Kindness

Scripture

Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

~Ephesians 4:32, NASB

Quote

The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention.

~Oscar Wilde

I could write pages on the word “kindness” but I’m going to keep it brief. Yesterday we were in the court room all morning on those hard oak pews with no cushions. Our judge was Brent Craig who happens to be a member of the West Hartselle Baptist church. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a kinder man working in difficult circumstances. Unfortunately for us, we were about the last case to be called so we got to hear three dozen or more that preceded ours. There was everything from domestic abuse to check kiting. One woman gave a bad check for a $17 pizza that is going to cost her $1200. There was several cases of domestic violence but one involved a tall skinny woman about the size of Big Mama and her husband who would go 230. She beat him up and he was there to drop the charges. If I had been the judge, I would have fined him $1000 for not being a man. This woman was 6 feet tall but she didn’t weigh a hundred.

But this is beside the point which is Judge Craig’s compassion and kindness on a lot of reds. I saw bleach blonds wearing clothes way to tight, tattoos galore, pony tails on men, Mohawks, skint heads, and know-it-all teenagers who think drugs are something to wink at and yet this judge never, not even once, made an unkind remark and a gesture of contempt. You could not pay me enough money to do what he does but that’s because God did not call me to be a judge but He did call Brent Craig.

We were thrilled with the judges ruling which gives us more time. Other than waiting all morning, everything went great. We got Hope back to the FOUNDRY by 7:50, just ten minutes before her curfew and they were thrilled to see her. She is an icon at the FOUNDRY. They love her and she loves them. If you want to go see Hope; my suggestion is to go to the THRIFT STORE between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm and just asked for Hope. She will be working in the back. I go on Thursday night but you can’t visit until 6:00 and you have only a few minutes before their worship service which is 2 hours long. The people who run it is not Baptist, they are Assembly of God and they don’t believe in watches or clocks. Personally, I enjoy it but there are those in the Bailey clan who prefer the KISS formula: Keep It Short/Simple or as some say, Keep It Short Stupid. I could say the same thing they say in one third of the time, maybe less.

No extra tonight, the blog is the extra.

BLOCK PARTY

August 13: 6-9 PM

Looks like Joe, Holly and Ken…can’t tell for sure

Jimmy’s Crew

Pretty Pork Pickers Picking Pork Promptly

Bull Pen for Funnel Cakes

The Twins

Indiana Bowling In the Lost Cause

Harmony

Scripture

To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit.

~I Peter 3:8, NASB

Quote

Tie two Tom cats by the tails and hang them over the clothes line and you have unity but no harmony.

~Calvin C. Inman

At first, I assumed that Peter was giving us a list of things every congregation needs: harmony, sympathy, brotherly love, compassion and an humble spirit. As I looked deeper, what every church needs is harmony and the way to get there is by being sympathetic, loving, compassionate [tenderhearted] and humble [understanding].

Harmony is a pleasing combination or arrangement of different things. Sounds like a strange definition but it is true. Harmony is not everyone singing the same note with the same voice; it is singing different notes with different voices that together produce a pleasing sound. We are not all to sing the same note but we are to be on the same song and page.

The unique thing about I Peter 3:8 is, we cannot get in harmony without being sympathetic, compassionate and understanding of others.

Seven Things Man Cannot Do

{Job 9}

1. Man cannot argue with God: Our infinite lack of knowledge or ignorance would make it impossible. [Job 9:2]
2. Man cannot stand up to God: We lack the power. Can we stand up to an F-5 tornado or a hurricane? God is infinitely stronger than a storm. [Job 9:4]
3. Man cannot understand God: Again the finite can not comprehend the infinite. [Job 9:10]
4. Man cannot see God. God is Spirit and no man has ever seen Him other than in Christ. [Job 9:11]
5. Man cannot stop God. [Job 9:12]
6. Man cannot force God to do something He doesn’t want to do. [Job 9:19]
7. Man cannot sue God; take Him to court. [Job 9:19]

• Today’s schedule: Deacon’s meeting @ 8:15, LCBS @ 9:15, Celebrate Jesus in worship @ 10:15 and 6:15. AWANA and Visitation @ 5:30.
• Mission offering goes to Youth for Summer Camp and Mission Trip.
• We have a communion coming up Sunday morning May 22 and a 5th Sunday Debt retirement offering on May 29.

