A brief Bible study from Psalm 81. This Message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, March 31, 2010.

Praise the Lord for a great weekend! Thanks to Tina Downing who did an outstanding job organizing and overseeing our Easter-Eggstravaganza. We had an army of volunteers to handle the crowd of nearly 300 who attended this event. Thanks to all or you who worked to make this a great success. And wasn’t it a joy to see the worship center full on Sunday morning? We had a great crowd in worship as we celebrated the resurrection of our Lord.

The whole week was a wonderful experience. I will always remember Easter 2010. That’s the week I became a total “idiot.” I knew it was going to happen, I just didn’t expect it to happen so suddenly and dramatically. The minute she was born I changed. Within hours I was assaulting people with pictures. I had become one of “those people.” I have never been a picture person. I was always complaining about Rheadon and her camera. “What are you doing? Just leave it alone. Let’s go.” Now I’m saying, “Oh, did you get a picture of that? Oh, look at this one. No, it’s not the same picture her eyebrow is raised in this one.” It’s embarrassing…but not enough to make me stop. I’m embracing my role – get used to it it’s only going to get worse.
Thanks to all of you for your love, support and prayers. By the way, is it just me or was she the best-looking person in worship this past Sunday? Okay I’ll stop.

I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod

From Matthew 27:57-28:15. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Resurrection Sunday morning, April 4, 2010.

This message by Andrew Hoyt was given at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, April 18, 2010.

What a great day Sunday! This past Sunday was Senior Adult Sunday. A day we set aside to recognize and honor our senior members. I commented Sunday that many do not want to embrace that title unless they are standing at a cash register, “Did you get my senior discount?” The Bible says, “The silver-haired head is a crown of glory.” We are to honor those who live long and well. We are blessed to have a large number of senior adults as part of our church family. Their years of faithful service and devotion are a rich blessing to us. Their example of faith and commitment serve as a constant reminder of why we need the church. I say again, “Thank you senior adults. Thank you for your love and faithfulness. Thank you for your continued faithfulness and your prayers.”

I also want to express my appreciation to Ed and Betty Roseborough and their service as leaders of our Keenager ministry. Thank you for all of your planning and coordinating. Thank you for caring for our senior members. Ed and Betty have been serving Trinity for quite awhile. How long? Well let me put it this way. They used to lead the youth choir and now those former youth choir members qualify as Keenagers! I’m not going to say anything about Ed and Betty’s age but…

Thanks to all of you for a great day Sunday. Also thanks to Buck Clayton and Nancy Morgan for sharing their testimonies during the morning worship. I look forward to seeing all of you this coming Lord’s Day.

Rod

A Wednesday-evening Bible study from Matthew 5:33-48. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on April 21, 2010.

Sunday-evening expositions of the book of Zephaniah, by Pastor Rod Harris.

• 04/25/10: Peril and Promise, from Zephaniah 1:1-2:3.
• 05/02/10: The Judge of all the Earth, from Zephaniah 2:4-3:8.
• 05/16/10: A New Day, from Zephaniah 3:9-20.

I was reading in my devotions and came across this quote, “Look back on all the way the LORD your God has led you. Do you not see it dotted with ten thousand blessings in disguise?” Blessings in disguise, that’s a good way to put it. Those times when God providentially nudged you in this direction or that. The times you didn’t get the job you knew was “perfect” for you. That house that was “just what you needed” or the school you had your heart set on. When I looked back over my life and consider the path I’ve taken I am amazed because I never would have chosen it if given the chance! Yet the people along the way who have most impacted my life and who, to this day, are some of my dearest friends are there because of those “blessings in disguise.” Those unexpected turns, those disappointing second or third choices that put me in the right place at the right time.

I wouldn’t take anything for the life I’ve lived and the places I have served. When I look back I’m not left wondering where I would be or what I’d being doing if not for “fate.” I’m left standing in awe of a loving God who providentially works all things for His glory and my good. I’m left with profound gratitude for a God too loving to let me have my way. Don’t get me wrong, I haven’t always enjoyed it or appreciated it. Too often I was ticked. But time and distance have shown me the grace and mercy of God and the wisdom of His ways. My prayer is that, as I grow older, I will be less prone to argue and complain and more willing to rejoice and praise. How is that working? Some better but a long way to go. I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod