Polishing the Pulpit
Saturday, August 13 was a long, tiring day of traveling from northwestern Pennsylvania to Sevierville, TN. Of course, this was a three-state day: Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Tennessee. We arrived about 10 hours after we departed the home of Bonnie’s brother Jim (and his wife Kay) at the convention center – at about 7:00 p.m. By 9:00 p.m., we had the two tables set up in the exhibit hall – one table promoting The Voice of Truth International and Global Harvest magazines, as well as tract samples and my book Beverage Alcohol. The display behind these offerings touts colorful pictures of mission work from around the world in which the World Evangelism Team is involved. The second table hosted numerous books for sale (see the online book store at http://store.gospelgazette.com/). Next, we went to Pizza Hut for supper and bumped into some of the elders and their wives from the North Lexington, KY Church of Christ. After parting company, Bonnie and I went shopping for breakfast and lunch foods for in the hotel room, and so we arrived back at our lodging by 11:00 p.m. Finally, by a little after midnight, we turned out the light for a much needed night’s rest.
Sunday, morning we realized that we forgot to buy milk and bowls for the cereal; so, breakfast was a cereal bar apiece. Then, Bonnie and I traveled about an hour away to Greeneville, TN where I taught the Bible class in the auditorium and preached during the morning worship. My PowerPoint The One True Church of the Bible in the class was followed in worship with the PowerPoint Beverage Alcohol. A year earlier, one of the elders had come across my book by the same name and had ordered a case for the congregation. Now, it was my privilege to expound on the subject live, too. Following worship, we were treated to a fine meal at Ryan’s and enjoyed good company. Sunday evening, we returned to Polishing Pulpit (PPT) for evening lessons.
Monday, Bonnie and I taught classes of children; I taught 6- through 9-year-olds and Bonnie taught 10- through 12-year-old girls. Later, we taught a combined class with about 100 little ones in attendance. Tuesday and Wednesday was more of the same. We taught a combined 10 hours in three days to precious youngsters – one child stating that I have been teaching her since she was 6-years-old and she is now 10; she also says that I am famous for my (Bible) maps that I teach annually. Young ones smile and wave as we see them pass in the halls. We also taught this year Buckets of Bible Time besides Bible Maps and miscellaneous information about Bible Geography. Bonnie taught an outreach class for the girls. She also talked to them about our foreign mission work, and the young ladies especially enjoyed trying on Bonnie’s clothes from India and Myanmar (Burma).
Thursday morning before heading out, children’s classes provide a little fun and games for them. As a part of that, Bonnie worked the cotton candy machine. She said she ruined the first batch, but she got the hang of it by the second batch. Also Thursday morning, on behalf of World Evangelism/J.C. Choate Publications literature, I handed out to future preachers (10- through 14-year-old boys) who made speeches The Voice of Truth International and Global Harvest magazines, Beverage Alcohol book and a sermon outline book or other book of their choice.
PTP is one of the finest programs within the churches of Christ, and it is a time to maintain and develop rapport with fellow Christians, besides being edified by the many good lessons from which to choose. PTP is heavily pointed toward Christian families, so much so that nowhere else in the brotherhood have I seen such a high attendance by families with children. After Thursday morning lectures, it is time to help tear everything down before heading homeward. The frog fountain was just part of the décor, much of it with water themed, of PTP.
Explore posts in the same categories: Children, Good Friends, Lectureship, Literature, Magazines & Books, Moral Encouragement, Preaching Appointments, Travel, Youth GroupTags: Beverage Alcohol, Bible class, encouragement, Global Harvest, good friends, Literature, religious journal, Voice of Truth International
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Louis & Martha Rushmore 