I opened the Thursday, August 28, 2008, edition of the Pensacola News Journal to see several storms brewing. One was Gustav. The second was the political conventions report. And the third was the ACLU filing a lawsuit against the Santa Rosa School District. Pace High Principal Frank Lay and Superintendent John Rogers were named in the suit. This storm has been boiling since 2006. ACLU attorney, Benjamin Stevenson, was quoted as saying the school district had failed to bring the district in line with the Constitution and American values. The lawsuit states two students have been offended by the defendants’ support of prayer at school events.

We live in uncertain times when standing for Jesus is not easy. However, that is not the promise of the Spirit. In difficult times and in cases like this one we must stand and not be silent. I applaud Principal Lay and Superintendent Rogers for their attempts to keep faith values before our students. It takes courage and these men have shown it.

This case will be interesting to watch. Where does the First Amendment establishment clause end and the freedom clause for others and students begin? There is a liberal bias in America that wants every reference to God taken out of the marketplace and kept behind church house walls. Mark it down; if they drive God out of the marketplace they will soon think they have the rights and power to eradicate the land of houses of worship as well.

Mr. Lay and Mr. Rogers, KEEP STANDING!

Pastor Ted Traylor

WOW! Roundup Sunday was a great day. We had over 3,500 in worship and that did top the 3,400+ the week before. Tropical Storm Fay left us alone during the weekend and Olive folks came to church and brought friends with them. Praise the Lord for the wonderful attendance in Sunday School Connection Groups. And the education building never smelled better due to all the potluck lunches going on after church services. People were saved, joined the church and were baptized during the day. Thank you, church family, for responding with faithfulness. We are off and running for the fall.

Our drama group did a marvelous job on Sunday evening as they challenged us through several scriptures on wisdom from the book of Proverbs. The example of the ant is a favorite proverb of mine but never had I heard it like I did on Sunday evening. The father and son ant duo hung out with me after church. Here is a photo I will long cherish.

On Sunday afternoon just before deacons meeting I stopped in for the Library Summer Reading Club party. I was honored to meet the winners from the various grades. Our Media Library is a dynamic ministry to our church family. If you have not been in, stop and visit Joan Hoyt and her team.

 

Library Summer Reading Club Party

The major political parties of America meet in convention settings the next two weeks. Then we will be entering the home stretch toward the Presidential election. Do not forget that the Marriage Amendment is on the ballot in Florida. A YES vote will define marriage as being only between a man and a woman. Be in prayer for the coming election. Visit Ivotevalues.com for some great information on how to pray for 40 days prior to the November voting day.

Pastor Ted Traylor

The weekend is upon us and it is time for Roundup Sunday at Olive. On Tuesday evening of this week our staff endeavored to call every member of the Olive family. We did not reach everyone but we did make connection with a few thousand people as we manned the phones.

Several people I called asked me, “What is Roundup?” This is the time after summer vacations when we seek to get the church family back to a faithful routine of Sunday School and church attendance.  We want to have some fun with it so feel free to come dressed in your western duds this Sunday. I’ll be dusting off my boots and may even wear my jeans. Liz and I have just moved into our new house and I am still trying to find all of my belongings.

 

Make every effort to be in your place on Sunday. I’ll be looking for you at the Roundup.

Pastor Ted Traylor

School is in full swing. Teachers and students are up early getting the rooms ready, catching the bus and preparing lessons. Be much in prayer for the people involved in this school year.

A few days ago I ran across the account of the plight of a teacher. Enjoy…

After being interviewed by the school administration, the teaching prospect said,

“Let me see if I’ve got this right: You want me to go into that room with all those kids, correct their disruptive behavior, observe them for signs of abuse, monitor their dress habits, censor their T-shirt messages, and instill in them a love for learning. You want me to check their backpacks for weapons, wage war on drugs and sexually transmitted diseases, and raise their sense of self esteem and personal pride.

You want me to teach them patriotism and good citizenship, sportsmanship and fair play, and how to register to vote, balance a checkbook, and apply for a job. You want me to check their heads for lice, recognize signs of antisocial be behavior, and make sure that they all pass the state exams.

You want me to provide them with an equal education regardless of their handicaps, and communicate regularly with their parents by letter, telephone, newsletter, and report card.

You want me to do all this with a piece of chalk, a blackboard, a bulletin board, a few books, a big smile, and a starting salary that qualifies me for food stamps.

You want me to do all this, and then you tell me……….I CAN’T PRAY?”

