November 26, 2019 (Tuesday)
I once wrote a blog about Dale and Ann Pogue, and I called them, “Old Friends.” Dale served on the staff of First Baptist Church, Rockport, with me as pastor, for several years during the 1980s.They are my old friends. I am theirs. For 55 years. They care about people and have lots of friends all over the country. They make me feel special. But they are the ones who are special.
Other “old friends” who served on a church staff with me as pastor were Troy and Ruth Conner, who served Timbergrove Baptist Church of Houston for many, many years before I became pastor, and then served there with me for about six years. Ruth was pianist and an indispensable spiritual leader in the church.
I met Troy in 1939, when we were in the 3rd grade. Troy and his family
made me a part of their family as a young boy, taking me to church and
introducing me to Christ as my Savior. We have been friends now for
80 years. Hard to believe.
Words by Gloria Gaither
Music by Bill Gaither and J.D. Miller
Old friends, after all of these years,
Just old friends, through laughter and tears,
Old friends, what a find, what a priceless treasure,
Old friends, like a rare piece of gold,
My old friends make it great to grow old,
Old friends, with all I will hold to old friends.
Now God must have known,
There’d be days on our own,
We would lose the will to go on,
That’s why he sent friends like you along.
Old friends, you’ve always been there,
My old friends, we’ve had more than our share,
Old friends, we’re all millionaires,
In old friends.
At the close of each Tuesday blog I will write about the presidents, in the order of their service.