One Sunday morning, a mother went in to wake her son and tell him it was time to get ready for church, to which he replied, "I'm not going."
"Why not?" she asked.
I'll give you two good reasons," he said. "One, they don't like me, and two, I don't like them."
His mother replied, "Now I'll give YOU two good reasons why YOU SHOULD go to church. (1) You're 49 years old, and (2) you're the pastor!"
The young couple invited their elderly pastor for Sunday dinner. While they were in the kitchen preparing the meal, the minister asked their son what they were having. "Goat," the little boy replied. "Goat?" replied the startled man of the cloth, "Are you sure about that?" "Yep," said the youngster. "I heard Dad say to Mom, 'Today is just as good as any to have the old goat for dinner.'"
On Saturday, August 20th I posted a Bible Brain Twister word search on this site. Unfortunately, the original sender did not include the author of the puzzle and it contained the final book name needed to complete the word search. I e-mailed the original sender and he replied with the answers and apologized that the author's name was not included in the forward that I had received. I am reposting the word search here with the answers highlighted.
I must admit that I found 16 within about 30 minutes and have been searching for the 17th ever since. I have received e-mails and even telephone calls requesting the answers. It is exciting to see how many people got so involved in the Biblical word search. You know, we might find studying the Bible just as exciting if we would approach it the way we have approached this puzzle. 8-)
Bible Brain Twister
By (John) Kezer
I once made a re(mark) about the hidden books of the Bible. It was a lu(lu, ke)pt people loo(king s)o hard for f(acts), and for others it was a (revelation). Some were in a (jam, es)pecially since the names of the books are not capitalized, but the t(ruth) finally struck home to (numbers) of readers. To others, it was a real (job). We want it to be (a mos)t fascinating few moments for you. Y(es, ther)e will be some really easy ones to spot. Others may require (judges) to help them. I will quickly admi(t it us)ually takes a minister to find one of the 17, and there will be loud (lamentations) when it is found. A little lady says s(he brews) a cup of tea so she can concentrate better. See how well you can com(pete. R)elax now, for there really are the names of 17 books of the Bible in these sentences.
A well-worn one-dollar bill and a similarly distressed twenty-dollar bill arrived at a Federal Reserve Bank to be retired. As they moved along the conveyor belt to be burned, they struck up a conversation. The twenty-dollar bill reminisced about its travels all over the country. "I've had a pretty good life," the twenty proclaimed. "Why I've been to Las Vegas and Atlantic City, the finest restaurants in New York, performances on Broadway, and even a cruise to the Caribbean" "Wow!" said the one-dollar bill. "You've really had an exciting life!" "So tell me," says the twenty, "where have you been throughout your lifetime?" The one dollar bill replies, "Oh, I've been to the Methodist Church, the Baptist Church, the Lutheran Church..." The twenty-dollar bill interrupts, "What's a church?"
The youth revival at Forest Grove Baptist Church near Alachua, Florida will continue at 7pm through Wednesday night.
On Monday night the music was led by a youth band from First Baptist Church of High Springs, Florida (pictured below). For more info about the services call the church office at (386) 462-3921 or click here.
The High Springs band will also lead the music service on Tuesday & Wednesday.
The youth revival services at Forest Grove Baptist Church near Alachua, Florida got underway last night. The services will continue at 7pm through Wednesday night. For more information about the services you can click here or call the church at (386) 462-3921.
Photo (top left) John Croft (my brother) of First Baptist Church of White Springs sings a special.
Photo (top right) Cheryl Kent & Kevin Owen of First Baptist Church of Olustee led the congregational music with praise & worship songs and did a couple of specials too.
Photo (bottom) That's me (James Croft) as I challenged youth & adults to become "Eagle Christians".
Special music for the remaining services will be provided by First Baptist Church of High Springs youth group.
Please be in prayer for these services.
I received this in an e-mail today and forwarded it to some of my friends. I have heard from several of them concerning their effort to find all 17 of the Bible books within the paragraph below. At this point no one has found all 17. I found 16 in about 30 minutes and I'm still searching for #17. Let me know how you do with this fun task. I hope to post the correct answers in a week.
I once made a remark about the hidden books of the Bible. It was a lulu, kept people looking so hard for facts, and for others it was a revelation. Some were in a jam, especially since the names of the books are not capitalized, but the truth finally struck home to numbers of readers. To others, it was a real job. We want it to be a most fascinating few moments for you. Yes, there will be some really easy ones to spot. Others may require judges to help them. I will quickly admit it usually takes a minister to find one of the 17, and there will be loud lamentations when it is found. A little lady says she brews a cup of tea so she can concentrate better. See how well you can compete. Relax now, for there really are the names of 17 books of the Bible in these sentences.
