A Great Weekend

This is Resurrection weekend, and we get to be in our home church. For that I am truly thankful. We love our church and the people in it. Although I love preaching and meeting new people in new churches, it is nice to have a home base. I feel that in the days to come, we will appreciate it even more.

Resurrection is such a wonderful time! It is when all our attention is drawn toward the Son of God Who gave Himself unselfishly for us. Even more than His dying is His resurrecting. He came back for us, as He promised (Jn. 14:1-6). He didn't return with eyes to behold a poor, dejected humanity. But He came back to see people who were able to be transformed into the successful, overcoming people of God. All because of Him. When you feel good this weekend, remember that it is because of Him. When you have your happy family around you in church and at the dinner table, remember that it is because of Him. Remember, you are on Victory Ground because of Him! Thank God for the resurrection!

By the way, you might want to see some real beauties. If so, click here.

A Great Heritage

Judy and I attended the funeral in Missouri of her childhood pastor's wife, Loyce. (That was a hard one to say. Hope you understand.) Her pastor is also her dad's cousin. Of 7 boys, Dad and his 4 younger brothers are still living. They range from 86 to 74. The 4 youngest of Dad's brothers are ministers and are a quartet, . They sang at the funeral, and Dad sang with them. Here is a picture of them all standing together with Roger (pastor/cousin) who is the husband of Loyce.

They are from left to right: Dad (Dallas), Bob (a twin), Roger (cousin/pastor), Don (the youngest), Bill (the other twin), and BJ.

What a wonderful heritage we have. Most of the children and grandchildren of these men are involved in ministry in one way or another (more than 100 people). Roger (cousin/pastor) is still the pastor of the church in Phillipsburg which averages over 300. He just turned 80. His wife, Loyce, was a loyal helpmeet. His oldest daughter and son-in-law serve as one of the assistant pastors of the church.

Loyce passed away at the end of the week and her funeral was on Monday. In typical Roger style, he preached on Sunday morning during that time. His message was on Heaven. I am told it was a great message.

The video here is a part of the song the brothers sang. It is Home, Sweet Home. I hope you enjoy the power and intensity of their singing.

Home again

For the last two Sundays, we have preached at a church south of Muskogee. They are looking for a minister, and though I wasn't interested in pastoring their congregation, I was interested in helping them out by preaching for them. I felt that the Lord had given me 4 messages for them. As it turned out, they asked me to preach for them two Sundays in a row. I thought they would probably not ask me to return for a third Sunday (at least at this time) because of the fact that the Lord had given me these 4 messages. I was right.Anyway, we were able to be at our home church, Christian Chapel, in Muskogee today. Although we had been at church on the Wednesday nights between the two Sundays away, we still missed the fellowship of the Sunday services. It was so good to be back! We really enjoyed ourselves, and were reminded why we decided to be a part of this great church. This morning's service finished with a young man and young woman (not related) being saved. What a great way to finish a service!

Tonight we get to go again. There is no way we would miss a service (AM, PM or Wednesday) unless we had to be out preaching or on vacation. This is a church that makes you feel welcome, laughs with you, cries with you, and truly misses you when you are absent. The warmth and love that we experience is exactly what church should be about. Jesus is lifted up, and everyone is made to feel loved and wanted.

As we increasingly go out preaching and teaching, it is nice to know that there is a place just for us, supporting us, missing us, and wanting us back as soon as we can get there.

I hope that each of you reading this has a similar place of worship where you are.

I Am Inspired

My daughter Stephanie has inspired me to get organized. Although I am not digging into kitchen cabinets (done that already), I am re-organizing my desk. It just gets piled up. Learning to work at home has been a challenge anyway. So today, I am organizing my piled up desk, adding some file folders, eliminating some obsolete ones, and making some much needed lists. Thanks for the push, Stephanie.

Oh, BTW, there will be no before and after pictures. I just intend to get organized before I get back into writing.

Happy birthday, Dylan James

Today is my oldest grandchild's birthday. Dylan would have been 6. I try sometimes to imagine what he would be like, especially when I see other boys his age. Some people come and stay and wear out their welcome, others swoop in for a few and then are off somewhere else. Dylan swooped in for 5 1/2 days. But long enough for all of us to fall in love with him. I remember how everyone prayed, all over the world. But Dylan made his mark, stirred up a new depth of love in us, and off he went. Sure makes heaven seem sweeter.

Be sure and see his momma Kari's remarks about him today. Click here.