Word came this week of Dr. Landrum Leavell’s death. He was President of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary from 1975 until 1994. At Olive we knew him best from the months he served as interim pastor in 1990. He did a great job following Dr. Passmore and setting the church family in order for a new pastor to come. I was that man and have long been grateful for his good work.

When he was going to teach the church he was fond of saying, “I am going to plow close to the corn this morning.” And plow he did. Dr. Leavell was a wonderful preacher and leader among Southern Baptists. He played an important role in our SBC family and was an essential element in the kingdom work at Olive.

This week our staff is spending some time in retreat. These team building and vision casting sessions are always good for us. Please pray as our team looks upward together for the work that is before us as a church.

Pastor Ted Traylor

This morning I am at Blue Springs Baptist camp for a meeting of the Florida Baptist Convention Board of Missions. Reports of Baptist work across the state are encouraging. Nevertheless, some in south Florida are in very tough economic times. We need to remember to pray for our sister churches.

Also, let me urge you to pray for our national leaders today. America is certainly facing some hard choices. Maybe this will be the wake up call to repentance for us.

Regardless of how the headlines and the reports from CNN remember - “Your Maker is the Lord of hosts and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel, Who is called the God of all the earth.”

Join me this Sunday in worship. We, as the servants of God, have something to shout about!

Pastor Ted Traylor

I returned home from Arkansas on Sunday evening. Word came to me Saturday night about the death of my friend and former Olive staffer Jean Rea. Her family will welcome guests Wednesday night at Faith Chapel South. The funeral will be at Olive on Thursday morning at 9:30.

This lady was one of a kind in my life. She has been the major catalyst in my heart’s understanding of God’s direction toward the future work of the Ministry Village at Olive. It will be my plan to name one of the major buildings in the Village in honor of Jean. My many discussions with her about what God requires of us in light of Matthew 25 were life-changing for me. I loved her with all my heart as did so many others. One of her favorite sayings has become one of mine. “Failure to plan on your part does not create an emergency on my part.” This was a line I heard her share many times.

We are moving close to being only 40 days away from the national election. I encourage you to commit to pray for God to move across America before this crucial voting. You can find out more by visiting www.IVoteValues.com. This site will help you see what Southern Baptists and others are doing as we pray and plan for the coming election.

Have a great day. Pray for America. And honor Jean Rea by helping someone less fortunate today.

Pastor Ted Traylor

There has been a lot of fear in America and the world this week over economics. Many play the blame game and try to pin the problem on others. Greed is at the root of much of this. These are unsettling days and no one enjoys it. However, this may be God’s way of bringing us to our knees. I was taught long ago to thank God for anything that makes you pray. This week qualifies for that!

I encourage you to study in the Scripture the use of “Fear not.”

Last night in deacons meeting Dan Beard gave us a report on recent giving at Olive. The church is responding with faithfulness in tough times. I applaud you for it and encourage you to continue to seek first the things of the Lord.

Pastor Ted Traylor

These have been unusual days. Ike tore through Texas leaving destruction in its path. The train wreck in California was all but lost in the news. However, it was a deadly crash. Then on Monday a tornado touched down in Louisville, Kentucky. I heard from one of our ministry students there that 250,000 were without power and classes at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary had been canceled for the week.

These tragedies remind us that ministry opportunities abound. Helping people in Jesus’ name works. I received an e-mail today from a gentleman in Baton Rouge where our team had been on mission last week. He wrote to say that what happened at his house was real Christianity. Men showed up and helped him when he had not asked and they asked for no pay. They were there just to serve.

Remember what IVAN taught us. You do not have to leave Pensacola to do ministry. Just look around and find someone to serve today. They are there. We will continue to go and help when ministry is presented in disasters. However, we must not wait on a storm to call us to action. The fields in the Panhandle are ripe.

