Huey Pearson and I arrived in Pensacola at 1:30 this morning from our drive to Great Commission Resurgence meeting in Northwest Arkansas. Since my eye is still healing that is keeping me out of planes for a little longer. The trip was a good one. The Task Force made significant progress. We are finding focus. Continue to pray for God to do a miracle is aligning Southern Baptists for the Great Commission.
I am busy today getting ready for the weekend. Have a wedding tonight of one of my favorite people. I just hate to see this young couple move away.
Sunday is coming and I have work to do! Look forward to seeing you on Full Speed Ahead Day. Praying for a great high attendance. This will be a great time to reconnect with your connection group.
Pastor Ted Traylor
School got started in full swing this week. I am glad I am not a teacher. If I had to work under the consent order in Santa Rosa County, I would shortly be in violation I am sure. You see, if I sat down to eat in the lunch room I would bow my head and pray as I do before most meals. THAT IS A VIOLATION. If a student asked me for advice on a personal issue I would point them to the Scripture for guidance and encouragement. THAT IS A VIOLATION. When I attended a football game and a player was hurt I would kneel on the field and ask God to help and heal. THAT IS A VIOLATION. I would do my best to work with FCA Huddle Groups and on the day of the meeting I would wear my FCA shirt with a cross on it. THAT IS A VIOLATION.
We need to be praying for public school teachers today. They will find themselves fearful. I would be. I do not want to be a trouble maker. My goal is to be a good citizen and a vital witness for Christ. But when my government asks me to change my lifestyle to fit into a Jesus-free zone at school, I find that godless and un-American. I encourage Judge Casey Rogers to consider the unconstitutional nature of the consent order and bring some American common sense to this issue by calling for a reformation of the order that would allow liberty and justice for all.
Pastor Ted Traylor
It is good to return home from Alabama. I was in Enterprise on Friday and Saturday speaking at a men’s conference for Ino Baptist Church. This is a wonderful church in rural South Alabama. I left there to attend the wedding of my cousin’s son in Birmingham on Saturday evening. Then it was on to Pisgah for four days of preaching each day at 11:00am and 7:00pm. I returned home on Thursday with my parents to prepare for the wedding of my son Bennett on Saturday at 2:00pm. This afternoon at 2:00pm we have the funeral for Betsy Botts’ mother. These have been busy days.
I am looking forward to being back at Olive on Sunday. I rarely miss a morning service, and to have two of them in a row is an exception. I miss that place called Olive when I am not able to attend.
Continue to pay attention to the court case of Frank Lay and Robert Freeman. These men are going to be in the center of an opinion that will have long reaching results for our area and the nation. God is in control. It would be the right thing for the consent order to be revised to allow teachers the freedom of expression in faith and practice. We realize certain parameters will be built in, but a complete denial of religious expression is unconstitutional.
Hope to see many of you at the wedding Saturday at 2:00pm and in church on Sunday.
Pastor Ted Traylor
Good morning from Pisgah. I am having a great time with my parents and catching up with friends. It’s revival time at my home church and I am honored to preach the services through Wednesday evening. There was a full house Monday night and God is moving. Tonight is reunion night with classmates and old friends from high school and junior college days getting together. Fun!
We will be with family again this Saturday as we will celebrate Bennett’s wedding at 2:00pm in the Worship Center. You are invited. Pray for him and Amanda as they make final preparations for their special day.
I am excited to be back with my Olive family Sunday as this is one of my favorite times of each year. Everyone is back from summer vacations and camp. It’s great to get back together in God’s house.
Remember: Sunday, August 30 is High Attendance Day. Make it a point to connect with people you have not seen at church in awhile and let them know they are missed.
Pastor Ted Traylor
I write this brief post today from a very grateful and humbled heart. Last Friday I had to have a procedure done to correct a torn retina. After a weekend of required down time and rest I was given the great news that my eye is healing and no additional surgery is needed. I will still need to rest and have no eye strain this week but know that I am on the road to recovery.
Thank you to Dr. John Myers and his staff for the wonderful care and treatment they have given to me. They are top-shelf professionals.
Your prayers made the difference. God moves when His people intecede.
Pastor Ted Traylor
Our Church and Community Ministry helps many people on a daily basis. One of the things they do is provide bicycles to individuals needing them for transportation. You see more and more people riding in our area. The C&C just gave out their 13th bike. It was the last one in inventory. Look around and see if you have one that is not being used. You can donate it and help a traveler. We have one that is sitting and I plan to pass it along to the ministry. You might be able to do the same. I wonder if Regions Bank might donate some of those green ones they use in their ads?
Pastor Ted Traylor
America is the greatest nation on the planet. However, some things are changing. I am 55 years old and the nation is vastly different now than when I was a child. Illegal immigrants, secularization of public schools, and Muslims living here in numbers which make them a religious percentage of the population are just a few of the things that have changed. This list could be very long. I often hear people say, “This nation is in trouble.” And I must agree. We are in need of a revival of God’s people and a fresh boldness to stand.
On the front page of the Sunday edition of the Pensacola News Journal was an article telling of Pace High School principal Frank Lay. His case is now being handed over to the criminal court. Of what crime is he accused? He asked Athletic Director Robert Freeman to pray before a meal where a small group of boosters came together on campus to celebrate the completion of the new field house. Someone in attendance was offended and reported the “prayer crime.” The recent ACLU suit left the school district with a court order that prohibits any religious expression. So the principal and athletic director were in violation. Here we are in America. A 30+ year worker in the public school system is going to court in September for asking a blessing before a meal on school grounds. I am telling you this is not America. This is not what the forefathers risked all for. This is not what young men and women bled for defending this country. To quote the Commander in Chief on another issue: this is acting stupidly. But, this is the America we live in today. Socialism is next. Then comes communism. If we do not stand with Frank, they will come and take us away next.
Several friends of these men have set up the Lay & Freeman Defense Fund. You can contribute at any First National Bank of Florida branch. I plan to write a check to help with the legal costs. I encourage you to do the same.
Pastor Ted Traylor
