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ROCKS From Life On Easy Street by Gaylan Turner “I’m faster n’ you.” “No ya not!” “Huh to!” “Race ya home. Ready, set, go!” Hot summer days lent themselves to lots of outdoor play. Even at the age of six, it was not unusual to be at play a couple of blocks from home. It was ok to be out of sight, but not out of shouting distance of the mommas’. If the car horn sounded, you better come running. All the back streets were gravel, and the alley ways were more dirt than anything else. Shoes were optional. Most of the time no shoes was the preferred mode of travel. Bruce Raburn was a year older than me. He could out talk, out run, and out fight me. But, who could ever admit to that and not accept a challenge. The race was pretty much neck and neck until out of the blue…. Haaah! It’s amazing how fast you can come to a complete stop when in pain. I had run head long into a goat-head patch. The bottom of my feet had a thick layer of hide for protection, but goat-heads could even penetrate a bicycle tire. When you hit one of these patches barefooted you were going to stop and cry for help. Bruce had opted to wear his Keds. They could make you run faster and jump farther. We all believed that was true. After all, that’s what the TV said. “Ooh! Help me out of here Brucey!” He was all too familiar himself with the pain of hitting a goat-head patch while barefooted. But as is the nature so often of human kind, and more so with kids, his first inclination was to laugh at my calamity. “Dog- gone-it Brucey, get me out of here!” You could scrunch up your toes and walk on the side of your feet, but it was going to be painful to get out of a goat-head patch on your own. I knew that I needed his help, but the laugh made me mad. So, I began to look around for my favorite weapon. Rocks were not hard to find. The alley was full of them, and I didn’t need to move my feet to pick up a nice one. Before he could raise his head from the laughter, I let the first one fly. It’s a funny thing about rocks. They seldom hit what you’re aiming at, and what they do hit almost always proves to be breakable. Well, maybe it’s time to end this story. After fifty plus years, someone might still be wondering how that flower pot got broken. In the end, as he always did, my best friend carried me from my pain. Our words like rocks can be very damaging and harmful. Sometimes in anger we throw them before we think. As with rocks, hard words seldom accomplish what we intend, but the heart most often proves to be breakable. Isn't it true today that in our times of trouble God often uses our best friend to carry us through the pain. Proverbs 12:18 18 There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health. Proverbs 15:1 1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. Proverbs 17:28 28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding. James 1:19 19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: James 3:2-12 2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. 3 Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. 4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. 5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. 7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: 8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Keitha Raburn, Annette Raburn, Gaylan Turner, Bruce Raburn

This is a letter I received this week from the missionaries we support in Zambia:

On Sunday, July 8th, Oak Grove went to the Bosque River for the purpose of Baptizing 8 candidates. It was a wonderful day as 13 made professions of faith in Jesus Christ and were Baptized. Praise God for His saving grace, and the moving of the Holy Spirit. From left to right: Pastor Gaylan Turner, Kaylin Henson, Nova Jones, Maea Argabright, Nathan Argabright, Alyssa Schlasman, Judson Jones, Elisa Bekkelund, Rynn Whitmire, Karissa Schlasman, Sarah Gunter, Katy Gunter, Jody Gunter, Travis Argabright.

Oak Grove Baptist Church of Valley Mills 7 mins · July 4th of this year was my 25th year of pastoring Oak Grove Baptist Church. Time has gone by so fast: "what is your life, its but a vapor". I was totally surprised by the actions of the congregation to organize a celebration for this occasion. The cards of appreciation and the gifts were not necessary, yet they were all very meaningful to me. Thank You All and God Bless, Gaylan

Today, 11/29/17, will be a day I shall remember forever. It will be a day of sadness, but a day of rejoicing in God's promises. His grace is sufficient. We look to the day when Jesus himself shall wipe away all tears from our eyes, and He himself presents Macy back into the loving arms of her mother and father. He IS our Savior. We love you all. Gaylan & Christi

Welcome two new members to Oak Grove: David and Vicky Partain - David on the mandolin and his wife Vicky on the stand-up bass. This is a picture of the Bosque River Band: the best Christian Bluegrass Band in the area. In addition to David and Vicky, pictured is Lane Westerfield on guitar and Kim Longenbaugh on the banjo.

