Hello again. Well here it is, a week into October already. I don’t know about you, but my husband and I have been very busy trying to prepare our house for winter. I painted all six of our porch post last week. My husband has been checking our roof to repair a slight leak that showed it’s self recently. Tin roofs can be very slick, so it’s not a job he’s been looking forward to doing. I just do a lot of praying and watching while he’s walking around on our two-story roof.
Our song leader, Jake Hampton, was back with us to begin church service with hymns he had especially chosen. He said that his infected tooth was better with the use of antibiotics, but the main problem still existed. He had lots of advice coming from the congregation of finding the best dentist to end his trauma. But, I think he was totally confused and overwhelmed by the time we finished helping him. Brother Jerry Huff gave the morning welcome. A birthday offering was given by Brother Les in honor of his brother and his sister-in-law’s birthday. I understood that their birthdays were on the same day. Special music was presented by Les and Eloise Hallmark.
The text for the morning sermon was taken from Matthew 22:15-22. The Pharisees, seeking to trick Jesus, asked him if he thought it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not. Perceiving their wickedness, Jesus called them hypocrites then took a tribute penny and asked them whose image and superscription was on it. Of course, they replied that it was Caesar’s. In verse 21 he answered their question by saying, “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.” “When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left him and went on their way” (v. 22) Brother Les said, “Jesus perceived their sinfulness just as he knows ours. He asked, “Whose image and what superscription can God see on our lives? God’s or Caesar’s? It should be God’s image that others can clearly see and hear in our lives. Christ willingly shed his precious blood to cover the sins of those that would accept his gift of love. We are trampling on the blood that Jesus shed, as payment for our sins, when we willingly disobey his will for our lives.
Several members from Red Bank Church performed music for the residents at the Heart of the Ozarks Healthcare Center Sunday afternoon.
Pam Shell visited with Alice and Gary Lirley last Sunday afternoon.
Visiting with Maxine Lirley was Gary and Alice Lirley, Jeane Huff and Ralph and Barbadeen Laughlin.
Birthday wishes go to Jake Hampton this week.
I cooked a really different vegetable this week. It looks like giant okra, but with harder ridges flowing down its side. I was told to gently scrape off the ridges, slice it up and steam the round pieces or dip them in egg and flour or cornmeal and fry in hot vegetable oil. I chose to fry them. They were delicious. I don’t know the technical name for this strange looking vegetable, but I’ve heard that it might be what they used to call the guinea bean.
Have a great week. This is from a church sign that I read while traveling. “He who puts God first will have joy that last.” This is so true.
