It has been over a year now since I first made a call to Michael Bucy and we began to pray about the possibility of him joining the staff at DeSoto Hills. Someone on the Search Team had a contact at Southern Seminary and asked them to send us some resumes. Michael’s was the only one they sent. We looked at it along with others we had received from a variety of sources, but this one seemed to always rise to the top. The rest is history. Michael graduated last December, he and Lindsey were married later that month, and in between all of that, we issued a call for them to join our church family. What a great year it has been and we are only getting started. They have moved into our city, into our church family, but more importantly, into our hearts. This Sunday night, November 9, we want to affirm, applaud and accentuate God’s call on Michael’s life by ordaining him to the Gospel Ministry. I hope you will join us, along with Michael and Lindsay’s families, for this opportunity to celebrate what God is doing through this chosen vessel.

See ya there,

Bro. James

Ever since the late 70’s, I have been making an annual fall pilgrimage to Jackson to attend the Mississippi Baptist Convention. Regardless of where I was or in what position I was serving, I gathered to fellowship with friends and be inspired by God’s Word. However, three years ago I missed my first convention. I don’t remember why I missed, only that I didn’t go. The next year rolled around and we had just opened the doors at DeSoto Hills. There was so much to do here that I stayed home, thinking to myself I will make the next one for sure. Last year it was a little easier just to stay home - they could certainly convene without me. No big deal. The bottom line is, the more I missed, the easier it was to miss. The convention did go on without me, but I was the one missing the blessing. This year I have returned. In fact, I am writing this week’s “nook” from Jackson. Wow! What an incredible few days it has been. The music has been stirring, the messages convicting, and the fellowship sweet. There will be other conventions, but if I had missed this one, it would never have been regained. I could have read about it and heard about it, but being here has made all the difference. What about you today? Are you in some kind of attendance slump? Do you have intentions to do better next week or next year? Have you fooled yourself into thinking that you are too busy to meet with the church family? Learn from your pastor today and take the time to gather with others to experience what can happen when we forsake not the assembling of ourselves together.

A Wiser Mississippi Baptist,

Bro. James

We were in a hurry. It seems that we are always in a hurry when we head into the big “W”. Of course, we only went in to pick up a few items. We both had our assignments and fanned out with the idea of making this absolutely the fastest and cheapest “W” run in the history of consumer shopping. However, the allure of that big store called to us and before we knew it, we remembered we needed this, and that, and how could we survive another day without one of those? When we at last met back at the front of the store and compiled our items, the shopping cart had more than a few items in it, but not to worry, I had seen it much fuller. The ordeal was almost over now. We only had to face one last critical aspect of our mission - run the gallant known as the “check out line”. We were in luck! I spotted a lane with no one in it. Yes! The light was on indicating the sweet grandmother behind the counter was open for business. There was one slight problem- it was a 20 items or less lane. I quickly surveyed the cart and although I thought we might be close, discerned we were under or maybe only slightly over the limit. I wheeled the cart into position and put a big, if not a little sheepish, smile on my face as I greeted our checker. But suddenly, my smile faded as grandma looked hard at my cart and gave me a look that said, “who are you trying to fool?” She did not utter a sound, but I could tell from her quiet demeanor that she was not happy. I gave a nervous laugh and asked if I needed to go to another lane. However, as I started to turn away she did an incredible thing. With one swift movement of her hand, the situation changed. She waved me on over, her smile returned, and the world was good again. Grace is a good thing wherever you find it!

Over the limit,

Bro. James

P.S. We had 32 items in our cart.

