Dayspring Picnic - June 15, 2008

Above are pictures of the churchwide picnic that Dayspring had on Father's Day 2008.

Father's Day - June 15, 2008

I have the greatest daddy in all the world! I know a lot of girls say that about their dads, but I really feel like it is true of mine. He couldn't be a better daddy. He has always been there for me. He has always loved and protected me. I have been so blessed with the way that he and mother raised me in a home where church and God had priority in our lives. As I have seen daughters this week say their earthly goodbyes to their dads, it has reminded me of how precious it is to have my daddy alive and healthy. Pete Sanchez spoke this morning in church about fathers and what it takes to be the kind of father that God wants men to be. My daddy is the earthly model of the man described. I love you Daddy!

A Week of Tears-June 7-14, 2008

This week has been a very difficult week. As noted in my previous posts, we lost a much loved, relatively new friend, (last two years) John Norsworthy, last Saturday morning. Then on Monday morning, our life long friend, Tom Russell, whom we had been very close to in our early married life and was also in our wedding in 1977, also passed away. These men had so much in common. Both were diagnosed with cancer almost within the same week. Both went to be with their Saviour within the same week. Both men lived lives that were extremely "well lived." Both men had strong relationships with their God and with their families and friends. Both men died much earlier than what was expected. Both men went through their illnesses not only thinking of themselves, but thinking about those around them and how their illness was effecting them. Randall and I went to Tom Russell's wake at First Baptist Tillman's Corner on Friday night. We began standing in line to see Cindy and the family at 6:50 and finally saw them at 9:45. I have never seen so many people coming to pay their respects for one person. Tom was one of great influence. He taught & coached for 19 years at Faith Academy and for 12 years at Greystone. When asked to stand at the funeral if you had been a student of Coach Russell's, over half of the congregation were standing. Tom was the kind of coach, teacher and friend that was always encouraging others. He was always smiling. As I reflect on both of my friends lives, I see lives of great influence and lives that were full of self sacrifice. These two deaths have caused me to more than ever to want to live my life to the fullest. With both of these men dying at younger than expected ages, it reminds me that we never know what the next minute may hold for us. Only one life, so soon it will pass.....Only what's done for Christ will last. God, through your grace, help me to live my life today and everyday that will bring you honor and praise. Thank you for teaching me through the death of these much loved brothers. I pray for both of their families because they will be greatly missed.

Community Groups- Doing Life (and death) Together

You know, it never occured to me when we began community groups almost 5 years ago that I would have the experience that I have had in the group that I had this year. As I reflect back on what has happened in this group this year, I think back to two things that we say about Community Groups as we "pitch" them to our congregation. These two mantra's are Community Groups-"Do Life Together" and Community Groups-"Where Friends are Family." These two ideas and concepts are now no longer just concepts to me, but have taken root down deep within me because I have experienced them in their ultimate capacity. First of I am in the middle of my life and so are my friends that have been in my groups. I always thought, yes, we'll go through the things that you go through in life together like job, children, relationship, etc. issues. And all of these issues are very real and they are sometimes very difficult to deal with. But in my wildest imagination did I every think that at this time in my life that I would be dealing with the subject of the death of one of my beloved group members. This is the ultimate in "Doing Life Together." It was at the beginning of our community group session this year that our precious friend, John Norsworthy, was diagnosed with mesothelioma. A type of cancer that none of us in our group knew anything about but soon learned all too well of it's devastating effects upon a body. The members of our community group "did life together" with John and Sandy as they received their diagnosis. We "did life together" at the hospital together as John went through surgery to find out the extent of the cancer. We "did life together"each week as John shared with us at our Community Group meetings what happend each week as he and Sandy went to UAB for trial treatments. One thing that I will never forget is that whether the news each week was good or bad, John always found something encouraging to say to us that kept our spirits up. John and Sandy truly led our group to be encouraged and to continue to place our hope in God. It was them uplifting us when you think it would have been the other way around. We "did life together" when it appeared that God's plan was not to heal John on this earth but to take him where he would be healed. We "did life together" as we called and went to see John in the hospital off and on for the last few months. And finally we have been "doing life and death together" as this Godly Saint passed from this life into his eternal life on Saturday morning. This week has been full with helping Sandy plan a funeral and trying to make sure that all of their families needs are met. These experiences have truly been the ultimate in the experiences of a community group. While I will miss John so greatly, I would not take anything for the experience that being a part of his life for the last two years has meant to me. I am currently reading a book on how to make disciples and the basic premise is that dicipleship is learned by living and observing. This is how Jesus discipled. This is how my friends John and Sandy have discipled me. I have watched and observed how they how lived through what has been the roughest time in their lives. They have lived with a grateful heart every week, no matter what the report. They have lived with a constant faith of the love of God for them. They never stopped saying...God is good all the time. "Where friends are family" certainly has been experienced. I was thinking yesterday at the funeral, I feel like I should be sitting with the family. John and Sandy have come to mean that much to me. I feel as if they are my brother and sister. Now if anyone asks me why they should get in a Community Group, I look at it at a whole different perspective than I ever have before. I can say without reservation, community groups allow for the greatest personal relationships with God and with others. It has been through this experience with this small group of friends that I have learned more about the love of Jesus and the love for one another than any other. While the void is great here on this earth without John, I would not change a thing about my experience. John & Sandy have been two of the greatest teachers in my life!

