As a teenager I took my life verse from Proverbs 3:5-6. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."
That's a good verse.
The proverb says we are to trust God in everything, not just in our Sunday activities. God is to be our guide in every aspect of life. We are not to put God into a compartment.
God is in control.
The one person who most impacted my life with this concept was Fred Cherry from Oklahoma. Fred had been trained as a civil engineer, but God got "ahold" of his life. He was never the same again, and he spent his life as an itinerant evangelist. He did find time to have 12 children and to become one of the strongest personal evangelists that I have ever met. While visiting for a revival, he would spend much of his time on the telephone witnessing "cold turkey" to people. This was back in the 1960s, and Fred would use his motel telephone to call names out of the local phonebook. He would share his personal witness and then move on to another number.
I often made personal visits with him; we would stop on the street to share Christ with anyone that he saw. It was amazing to see him follow Christ's command from Matthew 28. He had no hesitancy in sharing the good news of the gospel.
A lot of people didn't like Fred Cherry because he was a full blown tulip Calvinist. His preaching and his life gave all of the glory to God. "Trust in the Lord" was the motto of his life.
Much of my personal belief system came through his preaching. He preached it, but he mainly lived it. I still often find time to listen to his old taped sermons.
His ancestors are still preaching the gospel. It worked.
I must say that it also has worked for me. I've looked, but I've found no better thing to do than to "trust in the Lord." I'm glad I was able to know and to learn from Fred Cherry.
Thank you Fred for your faithful service. I'll see you in glory!
Monday, March 23, 2009
Thursday, March 19, 2009
THE BRANDS OF SOUTH TEXAS
No person in ministry in the early 1960s had the audacity to have a resume. Following God’s will was somehow prostituted by a person with a resume, and it was difficult to follow the leadership of the Lord if you moved ahead of His plan. Having a resume was a sign that we were moving ahead of God’s will. God would work at His pace; we just waited on Him to make decisions about moves to a new ministry location. I remember how I reacted when I first heard about someone who had a resume. By the way, I believe with all my heart that it still works the same way. God knows our needs and is more interested in our future than we could ever be. “Wait on the Lord.”
So it was that in1963 I saw a small group of people in the worship service at Calvary Baptist Church of Denison, and it was a group of people that I did not know. I just assumed that this probable committee was there to listen to our pastor, Roy Cloudt. After the service, Othal Brand, approached me, told me they were a music committee, and asked if RL, Chris, and I could go to lunch with them. He told me they were from McAllen, Texas. I went to RL, told her that they had invited us to lunch, and said they were from McAllen. “Where is McAllen?” RL said. I replied, “Somewhere in south Texas.”
WHERE IS MCALLEN?
Just as an aside, this committee was actually planning on visiting another music director somewhere in north Texas, but at the last minute, their plans had changed. They had already flown to the area, and they came to visit our church based on some reference that they had about me and my work in Denison. That is how God works. I hadn’t mailed them a questionnaire; I hadn’t talked with them; I didn’t even know Calvary Baptist Church existed.
I didn’t realize that the “somewhere” was about 500 miles south on the Texas/Mexico border, but after the usual interviews and two flights to McAllen on Othal’s private plane with a private pilot, we found ourselves in an exciting new ministry at Calvary Baptist Church. The first time we ever drove that long 500 miles was when we moved to McAllen; we wondered along the way about the many miles. The church, which was averaging about 400 in Sunday School, was located in a thriving area of town, and I was now the new Music-Education-Youth Director.
We moved into a beautiful tan brick home owned by the church, and it was our parsonage during our years in McAllen. The house was very nice for that era, had hard wood (parquet) floors, a nice carport, and a beautiful yard surrounded on the back by oleanders. The side wall was covered to the roof in the winter by poinsettias. We also shared the carport and sometimes even the house with hundreds of salamanders. This tropical world was a beautiful place to live.
Calvary Baptist Church had begun as a “mission” of First Baptist Church, and I am sure that the dominating personality of Othal Brand and other community leaders was very influential in the beginnings of the church. Many of the early converts of the church were baptized in the Brand’s swimming pool. Othal Brand had begun his career in the Marines after selling produce on the streets of Atlanta, Georgia. He was now a multi-millionaire with produce business all over south Texas and Mexico. He ran in some big circles, was later Mayor of McAllen, and has remained very active in Republican politics. I learned much from Othal. I was asked a question one night in Deacon’s Meeting about a particular subject, and I answered rather hesitantly. Othal corrected me in the group, told me it was my job to give them answers, and told me to bring my ideas the next time we met. Othal wanted his leadership to make decisions, and he expected the same from me. I took that helpful concept and used it the rest of my life.