Rarely do I “get away” that I don’t “come back” with some kind of lesson. They aren’t always new or particularly earth shattering lessons, but they are perspectives that sometimes become clearer as you have the opportunity to slow down. My recent trip to Chunky, Mississippi was no exception. We spent the weekend in a hunting lodge owned by Kathy’s brother, Randy Pope. Now before you get in your mind some thrown together shack, think again. Over the years, Randy has put a lot of thought, time and energy into this place and it is absolutely wonderful. It has all the rustic feel of its setting, but without the inconveniences normally associated with such an out of the way place. Although I am not a hunter, I love the outdoors. Late one afternoon, I positioned myself in one of the tree stands to see what I might observe in the way of wildlife. After I settled into the stand awhile, it hit me how much was going on in the woods all around me when I just took the time to be still and listen. Squirrels where chattering, birds were singing, twigs were snapping, and I could even hear leaves falling. Now some might say that you can’t hear a leaf fall, but you can if you are still enough. After about an hour and a half of being really still, my wait was rewarded when three bucks and a doe emerged from a thicket and started feeding below me. What is the moral to this story? If you will shut up, sit still, and stay put, you just might see something wonderful from the hand of the Creator.

“Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10

Wisdom from the woods,

Bro. James

Although we are not going to have any kind of official party this year, I do want to pause to commemorate that on October 15, DeSoto Hills will celebrate her two-year anniversary.   The journey getting here was long and taxing at times, but I believe all of us who were involved in the move would have to say it was worth the work and the wait.  Wow!  What an incredible two years it has been and we are just getting started.

This occasion offers us the perfect opportunity not only to celebrate where we have been, but also evaluate where we are, and anticipate where we are going.  In doing so, we need to GIVE THANKS for the spirit that prevails here.  It is a spirit produced not just by your friendliness, but by our focus on Him.

We also need to be thankful for the statistics.  In the past two years, we have baptized 60 people and seen 282 other additions. We have averaged 470 in Sunday School, 633 in Worship, and given $2,757,150.  However, even as we celebrate all of this, it is critical that we GIVE THOUGHT to what lies before us, both in terms of obstacles and opportunities.  Even now, the new Strategic Planning Team is beginning to gear up to help us think through all of this.  We need to address debit retirement, space constraints, ministry expansion, and future building needs.  We were challenged last Sunday night during our revival to invest what the Lord has given us and not just to hide it away.

“to whom much is given, much shall be required”
Luke 12:48
Happy birthday,

Bro. James

Today I call upon a “tried and true” friend to help once again make a valid point. In 30 years of preaching, this popular proverb has found its way into my messages on countless occasions. Although it is not a biblical proverb, it does reinforce truths that are found throughout the scripture. We have all heard it and probably even said it from time to time- “a picture is worth a thousands words”.

I use it here to challenge you to give us a picture. Almost weekly I am asked, “When are we going to make a pictorial church directory?” With our growth, I knew that a conventional directory would soon be outdated. Therefore, we are going with a company that specializes in online directories that can be updated as new people join. Appointments will be scheduled for November 18-22 and 25-28. Please make the time to come b e photographed so we can have a complete directory.

This is going to be such a helpful tool for the DeSoto Hills family. We will have some conventional directories available for those of you who are not computer savvy, but I hope most of you will discover how to access us on the web. Security measures will be taken to ensure privacy. How blessed we are to have such a growing family. Let’s get to know one another even better.

See you in the directory,

Bro. James

Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary defines the word REVIVAL as renewed attention to or interest in something. Of course, for us that “something” would consist of our relationship to and resolve for the Lord. Although I try to make every Sunday here a time of renewal, I am fully aware that hearing it through the same vessel week after week may at times lose its effectiveness. Periodically, we need a fresh face, a fresh voice, and even a fresh perspective to help move us along in our walk with the Lord. I am happy to announce that on Sunday, October 5, we have all three of these coming to DeSoto Hills in one package. His name is David Michael and he serves with the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board as an Associate Executive Director with an emphasis in Mission Strategy. He is a gifted speaker and I hope you will make plans to be here for this exciting one day event. Let’s take every opportunity we have for the Lord to renew us day by day.