Pastor Ted Traylor

Greetings from South Carolina. I have just finished five great days of camp meeting with 11 rural churches. My time in South Carolina has reminded me again of the importance of the thousands of small churches in the SBC. These fellowships are in every small town and crossroads of America. The Gospel faithfully goes forward from these great churches week by week. It has been an honor to be with camp meeting president, Ron Culbertson, and the great people of the Hones Path, South Carolina area. They were a blessing to me.

The next two Sundays at Olive should be wonderful. This Sunday evening we highlight our Most Excellent Way ministry. Don’t miss it!

Then the 24th is Roundup Sunday. Be there and bring a friend.

My plane leaves early and I should be in Pensacola midmorning today if all goes well with the flights. I am looking forward to being home at Olive this Sunday. Lord willing, I will see you there.

Pastor Ted Traylor

I am having a great time preaching at the Tri-County Camp Meeting being held here in South Carolina. There are ten rural churches who come together each year to host this week of evangelism and revival. I am speaking every night and we have had around 800-900 in attendance each service. There is a great spirit here as the Gospel is going out.

I want to remind you of a very special event happening this Sunday night at Olive. In our evening service we will be celebrating the 15^th anniversary of our Most Excellent Way ministry. Countless lives and families have been impacted through this ministry designed to be a Christ-centered recovery program for those dealing with drug and alcohol addiction. We will be hearing testimonies from some of the people whose lives have been changed. Don’t miss this time of blessing.

I will post more this Friday about my time here in South Carolina. I am praying for you.

Pastor Ted Traylor

 The opening ceremony for the 2008 Olympics will be center stage tonight. This event always produces moments of spectacular victory and devastating defeat. And we get political lessons and sometimes statements by groups and individuals trying to grab the stage to make their point. But when the dust settles we find young men and women competing for gold, silver and bronze.

In I Corinthians 9:24-27 Paul writes with the Isthmian Games in the background. He exhorts us to run that we might win. He goes on to say that participants in the races must exercise self-control in all things. And they do it to win a perishable crown. However, the believer is running for a crown that is imperishable. Therefore Paul says he will do whatever it takes to run the race. We must likewise understand the Christian faith race is not for the faint-hearted. Our goal is not a life of ease but of accomplishment for the cause of Christ.

As you watch the Games over the next several days remember all the hard work that was put in by these athletes over the past many years. Then ask Jesus to give you self-discipline for the task in front of you. One day we shall all appear before the judgment seat. Crowns will be given. Run like a winner!

Pastor Ted Traylor  

Today we bury one of our friends and staff members at Olive. Eddie Echarri was saved from a life of crime and drugs on June 7, 1994. He quickly became a voice for the Lord. In months to come he was added to the staff at Olive. He was a leader in our Most Excellent Way Ministry. Those with chemical dependency problems found a friend and mentor in Eddie. He also led our jail ministry by visiting those who were incarcerated. He was a master at sitting with those behind bars and sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Eddie Echarri & Dr. Ted Traylor

EE- that is how I always wrote to him-was my friend. He remembered my birthday and other special occasions with a card. He loved my children and prayed for them. Deep respect was always in his voice when he spoke of “Miss Liz” to me. I can never remember him ever addressing me with any other word than PASTOR. It was a special joy to be his shepherd.

We will never replace Eddie at Olive. He was one of a kind. But we must find someone to carry on and build the ministry he established at Olive and in Pensacola. Jesus was a Friend of Sinners. EE was like that. My prayer this morning is that Jesus would teach me to love as Eddie did.*

Pastor Ted Traylor

*Go to olivebaptist.org to see more about Eddie and his ministry and also to view his memorial service live at 2pm today

There were two news items that recently caught my attention and reminded me of the need for spiritual awakening in America. The first came out of Miami, Florida. A federal judge ruled that Okeechobee High School must allow and provide for a Gay-Straight Alliance club to meet on campus.

The second court case in the news had to do with praying in Jesus’ name. The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Reverend Hashmel Turner’s lawsuit challenging a nonsectarian prayer policy adopted by the Fredericksburg City Council in 2005. The policy prohibits a prayer that mentions Jesus’ name.

These news items remind us again of the need for spiritual revival in America. Prayer in Jesus’ name in our churches and our prayer rooms is sorely needed. I want to encourage you to join the Southern Baptist effort of prayer for 40 days this fall. It begins September 27 and goes until November 4. You can read more about this at www.ilivevalues.com/prayer. Check out the website and get ready to pray.

I am looking forward to Sunday and another great day at Olive.

Pastor Ted Traylor