As BIG as an August weekend gets

The past several days have been filled with business and blessings. On Wednesday I was preparing for my trip to Southport, NC to be with Jeff and Janet Hewett. Jeff had contacted me on Tuesday about the death of his mother following a prolonged illness. I was blessed when our good friend Raynita Kivett contacted me about a free place to stay in Southport. THANK YOU to the Kivetts' for this blessing!

I was also blessed by the pouring out of love to Jeff and his family during this time. It reminded me of the importance of good friends and the impact the members of a small group have upon each other.

Sharron is still in Indian Trail babysitting Alyse ( along with Zeke, Bo and Bubba - the family pets) as Josh and Stephanie are away celebrating their 5th wedding anniversary! Alyse was visiting us here in Raleigh last weekend and we really enjoyed the time together. She really enjoys her giant duck we have in her room at our house. I miss Sharron!

I can't let this posting end with our noting that this weekend is as big as August weekends get for Redskins fans. The Skins play for the first time this season; Zorn Star makes his head coaching debut and; of course, Art Monk and Darrell Green enter the Pro-Football Hall of Fame.

Here is a recent article I read about today's induction ceremony:

Hall of Fame weekend takes on real Washington Redskins look

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — Without Darrell Green and Art Monk, the Washington Redskins may never have won three Super Bowls.

Without Emmitt Thomas' lessons, they may not have excelled as long as they did.
On Saturday, all three, key components in the Redskins' dynamic run during the 1980s and early 1990s, will be inducted together into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

"We couldn't have done what we did, had that great run without them. That's for sure," Hall of Fame coach Joe Gibbs said before last weekend's Allstate 400 at the Brickyard. "One of the things you've got to be able to do as a coach is handle different relationships, and know how to motivate them. It's a really outstanding testament to Emmitt."

Most fans remember the Redskins for their powerful offensive line, nicknamed "The Hogs."
Gibbs credits Green, a lightning fast cornerback with a knack for making big plays, and Monk, generally regarded as the league's first "big" receiver, as the leaders of the Redskins dynasty that won each Super Bowl with a different quarterback - Joe Theismann, Doug Williams and Mark Rypien.

Thomas, one of Gibbs' assistants, had the enviable task of getting the most out of two eventual Hall-of-Famers. But it was Thomas who felt most fortunate. "I know all of us feel blessed to go in, but to go in with those two young men that I had a chance to work with probably had some play in continuing my coaching career is the topping on all of it," Thomas said.
To read more…

And of course - a clip:

If you wondered if I was a fan of the Washington Redskins - Stop by and look behind the open door at my office at the church.

Also - this Sunday marks my one year anniversary as Lead pastor of North Raleigh Church of the Nazarene. On the first Sunday of August in 2007 I preached my first message as Lead Pastor. WOW - the year has flown bye. I praise God for His plan for my life! If you would like to review my first thoughts as Lead pastor - click HERE for my posting last year. As I prepare for the service tomorrow I thought I would give a short "teaser". What does this picture have to do with the message from James 4: 1-10?