Submitted by dwhitsett on Mon, 01/23/2012 - 14:54 from Dwight Whitsett - Whitticisms, View Original Posting
Do we want to be taken seriously? Do we want to overcome misconceptions about our faith and practice? Do we hope to ever fulfill our mission and make an impact on our culture? Then here (in no particular order) are a few things I believe we must do:
Submitted by dwhitsett on Tue, 11/29/2011 - 20:19 from Dwight Whitsett - Whitticisms, View Original Posting
It’s a shame to write only when one is irritated. Do it often enough and you will earn the designation, “curmudgeon.” I am, at the moment, highly irritated and I am writing. But I promise not to make it a habit.
Abilene is not really a small town, but sometimes it seems to be. One would think that most things would be readily available here, especially medical supplies. We have a dozen or so listed in the phone book and so, I got on the phone and began calling to find a particular item I really needed today. I called several places, a couple of which did not have the item in stock but promised they could get it by the next day. I decided to keep calling around to see if I could find it in stock somewhere.
My first “hit” was a place called “Choice Medical Supply.” Yes, the lady told me, they had some in stock. “Great,” said I and hopped in the car to pick one up. It was not a short drive but not all that far either.
When I arrived, the lady I talked to on the phone led me into a room whose walls were lined with this and that. But when we came to the place where it should be…guess what…it wasn’t there!
Submitted by dwhitsett on Thu, 11/03/2011 - 15:29 from Dwight Whitsett - Whitticisms, View Original Posting
“So, you believe that only Christians are going to heaven?” It’s a question that has caused more than one person to squirm uncomfortably. It is especially uncomfortable if the question is asked in a public forum (radio or television interview) in a challenging way by someone who (1) isn’t a person of faith or, (2) an adherent of a non-Christian religion. In reality, any answer will offend someone, somehow. One response will offend one group, the alternative will offend the other. No answer at all will offend whoever’s left.
If you are a Christian and you believe the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) to be accurate accounts of the words and actions of Christ, only one answer is possible. It is the answer Jesus gave to a disciple named Thomas. Here it is:
Submitted by dwhitsett on Thu, 10/27/2011 - 15:45 from Dwight Whitsett - Whitticisms, View Original Posting
I enjoy living in Abilene. We love our little piece of earth we call “Charamon.” Over the years, I have lived or had extended stays in several large metropolitan areas in the United States and Australia.
Never have I stayed a city where more people ran red lights than Abilene, Texas. Yesterday in one short drive to the grocery store and back, I saw two blatant violations. Never have I stayed in a city where there were more emergency vehicle sirens blaring at all hours than Abilene, Texas.
I want to share with you one story of how God is changing lives through ministry training. Joe Carrasco’s life was in shambles. Joe’s wife had abandoned him and his two sons, they lived in a sparse home with no electricity, he was in violation of probation, and a warrant had been issued for his arrest. Joe was a drug dealer and addict. He considered that his best option was to leave his two sons with family members and flee to Dallas to hide from authorities. It was at this low point in his life that Joe Carrasco met Mike Reed, a Sunset trained preacher serving in the small West Texas town of Olton.
Submitted by Sunset Alumni on Wed, 04/14/2010 - 18:55
Dear Friends and Brethren:
I am now in South Africa and will preach at Benoni the 4th of April. My first trip out of SA will be to Zimbabwe for 10 days to teach at the Harare school, set-up last August, and to preach in various places in the cities of Harare and Mutare. Plans are to discuss a Sunset association with the preaching school that has been in Mutare since the ‘60's. Pray for this partnership to assist in ministry training.
A visit to Malawi in May is anticipated for some preaching during a campaign to begin a new congregation in the area where property was donated by the chief for a training school. This Sunset-related school is being planned and sponsored by the Green Valley church in Noblesville, Indiana in 2011. Prayers and support are requested for them to accomplish their goals to train more workers for the Kingdom in Malawi.
Submitted by Sunset Alumni on Thu, 03/25/2010 - 18:37
His doctor diagnosed a return of his cancer with markers that have increased suddenly and dramatically. He now can control his pain level with a new medical regimen. The goal is to provide some comfort and rest time.
In a few days there will be a scope to determine exactly where the cancer is located. At that time, they will decide if chemo is an option. We gathered from their comments that if it is located in the pancreas that neither Don nor Rilda are favorable toward starting chemo treatments.
They will be moving soon, having sold their house and having purchased another one. We have committed to helping them move.
Submitted by Sunset Alumni on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 21:02
Dear Friends and Brethren:
For some reason, I kept thinking this was a Leap Year and that we’d have a longer month. February always seems to vanish quickly every year anyway. We hope everyone safely survived all the snow and ice that hampered about every State during this short month. I had to postpone 2 speaking appointments in Pikeville, KY area due to snow, not only on the mountains, but on the roads as well. It was just too dangerous to drive there. No doubt, you were as happy to see the bad weather improve somewhat as I was, and that March promises us a bit warmer climate. Don’t know about you, but I am ready for Spring! However, by the time it arrives here, I will be heading south to Africa (March 29th) and into Autumn again. Can’t win ‘em all, now can you?
Submitted by Sunset Alumni on Wed, 03/10/2010 - 20:14
Moya & I send loving greetings to each of you who will receive this report. We pray that our Lord is prospering you all as you reach out with His love in your efforts to lead others to Christ.
It has been a long time since last we wrote, but you have not been out of our minds. During the past 9-months I have struggled with some health problems and since entering into partial retirement and becoming, (what is referred to here in Australia, as an "Old-Age-Pensioner"), the last few months have been as full in our Christian ministry, if not fuller than previous years. As some of you are aware, the South Coast Church here in Albany is comprised of mainly senior Christians and a great many pastoral needs have arisen during the past six months that have taken up a lot of our time.
We, like most congregations here in Australia, are extremely short of able-bodied workers. But with our Lord’s help, everything has been attended to and everyone cared for, as much as we are able.
