Friends for Life

Before going to sleep last night I checked my email messages to see if anything had come in during the last few hours.  My eyes fell on an email address that I was familiar with and I knew it was from a very special lady.  She had been thinking of me and wanted to check to see how I was doing.  I cannot tell you the warm feeling that filled my heart as I read her words.  I will just say, her message to me was "right in time" for the moment.

I am thankful for the life-long friends I have.  Since they have been part of my whole life they know me about as good as I know myself.  They seem to always have the words to say and know when to say them.  I'm thankful that even though I may not talk to them everyday, they can feel in their heart what is going on in mine.  They are TRUE FRIENDS that will stay with you through the ups and downs of life.

Thank you, DEAR Friend...for your sweet email.  You know who you are and I'm so appreciative of your words, your life, and your love.

If you have a friend (s) that you have known most of your life why don't you write them a note and let them know you're thinking of them.  They just might need to "hear your voice" tonight. 

To ALL my friends...THANK YOU for loving me the way you do.  You are all very special to me. 

A Tribute to a Beautiful Lady

There is a special lady that lives a long way from me that I want to give tribute to. For some reason I cannot get her off of my mind. She has been a "life-long friend" and I admire her greatly! Before I was born she was friends with my parents. In fact, before Daddy married Mother, Daddy traveled with a young man name Bill who eventually married the lady I am talking about.

Aunt Joyce...You are one of the sweetest and most beautiful ladies I have been privileged to know all of my life. As I little girl I always looked forward to seeing you and Uncle Bill. You have always been so much fun! I remember many times listening to you and Mother talk and giggle. It didn't have to be anything much, and at times I would wonder what ya'll were laughing about, but you just kept on "giggling" like two teenage girls. I have heard Mother speak of you all of my life. She loved hearing you preach! She would say, "I LOVE hearing Joyce preach!" I would ask her why, and her answer was always the same. "She has something to say and she is a lady when she is in the pulpit." I don't know how many times I heard her say those words! After I got older, I also loved hearing you preach! You have always been so "real". There has never been any pretense about you.

Through the years I always knew that wherever you were, if I walked up I would be greeted with a warm hug from you. I always got that "warm fuzzy feeling" because once I was in your presence you made me feel so special. Thank you for loving me and letting me know it.

Your life is a perfect example of how to walk with the Lord. Your dedication, your passion, and your love for God has been a guiding light to me through the years. You are one of the people I admire for knowing HIM! You have never flaunted that you were spiritual, you just were! You have never been judgemental of others. You have loved those who were not perfect. You are a beautiful example of being "Christ-like". Thank you for your stand for righteousness, holiness, and separation from the world. Oh, how I wish everyone would have the "spirit of holiness" you have portrayed, and love it like you do.

I do not know why I have felt led to write this tonight. I really want you to know how I feel, and everyone else to know that if they want to see a "true, Christian lady" they need to look at your life and pattern their walk after you.

Aunt Joyce, I submit this for all the "blog world" to see, because I love you so very much! Thank you, thank you, thank for your love for me! I will carry your name forever, and I trust I will bring you the honor you deserve!

I love you!
Linda Joyce

Note: For those of you who do not know who I am speaking about: Aunt Joyce was married to Rev. Bill Barnes and they pastored in Farwell, Texas for years. He died many years ago from a brain tumor. She is now married to Rev. Robert Baglin. He is a wonderful man, and loves her so very much. They live in California.

TRUE LOYALTY

I read this article on Shirley Buxton's blog and I want to say thank you to her for sharing it with all of us. My husband and I were privileged to have Bro. and Sis. Pugh preach for us in both of the churches we pastored, and it was an honor for us to have them in our home. I cannot begin to tell of the loss I feel at the time of this writing. Bro. and Sis. Pugh are heroes in my life and I give them honor for all the years they served us in the United Pentecostal Church International.

True loyalty is getting harder to find in this day, so I want to say THANK YOU to the men and women, such as J.T. and Bessie Pugh who have remained loyal to God and our great UPCI organization. We are people who love God, love each other, and want to go "walking through the gates of Heaven" TOGETHER!

