Talking To Life

A Lizard outside our house in Hillsboro

I have taken to talking to plants and animals recently.  I talked with a couple of dogs that walked up while I was working on a wood project at my mother-in-law's house.  I talked to our house plants on Sunday they were looking thirsty.  I talked with a lizard that was perched on the front of our house here this morning.  Each of these conversations was one sided of course had they not been I would not be blogging right now.  Janie would have had me committed.  If Eve talked with the serpent it might be she also talked to other animals and maybe plants.  Perhaps in the eternal ages we will talk with God's creatures and understand their needs better than we do now. 

Texas Mission Builders equipment arriving

It sure feels like summer time. Even though the actual date for the start of summer is June 21st it sure is hot.  I am planning to camp out and do a little fishing on my day off.  I may be joined on my outing by my daughter and her family it seems they have Friday off and want to do some camping as well. 
The Texas Mission Builders have begun to deliver some of their equipment to our church.  They are going to get started with the repairs to the outside of our building the week after next.  The materials have been delivered and next week they will be setting up their camping trailers getting ready to go to work. 

Materials for our churches remodeling project

We are excited about the work and anxious to see our building get a much needed face lift.  By the time the state messenger meeting comes to our church in November we will have remodeled restrooms and a nice exterior to greet our guests. It is going to look great.  God bless you.

Camping Table

Shade tree carpenter, woodworking outdoors

The pieces all cut out of 1 sheet of plywood

I took the day off today and worked on a project out in the yard under a shade tree at my mother-in-law's house.  I am building a fold up picnic table which has 8 pieces.  It will seat four adults and is made out of 1 sheet of plywood.  I got the plans for it on the internet. I have the pieces cut out but they need to be notched then sanded and painted.  I put them in the trunk of our car and will finish the project later back home.  God bless you.

Walking, Wading, Waving, Winning

Wading with the grandkids

Peter started out walking on the water.  Peter became distracted and began to wade in the water.  Peter became worried and began to ride the waves sinking deeper and deeper.  Peter cried out "Lord save me!"  Jesus reached out and grabbed Peter and defeated doubts battle with Peter.  My day is often such a journey.  At times I start out in faith walking with full confidence in God.  Doubt comes my way and a battle in my mind ensues.  I weaken and begin to wade instead of walk. Doubt intensifies its attack and my mind forgets from where its strength and help comes. I then begin to tread water my faith is in peril.  Then I cry unto the LORD!!!!  He grabs me every time.  I look into His face and say, "I know, I know...Why did I doubt?" I wish everyone would know the LORD.  Once you know Him you will wonder why you ever tried to live without Him.  He is the best.
We had a good Bible study this morning and are looking forward to good services tonight down in Lorena.  I took a nap this afternoon and will work well into the night.  It is a day filled with walking not waving.  God bless you.

Reflection

In the foyer of the church this morning

The reflection of the stain glass window was made more prominent by the hot sunshine on the front of the church house. The building is always quiet when we first arrive at church.  We make the rounds turning on the lights and unlocking the doors.  As I unlocked the front door I saw the shell of a 17 year cicada.  I would later pluck it from its resting place and give it to one of the ladies of our church to give to her son.  In her wisdom she deemed it best to keep it from him knowing he would probably try to eat it.  He is under 2 years old.
The temperature hit 101 today which is not the best weather for wearing a suit.  Janie and I survived walking around in the heat at Canton on Saturday.  We had frozen some bottles of water and we kept sipping on those to keep cool.  We also, as is our custom, had some homemade ice cream and that always hits the spot when it is hot at Canton.  It was a good time in spite of the heat. 

The return of the 17 year cicada at Walnut St. Baptist

It will hit 100 most every day this week.  We went to the funeral home after lunch to help a family make arrangements for a funeral.    The funeral service, which will be on Thursday, is going to be a hot one.  In spite of the heat this graveside service will be, by necessity, fairly long.  Janie and I are to sing a duet at the graveside and I will preach a Gospel message to the crowd gathered there.  When reflecting on the life of a departed one what is most important is that person's relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.  I know too many people who just don't understand that fact.  We had to leave the funeral home to head for the nursing home and the service at the nursing home was good.

Little Cole sitting between the ushers on the front pew

Our attendance has been good lately but with the summer now here I expect vacations will cause a drop in our attendance.  Vacation will take Janie and me away for two Sundays in a row in August even though we plan to watch the services via Skype.
  The Lord's Supper observance was tonight and that is to me a very special time.  I brought a sermon from Hebrews chapter 9 on the shedding of blood for remission.  It was a good service.
Janie and I watched a movie while we ate supper this evening.  She is now working and after I blog I will be heading for bed.  God bless you. 

Hot Walk

My mother sewing

Two of the officers of Texas Camp #4, Pine Springs Baptist Camp, met for lunch today.  The senior of the two was the registrar and the younger was the assistant director.  They had a good meeting talking about camp and catching up on things.  The camp registrar went to his mother's house after lunch and enjoyed a good visit with her while the assistant director went back to his job.  Mother was sewing when I arrived, making new curtains for her kitchen.  It was hot at her house, 101 degrees in the shade.  Her one window unit A/C was having trouble keeping up.  While we were visiting my older brother's two grandchildren came by for a visit.  They were cute and sweet and I enjoyed talking with them as did mother.  They did not stay long leaving when I left.

