The recent cold temperatures have not been good for us. It’s going to be a bad year to be a farmer around here. I think the fruit crops are a total loss. While the wheat looks okay from the road, a closer inspection will reveal frost damage as well. Those folks who sowed their corn early are now wishing they hadn’t. The hard frost hit many of our trees at a critical time too, and we are wondering how many trees will go through the summer without leaves. Our gorgeous early spring looks a lot like the late stages of autumn now.
ANOTHER REBIRTH! It was a couple of Wednesdays ago that Ben came home from church and told me he wanted to become a Christian. After talking and praying with him the first thing he wanted to do was call Bro. Bill. When Bro. Bill answered the phone Ben said, “I want to be a missionary!” I wanted to hear more of this conversation but Ben had the cordless phone and was pacing through the house and it was hard for me to keep up with him.
We have talked to Ben quite a bit about becoming a Christian, read some books on the subject with him, and we all met with Bro. Bill Sunday morning. Bro. Bill really relates well with children and as he talked to Ben about his faith in his own childhood you could tell Ben was really following him. Some of the expressions on Ben’s face were just precious. What’s so funny is when he is asked if he knows what sin is he usually gives an example when answering. This example is often about something he has done to Nate.
For those of you not familiar with Baptist traditions, those who want to become a Christian will come to the front of the sanctuary and meet with the pastor during the last song of the service. Ben did this Sunday. If Mom is feeling well enough to come to church Sunday Ben will be baptized then. He is very excited about this.
UPDATE ON MOM. Nothing has changed with Mom since I sent out the update the other day. She is sore but not complaining of a lot of pain. We do appreciate your prayers.
SISTERS IN FAITH. Mt. Carmel served as host to a women’s conference last weekend. There were about 300 women in attendance. Vicki and Pauline really enjoyed the fellowship, the speaker, the music and, of course, the chocolate.
YOU TRY TO TRAIN THEM TO DO RIGHT, but sometimes you just have to give in and give recognition where it is due. Usually when the kids belch at the table we make sure they at least say, “Excuse me.” But the other day Ben cut loose with such resonance and duration that I just had to stop and salute him. I hadn’t heard one that good since college.
WATER HEATER WOES. My neighbor, Jimmie Pitt, is a wonderful guy. I showed up on his doorstep last Monday and said, “You want to ride to Lowe’s with me?” That trip took over the majority of his day which he readily spent with me. I got up that morning to discover we had no hot water. A visit to the flooded basement told me I would not make it to work that day. Fortunately it is a hand dug, unfinished basement with its own drain so the flood was the least of my worries. On returning from town we went to work. By lunchtime our new water heater was at work. Everyone needs a neighbor like Jimmie Pitt!
Joe