“In this Fellowship, we will die and be buried.”

Many of you who read here will be familiar with Brother and Sister J. T. Pugh and will understand my extensive interest in their deaths…and in their lives. For you who have not had the privilege of knowing them–either closely or from a distance–I want to say that Rev. Pugh, for many years, has been an integral part of the United Pentecostal Church, and both he and his wife are widely admired and respected. He was a gentle, but powerful minister of the Gospel. From the Apostolic News I bring here a brief autobiography written a few years ago by Brother Pugh.

On August 20, 1944, I was married to a beautiful, dedicated, young lady. Bessie Beryl Halbrooks has been the greatest event of my life, besides Jesus Christ. She was the first and only girl I ever dated. She bore three wonderful children; “Datha Dees, Terry and Nathanael Pugh. We have been married for sixty years and I love her more now than I ever have. She has been so very faithful and supportive.

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While we were still in college and she taught school, we pastored briefly in Hillsboro, Texas. During our short pastorate, the attendance tripled. We grew from an attendance of five to a robust fifteen in number. Perhaps we over did it and were getting too large. One Sunday night after church, the main leader of the church told me that they no longer wanted me as pastor. So we walked away with a heavy heart.

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After graduating from Bible School, my wife and I traveled as evangelist for a short time. We did not own a car and knew that there was little likelihood that we would ever own one. I did not have the money to buy her bus ticket to our first revival after we married. I left her at the bus station in tears.

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We were called to pastor in Wichita Falls, Texas in 1945. World War II had just come to a close. The military base closed and the city went into a slump. The church shrunk in size. We had the privilege of preaching in Life Tabernacle, in Wichita Falls in the year of 2000. Pastor Wendell Elms was so kind. Over 400 people worshipped in a large beautiful building on a splendid location. My heart swelled with gratitude.

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The next day my wife and I drove by the corner on “Kemp and Jay” where the little dwelling house had been converted into a place of worship. We recalled on Sunday night, we would count the money the people had handed us that weekend. If it was more than $2.50 we would walk to a drug store and drink a lime aid. We only bought one drink but asked for two straws. There were quiet a few Sunday nights we did not get a lime aid. Our offering had been less than $2.50.

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From 1946 to 1948, we evangelized. During this time we purchased a car.

We went to West Lake, Louisiana to reopen a work that had been closed. There our first child, “Datha Jo” was born. We only stayed in West Lake 1-1/2 years, but God greatly blessed. We were able to leave eighty wonderful saints behind, a finished parsonage and a self supporting work. To God be the glory for the large church there now so well pastored by Mark R. Stanton.

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In 1949, at age twenty-seven, Bessie and I moved to Port Arthur, Texas to pastor “The First Pentecostal Church.” We lived and ministered there for seventeen years. The Lord raised up a strong congregation, a new parsonage and a new church building.

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In January of 1967, the General Board of the United Pentecostal Church appointed me, to fill the unexpired term of Haskell Yadon, as “General Home Missions Director.” After filling that office for six years, we withdrew from it feeling this to be the will of God. We thank God for the wonder, the growth, and vision that God brought to the United Pentecostal Church. I am grateful for the faithful work of great men who served in the Home Missions Department in those days. I appreciate the privilege of working with S.W. Chamber, my General Superintendent.

Bessie and I felt it God’s will to come to Odessa, Texas in 1974 to pastor “The First United Pentecostal Church.” For nineteen years, we enjoyed revival and growth. During our pastorate, God gave us a new building with a 1,000 seat auditorium. Also, I had the privilege for eight years of serving the Texico District as their District Superintendent.

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At this time both Bessie and I are eighty years old. We love the United Pentecostal Church. We witnessed its beginning and hopefully contributed in a small way to its growth. It has been our home since its beginning. In this fellowship we will die and be buried.

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Sis. Shirley Buxton wrote: And now as a culmination to a beautiful love story, together they lie in state in the United Pentecostal Church in Odessa, Texas…well, their bodies lie there…but their spirits are dancing away in that eternal blissful city…directly now in the presence of God.

