DillardClass

The "Far Side" of Doug Dillard

Some of the newer members have never seen the "far side" of Doug Dillard. Here's your chance.

He recorded a recent "PulpiTEARS" performance for a regional senior adult event at a Stephenville church.

Dillard did an hour's comic monolog of true, embarrassing incidents that happened in church, based on the "PulpiTEARS" cartoon feature he introduced in 1965. The feature ran in twenty-six religious periodicals as well as countless church papers for the next two decades.

If you've never heard him in a live performance, you might want to download this WAV file that will play on your computer when you click on this link: Download tears_valley_grove_oct_30_2006.wav.

Be patient. It's a big file. It will take a while to download.

Photos from the Youth Revival Reunion

I have just posted a photo record of the Oct. 18-22 reunion of leaders of the youth revival movement at Baylor University. I shot from 125 to 240 photos each of the five days. I assembled them on my new MacPro, so I posted them on my .MAC site. The address is lengthy to type in your browser, so just click this link: http://web.mac.com/brotherblotz/iWeb/Youth Revivals Remembered/

I'll write more about it soon. This week of reunion was almost as life-changing as the experiences of the 1940s themselves. At least, it brought back all the emotions and made us all long to see "an old match light a new flame." It made me realize how far reaching was the influence of that revival movement, and how extensive the contributions that were made by those who were fortunate enough to be a part of it.

More about the Cole Park Revival story

Several commented or asked questions about my closing story Sunday, Oct. 15, about Monday's meeting at Cole Park. The meeting was a small gathering of what I called "the world's oldest living youth revival evangelists" to recall the great 1946 Dallas City-Wide Youth Revival. It was the first outside of the explosive revival in Waco earlierthat year, and it was the one that clearly showed that the Waco revival wan't an isolate event. You can find the complete story, including a picture of the Cole Park group and a recording of nearly an hour-long share session at:

http://thevaryidea.typepad.com/hingesofhistory/2006/10/cole_park_60_ye.html

Our Missing Rays

I could stand it no longer! I called Dan and Frances Ray! Admit it. You miss them too since they moved to Belton. It turned out that because they have remained on our group email list, they have received all the prayer updates that have gone out to other Dillard Class members. They appreciated them, and they've prayed along with us.

That brings up their request for prayer for their Australian missionaries, Mark and Karen Ray. I used to post their newsletters and prayer requests in our member news. I told them I had not received on in quite a while, so they promised to keep me posted again so I can pass it on to you.

PARTNERING IN PRAYER, with Mark & Karen Ray, Adelaide, South Australia

Warmest Greetings!  Who else out there can’t believe that we are in the last quarter of 2006!?  This has been a year of much travel for us, especially Mark as he has sought to find his way through his new responsibilities and task as Strategy Group Leader for Australia.  Much of his time has been endeavoring to help all our personnel discern how God wants to best use them in the task that God has called them to for each of their people groups.  God is using him to mentor, inspire and encourage them, when sometimes they just don’t feel they are seeing active results.  Reality for all of us is that God is definitely at work!  In many small and large ways -- He continues to work in the lives of the people He has put us all amongst and all we can do is remain ever faithful to His Kingdom task.

Each month our all our folk here share through these prayer points how God is using them.  Thank you all for continuing to pray diligently and effectively.  Please, could I call on you all to continue to pray for each unit that is here and thank Him for their continued faithfulness and passion for going and sharing Jesus Christ with their target groups and that through relationships, acts of kindness and proclamation – that Christ’s name will be lifted up. Please pray for Mark and I, that we would continue to be all He desires for us to be also, to our personnel but also as we still continue to be on the “frontline” of sharing Christ with those who don’t know Him!  This is our personal passion!  Pray for Mark as he travels, as I write this he is in Singapore and then comes home for a week before leaving again for Thailand .  Please pray that he would be kept safe.

As our virtual praying continues this month I have included a collage of people who are representative of the diversity of this land called Australia (Click on the picture to see it larger).  Continue to pray for those Aussies who are hearing the call of Christ to take up their crosses daily and follow Him – each day dying to themselves to do and be all that God wants them to be among their own people here in this very secular society!

As always – thank you, thank you for your love, prayers and continual support – it is so very valued! 

OUR VIRTUAL PRAYING this month…OPEN HANDS (Matthew 10:7-8) “And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The Kingdom is at hand,’ heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons; freely you received, freely give.”

