Tuesday, February 28, 2006

WWTG for Feb./March Now Online

After a series of technical problems the next edition of "Walking with the Giant" is now available online. Those who have contributed to this ministry will receive their CD version in the next few days.

Due to the extreme delays, this edition will actually be for February & March 2006. I hope that the April edition will be back on schedule with release in the last week of March.

The new edition includes an interview with Dr. Harold Hudson (pictured above) that focuses on his ministry during January's tragedy in Union County (Florida) where seven children from one family were killed in an accident involving a car, school bus and semi truck. The children attended Dr. Hudson's church, Fellowship Baptist Church in Raiford, Florida.

Also featured on the program is an interview with Evangelist Raphael Adjei Kingbi (JCEA Ghana Ministry Coordinator) and the second part of the message entitled "The Rock".

To subscribe to the RSS Feed for the program follow this link: http://feeds.feedburner.com/jamescroft/opEf.

For more information about "Walking with the Giant" or financial contributions "Click Here".

To download the program follow this link: "Click Here"

(Photo by Jon M. Fletcher)

Sunday, February 26, 2006

Shine On

The devotion in “Our Daily Bread” for Sunday, February 26, 2006 is good and I wanted to share it with you. You can read it at: http://www.rbc.org/odb/odb.shtml.

Friday, February 24, 2006

Brotherhood Saturday

I will be speaking on "Missions" tomorrow during a Brotherhood Breakfast at First Baptist Church of Lake Butler, Florida. I will also be sharing a video from our 2004 Ghana, West Africa mission trip.

Thursday, February 23, 2006

Television Interview Video

On Sunday, February 19, 2006 I was interviewed for a news story on WAWS FOX 30 & WTEV CBS 47 News (Jacksonville, Florida). The story aired that evening. If you would like to view the full video story, please click this link: http://www.jamescroft.org/Video/Croft%20medium.wmv.

You can also find the link on the "Bio" page of my website.

More Blog posts about the story can be read at these links:

Television Interview

Television Interview Links

News Crew was Professional

Wednesday, February 22, 2006

The Other Side

A sick man turned to his doctor, as he was preparing to leave the examination room and said, "Doctor, I am afraid to die. Tell me what lies on the other side."

Very quietly, the doctor said, "I don't know."

"You don't know? You, a Christian man, do not know what is on the other side?"

The doctor was holding the handle of the door; on the other side came a sound of scratching and whining, and as he opened the door, a dog sprang into the room and leaped on him with an eager show of gladness. Turning to the patient, the doctor said, "Did you notice my dog? He's never been in this room before. He didn't know what was inside. He knew nothing except that his master was here, and when the door opened, he sprang in without fear. I know little of what is on the other side of death, but I do know one thing... I know my Master is there and that is
enough."

Tuesday, February 21, 2006

News Crew was Professional

I want to thank Jeff Butera (News Reporter) and Matt Trees (Video Photographer) from WTEV CBS 47 and WAWS FOX 30 News in Jacksonville, Florida for their professionalism yesterday. Their presence was very unobtrusive while taping during our morning worship service at First Baptist Church of Lake Butler. They made every attempt not to disturb the congregation or the service while preparing their story about my ministry.

I also want to thank them for a story filled with accuracy. I know many times the media takes a lot of heat for inaccuracy in reporting especially where Christians and the Gospel message is concerned, but the story yesterday was an accurate report of our time together.

The idea to do a story on my ministry actually began on Thursday, January 26th, one day after the tragic, fatal accident in Union County that claimed the lives of seven children. The reporter, Jeff Butera, was in Lake Butler covering the accident when he passed FBC of Lake Butler and observed Celeste Saunders changing the message on the church sign. He stopped and interviewed her about the message she had displayed. During the conversation she told him about our service the night of the accident (which I was leading). From that conversation came the idea to do another story on "James the Giant".

It never ceases to amaze me how God bring good, positive news out of a tragedy! We serve a wonderful, awesome God!!! I certainly want to praise God for the blessing that this story is to me and I pray that He uses it to His honor and glory!

Monday, February 20, 2006

Film at 11:00 (or maybe by the weekend)

Due to a technical problem the FOX 30 News website will be unable to link to yesterday's television interview about my ministry. I hope that with the help of a friend to have it available on my website by this weekend. I'll post the link here also.

Television Interview Links

Here are the links that I have thus far about the television interview that aired last night about my ministry.

This is an abbreviated video of the story:

http://www.cbs47.com/mediacenter/default.aspx?videoId=3535@video.cbs47.com.

