Travel safety, Joe West, Chase news

Today Mama and I will pack up our bed and head back to the farm. I elected not to take the day off so I could get a few things done in the Borger office and collect some items from that office to take with me. I will not have my own office in Decatur for several more weeks but there is a place I can put my things temporarily. Hopefully we will be on our way before the predicted rains hit. I really will miss this office and the people here.


Grandma and Grandpa are almost halfway home as of last night. They called as they were stopping for the night so we could pray with them about the safety of the equipment they have loaded on the trailer – there is no way to lock it up or secure it against theft. It is a legitimate concern but God is able to take of that pretty easily. If we could see into the heavenly realm it would be interesting to see how many angels are posted on the trailer.

We should arrive at the farm about the same time this evening. (Victoria will be elated to have her roommates back.) There will be very little time to unload anything tonight but it will be a blessing to see everything arrive safely. Maybe that is one of the first things Grandpa will need help with after everyone else arrives tomorrow. At any rate, Saturday should be very busy and if Grandpa deems the fields ready, we should be baling hay early next week; depending on the weather.

Mama and I went to hear Joe West preach at Central Baptist last night. As we talked with Joe and Doris before the service we counted twelve years since we have seen them. They look very much the same in every way. They have been married for over 62 years now and Joe says it just keeps getting better. We love the way he speaks. Last night is the only service we will get to attend but at least we made that one.

He talked about having unreasonable faith. One illustration he used was the woman who cast her two mites into the offering at the temple. Jesus said she had cast in all she had; her entire life’s savings. Joe West asked, “Don’t you imagine that if she had asked her friends about the decision to give the money they would have told her she was foolish?” But it was something God had asked her to do. The Bible says she cast it in (Mark 12:42), rather, threw it in (Luke 21:2).

He went on to say that it can be imagined she struggled with the decision right up until the moment she got there but at the last minute cast it away from her into the temple treasury. She walked away in great victory. Jesus saw and recognized the sacrifice and the Word of God bears a permanent record of the event in her life. Although we cannot know the heart, only the action, it is not hard to imagine that God took care of her in honor of her obedience. It was an exercise of unreasonable faith.

One young couple at Central went to the altar last night and committed themselves to full time mission’s service. They are the least likely of almost any couple in Central Baptist but God does the calling to suit his purpose and we will pray for them as they begin to arrange their lives to answer that call. It will not be easy, but if God is in it, it will be best. It always makes me wonder if he has the best working in my life; not good (because it really is good), but best.

Chase got a call on an apartment last night. It is the complex where Makaila’s father has the painting and repair contract. The manager offered to meet the price Chase was given on a smaller apartment with less amenities. Chase was excited. It topped off the raise in earning potential he was given by Sears yesterday. He was moved to a lower hourly rate but a higher commission rate.

He is seeing dollar signs on everything in the electronics department.