On my mind today

Like most of you, I've watched the events of the last several days with great interest. The wild fluctuations of the stock market do more than lead newscasts - they're a de facto consumer confidence poll. People will make long-standing financial decisions based on the latest reading on the Dow Jones. No wonder so many people are worried about their futures! Wouldn't it be great to live without that kind of worry? Wouldn't it wonderful to find peace in the midst of all this turmoil? We're offering a couple of things to help. (1) The peace of God that can only come through a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Your hope doesn't need to be in the stocks - they'll always let you down! Instead, place your hope and trust in the compassionate nature of the only one to die for you - Jesus Christ. In him, you'll find the peace you need. (2) Recognize your role as a steward. God delights in us taking good care of his blessings (1 Corinthains 4:2). A stewa

After much deliberation (there were only two houses that met our criteria) and many times of name signing, we've got a contract on a house! It's in a great neighborhood - 11 children live there, most of them under 10. The Bizzells live there as well as the Ramseys (both families church members). It's a great place and we feel like we got a great deal on it. They wanted to sell and we wanted to buy! One of it's best features is a the high ceilings throughout! I've always wanted that! We're closing on October 22nd with a targeted move-in date of Saturday, October 25. Some of that is tentative since Heather Bruton is getting married that day, but it's our best option. Keep that day open for us!

I've just received word that Mr James Lade of Lade Ford here in Frankston has passed away. This comes fast on the heels of his son's murder last Thursday night in Longview. Please pray fervently for this family. We've been in touch with their church and offered our services and promised our prayers. Ask the Lord of mercy and comfort to carry this family forward.

Man's best friend indeed!

Okay, I've got a challenge for you. I just got a call from my buddy Dr. Chris Moody, pastor of FBC Beaumont. He's extended an invitation and a challenge. The invitation is come to Beaumont - now! They need help and need it in the form of people who are ready to work. Mud-out teams are desperately needed. If you'd be interested in going, call me at the office or on my cell. The challenge Chris offered was simple: get as much bleach as you can gather and haul it Beaumont for distribution. We need someone to take the bull by the horns here. Anybody feeling called by God to lead this? Call me! For more info, go to http://relief4ike.org/

Here's this week's video - don't tell anyone I posted it before the kids saw it. I usually premiere it for the coaches first, then the kids, then let you in on it. However, tomorrow is insane and I was worried I wouldn't be able to get it posted. Here it is early. FHS 21, Quitman, 7 - Final.

Our prayers are needed for two families with connections to our church. Yesterday afternoon, Mrs. Bobbie Swearingen passed away after a lengthy illness. Her services have not yet been scheduled but they will be at the First Baptist Church of NOCONA, TX. After speaking with the family this morning, they've requested in lieu of flowers, a memorial gift in Bobbie's name be made to the Kinsman Hospice of Gilmer, TX. Around midnight, Mrs Adelaide Milner passed away. For most of her life, she has had a connection to our church and she was my across the street neighbor. She had been suffering from various maladies in the last several weeks and had been in and out of the hospital several times over the last month. Her services are scheduled for Saturday afternoon, 2:00 PM, here at First Baptist in Frankston. Please pray for both of these families during this time of loss.

Now that Hurricane Ike has passed, we've had some time to consider his impact. Did you know, if you're a resident of our county, you live in a disaster area? My mother used to tell me that when she wanted me to clean my room, but now it's really true! It's almost embarrassing to say we didn't receive any damage from the storm to our home or our trees - hardly even any branches fell - but we're grateful to say no serious injuries occurred as a result of the storm. The worst of it was in north Frankston where a stately old oak was pushed over and a roof on a mobile home was lost. We're working with the family in the mobile home, in concert with Roy Brown, mayor of Berryville and the Frankston ISD to help those folks as best we're able. What is really needed right now is a chain saw crew. Is that your specialty or do you know someone who does that? We need you! Another home has a tree leaning near it and, left unattended, it could fall on the home.

Sorry I forgot to post this yesterday. I had it ready on Wednesday but I like to show the coaches and athletes first. Not to worry - I'll continue to link here.

I found an amazing video today when I was posting the newest FHS video (can't post that here till tomorrow - gotta let the kids see it first!). It's about 10 minutes but here's to America's Team!

Getting back to work after a long weekend can be a drag. It's nice to come back and have some good news! Some was waiting for me at the office today. Our church received recognition for last Christmas' Lottie Moon Foreign Missions Offering. You'll remember the Lord really blessed that offering in our church, so much so it surprised almost all of us - not the Lord of course. Really, we don't need a pat on the back to keep us going in the right direction or to continue giving, but it's reassuring to know our gift to the Lottie Moon Offering was a part of a greater effort for mission across our nation and around the world. It's amazing - the money we gave goes to places most of us will never go and to many places we've never even heard of - but the Lord knows them all well and blesses His work whether we know it or not. Thanks for being visionary people who see the Kingdom of God in a stark light.