Grady County

Phyllis and I had the privilege to be a part of the quarterly Ministers/Wives Fellowship in the Grady County Baptist Association on July 26. The significance of this was in part a changing of the guard. Dr. Paul Day is stepping down after over 5 years as Director of Missions and Rev. John Paul Hasik has been called to lead Grady County Baptists. Paul and Lucille Day have served Grady County faithfully.

Best wishes Paul and Lucille. Welcome aboard John Paul and Sandy.

Jekyll 2007

We're back again at what my brother-in-law calls "The Best Little Island in All the World." I will reserve judgement on that until I see Nassau in January. Nevertheless here we are. Twelve for the moment but at times this week we will expand to 17.

Sunday, July 15, 2007

Phil and Bai are due in today. I could say that will add two (but she is carrying twins so technically that's four).

We are about to leave for church...Jekyll Island Chapel is a mission of FBC, Brunswick. They have a retired pastor on staff that pastors the island chapel. There were about 100 in attendance. About 18 were members and the rest visitors. There were a group of World Changers present.

We have been on our bikes for about 5 miles, but the serious biking will begin today...Ahh...satisfaction. Doug and I just returned from biking the entire island. 15.158 miles. That's right...we did it...and are proud of it.

Well, that's all for today...

Monday, July 16...

Doug, Lisa, Bella, Phyllis and I rode our bikes to the post office to mail cards. From there we went to the Historic District, wharf and took the short route home.



After lunch we went to the beach. We posed for a group picture.




Later in the afternoon, Doug, David, Jeremy and I rode through the marsh.



Phil and Bai came over for dinner and we gave Bai a shower. She is expecting twins around the first of 2008.

Tuesday, July 17

The day began with a round of golf at the Jekyll Island Golf Club. 18 holes on Pine Lakes with my brother-in-law Joe and his oldest son Jeremy. It was hot, humid and great. That's golf.

Some of the ladies went to "Barbara-Jeans" for lunch. Phil and Bai were there.











After a sandwich it was to the beach for a while. Tonight we are going to Owen and Peggy Rogers for a low country boil. The Rogers are the parents of our neice, Bethany Bagwell.

Childhood Friends

On June 20th I returned to my hometown of Monroe, GA to attend the funeral of the father of my childhood friend, Greg Butler. Growing up we were best friends. In those early years we were inseparable. Growing up two doors apart, we played cowboys, football and church together

Greg grew up in a musical family. His mom was a piano virtuoso at five. His dad was our song leader. Music came natural to Greg and is still a vital part of his life. He is an accomplished guitarist and has passed his love and passion for music on to his children.

After high school our paths went in somewhat separate directions, but we both ended up in gospel ministry. Greg began a church in our hometown of Monroe, GA and I have been able to serve in Georgia my entire ministry.

Greg's younger brother, Tim, is a pastor in Charleston, SC. And my brother Brian, pastors in Gainesville, GA. We are among a long list of pastors to come out of our home church Walker Baptist in Monroe, GA.

When together for their father's funeral we reminisced of your boyhood days. We counted our blessings of being raised in godly homes. Love, church, the Word of God and security characterized our lives.