Coming to DBC August 21, Dr. Junior Hill

Cold Hard Religion

SCRIPTURE

Jesus looked them in the eye, one after another, angry now, furious at their hard-nosed religion. Jesus said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” He held it out and it was as good as new.

~Mark 3:5-6, MSG

QUOTE

Sin deforms, education informs, prisons reform, religion conforms: only Christ transforms.

~Anonymous

I don’t really know why Pharisees go to church unless it is to find fault. They were watching Jesus like a chicken hawk, hoping He would break one of their Sabbath laws. Jesus put them on the spot, “What kind of action suits the sabbath best?” He asked Them. “Doing good or evil, helping people or leaving them helpless?” But they didn’t respond to His questions. They just stared at Him with contempt in their eyes. Jesus didn’t get angry often but this is one of three occasions where He did. What made Him angry? I think it was the fact that the Pharisees cared more about a day, a tradition, a rule than they did a person. They could have cared less about the man’s crippled hand or his soul. They completely ignored the man’s need. Had they been in the right spirit, they would have left rejoicing over the power of Jesus and the healing of the man’s hand but they left mad. Not only were they mad, they had a meeting to discuss how to eliminate Jesus. There religion was as cold and hard as their hearts.

• Coming in August are some changes that effect Sunday and Wednesday nights. Beginning August 23, AWANA will meet on Sunday night from 5:30-7:00, Visitation will be from 5:30-615 along side Band and Praise Team Practice. Sunday night worship will be at 6:15. Wednesday night will be altered slightly. The Gathering at 6:30-6:45 and then we break into groups–YOUTH, CHILDREN, Choir, and Bible Study.
• We are enacting new policies for LCBS, Nursery, AWANA and VBS. No one below age 16 can work with pre-school or children without adult supervision. No one can be in a room with pre-school or children without a co-worker who is 16 or above. If you are in a room alone with children or pre-school, you leave the door open until you get help. This is for your protection and that of the church.
• Block Party is August 15. The stage will feature our band and Brian Drake. Brian will also be doing the Sunday morning service on August 16 and we will have a church wide party at the Hartselle City swimming pool on Sunday night August 16…6:00-8:00. Kids swim free, no one will be there except DBC and those you invite. We will be serving hot dogs and hamburgers. Come and go as you like.
• Gary is the same, no improvement. Bufford is better. Preston is not doing well.
• Count down to ALASKA–Four days.

 

Identifying Your Passion

SCRIPTURE

When you want a piece of land, you find a way to seize it. When you want someone’s house, you take it by fraud and violence. You cheat a man of his property, stealing his family’s inheritance.

~Micah 2:2, NLT

QUOTE

Filling your mind with God honoring thoughts takes a deliberate act of the will; it will not happen by accident [default].

~Paula A. Kirk

Chip Ingram

Chip Ingram says that we can identify our passion but monitoring what we think about last, just before we go to sleep and what we think about when we first awake. He may be right and the thought of this creates some concern on my part.  I struggle with my thoughts. I think of 2 Corinthians 10:5 often, We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. My weakness is not greed: I don’t thing about acquiring more property and certainly not at the expense of someone else. I’m too close to heaven to be concerned about real estate here. Do the meek of the earth suffer material loss because others are willing to use fraud or force to take their inheritance? I was talking to someone just the other day about a young man who attended DBC some 15 years back and he was cheated out of his inheritance by two relatives. I knew one of the relatives personally and lost all respect for him. I’ve made some very poor decisions in life which have no doubt cost me money. I’ve never pretended to be a business man but again, this is not what I think about. I am going to reserve my right to confess my weakness to my High Priest. I know He will pray for me and He will not blab my sin to everyone in the community. I’m sure you understand.

