Okay, let me be just casual with you today.  You know, "blogging personal."  Is that not the purpose of this blog… to let you into my life?  Well, it is definitely one of them.  Let me just make it easy on me today. 

1.  Christmas is coming and I have not purchased one gift.  I asked Jeana last night, "What do you want for Christmas?"  She stated, "I just want you!" to which I replied, "You got me baby!"  Okay, can you even imagine on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day me saying to her, "Here I am and Merry Christmas."  Oh yeah… do you believe that?  Okay, I need help… what can I get my wife for Christmas?  Get creative.

2.  The Christmas Dinner Theatre at our location at Pinnacle Hills was packed out last night and we have one more night to go… it is a sell-out.  It had some fun moments, some great moments, of which my favorite was the Silent Night Video and Song that shared the history of that great Christmas hymn.  It sure adds value to what we sing when we know and understand some of its past.  

3.  Our Springdale location will observe its major Christmas celebration on Sunday at 4:00 p.m.  It will only last about 75 minutes and will be another great way to celebrate Christmas.  It is open to everyone for attendance and absolutely no charge.  So please come to our Springdale location at 4:00 p.m. this coming Sunday, December 11th.

4.  Christmas Day, we will have a 60-70 minute worship experience from the time you walk into one of our locations, to the time you walk out,  Our goal and intention fully is 60 minutes, but we desire a little "flex time" to help you prepare.  Here are your options for Christmas Sunday:  We have a service at our Springdale and Pinnacle Hills location at 9:15 a.m. and a service at Pinnacle Hills at 10:45 a.m.  Choose one of these options that will fit your family schedule, but come as you dress normally on Christmas Day.

5.  Do not forget… Christmas Day is Jesus’ birthday… how can you celebrate Christmas and not COME TO THE PARTY WE ARE GIVING HIM?   Yes, we love all of the holidays, but hey, Christmas on Sunday is cool… do not miss it!  Come early and be ready to start on time with us.  If you are away, find a Bible-believing evangelistic church to attend.

6.  On Sunday, December 18th, our Pinnacle Hills location will have the "Blessing Basket Ministry" for all of the needy in that part of Northwest Arkansas.  We have such a need for ministry to these people and we need as many of you as possible to help us that afternoon.  What a tremendous way to not only give a bag of groceries for Christmas Lunch, but to give them love, care, prayer, and the message of Jesus.

7.  Prayer needs abound in my life, so please pray for me. Stuff is all around me in every phase of life. By the way, pray for my Mom… she had surgery on her eye… due to the grief and weeping she has experienced, the previous surgery on the other is struggling.  She has a need for both of these eyes to heal completely.  She is optimistic and the doctor is as well.  So please, assist her and stand with her in prayer.

Thanks for letting me be just… blogging casual with you! 

As you travel down life this week, remember that people are always hurting and suffering. After my quiet time this morning from 4:00-5:15, I received a call from one of our members. Conversations occurred that were extensive and long, but very needed. Life is a challenge. An email came that one of our Support Staff Members lost their house to arson last night. Life involves unforseen hurting. An email came a few moments ago from a man whose wife has had numerous physical struggles this year. Another email came last night from one of our men informing me that his wife will exit earth and go to Heaven within days if the doctor is correct. Life is filled with suffering.

As you travel down life this week, remember that people matter to God. Take the time to listen. Take the time to invest in them. Take the time to minister if you are God’s choice to do so. Take the time to walk slower than normal just to see what God may choose to do around you and through you as His vessel. The thing we must all remember is this: since people matter to God, they should matter to us.

As you travel down life this week, remember that prayer is where you take people. Why? It is simple: prayer means you depend on God, while prayerlessness means you depend on yourself. As well, the only way peace comes about is through prayer…that is it!

And now for the rest of life…

Congratulations to our Springdale Bulldogs, who won the State Championship on Saturday night in Little Rock. It was a sterling performance by Coach Gus Malzahn and his assistant coaches, exercised through their players, who are second to none in this state of Arkansas and even beyond. This team is ranked very high nationally…with a couple of breaks, they could win the National Championship in High School polls. What favor and blessing. Thanks God, and bless this team and its future.

Enjoy your day the best you can, wherever you may be in life. Yes, above all, pray. Give matters to God. He is in control.

