Hello friends, and especially new friends. I hit 300 subscribers this week. There’s going to be a fun giveaway soon, so stay tuned! I just want to celebrate the fact that we are spending this time together.
This is my Sunday night check-in. If you are looking for style, substance, action, or intense posturing, you’ve come to the wrong place. For one thing, I’m at the end of day and I really should be asleep by now. But I have started this habit of touching base with you on Sunday night, so here we are. I do not share these posts on Facebook, they’re just cozy chats with Substack friends. Thanks for being on board with this newsletter. Well, what’s on my mind this late Sunday night…
We are one week in on this October experience and it is already streaming by too quickly. This morning in North Louisiana we saw some temps in the 40s, and that was a beautiful thing. Well, to me, anyway. For some, that’s nightmarishly frigid! I do enjoy the coming holidays of Thanksgiving and Christmas very much. There’s something so refreshing about our descent from Summer to Fall to Winter, and October is the gateway. I want to enjoy every minute of it.
This past week and this coming week I’ve been focused on a couple of presentations I am to make at the 27th Annual Prayer Workshop at Calhoun Church of Christ. I have enjoyed this workshop for many years - especially the times when I’m not speaking. I do have something to say about prayer, but I know there are many people who have a lot more to say than I do - especially the director, Keith Roberts. I love his book on prayer entitled, Why God Waits For You To Pray. Among the books about prayer I have read, this one remains a favorite. The presentation I’ve been working on the most is on How Grief Challenges Our Prayer Life. I’ll share the notes for that on the ForsytheSermons Substack, to which I’m sure you’re all subscribed.
The Symphony League had their booksale this weekend and will also offer it next weekend. I have too many books and give away books when I get the chance. But I can’t resist being able to come away with a bag full of books for 7 or 8 bucks. I found some really good ones being offered, including a few for friends. They had a section of Christmas-themed books so I bought two Christmas murder mysteries (I know, terrible combo) by Mary Higgins Clark and one by David Baldacci. One of my favorite Christmas books is probably Skipping Christmas by Mississippian John Grisham. The movie was enjoyable, but the book is always better. Do you have a book that you try to read every Christmas? (I do perceive the irony of hoping October doesn’t hurry and now I’m talking about Christmas.) I enjoy Christmas in Plains by Jimmy Carter every couple of years. And almost always A Christmas Carol by Dickens. But maybe one of my new book purchases will become a favorite.
Last week I finished two year-long devotional readings that I think I mentioned last week. One by C. S. Lewis and one by Henri Nouwen. I read ahead. I started a few new books (no promise that I’ll finish them). And of course, I’ve always got my nose in a book for upcoming lessons and sermons. Books are an essential part of my life. Oh, you’d like to know what they are? I’m making my way through …
In God’s Care: Daily Meditations on Spirituality in Recovery by Karen Casey and Homer Pyle
Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis
Studies in Romans by R. C. Bell
Better Living Through Birding by Christian Cooper
10 Things Your Minister Wants to Tell You (But Can’t, Because He Needs the Job) by Rev. Oliver “Buzz” Thomas - By the way, I haven’t read anything yet I wanted to say but haven’t. Be careful of preachers named ‘Buzz’!
I’m twenty chapters into Ezekiel. Ahead of schedule, but who can brag about that.
No wonder I find it hard to finish a book. I’m always starting a new one. And I still have The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll an Mr. Hyde on my desk - part of my attempt to read 12 Classics this year.
So coming up this week is a monthly preacher’s meeting I’ve come to enjoy. Preparing a class on Psalm 30 for Wednesday night. Friday I may travel to Monticello to see Ouachita Christian School play Harding Academy in football. There will be lots of friends there, but in particular, a few Arkansas friends I haven’t seen in too long. I’ve much to do to get ready for the two presentations at the Prayer Workshop. This coming Sunday I’m preaching from the book of Ruth. GriefShare on Sunday afternoons has a few more weeks to meet before this season concludes. And those are just the things I know. Ministry life is built around the expected interruptions - most of those are opportunities. If I get to visit Black Bayou this week it will be a surprise to me.
"There is no season when such pleasant and sunny spots may be lighted on, and produce so pleasant an effect on the feelings, as now in October." — Nathaniel Hawthorne
In all of this, I will take time to look up into the beautiful sky. I want to breathe in the cool Autumn air. I’ll continue to feed the birds in my yard and watch for the migrating transients as they make short visits. I’ll watch helplessly as October speeds onward, bringing us closer to other, colder holidays and gatherings. With all that is past, and all there is in the future, I’ll also try to focus mostly on today. A big challenge. I hope you have a wonderful week. Let me know how you are - I’m always happy to pray for anyone in need. Rest well, friends.
My favorite Christmas book is Cajun Night Before Christmas.