Do you think Ingram is right? Do our thoughts reveal our passion? How many of us are thinking about a lost friend? How many of us are thinking about sharing the gospel? Are we focused on things above or things on earth?

I apologize for not being on the ball: the State Convention is promoting 40 days of Prayer for Marriage. I am suppose to be sending you daily tweets but I have dropped the ball. I will try to do better. This is Day 6.

TODAY WE PRAY FOR SENIOR ADULTS

PRAY FOR VBS–JUNE 8-12–NEED WORKERS

• The COLS for Mrs. Irene Pope is Monday at 2:00 PM at FRIENDSHIP Baptist church. Visitation will precede the service.
• Pray for me today, LORD willing, I will preach twice at DBC and I am to speak at a BIBLICAL MARRIAGE rally in Cullman. I missed the Morgan county rally which was a couple of weeks back. The coordinator of the event was turned down by every Cullman County pastor he contacted. We are currently {State wide} in a 40 day prayer for the sanctity of marriage. I forgot to mention it yesterday.
• Full schedule today except no Deacon’s Meeting.
• Today is last opp to purchase ROSES FOR MOTHER.
• Senior Day is May 17th in the am service.
• I got to visit my Aunt Angie yesterday who is battling cancer. She is a sweet woman and she loves Jesus. My next goal is to visit my uncle Floyd in Rome. It’s a little further drive. Thank You Jesus for your goodness.
• Pray for VBS June 8-12…Workers needed.
• Don Fields has heart surgery next Friday, May 8th. Pray for Don.

Bumper Sticker

Pharisees

 

SCRIPTURE

Then he said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” So the man held out his hand, and it was restored, just like the other one! Then the Pharisees called a meeting to plot how to kill Jesus.

Matthew 12:13-14, NLT

QUOTE

The Pharisees are not all dead and are not all Jews.

~John McClintock

What is the most shocking thing about a Pharisee? Is it their religious theatrics? No question, these guys could put on a show but a lot of folks are fakes when it comes to faith. Is it their ability to find fault with practically anything you do; their ability to find something negative amidst the positive? Oh they were exception fault-finders but I don’t think that is the most shocking. Is it their indifference toward the pain and suffering of others? Take the man with a deformed hand; did they care anything about him or did they celebrate his healing? Pharisees are as cold as steel on a winter day but that is not the most shocking thing about a Pharisee. The most shocking thing about the Pharisees was they hated Jesus. They were so mad when He healed the man’s had that they called a special business meeting to discuss a plan to kill Jesus. Really, the most shocking thing is they viewed themselves as being good.

• Today we pray for the WORLD! There are 11,489 people groups on earth… In 6,832 of these people groups, Evangelical Christians comprise less than 2%…3,264 people groups are unengaged by any Evangelical witness.
• Kerri is still under observation. Several things have been ruled out and the problem could be related to previous medical issues. Right now, they are trying to decide which doctors to use and what route to take. Pray would be appreciated for Kerri and Kane.

• More snow in the forecast but who knows. Dan Scatterfield has made a forecast so it will be the opposite of whatever he says. I think Scatterfield is predicting 6 inches of snow. Personally, I am ready for Spring but we still have a month of winter. We don’t know what we are going to do about Mid-Week Services….We can’t wait too late before we cancel the chicken but hopefully we will know what to do tomorrow. At present, I don’t have a clue.

Renewed Day By Day

SCRIPTURE

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.

~2 Corinthians 4:16, NIV

QUOTE

How incessant and great are the ills with which a prolonged old age is replete.

