Platinum Memories

Today was our Church's 70th Annual Homecoming Celebration. Just in case you didn't know it, platinum is the "color" for 70-years, thus the title of this post.

I've got to say that I never in a million years would have dreamed this day would have ever came. It's one of those events that you don't really ever expect to happen but secretly in the back of your mind you wish would. Oh, okay, I'll quit dragging on and just write about what took place.

I guess it would be best if you, dear reader, would read THIS post to understand why I'm writing this. Okay, now that you've read that post I can proceed...

So, as I mentioned this was our 70th Homecoming. I knew from the very first minute we began making plans that I was going to ask Bro. Charlie to preach. For weeks I prayed about it, thought about it, worried about it, talked to my wife about it, and finally about 2-months before the date, I got up the courage to call him and ask. You can imagine my delight when he replied that he would love to come and preach the Homecoming. Immediately when I got off the phone I texted my wife to let her know the good news! I was so excited.

I felt like a little boy as I stood in the presence of my hero preacher. Silly sounding, I know, but like I wrote in THIS post, some people get all excited over movie stars and famous singers but I get excited over people that I admire and look up to. Charlie was his usual self, walking around the Church talking to everybody, shaking hands, and laughing. I stood up at the front of the Church and just watched him as he interacted with people and wished once again that I could be more like him.

After the choir singing and special singing it was time for me to introduce him to come up and preach. I was a little nervous but decided to go ahead and reveal my feelings for this great man of God and let everyone know just how much I looked up to him. He graciously walked up behind the pulpit and began talking about one of his heroes, my grandfather, Preacher Ed Spencer.

I sat there for 45 minutes and prayed, Amened, and cried while Bro. Charlie preached. He brought a wonderful message called "GPS" (God's Plan of Salvation) from one of my favorite passages of Scripture, John 14:1-4. Yes, it was certainly a platinum day for this preacher! You can watch the video below or go to this link if you prefer to listen only: http://www.sermon.net/bchesney/sermonid/1199782666

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When we all pull together, how happy we'll be!

It's been a while since I've posted on here so I thought I'd catch everyone up with what's going on right now.

As I am typing this, it is 1:05 AM on Tuesday night/Wednesday morning. I've been studying for the past 6 hours. I'm nearly finished with my first Seminary course, Advanced Old Testament. I've only got 6 more assignments to complete in my notebook and 3 Family Devotional guides to complete and I'll be finished with this semester. That will be one down and 9 more to go! I am really enjoying my course work and it is really helping me with my ministry. I'm looking forward to this next course, Advanced New Testament! Please pray that God will supply the finances needed for me to continue on. I'm going to take a month off in between courses so that gives me a little bit of time to save up. That means I'll be starting back up in September.

We haven't practiced much in the choir lately. I canceled practice again this past Sunday because of Independence day. I really needed a break. I may cancel this coming Sunday as well because I am going to be preaching at Emory Pike American Christian church on Sunday morning and then going to my in-law's house for lunch. I don't want to have to try and rush around to make it by 5:00. I'd really like to take Sunday evening off from my church and go visit Rutledge Pike Baptist because Rev. Charlie Lynch is going to be preaching there both services this Sunday and I'd like to go hear him.

Speaking of preaching, the Lord finally gave me a message that wasn't all gloom and doom last Wednesday evening. I brought a message about Gideon and how we as Christians needed to step up and blow the horn for God. I probably shouldn't have went back and listened to myself because I found several mistakes. I had the course of events wrong in one part and I completely left out Gideon's first sign from God. I probably shouldn't keep beating myself up over it but it just irritates me to mess up like that when I know something like the back of my hand. Oh well, it wasn't my first mistake and I'm sure it won't be my last.

The Southern Gospel Trio, HisVoice, will be singing at Highland next Sunday morning, July 19th. I'm looking forward to hearing them again. I just hope our members come out and support the church. It is really frustrating when people are always asking me to get more groups and special singers and then they don't show up when they come. I only have 3 groups scheduled for the rest of 2009 and I'm not planning on asking any more. I've already turned down at least 6 requests from different groups and soloist over the past 2 months. It's just way too much work for me and not enough support. Sorry, that's just my little rant for the day... I should probably get some sleep!

