Angie's Journey

My assistant Angie and I have worked together for 15 years.  She's been a blessing to everyone here at Second.  At age 11 Angie was orphaned, her parents dying within a year of each other.  Angie was taken in by an older sister and brother-in-law who were expecting a baby in Key West FL.

This brother-in-law died on Tuesday and his military memorial service will be in Richmond VA one week from today.  Angie and her husband Ron will drive to and from the service.  Angie will not fly (odd because her son is a pilot).  She won't fly because when she was about 8 a small planed crashed in her neighborhood.  Angie and her dad were the first ones on the scene.  Long story short, there were body parts everywhere.  Angie never recovered.

Pray for Angie and Ron as they drive to and from Richmond.  We rejoice in a brother-in-law who was willing to take in his wife's sister.  Angie says she never felt like an orphan.  Amen.

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Falcon Time

The day of destiny has finally arrived. I am taking the 1962 Ford Falcon to have it inspected today. I can hardly wait to see the jealousy in other drivers' eyes. This is the beginning of a new era. I will do my best to overcome pride. Huzzah,,

At Your Service

Mr Huey, my father-in-law, for years took Mrs Huey shopping. He would drop her off at the door, park, keep an eye out (until later years when he often fell asleep), and then retrieve Mrs Huey at the door.

I always admired that about him, and often thought I would enjoy doing this for Ruth. Today my wish has come true.

As I am blogging this post, I am sitting in our van outside Best Buy, waiting for Ruth to reappear. Mr Huey would be proud.

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Fried Chicken and me

My weight is up, primarily due to fried chicken, which I love so much that I count it a dessert. No kidding.

Preachers used to be famous as fried chicken gluttons. A preacher's belt was called the fence around a chicken graveyard. It was said chickens ran to the back of the property when they heard the preacher was coming to lunch. Preachers loved the sounds of money in the offering plate, and clucking.

At my brother's ordination, the last question asked of him was, "Do you like fried chicken?" We all howled with laughter. Charles said yes. I've often wondered, had he said no, would they have ordained him anyway, or would it have put a cloud over the genuineness of his call to the ministry?

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Parental partiality

Today's Reading GN 37-38 Joseph is my dad's favorite Old Testament character. Joseph was also his own dad's favorite, a fact that caused him much grief.

Parents, no partiality allowed. Period. Many families have been shipwrecked by parents who favored one child over another. Beware.

PS 16:6 could have been written about me. I am grateful. The Lord has drawn the lines of my life in pleasant places. I received a good heritage. These two evenings talking nonstop for hours at Mom and Dad's have reminded me of this.

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Get Back

Today's Reading GN 35-36 God told Jacob to get back to Bethel. Is there a place you need to get back to? Can you remember a time when you were closer to God than you are right now?

Rachel died. She was the love of Jacob's life. He never fully recovered. When we are born again, God does not turn us into robots. We still feel. Pain still hurts.

PS 15 is worth memorizing. It has always been a favorite of mine, a reminder of what a Godly life looks like.

I'm attending a church planting meeting in St Louis today. Pray I learn things that will help us at Second.

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Go Ye

Today's reading is MT 10-11. Jesus went to the cities to preach. He said the lost are scattered. Thus, by definition we have to scatter to find them. We are commanded to go.

When alone, John the Baptist doubted. We need each other. There are no extra brownie points for being a Lone Ranger.

Psalm 13 begins with despair, ends with confidence. It is the recurring rhythm of the Psalms, and matches the ebb and flow of our lives. Neither unending despair nor unending happiness mark our lives.

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Talk to your wife

Today's reading GN 30-31 Jacob was wise. He did not act without consulting his wife. Husbands, go thou and do likewise. Being a husband does not make us omniscient.

PS 12:5 God loves the poor. As you read the entire Bible this year, you will be amazed at the large number of times the poor are mentioned. I hope you are already planning how to bless the poor hands-on in 2011.

I am off to Jefferson City today for a special called meeting of the Missouri Baptist Convention Executive Board. Important decisions have to be made. Pray for us.

Dr. John 3:16 Marshall, Pastor
Second Baptist Church
3111 E. Battlefield Road
Springfield MO 65804
417-887-3111 x110

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Babel

Today's reading. GN 11-12. Everyone spoke the same language. Sin at Babel ended this. Pentecost proved the Holy Spirit was at work reversing the destructions of sin. Only in Jesus can peoples of the world be unified.

Abram was 75 years old when he left home. He lived in a tent for 100 years. He was following God's lead, yet never reached an earthly city. No wonder he is called the father of the faithful.

In MT 5 the Beatitudes are attitudes that ought to be. They are worth memorizing.

In PS 5 David said his voice was heard by the Lord in the morning. Start each day with Heaven hearing the sounds of your prayers. End each day the same way.

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Jesus, Don't Forget Me

Today's reading. GN 8 and MT 4. God remembered Noah. Be grateful for God's unforgetting love.

The waters dried up on Noah's 601st birthday. Happy birthday, Noah.

God set his archery weapon of war in the cloud. He promised He would never use His worldwide flood arrow again.

Noah became drunk. No one is perfect. Never let your guard down. Keep your armor on.

Canaan's curse was fulfilled when Joshua led the conquest of Canaan's land. Their land became Israel's land.

Capernaum was Jesus' adult home. It is one of the most fascinating places in the Holy Land to visit.


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969 years

Today's reading. In GN 5 Enoch and Methuselah make an interesting father/son combo. Methuselah is the oldest man who ever lived, 969 years, yet died before his father did. Huh?

"Noah found grace" is good news for us. Had Noah not found favor, none of us would be here today.

In MT 3 John the Baptist called his listeners "vipers". So much for political correctness.

PS 3:5 I laid down and slept. An insomniac's "dream" verse.

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Has God Said?

Today's reading in GN 3. "Hath God said?" every temptation from the devil involves his seeking to make us doubt something God has said. Stay close to God's word to stay safe.

How wonderful it must have been to take a daily stroll with God. We can still do this if we have a good daily devotional life.

Adam passed the buck to Eve who passed it to Satan. Adam and Eve's descendants are still passing the buck. We hate taking responsibility for our own failures.

In MT 3 I like my namesake John the Baptist, but I don't like his clothing style or his diet. In PS 2 "Kiss the Son" is still wise counsel. Love Jesus.

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Start with God

If you want to join us at Second in reading the whole Bible together in 2011, we're using Tyndale's "The One Year Bible". It is available in at least three translations.

Thoughts about today's reading in GN 1. "In the beginning God." All good things begin with God. Precede all your plans and deeds with prayer.

God put Adam in a garden. Work was part of the blessing, not the curse. I pray you enjoy your job.

Marriage is God's blessed gift to us. Next to being saved, being happily married is the greatest thing in all the world. Thank you, Ruthie, for a wonderful marriage.

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