Roses, Robertson, Reid, and More!
The Sunday Night Check-In
Hello Friends! It’s time for the Sunday Night Check-in. There are five new subscribers this week and we want to welcome you! Always feel free to say hello in the comments! We are up to about 655 subscribers! Of course, not all of them read every week. I can’t keep up enough to read every newsletter that I’m subscribed to either. So, I do not take it for granted that you are willing to spend a few minutes with me.
It’s been a bit of a busy week. Wednesday night I spoke at the Oxford Church of Christ - yes they let this Tiger from LSU country into the Rebel (or is it something else now?) territory! They were starting a series of Wednesday night lessons through the Psalms and I was honored to be the first. My longtime friend and fellow Magnolia Bible College graduate, Les Ferguson, Jr., is the minister for the church there. He and his wife Becki do a fantastic job. I was also blessed to have another MBC grad and longtime friend, Ken Salley, come up and visit. It was a joy to spend a little time with he and his wife Mitzi.
I also had the privilege of meeting Jim Hendrix. Jim is one of my favorite photographers on Facebook. Check out his website with great pictures (HERE) or follow him on Facebook HERE or Instagram HERE. Here’s a photo of his I loved that was posted on his Facebook page. I believe you can purchase prints from him.
Maggy and I returned home Thursday and routed our trip through Cleveland, Mississippi to visit her sister. It was an enjoyable but fairly brief visit. In the area along Cotton Row I saw a rose garden and took a few pictures.
They smelled as beautiful as they look!
This weekend I served the family of Sally Hines, a member of our congregation who has been ill for the past several years. She lived to be 101 years old and it was a privilege to speak at her funeral along with her grandson and great grandson. She has TEN great grandchildren! Praying for the family that will miss her deeply and thankful for the life she lived with such joy.
FORSYTHE
At Forsythe Church this morning we studied “There is One Baptism.” Baptism can be a controversial topic among churches, but I really do not understand why. It is spoken of in very clear terms in Scripture. Notes and audio of that message can be found by those who subscribe to Sermons and Studies from Forsythe newsletter. Or, if you’re more inclined to video, it is available on YouTube.
LISTENING
Phil Wickham just released Homesick for Heaven a few days ago.
WATCHING
Today we started season 4 of LOST. The first three seasons are spectacular! Of course, this is far from our first time through the series. Since we are watching this, that’s pretty much all we’re watching at the moment! I loved this Saturday Night Live sendup of LOST when the cast shares an elevator with Matthew Fox.
READING
This week I read the engaging and imaginative Ivy & Ixos by S.E. Reid. I’ve been following Sally Reid on Substack since I first arrived there. She is a great encourager to other writers, author of some great Christian devotionals (The Wildroot Parables), and an expert Science Fiction writer (Talebones). Ivy & Ixos is has some supernatural elements in it, but is the warm story of ten year old Ivy, who is going home to live with her dad after several years away from him. I loved this story and hated for it to come to an end! S.E. Reid’s Amazon author page is HERE.
THE HOLY LENS TRANSITIONS
This week on The Holy Lens you can read prayers by
, , , , and . Join us HERE!A new book with 101 Devotionals From The Holy Lens is coming soon! It is now in the hands of my editor and I look forward to making it available. It has 101 prayers written by those I have come to know and love through their writings on The Holy Lens!
The Holy Lens is transitioning a bit. I’m finding it has been a blessing to cooperate with so many great writers - but it has also become difficult for me to manage well. So, that part of The Holy Lens is coming to an end. I’m still considering ways to continue The Holy Lens either at the current newsletter location or placing it as a feature here at Hope Remains. Simplifying the process is the goal. Things will go on as usual through the month of June, Lord willing.
OTHER STACKS
Other stacks I’ve saved this week and recommend to you…
Lawson Chapman’s June Roundup with some amazing Northern Lights photos!
Ted Gioia’s fascinating Where in the World is the World’s Fair?
Tom Duffin’s amazing images - 4 Seasons ...of Edinburgh and Beyond
John van der Veen on What Phil Robertson Taught Me About Manhood
There were several posts about the passing of Phil Robertson. You can view his Celebration of Life Service HERE.
Thanks for reading (if you’re still with me!). I hope the week ahead is filled with the best blessings God can give you. The night owl has done his work. Night owls and early birders all welcomed here. Take care, friends. Work hard, rest well, and stay connected. The world needs you.
Have a great week, John!
Always fun to read your Sunday night check-in. You've had a busy week. Thanks for making us a part of it.