Sunday, November 30, 2008

Pastor Farr

Friday, November 28, 2008

Update From Hospital

I'm coming to you "live" (sorta) from North Florida Regional Medical Center in Gainesville, Florida. It's been approximately 67 hours since the end of my revision hip replacement surgery. WOW! A lot has happened in those 67 hours.

Firstly, let me update you on the outcome of the surgery. Unfortunately, doctors encountered a couple of issues that will prolong recovery time, one being a hairline fracture in my femur bone. These things also caused an incredible amount of pain in the 24 hours following the surgery. The pain level has now dropped drastically and is now very manageable. Praise God!

I also lost enough blood during the surgery that I needed two units yesterday. This procedure caused me not to have physical therapy for the day. Only a minor delay.

Doctors have also informed me that I will not be allowed to place more than 10 pounds of pressure on my left leg for the nest 8 weeks. This will mean a much longer recovery time since I will not be able to walk "normally" for the next two months. I may be going to a rehab center after leaving the hospital for additional physical therapy. I'll post additional info on this site as it becomes available.

This may sound like really bad news, but, you may recall, that one complication that could have happened was a shattering and reconstruction of the femur. This would have meant no walking for three months. Praise the Lord, this didn't happen.

My surgeon, Dr. Mark Petty, has told me that this revision of a previous hip replacement looks very good. Another praise the Lord!

During these 67 hours we have also celebrated "Thanksgiving". God has showered me with blessings even while in the hospital recovering from surgery. Let me share some of them with you:

  • I have had wonderful medical services from doctors, nurses and other support staff. Everyone has been so nice to me and my family. Praise God for this blessing.
  • My family has been with me all along the way. Praise the Lord for this blessing.
  • I have been visited by many friends and received countless calls and e-mails from others. Praise God for this encouragement.
  • I have also been visited and called by many pastors that I have had the honor of ministering with in various services. Praise the Lord for these opportunities.
  • Many have sent financial donations to my ministry to assist with medical, ministry and routine bills at home. May God richly bless each one for their investment in this ministry.
  • Many, many prayers have been lifted up before the Lord on my behalf. I am so grateful for these prayer warriors. May God richly bless them for prayerfully investing in this ministry.
Our God is certainly awesome and worthy of all praise!

Read a previous post that provides more background information.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Attention Shoppers

My friend Ryan Bishop of Threshold Church in Boiling Springs, SC has an interesting post on the church's blog about a Black Friday ministry:

Tomorrow (Black Friday) morning, we will be on 3775 Parris Bridge Rd giving out FREE (Dunkin Donuts) COFFEE. We will have a drive-thru due to minimal parking. As with everything that we will ever do, there will be no registration forms, no gotcha's and no showing up at your house because you came to one of our events. We will however, be trying a new tracking program where we take down your tag number and see if we can find your house, but that will only be every 12th car.


So, your chance of seeing us at your doorstep in your bathrobe is actually quite slim.

Coffee served very hot in case you are into the lawsuit thing.

Don't you just love his sense of humor. You go Ryan. 8-)

Pilgrim Thanksgiving

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Famous Pilgrims

In class, the teacher was trying desperately to get the students to think. He asked, “If the Pilgrims were alive today, what would they be most famous for?”

One student quickly responded, “Their age.”

Psalms For Turkeys


Tuesday, November 25, 2008

OUT OF SURGERY

James is out of surgery and has been moved to recovery. The doctor reports that there were no unexpected events during the surgery. Please continue your prayers. I hope to post a word from James before the day ends.

THE TURKEY IS IN THE OVEN

Thanksgiving analogies are irresistible. James has been taken into surgery for hip replacement. Please continue to lift James and his surgeons in prayer as God guides their hands through the next few hours.

Turkey Diet


Monday, November 24, 2008

Hip Surgery Tomorrow

Tomorrow, November 25th I will undergo hip replacement surgery. This extensive procedure is not the first for me, as I have been through double-hip replacement in 1995. Doctors will now be replacing a “replacement”. My dwarfism has contributed to possible complications that will make the recovery from this procedure more time consuming and quite costly.

