From The Road - 08/23/2006

Trust in the Lord - Do NOT trust Mapquest! There has to be a sermon in that somewhere - right?  Last weekend we sang at the most incredible church in the Norway, SC area.  The Willow Swamp Baptist Church is located on - what else, Willow Swamp Road just outside the town of Norway, SC. 
Since Rod and Elizabeth were coming down from Hope Mills, NC, I was driving down from Charlotte, Mike and Gene, together with Mike's Mom and Dad - Paul and Mary Ann, were coming up from Charleston SC we had all decided to just meet at the church.  Well, a funny thing happened on the way to the church.
It turns out that Mapquest has a slightly different idea where the address is supposed to be from where the church is actually located.  The only way to describe where we were all headed is to explain that buses and cars probably were not designed to travel down these paths.  (I do have pictures that you can view - just click here).  It truly was a "Lonesome Road".  A couple of phone calls, a middle of the dirt road, shade tree repair to the bus, about 10 minutes and we were finally all at the right location. 
Wow - what a lovely church!  The stained glass windows and the woodwork were nothing short of works of art.  If you ever have a chance to attend or visit the Willow Swamp Church, please do so, you will be blessed.
Then came an even nicer gift. The people of Willow Swamp Church! A special blend of people from far and near made the night such a blessing for each of us. It reminded me of the people from the church I grew up in. I hope we can visit often.

Thank you to all that were in attendance at the Willow Swamp Church from the "old Bass singer"!

Mark
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From The Road - 08/15/2006

What a great time we had in the Myrtle Beach SC area this last weekend.   We got to meet so many new friends at Hudson's Flea Market on Saturday the 12th and on Sunday morning, August 13th, we were at the Oceanlakes Campground in Myrtle Beach SC.  It is always so good to renew friendships with everyone at Oceanlakes Campground and look forward to being back again later this year.

Finally, on Sunday evening, August 13th, Holy City Quartet was at the Calvary Baptist Church in Wilmington, NC.  We were so blessed by the people that were in attendance and even managed to take some pictures that are available here on the Holy City Quartet website.  We look forward to returning to Calvary Baptist Church in the near future.

Mark
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I was reminded ...08/15/2006
This last weekend I was reminded, rather strongly, about the effect that music and words can have on a person's heart, spirt and even life.  We had just got done singing at a wonderful church in Wilmington, NC and were meeting and talking with the wonderful people that had been in attendance that evening.  After about 20 to 30 minutes a lovely lady named Ruth (sadly, I do not remember her last name) stepped up and first said "Thank You, it was wonderful to hear your group sing."  She then went on to tell me of the trials that she had been faced with over the last few months.  She had lost her husband of many years to a tragic auto accident and I could see the loss in her eyes even this many months later.  There were two things that she said that really stuck in my mind.

First, she mentioned that "No matter what we are going through, someone else is going through a tougher trial."

Second, she also said that "We all need to be reminded of God's Love and Grace."  So true, so true.

We all get caught up in our day to day lives, with the routine and the trials that seem to follow each of us every hour of every day. As I thought about the conversation, I was reminded of Psalms 23.  "Yea, though I walk through the valley ..." and recieved the same inner peace that I have always recieved when that promise from the Bible runs through my head.  I also remembered an old hymn that we used to sing when I was much younger in the church I was growing up.

I Need Thee Every Hour
Text: Annie S. Hawks, 1835-1918
Music: Robert Lowry, 1826-1899

1. I need thee every hour, most gracious Lord;
no tender voice like thine can peace afford.

Refrain:
I need thee, O I need thee; every hour I need thee;
O bless me now, my Savior, I come to thee.

2. I need thee every hour; stay thou nearby;
temptations lose their power when thou art nigh.
(Refrain)

3. I need thee every hour, in joy or pain;
come quickly and abide, or life is vain.
(Refrain)

4. I need thee every hour; teach me thy will;
and thy rich promises in me fulfill.
(Refrain)

5. I need thee every hour, most Holy One;
O make me thine indeed, thou blessed Son.
(Refrain)
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Let us always remember that while God has already given His Son for our sins that each of us need HIM each and every waking moment we spend on this earth.  Share the news and rejoice that His healing power and infinate Grace will bring, all those that have accepted Him into their Hearts, us all home to Him.

Mark
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Kids Letters to God
03/22/2006
I have always liked a good story or joke and when this came to me in an email I thought I would share it with all of you. I hope that they will make your day just a bit brighter.
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Dear God,
Please put another holiday between Christmas and Easter. There is nothing good in there now.
Amanda

Dear God,
Thank you for the baby brother but what I asked for was a puppy. I never asked for anything before. You can look it up.
Joyce

Dear Mr. God,
I wish you would not make it so easy for people to come apart. I had to have 3 stitches and a shot.
Janet

Dear God,
Is it true my father won't get in Heaven if he uses his golf words in the house?
Anita

Dear God,
I bet it's very hard for you to love all of everybody in the whole world. There are only 4 people in our family and I can never do it.
Nan

Dear God,
Did you really mean, Do Unto Others As They Do Unto You? If you did, I'm going to get even with my brother.
Darla

Dear God,
Did you want giraffees to look like they do or was it an accident?
Norma

Dear God,
In Bible times, did they really talk that fancy?
Jennifer

Dear God,
In school we read that Thomas Edison made light, but in Sunday School they said You did it first. Did he steal your idea?
Donna

Dear God,
I do not think anybody could be a better God than you. Well, I just want you to know that. I am not just saying that because you are already God.
Charles

Dear God,
It is great the way You always get the stars in the right place. Why can't You do that with the moon?
Jeff

Dear God,
I am doing the best I can. Really.
Frank

and finally....

Dear God,
I didn't think orange went with purple until I saw the sunset You made on Tuesday night. That was really cool.
Carol
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Mark

Mark 10:14 - But when Jesus saw it he was indignant, and said to them, "Let the children come to me, do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God.
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