You have blessed me by asking me to preach
DECEMBER 31, 2007 (MONDAY)
Today is the last day of the month and the last day of the year. Coincidentally, it is also the last week I will be the interim pastor at the First Baptist Church of Rockport. I will preach one more Sunday and then Brother Scott Jones will assume all the duties as pastor of the church. The church had a reception for me Sunday night, and many kind words were spoken about me. I do not feel worthy of such honor, but I am very grateful for the privilege of service given me by the church for the past one and one-half years.
On January 20, 2008, I will begin preaching again at the Timbergrove Baptist Church of Houston, where I served for two years prior to my return to Rockport in June, 2006. I will be the pastor at Timbergrove Baptist Church again.
At 76 years of age, I feel very fortunate to be chosen by churches to provide leadership. When I retired in 1996, I hoped I would still be asked to preach from time to time, but my hopes have been exceeded by reality, as door after door of service has opened to me. I have no long range plans; I’m just taking life as it comes.
In the New Testament we are told how Jesus walked up to some men busy at their work, and simply said, “Follow me,” and immediately they dropped what they were doing and followed Jesus. It all seemed so simple that I assumed the whole story was not being told, that there must have been more to it than that. Now I know that it can happen that way. The Lord has called, and I have answered with a simple, “Yes.” It’s not complicated. It’s just that simple.