A Time for Silence

Fellow Traveler,

In his long list of seasonal certainties, King Solomon inserts that there’s “a time to keep silence, and a time to speak.” Ecclesiastes 3:7b. That time of keeping silence has come for me, so I’m going to take a break from these weekly impressions until the season to speak arrives again.

There is no lack of other encouragement available. Your local church should be lifting up the name of Christ every week, while providing opportunities to practice your faith in ministry. The number of devotional books and online meditations is enormous. Sermonaudio.com, Ligonier Ministries, Truths That Transform, and many other resources supply daily sustenance, teaching, and truth. And bible reading, study, and prayer are all-important in your sanctification. Continue the habit of feeding on the Word of God through the week, praising the Lord for His mercies in providing for you above and beyond all you deserve.

The Psalmist David pleads, “Show me Your ways, O LORD; teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; on You I wait all the day.” Psalm 25:4,5. Our ultimate source for truth is Scripture itself. It is the personally written Word of God to His people. It is replete and complete in its revelation as to who God truly is, who we as fallen creatures are, and God’s plan to redeem those lost in sin through His Son, Jesus the Messiah. It is our life source and that one pearl of great price that should never be neglected, taken lightly, nor forgotten.

May our hearts be moved heavenward today as we turn from the mundane and insane of this world to be encouraged in the love of our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ, who suffered and was judged in our place that we might receive His forgiveness and righteousness. May the Lord be with you all in your journey to that one and only Celestial City of God, where all that is sinful is replaced by all that is holy.

Old Davy

Peter Montague II and Wallis Simpson

Peter Montague II, first Montague recorded in America – ancestor of Wallis Simpson who married the then to be future King of England, King Edward VIII, who abdicated the throne because he wished to marry the divorced woman.
This is David Skinner’s 10^th gr-grandfather.

Peter Montague II – 1603-1659 – Peter Montague in Virginia
– ? – 1605-1636 – Married 1629 in Jamestown, VA

Colonel William F. Thompson – 1627-1666  – Colonel William Thompson
– Elinor Ellen Montague – 1633-1680

John Summers, Sr. – 1630-1702
– Elizabeth Thompson – 1654-1722 – Married 1675 in Middlesex, VA – Elizabeth Thompson Summers

John Summers II – 1686- 1790 (!) – John Summers II – Good story associated with him!
– Elizabeth Seth Blake – 1695-1737 – Married 1715 – Seth Lucas (Elizabeth) Summers and her second husband John Summers were apparently cousins, his reputed great-great-grandfather Peter Montague (1603-1659), one of the original Jamestown settlers, being a first cousin of her great-grandmother Susannah Burr Harrison. Seth would also be a fourth-cousin of Vice President Aaron Burr. Elizabeth Seth Blake Summers

George Summers – 1716-1802
– Nancy Blake – 1732-?

James Taylor Lanman – 1752-1841 – James Taylor Lanman – Revolutionary War
– Sythe Blake Summers – 1756-1822 – Married 1776 in Hillsborough, NC

John Ephraim Cummins – 1774-1863
– Elizabeth Betsy Lanman – 1777-1865 – Married in Washington, KY

Seward Clayton Sumner – 1807-1872
– Elizabeth ‘Betsy’ Cummins – 1809-? – Married 1825 in IN

Thomas Sumner – 1825-1905
– Mary Eliza Oskin – 1825-1902 – Married 1846 in Spencer, IN

Peter Hamilton Sumner – 1854-1931
– Sivilla Hartleroad – 1863-1945 – Married 1887 in Clay, NE

Roy Peter Sumner – 1901-1965
– Grace Celeste Ninemire – 1907-1990

Donald Carl Skinner – 1921-1996
– Royalynn Gertrude Sumner (Cockrell) – 1925-2010 – Married May 11, 1941 in Las Vegas

David Skinner – 1946-
– Barbara Skinner – 1948-

Elizabeth Skinner – 1979-

Angel Limas – 2000-

********

*********

********

********

Wordless

Fellow Traveler,

My lighthearted poetry written forty years ago included what I like to think is the world’s shortest poem. It was titled “On the Demise of Our Canary Chrysostom.” This little yellow roller/singing canary was gifted to us when we moved from Paso Robles to Stockton by my canary raising grandmother, Grace. We named him Chrysostom which means “golden throat” or “golden tongue” in Greek. And boy, could he sing! Fire up the vacuum, and he belted the perfect aria. 

One day, we went on vacation, and a young girl from our church came over to clean the house a bit. While she was vacuuming, she accidentally knocked over the tall bird cage with unsuspecting Chrysostom in it. The poor guy was so traumatized from the event that he never sang again and soon after died. We were shocked at this turn of events, and I memorialized it with a few words – very few – only two in fact. At the top of the page, I wrote “Birdless.” And adding single dots to each following line all the way to the bottom of the page, I wrote, “Wordless.” There were no words to say beyond those two.

