My brother and his family tried out David Riddell's food trailer in South Lebanon the other day and gave it an excellent grade. We will be close to home in revival next week so I am sure you will be hearing about all the good food at least one more time. You owe it to yourself to get down to South Lebanon to try it out.
David has some offers to move his food trailer to areas with higher traffic. Right now he is in the process of thinking it over and weighing the options. He really needs to be in an area with lots of people. I will keep you informed right here if David makes a change.
Here are some pictures that my brother sent me.
We are having a good revival at Beechfork. The crowds have been very good and have been building every night. This is Homecoming weekend so we are expecting it to get bigger and better. I love Homecoming services, especially at Beechfork!
All of us have been affected by sickness and most of us have dealt with cancer in our extended families. Many of us have faced these things personally, or faced them with those close to our hearts.
Some times the battle is ultimately won in Heaven. Other times the Lord gives the victory on earth. But either way, it is a war that requires love and support of those around us. Anyone who is sick needs their family and friends to rally around them and help them through. Thank you to those of you that have been that person for someone! God bless you!
I was thinking of this song today. It is beautifully written by Jimmy Yeary, Sonya Isaacs Yeary and Ben Hayslip. The Isaacs released it on their "Why Can't We" project in 2011. September of 2011 they performed it on the National Quartet Convention stage in Louisville, Kentucky. During the song they were joined on stage by many southern gospel artist who have battled cancer, or their family members have had cancer. My great-aunt Lily Isaacs is a cancer survivor. This song was written because of her story.
If you have never seen this, get ready to cry. It is powerful. I will put the lyrics below the video.
Odie
I'm Gonna Love You Through It Words and Music by Jimmy Yeary, Sonya Isaacs Yeary, Ben Hayslip
She dropped the phone and burst into tears
The doctor just confirmed her fears
Her husband held it in and held her tight
Cancer don't discriminate or care if you're just 38
With three kids who need you in their lives
He said, "I know that you're afraid and I am too
But you'll never be alone I promise you"
When you're weak, I'll be strong
When you let go, I'll hold on
When you need to cry
I promise I'll be there to dry your eyes
When you feel lost and scared to death
Like you can't take one more step
Just take my hand, together we can do it
I'm gonna love you through it
She made it through the surgery fine
They said they caught it just in time
But they had to take more than they planned
Now it's forced smiles and baggy shirts
To hide what the cancer took from her
But she just wants to feel like a woman again
She said, "I don't think I can do this anymore"
He took her in his arms
And said, "That's what my love is for"
When you're weak, I'll be strong
When you let go, I'll hold on
When you need to cry
I promise I'll be there to dry your eyes
When you feel lost and scared to death
Like you can't take one more step
Just take my hand, together we can do it
I'm gonna love you through it
And when this road gets too long
I'll be the rock that you lean on
Just take my hand, together we can do it
I'm gonna love you through it I'm gonna love you through it
We began revival last night at Beechfork Holiness Church. It is so good to be among friends here in Tennessee. These folks have stayed with us through thick and thin and back to thick again. Pastor Herman Woods and Sis. Margaret have been like second parents to us and their folks have embraced us since our very first service at Beechfork.
Our first visit here was 25 years ago this week when I preached their Homecoming service on June 12, 1988. We had met Bro. and Sis. Woods and several of the folks in 1985 and Bro. Herman had been in our home several times. We decided to come down for Homecoming, the Lord blessed in a mighty way and the rest is history.
It was one of those amazing services when God works His will and way and wonder in a tremendous way. I could not have endeared myself to these people on my own and these people could not have grabbed my heart they way they did on their own. We did not know our lives would be so intertwined together over the next 25 years. But God knew it, God did it and God sealed it all in that single Homecoming service and sermon.
I was a 21 year old preacher that did not have enough sense to get in out of the rain but these folks grabbed my heart and would not let go. It has been an awesome ride and I would not trade it for anything. I thank God for bring us all together and for blessing us so many times down through the years. It continues to be a wonderful relationship.
I am sure that I will have more to say about all of this over the next few days but for now I will show you a few pictures from the service last night. I am sure I will have a lot more pictures before it is over too.