The surgery is scheduled for 8am at North Florida Regional Medical Center in Gainesville, Florida. I ask you, firstly, that you will pray for me in these days. Also, remember to lift before the Lord those that will be involved in every aspect of the surgery, hospitalization, therapy and recovery.

Itinerant evangelism, I have found, is not for the faint of heart. Nevertheless, I am certain of my call to the ministry, and am gearing up for whatever God places before me in 2009. I am confident that the Lord will continue to bless my work in full-time evangelism. I hope to be up and running – no pun intended – soon after the first of the year and already have preaching engagements on the calendar. However, to be honest, this surgery will deal a costly blow to my Kingdom work in time and finances.

I am most dependent on the generosity of monthly givers – folks like you – that have allowed me to stay afloat between preaching engagements these past two years. Should God lead you to make a one-time or continuing donation, no matter the size, it would be an extraordinary investment. Little is much when God is in it! As hard as it is to make such pleas, I hope you receive it in the spirit with which I make it.

Updates about the surgery and recovery will be posted here on my ministry blog site immediately following the procedure by my brother, John Croft. I hope to be able to check my e-mail within a few days and possibly add a personal post to this site.

I thank you in advance for your prayers and support, and pray that your Thanksgiving holiday is filled with gratitude to and for Him who holds all things together – even hips!

NOTES:

Turkey Trivia Quiz

Take the Turkey Trivia Quiz. Share your score by clicking "comments" below. I scored "10".

Turkey Dreams

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Off Track



Why have you despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in His sight? —2 Samuel 12:9

When I sat in my car at the start of the automatic car wash, I didn’t know that my left front tire was not properly lined up with the track. The car wash started but my car wasn’t moving, so I accelerated. That caused my tire to jump the track.

Now I was stuck—I couldn’t move forward or backward. The car wash continued through its cycle without my car. Meanwhile, cars began lining up and waiting for me. I was glad when two workers at the station helped me get my car back on the track.

Sometimes in our Christian lives we get off track too. King David did in a big way. He committed adultery with Bathsheba and later ordered that her husband be put “in the forefront of the hottest battle” and left there to be killed (2 Sam. 11:3-4,15-17). David’s actions were way out of line with how God wanted him to behave as His chosen king.

David needed help to get back on track. The Bible says that “the Lord sent Nathan to David” (12:1). He confronted him about stealing another man’s wife, and David wisely repented (v.13). Nathan took a risk to help David get right with God, even though his sin still had dire consequences.

Does someone you know need your help to get back on track? — Anne Cetas

Fellowship with other Christians
Strengthens us when we are weak,
Reprimands when we are sinning,
Helps us when God’s will we seek. —Sper

True love dares to confront.

A Church Remote?

Friday, November 21, 2008

JOY Box Drop-offs

The fine folks at Mercantile Bank in Macclenny, Florida are not only preparing shoebox gifts for the JCEA JOY Box Ministry, but the bank is also serving as the drop-off location in Baker County. JOY Boxs may be left at the bank during regular business hours:

  • Monday-Thursday 9am-4:30pm
  • Friday 9am-6pm
  • Saturday 9am-Noon
  • Closed on Sunday
Mercantile Bank is located at 595 South Sixth Street in Macclenny.

Lake City, Florida residents can drop-off their JOY Boxes at the Beulah Baptist Association at 189 NW Cali Drive in Lake City. The office hours are:
  • Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 8:30am-5pm
  • Wednesday 8:30am-4pm
  • Closed on Friday, Saturday and Sunday
  • Closed 12-1pm for lunch
We hope to be adding some additional drop-off locations by December 1st. If you need more information about the JOY Box ministry or would like to arrange for pick-up of boxes call 386.867.3199.
JOY Boxes should be delivered to drop-off locations by December 16, 2008.

Gospel Sales Pitch?

