As we approach the inauguration of a new President in America, I want to ask you to pray. For the President? Certainly! However, today I want you to pray for the one who will offer the opening prayer for the inauguration. Much has been made of Barak Obama’s invitation to Pastor Rick Warren to pray at the event January 20.

The proponents of gay marriage are up in arms over the invitation. They say they feel betrayed by the President Elect inviting someone to pray who opposes gay marriage. I think if you read his stance, the President Elect himself opposes gay marriages. This is just the beginning of the howling from the far left radicals in America. Anytime the new President hints at a move to the right they will scream. The next four years will be very interesting.

Rick Warren pastors a Southern Baptist church in California. His book, The Purpose Driven Life, has been a best seller and has made Rick very well known. However, his one prayer in January will bring the eyes of the world upon him. I am asking you to pray for Rick as he prayerfully prepares to pray.

In chapter one of The Purpose Driven Life Rick says, “It all starts with God.” That is where the inauguration will begin – with speaking to God.

Pastor Ted Traylor

Several weeks ago I ordered a new glass for the door leading into my home office. Olive member, Hillary Hughes, did the work from a pencil sketch I gave her with my ideas for the door. She and her husband, Bob, came by for the installation before Christmas. It is incredible work! I have included a picture today. It does not do the artist’s work justice but you will get the concept. The Olive logo is in the center. The four corners tell the story. On the upper level is the Holy Spirit and fire. Across from that is an open Bible. We worship in Spirit and in Truth. In the lower quadrants are Alpha and Omega. Jesus is the first and last, the beginning and the end.

Each day as I walk out to my home office to prepare and to work, I will be reminded of what is the central issue – the Cross and life of Jesus. Thanks, Hillary, for a masterful work.

Pastor Ted Traylor

It is the eve of Christmas Eve and most of us are preparing for a grand holiday with family and friends. I am working on the services for December 24. I love both the church times at 6 and 11 p.m. Please make every effort to join us. The annual offering taken by the children is a fun and exciting time each year. At the Traylor home we open gifts between the services and have homemade pizza. It is a tradition we started when the kids grew old enough to sleep in on Christmas morning.

While many are hurting economically I cannot remember a time when I have seen the Olive family do more for others than this Christmas season. So many have been blessed and helped. Thank you for being a giving people.

Liz and I want to wish each of you a Merry Christmas. Thanks for reading my blogs this year. Please continue to pray for me as I seek to lead the Olive family into the New Year.

Pastor Ted Traylor

I listened to a scientist on television yesterday stating that the world was in danger of losing most of our communication satellites in 2010. It has something to do with the sun and the earth’s rotation every 11 or 12 years. Think about it. What if the phones, internet and computer transactions all simultaneously crashed? It would be a mess. Well it already has happened at Olive.

This week we have been installing a new phone room. All I know is that there were countless wires that needed to be manipulated and that caused our phones to be cut off for a period of time. Even though the technical team has done a great job, it has been a bit of a headache.

Let me remind you that one source of communication is always open. Call out to the Father and He will hear you. If you need practice, start by praying for me!

Pastor Ted Traylor

On Tuesday and Friday I write a brief word on this blog site. These are thoughts from the pastor’s heart and life. The post is placed in final form by Ginger Leonard. She works in my office and helps with most of my writing assignments.

Rod & Ginger Leonard

Today Ginger is recovering from knee surgery. Please pray for her as she recovers.

She and Rod have some busy days ahead. Last week she gave me her formal resignation letter. In January the Leonards will begin making a move to Birmingham. This change is driven by their desire to live closer to their children and grandchildren.

Our team and I will miss her hard work.

Thanks, Ginger, for the labor you have done for me.

Pastor Ted Traylor

 A Personal Note:

Pastor,

Please allow me to say thank you for all your support and encouragement during these past four years. We will miss you and our church family. This will always be our home because it was at Olive where our spiritual roots were formed. So many fellow believers have implanted into our lives godly love and friendship.

Our prayer is that the best years are still ahead for Olive and your ministry.

