Elves Shelves

For several years First Baptist Church Denton has helped numerous families at Christmas time. We would hear about families in need of help and different people in the church would "adopt" these families and provide toys for the kids, food and sometimes clothes. Usually we would help a couple of dozen families every year. Last year our Children's Pastor, Christy Butler, came up with the idea of Elves Shelves to try and help even more families.



The idea behind Elves Shelves is that parents come to the church and "shop" for toys for their children for Christmas. They are allowed to choose a certain number of toys for each child and then they give the toys to the children at Christmas. Last year we used a small classroom in the church and gave out toys over several days. We gave away several thousand toys and helped several hundred families. Then at the beginning of 2008 we began to make plans for this Christmas. About two dozen people became a part of the Elves Shelves planning team led by Christy Butler. They worked the entire year to make plans for this year's event. All year long they collected toys and money and signed up volunteers to work at the shopping days. Those days began last night and I can't tell you what an unbelievable expereince is has been already.



I am so proud of the people of First Baptist Church. They have given thousands of toys and thousands of dollars to buy even more toys. This year our entire gymnasium is full of toys for children of all ages. On Wedensday night the first families came to shop. 52 families who are a part of FBCD came to shop for their kids. Today dozens more have already come. We have over 1000 children registered to recieve toys this Christmas. Dozens of people from First Baptist are there greeting the people as they come in, helping them shop, and just showing them the love of Jesus.



The idea of gift giving began on that first Christmas 2000 years ago. We often credit the wise men for being the ones to create gift giving. But in reality they were the second ones to give. The first giver was God Himself. He gave His son Jesus that first Christmas and it is because of that we give today. I am proud to be a part of what is happening at First Baptist Denton this year. Proud of a church that even in tough economic times is willing to help those in need.



As you celebrate Christmas with your family and friends this year I hope you will find a way to follow the example of Jesus and GIVE to someone in need. With all the things happening in our country today, it won't be hard to find someone in need. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas Season this year.

Vote 2008

Without a doubt the 2008 election will go down as one of the most historic elections ever in the United States. Regardless of who wins we will have a first, either the first African American president in our history or the first female Vice-President in our history. By the time election day rolls around chances are we will know just about everything there is to know about each of the candidates, from how much money has been spent on their clothes to who their friends are and have been for their entire lives. We certainly live in the information age and there is no lack of information about all of the candidates. Depending on what network news you watch you can get the "slant" you want toward which ever candidate you prefer. You can watch the talk shows on television or listen on the radio and hear every conceivable "side" of the issues. With all of this information and all of the polls that will tell you this candidate is winning in one state or that one is ahead in another state we have been bombarded for months now. But what it all comes down to is what you do when you got the the polls on November 4th or during early voting and you get to decide whom you want to elect as the next president of the greatest country in the world. You get to decide whom you will cast your ballot for. I know your vote is only one of millions but it's your vote and nobody can tell you how to cast it. They can give you their opinions and they can try and influence you but you get to decide.

Let me share with you what will help me decide whom I will vote for when I go during early voting. I will vote for the candidate that most closely holds the beliefs that I hold dearly. I cannot get past the issue of LIFE when I vote. I feel so strongly about the sanctity of LIFE, especially of the unborn that I will vote for the candidate that shares my belief in this area. I will vote for the candidate that will work to reduce the influence of government in our lives. I very firmly believe that God created the government and that it should be respected and followed but I don't believe that the governement is the answer to all our problems, I believe we as the people can better solve our problems. I will vote for the candidate that will reduce the tax burden on our citizens. I believe in hard work and earning your own way. I believe that when the Bible says "if a man will not work he will not eat," that means we are to work for what we have and I believe we shouldn't have to give any more of it to the government than is absolutely necessary. I will vote for the candidate that will work to promote family in our country. Family as God defined it, one man and one woman committed to each other for life raising their children to love God and follow His teachings. I am a "beliefs" voter and a "conscience" voter. I will vote for the candidate that I believe most closely shares my beliefs and my conscience as a citizen of the United States and most importantly as a believer in Jesus Christ.

Notice I didn't tell you who I will vote for. Of course I realize that you can probably read between the lines and make a pretty edcuated guess, but the point is I'm going to vote for the person I believe shares my beliefs and convictions and I urge you to do the same. That is our responsibility as citizens of these United States and as believers in Jesus Christ.

