Is it possible to give thanks to God in 2020?

Absolutely.

I recognize that many Tulsans, Oklahomans and Americans are struggling with disease, loss of income and depression. And it may be awhile before those problems are solved or alleviated.

I just know that I have much to be thankful for right now.

I am thankful for a loving family, with a wife who loves Jesus and three adult children who are following the Lord and who are really good people.

I am truly thankful for my lovely daughter-in-law and my talented son-in-law. I couldn’t ask for better additions to our family.

I am truly thankful for my two grandchildren, Reyma, 2, and Atticus, 1. They are smart, loving and they like to talk to me on the phone (they unfortunately live in 670 miles away in South Dakota).

I am thankful, too, for my new great nephew Jack and his big sister Rosie. Children are a blessing from the Lord.

I am thankful for the Tulsa Beacon and the support from our advertisers, our readers and our subscribers. Newspapers all over Oklahoma and the nation are cutting back and some are going under. The Tulsa Beacon is having a solid financial year in 2020 and that is amazing. It’s great to have a job where you can write about Jesus and Biblical principles.

I am thankful for KCFO AM970, Christian talk radio. My show, Tulsa Beacon Weekend, airs every Saturday for an hour beginning at noon. David Stephens, who owns KCFO, is a faithful Christian and it is a pleasure to talk to my guests – all of which are devoted believers. I have been hosting that show for almost 20 years.

I am thankful for my church (First Baptist of Broken Arrow) and for our new pastor, Dr. Matt Brooks. He is a talented Bible teacher. Since he took over in January, we have had dozens of professions of faith and baptisms – even during a pandemic.

And I am especially thankful for our Sunday School. That class is filled with mature Christians who are devoted to serving others and spreading the Gospel.

I am thankful for my in-laws, the Rev. George and Martha Campbell. Now in their eighties, they moved to Tulsa awhile back. They have been great examples to our family and a source of encourage, particularly in spiritual matters. (George is a retired minister). It would be easy to become embittered with the ravages of old age but they still love our family and other friends.

I am thankful for our health. Susan and I are in our sixties and we are in relatively good condition, all things considered. America has the best health in the world.

We both got the coronavirus in July and I am thankful to God that we had mild cases that were shortlived. In fact, none of our kids or their families have missed work during the pandemic, even our son who also had the coronavirus. His employer paid his full salary while he was off work for a couple of weeks.

I am grateful that we have college footfall (most of the time this year). I really enjoy it.

I am grateful for the production staff of the Muskogee Phoenix who print our paper every week. I am thankful for the U.S. Postal Service that delivers the Tulsa Beacon.

I am so thankful for the people who contribute to our paper, including Marti Weese, Jeff Brucculeri, Larry White, Walker Moore, Dave Ramsey, David Limbaugh, Pat Buchanan, Michelle Malkin, Michael Barone, Walter Williams, and the football pickers – my brother Jon and my nephews Brandon Biggs and Ben Biggs (with a special assist from his brother, Brad Biggs).

I am thankful for Christian ministries like John 3:16 Mission and Mend Pregnancy Resource Center.

The Rev. Steve Whitaker and his staff at John 3:16 love people who are hard to love. They address the physical needs of food, clothing and shelter but they also focus on the need for reconciliation with God through Jesus Christ.

Mend saves lives every day by showing desperate young women that there are places that will help them through a troubling pregnancy.

Both of these ministries do an awful lot of good with limited resources (and no government help).

I am thankful for Gov. Kevin Stitt and for all of the Christians who hold public office. There are so many challenges and so many opportunities to compromise your principles.

Gov. Stitt  is a great example to us all.

I am thankful for America. We are in a tough patch. It seems to be getting worse, with political upheaval, disease, rioting and looting, etc. Believe it or not, we’ve been through this before and survived.