Special Friends and Brothers

The celebrating continues! Last night Jan had a very special group of men over for a surprise b-day party because of my 50th. You may be asking "why", knowing that my b-day was last Thursday. Well, these guys came last night probably because for 12 years Wednesday night was THE night we got together as a small group Bible study.
I like to think we were a "Band of Brothers" before HBO came out with their series.
Over those 12 years we had a lot of deep study, lots of arguments, plenty of tears, and probably more than anything else......a boat load of laughter. Ahh...the laughing! The stories we could tell! I am indebted to Dennis Rine, Lee Fouts, Robert Ross, Keith Riley, Rusty Meadows, Phil Hoggard, Craig Jones, Steve Kell, Phil Brown, Jeff Mclain, Bobby Stokes, Dennis Davenport, Jim White......and last but not least, Tony Timms, in more ways than you have the time for me to tell. You hear this all the time as a cliche, but I REALLY don't know how I would have made it if not for these Godly brothers and their influence in my life. I don't think I would have made it. So, thanks again my brothers! You made my 50th worth remembering, and more than that you made my life more than it would have been without your love, support and influence. I love all of you very very much!

Another VERY special surprise was when on Saturday Matt walked thru the door to come watch the Bama vs. Tennessee game with me! Hey, it don't get any better than watching the Tide play with your two boys on hand. It was ugly, but it was a win! After losing 9 out of the last 10 to the Vols, it was about time! :)

Congrats to the White Sox! I don't think my Cards could have handled them. Isn't it nice when a team that hasn't won in a long time does it again? Maybe there is still hope for the Texas Rangers! :)


This week I listened to a CD of one of the most powerful talks I have EVER heard. That is a mouthful I know. But Jerry Morgan, one of our HU board members, spoke at his home congregation in Amarillo concerning discipleship. One of the penetrating questions he asked was this: "if we were to be transported by a time machine back to 35 AD or so, would people recognize us individually as a disciple?" WOW! Jerry's main point was that maybe the energy we have spent on trying to restore the New Testament church should have been spent on trying to restore being New Testament disciples, who themselves were trying to follow Jesus......period. Can he get some AMENS? I hope we hear more pleas concerning our individual walk as opposed to our church affiliation. Jerry's talk was FULL of scripture. Guess what.......there is a TON of scripture about discipleship, and very little about doing church. Especially the specifics of corporate worship. Hmm......seems like Matthew 25 even has some words to that effect. If we are going to be light and salt in this world, if we are going to impact our communities.......it's going to be because of our discipleship. Having the "right" name on the sign outside of our building or the "right" kind of worship service isn't going to do it. It NEVER has done it!
Thanks Jerry for reminding us. Thanks for your leadership!

It's Homecoming week! Both in Searcy and Tuscaloosa. Maybe the Bisons and Tide will both get em one!