John Thomas Norsworthy 1943-2008

John Thomas Norsworthy
NORSWORTHY John Thomas Norsworthy born January 12, 1943 went to be with his Lord and Savior on June 7, 2008. "I have fought the good fight I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally there is laid up for me the Crown of Righteousness which the Lord the Righteous Judge will give to me." 2 Tim. 4: 7-8. John a loving husband, father, pops & friend will be forever in our hearts. He was preceded in death by his parents Ruby G. & Bernard Norsworthy of Chickasaw, AL. He is survived by his loving wife of 45 years Sandra L. Norsworthy, daughter Shelley A. Wiley of Hallen, Nebraska, son John T. Jr. & (Stephanie) Norsworthy of Mobile, AL, son Carlton Todd & (Michelle) Norsworhty of Mobile, AL and daughter Patti L. & (Ralph) Sweetland of Mobile, AL. Eight wonderful grandchildren, Daniel & (Rita) Wiley, Melissa & (Yurie) Titov, Brett Wiley, Karissa Sweetland, Alexis Sweetland, Trey Stockman, Samantha Norsworthy, John R. Norsworthy and great granddaughter Lilla Titov. Brother James & (Betty Lou) Norsworthy, sister Mary Alice Blow, sister Louise Kinloch, and sister Diane & (Russell) Mothershed. John served his country in the United States Air Force for 28 years and retired as Chief Master Sgt. in 1990. He was presently employed at Mobile Aero Space Engineering. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, June 11, 2008 at 3:00 PM from the chapel of Mobile Memorial Gardens Funeral Home. Interment will be in Mobile Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be held on Tuesday evening from 5 to 8 PM at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the ('American%20Cancer%20Society') + '');American Cancer Society, Joe Lee Griffin Hope Lodge at 1104 Ireland Way, Birmingham, AL 35209, Attn: Angela Taylor, director or Wears Valley Ranch, Christian Ministry to young people, 3601 Lyon Springs Road, Sevierville, TN 37862, In memory of John T. Norsworthy. " We have known the love of the Father by the love shown to us by John. He has always been willing to lay down his life for others." John 3: 14-16. Funeral arrangements by Mobile Memorial Gardens Funeral Home 6040 Three Notch Rd. Mobile, AL.

Until Death Do We Part

Today, Saturday, June 7, 2008, Jay Powell and his new wife, Ann Marie, began their married lives together. As the vows were being read at the wedding that afternoon, the vows that really screamed out to me were "til death do we part." So many people make this covenant before God and people, but give up before "til death do they part." My mind went to John and Sandy at that moment and thinking how after 46 years of marriage their "til death do us part" ended this morning at 10:30 am and Jay's and Ann Marie's was beginning at 3:00 pm on the same day. The wedding was beautiful. Jay and Ann Marie are both beautiful and I pray that God will be their strength and they will keep their covenant and they like the Norsworthy's will be able to say, "it was until death we did part." Above are pictures from their wedding

Bitter Sweet - John Norsworthy

On Saturday, June 7, 2008, our dear friend, John Norsworthy was healed completely from his cancer and went to be with the Lord. What an honor and privilege it has been to be a part of this man's life for the last two years. God has shown Himself in and through John and Sandy throughout this most difficult time in their lives. They have both lived in the grace and strength of God's almighty hand. The last thing that John did before going to sleep and entering his glorious new home was to raise his hands in his bed and say, "Thank you God for saving my soul. Thank you God for making me whole." Not long afterwards, his physical body was made whole along with his spiritual body. I write this on Wed. morning, the day of his funeral. Randall and all the other guys in our CG will be pallbearers, which is a great honor. I praise God for placing us in their lives for this special time. As we have studied the book , "Heaven" all this year in our CG, it is obvious that God orchestrated all that has taken place. We made the decision to do this study even before John was diagnosed with cancer. God knew what John, Sandy and all of the rest of us needed and put it upon our hearts to help us for what He knew would be taking place in all of our lives over the next few months. Having done this study together, we all have a completely different outlook on death. We know now that John is the one to be envied. Praise You God!

