October 31, 2022 - Grace and peace from our brother Jesus, Amen. We finally got some much-needed rain, but it will take a lot more to break this drought. This will be my last article and weekly newsletter for a while because I am having hand surgery next week. I don’t know what restrictions my doctor will give me, but I know I won’t be typing for awhile. And like that old joke, if I knew how to play the piano, I wouldn’t be able to do that either!

October 17, 2022 - Grace and peace from our brother Jesus, Amen. I didn’t submit a news article or write my weekly newsletter last week because I was out of town visiting family. I had a great time with my son and daughter, as well as visiting with my brother and sister-in-law. Last week we had a Gideon speaker, so he took over the sermon part of the service, while Larry and my wife did the rest. Sue reported that David was an interesting speaker and a very nice person. Fannie and I attended the Gideon banquet on Thursday evening, which featured a program and an excellent meal.

September 26, 2022 - Grace and peace from our brother Jesus, Amen. Our church service began with a Gathering Hymn today: “Morning Has Broken,” sung by Cat Stevens. This beautiful hymn is often used in the spring around Easter, but we enjoyed it just as much in the newly cooler fall. Our Gathering Words were based on Psalm 91, with the poet wondering who will live in the shadow of the Most High. The tormented picture on the front of the bulletin I assumed was Lazarus from the Gospel story, living in hunger and poverty.

September 12, 2022 - Grace and peace from our brother, Jesus, Amen. Today we remember the tragic and senseless events 21 years ago and wonder how people could be so heartless. How could the human heart—the home of that eternal spark—wreak such havoc. What did people think they could accomplish through such cowardly acts. It is almost like we are still numb from the terrible events a generation ago. At the same time, it seems like they took place just the other day, leaving us horror-filled. Do we still lean on each other for consolation?

August 29, 2022 - Grace and peace from our brother, Jesus. We just finished an unusual week of weather here in East Texas. Gone were the dry, dusty days and triple digit temperatures. Instead, we had substantial rainfall and high temperatures only in the 70s and 80s. Except for a few flooding issues in our area, it was a nice break from our normal summer. High school football is in the air, and all the Shelby County teams that played on Thursday and Friday won! Happy faces come Monday morning.