Home Sweet Home

We left Enterprise about 10:00 this morning and made our way through the towns of Opp, Andalusia, and Evergreen. In Evergreen we stopped at a locally owned restaurant called The Beacon. These ladies know how to cook! We enjoyed a great country lunch and then made our way back to Pascagoula. You know how it is when you arrive home from a trip ... getting re-adjusted to the chaos is the name of the game! When I arrived I discovered that some new tables had arrived. Healing Hands International donated tables, chairs, and a Bunn coffee machine for the church. We will put those to good use - a place for people to gather and share and talk (and drink coffee)! Thanks to David White and Joseph Smith for their help in this matter. This evening six of us went over to the Meridian Street Church of Christ for their gospel meeting. Robbie, Allen, James, Becky, Pam, and I enjoyed the preaching of Darryl BBowdre of Tyler, Texas. There was also a group there from the Eastern Shore Church of Christ in Daphne, Alabama. Their preacher, Bryant Evans, led the opening prayer. Great singing, great fellowship, and great preaching made it a great night. The gang wants to go back tomorrow night, so I suspect we'll do that! The meeting runs through Thursday night. If you are in the area, come on out at 7:30 nightly. One of the men from the Elba Church of Christ who came and helped us early in the effort was Tom Maddox. We were concerned when brother Maddox was diagnosed last week with colon cancer. His surgery was today, and we are just so thankful to God. The area that had to be removed was less than expected, and they believe that they removed all of the cancer. It did not appear to have penetrated the colon, which is also good news. This is really the best news that could be expected, and we praise God for his mercy. Tim Gunnells recently resigned as minister for the Elba church. I erroneously reported earlier that he was moving to Alamo, TN. The preacher there must not read my blog! It is actually Athens, Tennessee to which the Gunnells are moving. Our best wishes follow them into Tennessee, where we know they will proclaim the gospel beautifully through Tim's messages and Kristin's encouraging works. This afternoon I met Dick and Judy Ruselink, who are here from Indiana. Wednesday we will have some more workers coming in. Eric and Connie from Tennessee will be here. Also Erin Martin and nine ladies from Raleigh, NC will be arriving. In addition, Brooke and Twila michael arrive for an extended stay - perhaps up to a year. May 7 - 10 we will have some Good News preaching by Eddie Lewis of Germantown, TN. Please be in prayer along with us that many will obey the gospel during this effort. I'll have more to say about Eddie in another post. Tonight while getting a few supplies in Wal-Mart I found a DVD LEAP OF FAITH with a great cast including Steve Martin, Debra Winger, Lolita Davidovich, Liam Neeson and everyone's favorite Meatloaf. Have any of you seen it before? Steve Martin plays a fake 'faith healer' who has an encounter with God through the faith of a crippled boy. On one level it speaks to the showbiz approach to religion and how empty it is, and on another level it addresses God's work through our very faulty faith. Plus it has a great soundtrack. I love Patti LaBelle and choir singing "Are You Ready For A Miracle?" it's enough to bring the house down. Gospel queen Albertina Walker sings Blessed Assurance. Wynonna and Meatloaf make an appearance. And in an unexpected performance that really moved me, Lyle Lovett singing a bluesy rendition of "Pass Me Not". Well, so much for John's reviews of movies no one saw, and probably for good reason!