Been too Long

I am just not very regular on this blog. I want to be, just don't have the time it takes to keep this going every day (or even weekly). Anyway, my family had some pictures taken last weekend and I love them. They are the best pictures my family has ever had made. The photographer's name is Amy Jacobs. She is a friend from way back when and she did a fabulous job. You can take a look at the photos on her website, look under "featured", we are on the second page. If you decide to book her for your photos, be sure to mention my name!
Sunday night is our "Harvest Dinner" at the church. It is time of giving thanks and celebrating with out church family. This past Sunday morning we had a few visitors, a couple I had not seen in a good while. The other couple came with their kids and was back for our Wednesday night Bible study.
I have really felt like God had me under His thumb lately. I could feel Him poking on me making me really uncomfortable. I felt like nothing I did was measuring up and to be honest, it was making me a little depressed. Then I noticed it wasn't God. It wasn't even the devil. It was me. I was the one beating myself up for things that God has already forgiven me for. Once I grasped the truth (again), that God is in the forgiving business and I can't let past failures hold me down, it has been like a weight lifting off me. I am free.
I am free to forgive myself as well as others.
yesterday I had Logan so he and I went to Granddaddy's and took him out to lunch. Granddaddy loves the "Sweet Aroma Cafe" in Unionville. All three of us loaded up and went. Both Logan and Granddaddy seemed to enjoy the afternoon. He started out calling him Logan, but after lunch he was "Will". Will is my brothers son. I figure he's 87, at least he is calling him by "a" great-grandson's name. Logan didn't seem to mind either.

An Amazing Day

Yesterday could have not been much better. It started with a soldier coming to MHBC for the first time. He was being deployed in the morning (today) and just wanted the pastor to pray with him. I got the whole church involved and we "adopted" Stan Wilkerson. We exchanged info and promised to take care of any physical needs as well as cover him and his unit in prayer.
Leah's soccer team played in the championship game yesterday afternoon and her undefeated regular season turned into a tournament championship as well. She played really good at her defensive position.
Last night I got the privilege of preaching at El Bethel Baptist Church. They are having revival every Sunday night in November. This is also my brother Dan's church. I don't know what it is about our churches, they like to joke about Dan and I, our age, our hair (or lack there of), our preaching. It is all in good fun. I had a great time at El Bethel.
After church my kids went to spend the night with others, except Logan, and Steph and I took Logan to Chili's and had a great supper together.
The night finished with Steph reading on the couch, Logan asleep in my arms and me watching the Dallas Cowboys take sole possession of first place in the NFC East!
I need more nights like that!

UT, Halloween and Dedication! (not necessarily in that order)

Saturday was Halloween. Our kids have never really been big fans of it. They haven't even went "trick-or-treating" the last couple of years. This year, with Logan, it was different. Logan was a horse (not a Chick-Fil-A cow), Leah was a doctor and Lynna was a "glamour girl". Lynna dressed up to help the little ones from the church as they went door to door. We started at Granddaddy's house. I am often reminded this time of year, how much Granny loved Halloween. It was her favorite holiday. She would dress up to give candy out to the kids. When I lived there we could have up to 100 "spooks" come from miles around to see what "Granny" was wearing this year. We lived out in the sticks so 100 is a bunch. Granddaddy never dresses up, and usually just the grandkids come by now, but Granddaddy always wants us to come by and see him. We left there and went to our Church function. it was a "Barn Party" out at the Derickson's horse barn. We had such a good turn out with most of the church and a lot of guest showing up. We took the kids trick or treating at a near by neighborhood. We had hot dogs and chili, hayrides, face painting, pumpkin decorating, etc. It was a lot of fun.

Sunday morning, we had "High Attendance" Sunday at MHBC. The deal was, 100 for Sunday School and I would preach in a UT jersey next Sunday. 101 was the count. I had a plan. I wore a UT shirt under my suit and when I got up to preach, I took off my jacket and tie, and my dress shirt. I wanted the ones that couldn't come next Sunday to at least see me in Orange. It was not a pretty sight. Next Sunday it is an orange and white #10 Jersey (Kerry had to bring me one, since I don't own anything UT).

