While being in the mountains this week at our cabin, I have been working through the daily Bible readings in our “Kingdom Man” Bible study that is being led by Edward Grant. I have learned that being a Kingdom Man means that you are someone who is obedient to God in the place where God has placed you to serve Him. Like God placed Adam in the Garden of Eden to take care of it and do what God assigned Him to do, we are to be good stewards of all that God has planned for us to do. Basically, a Kingdom Man is one who obeys God and is faithful to God’s plan for His life.
 
I met a kingdom man this Tuesday. His name is Gene Melton and he and his son and daughter are painting my cabins here in Reliance. The first thing he asked me to do with him on Tuesday before starting the job was to pray with him and his children. He said that he wanted to do the job assigned to him just the way God would have him do it. Before he was committed to pleasing me, he wanted to be pleasing to God.

 
When was the last time at your work place, you had an opportunity to pray with your boss, or your client, or your co-workers about pleasing God in the work that you do. We prayed together, and Mr. Melton led the prayer. My part in the prayer was to agree with him and say amen to what he was praying. Right then in that prayer, the job of painting my cabin became a kingdom job.
 
Since that prayer time, Mr. Melton and I have had a great time working together and talking about the Bible and what God is teaching us through His word. Mr. Melton is a mountain man expert on the Book of Revelation. He has taught it three times in area mountain churches. He teaches it differently than I do, but my goodness, he knows a lot more about it than I do. He teaches it prophetically, where I understand it historically. I have already learned so much from him and enjoy our conversations tremendously.
 
Yesterday afternoon, the crew finished work around 3:30 pm so they could get to church for Wednesday night prayer service. I asked him if he was teaching. He said, “No, tonight I’m listening.” Now, here is a kingdom man who is committed to Wednesday night prayer service by attending with his family and listening to another person’s teaching. Can you tell? I like Mr. Melton. He is a kingdom man who is a mountain man. Thank you church family for giving some time away to study and learn more about what a kingdom man looks like. By the way, don’t forget to be at our Men’s Bible Study this month to hear Edward Grant lead in the “Kingdom Man” study of God’s Word.

​Robbie and I wish to thank our beloved church family for allowing us to be away during the month of September to celebrate our 50th Wedding Anniversary together. We were so overwhelmed by your expressions of love at our reception last Sunday afternoon. Our children did such a wonderful job putting it all together and our church family supported their efforts with amazing encouragement and generosity. It is a thrill to serve the Lord here among you in these days as we share in all that Jesus is doing among us. Robbie and I are truly blessed by your love and friendship in the Lord.
 
While we are away, the Deacon Body will be on call to serve the needs of our congregation. Every deacon is ready to reach out through visitation, phone calls and other means to serve your needs. Call on your family deacon with any prayer needs, spiritual or physical needs you may have. Reverend Earl Pirkle will be standing in during this time should there be an emergency. God has blessed our church through sending Brother Earl and Sherry to serve among us here at Grace. Call on him should you have need.
 
Earl will preach in my absence on the 1st and 5th Sundays of this month. Brother Trent Campbell will preach on the 2nd Sunday, with Terry Weatherford preaching on the 3rd Sunday and Reverend Edward Grant preaching on the 4th Sunday. Pray for the dedicated men of God as they open God’s word, study and deliver God’s message each week. All of these faithful preachers of the gospel are members of our church family, with Brother Terry being a former member and a Gideon. He will call on our church family to give a love offering in support of the Bible distribution ministry of the Gideons International when he preaches on September 15th.
 
The membership of Grace will vote and approve the Greeters/Security Manual this morning along with a Resolution of Security which guides our church concerning House Bill 60, “Right to Carry” legislation passed by the Georgia State legislature. This resolution states that our church has determined to be a “Carry” church with its preferences that weapons either be kept in vehicles or home. Should someone determine to carry or be appointed to carry on campus, the weapon should be concealed at all times. This resolution gives common-sense preferences to guide folks in their security concerns.
 
Richard McLawhorn, Chuck Whitehead and Brother Earl Pirkle will lead the voting process. I trust you will pray and respond to these important decisions as the Lord leads you. I give thanks for our Deacon Body who has shepherded these documents and decisions for months now. I am grateful for their faithfulness and diligence in researching the information, interviewing leadership from other churches in our area, and seeking out professional guidance from law enforcement officials. I believe these documents will lead our church to become a more welcoming and inviting church as we put them into practice every week.