This is incredible…Springdale Bulldogs are everywhere in the news…players are receiving national recognition…coaches are favored by God and people. I am loving it! Northwest Arkansas has been known for retail, trucks, chicken, and Razorbacks; but now, Springdale Bulldogs! That fires me up. So many of these young men and coaches are just phenomenal individuals.

It all begins at the top…Coach Gus Malzahn…one of the most gifted and innovative offensive minds in the game of football leads these Red Dogs. Yes, he is a leader, a teacher, a motivator, an innovator, a husband, a father, a churchman, but most of all a born again Christian. A man who is unapologetic for his faith whose career is not for sale. His integrity is everything. He is a dear brother and friend, a man who I met in 1996 when he became the Head Coach of Shiloh Christian School, our ministry’s school. I love him like a son and believe in him 110%.

This top-ranked national high school football team is playing for the state championship in Arkansas’ largest classification. They kick-off Saturday night at 6:30 in Little Rock. They have a major opponent, but I am confident that the Bulldogs will prevail. Somehow, someway, this team of champions will find a way to win. Good luck Bulldogs…all of Northwest Arkansas is counting on you.

It has been two weeks since my Dad died suddenly. Mom’s heart is broken. She told me last night, "Your Dad never went anywhere without me and now he went to heaven without me…every time I come home I expect him to be in that chair waiting on me, but he is not there…it just does not seam real." My Mom’s story is one snapshot of thousands of people during this time of the year. We must be very careful and very sensitive to the masses of people that walk in the pain of grief, especially at this time of the year.

So please continue to pray for her, my sister, and my brother. They deal with Dad’s loss daily in many more ways than I do since I am 12 hours away. Yet, we all hurt and feel the loss deeply in our own separate ways. On top of that is what we call life…job pressures…personal issues…family challenges…yes, we all have them, even though I feel so blessed, even in the midst of my extreme busyness.

I love you folks who take time to read this periodically. Share with your friends about Between Sundays. We want to get as many people as possible to read this blog, so help us get the word out. You are they key to that, so please pass this site on to others.

Have a phenomenal weekend. If you do not hear from me again before Monday, please pray for me.

I have been believing God for some pretty big things in my life, church, and ministry. What about you? Several months ago, I wrote down several items specifically that I was believing God to do in my life. I have seen the Lord deal with many of those, one by one.

It takes faith to believe in God; not in yourself, but in the Lord and what He says. It is so easy to get ahead of God in our attempts, but if we do, we blow it. One of the real keys to prayer and walking with God is waiting on God to do what He wants to do. In reality, you may feel God wants to do something, but you may be wrong. It has happened to me. Let’s get it straight: God will do what He wants to do. Prayer is more about us getting into a spiritual posture to receive what God wants to do, rather than trying to convince God to do something. God is always working. I just have to get to the point where I receive what He is doing.

I began reading Jerry Falwell’s newest book, Building Dynamic Faith. He may be the most qualified man in our generation to write about faith. It is a 31-day spiritual journey where you read one chapter a day…mobilizing you to faith. I was moved by his statement I read this morning:

It is not the size of the miracle of faith that matters, but the size of our God.

That is where I want to be, realizing the size of our God. What about you? You ought to think about getting this book and going through this journey. It is an easy read, though challenging spiritually, and will help build dynamic faith in your life.

Josh’s football season ended on Friday night. They were in the 3rd round of the playoffs, which is really big for a team that still has only 10 seniors, three of which started on both sides of the ball in that quarterfinal game. After one of the greatest victories in the entire program’s history on the Friday night before, one day after my Dad’s death. One week later the team struggled against their opponent who was weaker than their previous opponent. Next year could be the banner year for the Shiloh program, as we have the potential of having 20 seniors playing next year.

Josh was named "Coach of the Year" for our conference in his second year of being a Head Coach. Yes, we are proud of him as his team won the Conference Championship for the first time I believe since 2001. His full-time coaches and families spent Thanksgiving Day at our home before leaving that afternoon for their Friday night game that was five hours away. The previous week’s game was six hours away. This distance in back-to-back weeks, especially in a holiday week, probably took its toll on our young ball club. Back to the coaches: they are special and I love them.

