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Surprise! Gospel Gazette Online for September is early! Please enjoy Gospel Gazette Online, the current edition and the thousands of archived articles over the last 20 years. Go to: www.GospelGazette.com. Enjoy!

Bonnie’s Earthly Remains

Today, Martha and I visited the earthly remains of my beloved, late wife and Martha’s dear friend, Bonnie. Her lifeless body lies beneath the tufts of weedy grass and mud in the forest clearing adjacent to the meetinghouse for the Old Union Church of Christ. Memory of her is closer—in my heart and on my mind—every day. Her soul is in the custody of a righteous but merciful and loving God.

This morning, Martha and I set out with bucket, rags, soap and related items to clean Bonnie’s (someday mine also) headstone. It wasn’t a big job, and we retained our composure better than sometimes there or even at other places when grief yet crowds its way into ongoing life.

Some of my children are coming to visit tomorrow, and we will worship with the Old Union congregation on the coming Lord’s Day. We will visit Bonnie’s earthly remains once more, as family members. We will embrace what she has meant and yet means to us, which we preserve in good memories.

Before Martha and I departed from the Old Union Church Cemetery, Martha placed seasonal flowers in both of the urns affixed to the tombstone. I’m so fortunate to have Martha as my wife and as my friend. Without her I would be adrift in so many ways.

Some More of the Nicest People

As Martha and I were traveling on Saturday, August 25, I mused that we were about to visit some of the nicest and the most pleasant people I know. We were on our way from Collierville, Tennessee, where we had spent the night with our daughter, to be with the Center Ridge, Arkansas Church of Christ on the Lord’s Day. In particular, we were to lodge with and be the guests of brother Garry and sister Melissa Polk. This lovely couple is as down to earth and unpretentious as any American, country, farm family could possibly be.

Awaiting our arrival was a superb homecooked meal of fork-tender roast beef, carrots and potatoes. It was complemented and complimented with corn, okra, fresh tomatoes and rolls. Beyond that, there were brownies, banana bread and raw apple cake to tempt us, to which temptation we succumbed! The hours spent together talking and enjoying each other’s company was icing on the cake, so to speak. Breakfast was over the top with scrambled eggs, biscuits and gravy and farm-fresh sausage patties. After worship, we all had lunch at a very, very busy and one of the largest Mexican restaurants of which I am aware. We’ve eaten there before on previous trips, and we have never been disappointed.

While it might seem that our trek to Center Ridge was all about eating and reminiscing with Christian friends, the real reason for our journey there was to be with the Lord’s people as they assembled in that village on Lord’s Day morning. During Bible class, I spoke about our stateside and foreign excursions for Jesus Christ, which we did in 2017 and so far in 2018. At the worship hour, I preach about Bible Authority. This children-lively congregation has been one of my primary encouragers over the years and has really impacted souls for our Lord, not only locally, but through me in far away lands. For them and appreciating their kindnesses and friendship, I am truly thankful. God be praised! Truly, I interact with some of the nicest people stateside and abroad among my Christian brethren!

Months from Now

Months from now, Volume 98 of The Voice of Truth International will make its way into printed form. Nevertheless, I’m pleased that the local World Evangelism Team in Winona, Mississippi has put to bed this future issue. Volume 96 has been newly distributed in printed form in Asia, Africa and North America. Volume 97 is available to be printed, and now, Volume 98 also awaits its turn to be published in printed form.

The Voice of Truth International is a quarterly Gospel journal, which appears in several languages. In addition to the printed quarterlies, each issue of VOTI can be read on the Internet without charge. However, the online version is available through PDF files, which require a fairly fast Internet connection, and which will take a few moments to download.

Regarding volumes 97 and 98, one can read them before he or she can actually hold them in his or her hands! Access to all of the editions of VOTI as well as about three dozen other PDF (book) titles can be had at the following URL. Scroll down the page to see the full offering.

http://www.gospelgazette.com/library/

Let me hear from you. Tell me how you use The Voice of Truth International or the other available titles. Email: rushmore@gospelgazette.com

Some of the Nicest People—Brethren

Saturday, August 18, Martha and I made a leisurely drive up the Natchez Trace toward Tupelo, Mississippi. After pausing for lunch, stretching our legs and refueling the car, we proceeded to Tuscumbia, Alabama. Our hosts this weekend, brother Daniel and sister Joan Counts, always graciously receive us into their home. I suppose that I have been their occasional guest for about a decade, first with my late wife Bonnie and now with my wife Martha. Catching up and enjoying good meals together are the delightful norm.

On the Lord’s Day, we worshipped with the Leighton, Alabama Church of Christ, where the Counts are longtime members. Here, too, we are always well received. We are indebted to the Counts and to the Leighton Church of Christ for their encouragement and participation with us in our mission work.

Sister Counts loves animals, live (e.g., her dog and three cats) as well as figurines, paintings and statues. One of the new arrivals are a bronze doe and buck in the Counts’ picturesque front lawn.

