Christmas Blessings

We had a delightful Christmas season this year. We actually celebrated Christmas with my family during the Thanksgiving break and had a great time. We then celebrated with our immediate family on Christmas day, then with Jan's family on Saturday. What a joy it is to have such a great family to celebrate the season each year. We are so blessed.

Also as I reflect on the times of celebration with our HDBC family I am reminded of just how blessed we are. Thanks to all who helped make this such a great year to remember our Savior's birth.

The Christmas Day Hunt for gifts for our family was a big success this year. Julie, Joy, Jana, Stephen and David spent over two hours searching for ten secret locations around Jonesboro to find their gifts. Jan and I enjoyed listening to their conversation with the help of a baby monitor as we followed them in another car. I will admit that I underestimated their prowess and will make the hunt even more difficult next year. Jan and I are already planning!

Merry Christmas.

Johnny

Jingle Bells

I just loved the Sounds of the Season program last night. The new twist on Jingle Bells was fantastic. I especially loved the special shirt that Rick wore for that song. Thanks to the choir and all the others who made it a great night.

Don't forget our Christmas Eve service this Wednesday night at 9 p.m.

Merry Christmas.

It's a Wonderful Life

Jan and I watched one of our favorite Christmas movies the other night, It's a Wonderful Life. We make sure to watch it every year for a number of reasons. We like Jimmy Stewart movies; we love a feel-good story; it reminds us of how easy it is to lose sight of just how blessed we are as we experience the daily grind of life. And of course I always love the underdog, atta boy Clarence.

Last night we drove to Memphis to enjoy dinner at Red Lobster, one of our favorite places to eat. We were celebrating our thirty-first wedding anniversary. Thirty-one years ago there is no way that we could have anticipated all that we would experience during these past three decades plus one. And to be honest, I do not think we could have scripted it any better. God has blessed us with three great daughters, two wonderful sons-in-law, and a beautiful grandson. We have had the privilege of serving as ministers in six churches and have been blessed in each one. We have great friends, a comfortable home, an exceptional church, and so much more. We are blessed beyond measure.

I am so thankful for the decision that Jan and I made so many years ago to come together as husband and wife and to begin such an exciting journey. Jan, my love for you grows stronger with each passing year! Thanks for loving me. I can't wait to see how the next thirty-one years compares with the first.

Corban Christmas

Last night was a real treat as the HDBC praise band, Corban, presented a Christmas program. We laughed, smiled, sang, and worshipped together as we considered the birth of our Savior. Thanks not only to Corban but to all the extras who made it such a special night.

We are so blessed at HDBC to have so many talented people who use their talents for the Kingdom of God. Who knew that Ben and Brock could become a partridge in a pear tree twelve times in one night; that Nick could be do those moves; that Glenda and Traci could impersonate a penguin and a chicken; that my wife could still work a hula-hoop, and that Paige could milk a cow. Who knew? We all do now!

This Sunday night we will enjoy more of the sounds of the season as our choir, the HDBC quartet (The Highlanders), and others will lead us in more Christmas worship.

As you enjoy another week of Christmas, remember what Shay said on Sunday, "At Christmas, it's all about the baby."

And So It Begins

A few days ago I received an email from Julie asking if Jan and I could attend a Christmas program that Hutch will be in. Of course we said "yes." It's tonight at 7. It is the first of many that we will be attending during the next 20-25 years. Not only will Hutch have many more programs, but hopefully we will have other grandchildren who will also want their Mama J and Papa J to be there.

And so it begins . . .

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Hit and Run

It's a tactic used often in modern warfare, particularly the terrorists warfare that we are becoming all-too familiar with today. Hit and Run. Attack in an unexpected place then make a quick exit. It has to be extremely frustrating to military strategists who try to defend innocent people against such attacks.

It is also a tactic used to avoid responsibility. Last Friday afternoon Jan and I were taking Jana's car to Sam's to have a tire repaired. As we drove down the parking lane looking for an empty spot, we suddenly felt a bump. Jan's reaction was understandable, "what did you hit?" I was pretty sure that I had not hit anything, so I glanced in my side mirror to see a white vehicle way too close to mine. The truth become abundantly clear. The other vehicle had backed out of a parking space and hit the back fender of Jana's car.

