The Importance of Breaks
The Sunday Night Check-In
It’s time for the Sunday Night Check-In! Thanks for joining me each week! Welcome to the new subscribers, glad you’re here! Say howdy in the comments if you’d like. As I mentioned last week, I began the week on a retreat with some college friends. The picture above and some below will let you know it was a peaceful and beautiful location, on the shore of Eagle Lake near Vicksburg, Mississippi.
After the retreat, I took the rest of the week off, using some vacation time. Mostly I stayed around the house. I did go out to Black Bayou on Friday morning and enjoyed taking photographs there. I did not have class and sermon preparation this week. This morning, Maggy and I visited the Sterlington Church of Christ where Don Delukie preaches. He would never say this about himself, but he is truly a legendary gospel preacher in Northeast Louisiana. His ministry has stretched out into international areas as well. He is firm in the gospel, kind in spirit, gentle with those who struggle. I’m blessed to know Don. He will be speaking at Forsythe on December 4th.
In last week’s poll readers replied that 65% of you have veterans in your family. God bless you and thank you! This week I’m curious about how we use our down time.
The break this week has been very beneficial to me and Maggy. I am thankful to have time to rejuvinate and rest. When I was younger I didn’t think I needed it. Now, I feel the crucial importance of recharging after a while. Here are a few of the photos from Eagle Lake.
AT FORSYTHE this morning the preaching was done by Daniel Kirkendall. Daniel is our Associate Minister and he is involved in many of the ministries of the church. On a happy note, Daniel and his family moved to Forsythe Church seven years ago. His work anniversary date is tomorrow. Many people know that I have known Daniel all of his life and graduated from college with his dad, Gary. It is a joy to work with him and to see his beautiful family growing together in Christ. They are a blessing to Forsythe church! Gary Davis taught my class this morning. I’m so grateful that he and Karen have come our way.
This past Wednesday night, Travis Arrant gave us a very encouraging message. I was so glad he and Karen could come and be with us for the evening. They are doing a great work at Naff Avenue Church of Christ in Bastrop, Louisiana. This week our guest speaker is Mike Kellet, longtime staff member at WFR Church. Mike gave a super encouraging message at the recent Prayer Workshop and I asked him to come and share it with us.
READING
No, I am not through with The Grey Wolf yet. I am purposefully taking my time, enjoying every page. I’m in no rush. This is #19 and #20 in the series is far off in the distance! I’ve also been reading A Repentant Heart: The Joy of Restoring Intimacy with God by Dudly J. Delffs. This book is out of print, but my used copy looked pretty new. I am enjoying his discussion of repentance, a subject I’ve been thinking about a lot since I read his other study book, Balm in Gilead: Healing For the Repentant Heart. I like the way he writes and his approach to a subject I think we brush by much too quickly. I’m sure I’ll have a class on this material sometime next year. In our Bible readings we are in 2 Thessalonians, headed to Nahum, then 2 Peter, followed by Habakkuk and Zephaniah. Goodreads tells me I have read 82 of my goal of 75!
PHOTOGRAPHY
Black Bayou on a cool November morning was beautiful. They have cut down several trees in wooded areas, opening up the canopy for developmental growth of underbrush to benefit the wildlife. It’s not very pretty to look at for now, but beneficial (I’m told!).
Still, I enjoyed my time out there once again. Here are some of the photos from this week.
I have more to share, but those will come either in another newsletter or in THE HOLY LENS daily prayer newsletter.
LISTENING
Healing Rain is one of my all time favorite songs and I love this video for the message that goes along with it.
STACKS TO CHECK OUT
Ishah ruminates on being Reminded by the Light.
Eyes That Gaze … striking poetry from Esther Lau.
Adsum Try Ravenhill reflects on the joy and proces and challenge of writing in his post Fighting the Urge to Quit Writing.
Brian Causer writes a post that needs to be printed out and read weekly. Learning To Forgive By Following The Example of Jesus.
Todd points us to the direction we need to go when we have decisions to make. Shall I Go Up?
Looking for a Christmas Gift, a word of encouragement for the hurting, some thoughts for the grieving, devotions to lift? I invite you to John Dobbs’ Amazon Author Page (yes, that’s me!)
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Well, here we are once again, friends. Thank you for reading the Check-In for this week. I hope you found some blessing here. I pray the week ahead gives you some sense that God is walking with you through whatever you are facing. Work hard, rest well, and stay connected. The world needs you.