~C. S. Lewis

Martha Allen Newby, James M. Newby and Naola Bailey

Mrs. Martha Newby had a simple way of stating the C. S. Lewis quote: She said, “I don’t see anything golden about the golden years.” Life gets tough when you start losing your faculties and your figure. So many people put so much emphasis on the body but aging is a reality we have to face. You can fight it tooth and nail like Kenny Rogers and Joan Rivers but you may as well admit the outer man is in a state of decay. I don’t mind telling you, I prefer spiritual exercise over the physical and it use to be the opposite. I heard Junior Hill say once that he did two exercises every day: roll overs and pull ups. He said, “I roll over in the bed and pull up the covers.”  I am down to roll overs, pull ups and fork lifts. I’d rather read the bible than lift weights. Actually, I’d rather have a root canal as to lift weights.

We have a good–bad LCBS lesson this Sunday. It deals with the reality of aging and long term illness. As a general rule our chances of illness increase with time. I don’t think any of us want long term illness but we are not in control. The greater point of the lesson is to remind us to be compassionate to those around us who are suffering from long term illness.

• Today we pray for FAMILY.
• Kenny was resting peacefully when I was there yesterday morning.
• Senior Adult Fellowship today at 11:30…JD Jones famous homemade rolls. Better than Paula Dean’s!
• REVIVAL this Sunday: two services 10:15 and 6:00.
• Deacons and Wives meeting this Sunday morning at 9:00 in the Sanctuary. LCBS at 9:15 and REVIVAL at 10:15 and 6:00.

LCBS Lesson Preview

READY WHEN SICKNESS COMES TO STAY

QUOTE

“I think God is nearer to suffering than to happiness and to find God in this way gives peace and rest and a strong and courageous heart.”

~Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Extra: Dietrich Bonhoeffer–“I saw Pastor Bonhoeffer… kneeling on the floor praying fervently to God. I was most deeply moved by the way this lovable man prayed, so devout and so certain that God heard his prayer. At the place of execution, he again said a short prayer and then climbed the few steps to the gallows, brave and composed. His death ensued after a few seconds. In the almost fifty years that I worked as a doctor, I have hardly ever seen a man die so entirely submissive to the will of God.” [The testimony of the German doctor who witnessed the execution. Bonhoeffer was executed by Hitler at the age of 39. He was one of the few Pastor’s who took a stand against the evil Führer]

Ice Breaker–When you are sick, what makes you feel better? [Medication, rest, hope that you will recover soon, good care, sympathy, etc]

INTRODUCTION

Chip Ingram, the writer of our current series in Life Changing Bible Study, saw both of his parent suffer for an extended time before departing. Both were Christians, both had seen God answer prayers but when they ask for personal healing the answer they received from God was the same as with Paul and Jesus. The writer of Hebrews says…While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death. And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God. Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. You will note that God did not save His Son from suffering and death. Note what Paul said in 2 Corinthians 12…Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

I’m not Jesus or Paul. I have not reached the point where I take pleasure in weakness, insults, hardship, persecution and trouble. I’m still prone to mope, to get down, to complain when I get overwhelmed by unpleasant circumstances but I am not the example to follow. We need the attitude of Jesus and Paul. They gave God glory when they suffered.  I don’t pretend to understand but I have observed that God allows the best among us to suffer.

Scripture

2 Corinthians 4:16-18, NIV

16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Scripture

2 Corinthians 12:7-10, NIV

7 Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 4:8-9, NIV

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;  persecuted, but not abandoned; struck [knocked] down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.

QUESTIONS FOR THOUGHT AND DISCUSSION

1. Paul confessed he felt pressure: do you feel pressure? It could come from your work, from your relationship or even from yourself.
2. To be perplexed is to be baffled, puzzled or at wits end. Can you relate?
3. There were times when Paul got knocked down by unpleasant circumstances but he always got back up. What enabled him to have this inner strength not to give in to circumstances?
4. Do you agree or disagree that today’s typical person hopes are tied up in his or her physical health or circumstances?
5. What factor enables you to stay positive when you are sick and unable to take care of yourself?
6. What do you classify as “light and momentary troubles”?
7. What are some positive outcomes of pain and suffering? [helps us focus on what matters most. Reminds us that life here on earth is frail and fleeting. Helps us to be sensitive to the needs of others. Helps us to be thankful for what we already have.]
8. What is the difference between what you worry about and what Paul worried about? 
9. Whereas God said, “No” to healing Paul, He did make Paul a promise. What was the promise?
10. What does the unbelieving world need to see most: a miraculous healing or a believer who can rejoice in the midst of suffering?
11. Which one of the above conveys the most powerful message? [Healing or rejoicing in suffering]
12. When sickness comes to stay for a friend or family member, what can we do to express Christ’s love without being trite or self-righteous?
13. Are you intimidate by situations where the sick person is terminally ill?

