I wasn’t sure what to expect this morning when Ronnie Floyd was scheduled to speak at Pastor’s Oasis here in Branson. I’ve seen Dr. Floyd on television and hear his name around Northwest Arkansas regularly. He’s a very interesting guy in a setting such as this - extremely honest and straightforward… and helpful!

Every time you hear someone speak or teach, you should have some “take-aways.” These are the brief statements we could write on a legal pad that we want to integrate into our lives. Most of what Dr. Floyd shared are not new, but they are renewed in my heart…

• Your family is more important than ministry success - don’t sacrifice your family on the altar of success in ministry - no church is worth it.
• At the same time, love the church and the ministry God has given you, and be positive about it around your kids. You wouldn’t be here (at Pastor’s Oasis) if it weren’t for your your ministry.
• Don’t argue in front of your kids.
• Have prayer together as a couple every day - it’s a time when you become vulnerable and therefore closer.
• Work really hard, but have some time when work is off limits.
• Football is important. Well, it’s very important to Ronnie Floyd.

I’m so thankful to be here in this awesome place. Every time we’ve come, God has ministered to us, and He is this year already. We’re lakeside in beautiful weather and a nice room with plenty of free time to date each other between the great sessions. I couldn’t ask for a better “oasis.”

Read This: Six Degrees of Separation Is Now Three.

My wife doesn’t believe me, but I’m fascinated by this entire concept - everybody knows everybody else. Each week, new people visit our church and almost always see someone they know, even when they’re moving here from out of town. Of course, we do live in the hometown of the world’s largest retailer. Nonetheless, it’s a fascinating study.

I recently finished reading the book The Pixar Touch by David Price and have not had an opportunity to reflect on it yet - it’s cool! I have a mixed love for cartoons and technology, so Pixar hits both areas for me.

What I love about the book is how various relationships tie to one another. The story begins in the 1960’s when some college students began to play around with computer animation - back in the day when computers displayed nothing but lines of text in a system font.

When the story reaches the point where Pixar is releasing movies, each becomes the focal point of a different section. The Pixar Touch contains a pretty neat synopsis of the behind the scenes development of each project. The movies you’ve watched next to your kids suddenly have stories behind the stories.

The book inspires creativity and best of all - it’s extremely fun to read!

This morning, we welcomed the Stephens’ to our church family, making the 49th and 50th new members to join Bethel in these last twelve months. We love setting extra places at the table!

Our little baby’s growing up! Few things are more precious, and more heart-breaking, than your six-year-old little girl with a backpack on, marching off to school. We’re happy for her, excited about her future, and prayerful that she’ll be used of God in mighty ways! But we also don’t want her to age another day.

WAIT! There is more to read… read on »

Saturday, I flew a kite! It was a beautiful breezy day and my daughter had just gotten a cheap (99 cent), flimsy kite, so we headed over to the front yard of the church. On the way I thought, “This is never going to work, but at least we’ll have a nice walk on a pretty day.” Much to my surprise, the kite flew easily. In fact, it soared to at least fifty feet - pretty impressive for a five-year-old and a Dad with no kite-flying experience. WAIT! There is more to read… read on »

It’s Christmas morning, and I’m sick again. Not that I’m complaining. It’s actually become a tradition. Just a few years ago I basically lost Christmas day because of some kind of wicked, evil flu! I think it’s God’s way of keeping me a bit humble, and challenging me to express my gratitude in spite of a little illness, which I’d like to do… WAIT! There is more to read… read on »

Isn’t summer supposed to be our vacation from the busyness of life? This summer, for the Cox family, is flying right by in a whirlwind of activity. We’ve traveled to see family in three different states (Missouri and Georgia for Angie, Kentucky for me). We’re getting ready to spend a week at church camp. And then, it will be time for Angie to return to work, for me to get busy with a new church year, and for Ella to begin Kindergarten.

In the midst of being busy in these bigger ways, I’ve also found ministry to families and needs to be rather pressing lately. My phones are ringing off the hook and I’ve done more “people work” in the last few weeks than ever before. I have mixed feelings about this. On the one hand, I’m very thankful to be needed, to be used in God’s hands, and to watch God at work in people’s lives. On the other hand, I hate what Satan is doing to the people around me that I love so dearly. It has certainly caused me to have an appreciative perspective on my own life. God has been so gracious and merciful to me, especially when I’ve least deserved it!