Today is one of those two word days, where I don’t have an encouraging Scripture on my heart to share. There is a dullness of head and body that has silenced my heart. So, I’m going to just open the Word and see if the Lord has anything that might edify all of us. The first verse my eyes landed on was Psalm 66:8. 

“Oh, bless our God, you peoples!
And make the voice of His praise to be heard.”

It’s clear that God has given us great and precious reasons to praise Him. From past deliverances to future glory, all He has said and done redounds to His praise. Whatever our little, whatever our bounty, whatever our trouble, and whatever our mercies – He is worthy to be lifted up with thanksgiving. We who deserve His wrath have been showered with grace! 

So, in that spirit of praise, looking up to our glorious God and Savior, let us offer more than a few words before His throne today. Think of Him often. Worship Him with a pure heart. Use as many words as you want in honoring Him who died so you might live. 

Thank you, Lord Jesus, that Your words weren’t few nor fallible.  We echo those who said, “No man ever spoke like this Man.” John 7:46. 

Old Davy

King Henry VII

KING HENRY VII of England – Barbara Skinner’s 14^th great grandfather.

HENRY VII of England – 1457-1509 – Henry VII of England
– Breton Woman – 1460-?

Roland de Velville – 1474-1535 – illegitimate son – Roland de Velville
– Grace Agnes Griffith de Velville – 1496-1542

Lord Robert Vychan ap Griffith – 1497-1597
– Jane Tudor – 1514-1595

Maurice Wynne MP – 1518-1580 – Maurice Wynn
– Katherine Tudor of Berain – 1534-1591 – Katheryn of Berain

Robert Wynne – 1563-1609
– Lady Frances Watmore of Canterbury – 1565-1609

Captain Peter Wynne – 1593-1638
– Mary Martha Coppin – 1595-1632

Colonel Robert Wynne, Sr. – 1622-1675 ARRIVED IN AMERICA – Robert Wynne (Virginia_politician)
– Mary Frances Sloman – 1616-1675 – married 1647 in Virginia

Major Joshua Wynne – 1662-1715 – Joshua Wynne – He was killed in reprisal for his servant killing a Saponi Indian ‘great man.’ No additional reprisals on either side occurred.
– Mary Jones – 1665-1719

Colonel William Wynne – 1699-1778 – William Wynne
– Frances Reade – 1707-1778

William Wynn, Jr. – 1729-1808 – William Wynne, Jr.
– Mary Cynthia Harmon – 1735-1776

Harmon Wynn – 1772-1851 – Harmon Wynn –  Moved to Kentucky by 1850.
– Elizabeth Peery – 1775-1849

Josiah S. Wynn – 1798-1870 – Josiah Wynn
– Caroline Elizabeth McAnulty – 1813-1905

Josiah William Wynn – 1839-1914
– Mary Malinda Harris – 1842-1919

William George Wynn – 1872-1943
– Martha Louise “Mattie” Hayes – 1873-1932

Charlie G. Grantham – 1894-1952
– Emma C. Wynn – 1895-1935

Fait Henry “Cisco” Grantham – 1926-2003
– Mabel Irene Nordin – 1925-2010

David Earle Skinner – 1946-
-Barbara Sue Grantham – 1948

Dying of Thirst

Fellow Traveler,

Uncle Bob drove my cousin Larry and me out west of Paso Robles on Adelaide Road to Amel Neal’s property so we could go deer hunting in the summer of 1962. He dropped us off and said he would be back about 4:00 or so. Amel wasn’t home, so we headed out to scout the hills to the south, hoping to bag our first buck. We scouted. We waited. We scouted and waited some more. Not a broken twig was to be heard nor antlers to be seen. The only warm blooded creatures we saw were ground squirrels and wandering cattle.

We weren’t savvy enough to take any water with us, so the heat and traipsing around soon had us dreaming about getting a drink. Our mouths were parched and a Coke sounded good, but cool water sounded better. Suddenly, we came across a little stream on the side of a hill. It was maybe one foot wide and a small herd of cows was loitering on either side. We didn’t care: that would be our saving grace for the moment. This would be our “For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert” experience. Isaiah 35:6

As believers we are too often in that hot, dry wilderness. There are those times that we feel deserted and alone with nothing to quench our soul’s deepest thirst. Cross circumstances drown out the voice of the Savior. Earthly cares distract us from believing God’s steadfast love is a reality in our lives. Certain sins bring painful consequences and separate us from Him. We question our perseverance in faith, wondering if we’ll hold fast to the end. The word of God doesn’t lift us to the heights of joy as it used to. What do we do to quench our thirst?

Jesus is the only provision for spiritual thirst, peace, and holy joy. He alone is the water of life. “Jesus answered [the woman at the well] and said to her, ‘If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, “Give Me a drink,” you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.’” John 4:10. He also declared, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” John 7:37b, 38. Our close relationship with the Savior is the foundation of our well-being. Our restoration is based on continually returning to our “first love.” We must echo Peter’s words when asked by Jesus three times, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” with “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” John 21. Drinking from the polluted streams of life won’t satisfy our deepest need. Draw near to Jesus, and He will draw near to you.

