Remember When...

The last Sunday of November was a day of remembrance for the Souper Seniors at First Baptist Church. No, it wasn't a late Veterans Day celebration. This Day of Remembrance was a trip down memory lane. The Seniors were asked to bring a "youthful" photo of themselves to show all present. Each was given a list of the participants and was asked to try and guess who each one was. Much fun was had by all. The sounds of the fifties played in the background and many were thrilled by all of the Golden Oldies. Many "artifacts" of years gone by were brought by many. A heap of thanks go to Ken(Deacon Zoogie) and Betty Wilcox and Carol Armstrong for sharing there antiques with us.

Show and Tell... Your Never Too Old.

This past Sunday was our monthly "Super Senior Supper", at our church in Afton. Each month we try and have a theme for the "supper". This months theme was "Show and Tell". Each "senior", as in anyone over 55, was asked to bring something of personal interest to share with everyone. There was alot of neat items on display. Bob Howe brought a piece of sheet metal from a Japanese "Zero" fighter plane from WWII. The plane had actually attacked the aircraft carrier Mr. Howe was aboard, and was retreived after the attack. It was a red piece from the "Rising Sun", emblazoned on the side of the plane. Carol Armstrong showed us her cake topper and scrapbook from her wedding back in 1957. Her husband Roger went to be with the Lord in 1983. Dawn Ashworth brought along two of her favorite dolls. Both are unique in that they are both black. Many other momentos were shared with the group of around thirty. My adopted "parents", Ken and Betty Wilcox, each brought a special prize from their past. The photos here show what these treasures are. Ken was an avid racecar driver back in the seventies and eighties. Mostly racing on dirt tracks near Long Island and some near Binghamton New York. He shared with us the fine "art" of dirt track driving, and the many races he won. He brought a model of one of the cars he raced. The model was made by his daughter, Megan. Betty brought us a special trophy she had won for a beautiful baby contest in Babylon, Long Island. Her grandmother submitted her photo for judging. Many children were entered, including her cousin. The trophy contained a special surprise when it was brought to Afton, New York, many years later. The local newspaper featured a front page picture and article proclaiming the winner.

Let' Go Fishing... Luke 5:10

My home church of First Baptist Church of Afton had it's annual Mission's Conference this past weekend. We were blessed with three special ministries this year. Ben Kettor, a native of Liberia, who is with Orphan Cry Ministries, gave one of the most exciting challenges of the weekend. He told of a group of missionaries who came to his grandparents village many years ago,spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ. His parents were Christians as well, but Ben told us that according to the Bible, each of us must give an account for ourselves. He told us that no ones mother or father can give an account for any of their children. Ben is currently a student at Davis Bible College in Binghamton, New York. He has been in the United States since August, 2007, leaving his wife Frances and his son, Ben, Jr., in Liberia. We are praying that their visas will come through shortly so they can be reunited with Ben and work together with Ben and his ministry. Ben hopes to finish his schooling and return to his native Liberia to continue spreading the Gospel to his native people.

The Way Back To Mayberry...Biblical Style

"Take down your fishin' pole and we'll go down to the fishin' hole....." Or something to that effect. Who can forget one of the most famous TV themes songs of all time? That "Fishin Hole" whistlin' song from "The Andy Griffith Show". My wife Barbara and I use the show to teach our Primary Church group at The First Baptist Church in Afton, New York. Many Biblical principles can (and have) been gleaned from the show during our time in teaching. Almost any show can be used as a basis for Biblical lessons. Some have more power than others, however. "The Pickle Story" (we used this lesson today at our church)is one of the most profound shows about not being decietful and what comes from it. 2 Timothy 3:13 says "....while evil men and imposters will go from bad to worse deceiving and being deceived." Many thanks go to The Twickenham Church in Huntsville Alabama and author Joey Fann for the book "The Way Back To Mayberry" which has been modified to elementary age students. The kids enjoy watching the shows very much.They are amazed at how Biblical principals can be related to the episodes and their lessons. Many thanks to Andy, Gomer, Goober, Aunt Bee, Floyd, Wally, Mayors Pike and Stoner. A big THANK YOU to Opie and Barney, who the children seem to relate to best (especially Barney, imagine that!) "All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them" Matthew 13:34

Call Me Smith, Black Smith.

Actually his name is Gary Hinman, blacksmith extraordinaire. Here he is in action at The Windsor On The Arts Music and Arts Festival, held on September 13,2008. Gary, a co-worker and pastor of The Nanticoke Baptist Church is also a blacksmith. He attends many functions in the Windsor area demonstrating the art of blacksmithing. As a Civil War reenactor, I am in need of metal cooking utensils.A few months back Gary asked if there was anything I needed for the reenactments. I told him I needed something to use for cooking over an open fire. He said he had a tripod I could borrow for the event at Pierce Creek. Gary said he was going to be demonstrating at the upcoming arts festival in Windsor, and would make a tripod all for myself. As an added bonus his son,Christopher made a device for raising and lowering the cooking pot. Many thanks to Gary and Christopher for their generosity and willingness to do this for my family and I. The photos give a brief essay of the making of the tripod.

"...Their Last Full Measure Of Devotion"

This Civil War monument sits in a quaint "Town Square" in my (Semi) hometown of Bainbridge NY. I say semi, because my "real" hometown is LeRoy NY, a small town between Buffalo and Rochester. My adopted hometown became Bainbridge when my family moved there in 1983. What a blessing the Lord provided in this move. I didn't know it at the time but I would meet my future wife, Barbara, in the neighboring town of Sidney. (More on that in a later Blog.) Bainbridge has changed a lot over the years, but the small park nestled in the Southeast section of town hasn't. The monument still stands as a silent vigil over the four corners of Main Street. I must have passed by this monument hundreds of times over the last 25 years, but never realized the men it represented. What a great sacrifice they gave in defense of their country during those four long years of war. I see the monument differently now when I pass by. Chances are there is a similar monument near you, from the Revolutionary War on up to the war in Iraq. The next time you pass by it, give a thought to the men,who as President Abraham Lincoln stated in The Gettysburg Address, "Gave their last full measure of devotion."

"In Honor Of A True "Payne"

The picture at the top is a man I never met, yet is very dear to me and my family. He died in 1958, 12 years before I was born. He served his country in the first world war. He served his community as a volunteer fireman. He also was my father,Warner's, dad. He was Howard Warner Payne,of Bainbridge. Before my father,Warner Howard Payne,(middle photo) passed away in 1998, he repeatedly tried to aquire a volunteer firemans flag for his dad's grave. He had little cooperation from the Bainbridge Fire Department, for they couldn't find any records on him belonging to the Bainbridge Fire Department. My dad passed away without ever having the chance to see his dad honored with a simple 12" x18" red and yellow firemans flag on his grave. This past week my mother took me and my family on a trip to Greenlawn Cemetery in Bainbridge to see many of the Payne graves. There was a metal volunteer firemans flag holder(empty)on the left side of his grave. On the right side was a World War I marker with an American flag in it. I was determined to somehow obtain a firemans flag for the empty flag holder. I checked on the internet for volunteer firemans flags, no problem,if you wanted to pay close to twenty dollars for one. I wasn't going to be discouraged about obtaining one. I was able to find one on Conklin Ave. in Binghamton for $4.32.(Thanks Heritage Flags and Banners). I wanted to honor both the grandfather I never knew,and my father, whom I miss very much with this small honor to two true "Payne's".