• Ask God to reveal acts of compassion that need to be carried out in the name of Jesus in the community. That relationships can be forged and built so that through them Jesus’ name will be proclaimed and glorified. 
• Ask God to raise up His workers from out of the harvest and that churches will start and become an expression of Christ in those communities.

Thank you and we pray for you all!
Mark and Karen

PS: Visit the PacRim JO Website at www.pacrimaustralia.org

Prayer Update on Royce

Betty Britton sent this Monday, Oct. 2: Good morning. Rather than making telephone calls I thought I'd use the email as a means to update info on my "Patient".

Royce is getting weaker again. I guess the boost from the blood transfusion is fading. He remains in bed and seldom plays his solitaire on the computer nor comes into the family room to watch TV with me. I have to sit in his room if it's something we watch together.

Yesterday he broke his previous records of chest pain incidents. He started off with one at 2:30 a.m., another 6:25P.M. and another at 9:30 p.m. That happening even though he slept most of the day. He had been averaging two per day recently. So far the Nitro, Morphine and Lorazepam give him relief.

Last Thursday he fell when getting up from his chair at the table in the  kitchen. He isn't sure whether he attempted to get up without his walker. He fell toward the window, knocked over the ficus tree which landed on his head, etc. I had just stepped into his room for something when I heard the crash.  Anyway, I couldn't get him up no matter what things I tried. I was ready to phone 911 but decided to check to see if there were workmen on the condos behind us. There were two city inspectors in the alley and they very graciously got him up and into bed. The hospice aide had come shortly afterwards and looked him over in the shower. Later the nurse came and checked him. Apparently there was no breakage for which we are very grateful. I suppose that could contribute to his being so tired lately.

As he gets weaker I don't know if he can take many more "rides"  and I think that when that happens he'll really give up.

My times for leaving him with the aide may be coming to a screeching halt. One doesn't know about tomorrow but that's just the way it appears to me at this time.

He is getting more and more confused. The simple task of dialing the house phone with his cell phone became a source of confusion yesterday. Of course that could have been the result of all that medication.

Thought this might bring you up to date on Royce.

Thanks again for all the prayers for the both of us.

Betty

Consolation Continues

Thanks, I needed that! Isn't it funny how God arranges "Just-in-time" deliveries. He always knows when we need a special word, that's a given. But the amazing thing is that to do that requires that He set those deliveries in motion week, even years ahead of time.

Today for instance. I needed a boost, and there it was. A large manila envelope containing a devotional book produced by members of First Baptist Church, Richmond, Virginia. My old ex-roommate (and brother-in-law for more than 53 years) Clark Scanlon attached this note to the cover: "Your Daily Appointment With God" was begun during the latter years of FBC, Richmond. At firest it was to build a spirit of expectancy leading up to Christmas. Staff members wrote it. Then they did the same at Easter and gradually included church members. It became such a valuable tool for daily devotionals that it culminated with a full year of reflections by a sizeable number of rank-and-file."

Then Clark added, "Read especially pp. 72-27." That turned out to be a week authored by Clark and Sarah on the theme of Gratitude. I devoured it, for both are skilled writers. Good, thoughtful stuff, right down to Thursday's "Gratitude in Trial and Loss" that went like this ...

"The highest tribute to the dead is not grief, but gratitude."

On May 28, 2006 Sarah's twin sister, Marah, died. Her long battle with a chronic pulmonary disease ended and so had her husband's long vigil as care giver. Marah's family with deep faith coped with her death. The church, the family and friends all helped provide support, but at last each went back to other responsibilities. We check on oour brother-in-law each week and marvel at his coping and continuing to serve others. He revealed his secret recently. He recounted many things that remind him of her and cause moments of pain. Then he said, "With every stabbing pain, there gushes from the wound a torrent of gratitude." Their son, Daivd, spoke for his siblings in a tribute to his mother, "Mother sang alto; she provided the harmony that made the music sweeter." Eschewing hopelessness and rejecting bitterness, our family has chosen the high road of gratitude.

Think about how you might express gratitude in grief or hardship.

I hope these lines provide some comfort and consolation to the many in The Dillard Class who are walking that same lonesome valley of grief.