Lord, forgive our doubting, fears, and waywardness. Strengthen us for the journey for Your name’s sake. Restore the lost joy that only You can bestow.  

Old Davy

Gloomster

Fellow Traveler,

I was one of the proverbial gloomsters growing up – the legendary pessimist – the melancholic radical. Life was a senseless scheme of trekking the pleasure path while gathering pride bouquets along the way. I never heard the word of the preacher, “I said of laughter—“Madness!’ and of mirth, ‘What does it accomplish?’” Ecclesiastes 2:2. Solomon also warned me, saying, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Proverbs 16:18. “Why should you, my son, be enraptured by an immoral woman, and be embraced in the arms of a seductress?” Proverbs 5:20.

I look around at many young people today and see that’s nothing’s changed. The self-centered introvert is still alive but not well. There is a hopelessness in the air, a led-to-the-slaughter flock of misled and mis-fed folks that shake their fists skyward in violent protest. God-haters all, just like I was when my name was Lazarus, and I was living in a dead man’s tomb of sin until Jesus called my name and I walked out.

Like the Apostle Paul on the road to Damascus in pursuit of believers to imprison, my rebellious course was interrupted by the voice of the Almighty. Neither of us was seeking God. Both of us were self-seekers, living in a world of spiritual deception, blindness, and deadness. Our hopeless condition could only be changed by the hand of God. “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit . . .“ said Jesus. John 15:16.

By God’s grace this newly birthed faith brought a never imagined hope and love to life, replacing pessimism with purpose and pride with praise. Paul’s words rang true, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” II Corinthians 5:17. Night became day. The rejected became embraced. I had heard the voice of the Great Shepherd.

But I must add that with this monumental change, much of my personality was still intact. That genetic disposition to being laid back, non-expressive, and serious about things never changed. I’m not forever smiling. I don’t have a bubbly exterior. I rarely get excited. My ingrained habit of saying little and stumbling over thoughts and words remains. I’ll never be the gregarious salesman in this world. But thankfully, I’ll never be the gloomster again. The glory of God will soon fill the earth, and who am I to be gloomy about that!

Lord above, thank You for calling us and giving each of us the faith to answer you and follow.

Old Davy

*************

*************

*************

Casagrande

There are a number of old and craggy restaurants in Stockton.
This one has greatly portioned breakfasts for the going rate.
The seating is super uncomfortable,
the tables are a hodgepodge of 60’s era throwaways,
the decor is antique smelling with virtually no sense of order,
all the coffee cups look like thrift store bought mugs with sayings on them,
the help is down-home, grizzle-laced, and foul-mouthed,
and you have to brave the chaotically stacked foodstuffs, pots and pans on the shelves,
and narrow hallway to get to the one and only restroom after turning left,
then right down a dimly lit hallway.
It’s a real adventure waiting for the not so faint of heart or weak stomached folk.

But I can get all the coffee I want, an old local paper to read,
and an English muffin for $5.00!

The Pursuit of Happiness

Fellow Traveler,

“The pursuit of happiness.” Most of us think of the Declaration of Independence when we read these words. We remember that they were penned by President Jefferson those many years ago during our nation’s infancy. They have become ingrained and woven into the fabric of the dearly beloved freedoms we enjoy here in America. But how are they interpreted? And more importantly, should happiness be the ultimate goal of the believer in Jesus?

John Stott wrote a little book called The Disciple. In it he shares, “Human beings have always pursued joy and peace, though they have usually employed the more secular word ‘happiness.’ Thomas Jefferson, before becoming the third President of the United States, was so convinced that ‘the pursuit of happiness’ was an inalienable human right that he wrote it into the Declaration of Independence and called it a ‘self-evident truth.’ But Christians feel obligated to add that those who pursue happiness never find it. Joy and peace are extremely elusive blessings. Even as we reach out a hand to grasp hold of happiness, we find it vanishing into thin air. For joy and peace are not suitable goals to pursue; they are the products of love. God gives them to us, not when we pursue them, but when we pursue him and others in love.”

He goes on to say the the pursuit of happiness is just a form of self-love, where we ourselves are the center of our lives in the final analysis. Jesus’ words are as true today as when they were said to His closest disciples only hours before His betrayal and crucifixion. “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” John 15:9-11. And before that He encourages them with, “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27.

Pursuing joy and peace through Christ’s love for us and ours for Him should be our aim, not a self-centered fixation on the pleasures that this world dangles before us. “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” I John 2:15-17.

I say these things while condemning myself. The pleasures, cares and distractions of life are powerful. They are on the broad and easy road, ready for tasting, while Jesus said, “I am the bread of life.” True satisfaction, joy and peace are His to give, not the world’s. He is the true portion as the Psalmist says, “My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:26.

Lord, may we seek You in Your word and prayer today, as we turn from this world’s deceptions to lay hold of the eternal promises and truths that come from You alone. Restore to us the peace and joy of our first Love. May we learn that true happiness is only Yours to give.

Old Davy