350 Pounds of Mudbugs!

No major news here. Just an excuse to share a photo of my oldest Grandson, Caudle Jerry Adkins V (who we call Quint), and to give a word of praise to Baptist Campus Ministries.

Obviously, Quint, who has lived in New Orleans for 7 of his 9 years on the planet, has been assimilated into the south Louisiana culture. Like any true Bayou Boy, Quint loves crawfish!

Quint's father, Jay, is a pastor of First Baptist Church of Westwego in the greater New Orleans area. Jay has developed a close friendship and working relationship with Cory Olivier, the Baptist Campus Ministry director in the New Orleans area, and he has been involved in several BCM activities recently at Tulane University. Last night, 12 folks from FBC Westwego (including Quint) helped boil 350 pounds of crawfish in seven big pots at a BCM event at Tulane.

One of the great mission fields in the world today is right here at home, on the campuses of our colleges and universities. I thank God for the dedicated Southern Baptist men and women who are serving the Lord through their efforts to reduce the lostness among our nation's college students. I am especially thankful for our collegiate ministries in West Virginia, and the faithful campus ministers who are working hard to share Jesus with college students here in the Mountain State.

Who’s Gonna Fill Their Shoes?

Back in the mid 80's the country music radio stations filled the airways with the mournful voice of George Jones singing a song that asked the following question:

"Who's gonna fill their shoes?
Who's gonna stand that tall?
Who's gonna play the Opry
And the Wabash Cannonball?
Who's gonna give their heart and soul
To get to me and you?
Lord I wonder, who's gonna fill their shoes?"

The ballad was an ode to the deceased or aging giants of Country Music history. The lyrics made reference to country hall of famers such as past greats like Hank Williams, Marty Robbins, Conway Twitty, Roy Acuff, and Lefty Frizzell. It also mentioned aging stars like Johnny Cash (now deceased), Merle Haggard, and Willie Nelson. The premise was simple. Would there be someone – anyone – who would step up and fill the void that remains from the departure of those who had left this world behind?

It's a sobering question in the world of entertainment, sports, science, military, education, and business.

It is an equally sobering question to those of us who serve as "undershepherds" of the flock of God. When the "solid saints" of the "builders" generation go home to their Heavenly reward, who will fill their gigantic shoes in the local church?

In the past 6 ½ years, I have had the responsibility to officiate in 71 funeral services. In our church, alone, nine of our members have passed away in the past seven months. Six of them in the last four weeks! Most of these were older Christians. Mature in their faith. While we mourn our loss, we know that they are now rejoicing in the presence of their Lord. My heart is stirred with mixed emotions in the light of such statistics.

Over the past seven months, the ages of those we eulogized ranged from their 58 to 93. These were from the generation of "builders" and older "baby boomers". These were folks who had long ago committed their lives to the Lord Jesus Christ. They were men and women who had been taught to be faithful. Faithful in church attendance, faithful in the support of the ministries of the church. Faithful to missions. Faithful to teach and to serve in the church. In short, these were folks who could be counted on to carry their share of the load – to do what they could do to advance the mission of the church.

They are now leaving us in ever increasing numbers.

The question today is, "Who will fill their shoes"?

Who will step up and take on leadership roles in the church? Who will teach the Bible Study classes? Who will lead in worship? Who will go as missionaries? Who will minister to children? Who will be the next pastors and evangelists? Who will be the effective witnesses in our culture? Who will give faithfully of their finances to advance the cause of Christ? Who will serve as role models for the children? Who will mentor younger men and women and pour their lives into them? Who will be the church?

The "church culture" as we know it is forever changing. Recent polls have shown that fewer and fewer younger people are identifying with a local church. Methods change but he message does not. While some of the time worn traditions of many of the local churches of the past are passing from the scene, still the concept of the local body of believers is a valid and scriptural one! While we may no longer DO church the way it was done in the middle of the 20^th century, believers are still called to BE the church – until Jesus comes!

We are still called to be Ambassadors for Christ. We are still called to fulfill the Great Commission. Everyone has a part to play in the mission. These dear saints have done their part and now they are gone.

