Raining and Praying

RAIN! .75 inches since midnight and it is only 9:20 AM. Rain is still falling and looking at the radar (GLevel3) more is on the way. All this rain changed my morning routine. I did not walk this morning.

During my drive to Parrish, I reflected on the events of yesterday and the schedule for today. Yesterday was exciting. 350 students, teachers, parents, and administrators from Oakman went to Montgomery to lobby for HB 356 (allocating $8 million for a new school to replace the one heavily damaged by the Dec 10, 2008 tornado). We began with a rally on the Capitol Steps. Our local and area representatives were there to greet us and to speak for a few moments before we went door to door in the administrative building to ask for support. At the end of the rally, our local representative called upon our School Principal to speak and then asked him to lead us in a prayer. Yes a state representative unashamedly asking a state school board employee to lead a prayer. There is still hope for Alabama and there is still hope for America.

One other event also speaks highly of our hope. One parent related what happened in one politician's office. After hearing from the students what our need was and why we wanted help, he asked one 4th grader, "Do you think we should take money from other needy schools to help Oakman?" The student's reply was "No, Oakman Elementary is not greedy." The representative smiled and said, that was a great answer -- you have my support!" There is hope for our future!

Now for today. After keeping a check on the weather and getting everything else ready I am off to record our daily 15 minute television program, "Search the Scriptures." I will record five days of programs. This is a great outreach effort. There are three congregations that cooperate to make this show possible and a number of preachers that rotate as speaker. We consistently hear from people in the surrounding communities concerning the messages we bring. The series I plan to do today will cover the basics of obedience to the Gospel. Please pray for our efforts.

After recording TV it is off to donate blood in honor of Frances Zorn. Read the full story here: http://brotherhoodnews.com/index.php?s=zorn . You can help the Zorns by remembering them in Prayer.

This evening I will be speaking to the Homebuilders Group at Sixth Avenue Church of Christ in Jasper. Originally we were going to meet in one of the group member's homes since there were supposed to be 15 or so present. Well that number has grown to about 60. They are moving the devotional to the Ark Room at 6th Ave. We will be making some applications from James 1:22-27. Pray that we have an effective evening.

I had to come home to the study at my house. There is no phone or Internet service at the church building today. I do not know if it is the rain or the construction at the cell tower, but a call to AT&T via mobile phone revealed that a line was damaged and that service would be out all day and maybe until Sunday. It is difficult to communicate with others when there are phones and difficult to research for lessons online when there is no Internet. Technology is only good when it works.

I am thankful that God is beyond our technology. No phones - no problem. No email - try "knee-mail." Corny, I know, but did you notice how many times in my ramblings I asked you to pray or mentioned prayer? We can still keep in touch with God because of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Notice what the Hebrew writer says in Heb 4:14-16 "Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

Did you think to pray?

Scott