Looking ahead,

Bro. James

While some churches suffer from what I jokingly call “staff infection”, we are blessed at DeSoto Hills with what could only be described as “staff affection”. I make this statement based on the fact that we have individuals who serve here that truly care for one another and for this church family. Ministry can be difficult, but these folks pull together to provide a working environment that helps lighten the load for all involved. Probably some of the most unsung heroes of any church staff are the secretaries. I am sad to say we have two that are are leaving us. Joan Lyons is taking early retirement and Cheryl Blanton is leaving to help with her family’s growing business. Joan has been the friendly voice and welcoming smile that so many have experienced as they called or came by the church office throughout the week. She has become an expert at multi-tasking. On any given day, on top of her regular duties, you might find Joan ordering pizza for the youth choir, negotiating with the bus company for transportation, or c onsoling a church member who has had a bad day. She is never too busy to stop and help a fellow staffer out and she is going to be sorely missed. Cheryl has been keeping the books for DeSoto Hills as a part time financial secretary since we began. Her willingness to help serve in this position on such a limited basis has been such a blessing. She has worked in the office only a few hours a week, but she has been on call for us 24/7. Thanks, Cheryl, for helping us keep track of all those receipts, camp fees, and weekly offerings. The good news is that although they will not be working here, both Joan and Cheryl are members of DeSoto Hills, so they will still be around. I am also happy to announce that Jo Tubbs is still with us and Deb Curtis has been hired as the new church/financial secretary. She will be training alongside Joan and Cheryl for the next few weeks. She is well equipped to do both jobs and I hope you will get a chance to come by or call to welcome her. Her husband is the pastor of New Prospect Baptist Church in Lewisburg, so she understands the unique challenges of church=2 0life. I am so grateful that the Lord continues to provide us with committed and caring individuals to serve on the staff of DeSoto Hills.

Blessed beyond measure,

Bro. James

Recently Kathy and I made a short road trip to the Strawberry Plains Plantation just outside Holly Springs, now owned and operated by the Audubon Society. Actually, we were multi-tasking. I was scheduled to speak at the Blue Mountain College chapel service that Friday morning, so Kathy went with me. After the service, we changed clothes and headed back to Holly Springs. Our first stop was Philips Grocery -which is no longer a grocery store, but actually a restaurant. Well… it’s kind of a restaurant. They serve these famous hamburgers in a building across from the old train depot. It’s really hard to find and even harder to believe you would want to eat there, but that is a whole different story. It was standing room only. Anyway, after the “ambience” of Philips, we headed to the plantation to experience the annual hummingbird migration. The weather was great, the company was ideal, and the migration was pretty neat. We strolled the gardens and then took a guided wagon tour around a section of the grounds to hear how the Audubon Society was working to enhance the land making it a more suitable wildlife habitant. This is, of course, the sole purpose of this non-profit organization. Our very knowledgeable guide talked about different species of birds, insects, snakes, rodents, trees, and grasses that were a part of the plantation landscape. He explained how they all affected one another. At one point, I was ready to break into a chorus of “The Circle of Life” from Disney’s movie The Lion King. However, as I listened further, it struck me how often the things we consider pests to have a purpose in life. They may annoy us, or as in the case of snakes, scare us, but they have purpose. So it is in our walk with the Lord. There are annoyances or fears that at times seem like blight on an otherwise perfect landscape, and yet the Lord uses them. I was reminded that those beautiful blue birds that nest in my backyard every spring are dependent on those pesky mosquitoes that buzz my head every summer. Probably would not have the one without the other.

Meandering Through Marshall County,

Bro. James

Someone recently forwarded this prayer to me and I wanted to share it with all of you. Although the e-mail contributed it to Billy Graham, it was actually prayed by Joe Wright on January 23, 1996 to open the Kansas State Senate. As you can imagine, it caused quite a stir and some senators even walked out during the prayer. Controversial or not, it is a confession and an intersession that ought to be on the lips of all Americans. I trust this edited version of his prayer will motivate you to pray for this country and her leaders both present and future. Pray specifically that America will once again find “our spiritual equilibrium” by returning to the God of our fathers.

A Prayer For Our Nation

Heavenly=2 0Father, we come before you today to ask for your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, “Woe to those who call evil good”, but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare. We have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem. We have abused power and called it politics. We have coveted our neighbor’s possessions and called it ambition. We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. Search us, Oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free.

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Amen and Amen,

Bro. James

P.S
If you would like more information on the history of this prayer or want to read it in its entirety, you can go to www.barefootsworld.net/kansenprayer.html