Hey friends, July is here and the year marches on – at warp speed; ha, Merry Christmas!
Today is a little early for my usual column but I thought you might need to know that there will be no services at Markland Baptist Church the week of July 16th: over half of the congregation scheduled vacations at the same time (yep, you guessed it, the week of the 16th) and as a result there are not enough people left to hold a service. Even Sam and Cyndi are going on vacation that week. Those of us still left in town will be visiting other churches that week.
The following week, services will resume at the regular times: 9:15 a.m. for Sunday school and 10:45 a.m. for the Worship Service. Mark your calendars and come out and join us on the 23rd (Sunday); we will be so happy to welcome you.
About three weeks ago, Brian Cooper, Michael Parker and Sam put in a new water line and subsequently set the posts in concrete for a ramp for my house; I might add, a much needed ramp. This past Saturday, Kenny Ledbetter and Sam built the ramp, and it is a ‘doozy’ – I think an elephant could safely walk up it. (I really don’t think they were making a smart alec remark regarding my size and agility. I do remember someone mentioning folks that couldn’t walk and chew gum at the same time.) Oh well, at least I have a wonderful ramp.
Congratulations to Kent Deaton for achieving over half his stated ‘health goal’. Kent participates in the 8 a.m. water aerobics class at the ‘Y’ and he keeps us all in ‘stitches’ – well, maybe not the instructors so much but definitely the rest of us.
One of my friends mailed me a joke to share with you all: Deacon Roberts was leaving the morning service on Sunday morning. At the door, the pastor reached out and shook Robert’s hand. “By the way, Deacon, you need to join the army of the Lord.”
“I’m already in the army of the Lord, Pastor.”
“Then why do I see you only at Christmas and Easter?”
“Deacon Roberts whispered back, I’m in the secret service.”
On the surface, I thought this was funny but the longer I thought about it, the less funny it seemed. There are so many folks that seem to believe they also are in the ‘secret service of the Lord’. I wonder if the Lord accepts ‘their secret service’.
This one kind of falls under the ‘blind leading the blind’ column! A new pastor visited a children’s Sunday School department. After standing at the back for a few minutes, he asked the youngsters, “Who tore down the walls of Jericho?
“It wasn’t me,” shouted young Tommy.
The Pastor thought he was joking and repeated, “Come on now, who tore down the walls of Jericho?”
The teacher took the pastor to one side. “Look, Pastor, Tommy’s a good boy. If he said he didn’t do it, he didn’t do it. I believe him.”
The Pastor was flabbergasted at what the teacher said and later that day he related the story to the Director of Christian Education. The Director frowned, “I know we have had trouble with Tommy in the past. I’ll have a word with him.”
The totally baffled and very concerned Pastor left and approached the deacon. Once again he told the whole story, including the responses of the teacher and the Christian Ed. Director.
The deacon patiently listened and smiled, “Yes, Pastor, I can see your problem. But I suggest we take the money from the general fund to pay for the walls and leave it at that.”
I was reminded of a passage from Hebrews 3:12-14, (quoting from the ‘Living Bible’ translation): “Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. You must warn each other every day, as long as it is called ‘today’, so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God. For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ.”
The reward is heaven; the alternative is hell! The Bible tells us that God wants us to read/study Scripture and teach our children the stories He has provided in His Word – accurately, of course.
Wow! The storms we have been having lately are really doing some damage in my yard with trees down and flowers broken off and a leaking roof; but nothing catastrophic compared to the rest of the country. At least the house is still standing and we are all ok; thank you Lord.
Wilma just came by and wanted me to go to Rising Sun with her but I had just came back from a trip with Cyndi and told her I would need to make it another time, but I sure appreciated her thinking about me. Wilma celebrated her birthday on the 7th of this month; belated birthday greetings Wilma.
Several folks on our ‘Prayer Concern’ list this week: Joy Hazeldean (continued healing – Joy had a little problem with her ‘port’ and Julie took her to Louisville to get it repaired; she is home now), Frank and Donna Miller (strength and wisdom), Carolyn Green (healing for her leg), Jan and Gayle Rayles and Marty and Melissa Park (all went camping this past weekend), Elaine Hazeldean (fighting leukemia) – (please remember the whole Hazeldean family as you talk to the Lord this week’ when one family member suffers, all the family suffers with them), Roger Garvey (on top of everything else he is going through, he took a fall Sunday), Our many traveling members (bring them back safely), unsaved family and friends (God knows who they are, don’t forget to add your own in this prayer.)
We also had several praises, especially for the wonderful weather and God’s wonderful provisions for us (and mine for the lovely ramp.)
Reva Bragg has enjoyed company this past weekend, her son Randy and his wife, and I believe she said her daughter was to come in also. Reva will be celebrating her birthday on July 21st.
Until next time, may the Lord cause His face to shine on you, to bless you and keep safe from harm and give you a peace that only God can bestow on you, amen!