read the Bible

His Name Was Alan

/ Pavement Ends Ministry / Leave a comment

His name was Alan and his most outstanding attribute was that he loved his Savior. His number one vocation was sharing the gospel and his favorite conversation topic was Jesus. The best teachers are the ones who have an intimate knowledge of the subject they teach. Alan was the greatest Bible teacher I have ever known. The life he lived taught us that the Lord is our Shepherd and we need not want any more than that.

There was a man named Barnabas, he loved Jesus. His vocation was to be an encourager to his brothers in the Lord. His conversation was, “You can do this with Jesus’ help, so get up let’s go.” Barnabas never wrote any great books, but when John Mark and the Apostle Paul were discouraged, he was there to encourage them. Today we can read Mark’s Gospel and Paul’s Epistles because of the encouragement of Barnabas They learned to walk through the valley of the shadow of death with no fear. Because Jesus was there with His rod of protection and comforting staff.

Jesus commanded us to go into the world and make disciples. Alan and Barnabas probably never consider themselves disciple-makers, but they were. Neither of them ever led a weekly discipleship group. But they both taught many to walk in paths of righteousness for the sake of the good name of Jesus.

I don’t think that Barnabas or Alan ever sought to be great in the Kingdom of Heaven. They were servants. They loved God with all their hearts and they loved their neighbors as they loved themselves. Jack McVeigh called Alan a gentle fruit tree. We can read in the Bible about the fruit that Barnabas bore for God, but we will never know how many people Alan reached for Christ. But I do know this, my heart was blessed by this man who was a gentle fruit tree. His name was Alan, now he has walked by the still waters, found rest in the green pastures and will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Douglas Huff

From Down Where The Pavement Ends

The Birds and Bugs Still Sing

/ Pavement Ends Ministry / Leave a comment

Early morning is best. I sit on my back porch to read, write and visit with God. Even though it is going to be hot today the air is still cool. While the breeze whispers a peaceful melody the birds and bugs sing the lyrics of creation. I can almost imagine that the world is at peace. However, the sound of a jet overhead reminds me that a great big stupid world is never far away.

I don’t know who said it but I once read that government is a necessary evil. It is necessary because men need to be governed or there will be anarchy. It is evil because people with authority always crave more authority. Government has an insatiable appetite for growth and its food is the well-being of the governed. Authority must be limited because a large and unlimited government is worse than no government at all.

As Christians, we are told to pray for those in authority so that we may live in peace. We must obey God. However, there has never been a time without strife or war somewhere. Does this mean that God ignores our prayers? Of course not! You see, peace is not the absence of war. Peace is the presence of God and the knowledge that your eternal soul is safe even if your mortal body is not.

Yes, God told us to pray for those in authority but He never told us to trust them. Often world leaders will gather together for council. But these planning sessions are never for the good of the people. They are only seeking to perpetuate their power. However, if we trust in God’s holy name we know that He will frustrate their plans. The Word of the Lord will stand forever and no weapon formed against Him will prosper.

The eyes of God are on those who fear Him. If our hope is in His mercy, He will deliver our souls from death and protect us in times of trouble. If we entangle our hearts in God’s strength, He will be our help and shield. So, when the heathen rage and the nations plot vain things let not your heart be troubled. Listen; the birds and the bugs are still singing because they know, our God still reigns.

Douglas Huff

Down Where the Pavement Ends

Daddy’s Little Girl

/ Pavement Ends Ministry / Leave a comment

He was a good man, a likable man. He worked hard to provide for his family because this is what good men do. He had no bad habits. He did not drink, do drugs, or cheat on his wife. He was a good man.

He had a daughter. A precious little girl. Man, he loved that little girl. He would do anything for his princess. They went fishing, they played tea party, anything she wanted. He went where ever she wanted to go. She took ballet lessons, and he watched. She played soccer, he watched, she wanted to go to a movie he was happy to go.

He loved his precious little girl. He took her everywhere, except, well, he didn’t take her to church. He just didn’t think the church was necessary. Just didn’t care for it. He said, “Church is okay for some men, but not for me, I can do without it.” He loved his little girl, but he never took her to church.

One day he died, sooner or later everyone dies. He went to hell, that is where you go if you die without Christ in your life. He did not have Christ in his life, so, he went to hell.

Hell did not seem so bad, not near as bad as he had been told. He had been told it would be unbearably hot, but it didn’t seem to be that bad. He said, “I can handle this.” and he thought he could. But then. He heard it. The screaming. The bloodcurdling, agonizing screaming.

He recognized the voice. It was his little girl, his precious little girl.

He ran toward the sound, and he saw her. Demons were tormenting her. Imagine the worst things that could possibly be done to a little girl. He ran toward her, he was going to rescue his baby.

But! There was an invisible wall. He could not get through. He could not get to his little girl. And the demons—– and she screamed, and screamed—- He pounded on the invisible wall, and she screamed, and screamed.

