Text Messages

It appears that Winter intends to make sure everyone knows that it is cold on purpose. If the northern states will grant some grace to the south we’d appreciate it. We shut ‘er down, stock up on milk and bread and make dirt-clod contaminated snow men. We make the most of it. More about that in a bit.

January was a tremendous month of renewal and rededication to the highest purposes for the church and Christians. We had a little lighter schedule than the past year but the quality of our opportunities was strong. We greatly appreciate pastors Graham, Rouse, Raynes, Smith, Turner, and Cornutt for welcoming us to their services. These January meetings have proven to be for me a time of energizing to propel me into the new year. I would encourage anyone to find the recorded services of Fellowship Baptist Maryville TN, Progress Baptist of Hendersonville NC, and Teays Valley BC of Hurricane WV for a wealth of heaven sent preaching from some of God’s choice men. As we slide into February there are many miles to go so we appreciate your stedfast prayers.

We have been asking the Lord to work in our heart His wishes and will for expanding our reach and effectiveness in these last and tumultuous days. Paul’s admonition for Timothy (2 Timothy 4:5) to have a ‘Full Proof Ministry’ has been ringing in our soul. He has already begun to reveal some avenues to do just that. We intend to Make The Most Of It. I believe fully that if we will be obedient to every biblical and individual instruction that the Lord gives us, He will Make The Most Of It for the sake of eternity. The years are zipping by at an astounding rate. It is difficult to understand how we are already in February of 2026 when just yesterday we were figuring out our holiday schedule for 2025, Each day that passes the clock is relentlessly logging spent hours, minutes and seconds. Too often I look back and ask myself if I have done enough. I will reserve my answer as you answer for yourself. All that we have is what lies ahead. Let us all decide to Make The Most Of It. Don’t Stop Praying!

“They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.” Proverbs 28:4

Last breath. Last heartbeat. Last moment of pain. Last experience in the flesh.

Eyes Open. Healed. More Alive Than Ever. In The Presence of Almighty God.

4 years ago this morning I sat at the red light waiting to turn in the parking lot of Northside hospital Gwinnett. I could see Angels room on the 6th floor. I prayed.

“Lord, I’m not mad at you. I just don’t understand. You are right and You are good. Help me and our girls. How am I going to raise them on my own? Please, if she has to go, please promise me that it will be worth it somehow. Let people get saved because of her testimony. Let marriages be strengthened and children appreciate their parents because of the reminder that life can end before it’s expected. Help me keep going and make right decisions.”

I debated on whether or not to bring a remembrance to the events of 4 years ago but when I have tried to suppress the grief or ignore the reality, that proved to be a terrible holiday season decision. It would have been our 25th wedding anniversary on 12/16 and Christmas and Thanksgiving are always difficult. Grief will work its way out like a splinter if it is not given its due. SO, I remember.

Today was the day that the doctors tried one last thing after they showed me images of Angel’s brain and explained that the 4 tumors had not only not been affected by the gamma-knife radiation but was growing aggressively and uncontrollably. It would only be a matter of time. The only thing to try and slow the growth was one last radiation treatment.

It was a Wednesday that they transported Angel by ambulance across the street to a radiation office. As the staff prepped her for the treatment, the radiation oncologist shook his head and gave me the most honest report I had heard. Without the radiation she would have a couple of weeks or a month at the most. With the radiation she might get double that but there were no guarantees, no other options, no hope. Angel would not make it. She went into that tube and the radiation was given one last time. She had done this so many times now that it hardly phased her but the reality was setting in.

They got her back into her room in the ICU and got her settled. She was so weak and sluggish. The hospital was making me leave at 8pm. As I got ready to head to my hotel room I held her hand and kissed her, told her I loved her. She said she loved me too. “Ok, Love you. See you in the morning.” Those were the last words we said to each other.

Four years ago tonight Angel entered the final days of her fight. We headed to the ER about this time.