Image Credit: Arthur Hodges, Facebook

To read Bro. Pugh's Obituary...go here.
To read Sis. Pugh's Obituary...go here.

California - Fresno, Walking Down Memory Lane

The "Tuesday I'll never forget" happened while I was in California! Wendell and I had talked about which direction we wanted travel from San Jose to L.A. area to visit more family. We couldn't make up our minds, because down deep in my heart I wanted to go to Fresno to visit my "roots". I finally told him how much I wanted to go and he said that would be fine. Then I had a great idea! I would ask Bobbie to go with me! After all, she was my baby sitter from the time I was 6 weeks old until she got married, and she would be the one that could "walk down memory lane" with me! I told Wendell and he said that would be fine with him. He would enjoy staying in San Jose to "mess around" for the day. I am SO GLAD we made this decision! Bobbie and I had a wonderful time being together and reliving the past.

We stopped at Foster's Freeze on our way to Fresno, and ate an "original hamburger with chili sauce and relish". It tasted just like it did when I was a little girl! So many memories flooded my mind as we ate the hamburger and fries. Memories of so long ago when I would go with Daddy, Mother and Keith to Foster's Freeze. Some nights Mother would give Keith and me our baths, put on our pajamas and slippers (or go bare footed) and we'd get in the car and Daddy would drive over to Foster's Freeze to get an ice cream cone. After we got our cones we would drive around Fresno and see what was happening in the city. He really was letting us eat our ice cream before returning to the house. :) That's why I cannot go get an ice cream cone, then turn around and go straight home! For some reason, an ice cream cone doesn't taste as good sitting in the house! Everyone who knows me very well knows this about me! Back to "the now"....After the hamburger and fries, I ordered a hot fudge sundae, and it was out of this world! Now, don't laugh at me. :) There is no ice cream that tastes like Foster's Freeze ice cream, so that makes the hot fudge sundae the BEST! Bobbie had already ordered a milk shake to drink with her hamburger, so she didn't get a sundae.

We drove on to Fresno and the first place we went was the church where Daddy had become Pastor in 1953. I was all of six weeks old. Keith was 2 1/2. I remember living in the back of the church! I don't know how old I was when the church bought another building on Harvey and Thesta and changed locations, but I was old enough to remember it all. Of course, I took pictures as we walked up and down the block. It was funny to watch people as they drove by, because they could tell we were in our own world and didn't "belong there". One lady finally stopped and asked if she could help us. She was so kind to give us a little history of the neighbors up and down the street. We did find out that there are a couple of people who still live in the same houses from when we lived there so many years ago! She also said to us, "You two remind me of the movie "Little House On the Prairie"! :) At sometime, Daddy and Mother moved to a house across the street from the church, and Bobbie pointed out where her folks lived across the street from us. It was in this house when I was a toddler that I got my "glass baby bottle" and was carrying it around. I'm sure Mother didn't know I had it, but somehow I fell off of the back porch with it in my hands. The bottle broke and Mother started crying. She called Bobbie's parents, who lived across the street, and Bro. McCoy came and took me to the doctor to get stitches in my little arm! Daddy was out of town, or working. I don't know which. Mother would tell this story and giggle when she said, "I was so upset that I couldn't even go with you and Bro. McCoy hospital!" I STILL have the scar from that day!!!

We went by Bobbie's high school, Roosevelt High, took pictures for her to have, drove by several houses her family lived in when she was still at home. One of which was where she was living when she "married her man in shining armor". :) Then, she came to a cute little house. I remembered this one well when she told me the story about what happened there. One day I had gone over to their house and they had a floor heater. Just like a little kid would do, I started walking around the heater and lost my balance. I was "tattooed" for years on my leg! I can still remember that horrible pain when my leg and hand came in contact with that heater. OUCH! Of course, I have wonderful memories of being at the Thornton's house, too. One of them is that I loved to go sit on Bro. McCoy's knee when he was drinking coffee, because he would always fix me my own cup!!! It was delicious! I found out "later in life" that "my coffee" was mostly cream and sugar. When I found out how he use to make it taste so good, I told him how good it was! I can still see him smile. I can honestlysay that I've never tasted coffee like Bro. McCoy could make. :) Sis. Opal made the best pinto beans in the world and I always loved it when she would invite our family over for "beans and cornbread"!

