Leap Day

What is Leap Day?  February 29 is known as a leap day in the Gregorian calendar.  Although most years of the modern calendar have 365 days, a complete revolution around the sun takes approximately 365 days and 6 hours. Every four years, during which an extra 24 hours have accumulated, one extra day is added to keep the count coordinated with the sun's apparent position.

It is, however, slightly inaccurate to calculate an additional 6 hours each year. A better approximation, derived from the Alfonsine tables, is that the Earth makes a complete revolution around the sun in 365 days, 5 hours, 49 minutes, and 16 seconds. To compensate for the difference, an end-of-century year is not a leap year unless it is also exactly divisible by 400. This means that the years 1600 and 2000 were leap years, as will be 2400 and 2800, but the years 1700, 1800 and 1900 were not, nor will 2100, 2200 and 2300.

The Gregorian calendar repeats itself every 400 years, which is exactly 20,871 weeks including 97 leap days. Over this period, February 29 falls on Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday 13 times each; 14 times each on Friday and Saturday; and 15 times each on Monday and Wednesday.

For more information visit Wikipedia.

FBC Macclenny Sunday

I will be preaching in supply for Pastor Edsel Bone at First Baptist Church of Macclenny this Sunday, March 4, 2012 at 10:45am.  The morning service is also broadcast on WJXR 92.1 FM beginning at 11am.  The church is located at 372 S. 6th. Street in Macclenny, Florida.  For more information or directions call the church at (904) 259-2933.

NOTE: For up-to-date information on my preaching schedule visit the schedule page of the JCEA ministry website. If you would like to receive schedule information via e-mail follow this link: Subscribe to James Croft Ministry Opportunities by Email.

And the Oscar goes to...

The Back Pew

Huntsville Baptist Revival Update

James & Jim

I enjoyed the revival services at Huntsville Baptist Church in Lake City, Florida this week. I have a lot of friends at the church and it's always good to minister with Pastor Jim Steele. Huntsville Baptist is one of the first churches I spoke in when "struggling" with the call to ministry in 1994.  I guess the Spirit bore witness with the pastor while I was still questioning if I was being called.  Maybe Pastor Steele knew before that, because I led a youth rally there in 1981, that's 13 years before the Lord called me to preach!

If you live in the Lake City, Florida area or are passing through, Pastor Jim Steele and members of Huntsville Baptist Church would welcome you to worship with them. The church is located at 5720 NW Lake Jeffery Road in Lake City, Florida. For more information or directions call at (386) 752-2089.

FBC Lake Butler Sunday Night

I will be preaching in supply for my pastor, Jason Johns, at First Baptist Church of Lake Butler Sunday, evening, February 26, 2012.  The service will begin at 6pm.  The church is located at 195 East Main Street in Lake Butler, Florida.  For more information or directions call the church at (386) 496-3704.

NOTE: For up-to-date information on my preaching schedule visit the schedule page of the JCEA ministry website. If you would like to receive schedule information via e-mail follow this link: Subscribe to James Croft Ministry Opportunities by Email.

A Part of America Died

In memory of

Clay County (Florida) Sheriff's

Detective David White

killed in the line of duty

on Thursday night.

"A Part of America Died"  
Author: Unknown

Somebody killed a policeman today,
and a part of America died.
A piece of our country he swore to protect,
will be buried with him at his side.

The suspect that shot him will stand up in court,
with counsel demanding his rights.
While a young widowed mother must work for her kids,
and spend many long, lonely nights.

The beat that he walked was a battle field too,
just as if he'd gone off to war.
Though the flag of our nation won't fly at half mast,
to his name they will add a gold star.

Yes, somebody killed a policeman today,
in your town or mine.
While we slept in comfort behind our locked doors,
a cop put his life on the line.

Now his ghost walks a beat on a dark city street,
and he stands at each new rookie's side.
He answered the call, of himself gave his all,
and a part of America died.

What is that handshake thing?

When NBA star Jeremy Lin was asked about that thing he does with teammate Landry Fields prior to each game, he sets the record straight.