These are printed versions of the story:

http://www.fox30online.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=642FF538-004E-45D4-A2A9-9E7E243EE6AD

http://www.cbs47.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=642FF538-004E-45D4-A2A9-9E7E243EE6AD

The full length video of the story may be added later on the FOX 30 site, if not, I will upload it to my website later this week and post a link here.

Saturday, February 18, 2006

Television Interview

CBS 47 (WTEV) News from Jacksonville, Florida is scheduled to interview me about my ministry tomorrow (Sunday). The reporter, Jeff Butera, and a camera "person" will be at First Baptist Church of Lake Butler, Florida for the morning worship service. I will be interviewed prior to the service and they will shoot video during the service.

The story is tentatively schedule to air Sunday evening as follows:

CBS Channel 47 News (Jacksonville) at 6:30pm
CBS Channel 4 News (Gainesville) at 6:30pm
FOX Channel 30 News (Jacksonville) at 10pm

I will update this post tomorrow with any additional information. On Monday I will post a link to the video that can be viewed online.

Please be in prayer for the services tomorrow and the interview too!

Friday, February 17, 2006

FBC Lake Butler Sunday

I'll be preaching the morning (11am) & evening (6pm) worship services this Sunday at First Baptist Church of Lake Butler. The church is located at 195 East Main Street in Lake Butler, Florida.

Thursday, February 16, 2006

How To Get To Heaven

A Sunday School teacher was testing the children one Sunday in class to see if they understood the concept of getting to heaven.

She asked them, "If I sold my house and my car, had a big garage sale and gave all my money to the church, would that get me into Heaven?"

"NO!" the children answered.

"If I cleaned the church every day, mowed the yard, and kept everything neat and tidy, would that get me into Heaven?" she asked.

Again, the answer was, "NO!"

By now she was starting to smile and asked the children, "Well, then, if I was kind to animals and gave candy to all the children, and loved my husband, would that get me into Heaven?"

Again, they all answered, "NO!"

She was just bursting with pride for them. "Well," she continued, "then how can I get into Heaven?"

A five-year-old boy shouted out, "YOU GOTTA BE DEAD."

Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJV)
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Romans 10:13 (NKJV)
13 For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”

Wednesday, February 15, 2006

Animated Jigsaw Puzzle

Do you like jigsaw puzzles? How about one that has a "moving" picture? Try it out at: http://www.brl.ntt.co.jp/people/hara/fly.swf. It's challenging & fun.

Tuesday, February 14, 2006

Happy Valentines Day!

1 Corinthians 13:1-13 (NKJV)

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body £to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;
5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;
6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;
7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.
9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

John 3:16-17 (NKJV)

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

Monday, February 13, 2006

Hudson Interviewed for Podcast

I interviewed Dr. Harold Hudson (pictured at left) on Saturday for the February edition of "Walking with the Giant". The interview focuses on his ministry during last month's tragedy in Union County where seven children from one family were killed in an accident involving a car, school bus and semi truck. The children attended Dr. Hudson's church, Fellowship Baptist Church in Raiford, Florida.

The February edition of the Podcast should be available by the end of this week.

(Photo by Jon M. Fletcher)

Saturday, February 11, 2006

Barber Shop Illustration

A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed. As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation. They talked about so many things and various subjects.

When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said, "I don't believe that God exists."

"Why do you say that?" asked the customer.

"Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn't exist. Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children? If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain. I can't imagine a loving God who would allow all of these things," said the barber.

The customer thought for a moment, but didn't respond because he didn't want to start an argument. The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop. Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard. He looked dirty and unkempt.

The customer turned back and entered the barber shop again and he said to the barber, "You know what? Barbers do not exist."

"How can you say that," asked the surprised barber. "I am here, and I am a barber. And I just
worked on you!"

"No!" the customer exclaimed. "Barbers don't exist because if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside."

"Ah, but barbers DO exist! What happens is, people do not come to me," the barber replied.

"Exactly!" affirmed the customer. "That's the point, God, too, DOES exist! What happens, is, people don't go to Him and do not look for Him. That's why there's so much pain and suffering in the world."

Friday, February 10, 2006

Weekend Services

Tomorrow (Saturday) night I will be speaking at a youth Valentine banquet at Friendship Baptist Church in Live Oak, Florida.

On Sunday morning (11am) I will be preaching at Lake Forest Baptist Church, 5121 East University Ave., Gainesville, Florida. A luncheon will follow the morning worship service. I will also speak during the luncheon and share a brief video from our 2004 Ghana, West Africa mission trip.

