# 49, July 4, 2003

Shepsons Enjoyed a Day at the Farm

PH is delighted to report that my elderly father was very pleased that all of us who went to the Farm Social seemed to have had a good time. All generations were represented from age almost four to teens to age twenty-nine in abundance. The food, drinks, fellowship, hayride, and most importantly the weather all combined to make it a wonderful occasion. Ellie Cox and Gene Damon had digital cameras and took some splendid photos. Attached to this PHA is a Gene Damon photo of the hayride crew. PH and Brenda are always "pumped up" by the well-written and wonderfully expressed words of encouragement and support that come from so many of you. PH would like to share some of these words with you. Here they are:

"Henry, George and I had the BEST time today!! What a lovely place, and how gracious you, Brenda, Travis, Dave and family, and Elizabeth were. Thank you for a most memorable day!"
Beth

"Dear Henry and Brenda, Thanks for the wonderful picnic you made possible for us today. It was all very special. The farm is beautiful and the food and fellowship most enjoyable! And the hayride was the icing on the cake! Thanks to both of you for all of it." Julian and Mary Pentecost

"Dear Henry: It was great fun! Don't know what was best..the farm is a treasure, the view, your charming family, the great lunch outside under those magnificent trees, the hayride..the shared Shepson time..Thanks to all of the Hollands for sharing your farm with us..not to be forgotten..I'll send some photos as soon as I optimize them..Warmest regards to Brenda.".Ellie and Gene

"Dear Brenda and Henry,

Thanks for a wonderful time at your beautiful family farm. We could not have been in a more beautiful setting. We know you did much to host the affair. Travis and all of your children and grandchildren added to the good time we had. Our thanks to all of you." Judy and Dick

"Dear Brenda and Henry

Thank you for sharing your family's lovely hilltop home and the beautiful view of the river with us. When we drove through the gate and saw you, we knew we were going to have a really good time. We are sure you are aware that Saturday, June 28 was greatly enjoyed by all. Relaxing on the front porch with friends, having lunch under the magnificent old trees and riding on the hay wagon will always be happy memories. We think you are so special. Thanks again for your hospitality yesterday." Love, Miller and Kitty Alvis

"Dear Brenda and Henry,

Thank you for giving us the most magnificent day yesterday! Spending time at that storybook farm with the magnificent view and the charming house was like being transported to another world - a wonderful world where everyone is always happy (the example set by your own lovely family must be like fairy dust). The hayride was over the top, especially with little Hank driving. This truly was a day to remember. Yours," Sheila

The Deer's Returned and Donald Is Still Donald

Some of us were privileged to visit with Barbara and Donald Deer on last Friday at Charlotte and Bill Simpson's warm home. Donald was full of fun and puns. After being around Donald a few minutes one soon remembered his lively wit and began to think like him. As usual Barbara was his perfect counterpart and brought reality to much of what he said. Donald and Barbara were attending the American Baptist Churches convention, which was held in Richmond last weekend. Donald challenged those present to help RRCB become more ecumenical by joining the National Council of Churches and the World Council of Churches. Donald had a few memorable quotes regarding our President.

Donald Deer quotes:

"Did you know that the Bush Family is so much into oil that Laura has started wearing tank tops?"

"Did you know that President Bush is caught between Iraq and a hard place, but to the victors belong the oils?"

Prayer Rounds

Terry Marsh's father, Spencer Scott Marsh Jr., on June 25 in Madison, New Jersey. John Oliver was admitted to Henrico Doctor's Hospital on July 1 for more intensive diagnostic studies and rehydration. Margaret wrote the following yesterday:

"For the PHA letter, it is o.k. to say "he is in Henrico Doctors- Forest Hospital and still undergoing tests to find out exactly the source of his health problem. Then treatment can be begun. We would be greatly for your prayers."

We miss the class and hope to be back soon."
Margaret

It would probably be better to wait for visitation until Margaret feels John is feeling some better.

Please remember in your prayers Terry Marsh and his family, John Oliver, Woody Hasty, Kathy Wade and Warren Johnson and others who were terminated at the IMB, Rob James, the Bostic Family, Janet Moyers, Denise Gaal, young Davis Summers, Helen Davis, Kim Dodson, Dot and Cecil Sherman, Chester's parents, the Manor Bible Study Class, the Church Staff, the Pastor's Search Committee and those only known to you.

