My friend John asked me recently, “Why do you think people are willing to give their money when you ask?” I told him, “First, I try to only ask when there is a serious need. Second, I try not to use up my bullets and ask for money constantly. Occasionally gets more response than constantly.”

Anytime someone mentions a Christmas play, I can’t help but think of the story about Wally. It’s my favorite Christmas story ever. I’m not sure where the story originated, but do know that I wish I had a heart like Wally’s. Here’s the story:

For years now whenever Christmas pageants are talked about in a certain little town in the Midwest, someone is sure to mention the name of Wallace Purling better known as little Wally. It was Wally’s performance in one annual production of the Nativity play that has slipped into the realm of legend. But the old-timers who were in the audience that night never tire of recalling exactly what happened.

Wally was nine that year and in the second grade, though he should have been in the fourth. Most people in town knew that he had difficulty in keeping up. He was big and clumsy, slow in movement and mind.

Wally fancied the idea of being a shepherd in the Christmas pageant that year, but the play’s director, Miss Lumbard, knew that there were too many lines for Wally to memorize. So she assigned him the role of the Innkeeper who only had a couple of lines. For weeks he practiced his part and his lines. Miss Lumbard’s biggest concern for the play that year was that Wally didn’t mess his part up and therefore embarrass himself.

It just so happened that the whole town had turned out the night of the big production. No one on stage or off was more caught up in the magic of the night than little Wallace Purling. Then the time came when Joseph appeared, slowly, tenderly guiding Mary to the door of the inn. Joseph knocked hard on the wooden door set into the painted backdrop. Wally the Innkeeper was there, waiting.

“What do you want?” Wally said, swinging the door open with a gruff gesture.

“We seek lodging.”

“Seek it elsewhere.” Wally looked straight ahead but spoke vigorously. “The inn is filled.”

“Sir, we have asked everywhere in vain. We have traveled far and are very weary.”

“There is no room in the inn for you.” Wally looked properly stern.

“Please, good innkeeper, this is my wife, Mary. She is heavy with child and needs a place to rest. Surely you must have some small corner for her. She is so tired.”

Now, for the first time, the Innkeeper relaxed his stiff stance and looked down at Mary. With that, there was a long pause, long enough to make the audience a bit tense with embarrassment.

“No! Begone!” the prompter whispered from behind the curtain.

“No!” Wally repeated automatically. “Begone!”

Joseph sadly placed his arm around Mary and Mary laid her head upon her husband’s shoulder and the two of them started to move away. The Innkeeper did not return inside his inn, however. Wally stood there in the doorway, watching the desperate couple. His mouth was open, his brow creased with concern, his eyes filling unmistakably with tears.

It was right then that Wally realized exactly what had happened that night. And suddenly this Christmas pageant became different from all the others.

“Don’t go, Joseph,” Wally cried out. “Bring Mary back.” And Wallace Purling’s face grew into a bright smile. “You can have my room.”

A few old grouches in tiny town thought that the pageant had been ruined. Yet most attending that night considered it the best Christmas pageant they had ever seen.

I’m SO blessed that one week from today, I’ll be on a plane headed to Honduras. On this five day trip we will help feed, serve and build a house for Jesus. Jesus will be there, and we’ll see him when we look into the eyes of the poor and hungry of Honduras.

I’ve been reading and thinking about Noah this morning. For over 100 years while Noah built the ark, he preached to the lost people around him. When the ark was finished and he was done preaching, the invitation was given, and the only people willing to get on the ark with him was his family. [...]

Leading small group bible studies. I’m so much more in my comfort zone when I’m standing in front of a group preaching. Quiet people. They always make me wonder what they are thinking. When I’m watching television with Lea and a Victoria’s Secret commercial comes on. Close talkers. I’ve actually created the amazing “lean back, [...]

Funny video … a good reminder that you can be in the world, just not of the world. Someone recently asked me, “Can a Christian participate in culture and be a part of society? Can a Christian watch Rated-R movies, listen to secular music and watch television that has nothing to do with Jesus?” Those [...]

Despite all of Batman’s strength, he still struggled to do what was right sexually when it came to Vicki Vale and other women in his life. Superman & Spiderman, despite all their power, couldn’t resist the sexual temptations of Lois Lane and Mary Jane. Many biblical superheroes have had their share of struggles with sexual [...]

I am a big Shane Claiborne fan. I heard him speak a few years ago, but it was his book Irresistible Revolution, that really rocked my spiritual world. If you haven’t read the book, you should. The book will challenge you in every aspect of your faith. The following is a recent article he wrote [...]

Do you ever forget just how blessed you are? Life for us is very different than life in a third world country. Due to some extra funds, this past week the Casa de Esperanza (meaning the House of Hope in English) children’s home in Honduras was able to take in two more children, a brother [...]

At 10:13 AM, The Detwilers said… I have a few questions! 1. If you had to pick one food group (Chinese, Mexican, American) to eat the rest of your life, what would it be? 2. Lea – what is the hardest thing being the only female in an all male house? ANSWERS: 1. Hands down [...]

