On my mind today

Once in a while, I get an email with bulletin mistakes. Invariably, I find them more than slightly amusing considering that they are published and handed out on Sunday mornings when "good" people wouldn't dare laugh at such a thing. Personally, I believe the Lord has a great sense of humor as reflected in these outtakes. Enjoy! ~ During the absence of our Pastor, we enjoyed the rare privilege of hearing a good sermon when J.F. Stubbs supplied our pulpit. ~ Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person(s) you want remembered. ~ Attend and you will hear an excellent speaker and heave a healthy lunch. ~ The church will host an evening of fine dining, superb entertainment, and gracious hostility. ~ This afternoon there will be a meeting in the north and south ends of the church. Children will be baptized at both ends. ~ Tuesday at 4:00 pm there will be an ice cream social. All ladies giving milk will please come early. ~ Wednesday the Ladies Lit...

We played the No. 1 team in the state last week, the Arp Tigers. Although we lost 34-6, the boys fought hard and gave a solid effort. You'll see some of that in the video below. We still control our own playoff destiny - win out and we're in. We'll know soon!

With regard to leadership and coaching, one of the most influential characters in my life has been the timeless Coach John Wooden. I keep a copy of one of his books close to my desk as a reminder that sometimes, nice guys don't finish last. There's a great article on today's ESPN website about Coach Wooden you ought to read. Here's the link.

Yesterday, Julie and I spent an hour or two signing papers and finalizing our deal on the house we've bought. After all that signing and signing and signing, we're done! We spent last night sleeping in the living room so we (truthfully, Julie) could steam the carpet in our bedroom. By so doing, we're enabling Duane and Mary to move in right behind us. So we're all set and plenty excited about it. Our dog, Dodger, is a little confused. He seemed genuinely concerned last night about why we were sleeping in the living room! Keep praying for our move. The process has been great and the people we've worked (Myriah our realtor, Derek our mortgage guy and the Boren-Scott Title Company) have been awesome. Best of all, the people we bought the house from have been great. So good in fact, we're getting in early. We'll begin moving tomorrow morning with the knick-knacks and tchochktes. The movers will be there first thing Saturday morning and by Saturday af...

Despite our boys best efforts, we lost last Friday vs a salty West Rusk Raider team. 28-10. Nevertheless, our boys played hard and made some wonderful plays. Here's evidence to that effect.

This is probably NOT the way you want to handle getting a speeding ticket. http://view.break.com/584896 - Watch more free videos

Sent to me this week from some kind people in Austin - and I thank them!

Welcome Steve and Wendy and their children. Steve is the new pastor at Hilltop Baptist Church here in Frankston. Voted in this past Sunday, Steve is already on the field. I had lunch with Steve today and have found him to be a wonderful man of God with a passion for reaching people with the Gospel. Pray for Bro. Steve, Wendy and their children as they begin their new work at Hilltop!

HOMECOMING - Frankston, 24; Troup, 12 - Final Score.

We welcome our two newest members! Kathy Parrish, wife of our own Dwayne Parrish, has recently gotten married and come to be a part of our fellowship. Welcome Kathy! Bertha Newman is no stranger to us - she's been a part of Ruth Dark's Esther class for several months now. She came forward to rededicate her life! Praise the Lord! Pray for these decisions and others that need to be made - the series we've just finished is as hard-hitting as any I've ever done. Pray for the next series - "The Dangerous Arts!" We'll begin that Sunday, October 26.

I owe a BIG thanks to the people in the picture (except myself, of course!) and the photographer. From left to right, Sally Bradley (husband Bob is taking the picture!), Jerry Hinkie, Julie Wood, Ann Thomas, Flo Bussey (kneeling), Billy Bussey and on the back row, Will Hinkie, myself and Franchot Thomas. Also not picture, mascot Dodger who barked away all the threats. These folks took on the tough job of setting up our Square Fair booth Friday night. Thanks! Another BIG thanks to Duane NeSmith for supervising the tear-down Saturday afternoon. He took that job to allow his pastor the luxury of watching the Texas-ou (otherwise known as "o-who?) game. Thanks D- I owe you.

Weddings are not a part of my job that I find fun. The best part is seeing the bride come down the aisle. The worst part is running the rehearsal with five hundred bosses telling the pastor what he needs to do. (BTW, I listen very politely and nod accordingly - then when I do the service, I do it how I like!) At any rate, I found this video and found it more than a little amusing.

For those who haven't already heard, the children who've been in our care since June have returned to their biological parents. Please join us praying for them and their future as well as their parents. Indeed, they were a blessing to us for their time spent here. Thanks to each of you who loved on them while they were here. As for us, we're doing well. We have spent the last two evenings in our quiet house. We've decided foster parenting isn't for us, so we're now pursuing adoption. Please ask the Lord to lead us to children who need a home.

Here's this week's video. Frankston 28, Hemphill 12.

Here's your reward for making your visit to my site. The team won't see this until tomorrow morning but you see it now! (at least as soon as YouTube finishes processing it - it should be ready by 7 PM Thursday night).

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/