Sunday night we had a dedication service for Logan at Fair Haven Baptist Church. I had been telling MHBC that Logan would be upset if they didn't come to his dedication. Man, they came. When Bro. Charles ask for MHBC to stand, it look like an army rising up from the pews. I was proud to be called their pastor. It was a very nice service.

Let's be honest, I am not use to having a church that shows up for things other than church. MHBC not only loves each other, but likes to be around each other too. Strange concept, huh?

UT? Really?

This coming Sunday (11/1) is our "High Attendance Day" at Midland Heights. We have set a pretty aggressive goal of having 100 in Sunday School. We have been averaging around 60. The Sunday School teachers were asking input on what I would be willing to do if we hit 100. I offered several suggestions one included shaving my head. No dice. They then came up with the ultimate challenge. If we have 100 in Sunday School on Nov. 11th, I will wear a UT (that is Tennessee not Texas) jersey the following Sunday. The deacons will also be singing special music that Sunday as well. As all of you know, I am a lifelong Vanderbilt fan. Wearing a UT jersey is sacrilege. But, I am good sport and will gladly play along.

Sunday night will be Logan's dedication at Fair Haven Baptist Church. We still have a lot of family that goes there, and I needed someone besides me to do the dedication. I am looking forward to it. I hope he cooperates.

The second Sunday night in Nov. (8th), I will preaching a revival message at El Bethel Baptist Church.

Praise Fest!

Last night we had our Midland Heights Praise Fest. It featured Lindsey Harris along with "her band". Jared Ledlow played the piano, Blake Finley played the drums, Mike Messer played the guitar and Kyle Wilkerson played the bass. Lindsey is super talented and showed it last night. After Lindsey sang for awhile, talent from the church sang as well. Leah, my nine year old daughter, sang Chris Tomlin's, Amazing Grace (my chains are gone). I was taken back since she just picked up the CD a couple of hours before the singing. My wife Stephanie sang as well. The "shocker" of the night was when Lynna, my 14 year old daughter, ask me to sing with her. I don't do much singing in public, but when your teenage daughter ask you to do something with her, it is hard to resist. We sing two songs together, He's Watching Me (Gaither Vocal Band)and Born Again (Third Day). She chose He's Watching Me. I had fun with it and she seemed too as well. The crowd was really good. We had to set up more tables and chairs for people to eat on afterwards. Over all I was blessed for being a part of it. I think God was smiling as well.

Vacation

Stephanie and I decided a few months back to rent a cabin in Pigeon Forge and surprise the kids for a weekend get-away. We have started this tradition of not telling the kids we are going until the morning of the trip. It makes for a lot of excitement. Thursday was no exception. The girls squealed and jumped up from their beds ready to get started.

What surprised me the most was how much Logan enjoyed the weekend as well. For the most part, he was laughing and playing the whole weekend. I have a lot of pictures I will post, after I recover from the trip. We spent the weekend playing games, going to 400 purse outlets, enjoying the hot tub and spending some time together as a family. The cabin we stayed in was nice. It was still close enough to everything, yet far enough way that it was quiet. We need more time to vacate.

20 Years? Really?

It is hard to believe that 20 years have gone by since I walked the gym floor with diploma in hand. Saturday night I went to my 20th reunion. I missed the 5, 10, and the 15 year reunion, but wanted to make this one. It was a family event so i got to bring my wife and all three kids. Lynna and Leah, got to see pictures of me when I played basketball and baseball. We actually played b-ball in shorts, not the "capri-pants" you see now that come up to the middle of the players calf's. My oldest looked at my ball pictures and simply looked at me and said, "Ooooh". She saw pictures of me being named "most stylish" one year and "class favorite" another year. My kids just didn't have a clue that 20 years ago, I was cool.