The next 9-10 days are busy, exciting times for we Smith’s. Tonight our Home Group starts a new series using material from Andy Stanley’s Church, NorthPoint. They are located in Atlanta and Andy is the son of Charles Stanley, famous Pastor of First Baptist Church Atlanta. Charles became Pastor there in 1972 and, if I am not mistaken, succeeded a Pastor named Dr. Roy O. McClain who was the Pastor of First Baptist Church of Orangeburg for 3 years back in the early to mid 50’s and then moved on to Atlanta. When McClain retired, he moved back to Orangeburg and lived on a small farm right down the street from where the wife of my very good friend, Weldon Burns, grew up. Her name is Michelle and she is lifelong friends with Cheryl. Someone please correct me if I don’t have my facts 100% correct but in the mean time, let’s all sing:
It’s a small world after all, it’s a small world after all…..
Terrific! You all have tremendous singing voices!!
The course is 6 weeks long and Cheryl and I have studied the first two weeks and it is terrific material. I think our group will love it. It involves a subject matter that I have lately had hammered into me on many different fronts but only because I am stupid, stubborn and apparently proud of it: I can’t and don’t think like God. My thoughts are naturally NOWHERE NEAR the thoughts God wants me to have. BUT WAIT!!:
Proverbs 3:5-6- Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
Then, this weekend the fam and I will eat breakfast at our favorite mom and pop joint early Saturday morning, then hit the yard sales and then go to either Greenville for the afternoon or maybe Atlanta for the night and then go watch one of the Stanley’s preach the next morning. Haven’t decided yet.
Next week is a week we have looked forward to for awhile. Tuesday night Membership class at Newspring Anderson but then Thursday night we will be at the Newspring Greenville Satellite campus to volunteer for their first ever Membership class. They don’t even have their first service until July 13th. That will be very exciting.
Then Saturday is the Big Concert and fireworks show I have been talking to all of you about for months. You that haven’t committed, you need to come up or down or over.
Psalm 100 (ESV)- Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into His presence with singing! Know that the Lord, He is God!
So far, there will be between 35-45 in our group and we shall make a joyful noise or two.