THREE WAYS FOR GOD TO ANSWER

1. Sometimes God delivers us out [Children of Israel out of Egypt].
2. Sometimes God delivers us through [The Hebrew boys in the fiery furnace]
3. Sometimes God delivers us unto [He takes us to Himself]

What Makes Jesus Furious?

 

SCRIPTURE

Jesus was furious as He looked out over the crowd, and He was grieved by their hard hearts.

~Mark 3:5

QUOTE

The only way to be anger and sin not, is to be angry at sin.

~Matthew Henry

Jesus was angry more than once but He did not sin: His anger was against sin. In John 11:38 Jesus was intensely troubled, embrimaomai [to snort or groan with anger]. Some scholars believe Jesus groaned in anger due to the unbelief of the Jews who were accompanying Mary and Martha to the tomb. In Mark 3:5 we have two words, orgē  [anger, wrath, indignation] and syllypeō [inward grief from the pain of indignation]. I like the way the VOICE translated this verse: Jesus was furious and grieved. In Mark there is no question, Jesus was upset with the religious Jews for their lack of compassion on the man with a withered hand. They could have cared less about the man and his hand, their concern was with the law. They considered healing work and thus Jesus was working on the Sabbath.

Ironically, it was they who were breaking the law. The law can be summed up in two commandments: [1] Love the LORD God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind and [2] Love your neighbor as much as you love yourself. They were in violation of both: Jesus was God and they were not loving HIM and they didn’t love their neighbor with a withered hand either. They understood the letter of the law but they didn’t understand the spirit of the law. God did not create man for the Sabbath: He created the Sabbath for man. The Jews had it backwards. They had twisted the truth to pacify their vain motives.

Who does Christ want you to show compassion on today? There is someone in the circle of your influence that needs to know you care. Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to find that person and show them compassion.

1. GOLDEN GIRLS this morning 9:00 am. I think I am getting pecan pancakes.
2. Had a great visit with Kenny Holladay yesterday. Kenny was feeling good, PTL. I do believe he will make a BAMA game before the season is over.
3. Miss Clara was not feeling good last night but they say she is better. Holly and I carried the gift bags you sent and she said “Thanks.” Of course she is partial to Big Mama who got her a baby doll but she liked everything. We didn’t stay long because she felt bad. She is in the new part of Children’s. It was my first time to see the new facility. It was impressive and full. It is always full of sick children. There will not be in hospitals in heaven. Praise Jesus, we will not need them up there.
4. No bulletins Sunday. It has been a long time since I did one and I used my time to study. Be sure and appreciate the girls when they get back: Both Mandy and Shohn do a good job. Regular schedule Sunday, plus I have to go to Athens Sunday evening. I’ll be one tired puppy [old dog] Sunday night.
5. Sunday’s Deacon’s meeting is open to all Deacons whether you are active or not. We have a couple of hard decisions coming up and a business meeting most likely. I want to get as much feed back as possible before we schedule the Business Meeting. I think we are looking at October 5.
6. Holly and I got home late last night and so my proofer went to bed…this is unedited…do the best you can.

He Stopped

SCRIPTURE

When Jesus heard them, he stopped and called, “What do you want me to do for you?”

~Matthew 20:32, NLT

QUOTE

People who don’t listen, don’t care and people who refuse to stop care less.

