Emma Jo Davis, Pleasant Valley Baptist Church

The Church is praising the Lord for a very good Vacation Bible School. One young girl was saved and the others heard how to be saved so all we can do is trust that some time later they too, will remember what they have heard and ask Jesus into their hearts. Thank the Lord for each teacher and helper and everyone that had any part in this. We really had great help in the kitchen each night, a big thanks to each of them.

Sunday after the morning service Bro. David will be baptizing the young girl that was saved with another young girl that has been saved recently.

Then Sunday, August 5th will be our Homecoming with Bro. John(Jeep) Mitchell doing the preaching. He is always a blessing. Even if you can't come for the service come on and eat and fellowship with us afterwards.

We always enjoy seeing our friends that have moved off and comes back for this special time or anytime they can.

We were happy to have our visitors on Sunday. Hope they felt a welcome and will be back with us soon. Also was glad to have Ronnie Long with us in the service and really enjoyed him playing the guitar and singing for us.

We still have several on our prayer list: Lula Petty, Ellie Pitts, Louise Clark, the Bryson family, Denise Phillips, Doris Pitts, Norma Headrick, Dianne Hullender, Elsie Disheroon, Edna Allen, Jimmy Blassingame, Bernice Orr, Benny Wilson, Kim Owens, our Missionaries, our Servicemen and Women and our Country.

Happy Birthday Wishes go to Jason McCurdy, July 26. Ann Touchstone, August 1. Happy Anniversary Wishes to Thurman and Norma Headrick, July 29. Daniel and Carrie Headrick, July 30. 

Judy Bowman, On The Journey

I'm no physicist. My high school algebra teacher would assure you that my math skills are more compatible with (maybe) balancing a checkbook rather than understanding the science behind the laws of the universe. But that's never stopped me from trying. In college, I was blessed to study with a wonderful professor who made physics accessible to non-scientists like me. Under her guidance, we were introduced to Einstein's theories, quantum mechanics and the mysterious "dark energy." Since then I've enjoyed trying to keep up with the exciting discoveries that are unfolding in physics like string theory and the recent work in Switzerland exploring Higgs-boson, or "the God particle." The more I learn about the workings of the universe, the more I appreciate the wonder of creation and the power and majesty of the Creator.

As a Christian, I have no problem embracing all that science can teach us about our world. I know that there is one Truth and so any facts that physics or any of the other sciences will uncover can never contradict the Truth of God. I have friends who believe you can't be a Christians and still believe in evolution. But I believe that God can use any process He wants in His creation. Our human attempts to understand His physical laws are what physics pursues. From the forces that hold the stars in place to the behavior of the tiniest subatomic particles in a baby's fingernail, physics seeks to describe the hidden fabric of the universe.

The history of modern physics is almost as interesting as what physicists have discovered. Everyone knows about Sir Isaac Newton, whose descriptions of the forces of gravity and inertia describe the visible world around us pretty well. Then along comes Einstein and suddenly the Newtonian universe just doesn't explain much anymore. For Einstein, matter and energy and time all get redefined and are shown to be much more flexible and inter-related than Sir Isaac had imagined. Then with Max Planck and Niels Bohr, the specialty branch of quantum theory looks at the super-small inner-workings of subatomic particles. For me, this is where the astounding presence of God is most amazingly revealed. The more we learn about the smallest bits of creation, the more we learn about the greatness of God. One scientist notes that the universe seems "strangely overbuilt." There is an intricate reality which underlies our ordinary-looking world. It's as if God has created a beautiful, intricately-patterned golden chair...and then overlaid it with common wood. The outside looks ordinary and functional, but within it lies an extraordinary treasure.

As a Catholic, this kind of reflection makes me think of the Holy Eucharist. Beneath the appearance of ordinary bread lies the great gift to us of Christ's own Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. God seems to find joy in hiding Himself in the common and the ordinary. After all, the Word became flesh as an infant born into an animal's food trough. He Who created the world humbled himself to become human and live among His creation. The King of Kings hung out with unsavory people who were shunned by the intelligent upper-crust of society. Yet in Him and His ministry the greatest universal force was revealed: love. Ironically, modern physicists are looking for the unifying theory that would explain both classical Newtonian physics and quantum theory. The well-known physicist (and atheist) Stephen Hawking has devoted much of his life's work to this effort. He believes God is a "delusion" as he named his most popular book. Rather than seeing the universe as the creative act of a loving God, Mr. Hawking believes that the universe is the result of random chance. Without faith, maybe that's how the world looks. But I can't look at a flower or read about quantum mechanics without seeing the hand of God at work. And my love of physics and learning as much as I can about the smallest parts of creation reveals to me how much God loves us. He has made for us an incredibly complex and beautifully-designed masterpiece in which He's hidden treasures for us to discover. All of creation thrums a song of thanksgiving to the Lord. But God isn't interested in being "found out" as the result of one of our science experiments. He wants a relationship with each one of us developed over a lifetime, and meant to last forever. For me, science and faith go hand in hand---not as adversaries, but partners. Science reveals to me the glory of God and faith tells me where my intellect and curiosity come from. Science looks for understanding and, at least for me, God says "I AM."

