The Day Ahead

My day ahead of me is planned to be spent finishing mowing the yard.  I will be mowing the back yard; if it doesn’t rain.  I don’t think it is supposed to.  It will take me three or four hours probably.  It took me most of the morning and into the afternoon yesterday to mow the front.

I will also be preparing for Sunday morning and evening at Carr Lane Baptist Church.  I always look forward to being with the kind, gracious and loving people of our church.  I also look forward to preaching the gospel of Jesus
Christ and the whole counsel of God from His Word.

It has been hot again.  The temp yesterday got up to 100 and possibly plus that some.  I have enjoyed the cooler temps the past few days; and the rainfall has given me grass to mow.  Thank YOU Lord.

I am thankful for the rest I receive during my sleep time.  I went to bed last night earlier than I have in a long time.  It was 8:30 when I told my wife, “I think I am going to lay down, and maybe get up later.”  It was later.  At 3:30 this morning I arose from bed rested and ready for my time with the Lord.

Thanks you to everyone who has prayed for my Dad.  He is home now.  Prayers are still needed.

From the banks of Flat Creek near Jenkins, Missouri I’m…

-Tim

Going to Church

Some would think, “Well, You’re the pastor.  Of course you would go to church.”  I was going to church long before I ever became a pastor.  It is really not “Going to Church”; it is going to worship.  It is going to worship with others our Lord Jesus Christ; Savior of the world, and Lord and Master of the Universe and all that He has made.

My wife and I attend and are members of Carr Lane Baptist Church, down near the Arkansas and Missouri border in Southwest Missouri.  A country church with warm, loving people.

I am thankful today to be returning, because we were gone this past Sunday for our annual family get together.  I did get to hear a good sermon last Sunday by my brother in law; my sister’s husband.  It was good to be there with all our kids and grandkids; with the exception of one family.

It won’t be long and the wife and I will be getting in the car and heading for Carr Lane to worship.  Prayerfully, we worship Him everyday.  It is wonderful, however, to join other brothers and sisters in Christ to worship as oft as we can.

Writing from the banks of Flat Creek.  God bless you today and everyday.

-Tim

Full House

I am not talking about the old television sitcom.  I am talking about our family at our house.  We are full up.  This weekend is our family’s annual get together.  The first one was at our house we were renting a few years ago; and then the next few years was at our son Philip’s and wife’s home in Booneville, AR.

The annual get together always take place near the time of my wife’s birthday and this year fell during the time of her birthday.  For her; I don’t think there could be a better birthday present than all our kids and grand kids at our home.  Me?  I need to get away once in awhile.  I love my kids, and grand kids, but the noise and the crowd  just gets to me after a bit.

That’s what I am doing now; taking some quiet time; though I can hear it in the next room.

I usually take off from preaching at Carr Lane Baptist Church for the weekend; and that has not changed this weekend.  Bro. Max Hook who is the Director of Soul’s Harbor in Rogers, AR. will be preaching for me Sunday morning July 10.  I appreciate Bro. Max and ministry.

Soul’s Harbor is a ministry to homeless men in the area.  Though Rogers is a part of the growing Northwest Arkansas area there are still many who need the services Max and the ministry provide.

We are going to be eating burgers for supper after while, and I think we are eating some longhorn burgers.  Meat from good old Missouri grown Texas Longhorns.  Barbeque hamburgers along the banks of Flat Creek.  Yum, yum.

I enjoy this time of year.  I also enjoy getting together with my family.  Thank YOU Lord for your blessings.

-Tim

Sunday Morning 061211

We had a wonderful time of worshipping our Lord this morning at Carr Lane Baptist.  We missed seeing you there.  Hope to see you next time.

To those who don’t know I do attend church every Sunday; morning and evening most of the time.  All the time except for certain occasions when we take off a Sunday evening for family events and such.  It is always good to be in God’s house and to have His house with us always.

I preached this morning on the text of 2 Chronicles 7:12-16.  The title was “When Heaven is Closed”.  It is time for God’s people to humble themselves, pray, seek God’s face and turn from their wicked ways.  Then we will have God hear our prayers, forgive our sins and heal our land.