Please be in prayer for these services.

Thursday, February 09, 2006

New River Baptist Added to Schedule

I will be preaching in supply for Pastor Jason Reid at New River Baptist Church on Sunday, March 5, 2006. The services will begin at 11am & 6pm. New River Baptist Church is located at 16703 SW 144th Ave. in Brooker, Florida.

Wednesday, February 08, 2006

Raisin' the Dead

A funeral service is being held for a woman who has just passed away. At the end of the service, the pall bearers are carrying the casket out when they accidentally bump into a wall, jarring the casket. They hear a faint moan. They open the casket and find that the woman is actually alive! She lives for ten more years, and then dies.

Once again, a ceremony is held, and at the end of it, the pall bearers are again carrying out the casket. As they carry the casket towards the door, the husband cries out, "Watch that wall!"

Tuesday, February 07, 2006

Miscellaneous Ponderings?

  • How important does a person have to be before they are considered assassinated instead of just murdered?
  • How come we choose from just two people for President and fifty for Miss America?
  • Why is "bra" singular and "panties" plural?
  • Can a hearse carrying a corpse drive in the carpool lane?
  • Why does Goofy stand erect while Pluto remains on all fours? They're both dogs!
  • Is Disney World the only people trap operated by a mouse?

Monday, February 06, 2006

Behavioral Ponderings?

  • Can you cry under water?
  • Why is it that people say they "slept like a baby" when babies wake up like every two hours?
  • Why do people pay to go up tall buildings and then put money in binoculars to look at things on the ground?
  • Why do doctors leave the room while you change? They're going to see you naked anyway.
  • When your photo is taken for your driver's license, why do they tell you to smile? If you are stopped by the police and asked for you license, are you going to be smiling?
  • Did you ever notice that when you blow in a dog's face, he gets mad at you, but when you take him for a car ride; he sticks his head out the window?

Saturday, February 04, 2006

"Super" Party

My home church, First Baptist Church of Lake Butler, will hold a Super Bowl Party tomorrow night (Sunday, February 5th). We "kick-off" at 6pm in the sanctuary, we then move down the "field" (hallway) to our fellowship hall for "tail-gating", there will be plenty of food! Everyone will have a great seat for the big game with a big screen TV.

Our half-time show will feature Head Coach Tony Dungy of the Indianapolis Colts sharing his testimony via video.

Come join the fun and excitement!!!


First Baptist Church of Lake Butler is located at 195 East Main Street in Lake Butler, Florida.

Photo courtesy of Indianapolis Colts website.

Friday, February 03, 2006

I Dare You!

The devotion for today (February 3, 2006) in "Our Daily Bread" features a great illustration. You can view it at: http://www.rbc.org/odb/odb.shtml.

Musical/Theatrical Ponderings?

  • Why are you IN a movie, but you're ON TV?
  • If Jimmy cracks corn and no one cares, why is there a stupid song about him?
  • What do you call male ballerinas?
  • Do the Alphabet song and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star have the same tune?
  • Why did you just try singing the two songs above?

Thursday, February 02, 2006

It Is No Secret

What do Carl Stuart Hamblen, Billy Graham & John Wayne have in common?

Click here http://www.snopes.com/religion/hamblen.htm and then it will no longer be a secret to you.

Wednesday, February 01, 2006

Praise the Lord

There was a little old lady, who every morning. Stepped onto her front porch, raised her arms to the sky, and shouted: "PRAISE THE LORD!"

One day an atheist moved into the House next door. He became irritated at the little old lady.

Every morning he'd step onto his Front porch after her and yell: "THERE IS NO LORD!"

Time passed with the two of them Carrying on this way every day.

One morning, in the middle of Winter, the little old lady stepped onto her front porch and shouted: "PRAISE THE LORD! Please Lord, I have no food and I am starving, provide For me, oh Lord!

The next mo rning she stepped onto Her porch and there were two huge bags of groceries sitting there.

"PRAISE THE LORD!" she Cried out. "HE HAS PROVIDED GROCERIES FOR ME!"

The atheist neighbor jumped out Of the hedges and shouted: "THERE IS NO LORD. I BOUGHT THOSE GROCERIES!!"

The little old lady threw her Arms into the air and shouted: "PRAISE THE LORD! HE HAS PROVIDED ME WITH GROCERIES AND MADE THE DEVIL PAY FOR THEM!