Take a look at the wonderful job Grace did at updating the flowers at Anchor Baptist Church for the fall. She did some rearranging of the wall sconces, the main communion table display, and the foyer table. I simply loved everything she did. It turned out wonderful and all with only $20 being spent!!!
What a joy to have my in-laws come down from Pennsylvania for a few days back at the beginning of October. Grace and I would like to say it was strictly just for us, and no doubt they enjoyed a few days in Farmville, but the objective was to spend their anniversary at a rental property in Nag's Head, NC. In addition to spending time with them in Farmville at our apartment, and in being present for a few church services, we also got to travel with them to the coast for exactly one day of relaxation. Grace and I worked it out to have a three day weekend and we drove to Nag's Head and had a good time. It was our first trip to the Outer Banks. While we were there we did several things. We went to the Wright Brother's National Memorial and Museum.It was remarkable to think about and read about all the makings of the first flight in America's history. What ingenuity and intelligence!!!
We also walked on the beach together since it was slightly cooler than the hot days that bring out all the nakedness.
In addition, we spend the night with the in-laws at their 4BDRM/ 4 BATH rented beach cottage complete with private hot tub, pool, and game room. Grace and I alone used the hot tub in the evening, but the pool was closed for the winter.
Another cool thing we were able to see one of the several lighthouses on the NC coast: this one being the Bodie Island Lighthouse. This we also thoroughly enjoyed too!
On our way to the coast we stopped at one particular old time gas station in a small town and then stopped again on the return trip since we new that they had cheaper gas than what we had seen anywhere. Apparently, the owner of the gas station was a big car fan and had several cool muscle cars sitting around which, of course, Grace and I couldn't resist getting a few pics of.
On Sunday, October 12 we had an old-fashioned anniversary Sunday celebration at the church and everything seemed to go well with several visitors in our services and food to follow the morning worship service. On this particular day, since there was so much work for our ladies in preparing food for our missions emphasis month, I decided as the pastor to serve the people in cooking out the meat for the church and having our families bring their favorite deserts and side dishes. Then after the morning service we had an early afternoon service. We all dressed old-fashioned and sang about the old fashioned religion. My wife, Grace sang one of my favorite hymns called, "The Old Fashioned Way". In addition in the main morning service, I preached on "The Old Paths" from the book of Jeremiah. It was a fun day as I recognized all those FAITHFUL CHRISTIANS who helped start the church many years ago in the 70's.
Contrary to the title of this particular blog, I do not really "hang out" at Chick-Fil-A. Maybe I do "hang out" at Starbucks or Panera Bread, where the later place Grace and I went to tons of times when we were engaged and planning for our wedding. Of course we were there for the coffee too! Anyhow, Grace and I are now working full time in Greenville and so we occasionally get together for lunch/ dinner. On this particular night we ate dinner together and the chick-fil-a cow was roaming around for a birthday party. So, being the strange and sometimes crazy man that I am (all without evil involved of course) I had Grace snap a quick picture of me and the cow. I had fun!!!
The month of September also included my birthday. I was born here in NC on September 11, 1975 and since that time have had a great life with wonderful parents, a wonderful single life through college and afterwards, and now a wonderful life with a wonderful wife. And speaking of my wonderful wife she really went out of her way to make things special for me this year.
To start with, she arranged a special time of cake and ice cream from the church at the first Sunday of our missions emphasis. We had a huge coconut cake with candles with both peanut butter and vanilla ice cream. The church members graciously gave me a small love gift for my birthday this year. I took the money and purchased some much needed tennis shoes, NIKE of course!
Next, on my actual birthday, Grace started the day off with food: homemade cinnamon pancakes topped with bananas, caramel syrup, and whipped cream, fried eggs, bacon, and toast topped with grape jelly. It was great!!
Then later on for lunch she made me spaghetti with homemade meat sauce. And for dinner we grilled out. In addition, Grace made me a vanilla cake topped with homemade peanut butter icing again topped with candles. Yes!! Cinnamon and peanut butter are two of my favorites!
As for gifts, Grace went in with her parents and my parents and purchased me a new Garmin GPS complete with an FM transmitter, an MP3 player, an audio book feature, and of course the talking 2009 maps. It is awesome.
