100 Things I:m Thankful For!

100 Things I’m Thankful For
I have recently gotten a “Facebook” page and one of the things I see a lot are "20 things about _____ you didn’t know” or something like that.
For several years I’ve seen the challenge to write down 100 things for which you are grateful. Some have listed a person in their family and then ten things about them for which they are grateful. Then they might list the church and ten more things, etc. Some list several people, then several places, and then things. Some list ten blessings they have seen each day for 10 days. Isn't it wonderful that when we follow Christ's example of gratitude, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me" our love for God and people grows, aiding us in our endeavour to be humble (Jn 11:41). We cannot be faithful to God while failing to show gratitude. "Pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (1Thes 5:17-18).
Here are a few things, certainly not comprehensive and not even 100, for which I am grateful. I am thankful for my 3rd grade teacher, Miss Rector, and those Sunday afternoons with no meetings. I am thankful for in-laws, for friends who are as close as family and for family with whom I’m friends. I’m thankful to have grown up in great congregations like Wingate, Laurel Ave., Plaza, Dasher and Quitman .
I am thankful for the humility gained from a difficult break up when in college, for coaching a state finals basketball loss and for coaching a state basketball finals win! I’m thankful for sometimes feeling left out, for sometimes feeling I’m fitting in, for feeling appreciated and for at times, feeling unappreciated. I am thankful for the feeling and smell of a freshly cut yard (even when just part of it's cut-when Last Rites are given to my mower :( ). I am thankful for the Sunday hugs, especially from the little ones! I am grateful for unexpected cards and notes. I am thankful for Trenton, the town and the congregation, the schools, the library, restaurants, and Cloudland Canyon State Park.
I am thankful for God's love and forgiveness. I am thankful for new members at Trenton and those who have been faithful here so many years. For our great young people and those who have been young for longer times! I am thankful for the graduates we will honor tonight.
I am thankful for Jamie's beauty; both inside and out and her unwavering love for me. A kiss from my daughters and my parents’ love. Laurie’s love of family and the Philippines, Louise's calm sense of listening ability and loving smile and Dustin's first son in law “fit-in-ability” (is that a word? He is though, a great addition and blessing to our family) and his willingness to help and Leigh’s exuberance for life and commitment to Christian Education especially at Faulkner.
I am thankful for people who have been far better to me than I deserved in Orange Park, FL, Jasper, FL, Blakely, GA, Lineville, AL, and Trenton. And lessons I’ve learned.
This wasn’t 100 but it sure made me feel better and more thankful! I’m gonna keep working on mine. What about you? Why don’t you try a list of your own? I can assure you, it’ll make you feel better!

A NEW WEEK...WELL NEEDED AND ANTICIPATED!

Last week was filled with great opportunities and great challenges. There were some mountain top moments and some deep valleys too! But I suppose that is what makes up life.

On Monday, one of our dear friends at church got the news that her 37 year old brother in law passed away. Steven was a great Christian man with two children, Pierce and Peyton, and a beautiful wife, Michelle. Less than a month ago he had aevere leg cramp and when he got up to 'walk it off'' he had a seizure. It was determined that he had a brain tumor. Two weeks ago he had a biopsy to determine the extent of it and treatment options. A blood clot from it hemmorhaged in his brain and he was gone. We attended his funeral on Thursday.

Friday night we attended the annual fundraiser for the Chattanooga Inner City Ministry with two close friends and had a wonderfu time. Saturday morning, I got a call and found out that Charles was in the hospital and ended up in ICU with panceatitis. And really painful! Thankfully it appeared last night that he was some better.

We are also going through the Hospice experience with Gary and his lovely wife, Betty. In the last two weeks, breast cancer has really taken it's toll on her. She lost tremendous amounts of weight and now has become less and less coherent. It is really hard to watch everyday, but she is a great reminder of God's promises. As a faithful Christian she has been a powerful example of faith and trust in God.

Of course, not only is it tough on Betty but Gary is one of my closest friends and to go through this with him and her children reminds every day of looking forward to a land of no pain and suffering and death........

One of my favorite ladies at church, Sister Carson, has been battling internal bleeding and AVM since last year and has recieved 30 pints of blood since March 3, 2009! She has a great attitude but is currently in Vanderbilt and has endured numerous procedures and continues to suffer.

Our prayers continue to be with these folks and thier families and I would ask you to also.

The one blessing that God gives that always seems to come at the right time is sunshine and a rainbow in our souls after a stormy period! While there were some storms last week, there were some brilliant periods of sunshine, too!

