Calvary Baptist Church and Sunday School

05/05/2026

It happened again yesterday. I was approached by a young man, about 19 years old, who knew me as his "school bus driver" & we chatted for a while. "I used to cause you some grief on the bus route," he admitted. "But" I told him, "You would also help me out from time to time." Of course, he graduated a year ago or so & is going to college w/ a scholarship to play football @ the linebacker position. He's a good size young man, very muscular & all grown up now. When I drove the school bus, he was around 11 or 12 years old. When I got into the car to leave, I told my wife how good that makes me feel when somebody I knew when they were a kid approaches me & spends a little bit of time talking to me about the past & their future...whether it was the school bus, church bus , VBS or church itself! I always remind our church members, "Those kids we have in church one day will grow up to be adults, you better be nice to them!"

05/04/2026

"IT'S ALIVE!" My wife & I were talking last night & I shared w/ her about a visit that me & one of the men from our church made Saturday & the conversation we had with an older man while out on visitation. I took the opportunity to share the Roman's Road w/ him & he admitted that he had already received Christ as his Savior. "But," he added, "when understanding the Bible, you have to take in account who it was written to, when it was written and also the culture of the people at that time." That may be true somewhat, but @ the same time because it's a LIVING BOOK, like NO OTHER, I believe God can speak DIRECTLY TO YOU from His Word. I know there have been single verses, & even a single phrase I have read in the Bible that the Holy Spirit used to speak to me personally! When I explained it to my wife she said, "That's good... I like that!" :)

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04/30/2026

The power of words... one of our young men returned to the church last night after running the van route laughing about what he had read on a church sign a few blocks down the street from our church which stated, "WE LOVE HURTING PEOPLE!" Of course, I think we all understand what they meant, but truth is it sounds like they love to hurt people!! We also have a "church sign" & I try to be careful what I put on it, but last year around Thanksgiving I "put up" a quote that said, "Thanksgiving should be a habit, not a holiday." Not bad, but it sounded as if we were against Thanksgiving, so I clarified it by adding one word, "Thanksgiving should be a habit, NOT just a holiday!" It took me about a week to realize that it needed to be changed! I heard one preacher say that NO ONE should get their theology from church signs! So true! :)

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04/29/2026

Yesterday, I got a call from a lady who has the power of attorney over one of the senior citizens who has been attending our church for the past 3 or 4 yrs. letting me know of his status after spending the last several days in a hospital out of town. He is coming back to Keokuk to a "Bounce Back" program @ a local rest home for several weeks. He is known to all of us as James, but he goes by another name to everyone else. He grew up in Keokuk, the son of a dentist when life was a lot simpler than it is today & society was a lot more innocent and a whole lot more wholesome. He is my biggest fan, always bragging on my sermons & saying that "he hasn't heard a bad one yet!" He tells everyone (who will listen) about his "new" church, about yours truly as well as the wonderful people who attend the Calvary Baptist Church of Keokuk! The wife & I visited him last week at the hospital, but plan to go check on him today. Be sure & continue to pray for James, he will be 88 years young next month!

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04/28/2026

While out on Outreach Visitation Saturday, me & one of the men from the church knocked on a door at an apartment located down by the river. The gentleman that came to the door invited us right in! His apartment was nice & neat, with an American Flag hanging on the wall. The guy with me told him that he liked it & the fella said he was proud to have that flag & always took good care of it. His apartment was very clean & nice & well organized. We asked him if the Lord were to take his life if he would know where he would spend eternity? "I sure do!" was his response. He said as a child he had went to a camp sponsored by the Salvation Army & had asked the Lord to save him. Amen! We rejoiced with him & found out that he had attended our church yrs. ago w/ a family member. We invited him to come visit us & took down his name & info to pass on to the bus captain. By the way, HE WAS BLIND! (since birth) After we left his place, we realized that HE had ENCOURAGED US in the Lord! ...I LIKE VISITATION, you never know what's going to happen!!

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04/23/2026

Recently a teenage boy off our bus route has been faithfully attending services both on Sunday mornings & Sunday nights has also been attending our Wednesday night services. Last night he was back at church but a friend of his who has been coming for years wasn't. He told me that his friend said that he wanted to stay home so that he could go swimming in his pool. The eager teen told his buddy, "You can go swimming anytime, but tonight is church night!" Then he said to me, "We need to pray for him!"

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04/22/2026

I am thankful for the people in our church who are actively serving the Lord in ANY capacity! But especially those who have the desire & patience to work with the kids who are a part of our children's ministry. Our church has had a children's ministry for a long time now & it really does take a LOT of patience when working with kids. Of course, we pick up kids and bring them to church for Sunday School & church on Sundays, we have some of the best teachers to teach them for the first hour they are at church. Then we have another "group" of people who "teach" them in a Children's Church setting while the teens & adults are in the auditorium during the morning preaching service. They have to plan a schedule, sing with the kids, prepare a lesson & keep them busy for almost an hour! Wednesday nights we have "another group" of people (some may be involved on Sundays) who also pick up the kids, feed them, teach them & train them in the things of the Lord. WOW! Thank the Lord for the faithful members who continue to "do their part" in the ministry of the Lord! As the pastor...I HAVE BEEN BLESSED!!

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04/20/2026

My wife got a good report back from the surgeon from her MRI on Monday. PTL! They were able to read the report & see the results just a few minutes after the imaginary was finished. The Dr. had previously told her that she may have to have an MRI once a year, but after the test today, he said there was no need, only if she felt discomfort or a strain on her voice. Yes, God answers prayer & He is still in the "prayer answering business!" Thanks again for all who took time to pray for her over the last year or so AND thank you to all of you who often mention us in your prayers!! I never take offense when someone tells me that they are praying for me! I always say, "I'll take ALL of that I can get...I NEED IT!"

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04/20/2026

Up early this morning to take my wife to see the doctor for a "follow up" visit from her surgery late last summer when they removed a tumor from the inside of her neck. She seems to be doing fine & we are trusting the Lord that everything is fine. But we do appreciate all those who prayed for her & especially those who are still praying! Remember what it says in the book of James? "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." (5:16) Thank you!

04/17/2026

I was all ALONE this morning as I "walked the bridge" from Iowa all the way to Illinois. It was the third time this week as I'm trying to get out & exercise for my health. But I couldn't help but think that I was the ONLY one walking the bridge this morning in some pretty decent weather. I didn't meet a single person on the way down or the way back. As I was walking back to Iowa, I thought how there's around 10,000 people who live in Keokuk & for that half hour I was the ONLY one on that bridge...well, you know, the only one WALKING...there were plenty of people crossing it in their cars or trucks. It reminded me of the Dr. that not too long ago told my wife that she needed to exercise. He reminded her that she had told him she read her Bible everyday & IF she could do that, she could remember to get out & walk every day! I interrupted & said, "You mean walk with God?" He smiled & said, "Yes, WALK WITH GOD EVERYDAY!" I think that was the first time I have ever heard a doctor tell anyone to walk with God!!! :)

04/16/2026

What is this? Grandkids Appreciation Week? Last night I backed my truck off our blacktop driveway here @ the church & with the "anti-slip" transmission feature got it mildly stuck in the mud. I texted our oldest grandson to see if he were working today to find out that he was available & asked if he could help me for a few minutes. He said he would be right over & with a tow strap hooked to the church van, we easily maneuvered it back on the parking lot. I pulled & he drove the truck to safety! It's hard to believe that he is already 16 has both a job & a driver's license! AND he's not too busy to help his Papa in time of need! Yep, maybe it is Grandkids Appreciation Week after all! :)

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