Othal’s wife Kay was an ex Marine and was/is a sweetheart. They were very wealthy and used a Mexican maid at their home, and Kay used her wonderful gift of hospitality and ministry. Their home was open for any and every possible meeting whether for the church or the city or the business. Often times Kay would go to the packing shed and fill up the back end of her large Cadillac with flats of strawberries. She would then go home and make at least one dozen strawberry pies; these would be delivered along with a flat of strawberries to at least 12 homes all over the community. Chris was several years old before he discovered that everyone didn’t have strawberries at their beck and call. Chris was actually clothed by Kay during his early life in McAllen. Of course, our Kelli Kay, who was born after our move to Baytown, was named for Kay Brand.
Othal was very competitive, and we often played ping pong together in his garage. Since I was just a little bit better than him, our sessions lasted for many long hours. He just didn’t want to lose, and he’d always say while sweat soaked and without his shirt, “Just one more game.” There have been several nights when RL was visiting with Kay in the house a long time after Chris was supposed to be home and in bed.
Othal and Kay were strong supporters of Baptist life at Hardin Simmons University and at Howard Payne University.
They were great examples for our lives.
So it was that in1963 I saw a small group of people in the worship service at Calvary Baptist Church of Denison, and it was a group of people that I did not know. I just assumed that this probable committee was there to listen to our pastor, Roy Cloudt. After the service, Othal Brand, approached me, told me they were a music committee, and asked if RL, Chris, and I could go to lunch with them. He told me they were from McAllen, Texas. I went to RL, told her that they had invited us to lunch, and said they were from McAllen. “Where is McAllen?” RL said. I replied, “Somewhere in south Texas.”
WHERE IS MCALLEN?
Just as an aside, this committee was actually planning on visiting another music director somewhere in north Texas, but at the last minute, their plans had changed. They had already flown to the area, and they came to visit our church based on some reference that they had about me and my work in Denison. That is how God works. I hadn’t mailed them a questionnaire; I hadn’t talked with them; I didn’t even know Calvary Baptist Church existed.
I didn’t realize that the “somewhere” was about 500 miles south on the Texas/Mexico border, but after the usual interviews and two flights to McAllen on Othal’s private plane with a private pilot, we found ourselves in an exciting new ministry at Calvary Baptist Church. The first time we ever drove that long 500 miles was when we moved to McAllen; we wondered along the way about the many miles. The church, which was averaging about 400 in Sunday School, was located in a thriving area of town, and I was now the new Music-Education-Youth Director.
We moved into a beautiful tan brick home owned by the church, and it was our parsonage during our years in McAllen. The house was very nice for that era, had hard wood (parquet) floors, a nice carport, and a beautiful yard surrounded on the back by oleanders. The side wall was covered to the roof in the winter by poinsettias. We also shared the carport and sometimes even the house with hundreds of salamanders. This tropical world was a beautiful place to live.
Calvary Baptist Church had begun as a “mission” of First Baptist Church, and I am sure that the dominating personality of Othal Brand and other community leaders was very influential in the beginnings of the church. Many of the early converts of the church were baptized in the Brand’s swimming pool. Othal Brand had begun his career in the Marines after selling produce on the streets of Atlanta, Georgia. He was now a multi-millionaire with produce business all over south Texas and Mexico. He ran in some big circles, was later Mayor of McAllen, and has remained very active in Republican politics. I learned much from Othal. I was asked a question one night in Deacon’s Meeting about a particular subject, and I answered rather hesitantly. Othal corrected me in the group, told me it was my job to give them answers, and told me to bring my ideas the next time we met. Othal wanted his leadership to make decisions, and he expected the same from me. I took that helpful concept and used it the rest of my life.
