Pastor, FBC Hallsville

Thank You Lord

Last night I had a wonderful time.  The First Baptist Family had a time when people could share some things for which they are thankful.  It was just a really good time.  People shared from their hearts and it encouraged me and enhanced my own thanksgivings.  I think we will do this again next year.

Becky and I are thankful that God has again answered our prayers.  We have had many answered prayers since 2005 when Becky was first diagnosed with cancer.  We found out a few weeks back that the cancer marker in the blood was rising again.  That means there is the presence of cancer cells.  As of yet the scans have not detected any tumors.  So, we are back to doing some kind of chemotherapy.  We had heard that Baylor was doing a study with a new drug and protocol for the treatment of ovarian cancer.  Her doctors wanted to get her in that study.  We were willing to go for that but frankly we are just weary of traveling to Dallas.  We prayed that she could get the new drug in Longview.  God answered our prayers and they are going to give her the drug in Longview.  Our other concern is that the drug is not FDA approved for treating ovarian cancer and therefore insurance does not pay for the drug.  It is a very expensive drug.  Annual cost for the drug treatment is about $100,000.00.   God worked that out also.  There is a program that the drug companies have called a drug replacement program.   Without getting into all the details of the program the bottom line is that Becky will get the drug without having to pay for it.  So, again we give thanks to God for His watch care over Becky.  We pray that this new drug will be effective in treating the cancer.  Becky had a port put in on Friday and she starts treatments on Tuesday.  Thanks for all your prayers for us.

A Grand Lady

I received the news that Mrs. Ethelyn passed away this morning.  What a grand lady.  Mrs. Ethelyn was on the Pulpit Committee that called me to FBC Hallsville.  She played the organ at FBC for 45 years though by the time I arrived as pastor she had retired from organ playing.  She was an unwavering supporter of her church.  Her life was centered around her Lord and her church.  Mrs. Ethelyn was always a positive spirit.  She could be very opinionated on some subjects though.  One thing she did not like was for men to have any kind of facial hair.  You may be wondering why she agreed to recommend me as pastor since I have a mustache.  After I became pastor and learned of her dislike of facial hair I asked her.  Mrs. Ethelyn was a proud graduate of Baylor University.  Since I am also a graduate of Baylor University she cut me some slack on my mustache.  She was a true friend to me and every one of her pastors before me.  She was a grand lady and I look forward to meeting up with her again some day when I get to heaven because there is absolutely no doubt in my mind whatsoever that she is right now in the presence of God.

Great News

By now most people know that Mrs. Dorothy Keasler gave a one million dollar gift to the building fund.  I am so thankful for people who are obedient in their giving to the church.  There are a host of other church members who faithfully give to the church.  Their gifts may not compare in amount to the gift that Mrs. Keasler gave but they are equal to her gift in sacrifice.  It is not the amount of the gift that God counts but the amount of the sacrifice.  It is the heart of the one giving the gift that God measures.  I am thankful for Mrs. Keasler's gift because it has propelled us forward in our ability to minister to families.   I am thankful for all of you who give faithfully to your church and sacrifice for the building.  Without all of the sacrificial givers in our church we would never be able to build the buildings and fund the ministries at FBC.  God bless you for your sacrifice.

On a personal note:  Becky and I got to keep my grandson, Blain, over the weekend.  What a joy.  Blain is now 13 months old and walking everywhere.  I spent most of the weekend chasing him all over the house and all over the yard.  I did not mind at all.  It was great.  If you have grandchildren then you know what I am talking about.  If you don't have grandchildren yet then just hang on because when the time comes you are going to have a blast.

Becky went to the doctor last week for blood work.  The results said that the cancer marker had risen again.  That means that the hormone therapy is not working.  So, we go back to chemotherapy.  We did not want to go there again but that is what we have to do.  As of yet we do not know where or when Becky starts chemotherapy.  There is a study going on at Baylor with a new drug that the doctors are considering or the other option is a drug that Becky has not tried that she can take in Longview.  We pray that God will grant healing and we do what we have to do treat the cancer.  Thanks for your prayers.