At that point I followed proper procedures. I stopped the car, got out and proceeded to walk toward the other car to exchange insurance information and set the wheels in motion to have the car repaired. That's when things took a surprising turn. Rather than stopping, the other vehicle eased away from scene at a slow pace. I first assumed they were about to pull into another parking space so we could talk. After they passed three or four empty spots it became surprisingly clear that they were not stopping.

Naively I assumed they did not realize they had hit our car. So, I proceeded to jog behind them with my arms waving. I'm sure I looked like a duck trying to gain altitude. As they increased speed, so did I. The problem was that they were in a vehicle and I was on foot. I was not really worried at that point because I knew they had to stop at the parking lot exit at Race street and I could catch them. Once more I was naive. Rather than waiting at the stop sign and exiting onto Race street they turned back through the parking lot. Well, I knew I had one chance to cut them off before they could exit on the other side of the parking lot. So, I kicked it into high gear, racing across the asphalt. My plans were to simply stand in front of the them, much like the brave patriot had done with a tank in Tiananmen Square several years ago.

I know . . . it was not one of my brightest ideas but it was all I could think of. Unfortunately their six or eight cylinders enabled them to get to the exit point before my two feet could take me there. I'm still convinced that in my prime I could have caught them. It was at that point that I noticed my heavy breathing and began to wonder just how strong my fifty-one year old heart was. Fortunately it handled the strain.

The first question my insurance company asked was, "did you get their license number?" I had to tell them that I did not. At that point I became more interested in my uninsured motorist coverage than I had ever been. I'm not yet sure of the details but I am confident it will be handled.

One last note. We did notice that Sam's has security cameras in the parking lot and we will be hoping to get some answers from them. So, if you were in the Sam's parking lot last Friday afternoon driving a white vehicle, felt a little bump as you were backing out of your parking space, saw a funny looking guy chasing your vehicle, now is the time to fess up. Give me a call and we'll work it out.

Touching the World

Once more HDBC is actively involved in connecting the world with the God who created it. This morning we had a team of missionaries leave for Atlanta, GA to work at an Operation Christmas Child distribution center. From there, packages of Christmas gifts and the good news about Jesus will be sent to children around the world. Each package is sure to bring a smile to a child and joy to a family.

I am so glad that HDBC is involved in this great ministry. Please pray for our team as they travel and as they work. Pray that the boxes will arrive at their destinations on time. Pray that many will come to know that there really is a God and they He really does love them.

Merry Christmas.

Thanksgiving Blessings

Jan and I really enjoyed our Thanksgiving time in Louisiana with our family. We traveled down on Wednesday and returned on Sunday. Thursday was a big day as we also took the opportunity to celebrate Christmas with my family. We just could not find a time around Christmas when we could all get together. We enjoyed a feast for lunch then exchanged some gifts, took a lot of pictures and had a blast.

Friday morning Jan, Julie, Joy, Jana and I left at 3:45 a.m. to do some early-bird shopping. That was a first for me. It was interesting to say the least. Later that day I watched my Mississippi State Bulldogs get soundly defeated by our in-state rival, Ole Miss. We then saw the Razorbacks pull out another amazing win against LSU.

Friday night, my dad and I spent the night in the ER with my mom who had another partial bowel obstruction that caused excruciating pain. Saturday morning they moved her from the ER to a room and she stayed there until Saturday night. She is doing fine now, but we would appreciate you praying that she would not have another obstruction.

Sunday night a group of church members decorated the inside of our facilities for Christmas. It went about as fast as it ever has. Thanks to all the volunteers.

It is now officially the Christmas season. I plan to enjoy every minute of it because it passes far too quickly.

Blessings

The Wedding is Over

The wedding is over and the marriage begins. We had a great weekend as Jana and David exchanged wedding vows before each of their families and most importantly before the Lord this past Saturday. We are grateful for how well things went for them.

Thanks again for all the prayers and support. They were blessed with so many gifts and words of encouragement. Most of all they have a wonderful church family in which to grow and serve.

Jan and I enjoyed having most of our family members in town for the ocassion. It was great to see them all. We really have wonderful families who are so supportive of each other. What a blessing.

Have a blessed Thanksgiving week.