Othal’s wife Kay was an ex Marine and was/is a sweetheart. They were very wealthy and used a Mexican maid at their home, and Kay used her wonderful gift of hospitality and ministry. Their home was open for any and every possible meeting whether for the church or the city or the business. Often times Kay would go to the packing shed and fill up the back end of her large Cadillac with flats of strawberries. She would then go home and make at least one dozen strawberry pies; these would be delivered along with a flat of strawberries to at least 12 homes all over the community. Chris was several years old before he discovered that everyone didn’t have strawberries at their beck and call. Chris was actually clothed by Kay during his early life in McAllen. Of course, our Kelli Kay, who was born after our move to Baytown, was named for Kay Brand.
Othal was very competitive, and we often played ping pong together in his garage. Since I was just a little bit better than him, our sessions lasted for many long hours. He just didn’t want to lose, and he’d always say while sweat soaked and without his shirt, “Just one more game.” There have been several nights when RL was visiting with Kay in the house a long time after Chris was supposed to be home and in bed.
Othal and Kay were strong supporters of Baptist life at Hardin Simmons University and at Howard Payne University.
They were great examples for our lives.
Monday, March 16, 2009
FUNERALS IN BAYTOWN
It was my privilege to serve Second Baptist Church of Baytown, Texas back in the 1960s and 70s. It was some of the most exciting years of my ministry as God did a wonderful work in the church. I don't remember that we were did a lot of "programs". I just remember God making wonderful changes in the lives of many individuals.
It's been seven years since I was last in Baytown; we were there for the wedding of Pamela Brewer. We went down a couple of weeks ago for the funeral of one of the "saints" of the church, Corrine Craig. I use the term "saint" very sparingly, and it fits Corrine so well. Corrine and her deceased husband Curtis were the parents of seven children, some born in Missouri and some born in Texas.
Curtis and Corrine had arrived in Baytown in the late 1940s seeking a job. They were very poor; they lived in a little apartment alongside the railroad track. Their son Bob, who preached his mother's funeral message, told of the time when a lady from the local Baptist church stopped at their house. She had to slow down for the drive over the railroad track, and she looked out the car window to see a little girl playing in the yard. The lady asked Corrine if she could come by and pick up the little girl (Robin) and take her to Sunday School. That is what happened, and because of the visit, the entire family accepted Christ, became believers, and have served the Lord faithfully over the years.
Wow, what a story!
Maybe we need to drive around a little and look at the fields that are white unto harvest.
Corrine's funeral was a wonderful celebration. Her life reflected Jesus. She was a wonderful inspiration. I remember her energy and enthusiasm during my years in Baytown. Those who have come behind her have found her faithful.
We have lots of friends in Baytown, and we'll probably be headed down that way for other funerals in the future. That's what the Christian life is all about; we are going to celebrate God's wonderful work in the lives of his people.
It's been seven years since I was last in Baytown; we were there for the wedding of Pamela Brewer. We went down a couple of weeks ago for the funeral of one of the "saints" of the church, Corrine Craig. I use the term "saint" very sparingly, and it fits Corrine so well. Corrine and her deceased husband Curtis were the parents of seven children, some born in Missouri and some born in Texas.
Curtis and Corrine had arrived in Baytown in the late 1940s seeking a job. They were very poor; they lived in a little apartment alongside the railroad track. Their son Bob, who preached his mother's funeral message, told of the time when a lady from the local Baptist church stopped at their house. She had to slow down for the drive over the railroad track, and she looked out the car window to see a little girl playing in the yard. The lady asked Corrine if she could come by and pick up the little girl (Robin) and take her to Sunday School. That is what happened, and because of the visit, the entire family accepted Christ, became believers, and have served the Lord faithfully over the years.
Wow, what a story!
Maybe we need to drive around a little and look at the fields that are white unto harvest.
Corrine's funeral was a wonderful celebration. Her life reflected Jesus. She was a wonderful inspiration. I remember her energy and enthusiasm during my years in Baytown. Those who have come behind her have found her faithful.
We have lots of friends in Baytown, and we'll probably be headed down that way for other funerals in the future. That's what the Christian life is all about; we are going to celebrate God's wonderful work in the lives of his people.
Friday, March 13, 2009
THANK YOU . . EARNEST POTTER
I was just a young man heading to the seminary when I was contacted by a committee from Calvary Baptist Church in Denison, Texas. I was serving in the same association as Calvary, and I was aware of the great church and its work. I was just very surprised that they were interested in talking with me about a position as Music and Youth Director of the church.
