Many pastors will tell you that they look forward to a “Business Meeting” about as much as a root canal. I know how they feel–I’ve been through some of those painful experiences. Some of the most unChristian behavior that I’ve ever seen took place during church business meetings. That’s sad!

Our annual business meeting was Sunday night and it was pure delight. Lakeway Baptist Church isn’t like every other church. Other than our annual business (which is required by law) we do not have regularly scheduled business meetings. We simply conduct business when the need for it arises.

Sunday evening we conducted our business as we normally do. You know–call to order, etc. We didn’t worry about “Robert’s Rules of Order” and we didn’t get into any heated debates. Every member was given an opportunity to speak and to vote. All was done in a very Christ-like manner. As the pastor, I am thankful for such a wonderful cooperative congregation. It’s a blessing to see people behave like “ladies” and “gentlemen”. That’s the way it should be.

As soon as we adjourned we spent a few minutes worshipping God in song. It just so happened that one of my dear friends from Lexington, Ky. was in town and he blessed our hearts in song. Hearing Bro. Okey Smith sing again brought back a lot of memories. He and Bro. Nolan Irvin provided just the music that we needed for what came next.

At the conclusion of our service and just before our “Sandwich Supper” we honored Bro. Dennis Hamlin who recently resigned as our Music Director, due to ill health, after twelve years of faithful service. It has been a wonderful experience having Bro. Dennis as our Music Director and we ask you to pray that God will restore his health.

Another special blessing that came out of our business meeting was the installation of Tim Stone as our new Music Director. It just so happens that Tim is my son. Until recently, I never dreamed that one of my sons would be a Music Director, but God has a way of surprising us. As any parent will tell you–it is a great blessing to see your children serving God.

I simply cannot imagine how any Christian would not enjoy a business meeting and evening like this. I am proud to be the pastor of a church such as this, and extremely thankful for all the many blessings God has bestowed upon us. We are looking forward to a great year and we ask that you pray for us as we seek to exalt our Wonderful Savior.

For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes in divers places.–Matthew 24:7 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.–Matthew 24:21   All eyes have recently been focused on Haiti. The latest report estimates at least 200,000 dead, 2 million homeless, and 250,000 in need of urgent help! 80,000 have been buried and workers are using earth-movers to bury 10,000 victims a day. Relief workers warn that the death toll could increase! All this and the threat of more after-shocks to follow. It staggers the mind to think about it.   My mind simply cannot fathom the depths of this tragedy. I can’t imagine what it is like to be wandering the streets seeking, amid the rubble, a scrap of food. But, the sad truth is that the worst is yet to come! Jesus spoke about a world-wide tribulation ,”such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.”(Matt.24:21)   Make no mistake about it–that day will come, and it might be a whole lot sooner than we think. The Bible clearly teaches that Christ will come and remove His people and then a seven year period of tribulation begins. Words cannot describe how horrible that time will be. There will be “natural disasters” on a scale unlike anything we’ve ever seen. The shortage of food will cause people to resort to cannibalism, even eating the flesh of their own children. That’s the bad news.   The good news is–well, the good news is “the good news”, the gospel! Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and rose again, according to the scripture, that we might be saved(1 Cor.15:1-4). Although we have no guarantee that we won’t have to suffer here on earth, we will escape the wrath to come because we have trusted Christ.”For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.”(1 Thess. 5:9) That, my dear friend, is the good news and our only hope. Trust Him today.   If you have already received Christ as your Savior, think of the impending doom of those who haven’t. We all have family and friends who haven’t been saved and we need to do everything in our power to bring them to Christ. Even as the workers labor feverishly to rescue the earthquake victims in Haiti, let us do all we can to win the lost at any cost. Rather than being characterized by fun and games, we need to get busy doing the serious work God has called us to do. As the old song says: Rescue the perishing, care for the dying, Snatch them in pity from sin and the grave; Weep o’er the erring one, lift up the fallen, Tell them of Jesus, the mighty to save. THINK ABOUT IT!