Lainey Lou, Jesus Was a Litterbug, The Pastor Needs a Nap (From the File Friday)

Welcome Lainey Lou

We are happy to announce the birth of Laine Louise Hawkins (7lbs 4ozs). She is our second grandchild and the daughter of our eldest daughter, Morgan and her husband Kameron. She is doing great and our grandson Evan is excited to be a big brother! Evan was 9lbs+ at birth. Momma was glad for a little Lainey Lou! 

Laine's birth is definitely one of those nods God gives you. She was born on Shannon's mother's birthday. Shannon misses her mom so much. What a wonderful, Fatherly gift from God.

Louise is a nod to my grandmother, who everyone knew as Lou Branam, or Lou Truelove after my grandfather died. She was a godly woman who prayed for a preacher "in all her generations." I'm the only preacher of her 6 generations. A lot of the way I read the Bible and preach comes from the simple, yet profound faith of my mamaw. 

So now we have another Lou. Look out! 

Jesus Was a Litterbug

One of my favorite books was given to me by Randy while I served as his pastor in Birmingham, AL. The book, written in 1934, is entitled Religion in Shoes. It’s the biography of James Alexander Bryan, affectionately known as Brother Bryan, who served as pastor of the Third Presbyterian Church in Birmingham, Alabama, from 1889 – 1941. 

Throughout the week, Brother Bryan would go into his study early each morning to pray and work on his Sunday sermon. Later in the day, he would travel throughout the city, visiting and ministering to people. As he did, Brother Bryan would try out the portion of the sermon he prepared that morning in casual conversations. He would talk it out with someone in a streetcar, or as a devotion at the fire hall. As he would share, he would modify his message, adding experiences, stories, and responses that came from the people to whom he ministered.

I had one of those sermon prep moments this week.

On Monday morning I began working on a message from Acts 12. That afternoon I headed to Atlanta to visit a man in our church who has spent far more time in the hospital than he has at home over the past 6 weeks. 

This man is suffering but he is witnessing. Every time I talk to him, he points to the providence of God and he often says, “Man, when all of this is over, I’m going to have a story to tell.” He’s an inspiring man and God is using him.

He’s also one of those guys that as you get to know him you wonder, what does he NOT do? He has lots of skills and loads of stories. 

While visiting him on Monday he shared with me a song he wrote several years ago entitled Jesus Was a Litterbug. And, like many people he’s pitched it to, I laughed at the title; but I was intrigued. 

The song pulls together various healing stories from The Gospels. It imagines then the debris of bandages, crutches, and beds left behind. 

He entered his lyrics into AI and let it come up with music and a video – I was entertained! And inspired. Apparently, the AI interpretation of the song is that Jesus left quite a mess. I love it! 

Maybe someone will pick it up. I think this song would be a hit in Southern Gospel circles. It reminds me of My Name is Lazarus by Greater Vision – a #1 for them back in the day.

I’m going to mention my visit with Sandy as a sermon illustration on Sunday, but I won’t have time to show the video. So here it is. 

Help Our Pastor Not to Be So Tired

On Wednesday night our DOCK kids brought me in to pray for me and to present me with a special gift. So, they gathered in close and our wonderful children’s ministry leader, Jodi, called on a few of the kids to pray. 

First of all, if God answers those prayers – there will be a lot of people healed! Amen to that! Those kids pray for the sick and it was sweet to hear.

I can’t remember where we were in the sequence, but after praying for all the sick to be healed, one of the children started praying for me. And in the course of the prayer she said, “Dear God, help our pastor not to be so tired. . . .”

I loved it, but I almost lost it – laughing. I guess I look tired LOL. 

But I did sleep well Wednesday night! Healed! 

Thanks crew!