News Flashes from the SBC:

1. The financial difficulties of the IMB did not begin this year. The minutes of the SBC indicate that reserve funds were tapped in 2000, 2001, and 2002. The $37 million dollar deficit was 13% of total expenditures for the past year. Despite this growing financial problem, the IMB continued to appoint missionaries at a record rate. PH was of the opinion that dipping into the IMB reserve funds was always strongly discouraged. Because of this ill-advised management, many have lost their jobs, but missionary candidates are still being processed. Does this sound like IMBRedInkGate? Maybe Larry King should invite Shepson Kathy Wade to his show and find out more about this fundamentally conservative money management system

2. Paige Patterson has been elected the new president of Southwestern Baptist Theological (?) Seminary. Is this the dumbing down of ……………….? Oh, PH won't go there.

3. From the SBC web page:

LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention is helping prepare churches and ministries to share biblical hope with homosexuals who wish to change their lifestyle.

"Our goal is that churches can build an adequate base to reach out to homosexuals from the resources we provide," LifeWay President James T. Draper Jr.,. "Our hope is that we will raise the visibility of the need for churches to address this issue. There is a great need for churches to be places of compassion and love."

PH: Draper's comment that "churches need to be places of compassion and love" seems on target, but the LifeWay Christian Resources of the SBC seem only interested in homosexual people "who wish to change their lifestyle." Did Jesus, God Incarnate, ever say word one about the homosexual lifestyle?

The Catacombs Lectures Will Soon Begin
and
the ISH School Supplies Mission Project Begins on July 15.

Hot July Celebrations

Bob Tyler is involved in two hot July celebrations. Bob is twenty-nine today and he and Julia will celebrate five years of youthful marriage on Thursday, July 10. Ann Sledge has her twenty-ninth birthday on next Tuesday.

The Pastor Search Committee (PSC) to Give Interim Report on July 31

The Spire, that consistent publication, indicates that the PSC will give an "interim" report on Thursday, July 31. Since we already have a very able "interim" pastor, the report must not be about that kind of an interim. PH fantasizes that the report may say something like: "We have not found him yet, but we are still searching for her in every conservative, moderate, liberal, evangelical, ecumenical in spirit and Baptist in heritage place in the world. No matter the substance of the interim report, it will be an opportunity to dine together and maybe even give the church the opportunity to recognize some long forgotten summer birthdays.

Teacher Bob Is Still in Chapter Eleven

Teacher Bob will begin at verse 28 this Sunday. We will read that "Jesus wept" when he learned the details of Lazarus' death. Weeping is a human emotion. These two words provide more evidence of the human Jesus and that Jesus was fully human in the realm of emotion. He could feel anger, compassion, love, forgiveness, pain, joy, and he wept.

The Class has decided to stop the morning hymn singing before the lesson until the Catacombs are completed and then the Class will further evaluate the hymn-singing situation.

Ann Hays Knows Blues Music

Last week's PHA had a photo attached of a church sign in the northside of Richmond. The sign said, "Is You Is or Is You Ain't?"

Ann further enlightened PH with the following words of explanation:

"Hi! You probably already know this, but the St. John's sign is a take-off of the Louis Jordan blues song, "Is you is, or is you ain"t my baby?" Its included in a wonderful musical about him called "Five Guys Named Moe"!
- An FYI" from Ann

PH did not know this. Now PH must admit that this sermon title would have a lot more appeal if the "my baby" were added. Isn't it amazing the boundless extent of knowledge of PHA readers?

Today Is the Fourth of July.

From Henry David Thoreau's "On the Duty of Civil Disobedience."

"The authority of government, even such as I am willing to submit to, - for I will cheerfully obey those who know and can do better than I, and in many ways even those who neither know or nor can do so well, - is still an impure one: to be strictly just, it must have the sanction and comfort of the governed. It can have no pure right over my person and property but what I concede to it. The progress from an absolute to a limited monarchy, and from a limited monarchy to a democracy is a progress toward a true respect for the individual. Even the Chinese philosopher was wise enough to regard the individual as the basis of the empire. Is a democracy, such as we know it, the last improvement possible in government? Is it not possible to take a step further towards recognizing and organizing the rights of man? There will never be a truly free and enlightened State, until the State comes to recognize the individual as a higher and independent power, from which all its own power and authority are derived, and treats him accordingly. I please myself with imagining a State at last which can afford to be just to all men, and to treat the individual with respect as neighbor: which even would not think it inconsistent with its own repose, if a few were to live aloof from it, not meddling with it, nor embraced by it, who fulfilled all the duties of neighbors and fellowmen. A State which bore this kind of fruit, and suffered it to drop as fast as it ripened, would prepare the way for a still more perfect and glorious State, which also I have imagined, but not yet anywhere seen."
PH

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