My father's day this year was different than most. All three of my boys have been battling a stomach virus and so Rita stayed home with them while I went to worship. After I got home, we spent the day doing a whole lot of nothing. Rita had made a wonderful meal, which neither of the boys got to fully enjoy. We just enjoyed being together.
Now, it's my job to do bath and bedtime. It's just what Dad does. So as I was tucking the boys in to say their prayers, Ethan (my middle son) surprised me. He has been going "off road" for his prayer lately - working past the rote prayer to include those on his mind. As he looked up at me, hovering over his praying form, he said these words: "And thank You God that I love my Daddy and that you made him the way you did."
The child then said: "Why are you smiling, Daddy?" What he didn't see was the tears in my eyes. Happy Father's Day.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas...
Yesterday I had the opportunity to attend a graveside service. That is my present line of work: assisting families at a funeral home and cemetery. The service was being conducted by a sweet gentlemen, the chaplain from the funeral home. I have heard his words of encouragement to families numerous times. They are familiar words of comfort from God's Word. Perhaps in my familiarity with the words being spoken, I allowed my mind to wander. Standing at the rear of the tent, under the shade of a pear tree, I looked up. The day was rather windy for the middle of a June day. The sky was clear blue as I looked and listened to the wind rustling the leaves of the tree. In that moment, all focus was taken away from the task at hand, and I was reminded the the need to pause...be still and know...God was there. His gentle presence was all around me in that quiet breeze. I took in the moment and spent some time communing with my heavenly Father. I snapped a picture (being the visual person that I am) to help me try and remember that moment. Today, I am looking for another moment with Papa!
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
My Pastor, My President
My only comment is to say that my heart is stirred for Southern Baptists knowing the heart of the man chosen today to lead as president. My heart is full at knowing his heart for the Kingdom of God and the work of the Kingdom that God chooses to do through Southern Baptists. It is not about a man, but this man is all about our great God and, as he says, taking as many souls as possible to heaven with him. Please pray for Johnny and Janet, their family and our church in the days to come. I can't wait to see what God is up to!!!
Hunt elected president on first ballot
Posted on Jun 10, 2008 | by David Roach
INDIANAPOLIS (BP)--Johnny Hunt, pastor of First Baptist Church in Woodstock, Ga., was elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention June 10, receiving 52.94 percent of votes (3,100) cast on the first ballot.
Five other candidates were nominated. Frank Cox received 1,286 votes (21.96 percent); Avery Willis, 962 votes (16.43 percent); William (Bill) Wagner, 255 votes (4.35 percent); Les Puryear, 188 votes (3.21 percent); and Wiley Drake, 45 votes (.77 percent).
A total of 5,856 ballots were cast, and 20 (.34 percent) were disallowed. At the time of the election, there were 7,196 registered messengers at the annual meeting.
Hunt was nominated by Ted Traylor, pastor of Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola, Fla.
Traylor said he was nominating Hunt because of his "heart for the nations" and his "heart for the next generation." Hunt will unite the convention and "forge a hopeful future" focused on the Gospel and connected to local churches, Traylor said.
Hunt's heart for the nations has been demonstrated in his church's missions giving and participation, Traylor said. Last year alone, he said, First Baptist gave $3.3 million to Southern Baptist mission causes.
Over the past 28 years, the church has been responsible for planting 78 new churches and during Hunt's 22-year tenure has seen hundreds of people surrender to full-time Christian ministry and mission service, Traylor added.
Hunt's heart for the next generation, Traylor said, has been illustrated through his work with conferences that have reached 25,000 young leaders during the past 20 years.
"As you elect him today, you will send an instant message to that young generation that they have a place at the SBC table," Traylor said. "They love him. You know him. And I believe it's time we elect him as our convention president."
Hunt elected president on first ballot
Posted on Jun 10, 2008 | by David Roach
INDIANAPOLIS (BP)--Johnny Hunt, pastor of First Baptist Church in Woodstock, Ga., was elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention June 10, receiving 52.94 percent of votes (3,100) cast on the first ballot.
Five other candidates were nominated. Frank Cox received 1,286 votes (21.96 percent); Avery Willis, 962 votes (16.43 percent); William (Bill) Wagner, 255 votes (4.35 percent); Les Puryear, 188 votes (3.21 percent); and Wiley Drake, 45 votes (.77 percent).
A total of 5,856 ballots were cast, and 20 (.34 percent) were disallowed. At the time of the election, there were 7,196 registered messengers at the annual meeting.
Hunt was nominated by Ted Traylor, pastor of Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola, Fla.
Traylor said he was nominating Hunt because of his "heart for the nations" and his "heart for the next generation." Hunt will unite the convention and "forge a hopeful future" focused on the Gospel and connected to local churches, Traylor said.
Hunt's heart for the nations has been demonstrated in his church's missions giving and participation, Traylor said. Last year alone, he said, First Baptist gave $3.3 million to Southern Baptist mission causes.
Over the past 28 years, the church has been responsible for planting 78 new churches and during Hunt's 22-year tenure has seen hundreds of people surrender to full-time Christian ministry and mission service, Traylor added.
Hunt's heart for the next generation, Traylor said, has been illustrated through his work with conferences that have reached 25,000 young leaders during the past 20 years.