Gratefully yours,

Ginger Leonard

Christmas always brings missions to the front burner. I want to ask you to pray for and support Ron McClain. He and his wife are IMB missionaries. They stayed in our missions residence while on furlough several months ago. After going back to the field tragic news came. Their daughter in Mississippi was murdered in a horrific crime. Ron and Renee will now return home to put their lives back together. With that move comes expenses that they must bear. If you desire to help, make a check to Olive and designate it for the McClains. I will see that it reaches them.

This week our White Christmas giving moves toward Lottie Moon and the international needs. I am looking forward to the weekend and seeing what God will do. Last Sunday the church responded in unprecedented fashion. Many people will be helped with the things given.

Pastor Ted Traylor

The college football regular season is over. As an Alabama fan, I have enjoyed this year. I am also a Tim Tebow fan. He had a great game in the SEC title game against the Tide. He was the difference in the fourth quarter. Now the Gators turn their attention to Oklahoma.

In the South we certainly know about Tim Tebow’s faith walk and some go as far as to say that it makes the difference for the Gators. I think being 6’3” and 230 lbs helps a lot! When Florida lines up against Oklahoma they will be looking at a record setting offense led by quarterback Sam Bradford. And when my December 2008 Sharing the Victory FCA magazine arrived guess who was on the cover? It was the Oklahoma quarterback. The tear-out poster has Sam pictured and 1 Corinthians 16:13 printed on it. This young Christian athlete is certainly a leader in FCA at OU.

So the BCS game has a Christian quarterback on both sides of the line. Who will win? They both will be prayed up. It is going to be fun to watch.

I am thrilled to see young athletes stand for Jesus on and off the field of competition. So many others are looking up to these young leaders. Kids everywhere wear jerseys with #14 or #15 on them. It would be a good thing for us to pray for these young men to have testimonies that exalt the Lord – win or lose.

As is my practice, I will have the winner’s colors in my tie the Sunday after the championship game.

Pastor Ted Traylor

One of the periodicals that come to my desk is Christianity Today. Most of the publications have a few articles that strike home with me but my favorite commentary is called the “Back Page.” It is the last page of the magazine and Chuck Colson and Philip Yancey write in every other one an article that is one page in length.

The current issue has an article by Yancey entitled “Denominational Diagnostics.” In it he tells of the experiment he and his wife conducted. They went through the yellow pages under “churches” and then made a list of 24 to visit.  From the visits came his writing of the qualities he now looks for in a church. There are three of them.

1. Diversity. He looks for a fellowship with people from all walks of life.
2. Unity. He looks for the diversified group to be one in Christ.
3. Mission. He looks for a church that has a vision that extends beyond its own facilities and parking lots.

There is no such thing as a perfect church. God allows ordinary people like us to embody His presence on earth. Yancey said he could usually sense the “aliveness” of a congregation within five minutes. At Olive we must not be dead – but alive. That happens when we, His people, are filled with the Holy Spirit and have an expectance that God is going to do something special when we meet together.

I look forward to seeing you Sunday. Remember, someone will be at Olive for the first time this week. What will they think if they encounter you?

Pastor Ted Traylor

Hope you had a great Thanksgiving. Now, it’s on to Christmas.

Here at Olive we are getting ready as many volunteers were hard at work on Monday putting up decorations. I stopped by for a brief visit. No church can function without volunteers in scores of places. And one of those places this week is our worship center.

This Sunday morning is the day for all of us to bring our White Christmas gifts. During church we will place them in the choir area under the white trees. Thank you in advance for being a servant volunteer and giving so others can be blessed. As a reminder, check and see if your Christmas wrapping paper can be turned with the color side in so you can use the white side of the paper to wrap your gift. And remember to attach the card indicating what is in your box!

In the giving envelope mailing this month for Olive you will find a special envelope for the Lottie Moon Christmas offering. I encourage you to use it and help support SBC missions causes around the world.

It is SEC championship week. Gators and the Tide will square off in Atlanta. Both teams have had a great year and one of them is headed on to the national championship game. Football is a lot of fun. People do get fired up about it. I know I enjoy the season.

Just remember to bow at no altar, save the one that exalts Jesus.

Pastor Ted Traylor