Nick’s class is exploding at Prestonwood in Dallas. God is using him to reach these young singles for Jesus.

Meredith will be performing in the 13 performances of the Dallas Christmas Festival at the Prestonwood Baptist Church in Dallas. This amazing churches will reach an estimated 60,000 plus people through this festival. Pray for Meredith as she works full-time, then gives her evenings to this ministry to reach people for Christ.

Kate continues to take care of Peyton in an excellent way. Peyton now has grown to 12 pounds…placing him in the upper 90% of all babes his age in weight! He is the man!

Jeana is catching up from all behind us and all before us. Pray for her to have God’s strength.

We are blessed…thanks for praying for us.

Do you ever feel like the pressure is on? I feel it today big-time. And yes, I get tired of it also, just like you. So many think at times, "he or she can handle it!" Not always, especially when unforseen challenges arise you did not plan for or know about. I try to work through it, but also pray through it. It is the only way I can make it daily…the only way.

God knows about all the pressure. I know you are saying, "Why did he have to say that?" Well, the reason I said it is that He does know it. He is the one at times that applies it or obviously at all times, permits it. The greater we get pressed the more likely we are to look up…to need help…to go for help from God.

The day is filled with stuff…I have been trying to do this blog all morning, but it kept coming and coming…now it is 10:35 and I am just now doing it. That is what is frustrating in life. Do you ever get there? I am so sorry, but I really have to go. It is time to press on to the next pressure point…if you feel my pain, say "Amen!"

Giving it to God.

My family is attempting to move forward…slowly due to the loss of my father on November 17. It is not easy for any of us. I did not know how I was going to make it through yesterday, but God lifted me up. I changed the message accordingly, just as I prayed 45 seconds while I was on the platform, about to introduce the "prepared message" that has now been delayed for three weeks. Hopefully, God used it in the hearts of our people.

My Dad, John to friends, Papa to children and grandchildren, but still "Dad" to me, is missed by all of us. After 55 years of marriage, Mom went to church, both morning and evening services, by herself for the first time yesterday, escorted by a deacon and wife that are like their children. Even though Mom and Dad went to church in the first few years of marriage, it was not as consistent. But 48 years ago they became very, very committed upon transitioning to their present location. So the bottom line is: Mom went to church yesterday without her Sweetheart for the first time in 48 years. God was faithful to see her through and the church provided significant support to her.

This week will demand much from me as we do administrative and organizational details with the ministry…I have been away from the daily challenges since November 17. Therefore, please pray for me. We are going through some major staff transitions by the end of the year, so the burden becomes even greater to me. Yet, my God will see me through. Amen.

I must go…thanks for your prayerful support for our family during this time.

Thanksgiving Day began early for Jeana and me.  Nick and Meredith did not arrive home from Dallas until just before midnight.  The traffic was terrible and construction was existent.  The result . . . a slow trip home.

This morning after getting up early and having my quiet time, I woke up to the smell of Thanksgiving lunch already happening.  With a 9:00 a.m. practice scheduled at Shiloh, Nick and I went by, picked up Peyton, arriving at the Field of Champions to observe the traditional Thanksgiving walk-through practice.  We wanted Peyton to be a part of the tradition.  He was and it was special.

Nick, Peyton, and I talked to my Mom on the way home, wishing her a new kind of Thanksgiving Day with Dad being gone.  They were heading to the cemetery at 11:00 a.m. with the rest of the family, returning for a mid-afternoon lunch at my brother’s home.  Traditionally, always at Mom’s and Dad’s, but all believed it would be best to be changed at least for this year.  So after Mom had lived her first 168 hours without Dad, I conversed with her for a while, let her talk to Nick, and then we placed the phone in Peyton’s ear to hear his Great Grandmother say, "Happy Thanksgiving Peyton."

Upon arrival at home, I carved the turkey . . . garbed in an apron, hands covered with gloves, I performed surgery on this awesome turkey that Jeana prepared for everyone. The next several minutes welcomed people into our home.

Oh before everyone arrived, I asked Peyton to smile for Meredith and I IF THE SAINTS WERE GOING TO WIN ON FRIDAY NIGHT . . . of which he did . . . I asked him three different times and he smiled each time….Wow!  Now if we lose, he will not become a broadcaster.  If we win, watch out ESPN!