Who's gonna fill their shoes? Someone has to do it!

Will it be you?

True Wayne County Residents

The church I serve is located in Huntington, WV. Most of Huntington lies in Cabell County. However, the far western section of the city (the Westmoreland neighborhood) lies in Wayne County. Wayne County is an interesting place. The northern end of the county (along the Ohio River) is mostly urban. The area around Huntington is suburban in nature. The rest of the county is pretty rural, stretching south down the Big Sandy River and its Tug Fork, all the way to the Mingo County line. The people of Wayne County are great folks, and a unique lot. Butch and Betsy Cotton (residents of Westmoreland and members of Westmoreland Baptist Church) sent me the following piece. I found it to be humorous and very true, and just had to share it with my readers. Anyone from southern West Virginia or eastern Kentucky should be able to identify (even if they aren't an Adkins, Maynard, or Napier).

Enjoy!

TRUE WAYNE COUNTY RESIDENTS ....

1.) Only a true Wayne County resident knows the difference between a hissie fit and a conniption, and that you don't "HAVE" them, you "PITCH" them. They also know that a whoopin will soon follow one.

2.) Only a true Wayne County resident knows how many fish, collard greens, turnip greens, peas, beans, etc. make up "a mess.

3.) True Wayne County residents know the difference between Napier (nayp-yer) and Napier (napper). A Napier (nayp-yer) is a Napier (napper) with five dollars in his pocket.

4.) Only a true Wayne County resident knows exactly how long "directly" is - as in: "Going to Kenny Queen's, be back directly.

5.) All true Wayne County residents, even babies, know that "Gimme some sugar" is not a request for the white, granular sweet substance that sits in a pretty little bowl on the middle of the table.

6.) All true Wayne County residents know that branch, creek, lick, and fork refer to both bodies of water and roads.

7.) Only a true Wayne County resident knows instinctively that the best gesture of solace for a neighbor who's got trouble is a plate of hot fried chicken and a big bowl of cold potato salad. (If the neighbor's trouble is a real crisis, they also know to add a large banana puddin'!)

8.) Only a true Wayne County resident knows that C-K is not a town. It is two towns - Ceredo and Kenova.

9.) Only a true Wayne County resident both knows and understands the difference between a redneck, a good ol' boy, and po' white trash.

10.) No true Wayne County resident would ever assume that the car with the flashing turn signal is actually going to make a turn, but will ALWAYS assume the person in the passing lane and not passing anyone is from Kentucky or Ohio .

11.) A true Wayne County resident knows that "fixin'" can be used as a noun, a verb, or an adverb.

12.) Only a true Wayne County resident knows that the term "booger" can be a resident of the nose, a descriptive, as in "that ol' booger," a first name or something that jumps out at you in the dark and scares you senseless.

13.) Only true Wayne County residents make friends while standing in lines. We don't do "queues", we do "lines," and when we're "in line," we talk to everybody!

14.) Put 100 true Wayne County residents in a room and 98 of them will discover they're related, even if only by marriage. 85 of them will also find out that they are (or were) an Adkins, Napier, or Maynard.

15.) True Wayne County residents never refer to one person as "y'all.

16.) True Wayne County residents know grits come from corn and how to eat them.

17.) Every true Wayne County resident knows tomatoes with eggs, bacon, grits, and coffee are perfectly wonderful; that redeye gravy is also a breakfast food; that fried green tomatoes are not a breakfast food; and that all are (were) available at the Pioneer (pronounced Pawn-eer) restaurant.

18.) When you hear someone say, "Well, I caught myself lookin' ..." you know you are in the presence of a genuine Wayne County resident!

19.) Only true Wayne County residents grow up knowing the difference between "right near" and "a right far piece." They also know that "just down the road" can be 1 mile or 20.

20.) A true Wayne County resident knows you don't scream obscenities at little old ladies who drive 30 MPH on the freeway. You just say, "Bless her heart". They do, however, scream obscenities at coal trucks; but have the good sense to get out of their way.