"As you elect him today, you will send an instant message to that young generation that they have a place at the SBC table," Traylor said. "They love him. You know him. And I believe it's time we elect him as our convention president."
Thursday, June 5, 2008
I Am a Solider
I am a Soldier!
I am a soldier in the army of God.
The Lord Jesus Christ is my Commanding Officer;
The Bible is my code of Conduct!
Faith, prayer and the Word are my weapons of warfare!
I have been taught by the Holy Spirit,
Trained by experience, tried by adversity and tested by fire!
I am a volunteer in this army and I am enlisted for eternity.
I will either retire from this army at the rapture or die in this army,
but I will not get out, sell out, talk out or be pushed out!
I am faithful, reliable, capable and dependable.
If my God needs me, I am there.
If He needs me to teach children in Sunday School,
to work with youth, help adults or just sit and learn,
He can use me because I am there.
I am a Soldier! I am not a baby!
I do not need to be pampered, petted, primed, pumped up, picked up or pepped up!
I am a Soldier!
No one has to call me, remind me, write me, visit me, lure me or entice me.
I am a Soldier! I am not a wimp.
I am in place, saluting my King, obeying His orders, praising His name, and building His Kingdom.
No one has to send me flowers, gifts, food, cards, candy or give me handouts.
I don't need to be cuddled, cradled, cared for or catered to.
I am Committed.
I cannot have my feelings hurt bad enough to turn me around.
I cannot be discouraged enough to turn me aside.
I cannot lose enough to cause me to quit.
When Jesus called me into this army I had nothing.
If I end up with nothing, I will still break even.
I will win! My God will supply all my needs.
I am more than a conqueror. I will always triumph.
Devils cannot defeat me. People cannot disillusion me. Weather cannot weary me. Sickness cannot stop me and battles cannot beat me. Money cannot buy me. Governments cannot silence me and hell cannot handle me!
I am a Soldier!
Even death cannot destroy me; for when my Commander calls me for this battlefield He will promote me to captain and then bring me back to rule this world with Him.
I am a Soldier in God's army!
I will never surrender to the enemy! I will never turn back!
I am a Soldier, marching heavenward, claiming victory as I go.
Here I stand.
Will you stand with me? AMEN!
by Brother L. J.
(Thanks to Dr. Larry Gray's Blog for this amazing post!)
I am a soldier in the army of God.
The Lord Jesus Christ is my Commanding Officer;
The Bible is my code of Conduct!
Faith, prayer and the Word are my weapons of warfare!
I have been taught by the Holy Spirit,
Trained by experience, tried by adversity and tested by fire!
I am a volunteer in this army and I am enlisted for eternity.
I will either retire from this army at the rapture or die in this army,
but I will not get out, sell out, talk out or be pushed out!
I am faithful, reliable, capable and dependable.
If my God needs me, I am there.
If He needs me to teach children in Sunday School,
to work with youth, help adults or just sit and learn,
He can use me because I am there.
I am a Soldier! I am not a baby!
I do not need to be pampered, petted, primed, pumped up, picked up or pepped up!
I am a Soldier!
No one has to call me, remind me, write me, visit me, lure me or entice me.
I am a Soldier! I am not a wimp.
I am in place, saluting my King, obeying His orders, praising His name, and building His Kingdom.
No one has to send me flowers, gifts, food, cards, candy or give me handouts.
I don't need to be cuddled, cradled, cared for or catered to.
I am Committed.
I cannot have my feelings hurt bad enough to turn me around.
I cannot be discouraged enough to turn me aside.
I cannot lose enough to cause me to quit.
When Jesus called me into this army I had nothing.
If I end up with nothing, I will still break even.
I will win! My God will supply all my needs.
I am more than a conqueror. I will always triumph.
Devils cannot defeat me. People cannot disillusion me. Weather cannot weary me. Sickness cannot stop me and battles cannot beat me. Money cannot buy me. Governments cannot silence me and hell cannot handle me!
I am a Soldier!
Even death cannot destroy me; for when my Commander calls me for this battlefield He will promote me to captain and then bring me back to rule this world with Him.
I am a Soldier in God's army!
I will never surrender to the enemy! I will never turn back!
I am a Soldier, marching heavenward, claiming victory as I go.
Here I stand.
Will you stand with me? AMEN!
by Brother L. J.
(Thanks to Dr. Larry Gray's Blog for this amazing post!)
Monday, June 2, 2008
Oh, How HE Loves Us!
You MUST watch this video, from my friend Pat:
"I don't know what your cardboard would read. In truth, I don't think there is a chunk of cardboard big enough to detail my sin: lust, anger, pride, deceit... but on the back there would be one word: Loved and forgiven. OK... that's two words. Actually, it's three, but you get the idea." AMEN!!!
By the way...if you are "loved and forgiven" have tissues...you WILL cry.
"I don't know what your cardboard would read. In truth, I don't think there is a chunk of cardboard big enough to detail my sin: lust, anger, pride, deceit... but on the back there would be one word: Loved and forgiven. OK... that's two words. Actually, it's three, but you get the idea." AMEN!!!
By the way...if you are "loved and forgiven" have tissues...you WILL cry.
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