Silently and largely unheralded, supporters send funds to sustain what we attempt to do for the Lord. We are thankful and dependent upon each kind word and selfless gift. For instance, individual Christians and churches of Christ have made it possible to provide a robust ATV to brethren in a very remote interior part of South America, so those Christians can more expediently evangelize the savannahs, mountains and jungles where they live. Thank you to one and all.

Some Time for Ourselves

Well, Martha and I were passing through Nashville, Tennessee several weeks ago. On the way through, she saw a billboard along I-40 advertising the comedian Ray Stevens, and she wanted to go to his show sometime. Martha didn’t think she could convince me. However, relatively easy access to the performer’s “CabaRay” and desiring to please Martha, I relented. As it turned out, we both enjoyed ourselves.

Virtually everyone there was a senior citizen! Mr. Ray Stevens himself will turn 80-years-old in January 2019. Certainly, Ray Stevens had more vigor and pep than nearly anyone 20 years younger than him. I wish I looked as good as he does.

To our pleasant surprise, Ray Stevens mingled with any of his fans who remained awhile after the show ended. Martha wanted her picture made with Mr. Stevens, and so we three smiled for the camera.

Ray Stevens is as funny as he ever was. In addition, he gave the audience a history lesson about the budding prominence of Nashville in country music over the past approximately 80 years. The very well-made and decorated facility was the perfect backdrop for the dinner theatre we attended. The band and staff have been with Ray Stevens for decades, surely a family of sorts.

You’ve just got to hear “The Mississippi Squirrel” live from Ray Stevens. Medleys of his famous funny songs and some complete renditions will make happy anyone who has loved the recorded versions over the years. Take advantage of this national treasure without delay.

Within Two Hours of Home

Today, Sunday, August 5, 2018, Martha and I didn’t travel far from our Winona, Mississippi home in our travels. Just 90 miles northeast of Winona, we were only an hour and a half from our morning appointment with the Crockett Church of Christ outside of Senatobia, Mississippi. During Bible class, I acquainted brethren with our travels abroad and programs overseas for 2017 and the first half of 2018. We are always graciously received and encouraged, as we were today as well. Brother Robert Rawson is the preacher for this church. For worshipped I preached, “Just How Young Is Your Home Planet?” Brother Rawson had requested I speak concerning evolution. I also left several copies of my tract, “Did Dinosaurs Really Exist?”

Next, we scurried to our afternoon appointment with the Courtland Church of Christ. It was about a 45-minute drive, and we arrived in plenty of time for the 1 p.m. assembly following their monthly fellowship meal. (Martha and I helped eat some of the leftovers.) Here, again, we were well received and encouraged; I spoke about missions.

I spoke to both congregations, comparing combat support in the military to the essential nature of stateside brethren to foreign missions and persons who carry them out. The military views combat support as important as fighting units, for without combat support, fighting units could not function effectively. Likewise, we are thankful for every prayer, each word of encouragement and financial participation by Christians and churches of Christ that make it possible for us to apply ourselves to evangelism stateside and abroad. The latter congregation also sent back with me about 10 boxes of songbooks, which will make their way to English-speaking foreign brethren.

Winona to Memphis to Nashville—and Back

Saturday, July 28, Martha and I departed Winona, Mississippi at our leisure. We headed for Rebecca’s home in Collierville, Tennessee. We drug along behind us our utility trailer, loaded with about $28,000 worth of literature. Since we would be in the Memphis, Tennessee area on Sunday—about two-thirds of the way to Nashville, Tennessee from where we ship to Guyana, South America—it was an opportune time to tote the trailer.

Lord’s Day morning, Martha and I convened with the brethren of the East Frayser Church of Christ for Bible class and worship. We always receive a hearty welcome, which we did this time as well. During class time, I talked about foreign mission work. For the sermon later, I preached about “Bible Authority.” Brother and sister Green, who labor with the congregation, treated us to Panda Buffet for lunch.

By 1:30 p.m., Martha and I had made our way to the meetinghouse of the Collierville Church of Christ. Once more during this church’s afternoon worship, I talked about mission work in which we are involved.

All day Monday was consumed in hauling the literature to Caribbean Shipping Services in Nashville, unloading the trailer, packing shipping barrels and driving back to Collierville. We prepared seven barrels for shipment to Guyana. After they arrive in Georgetown, South America, good Christian brethren with whom we partner will distribute the books, magazines and songbooks throughout most of the churches of Christ in that nation. This is the second shipment we have sent this year. (We welcome used but serviceable songbooks, leftover VBS and class literature, communion ware and Bibles for use among English-speaking brethren overseas. Contact me by email at: rushmore@gospelgazette.com.)

Tuesday, we arrived back in Winona in the middle of the afternoon. Wednesday, I published the August edition of Gospel Gazette Online to the Internet (www.GospelGazette.com).

Thank you for your prayers, encouragement and participation that enables us to be some service to our Lord Jesus Christ. We are partners together in any good that through our hands occurs.