Young people, nursing homes...and going home

I really enjoy visiting folks.  I have some home Bible studies going which I thoroughly enjoy and although you wished nobody would go to the hospital, I hope I can bring a little cheer there as well.  Nursing homes and rehab facilities are part of my visits also and there are some pretty special things that happen along the way like the time I was leaving a nursing facility and this little sweetheart of a lady in a wheelchair sings the first line of “When we all get to heaven.”  Well, I picked up with the rest of it and we sang together the rest of the hymn.  The staff applauded us…which kind of embarrassed me a little.  I told one of the girls on staff they didn’t need to do that to which she replied, “Oh, we were just happy—that’s the first time she got every word right.”  J

So, it’s time for my visits and I thought why not ask the teens to join me?  So, our youth group came along and we went to one of our places with several of our East Side folks as residents…sister Hull (who babysat about half of the kids years ago); sister McGee (who asked if we were going to sing and she joined right in with us); sister Puckett.  We dropped in on the daddy of sister Snyder (wife of one of our elders) and said hello and to the roommate of sister Keith (who was in the hospital).

I was blessed to be with some of the best young people in the world.  We had a wonderful time.  Our teens were respectful; gracious; brought cards and gifts; the young brothers led singing and prayers…I was so delighted with our boys and girls and as a side note, they left the cell phones and I-phones and all in their pockets and focused 100% on the opportunity at hand…and a visit to another one of our aged sisters, in retrospect, was as perfect as could be.

Sister Mildred Carver is 90 years old and has taught the three year old class in Sunday School for 34 years.  Yes, you read that right…and was still in the class with our Emiline Hutson until about three weeks ago when she suffered a fall at home.  On Monday night, she was not doing real well and her two daughters (also East Side members) were in the hallway.  I knew something was up.

All of the youth went in the room with me.  I talked with sis. Carver and she looked around at the group and about 75% of the teens had been taught by sister Carver.  She nodded when I called out one of the boy’s names in that she remembered.  We had prayer and went on, hugging the daughters outside the door.

I can’t back up the following with scripture other than maybe a slight implication of 2 Timothy 4:7-8 as Paul was near the end of his life, but have you heard of situations when a person is in pretty grave condition and after a child finally arrives or a matter is finally addressed, they pass away from this life?  It’s like when that one thing happens, it’s time to leave this earth.

When sister Carver passed Tuesday, I wonder if seeing all those children she taught touched her heart to the point where she said within her heart, “Lord, I’ve done my job…and here they are serving…time for me to go home.”

Make you wonder...and it sure refreshes hope—it’s just something I was thinking about…from the Wildwood.

From Helen to Mollie...gifts that matter

Received a call Sunday morning that one of our long time members, Helen Jones passed away. 89 years of age…a good, long faithful life. I always enjoyed my visits with her at the Martin-Boyd retirement home in Chattanooga. She was a wonderful lady and loved her Tennessee Vols. I had a part in her funeral Tuesday evening and her entombment on Wednesday morning.

“Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints” (Psalm 116:15).

Received a call on Thursday that our sweet little Mollie Elizabeth Skelton arrived safe and well at 6 lbs. and 6 oz. Just had a nice visit with little Mollie…another child to hold and love.

“Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward” (Psalm 127:3).

So, this week is a week that gifts arrive left and right? Well, all I know is this…gifts come year round. Sister Helen was a dear friend and a gift to me and I know that Mollie will be a wonderful gift and friend, too.

Lord, you’ve blessed me with too many gifts. But, you know, I’d never return a one of Your blessings. Just the right size and always meets a need.

All the packages in the world never matter…hug and love the true gifts of one another.

Merry Christmas, everyone...from the Wildwood.

A funny thanksgiving story...

Years ago when I worked for Nabisco, we "revved" it up and stayed busy through the holidays.  We would come out of the gates running the end of October, first of November with our holiday displays--get 'em in, get 'em up and move 'em out.  Another reason, too was so we could ease up with a four day-work week at Thanksgiving.  In essence, we shoved three days work into four that week.

When I would do that, I would work the small town of Hartsville, TN later Wednesday afternoon (normally I would do it on Thursday).  When I would finish, I could not make it home in time for Wednesday evening Bible Study, so I would visit with my friend and "BIG" brother, Dwight Fuqua and the church of Christ at Halltown Road.  On that evening, they had a special "thanksgiving" class and within this class, Dwight would ask questions.

Brother H.I. Holt, I believe was his name...he has since passed on.  Fine, fine man...in his eighties, I believe.  Dwight called on him and said, "H.I., what is one thing you are thankful for?"

That kind, aged, beloved brother in the Lord thought a minute and said, "I am thankful my wife got a good husband."

Broke the whole class up!  Oh, it was great...and I still laugh about it to this day.

Hope you enjoyed the laugh...and a happy thanksgiving to you...from the Wildwood.

X-Rays and CT scans...and Daddy

A lot of you knew about my daddy and his passing June 4, 2009.  It was a heart attack that took Daddy's life but he was also battling lung cancer and of course, the lung cancer played a part in the heart attack.