The Ride

The final countdown has now begun for Jana and David's wedding this coming Saturday. We spent much of the day getting things ready at the church and doing some last minute shopping. Not only are we putting the finishing touches on the wedding plans, but also preparing for family members who will be coming in for the weekend.

Tonight, Jana and I took a final motorcycle ride as daddy and (unmarried) daughter. This is something that we have planned for a long time. Throughout the years riding the motorcycle has been one thing that Jana and I have consistently done together. We have logged many miles and countless hours just letting the wind blow across our faces and chatting about anything and everything. So this ride tonight was special. Since my motorcycle got critically ill and was sold to the mailman I had to borrow a Harley from Ron Bennett. Boy, does that thing have power! One day . . . just maybe, I will have one like it. But for tonight it was enough to ride a borrowed bike through the cold air with my youngest.

I'm sure we will ride again in the future. But it was special to take that final ride together before she enters this exciting new world of marriage and of establishing her own family.

Wedding Bells

Wedding bells are beginning to ring around our house. We are now less than one week away from Jana and David's wedding. The pre-marital counseling is finished, the dress has been altered, the tuxedos ordered, the reception planned, the flowers are being arranged and hearts are beginning to beat a little faster. Once again I will have the great pleasure of being the father of the bride. We are so proud of Jana and are delighted that she is about to enter a brand new phase of her life. David has already become an important part of our family and we are thrilled to have him as a son-in-law. Thanks for your prayers for us during the next few very busy days.

Signs of Life

Looking for signs of life at HDBC? One good place to start would be to hang out in the MAC and Cafe Mac on Wednesday nights. Boy those areas are hopping. Kids, students and adults are enjoying the freedom offered in those spaces. Basketballs are being shot, footballs are flying across the gym and the sounds of joy and happiness are everywhere.

Now, this not the only place to find signs of life at HDBC. They can also be seen on Sunday mornings and evenings throughout the building as well as at other times. The good news is that the heartbeat of the church is strong and the future looks great.

Please remember to pray for your staff as we continue to look for ways to handle all the growth that always comes to a healthy, alive church.

A Servant's Heart

We started a brand new sermon series on Sunday called "Improving Your Serve." Our focus was on the attitude of a servant. Let me remind you of the keys that we discovered in Philippians 2:3-8.

We must check our motives.

We must conquer pride.

We must value others.

We must imitate Christ.

Not ready for all four? Just pick one and get started!

Then join us this coming Sunday as we again focus our attention on "Improving our Serve."

The Colors of the Season

I'm a fall and winter kind of guy. I love it when the temperatures begin to drop and the breeze picks up. I love watching the brilliantly colored leaves float to the ground. I love the approaching seasons of Thanksgiving and Christmas. I love cold nights and brisk days. I even love it when it snows. If you are a spring and summer person, just bundle up and try to enjoy the next few months. Your turn will be here soon enough.

Who would have thought of having four distinct seasons each year so that we could enjoy variety and change. God did and I am so glad he did.

Praise and Worship

Sunday night was a great night of worship and praise. It was so great to sense the Spirit of God as we lifted up our voices of praise to the Lord. It was such a joy to see the choir combine with the praise team as they led in worship Sunday night. Here are a few quotes from some of the responses that we have received this morning.

"Last night's worship service was OUTSTANDING! Very well done. I believe the Lord was very pleased with the worship service and I truly felt His presence."

"What a wonderful worship service last night."

"I for one was blessed greatly and lifted up tonight. It was truly a blessed time with the Lord."

Thanks not only to all who made Sunday night special, but for all who lead us in worship each week during all three of our worship celebrations.

Don't Be Afraid

Don't be afraid to ask God the hard questions. Trust me, He knows the answers. I thought about this after one of our precious little ones approached me last Sunday to ask a great question. "How do we know there is a God?"

It was a pleasure to get down onto his level and explain that we know there is a God because the Bible tells us so. To my surprise he was ready for that answer. "But how do we know that the Bible is real?" At that point I knew this young boy was really probing for some confirmation.

I talked with him for a few minutes about the importance of faith in things that we cannot see. I also explained that God gives us an awareness of Himself in our hearts. That was about as deep as he was ready to go at that time. I'm not sure that I have permanently satisfied his curiosity but I am confident that he will ask again if the need arises.

Don't be afraid to ask. I certainly don't have all the answers. There are times when I have to shrug my shoulders and admit that I just do not know. However, God never has to do that. He truly knows. So, when you really need the answer, go to the source.