Here are a few stories I really liked this week … On Monday I kicked off the week with a post called “10 Bad Christmas Gifts for Men.” There were many women readers who said what they really needed was a list of what guys REALLY liked, not disliked. That being said, my friend Scott [...]

I’ve never been a big fan of the old old phrase, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” It’s always seemed like such a poor excuse to change a habit, but I will admit that old habits are hard to break and new habits are even harder to learn. Whether it’s eating healthy, starting [...]

It’s going around, and I’ve avoided it as long as I can. Not the flu, but the “Ask Me Anything” post. I’ve seen a bunch of blogs lately doing a “Ask Me Anything” post so that people can get to know the writer better. I’ve even asked questions on two (Charla & Will) of the [...]

Here is a conversation between my son Cooper (2nd Grade) and I, on the way to school this morning… Me: “Hey buddy, how is school going?” Cooper: “Good.” Me: “How many accelerated reader points do you have now?” Cooper: “Fifty-something points. I’ve lost count.” Me: “Awesome Coop! That’s a TON of points. I’m proud of [...]

With some of you starting your Christmas shopping early this year, I thought I’d help you out on some of your “man gifts.” Men are pretty easy to buy for, but at the same time, nothing is easier that screwing up a gift for the dad, husband or man in your life. Trust me, here [...]

(A boy from the Tegucigalpa Dump) I’M LEAVING: One month from today I’ll be heading back to Honduras for a week to have a banquet for Jesus at a dump, possibly build a house for a needy family and feed a bunch of hungry children. I have fallen in love with this ministry. Due to [...]

It was about an hour before the funeral was supposed to start, and the room was packed with the family. I was doing the service for the family, but Lea was there to visit some friends that were part of the family that she hadn’t seen in a long time. We walked around visiting in [...]

From the way I heard it, the sweet little curly headed girl couldn’t have been more than 8 years old. She hadn’t grown up going to bible class or church, but now that her parents were going to church, she was loving it. One of her favorite parts of her new bible class was the [...]

One of my most favorite family activities is supper time. We try every day to sit down and have supper together as a family. Some of our best family time is spent around the table laughing and talking about things that happened during the day. Last night as I sat at the table and listened [...]

Last Sunday after church my friend John David said, “Let me know when you’re through with this new series so I can come back when it’s over.” He was kidding me about making him uncomfortable with the message. I’ve have to admit, I was just as uncomfortable as anyone. Somehow last weeks message, “Jesus will [...]

I absolutely LOVE to hear my wife pray. About a year ago I wrote this about how husbands and wives should be praying together. I still believe that prayer with your spouse can be as special and intimate as your sexual relationship with them. I heard someone quote a statistic recently that said, “Only 8% [...]

I’ve been asked before, “Trey, what gets you angry?” My response is always the same, “Nothing really. I don’t have a problem with getting angry.” That was until recently… It was about 5:00 in the morning. Although it was dark, my buddy Randy and I were running on a street that was pretty well lit. [...]

It doesn’t matter how long I’ve been in ministry … I continue to learn new things about God, myself, others and church. Here are some things I’m learning about ministry and life right now… I’m learning that ministry is not a job, but a lifestyle. It’s who you are, not something you do. When I [...]

I found this funny…

I’m excited about the next six weeks of lessons I’ll be doing. The series is called “Comfortable.” Jesus never called his followers to be comfortable or to take up their easy chair, but to take up their cross. Like it or not, crosses are not comfortable and their purpose is for dying. If you’re in [...]

This coming year 40% of the children born in our country will be born in a home where there is no father. The average church attendance breaks down 61% female and 39% male. Every Sunday 25% of Christian women go to church without their husband by their side. We’ve quickly become a country where the [...]

We have a weekly bible study in our home for a group of young adults. I try on bible study days to help Lea around the house in different ways. Yesterday, I grabbed the vacuum and thought to myself, “I’ll just vacuum the living-room, because it’s the only room anyone will see.” When Lea saw [...]

(Tegucigalpa, Honduras airport runway) I’m headed to Honduras in about 8 weeks for the “Jesus Banquet” at the dump. I’m excited about the trip, including the landing at the Tegucigalpa airport. I took the above picture of the airport runway back in August. The runway looked small then, but I didn’t realize at the time [...]

Can you imagine if Jesus would have had a Twitter or Facebook account? His status updates would have been THE best. Maybe they would have looked something like this… Didn’t tell my parents I’d be hanging at the temple for about 3 days. Mom and Dad just found me. Wow, Mom looks mad. Totally freaked [...]

Stupid churches are alive and well: Check out this video about the Amazing Grace Baptist Church in Canton, NC. You won’t believe what they’re doing … SHEESH….

I’m really bothered by people who focus only on the negative side of their faith. There are some that are SO engrossed in the rules, keeping the rules and on others keeping their rules that they miss what the gospel is really all about. For example, a bulletin article from a church I won’t name, [...]

We can’t ever get a decent picture, because no matter how hard we try, you can’t get everyone serious at the same time.

I know it’s hard sometimes when you still have children at home, but it’s healthy and essential for your marriage to spend time with just your mate. That’s why you and your spouse should go on a date once a week and go for an overnight date once a month. It’s also been said you [...]