that's all that matters. great meeting. really enjoyed being at the Studies in the Scriptures conference too. but home is where I wanted to be... and now I'm here! see everyone at Westside on Sunday!

I finished up at East Shelby last night. they are a great group and were very very encouraging. And I realized last night one of the things I love about meetings is the great stories people tell you ... both about their own conversion and (especially here at East Shelby) great stories they tell you about using your workbooks to teach the Gospel to others. East Shelby has been using my stuff for evangelism (Seeking God's Way) and for teaching kids and assessing their readiness to obey the Gospel (Am I Ready?) for quite some time. a number of young people stopped to ask "did you write 'Am I Ready?'" when I said "Yes" they would say "I did that book and was baptized." several parents also talked to me, telling me their story about using the Am I Ready book. it was very touching and tremendously rewarding.

being with Christians -- it's always provides a unique and need encouragement! thanks east Shelby!

I'm on today to east Tennessee where I get to speak at a preacher's study. brother Kevin Kay who preaches in Johnson City TN puts together the annual "Studies in the Scriptures." it's my third time to get to be there and I'm looking forward to it ... if Delta will just let us board the plane this morning!

one of the things I really like about Gospel meetings is the kind of people you get to be with. folks who are indifferent or half-hearted in their Christianity don't want to be around a preacher! they don't want him in their home or to go out to eat with him. they stay away from me! so that means the folks I am with are really committed Christians who love the Lord and are trying to do right. usually, they love preachers too. it doesn't matter if you're good or, er, not so good, they just love you and appreciate you because you've given your life to the preaching of the Word. that alone, to these kind of folks, is admirable and they appreciate you.

you can imagine what a week of being around the best kind of Christians is like - folks who love the Bible and who want to go to heaven... wow, it's a true joy. and I'm staying with folks like that this week. I'm staying with Phil and Sandy Ford. Phil is an elder at East Shelbyville, a huge baseball fan and a fine servant of the Lord. it's a joy to spend time with them and be in their home. they are mighty special people ... and they are the kind of folks preachers get to meet all the time when they're in a Gospel meeting. it's great!

I am writing this morning from Memphis Tennessee as I began a gospel meeting here yesterday. I'm with the East Shelbyville church this week (through Wednesday actually) and it's a great church. they have a very nice building that is relatively new and they are clearly active in the King's service. it's going to be a very good week, I know.

Gospel meetings are kind of a different deal when you're on my side of the pulpit. it's a zillion new people, a new place, and lots to keep together as you try to preach from God's Word in a way that will encourage brethren and build them up, while drawing the lost to Christ. but in all that is going on though there is always something that brings a smile to my face. so I thought I'd share something each day about Gospel meetings that I really like.

for today I want to note how much I enjoy seeing how other churches are working and doing. no two churches of Christ are alike in their methodology. the east Shelbyville church has a unique program for the adult Bible classes that really emphasizes getting your lesson before class -- and it's working even with adults! they also meet on Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. when they have a Gospel meeting so that brethren from surrounding congregations can come over. I'm not sure how many visitors we had yesterday (maybe a certain hockey game kept folks home) but what I really liked about that was it gave us a lot of time for supper and visiting afterward. I got to be with some fine brethren - we talked and visited (and watched the OT of the hockey game - grrr) and played Spades and I got to get to know them better. they all had little kids so I'm thinking if we had begun that at around 7 by 8 everyone would have had to leave. so that was nice. three in the afternoon services may not work for everybody but it works here!

I'm sure as the week goes on I'll see more good ideas the brethren here have implemented. you learn a lot in Gospel meetings!

"Olympic Curling Stone 2002 Salt Lake Olympics


This is a unique opportunity to own a piece of history. This stone was used in the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City. Serial numbers are engraved on the stone, the only thing missing is the sticker on the handle (removed by committee prior to us getting it). Only six available in the whole world"

And at only $795 it's a real bargain! It's never too early to get your Christmas shopping done!

On a more serious note, both our men's and women's teams are curling today after dramatic victories yesterday. Go USA!