Happy Birthday Poplar Springs
124 Years and Ready for More! On September 21, 1898, at 11:00 o’clock in the morning, our church was formed here in the Poplar Springs community as a home base for ministry and mission in Jesus’ name! Christ Followers from Cleveland County named the church Poplar Springs Baptist Church because they envisioned a “missionary Baptist church” near the tall poplar trees surrounding the springs at the foot of the hill. They constituted the new church with the following vision on…
Hump Day is Jump (for joy) Day!
At the college where I studied, the administration partnered with the student council to surprise the students one “secret day” during the Spring semester. About the time the dark ages (winter months) were easing up and the “study-itis” and “spring fever” was setting in, a note would be slipped under the dorm room doors announcing “Wonderful Wednesday” when all classes were canceled and special foods and treats were served and group games were scheduled in a festival of relaxation to…
Church: All Sizes Fit This One!
I’m sorry I did not recognize a very apt symbol for this past Sunday’s sermon until after the fact. Sometimes things are hiding in plain sight, aren’t they? That is, of course, the reason we Christ Followers have to be ever-looking at the Lord to open our eyes to see blessings that are already near at hand! On Sunday, the Church Flower Committee prepared what I now see as a wonderfully descriptive image to highlight the heart of the sermon…
Team Work
I enjoyed watching Poplar Springs youth and adults playing frisbee together this past Sunday evening on one of Gardner-Webb University’s fields. Everyone was having an enjoyable time together as two teams squared off for a round of “ultimate frisbee.” They have plenty of room for others to join on Sunday evenings for fun, fellowship, and exercise with our church family – it’s fun to watch, too, even if you are not ready to play! As I watched, I was reminded…
Our Anchor
Schools of all kinds are back in session this week and those start-ups remind us of how fast things change around us. Both of our grandchildren are now in the “school flow” and it is hard to believe how quickly they came to this time. It seems like we were just holding them in our arms at the hospital and letting them sleep on our shoulders. In fact, with our daughter’s birthday approaching next month, it truly seems like a…
“Play Ball” Team Poplar Springs!
A Month of Evening Prayers Every August in Shelby, the American Legion version of the “boys of summer” brings their national tournament to Shelby High School’s Keeter Stadium for the American Legion World Series. This week the next National Champion will have made their way to being crowned the best of the eight teams representing the regions from around our nation. The baseball heritage of Cleveland County gave me a bit of inspiration for putting together this devotional guide which…
What We Can Expect “in the Interim”!
Since the days of the early church, followers of Jesus have looked to Paul’s word in his letter to the Ephesian church as a reminder of what we can expect as we journey into the future. It’s a good word. A word on which we will hang our hopes and live into the vision for the ministry of Poplar Springs Baptist Church. It’s a word that describes well that which this dear congregation has known in Andy and Kim Oliver…
The Hard Part
FINDING HOMES FOR MY VALUED STUFF For forty-plus years now my belief pertaining to generous gifts given to me by gracious church members and friends is to display them proudly on the walls of my office and on the adjoining shelves. If you have ever been in my office over the past years you can see how many donations have been received and how generous people have been. I appreciate these items and for a sentimental person who may someday…
Thoughts on Retirement
I have always liked short succinct bits of wisdom, whether it’s a quote from a famous author of legendary intellect, statements from wise friends and family members, or something I have learned in my personal life. Many times the words of the scriptures speak timely wisdom to me in the most appropriate ways and I find encouragement and hope. As I approach retirement I find myself looking for wisdom in this inevitable approaching change. Lately, folks have been asking me,…
To Live Is To Adjust
I should’ve known it was Mark Twain as I had a great quote come to mind during my early morning pondering today. He is one of my favorites and always a good source of understandable and often humorous commentary on the human condition. I was thinking about my inability to articulate my thoughts at times and how I get so frustrated and impatient with myself and this little bit of personal insight came to mind. It described my dilemma to…