Great Day!

I went to the Georgia Baptist Bible Fellowship Meeting at Central Fellowship Baptist Church today. My friend Rodney Queen is the Pastor there & he asked me to speak. It was a joy & a privilege. I've been attending the meetings for going on 3 years now & the speakers are a cut above to be sure. Today I heard some great sermons from the Word of God. First I heard a great testimony sermon from Brother Paul Young who is from Brighton England. He has a ministry to the homeless there called "Off the Fence". What a salty brother who actually believes God & takes Him at his Word! Go figure. I was captivated by has strong British accent & his heart for God.

Brother Henry Van Wye is an older pastor who is an excellent preacher. This is the second time that I've had the privilege of hearing him preach. He spoke on Jonah 1:1-3 - "God always picks the right man for the job" One of his thoughts was that because God chose us for our particular work/ministry - then we must be the right man for that job. He also asserted that God has confidence in us & our calling. Our job is to have as much confidence in God that He has in us. Interesting & tremendously encouraging.

The last preacher tonight was a favorite of mine - Pastor Virgil Barnard. I don't know how old he is but he's got to be in his upper 80's. He preached on Psalm 22 - the prophetic psalm of the suffering messiah. When he got behind the pulpit he lost 50 years at least & came alive with the zeal & passion of a young evangelist. One statement that I found particularly stunning was the statement of Christ, "I Thirst". Pastor Barnard then said - "The one who made the rivers & streams cried out for thirst & was offered vinegar mixed with gall" He CREATED water & his request was denied by the men her created. What have we done?

Then brother Virgil said this, "The first Adam through his sin striped us all naked in shame but the last Adam (Christ) hung naked in shame that we might be clothed in His righteousness." What has He done?!

What a day of encouragement & affirmation. The Reformer's Unanimous ladies provided the special music & it was off the hook!

What an incredible day invested in God's house with God's men exalting God's son by preaching God's Word!

Camp Meeting

What a week! I had the great joy of attending a "Gospel Preacher's Camp Meeting" this week at Victory Baptist Church. Bro. Chet Cooper gathered some great preachers & singers. I was so moved by the singing & it ministered to me in a way that kind of took me by surprise to be honest. The preaching was so clear & to the point. There was a variety of styles & subjects but all were God honoring & stirring to my soul. One message was on the Blood & it was such a powerful reminder of God's provision. Another series of messages was on the Holy Spirit. Again, a bulls-eye for me.
God used this week to put me under His microscope & did I ever need it. My heart has been softened through God's Word & God honoring music & a small Baptist Church that reached out to this pastor for no other reason than that they love Jesus.
I made some new friends & I was actually sad...very sad to have to say good bye to brother Billy Sampson, Rick Gilley, & Ken Trivette tonight. I do hope to see these brothers again before heaven.
I wasn't sure about going this week to the meetings but I am so glad I did. Zack went with me each day & we both were blessed. I was blessed to see him blessed.
I guess I didn't realize how empty I was & how much I needed to sit under the live preaching of the God's Word.
Thank you Lord Jesus for Chet Cooper & Victory Baptist Church and something called a Gospel Preacher's Camp Meeting.