The Year of the One

This is the Voice of One.

Good Wednesday!

This is the year A.D. 2011. I’ve heard it called Two Thousand Eleven, I’ve heard it called Twenty-Eleven, I’ve even heard it called Two-Eleven. One of these days I’m sure we’ll figure out what to call it. But whatever moniker we hang on the thing, there are a couple notes worth pointing out that I saw on the internet.

Four notable dates are in 2011, two have already occurred and two are yet to come. It is in this year we find these dates:

01/01/11, 01/11/11, 11/01/11 and 11/11/11. You heard of the DaVinci Code, this is the Year of the Binary Code! (the code computer programs are written in, using all 0’s and 1’s. Someone will have to tell me if it is still used.)

Ok, the theological point to all this? None! I just thought it was cool. Now, figure this one out: take the last two digits of the year you were born, add that number to how old you will be this year, and the result will be 111. For instance, I was born in 1952, I will be 59 this year, so 52+59=111. Another for instance, Carolyn was born in…oh, never mind.

Try it, and let me know if indeed it works!

Closed circuit to Oak Manorites: Wow! The weather forecast has sure gone downhill during the overnight hours! A Winter Storm Warning for Northwest Arkansas is in effect, calling for a sheen of ice on the ground (and the power lines) that will be covered with four to six inches of snow. Now, don’t get me wrong. Normally, I love a good snow but the last time I went trudging around in snow (oh, say, about a week and a half ago) terrible things happened.

Now, I know what you're thinking and the answer is things are cool. The way it’s looking right now, our Wednesday Night doings (Tangible Kingdom, Judy’s class, and Praise Band Rehearsal) should have no problems as all the freezy skid stuff kicks in later Wednesday night. Of course we will be keeping an eye on the weather for Sunday.

Speaking of Sunday, our football themed sermon series “The Big Game” continues this next weekend. Two weeks ago we talked about the playbook, last week we looked at preparation and this week we delve into the topic of performance. Oh, I heard the Evangelism Linebacker is in town, so best be ready! And be careful!!

Stay warm and stay safe!

Pastor Keith

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Pps: I should explain: The Evangelism Linebacker is a hilarious video that features a linebacker who tackles kids in the youth group who won’t share their faith. It was our sermon video last week, and we all laughed ourselves silly. “He loves you,” the narrator says. “But it could hurt!” Of course this funny video had a serious message: we must be ready at all times to share our faith. This is part of where performance comes in, and we’ll talk about that Sunday. I’ll see you then!

Adventures in the ER on a Snowy Night

Good Monday!

To begin with let me say a big "thank you" for the prayers lifted up on my behalf this evening. It means a lot to me, for sure! I'm home from the Emergency Room now, munching on a few chips and with a hot decaf tea going. I thought I would update you on my misadventures Sunday night.

On any given night we send trucks out from the presses in Lowell to the distribution centers two times. In the first run we send what we call preships, in other words the innards of the newspaper (classifieds, feature sections like the food section, advertising, etc) and in the second run of the night we send out the "mains" which, as the name implies, is the main part of the paper with news, sports and so forth.

Thinking we were a driver short I took the truck which had the preships for the distribution centers in Rogers, Bentonville and Bella Vista and headed into the snowy night. My first stop was Rogers. I was putting the dock plate in position when my feet slipped out from under me and I landed hard on my right side, with my right arm taking the blow. My shoes had gotten some snow and ice on them.

Remember those old commercials long ago that said, "I've fallen and I can't get up?" Well, I've lived that now. Thanks be to the Lord I had the presence of mind to grab my cellphone as I exited the cab of the truck! I summoned help (I was alone in the center at the time) but still lay there for a little over a half hour, my right arm not moving and I was feeling a bit queasy. After a bit my boss and one of our drivers converged on the center and with both of them assisting I got on my feet. So here I find myself in the ER at Mercy Med Center in Rogers where X rays revealed a hairline fracture of my humerus bone just below the shoulder.

The Doc ordered two days total pampering-er, I mean rest and I'm in this sling brace thingy for six weeks. Yuck!

The kicker? The driver I thought was not coming in? He came in. He was the one who helped my boss get me back on my feet. So later as we're waiting in ER, Chad says, "Boy I wish you would have remembered Dale was coming in."

Quoth I, "YOU wish??"

I'll never live this down.

Both sides of the spectrum of life.

This is the voice of one.

Good Friday! Wow! Is this some wind, or what? You’d think it was spring time out there. The brisk wind is blowing up some snow for us in a couple days, but not to worry nothing is supposed to be arriving until long after we’ve gotten together for our worship time Sunday morning.

It is with sadness that I report to you that the teenager we have been praying for, Kaitlyn, died last night in Little Rock. The leukemia had worsened and this brave young lady lost her battle with the deadly disease. Her family expresses appreciation for the cards and prayers. We rejoice that she had accepted Jesus as her Lord.

On to an amazing story on the other side of the spectrum of life. You may be familiar with the story of 95 year old Nell Porter. She was in her home in Cincinnati, Arkansas a week ago when a tornado ripped through their community, killing three people outright. Nell was transported to the hospital where she died earlier this week, becoming the fourth victim of the New Year’s Eve twister. Here is the amazing part of her story: she died as the result of a tornado, but did you know she was born during a tornado? She was born in Paducah Texas as a tornado was bearing down on them. Nell’s grandfather knelt at the foot of the bed and prayed that the Lord would protect mother and child. And so he did, because every house in the neighborhood was wiped out. Except theirs. There is one more little twist to this story, at least as far as my family is concerned. Nell was the older sister of Carolyn’s mom’s first husband, who died in World War II.

So we see this week examples of folks at both sides of the spectrum of life, who were called upon to meet the Lord. The lesson here? If we’re new to this life or older than dirt or somewhere in the middle, just be ready! Just be ready!

So, are you?