Time to Give Thanks

Thanksgiving Day is just a few days away.  I am sitting at home on a Sunday evening with a couple of days of work and ministry ahead before I can get away for the holidays.  Yet, it is a good time for reflection and expression.

First of all I am grateful to God for His grace and mercy.  I am grateful for a God that sought me out.  I am grateful for a Savior who in spite of me saved me.  I am grateful for a salvation that doesn't stop at just forgiving me and making me right with God, but is constantly conforming me to His image.  Every day with Jesus is new and fresh.

I am grateful for my precious wife of 37 years.  She knows me better than anyone (except God) and accepts me as I am.  She is my best friend and my toughest critic.  I love her and thank God for her.

I am grateful for three precious daughters that love God with a whole heart.  They continue to bring us much joy.  Different, distinct and dedicated...they love to serve.  They really get that from their mother.  Whether ministering to staff wives, serving neighbors, or taking care of children they do it well and with the love of Jesus. 

I am grateful to be a Georgia Baptist.  Call me prejudice, but I am a part of the best family in the Southern Baptist Convention.  Called to serve Christ and strengthen churches I have the best job in all the world.

I am grateful to be healthy, wealthy and ...oh well, let's not take it too far.  I do have a great group of wise friends some of which are "wise guys." 

I am grateful that I get to live in these United States of America where on Thursday I will sit down with my family and give thanks all over again.

Hope you have a great week and take time to Give Thanks.

For Pastors Wives

Are you a pastor's wife?  If you are this is for you.  I have been a pastor for 27 years.  My wife has been a pastors wife that long and now our oldest daughter follows in those same footsteps.  Here is an interview with Jennifer Rothschild and our daughter Shauna. 

San Fran a Wide Open Mission Field

Just returned from San Francisco.  Our oldest daughter and her family are moved there in May.  Along with her husband Ben and their boys Elijah, Samuel and Asher they are there to plant Epic Church.  God has given them favor in many corners of the city.  The Lord has brought a number of people to SF with them and has added many more to their team over the last few months.  With two of their launch services behind them things are looking favorable for a great future for Epic Church. 

Kudos to our Vets

It's Veterans Day and America has stepped up today.  I really don't believe that we are that much more patriotic than at other times (or maybe we are) but with the social networks that we have today it seems that everyone is shouting out kudos.  Several restaurants are serving veterans free meals, stores are giving huge discounts and I even saw a car wash advertising "FREE CAR WASH for VETS."

Now I am not a veteran, nor am I the son of a veteran.  I don't think they wanted any of us.  But like everyone else I live in this great country with multiple freedoms because of our veterans of days gone by and our men and women of the armed forces today.

All day today on TV and radio, news media and sports outlets and even pop ups on the internet we have been reminded to thank a vet.  So here it is.

THANK YOU TO ALL OUR VETERANS WHO HAVE PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE FOR MY FREEDOM, THE FREEDOM OF MY FAMILY AND THE FREEDOM OF A GRATEFUL NATION.  GOD BLESS YOU.

Learning from Notherbeau

As a preschooler I had trouble forming the word "mother" so (as I am told) I said "beau."  Because my parents both worked outside the home I spent a great deal of time with my grandparents and great grandparents.  Many people have pet names for their "grands" and we were no different.  My mom's mother to me was "Notherbeau," or my other mother.

Notherbeau was a Sunday School teacher and although I never heard her teach she must have had something because there were ladies waiting to promote to her class (which meant they had to admit their age).  She loved the ladies she taught and that was evident by her actions. 

A number of Sundays we would have lunch at our grandparents house and as my brother and I played with cars on the floor the ladies of the house were busy preparing lunch while the men sat and talked.  I don't know when I began to notice, but my "Notherbeau" would not immediately don an apron.  Before entering the kitchen she would sit down at a telephone and began to make phone calls.  I later figured out she was calling those who were absent that day.  She would tell them that they were missed.  She would check to see if all was alright with them.  She would ask about those they were caring for. 

I did not hear her teach, but did I see her love.  Over the years many of those ladies would speak of Notherbeau in very loving and caring ways. 

A Sunday School teacher may not be the best theologian, but they can be a vessel of the Love of Jesus.  That was my grandmother.