We finally made our way over to First and Holland. This is where the church is today. I remember so well the move from Harvey and Thesta (the state bought that area of town for a highway). Our new location was wonderful! Truth Tabernacle experienced a great revival of souls, after moving to the new location. This is where I learned that I could pray and touch God for myself. All night prayer meetings, incredible moves of the Holy Ghost, young people coming to God and being delivered from drugs, alcohol, and all that goes with that lifestyle. Young men coming with long, scraggly hair, and each time they would come back to church it would be a little shorter. This was the "hippie movement" and God started filling these young people with the Holy Ghost! There were rock band leaders and members, their girl friends, and friends who were bound by sin being changed right before our eyes! I remember the night that one of the guys who had been delivered from drugs ran from the church and fell out on the front lawn of the church because he was having a "flash back" from the drugs that had affected him for so long. We had a prayer meeting out there on the lawn, and he was once again in his "right mind". I'll always remember the life-changing exeriences these young people had. The nights we spent in prayer at the altar until 10, 11, 12 at night, because someone was needing deliverance. God was made real to me like never before during these years! And...this was the church where I got married! :) I still hear my "groom" singing, "Here comes Heaven all satin and lace. Love in her heart, a smile on her face..." Yes, there are memories upon memories that flood my mind! I took pictures of the house where I could just walk across the street to church, and to my wedding. If I could write all the things that happened in my life just on First and Holland you would be sitting here a lot longer than you are right now. :)

We then went to meet our life long friends, Gayla and Pat for dinner. We had a wonderful visit! After eating, we decided to go back to the church to see the remodeling they had done. It was very pretty. Then...I spotted it....the upright bass I had been raised around! The pictures are indelibly inprinted in my mind. EVERY church service Bro. Wesley Brown would play his bass. From the time I was a baby, until I married and moved away, Bro. Wesley was faithfully standing on the platform playing his bass. I'm told he played until "just a few years ago" then retired to the pew, but I am confident he is giving everything he has to his God whom he has served for longer than I can remember! Faithful....loyal....a saint of God! That's what great churches are made of! I also got to see Sandra, another one of my life long friends. It was good visiting with her for a few minutes at the church. Oh the memories!

It was time to head back to San Jose, and on our way out of town I snapped a picture of my High School sign...Herbert Hoover High...where I lived for God in the midst of the "hippie movement" and learned Jesus would be with me in whatever situation I had to face.

By the time we travelled awhile we....uh....we....decided we would stop at....(you've probably guessed it already) FOSTER'S FREEZE!!! We both got us a CHOCOLATE DIPPED ICE CREAM CONE, sat outside and ate it as a full moon rose making a beautiful night sky over the San Joaquin Valley. Oh what a wonderful day we had! There's not anyone that could have "walked with me down Memory Lane" like my "baby sitter and dearest friend". Bobbie, thank you for remaining faithful to God, and living the life you were taught by my parents, and yours. You have been a great example of a true Christian and I love you very much! Thank you for the "Tuesday I will NEVER forget"!

P.S. Bobbie also wrote these memories to me by text:
"I got the Holy Ghost, met my life's love, felt the call of God, all at Ninth and Lowe....and I met you!"

She continued: "I accidentally stuck you changing your diaper!! I was so upset, but Sis. Layne was so calm and sweet! If she had acted up, I would have crumbled. She knew how much we all loved you and Keith. When I think of Sis. Layne's attributes she still teaches me. What a lady!"

To read more of her memories read the comment she wrote in the "Comments section".

Taking A Minute to Touch Base

Oh my! I have been missing my blog and all my friends out there who say they read it. :)

We've been having a great time visiting friends and family. We hadn't been to California in a long time, so God blessed us with this trip. He knows just what we need, and I'm so glad He provided a way for us to come. We have been to San Jose, Hollister, Fresno, Rialto, and South Pasadena. We will be going home soon, and I will blog about it all when I get there. It will take a few days to write about it , and posting pictures will definitely take a while. I have taken about 500 pictures to this point!!! I won't post them all, but will post enough for you to "get the picture" of what we've been up to.

