Tornado This Morning ~~ Just 8.20 miles from our house!

Psalm 107:25 For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind...


We had stormy weather this morning and were under two separate tornado warnings in our county when word came over the local TV station that a tornado was on the ground downtown. They began showing video of it, and it looked big, and bad, and black. It was only 8.2 miles from our house and we thank God for His protection that it didn't come our way. The bottom of the red line in the map is where the tornado hit and the top of the red line is where we live. That line is just 8.2 miles long! There is damage downtown but I haven't heard of any serious injuries nor deaths. PTL!!! We are getting lots and lots of rain today. I just hope it migrates up into Alabama and over to Georgia to give those folks some relief from the severe drought they are experiencing.

Chip Update

Romans 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

Knowing that Chip is completing his ministry in Indiana, he is on my heart this week. He makes friends deeply and I know the good-byes are difficult for him. Right now, he is suffering with a corneal abrasion and that weighs on my heart as well. The Capshaw church is sending in a moving crew for Chip which will be very helpful. He will pull out of Indiana on Monday and head down this way. Of course, we are all excited that he is coming for he hasn't been here since last Christmas. He will see such a huge change in his three nephews and one niece!

We know that the Capshaw church is getting an excellent staff member in Chip. He is a consummate Bible student and therefore teacher. There is a lot of "fluff" in today's youth groups in American churches, but Chip's teens will get the meat of the Word. We are as excited for them as we are for Chip.

I would ask your prayers for the Harrison Hills Church in Indiana as they are still searching for asenior pastor. I'm not sure if Chip's youth pastor intern from the seminary will be called as their full-time youth pastor, so please pray for that need as well. They are a wonderful group of believers there, and we know that God is working His will in their midst.

While here the week of October 22nd, Chip will be a groomsman in Jason Hallman's wedding on the 27th here in the area so that will make it extra special getting to see a lot of friends there.

Hurry home, Chip..... we can't wait to see you!!!

With Love from
Mom and the family!

Audio of Chip Preaching

1 Corinthians 15:1 ¶ Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

"THE GOSPEL"

I was just looking online at the Baptist Bible College site, and they have posted the messages preached at the Bible Conference this week. Here is the URL for Chip's message preached on Tuesday, October 9.

http://www.bbc.edu/chapel/20071009_chipdean.mp3

Happy Birthday to my little sister, Nonie!

Song of Solomon 8:8 ¶ We have a little sister....

Karen and I have a precious little sister. Sonja (rhymes with "moan-ya") is her given name, but she has always been called "Nonie" (rhymes with "pony"). Today is Nonie's birthday!!

I think I know how the "Nonie" nickname came about. I was only 15 months old when she was born. (See picture at right of Mom with both of us. Karen is nearly 8 years older than Nonie so probably was at school when the picture was made). I imagine that when Mom talked to Sonja, she called her a loving little pet name and said "Sonnie -- with a long "o" ~~ pronounced like "Sony." When I started talking and couldn't say "Sonnie," it came out "Nonie." It stuck. Her name very well could have been one of my first words.

Nonie is my beloved baby sister. And today she is 55 years old. I love her with all of my heart and miss her now that we are so far apart. Happy Birthday, Nonie!!!!

Love,
Susan

Katelyn ~~~ Homecoming Queen 2007

A dear friend (and former Pastor's wife) ~~ Brenda E. ~~ shared this pic of her granddaughter with me. Katelyn was crowned homecoming queen at her school last week. I asked Brenda's permission to post this and received it. She is Julie's daughter. Don't you know Dr. E and Brenda are proud!!

IT WAS A VERY EVENTFUL SUNDAY FOR US.....

Our Sunday, October 7, was filled to the brim with good services, an official announcement from Chip, a spiritual birthday celebrated for a granddaughter dearly loved, an impromptu and loving visit with family and seeing our newest great-niece for the first time, and a fun visit with some dear friends from T-Town who are here. It's all posted below......

Chip's Announcement

2 Corinthians 13:11 ¶ Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

Chip gave his first-ever resignation on Sunday at HHBC in Indiana. I know it was a difficult matter for him as he has served there since February 4, 2004. He dug in, made that town his home, and loves God's people there. I imagine it is never easy for a youth pastor to have to tell his teens that the Lord is moving him to a different location for ministry, but that is what Chip did. And then he stood before his church in the morning service and gave his official resignation. I'm confident that the Lord gave him just the right words to say that would be an encouragement to the teens to keep on keeping on.

You know, this is hard for Richard and me, too. We made some dear friends during our visits to Indiana to see Chip during his years there. We grew close to the good people in that church, and we realize that perhaps we will never see most of them again in this life. The folks were so loving and supportive of Chip and, of course, that endeared them to our hearts. We pray that the BEST days lie ahead for HHBC as they continue in their ministry of reaching their area for Christ. We trust God that He has the right man ready to step into the position of youth pastor at the church in Indiana so that the ministry there doesn't miss a beat.

In His sovereign will and perfect timing, we know God has led Chip to a new ministry and has a new work for Him. We are excited for him and look forward to hearing good reports from Chip at Capshaw in North Alabama.

On a personal note, we look forward to Chip coming "home" for a few days before he begins his new ministry. He hasn't been here since last Christmas and has a LOT of catching up to do with his nephews and niece. :)

May God bless our son as he completes his ministry in Indiana these next two weeks, packs up his worldly goods to move to Alabama, comes here for a week, and then reports for duty at Capshaw on November 1. GOD IS GOOD!!!!!!

P.S. In looking back at the HHBC website where Chip has ministered, I saw his bio which I am posting here...