My sister, Jennifer (who is going to kill me when she sees the pictures I've posted of her on this post!) has been in town this week and I've really enjoyed that. Her husband, Jon, preached at our church this past Sunday evening. His sermon was titled, "Lord, if..." I always love to hear him preach. Jennifer also sang and played the piano. I have to constantly fight back tears every time I hear her sing. The Lord really uses her talents for His glory. I wish they didn't live so far away, they would be so great for our church... but I'm just dreaming I reckon.

Chester and Robert are going to be wondering who's been messing around in the sound booth! I learned how to use the DVD recorder at church last night. Mom needed to make a soundtrack of Jennifer playing so we went to the church and I figured out how to do it. I'm really happy about that because I've needed to learn how to do that for the past 3-years. I am going to get Barbara and my nephew Jared to play the piano for me on some soundtracks that I want to sing with and now I know how to record it!

Well, I've got to get off of this computer and get some sleep. I have to get up in about 6 hours and go to work and then there is Wednesday night church after that. Cya later!

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When I grow up, I want to be like...

Have you ever had someone in your life that you always said you wished you could be like? I'm not talking about some movie star or famous singer or anything like that. I mean just someone that you know or have met that you admired and wished that you could be more like them. Maybe have some of their redeeming qualities? Well, I've had a few such folks in my life. Let me tell you about one of them.

I've often written about my grandfather, Rev. Edd Spencer. As you probably have read on here before, he was the founder and pastor at both Highland Baptist Church and North Acres Baptist during his lifetime. Surprise, surprise, this post isn't about my grandfather, it's about another preacher.

My first memories of Rev. Charlie Lynch start way back when I was just a little boy. Charlie was the pastor at Highland Baptist for 10-years, between 1975 and 1985. The pictures on this post are from Highland's 1984 church directory. It was the year before he would leave to pastor North Acres Baptist church for 21-years. It always seemed to me that preacher Charlie was following in my grandfather's footsteps. I used to love to hear Charlie preach. The funny thing is, he never was my actual pastor. We didn't belong to either of those churches during the times he was pastoring them. But, anytime I was looking for a church to visit I would always find my way over to where he was at.

There is a song in the old red back church hymnal that is one of my very favorites in the whole world. It is on page 16 and its title is, "I Know He Heard My Prayer." I will always remember sitting in North Acres Baptist church and the choir was singing that song. Brother Charlie was standing up there and he was singing along and big tears were streaming down his face. He was praising God and rejoicing, I don't think he even knew there was another person in the whole church besides him and God. I have loved that song ever since then and have always wanted to teach it to one of my choirs. I haven't found a choir yet that has been able to do it. We are always missing a part, whether it is good strong leads or the basses. I'm sure I'll never be pleased with any of them anyway because I'll always be comparing them to the way I remember it from when I was a kid.

Charlie always has a way of making you feel special. He has a big grin that stretches from ear to ear. Kind of reminds me of when Andy Griffith grins, it just takes up his whole face and looks so genuine. Charlie is a tall man, I'd guess around 6' 4. He towers above my short little 5'9 frame when I am beside him. Anytime I have ever met him, without fail, he'll stick out his hand, spread that big grin across his face and welcome me like an old friend. He always has something nice to say about my wife and children. He always tells me how lucky I am to have such a beautiful family. He usually says something funny like, "how in the world did you ever talk her into marrying you?" or something along those lines. I guess that's one of the things makes him so good at being a pastor. I've always admired Charlie's wife, Kathy, as well. She is always so nice and hospitable. Always faithfully there along with Charlie. I guess in my mind they are what I think of when I think of a good pastor and pastor's wife.

I've told my wife for years that if I die early, I want brother Charlie to preside over my funeral. It seems like he has preached the funerals of an awful lot of my acquaintances and loved ones that have went on. I guess the one that I remember most is my granny Spencer's. I'll never forget how loving and gracious Charlie was to my family during that time. He stood over her casket and spoke directly to us with such humbleness. I've also heard him at other funerals. One in particular was Paul Haire's funeral that he preached last year. The compassion that he had for the Haire family was overwhelming. I sat back about 4 pews from them and watched them as brother Charlie preached and talked about how Mr. Haire was such a hero. I remember wondering to myself if I would ever be able to handle a funeral service as eloquently as he can.

I guess it seems kind of odd to write about someone like this while they are still living. I doubt Charlie would ever stumble across my little corner of the blogosphere though. I certainly wouldn't want to embarrass him or anything, I've just had him on my mind a lot and felt the need to write about it. I don't know if I'll ever have as great of a ministry as he has had. I sure wish I could be more like him though.

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