08/27/2026
With the news of Dolly Parton’s passing, I’ve been seeing so many amazing clips from her life. The Jesus Podcast shared an interview where Dolly said:
“I just happen to believe there is a God, and I believe through God that all things are possible… and I’ve proved a lot of that.”
I also came across an old clip—probably from the ’70s—of her telling the story of her high school graduation in 1966. The graduates were required to stand up and share what they planned to do with their education. Dolly said she wanted to be a big star in Nashville. The crowd laughed, knowing her humble beginnings. She was already a star at this point but you could hear her pain as she quipped I showed them.
The messages I’ve been posting from Dad’s 1994 sermons speak a lot about the circumstances of life and how, when we apply God’s principles, He will use them for our benefit. In my own life there are countless examples of this. Circumstances that seemed to come at the worst possible time guided my steps, and looking back they were the best things that directed my path toward outcomes I never expected.
Sometimes this process takes years. Sometimes it takes a lifetime. And sometimes it happens in a single weekend—turning what could have been a disappointing birthday into the most fantastic 60th celebration Tamra Eyestone can remember. Had the negative circumstance not happened, we would have been on the way to the lake the following day broke down on the side of the road. But the circumstances of the day before did not thwart what God had planned. It put us in the right place at the right time to help a stranded boat and the family back to their dock. lt was a great day that by it's end was filled with celebrating with more of our friends in a single day than ever before.
A life in Christ is not a fire-insurance policy, as Dad used to say. It’s a life policy—more like roadside assistance. Nearly everyone I’ve heard speak about the end of their life talks about the crooked road that God made straight.
In the olden days of which I'm now part of there were testimony times where the miracles of god that happened in people were told in church.
I don't think the church ever knew what to do with Dolly Parton she just quite didn't fit the narrative. I know what that's like my life didn't fit the narrative but that doesn't stop me from doing what we are to do like Dolly said in this interview
"everyday I ask God to lead me guide me and he will bring all the good things and people into my life and take all the wrong things out. Lead me everyday to do something to uplift mankind and to glorify Him."
Don’t seek the blessing. Seek the Blesser.
Proverbs 11:25 (NIV)“A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.”
A lot has been going on this week I just felt today after hearing these old interviews of Dolly along with my recent post on Eyestone's Etchings talking about the faithfulness of God in my aunt and Mom and Dad's life
I went through dad's recent message and this was the last clip I hadn't posted yet of Dr Jack W Eyestone encouraging people on how to believe the word of God and not what other people say. I'm glad Dolly Parton didn't listen to what her towns people thought of her dreams because that testimony of her believing in God is all over social media.
Tim