I have started missing "home". Texas is definitely my "home" since I have been there longer than anywhere in my life, but it's been really nice visiting my "roots" once again.

Tomorrow we will be in church with Bernard and Sandy Elms and we are looking forward to it. I love being here with them! They are some of the most awesome people you will ever meet!

Well, I will be talking to ya'll later. I trust you will all have a great day tomorrow!

It's A Small World...Especially with technology

I wrote a short post this morning and ended it with saying, "I'm off to make more "memories". I'm going to eat lunch with my son, Jonathan." NEVER did I think I would meet up with a "friend" from my childhood when I wrote those words!

As we were sitting in McAlester's eating a Turkey Melt Sandwich a lady came to our table and said, "This may be a little strange, but are you Linda?" I couldn't believe my ears! "Wellll, yes I am." I answered. She said, "I'm connected to Ronda on Facebook and when I saw you walk in I knew you were Linda. I just love Facebook and all the old pictures people put on their page." My curiosity was killing me and I found out that Karen Doyle's father pastored in Clovis, CA right next door to Fresno where my dad pastored Truth Tabernacle! We had gone to all the Section 5 Fellowship meetings, youth rallies, and everything and anything our churches were having. She is more Ronda's age, but I remembered her parents well from our days in California!!!

Karen, it was great seeing you today! You brought back a lot of "memories" from so long ago and made "new memories" for us to treasure. Yes, I will be happy to meet you in Lufkin for lunch or dinner someday. :) Just write me on FB and I will get back with you!!!
We found other friend/family connections as we talked and I was once again "blown away" by how SMALL this world really is! When anything like this happens I always start singing the song in my head, "It's a small world after all! It's a small world after all! It's a small world after all! It's a small, small world!" LOL! Now, I hope you all start singing it and you can't get if off of your mind for a few days! LOL! I know...that's mean...but I just can't help it! (hee-hee) It's one of those songs you can't keep from singing once it comes to mind. :)

Copperas Cove Weekend

Last weekend we were privileged to be in Copperas Cove with Pastor and Sis. Donny Hendrick. They treated us so very kind and we felt a real bond of friendship with them. They have an incredible church and we felt totally at home! The worship, unity, singing, and their open arms made us think of Life Tabernacle, Wichita Falls. Of course, we are very fond of Life Tabernacle since we spent 24 years of our life there as Pastor. When the Pentecostals of Copperas Cove started singing and worshipping I felt I was close to heaven. Their response to the the messages my husband preached was wonderful, and we had great altar services! One thing that REALLY made me "feel at home" was when their choir got up to sing. They sang just one song and it was "Total Praise"! That song has been one of my favorites that the Life Tabernacle Sanctuary Choir did. I almost couldn't believe my ears when they started off! God knows exactly what we need and when we need it! I had a friend write me this week and tell me she was praying for me so that I would "feel at home wherever we may go to minister". God answered her prayer this past weekend. We were so happy when Bro. Hendrick came to my husband and asked us to come back for THIS weekend!!! So, this Sunday morning and Sunday night we will once again be in Copperas Cove with the saints of God there. We are looking for great things to happen!!!

Bro. and Sis. Knight are the former pastors of this wonderful church. They are still there enjoying the "fruit of their labor" and we enjoyed visiting with them. They have a lot to be proud of and they are thankful the work continues to flourish. Another thing that made me feel at home was when Bro. Knight introduced the choir. He said, "Now, I want you to worship with the best choir in town...The Copperas Cove Sanctuary Choir"! It sounded so much like my husband when he would introduce our awesome choir. I know I probably sound a "little homesick", but you just have to understand "where I'm coming from". I have my "times" of really missing "home". If you've ever "been there", then you understand.