Then he heard the voice, the evil voice, laughing at his agony. Satan said, you did not need God, you thought hell was not bad. This is your hell. For eternity, forever, you will watch and listen as your little girl is violated, beaten, and tormented by my demons. Forever!!

And then, his little girl saw her daddy. She screamed at him. The little mouth that used to sing for daddy, the little mouth that used to say, “ I love my daddy”. The little mouth screamed at him, “ DAMN YOU, DADDY, you could have taken me to church, you could have let me learn about Jesus, I would have believed in Him. I would be in heaven. But you said the church was not important, you said we did not need Jesus. I WISH I HAD JESUS! DAMN YOUR ETERNAL SOUL, DADDY!

This is not a true story, it is not about any particular people. I don’t know what hell is like, but I know it is an awful place. I know that it is a place of torment. I know that Jesus died on the cross so that no one HAS to go there. I know that no one goes to the Father, except through Jesus. I know that a daddy has a tremendous influence on his children. I know that Jesus said, “ let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them.” He also said, “Whoever causes one of these little ones to sin, it would be better if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.”

These things I do know. I also know that a lot of daddies don’t think they need church or Jesus. But one day——

Douglas Huff

From Down Where The Pavement Ends

Desiring the Masters Touch

/ Pavement Ends Ministry / Leave a comment

My favorite place for a morning quiet time is the back porch. Here I can see the sunrise, feel the morning breeze, and listen as the birds start their business for the day. Knowing that days have started like this for thousands of years helps me to draw close to the God of hope and glory.

As I sit and try to commune with God, my dog will pester me for attention. She stands on my left nudging my hand begging me to pet her. When I ignore her she goes around to the other side and nudges my right hand. If I continue to ignore her she comes around in front of me and plops her big ol head down on top of my Bible. When I push her back and continue to read she will lie down at my feet and wait until I decide to pay attention to her.

Why does she so persistently seek my attention? Is it because I feed her and take care of her? No. She would be loyal to me even if I did not feed her. She is persistent because she longs for my touch. Because I am her master, Her greatest joy is in the touch of my hand.

Like this dog I long for my Masters touch. While I sit on the porch and watch the sunrise I look expectantly to God. With the morning breeze He fulfills His promise as He opens His hand and satisfies my great desire with an amazing caress. The birds pay no attention to worldly affairs, as they have for thousands of years they just go about their daily business of singing to the Glory of God. So through it all, I remember this; God is righteous in all His ways and gracious in all His works. And He has promised To be near to all who call upon Him. If we seek first His Kingdom He will fulfill our greatest desires with the touch of His Hand.

Douglas Huff

From Down Where The Pavement Ends

It is Good

/ Pavement Ends Ministry / Leave a comment

In the first chapter of the Bible we read the glorious story of how all things came to be. It is a marvelously simple record of God coming from nowhere, standing on nothing, and by the power of His Word, speaking everything into existence. After the creation of all things, He created one more thing. He created rest. In the day of rest, He looked around at all things and said “This is good”.

Deborah and I once spent a weekend on top of Lookout Mountain. Now this mountain is well named because from its peak you can look out and see a beautiful and majestic world. The grandeur of the river and woods remind you of God’s opinion that this world is good.

Also, from the top of Lookout Mountain, you could smell the smoke of a distant fire and hear the lonesome whistle of a faraway train. As I looked at the cities and towns, with their busy factories and highways, I knew this too was God’s plan. Because after He created all things, He turned to man and said “This is yours to have dominion over.” I believe that when God looks at the works of man He smiles and says “ This is good.”

It is good to go up a mountain sometimes. Because down here the world looks pretty messed up. Wars and rumors of wars and the wickedness of man make this world look hopelessly bad. But on the mountain, you can see the world as God sees it. He is The Great I AM. He has said, I am God and I change not. Because He does not change, His creation is still good. Jesus Christ is the Light of the world and God the Father still says, “It is good.”

Douglas & Deborah Huff

From Down Where The Pavement Ends

Healthy Hunger

/ Pavement Ends Ministry / Leave a comment

Hunger is a good thing. It is a gift from God that tells us when we need to replenish the food that fuels our bodies. However, you need wisdom to know how to feed your hunger. For instance some foods are almost addictive, but they contain useless calories. Meanwhile other foods may not be as tasty but they contain the nutrients your body needs.

As I have gotten older, I have learned that I must control what I eat and drink. Sometimes I like a soft drink but I have found water to be the ultimate thirst quencher. Within reason cake and candy is alright, but fruits and vegetables are always better for you. Because of His goodness God has given us taste buds so that we can enjoy food and drink. God has declared all food and drink to be good. But as with all good things, the key to healthy hunger is moderation.