Janie coming down a steep hill on our walk

I waved to my lovely wife and my sweet mother-in-law who were sitting in a van eating lunch by the side of the road.  I was on my way to the hardware store to get what I needed to move a light switch for my mother-in-law.  I met them back at the house and got that switch moved posthaste.  Janie and I took a three mile walk enjoying each others company.  It was fun but hot.  I drank up all the water I had brought along and she drank most of hers.  It has been a good day.  We will head back to Hillsboro in the morning.  God bless you.

 

Sawmill Gravy

My book on the Lord's Supper

The services at Walnut Street Missionary Baptist Church this evening were outstanding.  The three songs that the congregation sang were full of praise and were sung with such joy that it was thrilling to be there.  The text which was expounded was Habakkuk chapter two.  It was and is an exciting passage which thrills the heart of the believer especially verse four! 
The smell of pork chops slow cooking in a frying pan filled the house this evening after church.  The first batch of sawmill gravy ever made in the Clark house came out perfect.  The pork chops were tender and oh so good. 
This day found me singing as loud as I could sing on two different occasions.  The first time was on my way to the bank.  I was singing in the car as loud as I could sing. "My Jesus I love thee, I know thou art mine.  For the all the follies of sin I resign. My gracious redeemer my savior art thou.  If ever I loved thee my Jesus tis now!"  I heard a car with its radio turned way up high as if the occupant were either deaf or was really proud of the music to which he was listening.  I thought I am not ashamed of the music which I sing and so as loud as I could sing I sang.  The second time was while I led the singing at church.  Enthusiasm is contagious and the congregation tonight was completely infected!  Wow, God is good!
The books I had printed by an Online publishing company arrived today.  I placed one in the church library and gave one away today.  I will keep one in my office at the church and one here at the house. I want to give a copy to our son-in-laws and our son.  These first ones I will give away and when I run out I will reorder.  The next batch I will sell for what it cost me to have them printed. 
Tomorrow will find us on our way to Henderson by way of Canton, Texas.  God bless you.

Sunflowers

Sunflowers near Vaughn, Texas south of Hillsboro

Monday was an easy day of visitation and mowing.  It is very hot and dry in Hillsboro.  The temperature reached 100 degrees on the car thermometer.  The Ladies Bible Study was good and the services down at Lorena were outstanding.  There was some work I needed to get done and so now that it is done, I can head for bed.
Janie and I saw a field of Sunflowers and it was quite a sight.  The hot dry weather does not seem to have stunted their growth.  The farmers are saying that the corn crop will fail this year but the wheat has done okay.  Tomorrow is going to be another hot one.  I plan to work indoors all day tomorrow where it is nice and cool.
Churches are beginning to register for camp which is coming up fast.  In just 3 weeks we will be at the ABA messenger meeting in St. Louis, then there is 3 weeks of grandkids at our house, then 2 weeks of camp, then 2 1/2 weeks in France.  Just thinking about it makes me want to go take a nap.   God bless you.

Running to God

The teenagers singing a special at church today

What a wonderful day it has been.  There were at least 13 visitors in the services at Walnut Street Baptist Church this morning making the attendance be way more than normal.  The message from God was taken from Jonah chapter 2 on the subject of "Running To God."  It was an exciting text.  The teenagers sang a special before the sermon and the song they sang went along very well with the message.
This afternoon was uneventful allowing time for a short nap.  A Skype session with Jason and Angie was enjoyed very much this afternoon.  It is good to hear that all is well there.  The evening services went well with a message from the book of Proverbs Chapter 8 verse 22 through the end of the chapter on the subject of "Wisdom's Credentials."  There was a special deacon's meeting after church that brought joy to the pastor.  The teenagers had a pizza party in the fellowship hall after church and it looked like they were having a good time.
The question was asked by many, one of another, concerning plans for Memorial Day. Most have the day off and will be doing special things on that day.  Except for a deliberate pause to remember those who died for their country Monday will be business as usual at this house.  Mow the yard, visit the nursing home, work on sermons, work on bulletins, and a visit to the gym will consume Memorial Day. God bless you.

Cabelas

Sarah, Justin and me at Cabelas

Sarah and Justin spent the night with us last night and this morning Justin drove us up to Cabelas north of Fort Worth.  We had a really good time.  We ate breakfast at McDonald's and Lunch at Cabelas.  It was fun to watch the fish being fed and to walk around looking at all the gear.  We returned home having bought nothing except lunch there.  After supper here at the house they headed home and we went to pick up a few things at Wal-Mart.  Janie exercised while I watched then I exercised for about 2 minutes on the same device.  I had to repair her exercise device after I broke it twice.  My repair made it better than new.

The road in front of where my mother was raised

I got 100 feet of para cord the other day and this evening I braided it so that now it is just 20 feet long.  20 feet braided does not tangle near as bad as 100 feet unbraided.  Using this method and knowing braiding will reduce the length by a factor of 4 allows one to make useful lengths up and have them available in a backpack.  If you need 20 feet of cord choose the braid that is 5 feet long.  If you need just 10 feet of cord choose from your pack the braid that is 2 1/2 feet long.  I think I will place 3 lengths of braided cord in my pack a 10, 5, and 2 that should suffice.
Church tomorrow and that is my favorite day of the week.  It is Memorial Day weekend and I hope we will have a big crowd at church.  God bless you.