~Yaakov

I love the story of blind Bartimaeus and his friend. Jesus was just leaving Jericho and on his way to Jerusalem to face His enemies and a Roman cross. A large crowd was following Jesus and as they started up the Jericho road toward Jerusalem Bartimaeus and his friend shouted with all their might, “Jesus, son of David, have mercy on us.” The people around the beggars told them to pipe down but they shouted even louder and then it happened: Jesus heard them and stopped. He was on His way to a cross yet He stopped. These two guys had nothing to offer; they were blind paupers, yet He stopped. It is enough to make the heart sing, Jesus heard and stopped. God heard and stopped for two blind beggars. Aren’t you glad that Jesus hears our cries of desperation. Jesus said, “What do you want Me to do for you?”… “We want to see,” they said. Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes and instantly they could see. The incarnation was a 33 year stop and if Jesus had not stopped, we would all be living in darkness.

• Kenny Holladay got a good report from his doctor, PTL.
• Guatemala Team arrived safe and sound.
• Joe has a pretty grandbaby but I don’t know what to report: I think that made some decisions after I left. You can find it on facebook.
• Sunday Schedule is lighter due to FATHER’S DAY…Father’s day breakfast @ 8:30 [Biscuits, donuts and coffee], LIFE CHANGING BIBILE STUDY@ 9:00 {not 9:15} and worship celebration at 10:15…No p.m. service.
• A very good video on Obama and the Bowe Bergdahl fiasco.http://Bowe Bergdahl Fiasco
• If the link doesn’t work, go to YouTube and type in Judge Jeanine Pirro Bowe Bergdahl fiasco

Things That Should Not Happen

SCRIPTURE

 I am considered a brother to jackals and a companion to owls.

Job 30:29, NLT

QUOTE

Compassion costs. It is easy enough to argue, criticize and condemn, but redemption is costly, and comfort draws from the deep. Brains can argue, but It takes heart to comfort.

~Samuel Chadwick

COMMENTARY

The verse above was in yesterdays LCBS lesson. Job loss all ten of his children when a tornado hit the area where they lived. He also lost his wealth and health. His family and friends abandoned him; they treated him like he had a contagious disease. You would think that his sweet wife would stand by him during his suffering, right? Wrong, she discouraged him and mocked him, “Still holding on to your precious integrity, are you? Curse God and be done with it!” Some people think that she was urging him to kill himself and get out of his misery. In chapter 42 of Job a starling truth is revealed, after the LORD restored Jobs fortunes…”Then all his brothers, sisters, and former friends came and feasted with him in his home. And they consoled him and comforted him because of all the trials the Lord had brought against him. And each of them brought him a gift of money and a gold ring.”

Do you see what I see? This man of God, man of tremendous faith loses his children, his fortune and his health; then to add to his misery and suffering, his wife kicks him out of the house and his brothers, sisters and friends are nowhere to be found except for the four that show up to pass judgment. It is so bad that Job feels more kinship to wild dogs than he does to the indifferent people who turned their backs when he needed them most. Let me tell you folks, this is something that should not have happened and it is something that we must not allow to happen again. I am not questioning God although suffering is a mystery that I don’t understand completely: I am not even questioning the devil whose intentions are always vain. My problem is with Job’s wife, his brothers and sisters and his so-called friends. Where were they when he needed them? They were more than ready to eat from his table when his fortunes were restored but where were they when he was homeless, hungry and hurting?

Our friends should never suffer alone.

EXTRA

• God is faithful and merciful and I am thankful. You can’t ask for a better service than we had last night. I was shocked by the response to the Pizza Party, 90% stayed and enjoyed an hour of pizza and fellowship. I was really encouraged. The offering for Mike was good, I don’t remember the exact amount but it was good. Both offering were very good yesterday and we give praise and thanks to Jesus.
• We had an addition yesterday morning: Aaron Burgess became a member by statement. When I visited Aaron and Sammy Jo Saturday, there was a police car sitting in the front yard. I found out yesterday that Aaron works for the Falkville Police department. I like Aaron, I think he will be a great addition.
• LORD willing we have a meeting at the MBA this a.m. and we plan to attend Rayburn Waldrop COLS at 2:00. Probably going to B’ham on Tuesday.
• I’m telling you, Apple phones are bad cameras as you can see below: part of the pic is in focus and part not.