Okay, now you have received advice on eating from a old guy with diabetes. But I don’t really want to talk about eating the right food. I want to talk about having a healthy hunger. Proverbs 15:14 says; “ A wise person is hungry for knowledge, while a fool feeds on trash.” I am a physical diabetic today because for years I ate trash and junk food without moderation. Most of us today are spiritual diabetics because of the unmoderated trash that we have put into our heads, hearts and spirits. God says we need to develop a healthy hunger for righteous knowledge.

Hunger is a good thing. But feed your soul wisely. Stop feeding your mind junk and trash. Become addicted to righteous knowledge and develop a healthy hunger for God’s Holiness. Do this and you will defeat the spiritual diabetes that has crippled so many Christians.

Douglas & Deborah Huff

From Down Where The Pavement Ends,

Y’all come to see us sometime.

The Great Necessity

/ Pavement Ends Ministry / Leave a comment

It is necessary that God should punish rebellion and apostasy. The bible says; “The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours; The world and all its fullness, You have founded them. The north and the south, You have created them; – You have a mighty arm; Strong is Your hand, and high is Your right hand. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne;” (Psalm 89:11-14,)

Every act of rebellion, every act of sinfulness is a direct attack on the throne room of God. For Him not to punish sin is for Him to surrender to evil. God will and has acted on this necessity. He tells us; “Vengeance is Mine, and recompense; Their foot shall slip in due time; For the day of their calamity is at hand, And the things to come hasten upon them.’” And “For a fire is kindled in My anger, And shall burn to the lowest hell; It shall consume the earth with her increase, And set on fire the foundations of the mountains.” (Deuteronomy 32: 35& 22)

WE have a great necessity, to wake up, to remember our first love, to hear with the ears that God has given us the warning that God has spoken to us in Deut. 32:28. when He says “For they are a nation void of counsel, Nor is there any understanding in them. Oh, that they were wise, that they understood this, That they would consider their latter end!” (Deuteronomy 32:28-29)

Douglas Huff

From Down Where the Pavement Ends

I Believe

/ Pavement Ends Ministry / Leave a comment

I believe that laughter of children is sweet music and the love of a child can put a song in your heart. I believe that the sweat from hard work feels good and the reward of working hard is a good feeling. I believe that reading the Bible while the sun comes up is the best way to start the day. A cup of coffee while talking to God will make the day good to the last drop. The Bible tells us in Romans 15:13 “ The God of hope will fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Jesus said whoever believes in Him will never die and I know this to be true. I also am convinced that whoever does not believe in Jesus has never lived. Belief is a powerful thing. It can imprint on your life unending hope and it can erase from your life debilitating fear. Belief in the Savior has caused crippled men to walk, blind men to see and dead men to live. I believe that God is good and greatly to be praised. I will praise God in all things, good and bad.

God has promised that with a little faith, we can prayerfully move mountains. If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, your prayers can bring healing to the sick, salvation to the lost and hope to the hopeless. This is true for all of us who believe in the power of Jesus our Savior. Sometimes in our human frailties, we struggle to believe this. But if we cry out to Jesus, He will help us in our unbelief.

I believe that my sins are great but God’s forgiveness is greater. I believe that when I fall my Jesus will be there to pick me up. In my weakness, I often stumble but I have this certain assurance that there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. I know that I am righteous, but only because of the shed blood of Jesus. So for this reason I have firmly planted my feet on the Rock of my salvation. This salvation is found only in Jesus Christ the Son of God. HE is the One in whom I believe.

Douglas & Deborah Huff

From Down Where The Pavement Ends

The Word of God

/ Pavement Ends Ministry / Leave a comment

Down through the years the Word of God has been written in many places, on many things and in many ways. It has been carved in stone, written on parchment and in Daniel’s day it was God’s handwriting on a wall. Jesus read scripture from a papyrus scroll and prisoners of war have written from memory passages of scripture on pieces of toilet paper.

For centuries it was painstakingly copied by hand and then at the end of the dark ages the printing press brought light to the world by giving the Bible to common men. Once upon a time we watched mimeograph machines roll out the scripture. Now laser jet printers give it to us in the blink of an eye. From the shelves of my study, I can choose to read God’s word from about twenty five different translations or I can open my computer and read from even more.

Down thru the years people have tried to destroy it, discredit it and dispute it but they have never been able to ignore it. Tyrants have tried to wipe it from the face of the earth but the Bible is still here and they are not. Today, there are those who wish to outlaw the Bible in schools, courthouses and on the airways. These people are evil and one day they will bow at the feet of Jesus who is the Word of God.

This you can count on, God’s Word will never go away.

I know that nothing is permanent. Where God’s Word is written in stone, one day the stone will be turned into gravel. Where God’s Word is written on paper, one day the paper will burn. Where God’s Word is written on lambskin, one day the lambskin will rot. But God’s Word will never fail. I know God’s Word will never fail because God’s Word is written in my heart. And my heart belongs to God.

Douglas & Deborah Huff