As has been the case in recent years, 2023 has raced by. I can’t
remember if I’ve said this in this blog before, but if so, it is worth
repeating. Every lap you make around the sun, you pick up speed.
On the family front this year, we had another granddaughter
born early in the year. Children are a blessing of the Lord. It has been a joy
to see her grow, along with her other sisters and cousins.
Two of my sons proposed to their girlfriends in 2023. Paton
(our fifth child) is marrying this month! (In January). Justin (our fourth) is
marrying in June. They have both found nice Christian girls. I’m happy to welcome
them into our family. So at the end of 2024 we will have more children married
than not. Sarah and Samuel are still at home, for now. Of course, so are Melody
and David.
I’m still working from home for the same company. That has
been a blessing with the savings of time and gas. Though it has not been
without its own challenges, especially in light of another family development.
I have lost my dedicated space. My study was taken over by my father-in-law,
who has moved in with us. Sheri is working hard to care for him. For now, my desk
and workstation is set up in the bedroom. It would be nice to find another working
arrangement. But it is what it is for now.
Church is going wonderfully. As I get older, and hopefully
more mature, I enjoy the Lord’s Day more and more. The corporate worship of the
saints is a blessing. I feel honored when I am given the opportunity to deliver
the sermon. I wrapped up a multi-year series on Galatians this year. I started
a series on Ephesians that I’m sure will last just as long. It wouldn’t be
quite as long if I preached more frequently. I’m sure I could preach more often
if I wanted. But I take the preaching of the Word very seriously. So it is a
huge time commitment to prepare a sermon. Fitting that in with my employment
and family responsibilities is a daunting task. Additionally, I frequently
teach Sunday School classes. The latest class I did was on the Attributes of
God. The prep time for that class was not intensive, however, as I showed a
Steve Lawson video on the subject each week, then facilitated a discussion time.
In 2023, I attended the FIRE (www.firefellowship.org)
conference in Laurel, Mississippi. It was very good. Plus, those from our church
who were in attendance had an ulterior motive instead of being there just for
the good messages, and excellent prayer time that we enjoy with other FIRE churches.
That motive is to learn how to host one of these conferences ourself. The 2024
FIRE conference will be in Oklahoma City at our church. Just a few years ago
the Lord gave us a new, bigger building. We now have the room to host the
conference.
Sheri and I were talking the other day and we realized that
2023 marked 40 years that we have known each other. I met her in October 1983
at a homecoming dance at R.L. Turner high school in Carrollton, Texas. We were
both freshmen, though not at the same school. I was at her high school with another
date. She definitely caught my eye. I managed to find out her last name, and
used the trusty white pages to look her number up the following week. The rest
is history! We’ve been though a lot together. She is more beautiful today than
the day we first met. I love her with a love that has been seasoned over the
decades. She is a great blessing in my life.