21.) Only a true Wayne County resident can show or point out to you the general direction of "yonder." It is anywhere beyond the "holler" in which you are currently standing.

22.) Only true Wayne County residents say "sweet tea" and "sweet milk." Sweet tea indicates the need for sugar and lots of it. "Sweet milk" means you don't want buttermilk.

23.) And only true Wayne County residents know where "Out Wayne" is.

I'm Proud of This Guy

Yesterday was our son, Benji's, thirty third birthday. Tomorrow he and his wife will fly to Washington, DC for Ben to be a blood marrow donor to an unknown recipient.

Ben is the younger of our two sons. Much like his father, Benji "married up" when he got hitched to a wonderful Christian girl nearly thirteen years ago. Leigh Anne is a dedicated believer in Jesus Christ, and is a woman of faith and grace. We love her like a daughter. She and Ben have also given us two of our four precious grandsons.

I am proud that Ben is actively involved at Rose Hill Baptist Church. Proud that he and Leigh Anne are teaching their children about the love of Jesus, and bringing them up in a Christian home and teaching them the importance of prayer, giving, and belonging to the local church.

Benji did four years in the United States Marine Corps, and graduated from Morehead State University. He is a teacher and coach, and has been a good son for 33 years. I am especially proud of what he will be doing later this week at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, when he will donate bone marrow to a cancer patient he has never met.

Several weeks ago, Ben received a phone call, asking him to come in for some blood work to see if he might be a match for a patient who needed a bone marrow transplant. He has been a blood donor in the past, but had never had a call like this. When he asked why they were calling him. he was told that in April 1999 he had signed a form volunteering to be a bone marrow donor. He didn't particularly remember signing anything like that, but figured it must have been among the many documents he signed in the USMC, when he was deployed to Kosovo in April of that year.

At any rate, the blood work showed that Benji appeared to be a perfect match for the "66 year old international patient" at Georgetown. He was then flown to Washington for a complete physical the week before Easter. After one final medical test back here, he was told that he was a perfect match and that the patient was now beginning his chemotherapy and radiation in preparation for the procedure.

As I understand the procedure, they won't actually be "digging out" any of his bone marrow, but will actually be harvesting stem cells from his blood that will be used by the oncologist to implant in the cancer patient. Ben will receive some type of injection for two days and then the actual procedure will take place for the next four days. His blood supply will be circulated through some type of machine (much like a dialysis procedure) over a period of four or five hours each day as the stem cells are harvested.

The doctors tell Ben that while the procedure is not "dangerous", it will be exhausting and somewhat painful for several days while the procedure is in process. I understand that he will also need about a week to fully recuperate. The officials at Georgetown are flying Benji and Leigh Anne to Washington and putting them up at a guest house on campus and will provide meals for them while there. Linda and I and Lance and Linda Clanton will share the duties of taking care of Will and Asher while their parents are out of town.

Ben, like everyone else, has issues he is dealing with in life. No one is perfect and we are all needy creatures. Human flaws are part of all of us, but I am proud of both of our sons and daughters in law, and proud that Benji is willing to give of himself to help try to save the life of someone he has never met.

I am proud of you son, and praying for God's touch and His blessing in every aspect of your life.

Back In The “Air Chair”

On Saturday, "The Lighthouse" radio broadcast was back on the air in its regular 4:00 PM time slot on WEMM FM in Huntington, WV. Actually, the program was never off the air, but its founder and host, Rev. Caudle Adkins, Jr has been out of the "air chair" for two months. Yesterday the familiar voice returned, and his listeners across the tri state (and those who listen on the internet) were glad to hear their "radio pastor" coming back into their homes and automobiles.

Dad began "The Lighthouse" broadcast 31 years ago, and for the past three decades, his familiar voice, and bluegrass gospel and southern gospel music has been a constant on the tri state airwaves on Saturday afternoons. He has ministered to homebound folks (as well as others who are not shut in) in a wonderful way. He hears regularly from friends he has never met, who listen on WEMM every week, from as far away as Virginia. He also has regular listeners across the country (and perhaps around the world) on http://www.wemmfm.com/.

