Tomorrow is D-Day. John and I will determine which of us has drawn the closest to 200. I fear he’s winning by a few pounds. My confidence was shaken this morning when he told me his shorts fell off while he was jogging on the treadmill. Well, well, well. Don’t you wish you had a video of that?
Health update. Caleb and Lilly Ruth are doing well. My assistant Angie is better. She was able to walk from one room to another yesterday for the first time.
Humor helps. Final National Oatmeal Month thoughts. To celebrate oats, some Americans (I’d like to meet one) will choose to create a home made oatmeal bath (you’ve got to be kidding) by grinding oats in a food processor and then steaming it in a warm bath (I am not making this up). The moisturizing, soothing effect is remarkably enjoyable. It helps relieve symptoms of almost any skin disorder, including excessively winter dry skin (that’s the clincher for me. I’m in.). As National Oatmeal Month closes, take a moment to meditate on personal health. Think of yourself, and then while you’re at it, donate some oats to a local food shelter, thereby providing the gift of healthy living to those less fortunate. (Wow. I never knew oats could be a humanitarian item. I am deeply touched. A tear is lingering on my cheek. Just kidding. Pardon my cynicism.)
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
Around the World
Last night I moved from China to India to Puerto Vallarta MX and to Senegal West Africa in two hours. Tonight I will traverse the world. In the morning I will journey to Idaho, Saltillo MX, Chicago, and Rockaway Beach MO. I will do all this traveling, yet never change my location. It’s all taking place within the walls of Second Baptist Church this weekend. I love our Global Impact Celebration.
In all the bad weather this week, we’ve had only one injury, as far as we know. My faithful and much respected Assistant, Angie, fell Monday afternoon on the ice and wrenched the muscle that connects her hipbone to her leg bone. She has been in a lot of pain. Healing is going to take a while. We miss her. She and I have been laboring side by side for thirteen years. Please pray for her. Thank you.
Humor helps. Reasons to eat oats in National Oats Month. Its natural nutty flavor (huh?). It contains fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Quaker Oats needs your money (I made this one up). Significant health benefits. Soft (easy on teeth). Improves cholesterol levels. (That’s about it, as best I can tell.)
In all the bad weather this week, we’ve had only one injury, as far as we know. My faithful and much respected Assistant, Angie, fell Monday afternoon on the ice and wrenched the muscle that connects her hipbone to her leg bone. She has been in a lot of pain. Healing is going to take a while. We miss her. She and I have been laboring side by side for thirteen years. Please pray for her. Thank you.
Humor helps. Reasons to eat oats in National Oats Month. Its natural nutty flavor (huh?). It contains fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Quaker Oats needs your money (I made this one up). Significant health benefits. Soft (easy on teeth). Improves cholesterol levels. (That’s about it, as best I can tell.)
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Snow and Worship
I’m experiencing an amazing thing. In a blizzard, hundreds of Missouri Baptists are continuing to attend the Evangelism Conference. All I can figure is, once they arrived in town, and checked into hotels, they couldn’t leave Springfield, and decided to attend the conference rather than sit in their rooms. The music is great, the preaching is heavenly. I’m to pinch hit for a preacher who can’t make it into town due to ice. I have a sermon ready to go. Have I mentioned I love to preach?
Caleb and Lilly Ruth are better today, but not completely out of the woods. Thanks for continuing to pray.
The weather is not going to dampen our missions weekend coming up. We will meet on Thursday night as planned and continue through Sunday morning.
Humor helps. A National Oats Month idea. For your children, make oatmeal clay: 1 cup oatmeal, half-cup flour, half-cup water. Children can mold the knobby (huh?) clay into shapes. Let the artwork dry, then it can be painted. (We could paint it to look like a banana split or a chocolate chip cookie. Maybe this would make oats more palatable.)
Caleb and Lilly Ruth are better today, but not completely out of the woods. Thanks for continuing to pray.
The weather is not going to dampen our missions weekend coming up. We will meet on Thursday night as planned and continue through Sunday morning.