Harvest Festival Success

A Big Thanks to everyone who helped make this year's Harvest Festival such a huge success. We had around 700 people in attendance. It was a real joy to simply watch the children and families enjoy the day. HDBC built another bridge to the community on Saturday. To all who are in the HDBC family, your giving and serving made it possible. So again, thanks. You are a great family.

Single-Issue Voting

Single-issue voting is often associated with those of us who are adamantly pro-life. There are some who simply believe the protection of human life, all human life, is the most important issue of our day. I believe it is our responsibility and duty to protect the most vulnerable and innocent among us, the unborn. Therefore it is the most important factor in determining how I vote.

You may ask, "Are you not concerned about the economy?" The answer is "yes, I'm concerned about it." However my concern for the economy takes a backseat to the greater issue of the defense of unborn babies who are being sacrificed on the altar of convenience, selfishness, and ignorance across this land.

Those who are quick to criticise pro-life supporters for "single-issue voting" might want to acknowledge that many are equally quick to become "single-issue voters" when it comes to the economy.

When given the opportunity to vote for life, this is the choice I will make. Will you consider this option? Will you pray about it?

What Drives Me to Vote

Values and convictions have been and will continue to be a key component in my voting decisions. This election year as in years past I will make voting decisions based on how closely the candidates' values and convictions match my own. Though I am seldom able to find a candidate whose values mirror mine completely, one is usually much closer than another.

I vote for pro-life candidates. The unborn among us deserve to be protected. Their right to life must be preserved. I vote for Biblical values and morality. I believe this nation is more likely to be blessed by God when its leaders seek His wisdom and recognize His standard of rightness. I believe the Biblical (traditional) view of marriage as the union of a man and a woman should be protected and defended.

Please join me in praying for God's will to be done in our upcoming election. If you are interested in a comparison of the two major political party platforms on a variety of issues important to believers check out the following link.

http://ivotevalues.com/documents/pdf/2008-Party_Platform_Comparison_Guide.pdf

Narrow the Focus

There is a tendency for all organizations, including churches to move from simple to complex, from concise to confusing. Many times their scope broadens to the point of being ineffective. The power of a laser is the intensity of its focus.

At HDBC we have determined to resist the tendency to spread ourselves so thin that we are not effective. Sometimes less is more. We have decided that it is best to do fewer things really well than to do many things not-so-well. We know that we cannot embrace every new ministry that comes along. We have precious but limited resources (volunteers, space and funds) and must use them in the most effective ways. In a phrase, we are committed to a narrow focus.

Love God, Connect to others, Serve the World.

Johnny

Kids Night

Last night was so much fun watching the kids enjoying themselves in worship. Thanks to our entire children's ministry team and volunteers for keeping our children's ministries glowing and growing. Thanks also to all those in our church who have given and sacrificed to help these children in ways that no one sees or knows.

Parents, remember that Wednesday nights are big nights for our kids. Bro. Shay and his volunteers lead the kids in exciting Bible study and spiritual development each week. Make sure that your kids don't miss out on this important time.

Johnny

Think Steps, Not Programs

On Sunday night, September 7 I shared five principles that the Lord revealed to me while on Sabbatical this summer. Each of this principles has become a key element in our movement toward being a more effective church. Principle number two contains four simple words; Think Steps, Not Programs.

Steps reflect movement through a process. Our strategy is to conduct ministries that will move people through a three-step process that demonstrates movement toward maturing discipleship.

We want to lead non-Christians to take step one: Loving God.
Then we want to lead them to take step two: Connecting to Others
Then we want to lead them to take step three: Serving the World

Each step in the process requires a greater level of commitment and will demonstrate a maturing discipleship. This is exactly the way God has always worked. Through processes, steps.

The Creation – Six sequential steps. Creation was a process.
The Apostles – He called them, taught them, then sent them out for ministry
The Gospel – Death, Burial, Resurrection

If you study the Bible you will find that God often works through processes; steps in accomplishing his will.

Sunday morning worship is the primary entry point to lead people into the process. It will encourage people to love God and make a commitment to Him.

Small Groups are the second step and primary ministry to help people connect to other believers. Our goal is to have a great small group ministry which will encourage New Testament types of relationships.

