Greetings from Red Bank. I hope everyone is finding good ways to stay cool these past few weeks. I’m sure some of you are visiting the creeks daily or staying close to a swimming pool, but if you are like us, you are staying close to the air conditioner. I get out early in the morning to water my garden and that’s about it for outside work. I can’t stand to stay out in the heat like I used to.
Gary is still under doctor’s orders to keep his shoulder brace on until the muscle and rotator cuff has more time to adhere to the bone. However, his doctor did give him an arm pulley device so that he could begin to lift his arm a little and get it used to movement again. It’s a slow process, but he is determined to grit his teeth and keep at his therapy until he regains use of his shoulder again.
Red Bank held their Vacation Bible School throughout last week. Our attendance doubled this year, and we had a perfect attendance record, all but one day when we had three missing from one of the classes. Our puppet friends also visited with us every day to help teach the children about God’s love for them. We appreciate those who were faithful to give of their time and talents to teach and serve in whatever capacity that was needed. We appreciate: Les, Eloise and Miranda Hallmark, Jennifer Lakey, Alice Lirley, Pat and Margi Gates, Adam and Niki Moreland, Tattie Maggard, and Belinda Williams. We also appreciate those that provided food items for snacks and lunch.
Friends and neighbors visiting with Pam and Bill Holland last week were, Darlene Davis, Veronica, Justin and Grace Piccinino, Robin and Shantel Nicole, Ralph and Barbadeen Laughlin, Les, Eloise Miranda and Elise Hallmark, Gary and Alice Lirley, and Donnie Cummings and his friend, whose name I failed to get. Bill’s son, Steven Holland and daughter Rebecca, and, also, another son, Jonathan Holland came to visit their father. Bill was able to come home last Tuesday. He is so happy that he can continue his therapy at home now and get back to eating some of Pam’s great cooking. He is showing improvement every day. Pam especially appreciates their pastor, Les Hallmark who has ministered to her and Bill in a great way throughout their latest trials; to Ralph Laughlin who designed and built a safe ramp so Bill could have wheelchair access in and out of his home; and to Robin Nicole who picked Bill’s son, Jonathan, up at the Springfield Airport and delivered him safely to visit with Bill and Pam this week. Also she sends her appreciation to many other friends and neighbors that have been faithful to see to their needs.
Gary Lirley visited with his mother, Maxine Lirley one day last week. Jeane Huff also spent some quality time with Maxine last week. Jeane took Maxine to get a new permanent at Michele’s Beauty Shop and after that they went on a little shopping spree together at Walmart.
I visited a few minutes with Angie Adams at the Heart of the Ozark Healthcare Center today. She told me that her husband, Robert Adams, had been quite ill with congestion and fever all last week. She thought that the doctor was planning to x-ray his lungs this week to look for signs of pneumonia. She said that she was quite worried for him and would appreciate our prayers
Church attendance was good at Red Bank this Sunday. Brother Jerry Maggard led the opening hymn. Brother Jerry Huff gave the morning welcome to members and guest. Special music was furnished by Eloise Hallmark and Jerry Maggard. The morning sermon was based on Ephesians 3:9 and Luke, chapter 5. In Luke we find Peter falling down at the knees of Jesus, realizing that he was a sinful man and unworthy of God’s blessings, but yet in great need of them. In Ephesians, Paul, who described himself as being less than the least of all saints, found access to God’s grace and great power as he bowed his knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Likewise, we, who are his adopted children, through belief in His Son, Jesus, (Romans 10:9) can come to God with our praise and petitions by humbly bowing ourselves at the feet of Jesus. Through the shed blood of Christ we are made worthy of God’s forgiveness and His full attention to our needs. This gives us the PEACE THAT PASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING as we live out our lives on this earth.
Did you see the picture in last week’s paper of Jerry Maggard with his daughter, Zori, showing off the 35 pound Striper Bass he caught at Forsyth last week? That was quite a catch. I heard someone ask Jerry if they ate the fish he caught. He said that he did dress it and eat it because he could look at the picture as often as he liked, but that he would probably never get another chance to catch and eat a fish that big. He told me that he got two other big fish on his line that day, but was only able to reel this one in. The others broke his line and got away.
Well, it’s been nice visiting with you all again. Stay cool and pay attention to God’s directions. They will always steer you in right paths of life.
