Book Review

Recently I have been reading a book, "Shattered Dreams: God's Unexpected Pathway to Joy", by Dr. Larry Crabb. This book is a great read for any minister, pastor, teacher, counselor or anyone who desires to minister to people who have have gone through tragedy of any kind in their life. The book is written from Dr. Crabb's many years of experience as a Christian, Psychologist and from his own struggles in life - one of those struggles being cancer. Published by Waterbrook Press, Colorado Springs, CO. ISBN 1-57856-452-2

The following is a quote from the book.

"God is always working to make His children aware of a dream that remains alive beneath the rubble of every shattered dream, a new dream that when realized will release a new song, sung with tears, till God wipes them away and we sing with nothing but joy in our hearts." Dr. Larry Crabb

Funeral Arrangements for Charles Edward Thompson

The following is from Bilbrey Funeral Home web site.

Charles Edward Thompson
Funeral services for Charles Edward Thompson, age 90, of Crossville, TN will be Thursday, July 16, at 10:00 a.m. at Bilbrey Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Green Acres Memory Gardens. The family will receive friends Wednesday, July 15, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Bilbrey Funeral Home. Survivors: Son - Paul Thompson, Grandson - Mike Thompson, Great-grandson - Kaelan Thompson. Bilbrey Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements and professional services.

Officiating ministers are Brother Eddie Kilgore and Brother Milton Gordon

Charles Thompson

Prayer is requested for the Charles Thompson family. He is my mother's (Beatrice Thompson Cathey) oldest Brother of 11 children. He died during the night of July 12. He turned 90 this past April. He is a member of the Crossville Church of God of Prophecy. He is survived by one son, Paul, one grandson Michael, one great grandson, Kalen, one Sister Beatrice, two Brothers, Delano and Denver and many nieces and nephews. Funeral arrangements will be posted later.

Update

The past few days have been days of prayer and meditation. I have been to the woods near the lake to pray and meditate as I slowly walk the two miles. God has met me there and O the joys of being in His presence and hearing his still small voice. God's creation lends to the stilled quietness (deer grazing, mother hen turkeys with their brood scratching and chirping, birds singing, breeze blowing the leaves as the water ripples, fish jumping for their food, all the sights and sound of nature tell me how awesome the Creator is) of His presence and power. What a joy to know Jesus Christ and the Heavenly Father as the Holy Spirit shows more and more of the things of Christ. . .yes. . .to me. . .and He will to all who come to Him hungry and thirsty.

Update

Posting continues to be minimal and we continue to seek the Lord's direction in ministry. We have attended the Old Hickory Church most of the time the past three months. God has opened a door and we are praying and seeking Him. The desire to minister (Karen and I) has not diminished but grown stronger. There are lost ones and God's sheep that need ministering to.

We learned this past week of a sudden death of one of the members at my home church (Burns, TN, Church of God of Prophecy). Jaqueline Cathey's (maiden name) husband died suddenly of a heart attack. Our prayers are with this family.

There are many prayer requests. The Scriptures teach us to pray for all men - for those in authority and for leaders in all arenas of life. The TN Church of God of Prophecy State Convention will be in progress beginning next Friday, July 10th. State Overseer, Bishop E. C. McKinley requests prayer for this bi-ennial event. Other states and regions are having conventions as well and all of these desire prayer. There will be many on the roads traveling who need traveling mercies.

Karen continues in her program of studying for the Master's of Education degree and I am at a standstill in the Doctor of Ministry degree and need to get focused and back into the studies. We are more focused in prayer and waiting on God at this time for His direction in ministry

Quote

"God shapes the world by prayer. Prayers are deathless. They outlive the lives of those who utter them." E. M. Bounds

Blogging

For several days now I haven't posted anything. Since Karen is in her Master's degree program and also in some other training, I have been very busy helping with the house work and doing other things (reading, studying, prayer, visiting friend who had emergency surgery, attending senior softball game with a friend, going to YMCA for light work out, misc. etc. etc. etc.) Also, time was consumed dealing with the bullet that went through our bedroom and the subsequent police report and CSI report.

As far as church, we have attended mostly the Old Hickory Church of God of Prophecy where Terry Lowery is the pastor. We have also been visiting other churches. We recently enjoyed visiting the Gallatin Church of God of Prophecy where Windell Moore serves as pastor. The Hemphills were the musical guests of honor at their 50th anniversary celebration. I enjoyed Joel Hemphill's testimony and also enjoyed their music.

Tomorrow is the 75th anniversary service of the Church of God of Prophecy in Clarksville, Tennessee where Karen attended and was a member in her teens for several years before we married. We may attend there tomorrow. If not, we will be in service at the Old Hickory church.

Since we have not been pastoring the last couple months, we have had some time to prayerfully seek the Lord and reflect on what He desires from us in ministry. We continue to pray His will be done. We believe He will open the door that He desires us to enter.