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Pine Grove Services Sunday And Monday

I will be one of three ministers preaching revival services at Pine Grove Baptist Church in Gainesville, Florida next week. I will be preaching on Sunday, November 16, 2008 at 11:00AM and 6pm and Monday, November 17, 2008 at 6pm. Rev. Robert Carter will be preaching at 6pm on Tuesday (Nov. 18) and Wednesday (Nov. 19) followed by Rev. Larry Finley on Thursday (Nov. 20) and Friday (Nov. 21). For more info call the Pastor Don Walker at (352) 376-4052.

Please be in prayer for these services.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

No Greater Love


Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. —John 15:13

Melbourne, Australia, is home to the Shrine of Remembrance, a war memorial honoring those who died for their country. Built following World War I, it has since been expanded to honor those who served in subsequent conflicts.

It’s a beautiful place, with reminders of courage and devotion, but the highlight of the shrine is a hall containing a carved stone that simply reads, “Greater Love Hath No Man.” Every year on the 11th day of the 11th month at 11:00 a.m., a mirror reflects the sun’s light onto the stone to spotlight the word love. It is a poignant tribute to those who gave their lives.

We honor the memory of those who paid the ultimate price for freedom. Yet the words on that stone carry a far greater meaning. Jesus spoke them the night before He died on the cross for the sins of a needy world (John 15:13). His death was not for freedom from political tyranny but freedom from the penalty of sin. His death was not just to give us a better life, but to give us eternal life.

It is important to remember those who have given their lives for their country—but may we never forget to praise and honor the Christ who died for a dying world. Truly, there is no greater love than this. — Bill Crowder

There is no greater love than that of Christ above,
That made Him stoop to earth, become a Man,
And by His death provide redemption’s plan;
There is no greater love. —Peterson
© Renewal 1983, John W. Peterson Music Company.

The cross of Jesus is the supreme evidence of the love of God.


Saturday, November 08, 2008

Power Button

Friday, November 07, 2008

Post Election Thoughts

I received an e-mail the day after our election that really made me think about Christian priorities and responsibilities. It was written by Mike Broadwater, Associational Missionary for the Valdosta (GA) Baptist Association, to the pastors in the association. Here is what he offered:

Well, the election is behind us and when I spoke with God this morning He was still on His Throne. I write to encourage you to encourage your people. I thought last night of the election cycles. Every four years some are elated and some disheartened. Yet, the sun still shines in the heavens and God is still God. Democrats survived Bush and Republicans survived Clinton . It matters not who occupies the White House but who occupies the Throne. Let the others play doom and gloom. Let us be purveyors of hope in Christ. The late Vance Havner once said, “We are not going to move this world by criticism of it nor conformity to it, but by the combustion within it of lives ignited by the Spirit of God. We ought to be praying, ‘Lord, take the Word; Spirit of God, set it on fire.’” Mike Broadwater

I'd like to add some food for thought and prayer for your consideration:

If you are a Christian, whether your candidate won or lost, the responsibility to pray for our leaders is still to be honored.

1 Timothy 2:1-4 (NKJV)
1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,
2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.


Our Christian responsibility to our government is still to be honored.

Matt 22:15-22 (NKJV)
15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk.
16 And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men.
17 Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”
18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, “Why do you test Me, you hypocrites?
19 Show Me the tax money.” So they brought Him a denarius.
20 And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?”
21 They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
22 When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way.

The Word of God has not changed (contrary to what some may say).

2 Tim 3:16-17 (NKJV)
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

God's desire for the lost to be saved has not changed.

John 3:16 (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.

2 Pet 3:9 (NKJV)
9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

Our Christian responsibility to be a witness for Jesus Christ has not changed.

Matt 28:18-20 (NKJV)
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

God's ability to save sinners has not changed.

Isa 59:1 (NKJV)
1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear.

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

The Way to salvation has not changed, He is still the ONLY WAY (contrary to what others may say).

John 14:6 (NKJV)
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

God's desire to bless our nation has not changed.

2 Chr 7:14 (NKJV)
14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Leaders may change, but our Lord Jesus Christ never changes.

Heb 13:8 (NKJV)
8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

To view a video about the way to salvation, visit "Do You Know?"