"We do a handshake, put on some glasses, he (Landry) opens the Bible, we read a passage together, put our glasses away and point toward the sky to remind ourselves that we're playing for God."

Is this the NBA version of "Tebowing"?

Huntsville Revival Begins with Homecoming this Sunday

Click to enlarge

On Sunday, February 19, 2012, Homecoming Service will serve as a kick-off for revival services at Huntsville Baptist Church in Lake City.  The homecoming service will begin at 10:45am.  Four more services will follow: Sunday night at 6pm and Monday-Wednesday, February 20-22 at 6:30pm.  The church is located at 5720 NW Lake Jeffery Road near Lake City, Florida.  For more information call Pastor Jim Steele at (386) 752-2089.

NOTE: For up-to-date information on my preaching schedule visit the schedule page of the JCEA ministry website. If you would like to receive schedule information via e-mail follow this link: Subscribe to James Croft Ministry Opportunities by Email.

Super Bowl Ticket

A man had two of the best tickets for the Super Bowl.  As he sits down, another man comes along and asks if anyone is sitting in the seat next to him.

"No", he says, "the seat is empty."

"This is incredible!" said the man, "who in their right mind would have a seat like this for the Super Bowl, the biggest sporting event of the football calendar and not use it?"

He says, "Well, actually, the seat belongs to me.  My wife was supposed to come with me, but she passed away.  This is the first Super Bowl we haven't been together since we got married."

"Oh... I'm sorry to hear that. That's terrible. I guess you couldn't find someone else, a friend or relative or even a neighbour to take the seat?"

The man shakes his head......."No. They're all at the funeral."

Mt. Horeb Services Scheduled

I will be preaching revival services at Mt. Horeb Baptist Church Monday-Friday, March 12-16, 2012. The services will begin at 7pm each night. The church is located at 3449 NE CR340 near High Springs, Florida.  For more information or directions call Pastor James West at (386) 454-5238.

NOTE: For up-to-date information on my preaching schedule visit the schedule page of the JCEA ministry website. If you would like to receive schedule information via e-mail follow this link: Subscribe to James Croft Ministry Opportunities by Email.

Stark Raving Calm

The Back Pew

Calvary Baptist Tomorrow

I will be preaching for Pastor Ivan Clements at Calvary Baptist Church tomorrow, Sunday, February 5, 2012.  The services will begin at 11am and 6pm.  The church is located at 776 NW County Road 25A in Lake City, Florida.

NOTE: For up-to-date information on my preaching schedule visit the schedule page of the JCEA ministry website. If you would like to receive schedule information via e-mail follow this link: Subscribe to James Croft Ministry Opportunities by Email.

Old Providence Meeting Scheduled

I will preach revival services at Old Providence Baptist Church beginning Sunday, May 6, 2012 at 11am and 6pm.  The services will continue Monday-Wednesday, May 7-9, 2012 at 7pm nightly.  The church is located at 9316 NW CR245 near Lake Butler and south of Lake City, Florida.  For more information call Pastor Philip Williams at (386) 755-1648.

NOTE: For up-to-date information on my preaching schedule visit the schedule page of the JCEA ministry website. If you would like to receive schedule information via e-mail follow this link: Subscribe to James Croft Ministry Opportunities by Email.

Cudd Dates Finalized

I will travel to South Carolina in March to preach revival services at Cudd Memorial Baptist Church.  The meeting will begin Sunday, March 25, 2012 at 6:30pm and continue Monday-Wednesday, March 26-28, 2012 at 6:30pm.

This will be my second time preaching at Cudd Memorial Baptist.  We had great services there in March of last year.  You can read about the week of events in this previous blog post and view photos from the week in this photo gallery.  I also created a humorous video with the help of three of the church's youth called "Revival Security" that can be viewed here.

The church is located at 1301 Boiling Springs Road in Spartanburg, South Carolina.  For more information call (864) 542-0908.

NOTE: For up-to-date information on my preaching schedule visit the schedule page of the JCEA ministry website. If you would like to receive schedule information via e-mail follow this link: Subscribe to James Croft Ministry Opportunities by Email.