What A Wild Weekend

It was one of those wild weekends for me and my teams. The weekend began on a sour note as my beloved Ryan Raiders lost to the Lake Dallas Falcons on a last minute touchdown. The Raiders are now 4-2 having lost two games by a combined 7 points! The weekend ended on another sour note as my Dallas Cowboys lost to the Arizona Cardinals 30-24. But the inbetween time was fantastic. When I was a kid I wanted to be a Texas Longhorn. Although my allegiances have changed since then I ALWAYS pull for the Longhorns to beat the Sooners in the Red River Rivalry. Wow! What a game it was on Saturday! In the meantime my number one team, the Baylor Bears were beating Iowa State. Then my new team the Oklahoma State Cowboys (You know the Bible says "where your treasure is there your heart will be also." Alot of my treasure is in Stillwater now!) beat the third ranked team in the nation the Missouri Tigers on national television. It certainly didn't break my heart that Chase Daniel of Southlake Carroll fame, threw the interception that sealed it for OKState. So it was a great weekend and a not so good weekend for me and my favorite teams.

Next Saturday we will be traveling to Stillwater for OSU Homecoming. They say it's the biggest Homecoming in the nation so I'm looking forward to experiencing it all. I'm still insulted that OSU picked Baylor to be their homecoming game and I really hate it that their first loss will come after beating the number three team in the nation! But that's life!

There are so many things more important in life that football! I'll admit I love football and football players and coaches. The game and the people who coach and play it helped to shape my teenage years and hopefully I have been able to help shape some of those teenagers over the past several years as a pastor and chaplain. Some probably think I talk too much about football but I believe it is a game that brings people together and can bring a great deal of joy to people's lives. Just visit any college campus in the Fall or any high school field on a Friday night and you will see what I mean!

Our country certainly faces some very difficult problems right now. With the economy in a downfall and the presidential election just a few weeks away, these are scary days. But here is what I know - God is still in control! In the midst of chaos, football wins and losses, God is still in control. He is the rock that we can stand on even in the most difficult of times. No matter how your football teams did last week, no matter what your financial situation, I hope you will put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ and let Him be your rock through all of life!

The Dreaded Day Arrives!

Last Friday, the day I have known was coming finally arrived. To be honest I had very mixed emotions about the day. One the one hand I was excited on the other I was not looking forward to it. I had been told for months what a hard day it would be. Many who have gone before me told me of their experience and warned me about what was coming. So I counted down the days until Friday August 15th arrived. The day we took Ryan to college.

We left the house about 7:30 A.M. and headed north on I35. We made our way through Gainesville, crossed the Red River into "foreign" country. We held our noses as we went through Norman, then through OK City and Edmond. We made the right turn onto Hwy 51 and pulled into Stillwater about 11:00 A.M. We drove straight to the SAE house, Ryan's home for at least the next three years of his college experience. It was much different than the last time we were there. Cars were everywhere and people were all over the front lawn. We quickly found Ryan's room and after I wrote my first check for college, making my wallet much lighter! we moved him into his room. He's in the newer part of the house in a room with three other guys. One from OK, one from Kansas and one from Southlake, Texas. His sister was not real happy about him living with someone from Southlake, but that's another story.

After lunch with the rest of the new students and their families, and a quick trip to Wal Mart to stock his mini-fridge, the most dreaded moment of the day arrived, it was time for Tami, Alyssa and me to leave. Ryan walked out to the parking lot with us, we hugged and said our goodbyes got into the car and drove off leaving him behind. I have to admit, I did much better than I thought I would, I felt a few tears coming but I managed to fight them off, knowing Alyssa would make fun of me. Tami did remarkably well too! A few tears and a little trouble saying those goodbyes but all in all we handled it well.

It's only been three days since we left him in Stillwater so it sort of seems like he is gone to camp right now. I imagine that come Friday of this week when he doesn't come home reality will probably sink in a little more. I do miss him already and I know I will continue to. But! I know that I left in Stillwater last Friday one of the finest young men on the face of this earth. A young man that loves the Lord, makes good decisions for an 18 year old, is confident in his abilities and knows where he is heading. I left a young man that has already made me proud and I know will continue to in the days to come. I left a young man that has been given a firm foundation of faith, right and wrong, and a sense of putting others before himself. I left a young man that I can't wait to see how he grows and matures and becomes the man of God he was created to be.

It was a dreaded day for me, a tough day but an exciting day none the less.

Now if we can just find somewhere for Alyssa to go!!!!!!