About 11:45 a.m. all the Shiloh Christian Football full-time Coaches and families were with us in our home for lunch. Before we ate, we took five minutes to share together some moments and people we were thankful for, followed by a prayer for all of our families.  Then, we chowed down with eagerness and intensity.

We watched the ball game for a while and due to a late afternoon departure for the team to Texarkana for the evening, the coaches began to leave fairly early. Some of their families were going to leave today and stay with family located nearby. Pray for all of their safety.

Before Josh and Kate left, I sat them down with Nick, Meredith, Peyton, and Jeana and handed to them, "special gifts of jewelry that were worn by their Papa who had died one week ago.  These gifts were thought through carefully by their Grandma and who she wanted to have which gift and why.  So, that time was special as we shared some of Dad’s jewelry with both boys.

So, late afternoon, Jeana and I retired up to the best room in the home for a nap and we slept through the second quarter of the Cowboy game.  Now, I am blogging for you.  Nick and Meredith still asleep, the Cowboys down by 7 points.

I told my Mom today, "Touch the grave, tell Dad I love him and miss him."  She promised she would.  Oh my, people without faith experience such horrifying finality of death.  It has been hard enough on us even with faith that is strong and grounded.

I hope you have had a very special day with someone.  God bless and know that you are loved.

What a Journey We Have All Been On With My Dad’s Sudden Death last Thursday morning. The loss has been so felt personally and the sudden nature placed all of us in a state of shock.  People say, "Well, he was 76 years of age…yada…yada…" like that is to take away the punch.  Well, it does not.

76 Years Builds More Memories and Greater Love.  For example, tomorrow is Thanksgiving and for years, my parents have hosted a massive family gathering at their home.  In recent years, we have not been able to be a part of that gathering due to many things.  Yet, tomorrow, it will be moved to my brother’s home.  Why?  The memories are too great for everyone to "live over again this soon."  The list could go on and on in my days there over this past week.  The challenge of death is:  this is the beginning of many of these kinds of experiences and feelings, not the end.

As my walked away towards my plane yesterday in Victoria, Texas, I just could not look back at my Mom and Linda.  I could not bear it.  It would usually be three, now just two.  As Jeana and I peered out the window, seeing their car looking at us depart in the air, my heart sank again.  Reality… Dad is gone.  Yes, to be with Jesus, but gone from them and from us… for now.  The now is what hurts.  The now is where the challenges are… from adjustments, to decisions, to attorneys, to financial challenges.  Wow, and it is just the beginning.  Oh God, help us get Mom and Linda through it.

Church on Sunday for my Mom will be… I cannot imagine it enough to even write it!  You see, Sunday was the most important day of the week in the lives of my parents.  It was just "not another day" or "not another social engagement to attend."  It was a day of worship, a day of life, a day to meet up with God and His people.  The "empty chair" will exist, even if someone occupies the chairs beside her for comfort. 

Last yesterday afternoon, my friend John David Lindsey, had his corporate plane come to pick us up and bring Jeana and I back into Northwest Arkansas.  We are home.  The sober reminders abound, even though distanced by miles, but life does go on.  Life has to go on. 

Therefore, this Sunday I will be back in the pulpit at both of our locations, bringing forth the message from God’s Word.  I am very grateful for my great friend, Bruce Perkins, who filled in the gap for me last Sunday with a short 72 hour notice.  I will be eternally grateful to he and Pam for many things in life, but most of all, love and friendship.  Pray for me please as I prepare myself in every way to deliver the Word of God.

Late yesterday afternoon I dropped by the office for a few minutes.  Already many gone for the holidays, activity had slowed, and the life of staff and church move forward.  I am thankful to all of them who stood in the gap for me these last seven days.

I am thankful for the numerous cards, notes, flowers, and even those whom I do know have already given a Memorial to my Dad’s church for their new building program.  Your encouragement at whatever level expressed in whatever way is appreciated deeply.  Thanks so very much.

I am thankful to the Hunts, the Schwyharts, the Georges, and the Lindseys who have shared the resources entrusted to them to mobilize my family via private planes.  With Thanksgiving Days being one of the, if not the most traveled holidays of the year, my family would have had a terrible time attempting to get flights, much less ones that would have been friendly to schedule.  With family 12 hours away, this is just one of those obstacles we face periodically.  However, dear selfless friends came through for us and I am grateful to God for them sharing their travel blessings with us.  Otherwise, so much would have been impossible and even more exhausting.