I will also say that the pressing nature of many of the issues I deal with drive me to my knees. I feel the continual need to remain constant in prayer so that my own spirit is not dragged down by the multitude of problems in the world. Depravity, and its results, can be draining on our frail emotions and if we aren’t careful, we’ll be tempted to despair. But then there is that verse in Romans 8:37, “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” More than conquerors, winners, valiant victors in the war called life. And why? Because Jesus died and rose again!

Last night, I saw the inside of the new Busch Stadium as we watched the Los Angeles Angels topple the Cardinals 10 - 6. We did, however, get to see three Cardinals homeruns, including one by Sir Albert! It really is true that there isn’t a poor view in the park. We were in the third tier over the third base dugout, but we could see the game very well and our view of the St. Louis skyline was breathtaking!

My love for baseball has waned in recent years, and attending this game both helped and hurt. On the one hand, I’m terribly annoyed at the price of seeing a game for the average family. If you have the average 2.5 kids, you can expect to drop at least a hundred bucks for the tickets, and possibly another hundred for food, souvenirs, and some of the family activities available. It’s no wonder people are cynical about the salaries of players and the bankrolls of owners.

Nonetheless, on the field, it’s still the old game it used to be. There’s still something a bit magical about the bright green, perfectly manicured grass, the larger-than-life image of the players, and the thrill of watching a homerun fall into the stands. Plus, you can’t beat a stadium hot dog (though the price of $5.75 is a bit much)!

If I could sum up what it’s all about (the game, the parks, the players), I’d have to say… advertising! From an hour before the game until the last pitch was thrown, there were special promotions and activities on the screen, “sponsored by…” There are digital scrolling billboards throughout. The scenery is plastered with the names of big businesses such as banks, stock brokerages, and restaurant chains. The stadium included a Hardee’s, Big Mac land (a McDonald’s promotion), and even a Build-A-Bear workshop tailored especially to the St. Louis Cardinals fan base!

At the end of the day, I’d summarize my experience as absolutely awesome! The skies were clear with a temperature of 65 and a slight breeze blowing. The hot dog was juicy, yet crusty. The view was great, and even riding the Metrolink was a neat experience. Would I do it very often? Everyday!!

This past Sunday, I began preaching in Genesis with chapter one, verse one. The message started a lengthy commitment to preaching all of the word. I don’t think I’ve ever been as satisfied by a message in all of my ministry. I had studied and prepared for about six weeks for just the first chapter of Genesis. So how was it? Exhilarating!

The choir was tuned up and did an awesome job. Singing Shout to the Lord with them was great. They also sang a favorite of mine, There Are No Orphans of God.  Angie (my wife) and Tamara (the Choir Director) sang Nothing But A Miracle Will Do. These special numbers highly exalted the King, but it was the congregational song How Great Thou Art that moved my heart most deeply. I’d been studying about the magnitude of creation, the vastness of the universe, and the miraculous nature of all that God brought into being. So when we sang “I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder, Thy power throughout the universe displayed” I did something rather unorthodox, especially for me. I stood. I stood in reverence and fear of the awesome God we serve. I was overwhelmed emotionally and spiritually. The Spirit of God moved in my heart in that moment, and I stood, raising my hands high toward the God of heaven, not caring what anyone in the auditorium thought! It was unabashed worship, and it ought to be that way all the time!

I can’t wait until Sunday, to move on to the next passage. The Word of God is so inexhaustible, it seems I’ll never preach the unsearchable wisdom of God in this one short lifetime, but I’ll live and die trying!

Last night, the local association officially voted to name Larry Hendren the new Editor of  The Baptist Banner, which will free up that much more time each month for me to spend doing the things that matter. Please keep praying that I’ll have all of my priorities right, spending adequate time in prayer, in study, with people, and with my family. And may God get the glory as we learn to fear Him, love Him, and stand in awe and reverence of Him!