LOV Bible Camp

This week was the beginning of 8 weeks of Summer Bible camp at Light of the Village. I was able to go out and help a little on Friday, June 6. There were certainly a lot of children, which is absolutely wonderful. Dolores heads up the camp and student from UM and 1st Baptist of Holly Springs, MS were there also to help. They began with everyone in the school for an opening assembly where the boys did their rap and we went over the rules for behavior and recited their memory verse for the week. Then, all of the kids were divided up by sex and by age group. Each group had team leaders which consisted of the above as well as some of the more responsible older kids from LOV. Most of the boys from the school served as team leaders. Friday was water day. Each group would move to a different area approximately every 20-30 minutes when a bell rang. In each area, they would play a water game of some kind with the exception of the Bible time where Mrs. Dolores had a Bible study with the students sitting under a tree. One of these pictures shows the Bible time. As I sat and observed, I could not help but think of the things that most of these children would be involved in were they not here at this Bible camp during these 4 hours. There is so much crime and just awful things that go on in this neighborhood. And here is this ministry, taking and providing tremendous fun, as well as teaching these children about Jesus all Summer long. This is true ministry.

Keeping My Angels-June 4, 2008

Randall, Brandon, and Ryan had to work late tonight. Elizabeth is out of town and Brittany has a hair appointment. So Nana picked up Carter from school and Brittany brought Ryleigh by our house. As usual, our time was spent watching Cars (Autobegood) and Dora the Explorer. These are a few pictures I took of these two most precious children!

Light of the Village Sunday Service May 31, 2008

On Sunday, May 31, Tom and Linda Peak, Wayne and Melissa Stevens, and Randall and I went to "Light of the Village" to worship with them as well as serve them lunch. We enjoyed ourselves so much. The little children were absolutely so adorable and so loving. As soon as they came in the room, many of them lifted their arms letting us know that they wanted us to pick them up and hold them. How precious they were. Joseph, Joe, Demetreus, with Marco on sound began our service off with some Christian rap that they had written. I was very impressed with the words as well as the rap portion. After the music, John Eads taught the lesson. While John spoke, Dolores, Tom, Melissa and I took the children under the age of 5 outside and played with them so that the service would not be disrupted for the older children and adults. It was burning up outside, but we had so much fun, swinging, and playing with the children. I have some pictures that I took of some of the children posted here. One picture was taken by one of the children who was just fascinated with my camera. We also took a bunch of K-Mag t-shirts out to them that we did not use at Dayspring and gave them out to the children. They were very excited to get them! For lunch, we served bar-B-Q sandwiches, baked beans, potato chips and ice cream with chocolate syrup and whipped cream. Everyone seemed to enjoy the meal. As usual, the blessing of going and sharing ended up being ours! God always gives us the joy when we do what He has commanded that we do. The JOY WAS OURS!

Randall's 53rd Birthday

Randall turned the big 53 on Friday, May 30. We celebrated with Morris, Julie, Tom and Linda by going out to eat at Zea's and then going to the news Indiana Jones movie. This picture is taken of all of us at Zea's. I gave Randall the shirt he has on for his birthday!

Light of the Village End of the Year Field Trip

On Monday, May 19, 2008, Julie and I took the boys that we taught art to this year from Light of the Village on a field trip to Gulf Shores. Besides Julie and myself were Joe, Joseph, Dacino, Demetreus, Marco, Lawrence, Curtis, Nicky, Victor, Mrs. Dolores, and the sister's of Nicky and Joseph. We had a great day. We started our day off with going to "The Track" and riding the "Wild Woody" race cars. When asked at the end of the day what they enjoyed the most, the boys all said the race cars. After the Track, we went for lunch at McDonalds. Going to the beach was next on our agenda. 3 or 4 people braved the waters and went in. The rest of us just watched from the shore. We ended our day with a dolphin cruise. This was a great little cruise where dolphin would jump and swim right along side the boat.The best part of the day came however at the very end. On the way back home in the van, Mrs. Dolores led Joseph's sister to the Lord. We all had the privilege of getting out of the van in the Dillard's parking lot, and joining with her as she prayed to receive Christ as her Savior. WHAT A GREAT ENDING TO A GREAT DAY!
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