Newsletter Oct 11th

GREETINGS FROM BARBEE’S GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH

This week, I hope that I will be able to tie several things together in order to make a point. Many of you, who are younger readers, may have trouble understanding my first story. Some of you grew up having “Pop Tarts” for Breakfast and burgers, fries, chicken nuggets, and pizza for your other meals. Those my age, and especially our parents, grew up in an entirely different era. They experienced the scarcity of food during the Great Depression and during food rationing of WW2. As a result, that generation learned to eat most anything they caught in the river or hunted in the woods. At my house, we ate the usual beef, pork, and chicken. However, I can name at least a dozen other “meats” that appeared on our table from time-to-time. Dad and Mom’s comment was, “This is all we have today. You can eat it or go hungry. “We ate it.

You remember that my family owned and ran the Big Oak Curb Market. There came a day when all 4 of us boys married and moved away to pursue our own careers. Dad, Mom, and Mr. Huneycutt [Dad’s coon hunting buddy] were left to man the store. To make things easier for Mom, Dad bought one of those small appliances that had 2 electric “eyes’ or “burners”. He plugged it in behind the meat counter. Mom could cook soup, stews, or other things without leaving the store shorthanded.

Soon, one of the men who delivered bread to the store decided that Mom’s food was his personal free lunch. He NEVER asked for permission. He simply had the audacity to help himself to whatever was cooking. Then came the fateful day!!! He came in and saw that Mom was cooking barbecue.  He made himself a couple of sandwiches and began to enjoy his meal. He told Mom, “This is delicious. What kind of meat is it?” Mom pulled no punches. She did not sugar coat the truth. She told him, “It is Raccoon”. 30 seconds earlier he was enjoying his meal. But when he heard the word “Raccoon” he turned white, tossed his sandwiches in the trash, and then went to the bathroom and upchucked all he had eaten. THAT WAS THE LAST MEAL HE STOLE.

When I was younger, adults quoted 2 sayings:
   …”Your chickens will always come home to roost”.
   …”Be sure your sins will find you out”.
Jesus put it this way [Luke 12:2, 3] “For there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. Therefore, whatsoever you have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which you have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops”.
The Writer of Proverbs puts it this way: “What you obtain dishonestly may seem sweet at first, but sooner or later you will live to regret it. [20:17 TPT]

I know of a Pastor who was having an affair. His mistress asked him to attend a family reunion with her. The reunion was in another state, so he felt safe in going. Surely, no one that far away would know he was married. As they walked, greeting various people, he relaxed. Then they walked up behind another man and she said. “I want you to meet my favorite uncle”. The uncle turned around and the Pastor stood face-to-face with one of his Deacons. He was “fired” from his Pastorate before he ever got home.!!!!!!

What is my point in all of this? We as Christians need to live Godly lives that set a holy example. We honor Jesus and witness powerfully as we strive to live above reproach. We can also claim the beautiful promise Jesus gave “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God”.  [Matthew 5:8] A Christian living with a pure heart experiences a closeness with his Lord that cannot be achieved with unholy living. Let us seek to enter more deeply into the presence of Jesus. AMEN! Then, when “Our chickens come home to roost” there will be no shame.

ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS

1. Sunday School is at 9:00 am
2. Morning Worship and Children’s Church are at 10:00 am. Also available at 10 on 99.1 FM and on the website after 12:30 pm
3. REVIVAL SERVICES—-OCTOBER 11-14—  REV. MARK CALDWELL
   Sunday 10 am and 6 pm— Finger foods and fellowship after the Evening Service
   Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday—–7 pm
4. Apple Run Trip—-October 20

Praying for a genuine move of God at Barbee’s Grove

Pastor Ed and Deacons of Barbee’s Grove Baptist Church