Bro. and Sis. David Carrington from Dumas, TX are retired and are now living in Copperas Cove. Sis. Hendrick is their daugher, so they moved there to be "close to the kids". They invited us to their home for "food and fellowship" after church Sunday night. It sure brought back "old memories"! We have eaten many meals in the Carrington's home. We had a lot of "catching up" to do, since we had preached some of our first revivals for them MANY years ago. I was "expecting" our first child, Jonathan, and Sis. Carrington was "expecting" Nathan! We took a picture "back to back" and it was quite "a sight to behold"! LOL! We have a lot of "funny memories" with the Carrington's, and Bro. Carrington remembers almost every detail. You can imagine the "walk down memory lane" that we enjoyed with them. By the way...that was memories from 1973! WOW! It's not MY age that bothers me, it's everybody else's! By the way, Sis. Hendrick was only 11 years old when I first met her!!!! If I look a little more "gray" and a little more "old" when you see me, now you know why! LOL!

Friday night we will be in Corsicana for a "section-wide rally". (Section 8) My husband is preaching it. Saturday morning I will be speaking at the "Section 8 Ladies Day" there in Corsicana. If you happen to be "near" please stop by and see us. The more the merrier!!!

Dreams

I was awakened this morning by a dream. We had gone to eat and my order was all wrong, and in the midst of trying to get it "figured out" with the owner I finally said to myself, "it's not worth it, just forget it".

We were having some big gathering, I think camp meeting. As I walked from the "eating place" back to where my husband was I noticed a large group of people gathered out under the stars. As I walked, it dawned on me that I had forgotten that I was to lead a "prayer service/devotion" for the ladies the next day. Oh my! I got in a "tizzy" real fast!!! "What am I going to say?" QUESTIONS started attacking my mind and just as I was getting all "up in the air" over it I heard a man say, "Look at the stars out there! Isn't the sky beautiful tonight?" Seeing the twinkling stars and how they lit up the black sky of night, immediately I started singing, "And I thank God for the Lighthouse. I owe my life to Him. For Jesus is the lighthouse, and from the rocks of sin...". As I sang, I heard as the "old gentleman" started harmonizing with me, then others joined in as we sang..."He has shown a light around me that I could clearly see. If it wasn't for the Lighthouse...where would this ship be?"

I then noticed an old friend of my parents sitting not too far from me, and as she wiped her eyes from "remembering the loss of my parents" I kept singing..."Everybody that lives around us, says to tear the Lighthouse down. The old ships they don't sail this way anymore, there's no use in them standing 'round. But then, my mind goes back to that stormy night when just in time I saw the light, it was the light from that old Lighthouse that stands out there on the hill."

I woke up! WOW! I have chills as I remember the feeling I had as I dreamed, and as I type I still feel the presence of the Lighthouse.

A "dark night", old friends, new friends...the "stars" who light the night, and the One who gives the "song"! What more could one ask for? Today...remember the "Old Lighthouse", and a friend. There is nothing more urgent than stopping to remember those you love and the One that loves you!

I thank God for the Lighthouse...I owe my life to Him!

Eternal Impressions

We have started our "tour" of the district. This week we have been to two sectional conferences and have seven more to go! Two more this week, four next week, and one later in January. That will make a total of nine sectional conferences we will have been to by the end of January! We are really enjoying meeting more preachers and their wives, and seeing the ones we've known for years. Everyone has been so good to us and making us feel "right at home".

Tonight my husband had a neat thing happen to him. We were eating dinner at the church in Newton when he turned to me and said, "Sue Beasley is here." I asked, "Who's that"? He said, "She was my Sunday School teacher when I was a little boy!!!! I was in love with her and wanted to marry her, and when she got married it made me so mad!!"

Through the years I have heard him speak of Sue Beasley, but I don't think I had ever met her. Of course, I HAD TO TAKE A PICTURE!Sunday School teachers....how will your "Sunday School children" feel when they see you 10, 20, 30, 40, or even 50 years from now? I loved hearing the excitement in my husband's voice as he was telling me about "his" Sunday School teacher when he was a child.

The "family of God" is such a neat family! It seems everywhere we go we're running into people that have a "connection" to us from somewhere, or someone. I can only imagine what Heaven will be like!