It was Mother's Day weekend and Louise and Leigh, along with Dirt and Nathan were in town for the weekend and having the kids in town just brings renewed life and joy to an empty nest! They were a joy to have home and next week Laurie is coming so she can help me cover 'The Best of Preps" banquet in Chattanooga. She is going to be my photogarapher (by the way, Michael Phelps is the guest speaker, so it was really hard to get her help :).

Last night just before church time, Mom and Dad came in and spent the night. Jamie had corsage for Mom and we have birthday party planned for Dad on the last weekend of the month as Samantha our neice graduates from high school.

So the weekend brought lots of family and ended an emotional week with positives and the promise of better things this week.

Dad will have follow up laser surgery on a cataract today and then they are heading on to Nashville to see their sisters.

We'll get our week started as we head toward our 29th annual Tri-State singing on Frinday night at Trenton. If you have never been, it is a wonderful singing and do our ladies ever put out a spread of food, so come on if you can!

Rainy Days and Quiet Saturdays

Yesterday was as relaxing a day as I have had in many a moon! Didn't go anywhere special or do anything dramatic. I just had a day with very little on my schedule and nothing until after lunch. So, no alarm was set and I woke up about 7:00 AM and heard the rain and said "I think I'll sleep a few more minutes." That turned out to be until 9:30 AM! For a lot of folks that is not a big deal but I can't remember the last time I slept that late except the days after returning from overseas! And it was wonderful! I don't advocate doing it every day, but an occasional Saturday for me was grand.
After getting up I heated up some cinnamon and blueberry biscuits and made a pot of coffee for Jamie and me. We had a leisurely paced breakfast and I sat down in the recliner and started reading and studying and didn't hardly move until 4 PM. I watched it rain and thought how much I liked these pajamas and the old shirt I had on!
Finally I felt motivated enough to shave and shower and we headed out to eat supper. We went to Brock's' Restaurant on the Square in Trenton and met Charles and Jackie Hill for supper. One of the greatest blessings on this side of eternity in the Lord's church is having friends who are brothers and sisters! We had planned to eat (and did) with them last night but tonight it just worked out and fellowship means so much! Charles is one of the people that if I ever need to talk with someone about that I will call.
After dinner we made a couple of visits to folks from church and got home and closed it down for the day. It really was a day I needed. Sometimes it is easy to think that if I'm not doing something every minute that I'm wasting time. I know better than that.....but a quiet rainy Saturday really helped to remind me to take a little more time every so often and "Be still and know that I am God" Psalm 46:10

Sometimes you just find what you need.....

This has been a really roller coaster week for me. Early in the week I had the chance to visit with a group of old friends at Lipscomb and really have a great time. I returned to Trenton and home and to reality and several seriously ill friends.
Now I am dealing with a Bible study that has bogged down because the person I am studying with doesn't have any problem with the doctrines of the Bible but told me yesterday that the hangup was the way that some Christians that he knew were acting in a way that he would never be a part of a group like that.....Reminded me of the quote by Gandhi "I would be a Christian....if it weren't for Christians." I will continue to deal with this and certainly try and address this objection but man is it discouraging since just this week we were talking about obedience to the Bible and how his life would be changed. He made the comment that he would be the most committed Christian in that church. Now, it appears we are back at peg one and three years of work and Bible study are in jeopardy. I must confess, I am an incurable optimist, but at times, events like this discourage me, too.
But this morning at about 3:30, after I had gotten up and prayed and read my Bible before work, I saw this verse. I have several web sites and e-mails that feature their version of "verse of the day" and this one hit me today:
Be at peace again, my soul,because the LORD has been good to you.You saved me from death.You saved my eyes from tears and my feet from stumbling. Ps 116:7,8.
I must tell you, that came at pretty good time in my life. Besides letting me vent this morning, I would encourage you to spend time every day in quiet Bible study and prayer. It is amazing how it will arm you for the day. Even on days when you feel that something has gone sour and broken your heart, God is the answer....to all the questions and always will help you find the solutions you need in His Word. I'm glad I found this verse today!

Prayers for Betty and Gary

5:52 AM 4/30/2009
Yesterday and last night Jamie and I spent several hours with dear friends, Gary and Betty Brock after I returned from Nashville. Betty had breast cancer several years ago and it returned with a vengeance. Hospice has been called in and she is beginning to slip toward eternity. She is a faithful Christian and has been such a great example of faith and confidence in God during this entire struggle. Her attitude and assurance in what she has believed and obeyed give her a beautiful look even as death continues to overtake her. She now is in so much pain that she spends most of her time sleeping with the medicines to control her pain.Her husband, Gary, has been an unlikely friend of mine. He has been a restaurant owner, who has overcome alcohol problems and when we first met was loud and many times colorful with his language and not really very interested in spiritual things. Not exactly who most people would pick as a friend for a preacher but it has become a very close friendship. He and I have had many of hours of Bible study and prayer and been through many difficult problems together. It is very difficult to help him through this situation with Betty but I am really touched by his love for Betty.I'll see them again this morning and would encourage you to pray for these folks as they face a hard time in their lives. Please remember these folks in your prayers through out the coming days.On a great note, little Abby Harris who had so much trouble last week was out over the weekend and apparently the viral infection at the base of her brain is improving and her vision is returning to normal. What a great reminder of God's love and encouragement for us!

