This and That

4

*I’m writing this note at 11:45 PM on Friday night. In just a few hours I’ll be on my way to the SIM Missionary Village in Sebring, Florida. It’s a lovely spot established for missionaries who have returned to the States after 30 or 40 or 50 years on the mission field. I’m the speaker for their Bible conference that starts on Sunday afternoon.

*This is my third trip to the missionary village. When I am around these stalwart saints of God, I feel like I’m meeting royalty because these men and women have given so much, often in very difficult situations, for the sake of the gospel.

*Thursday night we had a wonderful “Friendship Gathering” here in Tupelo. Almost 40 people come to the home of Bert and Danna Duncan for a time of fellowship and explanation about Keep Believing Ministries. We presented a home version of the “Friendship Banquet” we had last October in Chicago. 

*Here is something that struck afterwards. We knew none of these people when we moved from Oak Park to Tupelo in 2005. But God has raised up all these friends in the last four years.

*Yesterday on the radio, during “Trivia Time” in the second hour, J. J. Jasper and I started singing “Pants on the Ground, Pants on the Ground, Lookin’ like a fool with your pants on the ground.” I think we caught Tim Wildmon totally by surprise. It was my first (and presumably my last) time to sing on the air. If you don’t know what this is all about, just Google “pants on the ground.”

*Colts over the Jets, Saints over the Vikings. Pretty sure about the first one, not sure about the second.

*Here’s a note Leah sent us on Tuesday: 

We just got back from listening to the baby’s heartbeat! :)  She picked it up right away, didn’t have to search around for it at all.  It sounded strong and healthy! :)  So fun!  Josh can do a good impression of what it sounded like which is good because I’m already forgetting!  It definitely makes it a little more “real” - that there’s actually another separate person inside me.  Pretty neat!
 
The midwife gave us a little tiny plastic baby that is about the size of the baby now so that was fun...fits in the palm of your hand.  And there was also a little card with some facts about it...the baby’s already sucking its thumb! :)

*Is that beautiful or what?

*And then this nice note from a pastor friend in Romania:

You and your KBM is live on my heart and in my prayers (on my prayer list for 2010,in every morning at 7 AM I have a nice prayer time,and you have a good place in this prayers)
Thank you again for your messages (this fact is a strong encouragement for my ministry)
God bless you,your family and your ministries
with more love in Jesus Christ
your brother from Romania

*That’s beautiful too. 

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Visitor Comments:

January 23, 2010, 12:08 PM Daniel Darling says:
	Oh, Ray, I’d love to hear you sing “pants on the ground.” I’ve already heard the Brett Favre edition.
January 23, 2010, 5:37 PM Patrick Sullivan says:
British / Australian . Retired Pastor. Hospital Chaplain. Creator and Webmaster of www.jesuschristonly.com	Hi Ray. What a privilege to minister to these SIM heroes of our time. John Hunters book ‘A flame of fire’ the life and work of Rowland Bingham the founder of the SIM, has had such a wonderful positive spiritual impact on my life over the years. What a man of God. Ray I will be with you in spirit as you move among these wonderful servants of God. God Bless then all. Pat
January 23, 2010, 6:15 PM Linda Grace says:
	I love Pat and Duane and Pat. They such humble servants and tolerate a Type A personality like me (and even love me!) I am using your sermon about Jesus Calms the Storm to help teach the 3rd graders tomorrow at SS. SO glad I have a wonderful resource! Thanks Linda
January 23, 2010, 10:20 PM Ray Pritchard says:
	We are off to a great start. Had a terrific banquet tonight with 150 retired missionaries. Average age around 83. Still full of vigor and zeal for the Lord. What an honor to be around them this week.