Happy Thanksgiving!
Enjoy this time with your family and friends, and come back next Tuesday for a full blog.
Pastor Ted Traylor
Very interesting letter to the editor in today’s Pensacola News Journal. Andy Andewiel, reared as a socialist in Holland, calls for churches to pay taxes. His logic is that since churches speak out on political issues they should pay taxes. The separation of church and state is this Gulf Breeze resident’s greatest wish.
The Founding Fathers spoke to this issue in stating the government was to make no law that prohibits the free exercise of religion. Olive stands today in a country that provides freedom of expression. The church does not pay taxes. This allows the church to speak in liberty to the conscience of the culture. Be certain others will call for taxation on the churches in days to come as they search for revenue.
America is a great place – a place where Andy Andewiel and the church have the right to speak.
Pastor Ted Traylor
Today I would like to encourage all who regularly check in to my Friday blog to spend time at olivebaptist.org. There are many events happening during the upcoming weeks and I want everyone to stay up-to-date.
As you browse the website you will find an update on the Hope Building demolition. As many wonderful memories have been shared about Olive’s heritage, you can’t helped but be encouraged about future ministry opportunities which are in front of us.
As you enter the Worship Center foyer on Sunday you will see a wonderland of white Christmas trees. Our website has all the details!
Have a great weekend!
Pastor Ted Traylor
Heritage is very important in any church. While we dare not live looking back we must always remember where God was at work in days gone by and rejoice at His favor. In the next two days as you drive down Olive Road, you will see the old white block Hope Building being torn down. It will make space available for new ministry advancement at Olive. Before the dozers move in I asked people who had been married, saved or baptized in that building to gather for a picture. Several joined me on Monday at noon for the photo opportunity. I heard stories of when these members were in the youth group. Weddings from 50 plus years ago were talked about. God has been good to Olive. And those that walked before us were people of vision and change. Today we stand on their shoulders and remember the things God has done and desires to do with us in the future.
When Olive met for worship in this structure the attendance was about 150. The members built most of the structure. The ladies told me of bringing meals as the men worked to do the building. While some things are much different today, that same spirit of labor is alive at Olive. Never allow that to die.
Pictured is the wedding of Clyde and Joyce Parazine which took place in the sanctuary of the Hope Building more than 50 years ago. Clyde and Joyce are one of many examples of those who have been faithful Olive members. And yes, that is Bro. Jeff Rousseau performing the cereromy.
Pastor Ted Traylor
Liz and I spent some time working in the yard late Thursday afternoon. Now let me be honest. She does most of the yard work except for the mowing. However, yesterday we succeeded thanks to our joint effort. We discovered an azalea that was overgrown with two vines. We pulled and cut. We trimmed and dug. Finally the bush was free from entanglement.
I was reminded of the parable of the sower. Jesus said some seed falls on good ground and brings forth fruit. Others are choked out by weeds. Our Lord described the thorns and weeds as the worry of this world and the deceitfulness of riches. If we are not careful these things can choke the fruitfulness of Word of God out of our lives.
We are living in days of worry and deceitfulness over money. Retirement accounts are on everyone’s mind. The stock market goes up and down like a yoyo. Big money bailouts and fraud dominate the news. Be careful not to get caught up in this world’s way of thinking. Sow the seed of faithfulness. It will grow and it will last.
Remember to be in attendance this Sunday evening for The Darkest Day. Bring a lost friend. It will be a night to remember.
Pastor Ted Traylor
I am in Lakeland today for the final day of the Florida Southern Baptist Convention. We have elected as our new convention president, John Cross. Our prayers are with him as he leads forth in our state.
Today is a very important day for our country. We remember all the men and women who have served through the many wars and military conflicts that our country has faced.
Below is a poem that serves well to remind us that ordinary people do extraordinary things to preserve our freedom that God has allowed for over 200 years.
He is the man mowing his yard before returning to Iraq or Afghanistan for a second tour to seek out a terrorist enemy who looks no different than his fellow countrymen.
He is the cop on the beat who spent six months in Saudi Arabia sweating two gallons a day making sure the armored personnel carrier didn’t run out of fuel.
He is the loudmouth who spent four hours of unparalleled bravery near the 38th Parallel in Korea.
She is the nurse who fought against futility in Da Nang and went to sleep sobbing every night for two solid years.
He is the POW who left one person and came back another.
He is the drill instructor who has never been in combat, but has saved countless lives by turning no-accounts into Marines.
He is the parade-riding legionnaire who pins on his ribbons and medals with a prosthetic hand.
He is the white-haired guy bagging groceries at the supermarket, aggravatingly slow, who helped liberate a Nazi death camp.
A vet is an ordinary and extraordinary human being — someone who offered his life’s vital years in the service of his country.
He is a soldier and a savior and a sword against the darkness, and nothing more than the finest, greatest testimony on behalf of the finest, greatest nation ever known. We will never be able to repay the debt of gratitude we owe.
—Author Unknown—
Pastor Ted Traylor
America changed Tuesday evening at 10 p.m. when President-Elect Barack Obama received the concession remarks from Senator John McCain. In just over 70 days the new President will be sworn in. I have posted on our Olive website an excellent article by Dr. Al Mohler posted the day after the election. I hope you will take time to read it.
Make no mistake. America has taken a strong step to the left. Liberals poured millions of dollars into the Obama campaign and placed thousands of workers on the ground. Larger government is on the way. And when Supreme Court justices are put forth they will not be conservative. Family issues like marriage and abortion will need strong voices on a grass roots level. The Freedom of Choice Act will be pushed forward. And the new President has stated he will work to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act.
This Sunday we will have a prayer time for the President-elect and his family. He will be my President. I pledge to pray for him. These days will demand a strong and wise leader.
Pastor Ted Traylor
God had me up somewhat early this morning. It is election day in America. I have been asking God for a move of HIS Spirit across the land to give us HIS leaders. I ask you join me in prayer.
Have a great day. Pray and VOTE!
Pastor Ted Traylor