Chip Dean accepted the call to become Associate Pastor for Students of Harrison Hills Baptist Church on February 4, 2004. In June 2006, this became a full-time position and he took on additional responsibilities as the new Associate Pastor for Students and Discipleship. On April 16, 2007 he assumed the role of 'Pastor' of Harrison Hills after our Senior Pastor departed to follow a call to full-time missionary service. He filled the "Pastor" position until Dr. George Martin was called as interim Senior Pastor on August 15, 2007.

He grew up in Tuscaloosa, AL and accepted Jesus Christ as the Lord of his life through repentance and faith on November 3, 1983. He graduated high school from Tuscaloosa Christian School in 1996. After trying his hand at a business major, God called him into full-time ministry for Christ at the age of 20. At the time, he was serving as a help to the youth pastor at Cottondale Baptist Church in Cottondale, AL. From working with the youth group for over a year, Chip sensed a very strong call on his life to be educated and minister to students for the glory of Christ.

In the spring of 1999, Chip began attending Baptist Bible College in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania with his degree major in youth ministry. Each summer through his college years at BBC, he served at Lake Ann Baptist Camp in Michigan as the Senior High Program Director. He finished his B.S. degree of youth ministry from BBC in 2001. For the next year, he served as the Student Ministries Intern at Cornerstone Baptist Church in Roseville, MI under Youth Pastor, Patrick McGolderick. After finishing his internship, Chip began attending The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary to receive his Masters Degree. In May 2006, he received a Master of Divinity degree with the emphasis in Pastoral Studies from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, the Billy Graham School.

Chip is passionate about reaching the teenage generation for Christ! He seeks to disciple teenagers by preaching God’s Word, teaching systematic theology on a student level, holding them personally accountable, and properly mentoring them. Along with student ministry, Chip also enjoys playing basketball, eating Mexican food, and watching any Alabama sports team.

Isabella's 6th Spiritual Birthday

Mark 10:15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.


What a joy it was on Sunday, October 7, 2001, when our six-year-old granddaughter, Isabella, called Grandma and Grandpa to tell us that she had gotten saved while talking to her Mommy after church that Sunday morning. Just 3-1/2 months earlier, Isabella had been adopted from an orphanage in Ukraine. Her English was coming along but still quite broken, but isn't it God's AMAZING GRACE that she had heard about God's wonderful plan of salvation for HER at home, at church, and in the first grade at school and that she understood the conviction of the Holy Spirit in her heart and called upon God to forgive her of her sins and invited Jesus to come into her heart. I will NEVER forget that phone call to my dying day. (Or at least I hope my mind stays good and I will remember that special call.) We answered the phone and Amy said for both of us to get on the phone as Bella wanted to tell us something. She still had a heavy Russian accent and it was difficult to understand her, but I remember hearing: prayed....Jesus....heart and said to her, "Isabella, are you telling Grandma and Grandpa that you prayed and asked Jesus into your heart today?" She answered excited with that roll of her Russian R's... "Yes, Grrrrrrrrandma, Yes!"


Isabella has grown into a lovely young pre-teen girl who loves the Lord and is growing in her faith. We were honored to take the family to Sunday dinner in honor of Belle's "Spiritual Birthday" and enjoyed her choice of Golden Corral. Happy Spiritual Birthday, Isabella, and many more!! ~~Love, Grandma and Grandpa Dean

(Note: the picture of Belle on the phone was not made when she called to tell us about her salvation but was made just 3 months earlier when she was on the phone during their stop-over in Poland as they headed home with Belle and Josh from Ukraine. The pics of Belle in the orange dress were made on Sunday's Spiritual Birthday at church at Azalea Trace.)

Meeting Mataea ~~ Our Brand New Great Niece!

2 Timothy 1:5~~ When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.


It was such a joyful surprise to receive a phone call on Sunday afternoon after church that Richard's sister, Diane, and her family were in Gulf Shores and invited us to come over. What a blessing to go and visit with Mike, Diane, Rebecca, Joanna, Melinda, Rob, and Baby Mataea.

Mataea is Rob and Mindy's firstborn and Mike's and Diane's first grandchild. Richard and I were able to connect with that excitement! She is 2-months old today (October 8) and just so-so cute with that curly black hair and big blue eyes. She looks so much like Melinda did as a baby. We rejoice with the family on her birth and thank God for the precious privilege of seeing Mataea and her loving family on Sunday afternoon.

As the verse from Timothy speaks about, Mataea is blessed to have a strong Christian heritage. We shall pray that she will grow in the nurture and admonition of our Lord and call upon Him for salvation at an early age.

Met Up With Friends from TCS~~ Sunday Night, October 7

Psalm 34:11 ¶ Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

Richard and I are so thankful for the wonderful Christian education our two children received at the Christian School they attended K4-12. It was always a comfort to us knowing that Amy and Chip were receiving spiritual teaching right along with the academics, fine arts, and sports. The teachers and administrators backed up what we taught in our home and what was preached in our church. There was never a conflict of philosophy to confuse our kids.

What a joy when the administrators and teachers from TCS (our Christian School back home) arrived last night to attend the Teachers' Clinic on Monday-Tuesday. Richard and I met up with them and visited with Dan, Jarrett, and the teachers during dinner. I know it will be a special blessing for Amy to see her administrator from high school as well as some teachers she had as she helps to conduct the clinic today and tomorrow. Amy's good foundation of academics throughout her school years enabled her to go on to get her Elementary Education degree in college and then her Masters Degree in Elementary Administration which prepared her for her job as principal of grades 4-6 at the Academy.

It was a sweet time of fellowship with friends and I enjoyed making pics (of course!).