Jamey Herd tells us that Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church had a nice crowd for morning service. It was nice having our new neighbors, Laura and Lloyd Respress, and Billy Joe’s brother in the service. Bob Herd is attending the Fox Trotters in Ava. Laveta Ray had the little ones bless the church to a song, Zacheus, before they went to children’s church. It was so cute watching little Ethan Williams trying to do the hand movements and sing along with the bigger kids. The little ones are all so precious and sweet. Wanda Dugan blessed us with a special before Brother Carl brought the morning message.
Brother Carl Ray and wife, Laveta, were in the community visiting the church members on Saturday. Billy Joe Herd rode along with them to show them where people lived.
We received two and eight tenths inches of rain here on the ridge. We need so much more to green the grass back up but not all at one time like our neighbors to the north and west received.
When I left for church yesterday there was a young coyote ran over by our driveway. It wasn’t there when Billy Joe left earlier. I wonder what it was doing so close to the house in the middle of the morning?
Carol Boeddeker-Genet reports only two inches of rain, most welcome for sure. The grass is greening up some. Ivan Lawson and Rex Boeddeker helped with some tractor repairs this past weekend at Randy Boeddeker’s farm.
We seem to have a flea infestation, not unusual this time of year. The other day coming back from the mailbox I noted a few fleas on my legs. Hopefully a bit of spraying around and in the house as well as spreading of insect granules in the yard will help. All the pets have their Frontline, but fleas don’t die until they bite the animal and unfortunately not from biting me, even though I’m mean and ornery (I’ve been told on occasion!)
We had a good service at St. Leo’s on Sunday. Next Sunday we will have our annual picnic after services with lots of fellowship, food, and games. Our Religious Education classes start on Wednesday, Sept. 22 for all grades, including a young adult group.
Just a reminder – Saturday night, Sept. 11, starting at 7:30 p.m., Nick Boeddeker’s Double Barrel Band will be playing on the stage at the Seymour Apple Festival. A few of us will be going there earlier as it is so interesting walking through the various booths to see what is available, to check out talent.
Last Friday, lucky me had a molar pulled by an oral surgeon in Springfield. Sure didn’t feel like doing anything else up there so came on home. Rex did the driving and Arlene was there for moral support. Sunday I managed to lead the singing at church but came right back home to ice packs and Percocet.
I received lots of phone calls this past week from family and friends. Ron Boeddeker called to say that the fish he caught was a King Salmon – guess I was listening wrong when first told. Ron sent a picture and that fish was nearly as big as Reanna, who just turned 9 years old. Ryan Boeddeker called from California for a nice long overdue visit. Ryan said it has been very hot out there and he wants me to consider a visit there.
If all goes well, Regina Boeddeker will complete her move here from California this week with her 9 year old, Justin. We already have him enrolled in Religious Education classes. Justin dislikes the California school system and we hope he will like the Ava R-1 school system better. Regina and Justin will miss Dan as he is being deployed to Afghanistan, again!
May you all enjoy good health, loving family and friends. God Bless!
Susan Sinclair tells us we had a wonderful, spirit filled service Sunday, and two new Christians were added to the family of God. Sally Peebles and Amy Garrison were baptized after church at Flat Rock, with many folks from church attending. Our new church will have a baptistery, so there will be no need to go to the creek, but there is a certain feel that a person gets from being baptized in living water that cannot be compared in the same way to an indoor baptism.
The ditch for the power line will be dug this week for the new church. Work has begun on the wheelchair ramp project for our brother on “O” highway. Sister Zora Fitzgerald has been staying at the Heart of the Ozarks for a while as she regains her strength, and our prayers go to her and her family. Zora’s sisters, Erma Lupton and Stella Fitzgerald have remained with her as much as possible, even attending church with Zora on Sunday. What a blessing to be able to attend a church service in Heart of the Ozarks. God is Good.
Our prayers also extend to the Nick Huffaker family as Sally is home now from her hospital stay. My friends, as everyone grows and ages, I have noticed what seems to be a common consensus, which I do not find to be scriptural at all. The common thought seems to be that as we all grow older, that before we go on to be with the Lord, that we must become sick first, and that we must be sick before we leave our earthly bodies, and folks, I do not find that to be true according to the word of God. We may want to reconsider what we believe and make sure we are in agreement with what God says, because I thought that we had to be sick before we left to be with the Lord-until I started searching out in the scriptures. Are we believing a lie that we are expected to get sick and have disease? Who is the father of lies? I am going to be careful to listen to my heavenly Father rather than that serpent, the devil, who takes pleasure in abusing God’s children to the extent of our lack of knowledge.
I love you all, and until next time, God bless you and your loved ones.
