Nov 18th - Sunday

This morning I attended church at Five Points Baptist, so did Fred & Gail.

This is Five Points main building. The old wood sided little church is still on site and I think is used. I haven't been in it but it appears that the old building has been well maintained.

You might just be able to make out the old dog that welcomes people. It is laying down at the entrance area. It's arthritis(?) must have been bad this morning because it just wagged it tail and looked up at people begging for some attention. Once almost everyone had left the service it did manage to get up and walk out into the parking lot, for some additional attention.



Today was "shoe box" day. The church has 205 plastic containers containing crayons, tooth brushes, tooth paste, scissors, etc.; to ship out. When I first heard that this small church had that many I was impressed. When I found out that not only do they have to purchase and assemble they "shoe boxes" they also have to pay $7 per box to have them shipped overseas. Then I was really impressed. They started out with 14 boxes a little over 5 years ago. Next year they want to do 400.

I've enjoyed all three messages that the Pastor has preached while I've been here. His family is very active in the church. The introductory singing is led by his father, his mother, his wife, his daughter, and one or two other people who Fred says are his relatives. The lady who plays the piano is also a relative. I get the impression that most, or all, of them have travelled as a singing group in the past, including the motorcycle racing, airplane restoring, Pastor. The congregation is not what I typically think of when I think of a Baptist church. Dress is very casual, as you will note in the photo of Fred and Gail. One of the younger gals (early 20's) who has been part of the singing group two of the last three weeks, has one arm completely covered with tattoos. She also wears at least one nose ring and dresses in an unconventional manner (a little like Abby from NCIS).

In today's message the Pastor made a distinction between people who have taken out "fire insurance", people who have accepted Christ as their Saviour because they are afraid of going to Hell; and believers who want to be Christlike. He message was taken from Mark 2:13-17, where Christ has supper with Levi, the hated tax collector, and other undesirables. We all have biases and tend to "discriminate" against certain groups of people. The Pastor told of his experience preaching at a mission. He was basically ignored and it made him mad. He was there to help them, they were mostly there because of bad choices they had made during their lives. God spoke to him telling him that he had to love all sinners, just as Christ does, if he wants to be a true follower. (My 2 cents worth. I agree, but sometimes that love must be tough love. We can not help someone continue a lifestyle that hurts them or others. I believe the Pastor would agree.)

Fred and Gail outside of Five Points this morning. They are all packed up and ready to leave Messiah's Ranch in the morning.

 I don't know why something turns this photo 90 degrees when I paste it into the blog post. It is my lunch at Amigo's, in Hearne, TX. I had never heard of this menu item before. I asked the waitress and she described it before I ordered it. The best way I can describe it is somewhat mushy pork rinds. It was edible but I sure wouldn't order it again.

I arrived back at Messiah's Ranch around 2 PM. The leaders of the weekend group were just leaving. John said they were students at Texas A&M.

I watched a little football and took a 2 hour nap this afternoon. Just finished steak, baked potato, and corn for supper. I'll probably surf the net a little and then head off to bed. Tomorrow will be different with Fred and Gail gone.

Good night to all. May God bless you and yours.