Serving the World includes three levels of service and commitment. We will offer a variety of ways for people to get involved in service and will encourage those in small groups to take the next step and get involved in service.

So . . . where are you in the process? What step or steps have you taken? Grab a hand and join us in this wonderful journey of loving God, connecting to others and serving the world.

See you this Sunday.

Johnny

Connecting

Connecting with other believers is an important step in the journey toward spiritual maturity. I witnessed some important connecting this past Sunday when we enjoyed our picnic together at Craighead Forest Park. What a great day. Thanks to all who made it happen.

I want to encourage you to take advantage of every possible opportunity you have to connect with other believers this week. And along the way do some investing in those who have not yet come to have a personal relationship with God. In doing so you just might be connecting with a future believer. Have a great week!

Johnny

Clarify the Mission

A few weeks ago I shared with our church the principles that have now become the foundation of all that we do at HDBC. In the next few blogs I want to review those five principles. The first important principle is that we need to have a clear mission.

For years we have sought to lead people to become committed maturing followers of Jesus Christ. However, we had trouble measuring how well we were doing that. How do we know if we are leading people to become committed maturing followers of Jesus Christ? What does that person look like?

After a careful review of the New Testament we have determined that it can be boiled down to three simple phrases. Committed maturing followers of Jesus Christ . . .

LOVE God, CONNECT to Others and SERVE the World.

That’s it. That is the best description that I can come up with . And I believe it captures the essence of a maturing discipleship. So, after careful thought, diligent prayer, and a lot of conversation we have determined that this is the best way to state our mission.

To lead people to love God, connect to others and serve the world.

So, what is Highland Drive Baptist Church all about? Loving God, Connecting to Others, Serving the World. That’s it. In every area of ministry those are the three things we now focus on.

So, let me pose a question for each reader. Where are you in the process? Are you loving God? Connecting to Others? Serving the World? If you are lacking in any of those areas, let me encourage you to take the next step.

The Boy Turns Two

Next Monday Hutch will officially celebrate his 2nd birthday. However the real celebration will be this Saturday afternoon. My mom and dad are coming up from Louisiana for the party. Joy and a couple of her good friends will drive in from Fayetteville. Stephen's family will be coming in from L.A. (that's Lynn, Arkansas). Needless to say, it's a big deal.

For most of my life I have heard "old" people talk about how much fun it is to have grandchildren. I brushed it off as the simple ramblings of those who had nothing else to talk about. Now I know better. I could talk about the economy, the war against terror, the presidential race or the football games this weekend. But most of all I want to talk about "the boy." It was worth having kids just to get to have grandkids.

Now I know that you young people will brush this off as the simple ramblings of an old man who has nothing else to talk about it. Honestly, it doesn't matter. And by the way I am not reallly that old. Grandparents are a lot younger than they used to be!

Happy Birthday Hutch! Your Papa J loves you.

Johnny

Monday Morning

It's Monday morning, and I'm in the process of clearing the desk so that I can really dive into the week. Yesterday was a busy day; four meetings, three worship services, small groups, and a Sunday afternoon nap. Thank goodness for the nap. It was a tiring day, but a good one. I sensed the presence of the Lord throughout the day and was delighted with the spirit of our church family. I'm already looking forward to the next time we will be together.

I'm reminded that even when we are not together on Sundays, we are still the church. We are still the body of Christ and have the joy of serving Him in our community. I am looking forward each day to ways in which I can invest my life in the life of other people. I know God has some divine appointments for me this week. I'm sure the same is true for you. So keep your eyes open and see what God has in store for you.

Remember, the local church is the hope of the world.

Johnny

Love . . . Connect . . . Serve . . .

Love . . . Connect . . . Serve . . . Three small words, but three big steps. That is the heart of our mission at Highland Drive Baptist. We want to assist people as they move through a process of loving God, connecting to others and serving the world. That is our mission. That is our process. That is our goal. That is the expectation we have for our HD family.

We ask our members to do three things each week; show their love for God by faithfully attending a Sunday morning worship celebration, connect to other believers by being actively involved in one of our small groups, and serve the world by being involved in a ministry, evangelism process, or mission project.

Would you like to be a part of something that is bigger than yourself? Something that will reach beyond this life? Something that will make a difference for all eternity? Check us out at Highland Drive Baptist Church. Join us in the journey.