In today’s daily Psalms we read one of my very favorite verses. It is a prayer, a plea, a purposed desire. (19:14) “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.” The two preceding verses instruct the sincere of the inner dealings that bring about this result. Understanding personal errors. Being cleansed from those secret sinful faults. Verse 13 is a request that we may not think of in daily prayer, Keep back thy servant from presumptuous sins. There is a divine restraint for a devious rebellion. Presumptuous [1828: Willful; done with bold design, rash confidence or in violation of known duty; as a presumptuous sin.] In other words, the sin that we hide, continue in willfully, and keep as a pet that we believe no one knows about. Far be it from the child of God to actively pursue, or pet sin in the full knowledge that the Lord died for that and all sin, and that HE KNOWS all about it. It is an I don’t care attitude that keeps one under the dominion of sin (v13) and therefore makes our heart and words unacceptable to The Lord according to this word. Verse 14 are the words of an humble servant, not a rebellious sinner. It is a desire attached to a personal directive. I am accepted in Christ because of His Blood, His Seal, His Salvation, but my flesh is still an adversary against the divinity within me. My eternal soul is accepted but my heart contemplations and unholy conversations may not be. How can our meditations and words be accepted? By coming under the dominion, not of sin, but of our strength, our redeemer. Lord, help us to be under the dominion of the Holy Spirit. May we be vigilant in the activity of our heart and mind. We know that the heart directs the mouth. Let our lips bear the fruit of a heart that is clean and controlled. In the name of our strength, our Redeemer, Jesus Christ, Amen.

Day 3, chapter 3. In today’s reading we find what could be considered one of the ‘greatest hits’ of the entire book of Proverbs. 3:5-6. “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs is the book of Wisdom. In fact, chapter 3 personifies Wisdom as ‘she’. Perhaps it is because Solomon received so much instruction from his mother. Wisdom in these verses teaches us that primary trust in our life should be in the LORD, not partially but with all of our heart. That is our seat of thinking, believing, and action. The caution is against our own understanding as the final word on any issue. The phrases, “Just do what you think is best,” or “Follow your heart,” are in stark contradiction to Wisdom. The formula to follow is to acknowledge the LORD in all of our ways. Acknowledge; [to own, avow or admit to be true Websters 1828]. That means that God is right about everything. Everything He says is true. Admit and submit that His word on our life should be the first consultation and the following determination. The promise is that with this Wisdom in practice, He shall direct our paths. What, Where, When, How, and What for. Let no resolution be without wisdom of acknowledging Him. Let no 2026 vision board be absent of His glory, praise and purpose. Lord, in all our ways we believe with our whole heart that you are true and truth. We will find our first directions in your Word and in prayer. We believe you will give godly counsel to confirm our direction. Then, we will move forward knowing that you have laid the path before us. Amen.

One of the dedications that many people plan to do is read the Bible through in a year. Before some get to the “begats” the wheels fall off, the plan gets behind and then abandoned. “I’ll never catch up.” I heard someone say, a plan is not a prison. Let me encourage us as we put our reading plan in action.

A great tool for the lover of scripture. Many remember the Alexander Scourby Bible reading tapes. Used to be that they were very expensive. Now the brilliant British accent of Mr Scourby can be accessed for free on YouTube. I personally listen quite a bit while spending hours staring through the windshield. A few years ago I wondered how long it would take to listen all the way through. So, I am going to list the books of the Bible and how long it took for Mr Scourby to read all the way through the Bible at a comfortable pace. I think you may be surprised. If we compare the times to our screen time we might be convicted.

75 total hours. 2.5 mo @1hr/day 5x per yr. Based on 70yr life begin at age 12=278 times in a life. If we dedicated a Specific time rather than Spare time our time would be well invested.

TIMES hr:min:sec 0:00:00

Genesis 3:30
Exodus 2:58
Leviticus 2:07
Numbers 2:48
Deuteronomy 2:20
Joshua 1:37
Judges 1:36
Ruth 0:14:41
1 Samuel 0:58:00
2 Samuel 1:51
1 Kings 2:12
2 Kings 2:04
1 Chronicles 1:55
2 Chronicles 2:18
Ezra 0:40:00
Nehemiah 0:59
Esther 0:30
Job 1:46
Psalms 4:24
Proverbs 1:39
Ecclesiastes 0:35
Song of Solomon 0:17
Isaiah 3:43
Jeremiah 3:59
Lamentations 0:22
Ezekiel 3:31
Daniel 1:02
Hosea 0:29
Joel 0:13:03
Amos 0:23
Obadiah 0:4:53
Jonah 0:08:10
Micah 0:08
Nahum 0:08:32
Habakkuk 0:9:36
Zephaniah 0:10:31
Haggai 0:07:06
Zechariah 0:34
Malachi 0:11:01
Matthew 2:13
Mark 1:26
Luke 2:16
John 1:54
Acts 2:19
Romans 1:02
1 Corinthians 1:02
2 Corinthians 0:39
Galatians 0:20
Ephesus 0:19
Philippians 0:15
Colossians 13:33
1 Thessalonians 0:12:16
2 Thessalonians 0:07:22
1 Timothy 0:16
2 Timothy 0:12:15
Titus 0:07:02
Philemon 0:03:54
Hebrews 0:42
James 0:15
1 Peter 0:17
2 Peter 0:11:19
1 John 0:16
2 John 0:03
3 John 0:03:03
Jude0:05:26
Revelation 1:11