My sister and I became a little more educated about lung cancer and learned that the causes were attributed to Daddy smoking at one time (he quit in 1978, but had smoked probably 30 years at that time--those old, nasty Pall Mall Reds for the most part) and that it is also genetic.  Immediately little brother here asked what we could do and Daddy's awesome doctor, David Spiegel said, "Get a yearly chest X-Ray."

Fast forward to November 9, 2011--physical time...and chest X-Ray.  Sure enough, I get a call and there is a little something on that left lung--pulmonary nodule, believed to be nothing major; don't worry.  "Let's get a CT scan," my newly California transplanted doctor says.

Had the prayer warriors at East Side church of Christ praying.

Fast forward to November 14, 2011--that CT scan was awesome!  November 15...to quote my doctor: "GREAT news, Mr. Archey."  A calcified granuloma, a scarring from some infection in the past.  It is benign, not worrisome, and not cancerous.

Here's my point with the blog...

Was I worried?  Nah, I don't worry; I have a Heavenly Father (Matt. 6:24-33) who tends to it all.

Next...Daddy's treatment was a trial drug treatment and you know, Daddy would have loved to have known if what he went through helped somebody else out.

From all that, I learned to get a simple chest X-Ray to make sure everything is all right. 

Yep, Daddy sure helped someone...his boy...who types this with a thankful heart and tear filled eyes...at the Wildwood.

Remembering our Veterans

...Mansel Parkinson, Ernest Jones, Jimmy Ray, Roy Barber.  If memory serves me well these are four WW II veterans still serving as soldiers of the cross at the East Side church of Christ where I labor.  These are four of the finest men I know and my, they are good to me--always have been.  I love them not only as my brothers in the Lord, but also as "father" figures and friends.

And, only deep in their hearts do they know what they faced when they battled for our country.  I recall bro. Jones telling me once, “We were young and we just did what we had to do,” a humble, gracious reply followed quickly by him pointing to the heavens and saying, “And all I have, He gave it to me.”

Throughout the congregation, there are many others who served in our armed forces whether wartime or peacetime.  We keep a list of our military family in the church bulletin.  I look out and see folks with a son or daughter currently serving our nation. 

I came across the following some years ago and have used it at military funerals...thought it would be worthy for us to remember what Veterans Day is about: remembering…an early thought of respect....from the Wildwood...

It's the soldier, not the reporter who has given us Freedom of the Press.

It's the soldier, not the poet, who has given us Freedom of Speech.

It's the soldier, not the campus organizer, who has given us the Freedom to Demonstrate.

It's the soldier, not the lawyer, who has given us the Right to a Fair Trial.

It's the soldier who salutes the flag, serves under the flag and whose coffin is draped by the flag,

Who gives the protestor the right to burn the flag.

--Dennis Edward O'Brien, USMC

Arrive, apply and amplify

I am currently embracing and enjoying the book of 1 John and in chapter three, John brings forth the strong love and compassion we are to have as brethren—fellow Christians.  In reading some thoughts on this, I thought of the following—a simple little ditty, “Arrive, Apply and amplify.”

With my love for the church, let me arrive every time the door is open.  In 1 John we are told the world doesn’t understand the love man has for God and fellow Christians.  It is interesting to hear folks think of any excuse not to attend the services of the church.  Oh, but if I love the church, I will arrive!  I will arrive at the church building; I will arrive on time; I will arrive because it is the best place to be with the best people in the world.

But, not only will I arrive, but I will apply.  I’m not going to simply show up to be counted; I will apply what happens within.  Yes, I will sing; I will pray; I will remember the death of my Lord through partaking of the Lord’s Supper; I will give of my means and I will study with the preacher the unsearchable riches of Christ.  I will apply worship in my heart both vertically and horizontally—to my Lord (John 4:24) and to edify my brethren (Heb. 10:25).

And, then, when I depart—I will amplify.  I will tell to all what Jesus has done for me when the opportunity arises.  I will respond and let others know the blessed opportunities that awaits them if they will but arrive, apply, and then amplify.

Arrive, apply and amplify—just a little thing from the Hills*…via the Wildwood.

*"From the hills" is when I write a few things from our subdivision called Weston Hills.  When it's time to go home, gues you could say I "head for the hills." :-)

Just a couple of things a preacher is thankful for...

...from the Wildwood.

A preacher is thankful when he spends time in prayer and notes the newcomers to the congregation who infuse fresh life and renewed diligence for us all.  They love Bible Study and worship and serve whereever they can.  They express love to us all and lift us up.

A preacher is thankful when he spends time in prayer and notes the long time, year after year dedication of so many that have remained faithful through the years.  They are stalwarts--you know their pew will always be full with their hearts and presence.  They are the kind of folks that make it possible for you to have a place to serve.

New folks come...faithful folks staying...that's what makes the East Side church of Christ special and may our light humbly shine...from the Wildwood.