Johnny

Skipping Church

Boy, what a strange day yesterday was. Several times a year we will cancel Sunday night worship in order to allow our members and attenders to have more time with family. But seldom do we cancel Sunday morning activities. So it was odd. Honestly, I missed you guys.

Sunday morning is not just about worship and small groups, although those are the two key things we do at that time each week. Sunday mornings are also about fellowship and interaction with other believers. I missed it all yesterday as I'm sure you did. Maybe we should all take a little extra time to seek out a few minutes or a few hours of fellowship with a brother or sister in Christ this week.

Remember to do three things this week: Love God, Connnect to Others, Serve the World.

Have fun doing all three this week.

Johnny

The Power

Power is a hot topic today. It is a critical issue that is helping to shape the political campaigns of both presidential candidates. And it is something that we often take for granted. As long as we have it coming, we forget that it is even there. But let the power fail for a short period, especially during that key football game on TV and we immediately take notice.

That happened a couple of Saturdays ago and boy was I frustrated. After waiting months for the start of football season and then to have the power fail only minutes before the first game of the year was almost more than I could handle. Thankfully CWL was on the spot and restored the power quickly.

I wish I were that quick to notice when the spiritual power in and around my life was weakened or depleted. I confess that I am often more sensitive to the loss of electrical power than spiritual power. The good news is that unlike an electrical power failure which requires the utility company's help, I can immediately restore the source of spiritual power simply by praying.

Prayer is the true source of spiritual power. So stay connected and keep the power flowing.

New Directions

Last night my heart was thrilled as I saw and sensed the response of our church as I shared how the Lord is leading us in a slightly new direction. We have redefined our mission in a way that help us do a better job of leading people to become committed maturing followers of Jesus Christ. Our new mission statement will be easy to remember, easy to understand, and will provide us with a better way of measuring success.

Loving God, Connecting to Others, Serving the World. That is what HDBC is all about. We want to lead people to do those three things; love God through worship, connect to others through small groups, and serve the world through ministry, evangelism and missions. This will now become the focus of everything we do in every area of ministry.

If you were not able to be with us last night, I want to encourage you to listen online. The link should be on our website later today (Monday).

Johnny

Sabbatical Sharing

As many of you know I spent July 1 - August 10 on a sabbatical from everything related to my ministry as pastor of Highland Drive Baptist Church. During that time I not only got some much-needed rest, but also received some very clear direction from the Lord concerning our church. This coming Sunday night, September 7, I will be sharing that with the church. So, if you are a part of the HDBC family, please make it a priority to be here.

We have had some great days in the past, but I believe the best is yet to come.

See you on Sunday.
Johnny

The Partner

The Partner was a very successful novel written by John Grisham in 1998. It is also the topic of our study this coming Sunday morning. This Sunday will mark the mid-point in our five-part series Extreme Makeover: Spiritual Edition in which we are examing Romans 8.

Two weeks ago we discovered the incredible truth about The Pardon. We learned that there is absolutely no condemnation for those who are believers in Jesus Christ. All of our sins have been forgiven. Last Sunday we examined The Prize. We learned that regardless of how good it can be in this life, the best is yet to come. There is a wonderful prize waiting for every believer.

Join us this Sunday as we examine The Partner.

REMEMBER: we will have a 9:30 worship celebration only. No small groups and no evening worship. So, join us at 9:30 this week only. And remember to invite a friend.

Johnny

The Prize

Webster's dictionary defines "prize" as . . . something offered or striven for in competition or in contests of chance; also, something exceptionally desirable. It is the second part of that definition that I will be using this coming Sunday morning when we talk about The Prize. I will be describing something that not only is exceptionally desirable but is also offered.

Join us Sunday morning at 8:30 or 10:45 as we continue the new series Extreme Makeover: Spiritual Edition. Do you know someone who could use a spiritual makeover? Why not invite them to join with you this Sunday morning? Go ahead . . . invite them. You can do it.

See you on Sunday.

Johnny

Kids and Water

Something magical happens when you get kids and water get together. That was the case Sunday afternoon when we had our annual back to school splash. I'm not sure if the kids had more fun playing in the water or if the adults had more fun watching. It was fun watching Shay get soaked by the kids not just once, but several times. I even got my back soaked a couple of times. That's right, my back. I'm a runner!