The Fall Festival on 11/12/17 was a great hit with the kids.

Here are a few pictures from our November 2017 Revival. I you missed this, you missed some great music and awesome messages.

Sunday 11/19/17, will be your last chance to contribute to the Ray Davila Family. We will be sending clothing, cash donations, etc. on Monday. Ray and his family lost their home and most of their belongings due to Hurricane Harvey.

Deployed American Soldiers listed on our prayer list: Chance Aycock, Jaycee Seaman, Sheldon Sanders, Dusty Bearden, Gage Gunter (Picture Unavailable)

About the first of December, we will be sending a Christmas Box to each deployed soldier on our prayer list. Please be thinking about items you would want to send. Keep in mind the box will be about the size of a shoe box. Thanks.

Sorry that I haven't updated this page in a while. However, the "Gathering in The Valley" event was truly successful. We were glad to be a part of that event. Thanks to all of you that brought food items. We have two new members: Welcome Jody Gunter & his daughter Katie A river baptism is being scheduled. Also, thanks to all of you who donated items for the 8 boxes of supplies sent to those affected by hurricane Harvey. We are currently working on gathering needed items for the Davila Family in Rock Port who lost everything in the disaster. A list of needed items is posted on our weekly bulletin. We will be taking those items to Rock Port on November 11th.

Baptisms on May 7, 2017

Dr. Richard Hurley shared his testimony and a powerful message on April 9, 2017.

Deacon Ordination for Johnny Burns and Cecil Ott on March 19, 2017.

The Blacksmith from Life On Easy Street by Gaylan Turner Bang, bang, bang, ping. Bang, bang, bang, ping….This was the sound as I entered Mr. Dan’s blacksmith shop. Mr. Dan was hammering on a piece of metal against an anvil. At maybe five years of age, I watched curiously as he appeared to hammer the glowing hot metal into a shape while occasionally striking the anvil with his hammer. Then, holding the metal with tongs over a table of hot coals and using a bellows to increase the temperature, he heated the metal again and repeated his work. After a while he heated the metal until it was white hot. He looked it over, and when it seemed the time was right he dowsed it into a wooden barrel of water, drew it immediately back out, looked it over again and dowsed it completely back into the water causing it to sizzle and steam until it cooled. I wondered to myself, “How did this man get the knowledge to know how to do these things?” The smell of the shop was like no other: a very distinctive odor of burning coal and metal. It was very hot in the shop even with the huge double wide tin doors pushed wide open to let in a breeze. Mr. Dan’s forehead bore tiny beads of perspiration because of the hot labor. He was not large in stature, but appeared to have retained the strength of a much younger man. “Brought your helper along with you today I see.” He said to my dad. I wasn’t sure if my dad had stopped by the shop because he needed to have something done, or just to talk. I learned very early in my life that Mr. Dan was Oliver Veteto’s dad, and that Oliver and my dad were close friends. On subsequent trips to Mr. Dan’s shop, I noticed that Oliver was working on many projects with his dad. It later occurred to me that maybe the knowledge possessed by master craftsmen like Mr. Dan was taught from generation to generation in this manner. I think it’s a shame that with the passing of time and the increase in technology, the wisdom and knowledge of many of the old crafts has been lost forever. Consider that we are in the hands of our heavenly Father who is the Master Craftsman of all things. Sometimes it becomes necessary for him to hammer, shape and temper us through trials of our faith in order to mold us into a useful vessel of his designed purpose. Sometimes the intenseness of the trial may seem more than we can bare. However, often our will and our pride must be made to bend against our own desires in order that we may humbly accomplish the will of the Father. But God always sends a time of refreshing that we may be able to bare it. Also, consider that faith comes by hearing the Word of God. Therefore, we are responsible to teach the Word from generation to generation that faith be not lost at the coming of Christ. James 1:3 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 1 Peter 1:7 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 1 Corinthians 10:13 13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. Jeremiah 18:1-6 18 The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, 2 Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words. 3 Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. 4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. 5 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 6 O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel. Romans 10:17 17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Psalm 145:4 4 One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts. Luke 18:8 8 ……Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

Church Work Day 02/18