This morning we rolled into town about 1 AM from our “vacation”. Actually, even though it was busy, we had a great time. Last Friday, I wrote about the first part of our vacation—the relaxing part. After doing some studying on Saturday, we got up early on Sunday morning and drove to Parkersburg, WV, where my uncle pastors Southside Baptist Church. Things are going very well at Southside. They set a non-holiday record attendance that morning. The place was packed! We enjoyed the service and the afternoon with them.
On the way back home that evening, we stopped in Roane County to visit my grandparents’ old farm and the cemetery where they are buried. I was sad to see that the farmhouse has burned down and my favorite tree had been struck with lightning. We met the “new” owner (he’s lived there for 20 years) and had a nice conversation with him. After a quiet time in the cemetery, it was time to head back home—for a few hours.
Monday morning (late) we headed to Alabama to visit Kyla and meet up with some old friends along the way. It was a very nice visit. Wednesday evening, we visited our old church (Eastdale Baptist Church). What a wonderful time it was to see people we hadn’t seen for a few years! We had spent the afternoon on the golf course and let our time slip away, so we skidded into church just as it was starting. We had never met the pastor before, but I’m sure we left an impression as we completely disrupted his Bible study. He was gracious and didn’t seem as impatient as I would have been…. Despite the distraction, he delivered a very good Bible study on Habakkuk that was certainly appropriate for what the church was going through. There was a sadness in the air, as the church family was in mourning over the tragic loss of a young man who was killed just a few days prior. He came to the church after we moved away, so we had never met him. He was well thought of and well spoken of by everyone.
We spent as much time as possible with Kyla. Katelyn and CJ each spent a whole day with her while Miranda and I got to spend the evenings with her. It was hard to leave her yesterday.
We came home a different (longer) way through Asheville, NC. That was where we lived before Montgomery. We had a late lunch with some old friends there and CJ got to spend a couple of hours on their farm.
Overall, it has been a wonderful couple of weeks. Things change. Kids grow up. People get older. Houses and old homeplaces change and even sometimes go away. We get older (some of us get bigger). Even though friendships can endure, they change. Some churches grow—some die. None stay stagnant. As a matter of fact, nothing stays stagnant. In the material world, the only constant is change.
Isn’t it comforting to realize that amidst all of the change and turmoil of life, there is one constant that never changes? God never changes. His purposes are steadfast and His plans are never thwarted. He is faithful and His Word will always be accomplished as He intends. Thank God for His stability and consistency—and here’s to the fulfillment of all of His promises!
Romans 8:28
On the way back home that evening, we stopped in Roane County to visit my grandparents’ old farm and the cemetery where they are buried. I was sad to see that the farmhouse has burned down and my favorite tree had been struck with lightning. We met the “new” owner (he’s lived there for 20 years) and had a nice conversation with him. After a quiet time in the cemetery, it was time to head back home—for a few hours.
Monday morning (late) we headed to Alabama to visit Kyla and meet up with some old friends along the way. It was a very nice visit. Wednesday evening, we visited our old church (Eastdale Baptist Church). What a wonderful time it was to see people we hadn’t seen for a few years! We had spent the afternoon on the golf course and let our time slip away, so we skidded into church just as it was starting. We had never met the pastor before, but I’m sure we left an impression as we completely disrupted his Bible study. He was gracious and didn’t seem as impatient as I would have been…. Despite the distraction, he delivered a very good Bible study on Habakkuk that was certainly appropriate for what the church was going through. There was a sadness in the air, as the church family was in mourning over the tragic loss of a young man who was killed just a few days prior. He came to the church after we moved away, so we had never met him. He was well thought of and well spoken of by everyone.
We spent as much time as possible with Kyla. Katelyn and CJ each spent a whole day with her while Miranda and I got to spend the evenings with her. It was hard to leave her yesterday.
We came home a different (longer) way through Asheville, NC. That was where we lived before Montgomery. We had a late lunch with some old friends there and CJ got to spend a couple of hours on their farm.
Overall, it has been a wonderful couple of weeks. Things change. Kids grow up. People get older. Houses and old homeplaces change and even sometimes go away. We get older (some of us get bigger). Even though friendships can endure, they change. Some churches grow—some die. None stay stagnant. As a matter of fact, nothing stays stagnant. In the material world, the only constant is change.
Isn’t it comforting to realize that amidst all of the change and turmoil of life, there is one constant that never changes? God never changes. His purposes are steadfast and His plans are never thwarted. He is faithful and His Word will always be accomplished as He intends. Thank God for His stability and consistency—and here’s to the fulfillment of all of His promises!
Romans 8:28
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