Enough… yes, my tank is empty… nothing left, but by the Lord’s Day, He will be faithful to lift me up and support me.  His strength will become my strength. 

I do hope you and your family will have a blessed Thanksgiving.  Tomorrow for a brief two to four hour period of time, the full-time football coaches at our school and their families will be in our home having Thanksgiving lunch.  This is just one of those things you do when you are in the middle of playoff season.  Their families are away from Northwest Arkansas.  All of us will be family tomorrow. 

Therefore, my sweet and precious wife, Jeana, will be preparing all the stuff for a pretty large Thanksgiving meal tomorrow, following a morning practice.  The team will practice on Thanksgiving morning (nothing like it… Nick and I will be there… it is a great feel to be out there on Thanksgiving Day) and leave tomorrow afternoon at 5:00 p.m. to drive five hours away for their Friday night ball game.  Pray for their safety and the other teams around our state who will be doing the same. 

Jeana has walked through these days with me, lifting me up, holding my hand, loving me in my deepest moments of sorrow.  She is the best and I am grateful to God for her. 

I am not sure you will hear again from me until Monday, but you might check back.  I am just not sure at this point.  I may need to write some to download some stuff to you.  God bless you my friends.

I love you.

Well, Saturday Was A Very Difficult Day. I am amazed of my own personal journey through the loss of my Dad. My Dad died suddenly on Thursday while sitting in a chair at an estimated 10:00 a.m. while being at home alone. He was discovered by my sister mid-morning with life gone, memories alive, and difficulties began.

By Thursday at 6:00 p.m. I was standing in a funeral home, choosing a casket for my Dad, to serve as his body’s temporary home. That began one of a myriad of decisions that continue to unfold. Some prepared for, many not.

I began weeping on Saturday in the very early morning while putting my shoes onto my feet. Sitting in a closet I wept continually. In those morning moments with family standing again at the side of my Dad’s casket, I wept uncontrollably. Why? I am not sure other than I am human, hurting, and deeply needing to find faith while standing right there. All the preaching on heaven and the promise of the Rapture and Second Coming all seemed to be forgotten. I did learn this…

While it all seemed so final and death is final… my faith is the only thing that cancels out the finality of death. I stayed a very long time on Saturday morning standing there with my children, my wife, my Mom, brother and sister. I needed to articulate my struggles out loud and did. I was trying my very best to prepare as much I could to conduct Dad’s funeral at 3:00 p.m.

Time arrived… I walked out to a funeral chapel that was absolutely packed, with standing room only… and they stood. Somehow, God endowed me, lifted me up, and made me stand and speak with Nick by my side ready to take over if needed. He was ready just in case.

I informed the funeral director that I wanted to close the lid of my Dad’s casket personally as his body slept in Jesus until the resurrection. Therefore, I did… more difficult than I imagined, but I felt I must do it, laying that body to rest until that Great Day. I told that body of my Dad, "I love you Dad… I will see you soon." Weeping before my family and others, I took that lid and closed it with heart aching and tears flowing. Again, only my faith cancelled out the finality.

Driving my Mom 45 minutes away to the cemetery named after my Dad’s great Grandfather, was absolutely sobering. Little said, pain and loss felt.

Just before dusk, the final words, scripture and prayer was offered, my Dad was a veteran. Therefore, military honors were bestowed upon him, taps was played, flag folded from his casket, and presented to my Mom from a young Air Force team from Lackland Air Force base in San Antonio, Texas. Final greetings from family and friends given, dusk was coming upon us. We drove away on that dusty road, Dad was buried probably just as dark was coming upon that country cemetery.

Sunday afternoon we drove back over, dirt covering the body of my Dad’s casket, and flowers all over the grave. What did not matter before, I personally took great detail for several minutes with the placement of the flowers and taking away completely the look of dirt. Oh my, how difficult it was to walk away again. I knelt down, breaking down again emotionally, touching those flowers, telling the body that represented my Dad to me all those years, "Dad I love you, Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas in heaven." As I sat in the back seat I kept looking back at that grave as long as I could see it.

