TUESDAY, 5/13/08
I begin today by apologizing to Jim Sciple and Jill Ellens for failing to mention their birthdays this past weekend. Jim’s was Saturday and Jill’s was Sunday. Jim is old, Jill is not! Happy belated birthday to Jim & Jill! (Lindsey Hatcher & Jennifer Wetterer are the ones who keep me updated on the birthdays and they have not been doing so great!) Also, Rick & Beth Bradley celebrated their 22nd wedding anniversary this past weekend too! Happy belated anniversary to Rick & Beth!
My maternal grandfather, Troy Brown, passed away very unexpectedly 38 years ago today. I will never forget mama’s tears as she received that news from Michigan. It wasn’t too long after the news came that I was outside shooting basketball when Pastor Jack Freeman drove up to pray with my mama. That image of my pastor coming to pray with our family during a difficult time is forever etched into my memory. Pastor Jack is now in heaven but I will forever be grateful to him for ministering to my family!
Speaking of former pastors, Bro. Johnny Tucker and his team are doing well in the Philippines. Miss Judy called me yesterday from Citronelle and said the Lord is blessing. Please continue to pray for them as they are there until the 28th.
I received several phone calls/e-mails about the earthquake in China. First, my brother, Eddie, and his wife, Sue, are Stateside right now. Second, they live in Qingdao and that city was not affected by the quake. However, some of the workers in Eddie’s plant are from the affected area so it is highly possible they had family members injured or killed but that isn’t factual yet. Also, I stand amazed that Beijing is almost 1,000 miles away and the buildings there were swaying/moving during that quake. The latest reports put the number of deaths at 12,000 with at least 8,000 more missing. Wow, Burma and then China. I ask you join me in praying for these folks as they deal with these tremendous tragedies.
This year’s high school seniors who are going to be in the service this Sunday are asked to get us their photos – yesterday!
We mailed a package on May 1 with our notarized forms and a check for Wild Week to their office in Texas. It was sent priority mail but there has been a problem. We can track the package online but it simply keeps going from Little Rock, AR to Ft. Worth, TX and back again. I am not placing blame anywhere but am asking that you join me in praying that the package will either get to the intended destination or be returned to us so we can start all over.
Speaking of Wild Week, the secretary in that office has an aunt, Sandra Akin, who had surgery yesterday related to cancer. Would you pray for her? Also, Paul Wetterer has a sister-in-law who was diagnosed with a GBM brain tumor so please pray fervently for her and her family. Betty Creech has a friend, Gene Chism, who will be having heart surgery either tomorrow or Thursday. Continue to pray for David Boutwell. Bro. Jerry is going to the doctor again this morning so pray for him too.
We have asked the TN authorities to help locate Ryan Johnston since he didn’t show up to help us load the U-Haul this past Saturday. I am certain he must have been abducted or something! (For those who don’t know – Ryan is a staff member at Faith Baptist) Ryan graciously asked members of the church to join him for the moving party so I am certain he would not have missed it intentionally! Bret, please share our concern with Ryan’s family!
I hope that you will have a great Tuesday with Jesus.