His two month absence was due to complications from a hospitalization that began in February. Dad had been losing the use of his legs and was reduced to getting around in a wheel chair, when he was diagnosed with spinal stenosis. Surgery was done at St. Mary's Medical Center in Huntington, WV and he was sent to Health South Rehabilitation Hospital for physical therapy. However, he developed some complications from the surgery and was transferred back to St. Mary's for more than a week, before finally being sent back to Health South to continue his rehab.

Dad will be 82 years old on May 17. No longer able to serve as a pastor, the radio ministry has become his outlet for preaching the gospel and touching the lives of people, like he has done for over 60 years. For years, Dad had been a very busy bi-vocational evangelist, and local church pastor. He began the radio ministry 31 years ago when he was pastor of Good Shepherd Church in Huntington. When he left that place of service, he continued the program in the 4:30 PM time slot. Now his regular pulpit is a radio microphone, where he shares announcements, makes song dedications, acknowledges birthdays, prays over requests, and shares the good news of Christ, to a faceless audience of unknown size.

Only God knows how long Dad will be able to continue this ministry, but it was sure nice to see him shuffle into that studio yesterday with the aid of a walker. There were many other folks out there who didn't see what I saw, but they were equally glad to hear that familiar voice.

A Tasty Tater Place

We had a real treat for lunch on our way to the New Orleans Airport for our trip home on Friday. We had originally planned to have sort of a brunch at Slim Goody’s in midtown, but since Linda, Michelle and Canon needed to do some shopping at WalMart, our original plans were changed, and we had to eat a little later. I needed to have the rental car back to the airport by 1:30, so we were looking for somewhere for lunch on the way. Jay suggested SPUDLY'S SUPER SPUDS in Metairie. Good choice!

Now, New Orleans is known for its great restaurants and coffee shops. Everyone knows about The Commander’s Palace, Emeril’s, Ralph & Kacoo’s, Café du Monde, and other great eateries in the Crescent City. Obviously Spudly’s is no Emeril’s, but if you want a filling meal that will stimulate your taste buds, (in interesting surroundings), Spudly’s is the place! Spudly's signature is potato, and plenty of it. The flagship tater is the Super Duper, loaded with crabmeat, shrimp and crawfish and topped with Spudly's original cheese sauce, cheddar and chives. The El Toro is topped with beef chili and cheddar, and jalapenos are optional. The spuds are HUGE and you can choose from the many menu choices, or have them build one to order.
You might be surprised to know that I did not order the Pizza Spud, but I did pig out on a tasty sandwich and a “smaller” potato with cheddar cheese. Good stuff!

The atmosphere is eclectic. The small metal building has about ten tables on the first floor and they are up close and personal. There are swinging doors that lead to a closet sized room with two or three video poker machines (adults only, of course). The walls are covered with dark paneling and there are no windows in the place. Fresh carnations were in bud vases on each small table, covered by red or blue checked pattern tablecloths. A sign with cursive letters fashioned from a rope indicates that there is an additional dining area upstairs. However from the configuration of the roof, one can only guess that the upstairs dining area is very small, indeed. The staff is friendly, the food is really good and the prices are not unreasonable.

Their website says that Spudly’s Super Spuds has been offering the New Orleans area “a meal in a baked potato” for over twenty five years. Spudly’s was originally opened in 1980 by a brother and sister, and at first only offered the trademark potatoes. Today, however, it offers a broader menu that includes soups, salads, burgers and sandwiches. I can recommend the Roast Beef Po Boy.Spudly’s is visible from I-10 but it’s a little tough to get to unless you know the area. For lunch in New Orleans, I have a new favorite place (along with Port of Call, Camilla Grill, and Sammy’s). If you’re ever there, I urge you to check out the big taters.

Some Pix from the Big Easy

Had a good time in New Orleans with family and friends.

For those who are interested, check out some of the photos on Facebook by clicking on the following link.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=22151&id=1312843408&saved#/album.php?aid=22151&id=1312843408&ref=nf