Thursday, November 06, 2008

Election Poll Results

Our Blog Poll #29 question was, "For whom are you casting your vote in the presidential election?" and the results are:

  • John McCain (R) 18 (78%)
  • Barack Obama (D) 4 (17%)
  • Other 1 (4%)
  • Not voting 0 (0%)
Total Votes: 23

This subject was our Blog Poll #28 question in August of this year. These results and previous polls and results can be read on this site by clicking "Blog Poll" in the list of categories in the left-hand column.

Church Speck Inspector

Wednesday, November 05, 2008

Top Video Downloads: October 2008


Here are the 5 most downloaded videos from Walking With The Giant Videos for the month of October 2008:

  1. A Very Scary Halloween Story
  2. Outrigger Island VBS
  3. Cottondale Music
  4. Run The Race
  5. Belinda Sings
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You may also contribute financially to this ministry to help with evangelism projects by following this link:
View top video downloads for September 2008.

Tuesday, November 04, 2008

Presidential Poll Comments

Our Blog Poll #29 post from last week has generated a few interesting comments you might enjoy reading. Please feel free to add your own thoughts by clicking "comments" below the post. Also, don't forget to vote in the poll located in the left column of this site. Voting will end this evening.

This is the day that United States voters will elect the man that will serve as President for the next four years. I hope that every eligible citizen will take this responsibility seriously and let their voice be heard by voting. I also hope that each Christian will make their vote a matter of prayer so that the result will reflect God’s perfect will for our nation.

After the election, let's be in prayer for both winners and losers, as well as those already serving.

1 Timothy 2:1-4 (NKJV)
1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,
2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Scripture For Voters

Election Coverage Tonight

I will be providing live coverage of election results in my home county tonight on WJXR 92.1 FM. I broadcast the results from the Baker County Supervisor of Elections office in Macclenny, Florida. There are a few county offices and state offices that will be decided tonight along with the presidential election. I'll provide the first report around 7pm followed by updates as local results become available.

October 2008 Top 5

The 5 most viewed blog posts on this site for the month of October 2008 are:

  1. Pine Grove Services
  2. Tallahassee Homecoming Scheduled
  3. Preaching Or Meddlin'
  4. September 2008 Podcast Downloads
  5. Too Poor To Pay
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NOTE: These stats do not include views by those that came directly to this site through means other than the RSS Feed.

Monday, November 03, 2008

Pine Grove Meetings Begin November 16th

I will be one of three ministers preaching revival services at Pine Grove Baptist Church in Gainesville, Florida week after next. I am scheduled for Sunday, November 16, 2008 at 11:00AM and 6pm and Monday, November 17, 2008 at 6pm. Rev. Robert Carter will be preaching at 6pm on Tuesday (Nov. 18) and Wednesday (Nov. 19) followed by Rev. Larry Finley on Thursday (Nov. 20) and Friday (Nov. 21). For more info call the Pastor Don Walker at (352) 376-4052.

Sunday, November 02, 2008

Retaining Their Attention

Saturday, November 01, 2008

October 2008 Podcast Downloads

This is the Top Ten Podcast Downloads for the month of October 2008.

Episode

Guest

Oct. 2008 Downloads

Total Downloads

March 2008

Dr. James Gipson
Civil War Reenactor Chaplain

25

281

January 2006

Kevin Owen & Cheryl Kent
Musicians

2

473

April 2006

Jack & Ali
Spin 103.8, Dublin, Ireland

2

520

May 2006

Dr. Sterling Huston
Internet Evangelism Coalition &
Billy Graham Evangelistic Assoc.

2

620

December 2006

Paul Braun
Samaritan’s Purse
Operation Christmas Child Regional Director

2

275

November 2007

Eddie Swimmer
Spirit Word Radio Ministry

2

234

February-March 2006

Dr. Harold Hudson
Pastor, Fellowship Baptist Church
Raiford, Florida

1

517

June 2006

Evangelist Bobby Brindle
“World’s Smallest Evangelist”

1

637

August 2006

Ruth H. Westgate
Songwriter/Author

1

405

October 2006

Junior Combs & Southern Joy
2006 National Quartet Convention Group Talent Competion Winners

1

325

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