Honestly, who amongst the children of God ever thought we’d live to see 2026? But, here we are so let’s make the most of it. Before we get to the new year let us say thank you to pastors Collins and Hatley for allowing us to be part of your services in December. We were able to close out 2025 with a great deal of time with family. Looking back over the past 12 months the Lord was good and gracious to us to travel 54,000 highway miles without major incident. I am resisting the urge to number the hotels and prophets chambers, meals in a sack, bass lessons taught, services, messages preached, songs sung, and souls saved. Suffice it to say, the Lord has been better to me than I certainly deserve.

In 1 Corinthians 2:1 Paul said, “For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” A word that has been ringing in my soul of late is Decisive. I do not believe we can allow ourselves to allow feelings to direct us. We must operate on decisions, settled principles, pre-established parameters on what we will and will not do. Away with this thought of ‘Let’s see what happens.’ Or ‘follow your heart.’ My decision is to preach the whole council of God, to have a full-proof ministry. With the strength of the Spirit of God and your prayerful support I can. I would ask that your prayers be toward that purpose. Also, continue to join me in prayer that He will keep sending me according to His calling. Don’t Stop Praying!

2026 Schedule

1/1-2 Albemarle NC Mtn View BC
1/4 Columbia TN New Life BC
1/11-14 Teays Valley WV
1/18 OPEN SUNDAY
1/25 OPEN SUNDAY

2/1 Clinton IL
2/5-6 Lexington NC
2/8 OPEN SUNDAY
2/15-19 Okeechobee FL
2/22-26 Bunnel FL Flagler Co BC

3/1 Eden NC Northside BC
3/2-6 Pisgah Forest NC WGCR
3/8 Florence KY Bethel BC
3/14-20 Valdosta GA Bemiss Rd BC
3/22am 2pm Spring City TN New Hope BC
3/22pm Wartburg TN Lighthouse BC
3/23-26 Rossville GA Bible BC
3/29 OPEN SUNDAY

4/5 Lyons GA Liberty BC Easter
4/6-9 Spotsylvania VA Calvary BC
4/12 OPEN SUNDAY
4/19-22 Randleman NC Abounding Grace BC
4/26-29 Mcclenney FL Faith BC

5/3 OPEN SUNDAY
5/10 OPEN SUNDAY
5/17-21 Luthersville Ga Faith BC
5/24 OPEN SUNDAY
5/26 Waco GA Annual Arbor Mtg
5/31 OPEN SUNDAY

6/5-6 NGSGM Work Days
6/7-12 Cumming GA NGSGM
6/14 OPEN Sunday
6/15-19 Titusville FL Way of Life BC
6/21-25 Jacksonville FL West Jax BC
6/29-7/1 Cleveland GA PO2 Jr Camp

7/5 Demorest GA Fairfield BC
7/6-10 Cleveland GA PO2 Teen Camp
7/12 OPEN SUNDAY
7/19 OPEN SUNDAY
7/26 OPEN SUNDAY

8/2 OPEN SUNDAY
8/9 OPEN SUNDAY
8/16 OPEN SUNDAY
8/23 OPEN SUNDAY
8/26-30 Piney Flats TN Pilgrim BC

9/6 OPEN SUNDAY
9/13 Maryville TN Fellowship BC
9/20 OPEN SUNDAY
9/27 Wartburg TN Lighthouse BC

10/4 OPEN SUNDAY
10/11 Vass NC Highland BC
10/18 Ashville BC Gum Springs BC
10/25 Hartsville SC Whispering Pines BC

11/1-4 Livingston LA Fundamental BC
11/8 Statesboro GA Temple BC
11/15 OPEN SUNDAY
11/22 OPEN SUNDAY
11/29 OPEN SUNDAY

12/6 OPEN SUNDAY
12/13 OPEN SUNDAY
12/20 OPEN SUNDAY