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