Bob Burroughs had just departed from the church to go to First Baptist Church of Abilene, Texas. Bob was an outstanding Music Minister who later headed the music department for the Florida Baptist Convention. He was a prolific composer, an accomplished director, and a wonderful musician. It was a little hard for me to picture myself as following his ministry.
Earnest Potter and his fine family had been at Calvary for a number of years, and he was well loved and respected in the area. So it was not long before I found myself working alongside him and the other staff member, Malcolm Brown. They were both kind and gracious gentlemen who loved the Lord and loved the ministry of the local church. They both taught me much in those early years of my ministry.
The Potters had two teenage sons, Kenny and Joe. Joe went on to become a physician in Madill, Oklahoma, and we have kept in touch with him for these many years. He is, of course, a grandfather now. It was my privilege to lead music in a revival in his home church at First Baptist Church of Madill many years ago.
Brother Potter, as I called him, went to be with the Lord many years ago. I can still picture him in his suit, wearing white socks, and ministering to people. He was a great churchman.
Thanks Brother Potter. You gave a young man a chance to learn and grow. You served the Lord with dignity and power. I pray for young men everywhere who can use your life as a model for their coming years of ministry.
Bob Burroughs had just departed from the church to go to First Baptist Church of Abilene, Texas. Bob was an outstanding Music Minister who later headed the music department for the Florida Baptist Convention. He was a prolific composer, an accomplished director, and a wonderful musician. It was a little hard for me to picture myself as following his ministry.
Earnest Potter and his fine family had been at Calvary for a number of years, and he was well loved and respected in the area. So it was not long before I found myself working alongside him and the other staff member, Malcolm Brown. They were both kind and gracious gentlemen who loved the Lord and loved the ministry of the local church. They both taught me much in those early years of my ministry.
The Potters had two teenage sons, Kenny and Joe. Joe went on to become a physician in Madill, Oklahoma, and we have kept in touch with him for these many years. He is, of course, a grandfather now. It was my privilege to lead music in a revival in his home church at First Baptist Church of Madill many years ago.
Brother Potter, as I called him, went to be with the Lord many years ago. I can still picture him in his suit, wearing white socks, and ministering to people. He was a great churchman.
Thanks Brother Potter. You gave a young man a chance to learn and grow. You served the Lord with dignity and power. I pray for young men everywhere who can use your life as a model for their coming years of ministry.
TWO CHRISTIAN MEN
I began working at Pharo and James Grocery Store on North Main in Weatherford, Texas when I was 12 years old. I sacked groceries, stocked the shelves, and did whatever Rayburn James or Tom Pharo wanted me to do. Both of these men were Deacons at First Baptist Church. They were true Christian gentlemen, and I have a great admiration and remembrances for both of them. They gave me a chance to get started in dealing with people, and both of them were very good at it. I use their names often in sermons as I talk about the examples in my life.
I recently visited with Mrs. Pharo. She is in her 90s and still lives in her old 1936 house. It was fun to talk about Tom and the good things he did for me as a child.
Saturday was a busy day at Pharo and James. Often people would double park up and down North Main Street. Sometime during that period the city decided to solve some of the parking problems by installing parking meters. That was not well received by these country people because it just seemed like we were becoming another Fort Worth, and no one wanted that.
It's now 2009, and the Courthouse Square is again being redesigned and rebuilt. Most of us who remember the "good old days" now realize that this type of change will never end. Every generation must discover and do it over again!
Thanks to Tom Pharo and Rayburn James for some wonderful memories of the 1950s in small town Texas.
I recently visited with Mrs. Pharo. She is in her 90s and still lives in her old 1936 house. It was fun to talk about Tom and the good things he did for me as a child.
Saturday was a busy day at Pharo and James. Often people would double park up and down North Main Street. Sometime during that period the city decided to solve some of the parking problems by installing parking meters. That was not well received by these country people because it just seemed like we were becoming another Fort Worth, and no one wanted that.
It's now 2009, and the Courthouse Square is again being redesigned and rebuilt. Most of us who remember the "good old days" now realize that this type of change will never end. Every generation must discover and do it over again!
Thanks to Tom Pharo and Rayburn James for some wonderful memories of the 1950s in small town Texas.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
BEEN TO A FUNERAL LATELY?