Pastor Ted Traylor

On August 1 Liz and I closed on the purchase of our new home. Then we took a little more than three weeks to renovate. Just before Labor Day we moved in. While we still have boxes stacked around various walls, we are in. Today I am writing from my new home office. I am grateful to Chris Paden for getting me online and up and running.

While unpacking my books I discovered a little book I had not read in a long time. It came out of the library of Liz’s father. Dr. Claude Bennett was a pediatrician before his untimely death due to a brain tumor in 1971. The book is Your God is Too Small by J.B. Phillips. The author begins by saying that the trouble for most people is that have not found a God big enough for modern needs. Phillips goes on to make the case that the God of scripture is more than adequate for all of man’s needs. The book is brief, pointed, simple and powerful. I am glad I rediscovered this volume. I have been told that some of your best friends are books you have on the shelf that you have read before and forgotten. Look around you and you may just have some old friends with whom you need to get reaquainted.

Later this morning I am driving to Crestview for a meeting of community leaders for getting out the vote this fall for the Marriage Amendment. I want to remind Florida residents when you go to vote for President in November do not forget that marriage is on the ballot. The amendment will define marriage as being between a man and a woman. I plan to vote YES on this one.

Pray for our friends in Texas as Ike bears down on the coast.

Pastor Ted Traylor

Good morning. I am at Toccoa Falls Christian College in Georgia for Spiritual Formations week. The north Georgia mountains are beautiful. The 186-foot high falls is the landmark of the campus. It is a real joy to be here.

I am preaching five times to the students here as they kickoff the new year. There is a great spirit on the campus. The students energize me as they live, learn and seek after Jesus. The school has as its vision to be a premier Christian college as they integrate Biblical truth, academic excellence and spiritual formation in a caring Christian environment. Pray for me as I seek to challenge these future leaders to stand for Christ with a distinct Biblical worldview.

Our own college ministry is off to a good start for the fall as Eric Miracle gives leadership in this area. He is prayerfully developing a strategy for the ministry as he leads in his way. Pray for him and encourage him as he touches these young leaders. We must make an impact at UWF with the Gospel. Many of these students will set the religious agenda in Pensacola for years to come.

Pastor Ted Traylor

While spending some time with Liz at her mom’s on Wednesday and Thursday I drove over to Tuscumbia, Alabama, to preach at Parkview Baptist Church. Pastor Jim Cummings and his gracious people are a growing and dynamic church. Just 13 years ago the church was down to 50 in attendance and had a For Sale sign in the front yard. Jim came as pastor and the Lord did a fresh work. Sundays now see over 500 people on the campus. They are in a building program. It was a joy to speak to the fellowship for two nights.

Liz and I look forward to getting back to Pensacola this afternoon. I have enjoyed my time away with family and friends.

The Governor of Alaska has made a big splash on the political scene with her nomination and speech in St. Paul this week. Millions watched as she addressed her convention on Wednesday evening. I was one of those listening. The pregnancy of her 17 year old daughter has created quite a stir. Family challenges come to all of us. And this high profile situation should remind us of some biblical values in which we believe:

1. Life begins at conception.
2. Sexual activity is designed to be inside of marriage.
3. Abortion is not the answer to pregnancy outside of marriage.
4. Forgiveness is available when we sin.
5. Fornication is sin.
6. Parents are to show unconditional love to their children.

I am looking forward to Sunday at Olive as we come together to praise and worship Jesus.

Pastor Ted Traylor

I hope you had a good Labor Day. It was my joy on Monday to be with my dad’s side of our family for our annual reunion. My Traylor grandparents had five children and they are all still living. My father and his four sisters are still going strong. Roots are very important for all families. The annual Labor Day Traylor reunion is a big day for us.

Please continue to pray for our neighbors to the west. There may be opportunities to reach out and minister to those who were spared the brunt of Gustav. We are formulating our plans now for the best possible way to meet needs through our local and state Southern Baptist disaster relief teams. Details will be kept current at our website.

I look forward to being back with you in a few days.

Pastor Ted Traylor