I will be preaching the morning worship (11am) service at Gadara Baptist Church this Sunday, August 21st. Gadara Baptist Church is located at 6779 CR315C in Keystone Heights, Florida.
Please be in prayer for this service.
A youth service called "The Red Zone" has been added to the schedule for Friday, October 28th in Lake Butler, Florida. First Baptist Church of Lake Butler will be holding a special youth service following each of the Union County High School home football games. The services will begin at 10pm at the "The Fire Escape" at 102 SW 11th Street in Lake Butler. The services will feature food, music, devotion time and a lot of fun.
For more information call the church at (386) 496-3704.
This is a cute story that points out that God answers prayers in many "unique" ways.
A woman was at work when she received a phone call that her daughter was very sick with a fever. She left her work and stopped by the pharmacy to get some medication. She got back to her car and found that she had locked her keys in the car.
She didn't know what to do, so she called home and told the baby sitter what had happened. The baby sitter told her that the fever was getting worse. She said, "You might find a coat hanger and use that to open the door."
The woman looked around and found an old rusty coat hanger that had been left on the ground, possibly by someone else who at some time had locked their keys in their car. She looked at the hanger and said, "I don't know how to use this."
She bowed her head and asked God to send her help. Within five minutes an old rusty car pulled up, with a dirty, greasy, bearded man who was wearing an old biker skull rag on his head. The woman thought, "This is what you sent to help me?" But, she was desperate, so she was also very thankful.
The man got out of his car and asked if he could help. She said, "Yes, my daughter is very sick. I stopped to get her some medication and I locked my keys in my car. I must get home to her. Please, can you use this hanger to unlock my car?"
He said, "Sure." He walked over to the car, and in less than a minute the car was opened. She hugged the man and through her tears she said, "Thank You So Much! You are a very nice man."
The man replied, "Lady, I am not a nice man. I just got out of prison today. I was in prison for car theft and have only been out for about an hour."
The woman hugged the man again and with sobbing tears cried out loud, "Oh, Thank you God! You even sent me a Professional!"
Ready for a good joke?
An elderly woman walked into the local country church. The friendly usher greeted her at the door and helped her up the flight of steps.
"Where would you like to sit?" he asked politely.
"The front row please," she answered.
"You really don't want to do that," the usher said. "The pastor is really boring."
"Do you happen to know who I am?" the woman inquired.
"No." he said.
"I'm the pastor's mother," she replied indignantly.
"Do you know who I am?" he asked.
"No." she said.
"Good," he answered.
I received an invitation today from Pastor Matt Swain of St. Johns Baptist Church in Greenville, Florida to preach the church's homecoming service. The homecoming service will be held on Sunday, November 6, 2005. Special music will begin at 10am with the preaching following. Dinner-on-the-grounds will follow the morning service.
Here's another photo from the children's camp hosted by New Oak Grove Baptist Church. This was taken this morning while the children were singing.
More info about the camp can be found in previous posts on this site.
New Oak Grove Baptist Church's children's camp is going very well at Camp Kulaqua near High Springs, Florida. I am teaching the Bible study in each of the worship rallies. Cheryl Kent & Kevin Owen pictured below are leading the music for the night services.
The camp will end Wednesday night at the church located near Alachua, Florida with a service that will begin at 7pm.
Please be in prayer for this weeks activities.
One Sunday morning, the minister noticed little Alex standing in the foyer of the church staring up at a large plaque. It was covered with names with small American flags mounted on either side of it. The seven year old had been staring at the plaque for some time, so the minister walked up, stood beside the little boy, and said quietly, "Good morning Alex."
"Good morning sir," he replied, still focused on the plaque. "Sir, what is this?" he asked the minister.
The minister said, "Well, son, it's a memorial to all the young men and women who died in the service."
Soberly, they just stood together, staring at the large plaque.
Finally, little Alex's voice, barely audible and trembling with fear, asked, "Which service? The 11am or the 6pm?"
Sunday morning I will be preaching the 11am service for Pastor Melvin Owen at Tiger Lake Baptist Church on CR49 near Live Oak, Florida.
Sunday night I will begin leading the worship rallies for a children's camp hosted by New Oak Grove Baptist Church of Alachua, Florida. The camp will be held at Camp Kalaqua near High Springs, Florida. The worship rallies will also be held each morning and evening Monday-Wednesday. The Wednesday evening service will be held at the church. Kevin Owen & Cheryl Kent will be leading the music for the evening rallies.
Please be in prayer for all of these services.