How human I have been… really no different from any other day, but just a different journey. The most difficult journey that exposed to me so much about me. I have realized again so vividly, "Hey Ronnie, I am human. I hurt. I feel pain. I cry. I am just a man." Not that I did not know that, but this time I know it more than ever before.

I will be fine, but please pray for Mom continually. She and my Dad were together for 55 years. Her words last night while crying in the arms of her children, "I feel so empty without him." Why should she not? One-half of her died. One-half of her is in heaven. She is left to bear the pain, the loss, and grief. She does not grieve for my Dad, but only for herself. She is strong, but she is but a woman. My sister has lived with my parents for a year as a single mom. My brother and his wife just moved back within minutes from them within the last month. Thank God for them.

Thanks for all of those who have prayed for us. We really appreciate it. Do not forget to pray for my Mom and sister and brother.

Thanks for all who want to give to the Memorial for my Dad to his church:

New Building Program
Austin Street Baptist Church
107 Austin Street
Yoakum, Texas 77995
(361) 293-7300
Pastor, Del E. Turner (A great man of God)

Thanks again. God bless you.

My last word early this morning was that I would be off-line unless a crisis occured. One did today… a major one to me… my Dad died suddenly at an estimated 10:00 a.m., November 17. I got the call this morning at approximately 11:00 a.m. My sister found Dad lying in his favorite chair sometime around 10:30 a.m. He looked like he was asleep, and he was… asleep in Jesus. The ambulances rushed to their home, but Dad was gone.

I sat shocked by the news for a few minutes, just trying to mobilize into decision-making. What about my children? Who would tell them? When should I tell Josh since he has a major playoff game– perhaps the biggest of his career coming up on Friday night? Well, Jeana and I tracked to the school, called Nick in Dallas, told Josh the news, and then the news broke out everywhere. A former Pastor, John Ware, who served as the Chaplain of the Oklahoma State Cowboys for years, was in Siloam for his new ministry, "Feed The Children." He felt led by the Spirit of God to come to Shiloh to see Josh whom he had met at Oklahoma State. He was the first to pray for us upon the news. It was sweet and special. Our God is Sovereign.

Due to friends who own Pinnacle Air, we were flown down to Victoria, Texas, arriving here after a 90 minute flight at 4:30 p.m. We got a car, drove to my Mom’s home at Yoakum, Texas (40 miles away), and walked into a house that was vacant of my Dad’s presence. He would usually come to meet us on the sidewalk, watching for us. This time he did not. Those minutes were crushing for all of us to see… my Mom who had been married to my Dad for over 55 years… sitting in a chair… in a daze of loss.

Within minutes we were at the funeral home walking through details, picking out the needed stuff, sitting at a conference table making final decisions. All those years of life, now finalized at a conference table. We walked out of that funeral home, knowing my Dad’s body is there alone. Even as I write about it hours later at 10:05 p.m., I am overwhelmed with that thought. Family here, Dad gone. Family together, Dad alone (that is his body).

The Memorial Service will be at the local Funeral Home at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday afternoon. His pastor will assist, Nick will pray, Nick and Josh will be one of seven pall bearers, and I will do my Dad’s funeral. This is strange. Dressing to head to Little Rock for a playoff game, ending up writing to inform you of my Dad’s death. One never knows what a day can hold. Oh man, this is really different.

I have already been asked by others "what kind of Memorial could people give to for your Dad?" My Dad’s church, the Austin Street Baptist Church in Yoakum, Texas, is relocating to a brand new site, building the first church building. Dad was so excited about all of it. Last Sunday as one of the church’s deacons, he had a hat and a spade turning up ground in the Groundbreaking. So if you want to express grief or love, give to this: New Building Fund, Austin Street Baptist Church, 107 Austin St, Yoakum, TX, 77995.

My Dad’s name: John Franklin Floyd Sr, 76 years old this past August, Father of 3, Grandfather of 7, and 11 Great-Grandchildren (they all called him "Papa"). No, Dad is not alone at the funeral home tonight, he is alive in heaven with Jesus. Family here, yes he is with family there. The family of God, as well as his family and others who knew the Lord who have gone on before him. May God be praised. Thanks Dad. You’re the man!