One Word Challenge

On the Blog Journey to Heaven there is a challenge to answer a number of questions with just one word. That should be hard for a long winded preacher!

All of the answers must be just one word. 


1. Where is your cell phone? cradle


2. Your significant other? cozy


3. Your hair? grey


4. Your mother? deceased


5. Your father? few memories


6. Your favorite thing? family


7. Your dream last night? none



8. Your favorite drink? lemonade


9. Your dream/goal? grandchildren


10. The room you’re in? bedroom


11. Your church? none


12. Your fear? spiders


13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? settled


14. Where were you last night? REVILO


15. What you’re not?  shy


16. Muffins? blueberry


17. One of your wish list items? recliner


18. Where you grew up? Birmingham


19. The last thing you did? fish


20. What are you wearing? TShirt


21. Your TV? disconnected


22. Your pets? shed


23. Your computer? MACBOOKPRO


24. Your life? Unpredictable


25. Your mood? pensive



26. Missing someone? Oliver


27. Your car? Pick-up


28. Something you’re not wearing? socks


29. Favorite store? Bass Pro-


30. Your summer? fleeting


31. Like(love) someone? Lynn


32. Your favorite color? cinnamon


33. Last time you laughed? tonight


34. Last time you cried? March


35. Who will re post this? Lynn

Preached the Gospel to Myself and Others Again Today

Today I had the privilege to preach at the friendliest church we have attended since Sandhills PCA. Rev. Lee Shelnutt & his wife Joni were celebrating his parents 50th Wedding anniversary out of state and asked me to fill the pulpit. This church is just up the road from our home and we have attended about 3 times in between traveling and preaching in other churches. A sweet portion of the Body of Christ.

Westminster meet in a building that is officially owned by the United Methodist Church. The UMC congregation officially ceased to exist last week and have asked the trustees of the denomination to gift the building to Westminster. They are to find out this week the results of the trustee's decision. Pray for them.

It has been affirming all the opportunities God has given me to minister to others. I Corinthians 9:24-10:13 was the text today.

1 Corinthians 9:24-10:13

New International Version (NIV)

Copyright ©

 24Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.

 25Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.26Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

1For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. 2They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3They all ate the same spiritual food 4and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. 5Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert.

 6Now these things occurred as examples^[a] to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. 7Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: "The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in pagan revelry."^[b] 8We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. 9We should not test the Lord, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. 10And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.

 11These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. 12So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! 13No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

My son

Oliver was racing in a Sprint Triathalon last weekend in Charlottesville, VA and here are his results. He came in 52nd out of 168. He said he needs to work on his transitions. He did great on the run portion.

Boundless and Abiding Joy of Working with God

Here is a great quote that stirs my soul. I hope it affects you the same way!

“Nothing can wholly satisfy the life of Christ within his followers except the adoption of Christ’s 

purpose toward the world he came to redeem. Fame, pleasure and riches are but husks and 

ashes in contrast with the boundless and abiding joy of working with God for the fulfillment of his 

eternal plans. Those who are putting everything into Christ’s undertaking are getting out of life its 

sweetest and most priceless rewards.” 

     J. Campbell White, Laymen’s Missionary Movement 

Out of Sin comes Holiness

I have always appreciated it when saints of old write what I feel and I can borrow their words to better understand what is the truth behind the feeling. I got this from a blog you might want to visit regularly.

We are not home yet but home is a reality!

Yearning for our inheritance

“We know that all that is possible or conceivable of what is good and fair and blessed shall one day be real and visible. Out of all evil there comes the good; out of sin comes holiness; out of darkness, light; out of death, life eternal; out of weakness, strength; out of the fading, the blooming; out of rottenness and ruin, loveliness and majesty; out of the curse come the blessing, the incorruptible, the immortal, the glorious, the undefiled!

Our present portion, however, is but the pledge, not the inheritance. The inheritance is reserved for the appearing of the Lord. Here we see but through a glass darkly. It does not yet appear what we shall be. We are now but as wayfaring men, wandering in the lonely night, who see dimly upon the distant mountain peak the reflection of a sun that never rises here, but which shall never set in the ‘new heavens’ hereafter.”

—Horatius Bonar, “Home”

One more quote that was new to me but certainly true for me in this stage of life.

Experience: that most brutal of teachers. But you learn, my God do you learn. 

--CS Lewis

Morning by morning new mercies I see!

  Today I had the opportunity to share my story of God saving me. I have told the story so many times, in many ways and situations. I have used parts of my story in sermons and in witnessing opportunities. One thing about your story - no one can argue about it. It is my story - a story of grace and acceptance when I was lonely, stupid and with no direction. It is also His story. It is still a story of grace - I am not lonely, but still stupid and looking for direction. His grace will cover that too!

I remember when God opened my ears to hear that a christian is not someone who simply believes information -- but a person who asks a "living Jesus" into their lives. God has been faithful in my life, not predictable, but always faithful. The Hymn goes ...

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father:      

There is no shadow of turning with Thee.      

Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;      

As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.     

Refrain:      Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!      

Morning by morning new mercies I see;      

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided      

Great is Thy Faithfulness, Lord unto me.

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,      

Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide,      

Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,      

Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Right now, God is being faithful to me. He is providing strength and bright hope for tomorrow. He did that when I had such little faith that when I asked Him to be my Savior my prayer was, "I ask you to be my Savior  - but if you fail me I will quit you forever. He has never failed me - although I have failed Him so many times.

Early this morning Lynn and I were praying on the back deck overlooking a beautiful scene of creation before us. If he can take care to dress the flowers - will he take care of us and our family?

 The passion to tell the story still continues.

 When was the last time you told your story/His story? I would love to hear it & and so would others!

Can you do a home project with only one trip the Lowe's?

Today I made my obligatory two trips to Lowe's to accomplish three tasks in the never ending saga of getting our house ready to show. I was in a hurry which didn't help. What would have helped was wisdom in the past to take a shop class in woodworking. (Ladies that is not a class on shopping - men do not shop they just go buying!) The reason I was in a hurry was to help a friend pack up all of his possessions into a 42 ft. U-Haul truck and his racing mini-van that he is so proud to drive!

Rebekah was baby-sitting his two children while adults were busy sweating onto the boxes and furniture. This wise 12 year old ask the obvious question, "Daddy, why does it take us 2+ months to get our house ready and they can do it in 2 days." Don't you just hate the truth sometimes from our children.

I am sad that I lack those "shop" skills, sadder that good friends are moving to TN.