I don't know that I remember the first funeral I ever attended. I do vivadly remember the death of my Uncle I.B. who was killed in a tragic accident, and I served as a pall bearer as a boy at my Grandfather's funeral. There was always a sense of finality at those early services.As I matured in Christ, I understood that physical death is part of God's plan. Old bodies wear out because of sin; we don't want to hang around in them too long.
Our attitudes about death and about funerals are very tied to our attitude about God. Is He concerned? Does He have a plan for us? Why are we put in these positions? Everyone of us faces the same questions of life. It's how we anwer them that count.
My Mother and Dad lost a boy at birth in the hills of northern Arkansas during the depression. There was very little medical help in those days. The doctor, who was drunk that night, did not arrive on time, and the breach baby was still born. I can only imagine the pain and sorrow and anger of my parents during those very dark hours.
My Dad was a day laborer, and he often worked in 1934 for less than a dollar a day. They were struggling just to eat. So my Dad, with his own hands, carved a little stone that sits on the grave for Darrell Don Cotter in Leslie, Arkansas. I often visualize that small group of people gathered around the little gravesite, crying, grieving, and looking to God for support.
I know that they looked to God, because that is the way they raised me. Even though I didn't come along for another five years, they were preparing their hearts and lives to greet me.
RL is going to a funeral today; we just read in the paper of a 102 year old friend who died. I have but a few years to go before my own death.
I want my children and grandchildren and friends to be ready for death. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father except by me."
OLD TIMER'S DISEASE
My son-in-law has peaked my interest in family history, and I've been doing a lot of work on ancestry.com. It is a lot of fun to discover a new document or fact about one of the family ancestors. Our family is just like yours. There are some tht are fun to discover; there are others we'd like to keep secret.
I'm also affected by this "old timer's disease" of looking to the past because of my mother. I realize that I write about her often, but that is only natural, since I see her and deal with her needs every day. At 102, she still continues to amaze me with her keen insights and reflections on life.
The new Holland Lake Park softball fields are being built just across the street from her retirement home, and we have made two excursions out to the new area to survey the progress. Our trip out yesterday on one of these "inspection" trips brought us into contact with an electrical crew putting up some very beautiful and ornate light poles. We stopped and talked with the crew; they were already busy with a difficult task. But . . they stopped and took the time to talk with us. Our told them of Birdie's age, and they were amazed at her ability to communicate and discuss the new lights. One of the young men told us that he had just called his 90 year old great grand father that day, and so he was very alert to Mother's needs.
She said to me, "I've never seen anything like that. That must be the 'only one' like it in the world. They certainly don't have anything like that in Big Spring or anywhere else. I assured her that there were others like it, but I agreed that it was a very beautiful softball field. I was certainly taken back by the layout and beauty and funtion of the spot. It was something!
I have old timer's disease. I usually want to look back to the past, to remember the old softball fields of the past. But . . things . . they are a changing.
As I get older, I'm praying for new timer's disease. I want to support my community as it looks to a future. I want to support my church as it reaches out in new ways. I think that is what Christ had in mind when he said, "Look at the fields that are white unto harvest." They are new.
I'm also affected by this "old timer's disease" of looking to the past because of my mother. I realize that I write about her often, but that is only natural, since I see her and deal with her needs every day. At 102, she still continues to amaze me with her keen insights and reflections on life.
The new Holland Lake Park softball fields are being built just across the street from her retirement home, and we have made two excursions out to the new area to survey the progress. Our trip out yesterday on one of these "inspection" trips brought us into contact with an electrical crew putting up some very beautiful and ornate light poles. We stopped and talked with the crew; they were already busy with a difficult task. But . . they stopped and took the time to talk with us. Our told them of Birdie's age, and they were amazed at her ability to communicate and discuss the new lights. One of the young men told us that he had just called his 90 year old great grand father that day, and so he was very alert to Mother's needs.
She said to me, "I've never seen anything like that. That must be the 'only one' like it in the world. They certainly don't have anything like that in Big Spring or anywhere else. I assured her that there were others like it, but I agreed that it was a very beautiful softball field. I was certainly taken back by the layout and beauty and funtion of the spot. It was something!
I have old timer's disease. I usually want to look back to the past, to remember the old softball fields of the past. But . . things . . they are a changing.
As I get older, I'm praying for new timer's disease. I want to support my community as it looks to a future. I want to support my church as it reaches out in new ways. I think that is what Christ had in mind when he said, "Look at the fields that are white unto harvest." They are new.
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