An Evening of Excellence

7:58 AM 4/29/2009
AN EVENING OF EXCELLENCE
Last night I attended the Inaugural Don Meyer Evening of Excellence at Lipscomb and it was outstanding. Driving over I had a long visit with my former roommate, and a smooth first baseman, Mark Carter who lives in Huntsville. As we visited it really got me pumped for the evening.When I got to Music City, I met Mom and Dad at my aunt and cousin's house Nashville at 1230 and had a wonderful visit with them. My aunt, Kankie, is in her upper 80's but an amazing lady. It is great to hear her talk about taking care of the the 'old' ladies and men at church or from the neighborhood--many of whom are younger than her! It is always wonderful to get to have some time with my parents. As we get older it is more pleasant and precious than ever. At 530 we arrived at Lipscomb and there was a dinner in the Ezell Center for former baseball players. I sat with Bob Parsons, Steve Fletcher and Clark Williams. Bob was a Gold Glove second baseman and Steve was the MVP of the 1977 College World Series. We had a great time laughing about college days and marveling about the improvements to the facilities at Lipscomb. Also at our table was Clark Williams who was the trainer at DLC from 1969-1973. He is retired and lives in Red Bank in Chattanooga now. Steve Burton was at the table beside us and it is funny to see him showing off pictures of his granddaughters....It's funny, how time slips away!After dinner and a power point presentation of Lipscomb baseball history, Jeff Forehand, the Lipscomb head coach made a presentation on this year's team and encouraged those of us from the past.....to support the present and future baseball program at Lipscomb.Then we walked across campus to the Allen Arena and over 1200 people were on one side of the facility to hear Coach Meyer speak. If you don't know his story, he was basketball coach at Lipscomb for 21 years and won the NAIA National Championship in 1986 before her left and went to Northern State in South Dakota. On September 5, 2008 he was involved in a horrific wreck as he was going with his players to a retreat before the season started. He was critically injured and lost his left leg from the knee down . As the trauma team was attending to him and trying to save his life, they discovered he had cancer that was inoperable. Fortunately the cancer has been slow growing and they discovered it early. He came back to coach again at Northern last fall and in January achieved his 903 win, passing Bob Knight for the most wins in NCAA men's basketball history. He has an almost insane dry wit but a great perspective on life. And he did not just acquire it when he lost his leg--he is a great person and a great motivator. He sat on a stool and spoke for about 45 minutes about life and the important things in it. Outstanding. For some reason, old habits die hard, and while Coach was talking, I had a notebook out taking notes. To those who know Coach Meyer you'll understand!After the program was over, Fletch, Parsons and I stood out around and visited for about an hour in the lobby. We got to see Phil Stinson, All American shortstop and now a CPA in Nashville, Marshall and Jacqueline Shumate, a great catcher and their girls, and several other players from our era. (That sounds old but I guess to a lot of folks that 35 years ago was a long time ago!)Also saw and visited with Mike Roller, who I coached with at Georgia Christian in the early 1980's. He is an administrator at David Lipscomb High School and a great guy. He was a big influence on me as we coached together and has remained a friend.It was really an enjoyable day and evening.On a different note, during the day I heard that the 37 year old brother in law of Rhonda Wheeler had taken a turn for the worse and began hemorrhaging in his brain. They had to do emergency surgery in Birmingham and he faces some serious challenges today and in the next few weeks. Please keep Steven and Michelle in your prayers. They have 2 small children ages 5 and 2.Mildred Carson, one of my special ladies at Trenton, is being transferred to Vanderbilt today to try and stop some internal bleeding, so I may stay in Nashville long enough to see her at Vandy before heading home to be there by Bible Study tonight.It was a great day to see a lot of old friends and be with family and just reminded me once again that it really is "A Wonderful Life"!

Don has a blog?

This is a little more than I thought I would be involved with.....I remember when I thought having a mechanical pencil was an advanced way of communicating but it de-personalized life a bit as it eliminated talking with people in line at the pencil sharpener in Miss Rector's room in the 3rd grade. Now I have a blog.
Life has developed faster than I thought it would and I'm more involved in it than I ever thought. I'm going to make a conscientious effort to blog on a regular basis though I'm not really sure what is of interest to any one but they tell me it will help me......so here goes!