Life Here and There

My friend, Cory, sent me this very cool YouTube video of a guy singing about my hometown of Bowling Green, Kentucky. I recognize every spot you see. Totally cool!

And comments are open!

I just returned home from a whirlwind adventure! We started out last Monday and stopped in Branson to spend a couple of nights with Angie’s family. We spent a day at Silver Dollar City, ate at some good restaurants, and spent some time by the pool with the kids.

Then we headed to my hometown of Bowling Green, Kentucky where I was scheduled to perform the wedding of a couple whom we had come to know over our years of ministry there. Ella had flowergirl duties to perform as well! I then preached on Sunday and we headed home again, stopping to celebrate Ella’s birthday (in advance) with her Nana and Papa. (more…)

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!

Today begins a very hectic season in our lives – well, hectic if traveling is hectic. We’ll be leaving the middle of this afternoon for the great metropolis and returning tomorrow evening. Week after next, it’s on to St. Louis for a three-day jaunt where I get to see the Cardinals play at the new Busch Stadium! The following week is Vacation Bible School, interrupted by a one-night stay in Tulsa for our Tenth Anniversary (which you’ll hear more about later). The following week, I take Angie to St. Louis and I return to Northwest Arkansas the next day while she goes with her family to Griffin, Georgia for several days. Then, a week later, I meet her in Kentucky for a week to visit with my family. All of this in June… and I’m not even missing a Sunday service!

It’s really a good thing I love traveling. I especially love Branson. Why, you might ask? Well, it’s not the country music, the craft festivals, or all the super-expensive shows. It’s certainly not the outlet malls either. It’s really the fried green Tomatoes served up hot at MacFarlan’s and the cheap breakfast buffet at Starvin’ Marvin’s! You should have known it would all surround fried foods! I also love the drive through the Ozarks, a movie at the Imax Theater, and especially being with my wife and daughter! They make these moments wonderfully special.

See you in Branson! I’ll save you a fried green tomato… maybe.

Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.” –Jeremiah 6:16

This weekend, my family and I are traveling to our hometown of Bowling Green, Kentucky to see family. This may be our last trip to the bluegrass state until the holidays, so we’re going to squeeze all we can out of this quick jaunt. One great privilege for me, beyond seeing my loved ones, will be the privilege of preaching in the pulpit of the church in which I grew up, Clear Fork Baptist Church in Rockfield, Kentucky.

Clear Fork is not only an old-fashioned, Bible-believing assembly of people, the building itself is set in a picturesque place. Beyond many square miles of cow pastures, attendees top one last hill where the church is nestled in the valley beneath. It’s the end of the road unless you live in one of the few farmhouses down the gravel road behind the building. Clear Fork’s original structure was built in 1833. Since then, the building has been bricked, remodeled, has seen multiple additions of multi-story Sunday School space and a separate Fellowship Hall across the road with an addition of its own, as well as a two-story parsonage.

For me, my earliest memories of reading the Bible, learning from spiritual heroes, and asking questions about the ministry came at this sacred place. I owe so much of my own value system to those who came before me at Clear Fork. My grandfather especially comes to my mind. Jesse Cox was a Deacon at Clear Fork for 52 years. He was the chairman of every major building project during that span. He was also the Browning community’s fire chief, a farmer, the community store owner for a time, served in the Philippines in World War II and worked for Holley Carburetor for forty years. His leathery face and tough exterior gave way to a sweet and gentle smile when grandkids and great-grandkids were around.

My grandfather fell victim to lung cancer in December 2002, but he died my hero. I even had the privilege of sharing in his funeral service. On this Memorial Day weekend, who is your hero? Who do you remember? For whom can you give thanks to God today?