Oh to be a kid again. I remember trips to the lake just to splash around in the water. When we were a little older we spent our summers at the pool. When we were not at the pool we were often playing in the sprinklers in the yard. My own kids used to place the sprinkler under the trampoline and let the water shoot up through it. Now, that was fun.

The warmer weather will soon be over so enjoy the water while you can.

Johnny

Only God

I was thrilled a few days ago when I received an email from one of the team members on our recent mission team to Ivory Coast which indicated that a Koro man had given his heart to Jesus. This man is a leader and very influential in his area.


He had heard the gospel many times before, maybe dozens of times. But from the brief testimony that I've received, something happened this time that had never happened before. He said "yes" and trusted Jesus as his savior. After years of praying and working among the Koro there is now at least one new believer. I'm not sure if there are others, but I'm sure there will be.


Why now? What made the difference in this man's life at this point? ONLY GOD. As some of us are fond of saying, "this is a God-thing." What makes a retired couple invest their lives in missions and personally give their time, money and effort to go the hard places of the world? ONLY GOD. What makes a young couple with small children travel across the ocean to experience a world that they had only read about? ONLY GOD. What will enable HDBC to make an unprecedented impact on our world? ONLY GOD.


I am looking forward to hearing more from Jerry, Armentia, Patrick and Karen, the team that just returned from Ivory Coast. Great job, guys. Get some rest, then let us join in joy of all that God has done.


Johnny

Sabbatical - Day . . . . LAST

Boy, it is so hard to believe how quickly these past weeks have gone by. In some ways it seems like only yesterday that Jan and I took off for Chicago, on day-one of our sabbatical. Now, as I sit in my sun room on Sunday evening, August 10th, I am facing the conclusion of a wonderful time of refreshment, growth, learning, and re-energizing. Tomorrow morning I will be back in the office and will be resuming my day-to-day duties as pastor.

So, what will tomorrow be like? As with every day in full-time ministry there are some unknowns. I know what I hope to accomplish: beginning sermon prep for next Sunday morning and preparation for staff meeting on Tuesday just to name a few. I also will spend some time jotting down the specific things the Lord has revealed to me concerning ministry in general, my ministry in particular, and some important insights into the direction of our church. It is amazing how the things the Lord began to reveal to me from the very beginning of the sabbatical have been confirmed over and over again throughout these weeks through books, personal conversations, conference messages, quiet meditation and church worship experiences. God clearly spoke to me in some very specific and exciting ways.

Hopefully in September I will take a Sunday night to share exactly how the Lord spoke to me not only concerning my life and ministry, but also concerning Highland Drive Baptist Church. I have no doubt that God plans to use the HD Family to impact this community and the world in ways far beyond what we have seen.

We finished our sabbatical by spending a few days in the Nashville area, attending the Willow Creek Leadership Summit on Thursday and Friday, then attending FBC, Franklin on Sunday morning. It was truly a great way to end our time of rest.

Thanks again for giving us this wonderful opportunity and for praying for us during these days. I look forward to seeing many of you on Wednesday night, and then again on Sunday.

In Calvary's Grace,

Johnny

Sabbatical - Day 36

This past Sunday we attended First Baptist Church, Corinth Mississippi. It was through the ministry of this church that I came to know the Lord and was called of God into full-time Christian ministry. This church is very special to me. It was a joy to worship with this congregation. Keep in mind that it has been over thirty years since I have attended a service there. I kept scanning the crowd looking for familiar faces, but had to keep reminding myself that there was no point in looking into the faces of those under fifty. What a wake-up call that was.

I did visit with a couple whose daughter was my age and whom I remembered from so many years ago. It was a joy to "catch-up" with them a bit. Other than that, there were some familiar faces but I could not recall names.

We then decided to venture down to Starkville for a visit to my birth city. Quite frankly I had no desire to try to find the hospital in which I was born, or anything related to my birth. I did, however checkout the Bullies who were going through their first practice of the summer. Things went well for about fifteen minutes. I was really enjoying seeing those big bodies run plays and begin to get ready for football season. Then a friendly young graduate assistant introduced himself to me and kindly informed me that practice was not open to the public. Oh well, it was fun while it lasted.