Humor helps. A National Oats Month idea. For your children, make oatmeal clay: 1 cup oatmeal, half-cup flour, half-cup water. Children can mold the knobby (huh?) clay into shapes. Let the artwork dry, then it can be painted. (We could paint it to look like a banana split or a chocolate chip cookie. Maybe this would make oats more palatable.)
Monday, January 26, 2009
Missouri Evangelism
Everywhere I look, I see Missouri Baptists. They are all over our building for our annual MBC Evangelism Conference. Nationally known speakers are heading this way: Thom Rainer, Joe White, Steve Hale, Jennifer Kennedy Dean, plus others. If the weather turns nasty, and someone can’t make it, yours truly is the substitute preacher. I have a sermon in my Bible ready to go. I know that surprises you.
Please pray for our family. Lilly Ruth continues to battle croup. She’s so petite and pretty. It hurts me to see her hurting. Caleb continues to feel discomfort in his side. It makes me sad to see my lively grandson lethargic.
Missions is the agenda this week. Please set aside this coming weekend to take part in the festivities. Also ask God to deal with you directly about missions.
Humor helps. A National Oatmeal Month tip. For day trips, pack an oatmeal poultice. Put oatmeal in an old clean sock for the travel kit. When rash strikes or insects bite, soak the oatmeal sock in water. Apply as a cooling pack to provide relief. Repeat as needed. Take along oatmeal cookies, take a well-earned cookie break, and celebrate National Oatmeal Month. (No, I’m not making this up; it was downloaded off an internet site devoted to the promotion of oats. No kidding.)
Please pray for our family. Lilly Ruth continues to battle croup. She’s so petite and pretty. It hurts me to see her hurting. Caleb continues to feel discomfort in his side. It makes me sad to see my lively grandson lethargic.
Missions is the agenda this week. Please set aside this coming weekend to take part in the festivities. Also ask God to deal with you directly about missions.
Humor helps. A National Oatmeal Month tip. For day trips, pack an oatmeal poultice. Put oatmeal in an old clean sock for the travel kit. When rash strikes or insects bite, soak the oatmeal sock in water. Apply as a cooling pack to provide relief. Repeat as needed. Take along oatmeal cookies, take a well-earned cookie break, and celebrate National Oatmeal Month. (No, I’m not making this up; it was downloaded off an internet site devoted to the promotion of oats. No kidding.)
Sunday, January 25, 2009
$25,000 for Victory Mission
I’m not preaching today at all. I feel useless, numb, unwanted, uncared for. Other than that, I’m fired up for church. Our long awaited annual Global Impact Celebration will end next Sunday after a week of missions revelry.
John and I are in the last week of our race to 200. He’s winning. I believe I can pass him if I eat or drink nothing for the next seven days.
Lilly Ruth had to be taken to Urgent Care yesterday. Croop caused her oxygen level to drop. She’s still struggling this morning. Thanks for praying. Caleb is better, suffering only a little discomfort after passing the kidney stone this week.
I awoke to an email from Dick and Ginny Haymes telling me the garage sale at Remingtons raised over $25,000 to bless the homeless through Victory Mission. Over 250 of our Second Baptist people helped. Way to go.
Humor helps. National Oats Month info. Treat poison oak with an oatmeal paste. Apply it liberally on the rash and leave it for twenty minutes. Folklore says, as the oatmeal dries, it absorbs oils that make the poison itch and spread. Peel (lick?) off the paste and wash the affected area gently.
John and I are in the last week of our race to 200. He’s winning. I believe I can pass him if I eat or drink nothing for the next seven days.
Lilly Ruth had to be taken to Urgent Care yesterday. Croop caused her oxygen level to drop. She’s still struggling this morning. Thanks for praying. Caleb is better, suffering only a little discomfort after passing the kidney stone this week.
I awoke to an email from Dick and Ginny Haymes telling me the garage sale at Remingtons raised over $25,000 to bless the homeless through Victory Mission. Over 250 of our Second Baptist people helped. Way to go.
