December 30, 2016 (Friday)
Tomorrow is the last day of the month and the last day of the year. This month marks two years that I have been Interim Pastor at Bethel Baptist Church, Ingleside, Texas. I do not feel worthy of such honor, but I am very grateful for the privilege of service given me by the church. This is not the first time I have served as their interim pastor; the first time was in 1998 for 1-1/2 years. During that first term, Wanda also served as their interim music director.
Since retirement in 1996 from the First Baptist Church of Rockport, I have served as interim pastor at First Baptist, Refugio (twice), pastor of the Timbergrove Baptist Church of Houston (twice), interim pastor at First Baptist, Rockport (once), and interim at Bethel four times.
At 85 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 the Lord has opened door after door of service 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 from experience that it can happen that way. The Lord has called, and I have answered with a forthright “Yes.” It’s not complicated. It’s just that simple.
As has often been said, and beautifully sung by some, “I don’t know about tomorrow, what it holds, but I know who holds tomorrow and I know who holds my hand.”
(This is an edited reprint of a blog I wrote December 31, 2007).