Thanksgiving

With the Thanksgiving Weekend coming to an end, I thought I would share a few of the things for which I am thankful.

The precious gift of salvation from the Lord Jesus Christ.
My wonderful wife. In Jan, the Lord surely gave me more than I deserved.
Three great daughters who who still bring joy to their daddy's heart.
My son-in-law who is truly part of the family.
My grandson, Hutch. Watching him grow and learn is one of the joys of my life
The HDBC church family. After 15 years, my love for this church continues to grow.
My mom and dad. Jan's mom and dad. They have given more than we could ever repay.

On a lighter note, I am thankful for . . .
Tastebuds. Life would be so bland without this delightful gift from God.
Sleep. What a great friend after a long, hard day.
Seasons. Fall and Winter are my favorites. "Winning" seasons are also great. Go Bulldogs!
Calendars. They remind us that life is filled with "new beginnings."
Teeth. They not only help us eat, but sure make a difference when we smile. So, show those teeth. Smile often.

Blessings,

Home Sweet Home

"Home Sweet Home." It's a phrase we used to say whenever our family would get home after a trip. It was a signal that we were back in our comfort zone . . . a place where each of us could truly be ourselves. A place where memories are made and stored, where the furnishings are familiar, and the bed feels just right. "Home Sweet Home" what a sweet phrase.

I caught myself saying that as we arrived back in the U.S. after several days in the West African country of Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast). Though God blessed us in more ways than we could share, though we were there because of a definite call from God, and though the Koyaka and Koro people welcomed us joyfully, it was just not home.

So, once more I gratefully whisper the words . . . Home Sweet Home.

West Africa

We are only a few days away from our trip to West Africa. Jerry and Armentia Adams and I will be working with the Koyaka people of northern Cote d'Ivoire for six days. This will be my second trip to Koyaka country. I was there in January 2002, but in-country fighting kept us from going back during the past five years. We are excited about discerning what the Lord is doing among these precious people and about how Highland Drive Baptist can do more to get the gospel to villages that have never heard the good news that Jesus loves them. We have heard reports that some among the Koyaka have trusted Christ. Hopefully we will find that to be true. Thank you for praying for us during the next two weeks.

In Calvary's Grace,
Johnny