Also from my aunt Linda who lives in Waxhaw, NC I received a gift in the mail of a UNC tarheels notepad and a Zell Miller book called "Corp Values." I have already read at least half of the book and it is some great material. And my father and mother in law sent me a gift certificate to Omaha steaks.
During the month of September, we had a special emphasis month and focus on global missions at Anchor Baptist Church. Each of the four weekends we had a different missionary family as our guest. I had asked them to come and teach SS and preach both services on Sunday. In addition, we provided two meals for them and their lodging.
There was a lot of preparation that preceded the families arrival. Not only did we have a lot of praying to do, but we had to schedule the motel rooms, arrange the meals, etc... The motel rooms proved to be difficult since there were two separate East Carolina University football games during the month. One of those Sundays ended up being parent weekend. Go figure! As a result, we were not able to find accommodations in Greenville and had to look elsewhere. But as always, God provided and allowed us to work out a room on those two Sunday in another city that not only facilitated the traveling schedule of our missionaries, but also had a great discount like we normally have.
One of the things I did before the missionaries arrived was to create a missions booklet that included information on each missionary family we were having in as well as information about the countries they were going to. Also in the booklet were four different Wednesday night Bible study lessons that I conducted on missions, plus some neat missions quotes, pictures, and missions verses. I gave them out to each of our church members before the conference along with a faith promise missions commitment card. As the missionary families arrived, I gave them one as well. This was used to take sermon notes for the month, to pray over the countries of the missionary families the Wednesday night before they arrived on Sunday, and to increase our overall desire and burden for the world.
The first Sunday we had the Matt Gordon family going to French- speaking Canada. They are sent out of Shining Light Baptist Church in Monroe, NC. Pastor Tim Cruise is their pastor. He did a tremendous job and preached on Twelve Baskets Full, Three Funerals, and The Value of One. Bro Matt grew up on the mission field in France with his parents and already speaks the French language well. He will be working with his dad planting churches. You may obtain more information at:
http://www.slbc.net/missions/sentmen.html
The second Sunday we had the Jason Lowe family going to the Bahamas. Jason has a unique testimony from the standpoint that he was born and grew up in the Bahamas. The Bahamas has recently pretty much closed the door to missionaries and if the figures are correct only three independent Baptist missionaries are currently working there, with no ability for any average missionary to get in to the country to start new churches. However, Jason has the ability since he has dual citizenship to get in though and this open door is evident to any one hearing his leading from the Lord. He preached the following messages: The Responsibility of the Church, Launching Out and Letting Down, and Are You Willing to Help?
You may read more about this family at:
http://www.caribbean4christ.com/1.html
The third Sunday of the month we had the largest family with us: the Ted Snyder family. They are out of a church in New York and are called to go to the country of New Zealand. They arrived a day early and then were with us for a few extra days also before traveling to their next meeting. As a result we had a good time out soul-winning on Saturday morning and with all the extra hands really were able to get the "Word" out. The family sang for us and in addition Bro. Snyder preached on Prayer and Missions, Desire, and God’s Forgiveness
You may visit his website for further info:
And finally on the last weekend we has as our guest the Adam Wood family from Choice Hills Baptist Church in Greenville, SC. Bro Wood is leaving shortly for the field of Cambodia. Mrs. Wood played the piano for us during the services and sang two tremendous specials while Bro. Adam preached on What Does A Missionary Do?, Jesus Christ: the Light of the World, and We are the Light of the World. It was good to hear his burden and where he will be going through his missions presentation.
My wife and I love missions and missionaries. I always say that they are my heroes. Any church that is not missions hearted instead of just missions minded is really missing the boat. Unfortunately that great mission (or great commission) begins in our "Jerusalem". Most churches that support missionaries don't and won't ever do a thing to walk across the street to tell their neighbor about Christ. Yet they will send someone to do it around the world. What a shame. I am glad that our church continues to spread the good news of the gospel at home as well as around the world. Also, I am glad that this month saw an increase in missions giving in our church members so we can do more this next year concerning the missionaries we will support!
