The Bible Story Family

 Carmen and I directed _Amahl and the Night Visitors_ for the first time when we worked at Ordway Baptist Christian School, Ordway, Colorado, in 1976. The cast included high school students from OBCS. Kim Terry played the part of the Mother, and Ricky Kienitz played Amahl. In 1995 we directed _Amahl_ once again. This time the cast was composed of college students from Pillsbury Baptist Bible College in Owatonna, Minnesota. Sarah Douglas played the part of the Mother, and Christian Augsburger, the son of Kim Terry, who was now married to Bruce Augsburger, played the part of Amahl. This weekend, I have the privilege for a third time of participating in a production of Amahl and the Night Visitors, by Gian-Carlo Menotti. The Deo Cantamus Choral, one of the premier singing choirs of the upper Midwest, will perform the concert version of the opera as part of their “Give We Thanks” concert. I have been invited to narrate the opera. “Give We Thanks” will be presented at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday,

  FIFTY COMMONSENSE REASONS FOR THE APPEARANCE OF AGE IN CREATION 1.      Adam and Eve were adults. 2.      Adam and Eve were capable of reproducing. 3.      They didn’t need to learn how to walk. 4.      They didn’t need to learn how to talk. 5.      They were capable of feeding themselves. 6.      Fruit appeared on the trees when first created. 7.      Light from distant stars could be seen on earth. 8.      Scientists say it takes 12.9 billion years for light from the furthest star to reach the earth, so Day One light from the stars appeared to be that old. 9.      Animals were created as mature. 10.   Flowering plants already bloomed. 11.   Trees already had leaves. 12.   Roots were already deep in the soil. 13.   Soil contained minerals which seemed to have been there for ages. 14.   Coal, which takes millions of years to form, was already present. 15.   Rivers flowed in channels which the action of water had not cut. 16.   Seeds were already inside

  Three months in Spain—vacation, right? Not for Don Odens. After retiring from a half-century of teaching at Central Baptist Seminary (sometimes full-time, sometimes as a adjunct) Don left for an extended mission trip to Spain. He is working with Seth Grotzke, who was commissioned for the work in Spain while on staff with Pastor Odens at Liberty Baptist Church. Don will be teaching, mentoring, evangelizing, and encouraging in Spanish, a language he studied in high school and has endeavored to keep fresh over many years. The challenge will be great, and the blessings even greater. Missions trips have been a part of Dr. Odens’ ministry throughout his pastoral and teaching career. Brazil and China are just two of the countries he has visited to encourage missionaries and participate with them in teaching the Word. Even so, three months on the field represents a unique step in the process. As his brother-in-law, I am probably not at liberty to share Don’s age. Just let it be said

  Interim pastor Bob Townsend greeted the crowd at the 120 th Anniversary of Maxwell Baptist Church by reminding them of his own tenure as pastor. “I served here when I was young,” he said, “and again later, and now as interim. I don’t know whether to refer to it as “third time’s a charm,” or “three strikes and you’re out.” Personally, I am thrilled to have Pastor Townsend serve once again with people we grew to love in our thirteen years as their pastor. The entire day, last Sunday, reminded us of the faithful men who have preached in Maxwell for all these years. What a blessing to see succeeding generations of believers as a result of a church which grew out of American Sunday School Union meetings back in 1903. Another blessing of the anniversary celebration was sharing the platform with my good friend, R. P. Smith, the cowboy poet. R. P. wrote a poem in honor of the one hundredth anniversary twenty years ago. He also joined us when we celebrated the 110 th Anniversary in 20