We will be in Franklin, TN this week for a leadership conference and will worship with First Baptist Church there on Sunday. Then on Monday I will be back in the office.

Blessings,
Johnny

Sabbatical - Day 32

This weekend I decided to travel back to my spiritual roots. We are spending a few days and nights in Corinth, Mississippi. Two significant spiritual experiences happened to me in Corinth. In 1969 at the age of 12 I confirmed my salvation by making a definite commitment of faith to Christ. Two years later at the age of 14, I answered the call of God to full-time Christian ministry as a life vocation. Both events were confirmed and strengthened through the ministry of First Baptist Church. We plan to worship there on Sunday morning. It will be a great blessing to worship in the same building and with the same congregation that meant so much to me during the young formative years of my spiritual life.

I will be praying for the Highland Drive family as you meet together this Sunday. May God visit you with a wonderful display of His grace and blessing.

Johnny

Sabbatical - Day 29

We are at home for a few days this week just hanging out with family, catching up on house and yard work, and doing some reading. We continue to enjoy our time off, but feel a growing yearning to be back with our Highland Drive family. Thanks for continuing to pray for us. God is certainly revealing some exciting things concerning the future of our church and is showing me some important things about my role as your pastor.

I will be back in the office on August 11. Stay faithful during the remaining weeks of summer and let's anticipate a great season of growth this fall.
Johnny

Sabbatical - Day 26

We are enjoying a few days in Northwest Arkansas. It is good to spend some time with Joy and to learn more about the Leadership Training Program/Internship that she is currently involved in at University Baptist Church. We also visited with Jan's brother and family and with my brother and family. I also enjoyed a round of golf with my brother and nephew yesterday afternoon. We are now well into the second half of our sabbatical and are already feeling a longing to get back into the swing of things at Highland Drive. God has been so good to enable us to enjoy this time, but we are missing our church family. We will worship with Joy at UBC on Sunday and will be praying for God to move in a special way at Highland Drive.

Johnny

Sabbatical - Day 21

Back home for a few days. Boy it feels good to be off the road and enjoying some down time. It will be good to do some things around the house and read a couple more books. The trip was great, but we are glad to be in our own home the next few days.

We spent some time with my folks before coming home. Mom had some surgery but seems to be doing well. Hopefully that will correct the problem that she has been having.

Hope everyone is doing well.

Johnny

Sabbatical - Day 16

For those who have been checking in each day, let me apologize for no entries the last couple of days. Last night we had a problem finding a hotel room and were only able to check in around 1 a.m. So, there was no time for computer work.

We have adjusted our travel plans and are cutting our trip a little short. We have seen some wonderful things but will not make it to Oregon or California this time around. Oh well, you have to leave some things for future trips.

Hope you enjoy the photos above. For the record, the plate of food was about to be eaten by JAN, not me.

Hope you all have a great day.

Johnny

Sabbatical - Day 13

Happy Birthday, Jana. Wish we could have been there to celebrate with you. We love you so much.

Now, for the rest of you . . . Jan and I are truly enjoying our time of freedom. Once again we are so grateful to Highland Drive Baptist Church for giving us this opportunity. I took a break from some of the driving today and read another great book that the Lord is already using in my life. It is such a joy to be able to do some additional reading that will not only help me but also my ministry as a pastor.

We attended a wonderful worship celebration in Denver this morning and then hit the road again. Check out the photos above and see if you can guess where we were today.

Johnny

Sabbatical - Day 12

We spent the day touring Monument Valley and Arches National Park. Had a great time. It's late and we are planning to attend worship at Riverside Baptist Church in Denver at 8:00 in the morning. I'll try to post some more pictures on facebook, for those who are interested.

Blessings.

Sabbatical - Day 11

Finally we outran the rain. After experiencing a lot of rain yesterday and last night we saw the sun for most of today. We are enjoying our time of touring some of the great western sites of this wonderful nation. Check out the pictures from Monument Valley, Utah. Many of the westerns starring John Wayne were filmed here.

It's also great spending some time alone with the Lord without thoughts of immediate sermons or Bible Studies. He is speaking and my spirit is being refreshed.

Thanks for your prayers.

Sabbatical - Day 10

Where are we? Have some fun. Check out the pictures and see if you can guess where we were?

Have a great day.

Johnny