"..the first and most thrilling of all lessons of the universe...is the infinite and terrible power of small things." ---G.K. Chesteron

If you enjoyed this reflection visit my website: www.tiberjudy.wordpress.com and follow me on Twitter @tiberjudy

Charlotte McGuffey, Salem Baptist Church

We are so thankful for the much needed rain we received last week. The lawns and gardens look so much better after a good rain. I know the farmers and gardeners were glad for the rain.

As you read this, we are in the middle of our Vacation Bible School which runs through Thursday night from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday night is commencement and family night followed by a hot dog supper. Our director, Phyllis Johnson, and the leaders are ready for a fun week.

We are still praying for Buck Blevins and his family during this difficult time. Several in our church are suffering with arthritis pain and surprisingly, hot weather aggravates it as much as cold weather. Wilma Leigh still needs our prayers. Mel McGuffey had a fall on Sunday and is bruised and battered but thankfully, no broken bones. He’s getting a lot of kidding about how he got the black eye. We have several unspoken requests and members with other ailments.

Theora Rogers, sister of Stella Cavin, is very ill in Memorial Hospital. Stella would appreciate our prayers that the doctors will find the cause of her illness and the best treatment for her. Shirley Barrett, daughter-in-law of Dr. Telford Barrett, is gravely ill at this time in Parkridge Hospital.

A friend of mine, Demetrius Stavrianos, recently received a bad report from his tests and I would appreciate prayer for him and his sweet wife, Ozella.

Don’t forget our 5th Sunday night singing next Sunday, July 29 with bluegrass group, Right Path. Finger foods will be enjoyed following the service.

Beginning Sunday night, August 5, at 6:00 p.m., Rachel Teague will be teaching a class on Interpretive Movement for the youth. This will be ongoing depending on interest and participation.

There will be a Bible study for the ladies on Saturday, August 11 at 12:30, taught by Joyce Teague. Lunch will be provided.

The RHS class of ’47 were saddened to learn of the unexpected death of class member Johnine Byrd on Saturday. Arrangements were pending at the time of this writing. She will certainly be missed. Our sympathy is extended to her husband and family.

Steve and Donna Ensley and Madeline and McIver recently vacationed in New York City. They had a great time.

Closing thought: For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. Psalms 103: 11-12

Margie Stringer, North Whitfield Baptist

We had a wonderful service Sunday morning. It was a real praise service. Jodie Leslie touched the whole church with his singing it was so good. He has been a real blessing to our church since he and Vicki have been back with us.

Pray for Evelyn McNeese; since she fell and broke her arm someone has to stay with her all the time.

We were sorry to learn of the death of Bro. Fred Hooper he had been sick for some time and had been in the hospital over a month. Pray for that family.

Jerry Clark had surgery on his leg and had a stent put in it on Friday. Pray for Melissa and Leroy Andrew. Harriet Clark is having some weak spells. Allen Dean is in Memorial Hospital and he’s not doing good, his heart is so weak. We learned Sunday afternoon that Kenneth Hollifield had had a bad stroke.

Debbie Joplin sang at Pine Hill Sunday morning and they reported a good sweet service, of course their hearts in the death of Fred Hooper. He and Ann had been going there for sometime.

William Weaver is still in the hospital and he really needs prayers. Richard Masingill, our neighbor, has been in the hospital and came home with hospice. He has been battling cancer for a long time.

Geraldine Putnam was very low at this writing. Just pray for her children and brothers and sisters. Barbara Stanley had surgery in Nashville last week and it showed no signs of cancer and she was to come home on Tuesday this week.

Nancy Westmoreland enjoyed a short trip to Myrtle Beach with her son, Kurt, his wife Becky and little Kurt.

Keep praying for our boys. Eddie has not felt good all last week. We’re hoping he’ll get to a new doctor soon.

Happy belated birthday wishes to our grandson, Douglas Whitener on July 20th.

Welcome Hill Baptist will be in revival this week with Bro. Ashburn through Wednesday night. They had a good meeting Sunday with one saved and some rededications and had 75 in Sunday school. The Lord is blessing there too.