Tuesday on the Coast

Today was mostly a quiet day around Central. I suppose the Mardi Gras parades had the crowds otherwise occupied. I saw Mr. Roy Clark this morning and to demonstrate the fact that he was feeling much better, he danced a little jig for me. We both laughed. I am grateful that he is recovering from his fall quickly. Ken Wiley is still in the hospital, and they decided to do his back surgery tomorrow (Wednesday). I want to tell you a story of something that happened to David Kilbern today .... but I have to warn you that it does have some earthy elements to it. David and Elaine left today for Pensacola for an overnight visit with Elaine's sisters. They stopped in Mobile and ate lunch then headed back onto the interstate. They knew they needed gas, but it slipped both of their minds. So half way to Pensacola they are on the side of the interstate out of gas. Elaine's sister brings some gas and they drive into a service station. While in the restroom, David met a man from a local church that was looking to donate some money to hurricane relief! It never ceases to amaze me how God just keeps blessing our community with help. Please say a prayer for the Carpenter family tonight. Richard Carpenter passed away just before nine tonight. Richard is, I think, 33 years old. His fight with cancer was a brief one - as he just discovered it a few short months ago. Even though he was in a lot of pain, he never lost his sweet sense of humor. I last saw him Saturday surrounded by friends from his church in Birmingham. They had come down to cheer him up and to say their goodbyes. Richie was a wonderful Christian man that I admired. His beautiful and faithful Christian mother passed away from cancer about four years ago. This family has suffered much grief in all of this, yet they know that their loved ones are safe in the arms of Jesus. Lift them up in prayer and ask God to comfort their hearts. Needless to say, I will not be speaking at Brookhaven, MS tomorrow night. Thanks, Otis, for understanding. Tomorrow night begins 31 nights of preaching at Central. This is either brilliance or craziness! Pray for us as we reach out to our community with the beautiful Gospel of Christ. We are all terminal. As we walk toward our destiny, have we placed our full trust in Jesus Christ? I pray that if you have not, you will.