The people of God; those who have been purchased by the sacrifice of His Son Jesus; must repent and get right with GOD.

-Tim A. Blankenship

First Day of Summer ’09

The first day of Summer 2009 is starting out acting like Summer. Hot, muggy, summerish to say the least, and I guess I am one of a few or many (not sure of stats) who enjoy the hot, muggy days of Summer.

This day also is Father’s Day. Father’s are a blessing from God. I know mine is to me. I pray that I have been to my three sons, and two daughters too. Our daughters Charity and Monica both have children with their husbands and are both happy and to to be Moms. Two of our sons are Dads and happy and blessed to be so. I am now blessed as a grandfather of nine living, two with Jesus in heaven, and one on the way.

On this Sunday we will be attending church at Carr Lane Baptist, preaching the morning message, worshipping in the preaching and singing of hymns, songs, and spiritual songs; singing and making melody in our hearts to the Lord. On this beautiful first day of Summer. What a wonderful day our Lord has wrought.

Thank YOU Lord.

-Tim A. Blankenship

One Saturday in May

I know there is a couple of Saturday’s left in May. On the 23rd and 24th I will be away from the pulpit of Carr Lane Baptist Church, taking a vacation Sunday. I will be visiting another church to listen to a good sermon, from a good preacher.

The “One Saturday…” of which I write was on the 9th of May. The day before Mother’s Day. Our son Philip came up from Booneville, AR. along with his wife Sarah Joyce, and two daughters Rene’e and Natalie, spent the night on Friday and went to Mother’s Day breakfast with us, at Carr Lane Baptist on Saturday morning. The men of our church provided, cooked and served bacon, sausage, pancakes, biscuits and gravy, and scrambled eggs for the honor of our mothers.

Following the breakfast we; that is our son and his family; our daughter Monica, her husband Sam and daughter Addison went to Silver Dollar City near Branson. We often, jokingly, call it Steal Your Dollar City; around here in Southwest Missouri. It is a theme park, amusement park, music park, crafts park; taking you back to the 1800’s or so. They also have rides; roller coasters, wet rides, and kiddy rides.

Even I got on two of the roller coasters. The first one I rode was called “Powder Keg”. It sends you off on a short ride which starts you from a standing stop at about 60 miles per hour. From that stop you top a steep rise in the tracks to a sudden drop with twists and turns which would leave you breathless, if you are not screaming; or laughing all the way around. I laughed on every twists and turn. Were it not for the seat restraints you would come out of your seat.

We finished with Powder Keg then went and rode “WildFire”. It has loops and loops and one more loop. It too is a thriller, but I think I liked Powder Keg the best. It sets you back in the seat, and leaves you longing for more. That is if you like that kind of thing.

Spring is here. Enjoy it in our Lord’s Creation.

-Tim A. Blankenship

Summer – Well Underway

The last I wrote here it was the end of May, and it was late Spring though Summer vacation had begun for many students of schools.

As of the last writing my wife and I had been cooks at the Youth Camp for Barry County Baptist Association, actually helpers in the kitchen. It was a great time. We were also looking forward to the birth of our eleventh grandchild, and third grand son. Eli Andrew was born June 30, 2008; around 10 a.m. at the mammoth weight of 7 pounds and 14 ounces, and was the grand length of 22 inches.

On July 4 we participated in our families annual fourth of July picnic down at the old swimming hole, had food, and fireworks, and fire arms sounding the sounds of the revolution. On Sunday evening of July 6, following our evening worship at Carr Lane Baptist Church; Madge and I went to Baptist Hill Campgrounds to help cook for Barry County Baptist Children’s Camp. That was a great four or five days. There were five decisions to trust Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Savior and about 20 other decisions with four of those being rededications to Christ, and the rest pretty much relating to surrender to Christian service.

The Summer is going good, getting hot, but it sure could be hotter. God is good. God is greater than our thoughts, greater than our deeds. He alone is worthy of praise and glory.

I am thankful for this Summer and every day God gives us.

Live the rest of the Summer for the Lord.

-Tim A. Blankenship