Humor helps. National Oats Month info. Treat poison oak with an oatmeal paste. Apply it liberally on the rash and leave it for twenty minutes. Folklore says, as the oatmeal dries, it absorbs oils that make the poison itch and spread. Peel (lick?) off the paste and wash the affected area gently.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Sidelined Preacher
I’ve been to Remingtons. Springfieldians love garage sales. Hundreds of people have come to Remingtons these last two days. Thousands of dollars have been raised for Victory Mission to help the homeless. Congratulations to Jim Harriger, Ginny Haymes, and the army of helpers who made it happen. I’m proud of you.
Ben and I are not preaching tomorrow. I feel like a fish out of water. Gordon Fort, Vice-President at the International Mission Board, will be our featured speaker tomorrow, the first Sunday of this year’s Global Impact Celebration.
Last night Ruth and I attended a banquet here at church honoring our twelve local Springfield missions partners. We laughed, rejoiced, remembered, and thanked God. Our whole service tomorrow night will be devoted to interviewing these local missions partners. These co-laborers are dear friends of Second.
Humor helps. More oatmeal month info. Pamper dogs with oatmeal shampoo. Allergic dogs can bite their paws and rip out fur to attack inflamed skin. Oatmeal shampoo reduces inflammation, and eases itchy skin, irritated skin, hot spots, and insect bites. Yep, I have visions now of Ruth scrubbing and rubbing Jake (Jacob) and Millie (Millicent) with oats. More good use for leftover oats.
Ben and I are not preaching tomorrow. I feel like a fish out of water. Gordon Fort, Vice-President at the International Mission Board, will be our featured speaker tomorrow, the first Sunday of this year’s Global Impact Celebration.
Last night Ruth and I attended a banquet here at church honoring our twelve local Springfield missions partners. We laughed, rejoiced, remembered, and thanked God. Our whole service tomorrow night will be devoted to interviewing these local missions partners. These co-laborers are dear friends of Second.
Humor helps. More oatmeal month info. Pamper dogs with oatmeal shampoo. Allergic dogs can bite their paws and rip out fur to attack inflamed skin. Oatmeal shampoo reduces inflammation, and eases itchy skin, irritated skin, hot spots, and insect bites. Yep, I have visions now of Ruth scrubbing and rubbing Jake (Jacob) and Millie (Millicent) with oats. More good use for leftover oats.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Gargantuan Garage Sale
Ruth is working today and tomorrow at Remingtons for the Victory Mission garage sale. I decided I would take her a milkshake and see how sale plans were progressing. When I walked in, the sight took my breath away. It looks like a Wal-mart in there. No kidding. I’ve never in my whole life seen that much stuff voluntarily donated in one place. If you want it, I think we probably have it at Remingtons. The garage sale is tomorrow, 7 a.m. till 3 p.m. Bargains will be the theme of the day. Victory Mission and the homeless will be the beneficiaries.
Last night all the grandchildren came over. Heaven. As Ian was kissing his mom’s hand, he asked, “Momma, why do mommas like kisses so much?” That will make your heart melt. I knew I had been spending too much time at church lately when Ruth asked me where the remote was, and instead of saying on the coffee table, I said on the Lord’s Supper table. Not good.
Humor helps. National Oatmeal Month ideas. No kidding. Cleanse skin with an oatmeal scrub. It’s a natural way to get rid of dead skin cells and exfoliate (huh?) hands and face. The oatmeal relieves itchy skin and protects against dryness. (Now my son will know what to do with the last bites of oatmeal he can’t force himself to swallow. He can rub them on his face.)
Last night all the grandchildren came over. Heaven. As Ian was kissing his mom’s hand, he asked, “Momma, why do mommas like kisses so much?” That will make your heart melt. I knew I had been spending too much time at church lately when Ruth asked me where the remote was, and instead of saying on the coffee table, I said on the Lord’s Supper table. Not good.
Humor helps. National Oatmeal Month ideas. No kidding. Cleanse skin with an oatmeal scrub. It’s a natural way to get rid of dead skin cells and exfoliate (huh?) hands and face. The oatmeal relieves itchy skin and protects against dryness. (Now my son will know what to do with the last bites of oatmeal he can’t force himself to swallow. He can rub them on his face.)
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