Monthly Archives: May 2006

On Sunday (June 4), I will be leaving to help as a counselor at Maywood Christian Camp. This is always an uplifting week and one that always seems to help our young people grow closer to God and to each other.

I have been honored by being asked to help out in several ways at Maywood. I am the sports director, a class teacher and one of the evening speakers. Due to these responsibilities, I am not going to post anything on this blog for a couple of weeks. The earliest anything else will appear on here will be Saturday, June 10. I wanted to let you know so you would not wonder why I wasn’t posting anything. Let me thank you once again for coming and reading the posts and for offering your perspective.

But, before I stop posting, let me share this with you…

On Sunday, June 11, the 9th Avenue congregation is going to begin an interesting and uplifting time of singing. Each Sunday evening for nearly the past five years, several brothers and sisters have met to sing at 5:30. During this time we have learned many new songs and “brushed up” on a few older songs as well. In fact, we know about 3/4 of all the songs in our books well enough to sing them in worship, and we are very proud of that!

However, on June 11, we are going to take a break from learning all those new songs. For the past several weeks (and, in fact, up until June 4) members of the 9th Avenue family have been “voting” for their favorite songs. They have listed their 15 favorite, and brother Ricky McCreless and I have been calculating the votes. Starting on June 11, we are going to sing the 99 top voted songs. Many ballots have been turned in and many more are coming. Members are excited to see where their favorites “rank.”

I hope to share the list with you as we sing them (no previews, sorry!). Be looking for that when we begin posting again.

Many of you who read this blog regularly are either members of the 9th Avenue family or you live somewhat close to Haleyville, Alabama. That being the case, I wanted to remind you of some of the things we have scheduled for the summer. And, by the way, if you don’t live that closely, you are still more than welcome to come to any or all of these events (we have an extra bedroom!).

First, from June 4-9, many of our young people will be going to Maywood Christian Camp in Hamilton, Alabama for the week. We always enjoy the week there. If you are thinking of going to a Christian camp, may I suggest our week? It is never full, but it is a great week!

On June 17, the Hatton family is hosting a devotional for all our young people combined! This will be a great day for all. They are planning on having the devotional at Haleyville’s City Lake, weather permitting.

Beginning on June 18, we will have our annual Summer Gospel Meeting, and it will continue through Thursday, the 22nd. Drew Kizer, the minister for the Ashville Road church of Christ in Leeds, Alabama, will be here speaking on the subject of Influence. Services will start at 9:30 AM and 10:30 AM and 7:30 PM on Sunday, then at 7PM Monday through Thursday.

On Thursday, July 13, we have a special day planned for the young people of the area. Our 2nd annual Youth Lectureship will be held here at Haleyville. The day is filled with in-depth Bible study, and every young person (and adult) will learn much during the day. There are three areas of study this year: (1) Lessons from First and Second Corinthians, (2) Very Difficult Issues and (3) Proofs of the Bible’s Inspiration. The day will begin at 9AM, and will conclude at 6PM. All your young people need to bring is a Bible and some money to eat fast food on the town.

From Sunday, July 16-Tuesday, July 18, our young people will be in Winfield for the annual “Knock, Knock” campaign. Each year, a different town in this area hosts this event, and the young people knock every door in the community. If you would like to be a part of these great days, you are more than welcome to help!

9th Avenue’s Vacation Bible School is always a highlight of the year. This year, it will run from July 23-26, and our theme will be “Bound for the Arctic Challenge.” We have classes for all ages, including newborns and adults, so make your plans to attend!

Our final “big” event for the Summer is our annual “Mission: Haleyville” week. From July 31-August 2, our young people will be involved in three days of service work (and a lot of fun). We send cards, visit the elderly, work around the building, and just do whatever else needs to be done. We end with a party after Bible classes on Wednesday night for the young people who participated.

It’s going to be a VERY busy summer, but one that will help us all grow closer to God. Make your plans to attend any or all of these events!

The Kansas City Royals are bad. In fact, they are terrible. After another loss last night, they find themselves with a record of 10-32. They have already had an 11-game losing streak this year, and their loss last night made their current streak reach 9 games. They are, in fact, on pace to lose the most games in the history of Major League Baseball.

On Sunday, one of their pitchers, Scott Elarton, had had enough. After a blowout loss to the St. Louis Cardinals, he lashed out during some post game interviews. He talked about how terrible the team was. He mentioned how that, when one part of the game would be going well, another would be awful. (All that seems to be true, by the way.)

Then, however, he said something that drew a lot of criticism. At the end of his tirade, Elarton said, “and no one seems to care.” That’s a strong statement. Say what you want about professional athletes and their salaries, but they are still professionals. They have to care, or they can easily be replaced with other players who do!

That statement stuck with me somewhat when I heard it. Here was a man who obviously had a terrible feeling inside. There is an almost sick feeling that a person gets when he or she feels that no one cares for something being done.

Maybe you’ve worked hard on a project for school or work, and it goes unappreciated. Maybe you labor hard at home to make the house a great place, but your family doesn’t pay a compliment. Maybe you encourage people by sending cards or making calls, but you never receive a “thank you” in return. It can seem as though no one cares.

In the long ago, David took it one step further. In hiding, at the end of his rope, David wrote, “Look to the right and see: there is none who takes notice of me; no refuge remains to me; no one cares for my soul” (Psalm 142:4, ESV). Take note that one of the proofs of the Bible’s inspiration is that it shows heroes even in their moments of sin or despair.

David actually felt that no one cared for him at all–not even for his soul! That’s a scary thought. It just reminds us once more of the need to offer others a word of encouragement. Even a simple “thank you” or “attaboy” can lift someone’s spirits. It can pull someone from a low point in life. Let me end this post with the words of an old song that we just do not sing enough anymore. The words were written in 1916 by Lizzie DeArmond

Have you lifted a stone from your brother’s way

As he struggled along life’s road?

Have you lovingly touched some frail toilworn hand,

Shared with someone his heavy load?

Have you spoken a word full of hope and cheer?

Have you walked with a slower pace,

Till the weary of heart who were struggling on,

Took new courage to run the race?

Have you held up your light thro’ the shadows dark,

So that somebody else might see?

Have you lived with the Christ thro’ the long, long day,

Gaining many a victory?

O the things we may do, you and I;

O the love we can give if we try;

Just a word or a song as we’re passing along,

They will count in the great by and by.