Odds And Ends

My wife, Vicki, spent 4 days in the hospital late last month with pancreatitis. She was released on September 27 and has been doing real well since then. She has been her usual radiant self and has been catching up on a lot of her work at the convalescent center where she is the activities director. Please pray for her energy level...and that she can enjoy an absence of pain. With the Crohn's and the Celiac Sprue and the backaches and occasional headaches she doesn't have an easy time of it. She and I both want to stay as fit as we can for as long as we can so that we can keep up with our wonderful 1-year old grandson, Micah!

It's hard to believe but our second son, Wes, graduates from college in about 2 months! We are so proud of him. He's been studying at Carson-Newman College in Jefferson City, TN. What's he gonna do after December 14? We don't know...and neither does he. I guess eventually he'll go to graduate school. He'd kinda like to get some traveling in at some point. Pray for him, that the Lord will draw him close to Himself and give him clear guidance about his future.

I was saddened Saturday to hear of the death of Virginia's first district congresswoman Jo Ann Davis as she succumbed to breast cancer. I had had the privilege of meeting her several years ago and inviting her to come to my church and speak briefly of her testimony. She was a strong, godly Christian with a beautiful, gracious countenance. It was good having someone of her character and convictions in Washington. She was so sincere. This lady served her region, her state, her country, and yes, her Lord, well. She'll be missed...but I rejoice that she is now in the presence of Christ.

The new book by Jerry Bridges, Respectable Sins (NavPress, 2007) is helpful. It discusses how believers should pay more attention to the subtle sins in their lives that keep them from being at their best spiritually. Our tendency is to focus on the big sins of the culture around us rather than on our own shortcomings, such as jealousy or ingratitude or discontentment. Get a copy! And check out the new Apologetics Study Bible, too. It's a terrific resource.