’t be put on some kind of divine Social Security list. No, listen to this welcoming speech (and promise) from the Lord himself: “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.” (Matthew 25:23)

That verse surely doesn’t sound to me like we’re going to be sitting around doing nothing forever and ever in heaven. It doesn’t sound like retirement but a promotion! In other words, eternal life is not a break from work, it is a breakthrough to better work. It is purpose without pressure, service without fatigue, and joy without end.

There are two things against which we all revolt. One is work that is tedious and meaningless or encumbered by a difficult working environment. The other is idleness and the lack of occupation. But the work that awaits us in heaven will be a delight to the soul.

(David Jeremiah, Heaven, Chapter 20, pages 177-78)

Hallelujah!

You Get Rid of Religion...and You Can't Hire Enough Police

I believe it important to share Clay Christensen's profound video clip every once in awhile. It's only 90 seconds but its ever-relevant, ever-challenging. Watch it; reflect on it; share it.

“When We All Get to Heaven”

“When We All Get to Heaven” 

Sing the wondrous love of Jesus;

Sing His mercy and His grace.

In the mansions bright and blessed

He’ll prepare for us a place.

Chorus: When we all get to heaven,

What a day of rejoicing that will be!

When we all see Jesus,

We’ll sing and shout the victory.

While we walk the pilgrim pathway

Clouds will overspread the sky.

But when travelin’ days are over,

Not a shadow, not a sigh.

Onward to the prize before us.

Soon His beauty we’ll behold.

Soon the pearly gates will open;

We shall tread the streets of gold.

What a comforting, joyful, exhilarating prospect this song presents!  For though we are certainly walking “pilgrim pathways” these days with “clouds” of lawlessness, lies, and the lunacy of the cancel culture all around us, reminders of our coming redemption are of the utmost value.

“When We All Get to Heaven” was written in 1898 by Eliza Hewitt, a teacher and poet from Philadelphia whose life, though deeply affected by pain caused from a spinal injury, was a profound blessing to family, friends, and the untold numbers of Christians around the world who glorified God by singing such hymns of Eliza’s as “More About Jesus, “My Faith Has Found a Resting Place,” “There Is Sunshine in My Soul Today,” and yes, “When We All Get to Heaven.” I myself have been encouraged by these songs (most of which were set to the music of Mrs. Emily Wilson) and I am looking forward to meeting these faithful saints in what undoubtedly will not be all that far away.

But what is it about the song that so lifts our spirits and sparks our imagination? Well, several things actually:

1) The fact that the only way I can be allowed into God’s holy heaven in the first place is the “wondrous love” of Jesus that is hailed at the very beginning of the hymn.  Jesus demonstrated that love through “His mercy and His grace” as He endured the cross to pay the penalty of my sin.  Thank You, Lord!

2) Jesus is preparing for His people a place amid His heavenly mansions -- a place that will be free of any stain of sin or rebellion.  Instead, there will be purity, peace, righteousness, happiness, and a complete harmony between the believer and himself, with all the saints, with all of redeemed creation, and with the Triune God. Wow.

3) No wonder we will be rejoicing!  No wonder we will “sing and shout the victory” when finally we see our Savior face to face.  No more sighing.  No sorrow or shame.  No excuses or promises to try harder.  The redemption that Jesus purchased with His death will be enjoyed by His adopted children in our glorified bodies and our undivided hearts.

4) That “day of rejoicing” will, of course, be a never-ending one. And though I have no doubt we will have adventures aplenty on the New Earth where God will dwell with men, the “travelin’ days” on this fallen planet where we are beset with continual temptations from the world, our own flesh, and the devil will be forever over.

5) And finally, I love the line from the final stanza: “Onward to the prize before us” for that phrase underscores the glories that will be awarded us by our gracious, generous God as well as the charge to actively pursue our sanctification until that upward call comes. As we relish the reality of those prizes, we find renewed and deepened resolve to endure the tests presently before us.

Today the clouds and sighs. But tomorrow the unveiled face of the Lord, the mansion, the shouts of victory, the prize, the oh-so-real-glories of heaven! That is absolutely wonderful news. And so today, with fresh resolve, I’m going to “sing the wondrous love of Jesus” indeed. Thank you, Eliza.