Pizza Party

Piling On

SCRIPTURE

We are now on our way to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the teachers of the Law of Moses. They will sentence him to death, and then they will hand him over to foreigners who will make fun of him. They will beat him and nail him to a cross. But on the third day he will rise from death.

~Matthew 20:18-19

QUOTE

Mercy requires love and understanding: the ability to put the interest of another first.

~Anonymous

COMMENTARY

Matthew 20 is a very interesting chapter. Jesus is about to leave Jericho and head to Jerusalem where a cross awaits Him. Jesus has a heavy heart and He shares His burden with His disciples but it is like water off of a ducks back. Instead of showing some understanding and compassion, the mother of James and John approaches Jesus and asked that her boys be given preference in the Kingdom. This leads to jealously among the twelve and an argument. Just what Jesus needed, right? He’s hurting on the inside and the guys are arguing about who among them is the greatest. Jesus gives them a brief lecture on greatest and then they began walking out of Jericho headed for Jerusalem. A blind man sitting beside the road begging hears it is Jesus, he goes to crying out for mercy. Long story short: Jesus shows him mercy. The tired and burdened Savior ask the man, “What do you want Me to do for you?” The man said, “I want to see,” and Jesus restored his sight.

As I read through this chapter a few days ago, it hit me…everyone wants Jesus to do something for them but no one would show compassion and mercy on Jesus. Instead of sympathy and understanding, they keep piling on with I want this and I want that. I got a little angry on the inside as I thought about these people be so insensitive? Surely I would listen to Jesus, console Him, tell Him how much I loved Him and pray for Him. But I know the truth, I am no better than the disciples, I am worse. I’m sure they looked upon Jesus as a Super-Hero: the invincible One who needed nothing. I really believe Jesus was crying out in His own way for understanding and He got none. Folks we can’t glory in a thing: Jesus wrought our salvation all by Himself: we were no help and that’s a shame.

EXTRA

• Preston Grammer came through surgery OK. I didn’t stay because of the snow storm. Janet Fields got snowed in and will try to get out today. We will go back on Thursday. I know today will be a hard day for Preston. I didn’t get to see Dana Segars because the snow came so fast and the streets were bad when I left Princeton so I made a dash for North Alabama. It was touch and go until I got to the Hanceville Exit. There were a lot of wrecks and a lot of stranded motorist.
• Ken and Christy  Tapsott have a new grandbaby, Christopher Miles [8lbs and a few ounces] born about 5:00 yesterday evening. The LORD is good: Bailey and Chris are tickled pink, the entire family was elated.
• Paul said, “In all things give thanks because it is God’s will for those of us in Christ to be thankful.” I want to give some thanks: I am thankful for the two things above but I am also thankful that I do not live in Siberia, Alaska, Canada, Michigan, New York, Antarctica, or the North Pole. I don’t know if this cold weather is killing the bugs or not but it is making me thankful for Spring. Hey, I might get thankful for Summer before it’s over. How many single digit nights have we had this year? A bunch! I never remember school being out [I think this makes 5 days] for cold weather. An NO, they should not have to make them up. We need to do like Hoover and refuse the federal money and run our own schools. Have Swamp Johns every Saturday night. I’d be willing donate extra just to have the freedom to have what we want for lunch. Can you believe it, the Northeast Liberal bureaucrats tell us what we can have for lunch. It is the same group of idiots who believe in evolution. You can’t be reasonably intelligent and believe in evolution. Folks, it is time to take our schools back.

Saw A Lot Of This

And This…

…and this…

I didn’t see this but it was taken yesterday.

Celebrate Jesus