A Personal Request for Pendleton

I want your prayers for Pendleton Baptist Church, located in a country crossroads community, just west of Intersate 35 about seven miles north of Temple. It came to my attention today in a weird way.

I've been enjoying my "other class" immensely -- the men's Bible class that I teach Thursday afternoons at The Plaza at Richardson, the nursing home where my Mother lives now. I'm teaching our recent unit on Luke: Journeying to Jerusalem. The journey is at a more leisurely pace, about three sessions to cover what we covered in one Sunday morning in The Dillard Class!

After class today, while visiting with Mother, she handed me a sack of recent issues of the Temple Daily Telegram that I had ordered for her (so she can keep up with the obituaries). I dutifully take them home when she's through with them, usually just to add them to my recycle bin. But this time, for some reason, I opened one and got a shock.

"Weekend storm wreaks havoc on Pendleton Baptist" was the headline of a four-column news story. A photo showed their new church building that was under construction when a suspected tornado flattened it Saturday, Sept. 23. To see the article, Download pendleton_storm_damage.pdf 

While a 17-year-old Baylor freshman, one day I opened a letter written in pencil on dime-store tablet paper asking me to come "in view of a call to be our pastor." After preaching to about a dozen people that next Sunday, they called me to be their "full-time pastor" at the generous salary of $10 a week.

Don't think of it as a paltry sum. It paid for my meals for the whole week. And I had little expense earning it, for I hitchhicked to Temple on Wednesdays and Saturdays, borrowed my Dad's car to drive seven miles from my folks Temple home to Pendleton for services.

I was pastor there only about a year before resigning to accept appointment by the Student Department of the Baptist General Convention of Texas to be part of their youth revival teams. I rarely preached to more than that faithful dozen while at Pendleton, except during revivals and special "dinner on the grounds" services.

My roommate took over as pastor when I left. About a year later, the church disbanded. Lumber and furnishings were donated to three area churches. "Roomie" and I joked later that I killed the church and he buried it.

This article tells of its recent resurrection and its more recent setback. Join me in prayer for them as they recover from this disappointment and as I ponder what else I might do to help them.

Prayer Alert for Joy Clark

Joy Clark, 79, sister of Mary McFadden, tripped on her oxygen cord in Baytown today and was taken to San Jacinto Hospital there, where she was placed in intensive care. She had to be moved out to a recovery room when the hospital was overwhelmed with 18 victims of a Baytown chemical plant. Joy is using a breathing machine to take the stress off while they try to stabilize her. Fortunately, there are no broken bones; but she has fluid on her lungs, probable pneumonia, and possible congestive heart failure. Ollie and Mary McFadden had already planned to take Florence Gryder, Peggy Thompson's mother, back to her home in Winnie on Thursday. They will go on from there to be with Mary's sister. Mary said it is not necessary to call all the groups at this time. She will keep us advised of developments. Check your emails. I will also post the news on the class web, www.dillardclass.org, as well as here on the class blog.

Prayer Updates Sept. 24, 2006

Royce Britton, at home in hospice care, enjoys his "joyrides" with the men from our class. He continues to suffer episodes of chest pain.

John Caudill is doing well after hip surgery.

Mary Ann Frederickson got good news that tests showed no sign of cancer, and then came the saddest news that her husband Bob Frederickson passed away Saturday in the VA nursing home where has been for the past few years. Sparkman Funeral Home on Greenville Avenue will handle the services, but the time has not been set as of this writing, pending arrangements with the DFW National Cemetery, where interment will be, probably on Wednesday.

Mary Harper's sister, Leatha Gordon, 83, is very ill with shingles. Her medicine has made her extremely nauseated.

Sylvia Hunter reports that her pain is much less and she is doing well after foot surgery.

Jack and Joette Liles ask continued prayers for their friends Cheryl Wheeler, who has breast cancer, and Georgia Goodrum, who is suffering from lung cancer.

Mary McFadden's nephew, Andy Andersson, who has acute myeloid leukemia, has just completed another round of chemo. Since they can find no match for a stem cell transplant, pray that Andy can grow healthy white blood cells.

George Nelson had surgery Monday, Sept. 18. A stint was placed in one of the main arteries to his heart. He said he is feeling better than he has in a long while and proved that by being in his place in The Dillard class this morning.

Norval Palmer was back in place in class this morning after return home last week.

Bill Passmore had an enhanced CAT scan that indicated some blockage in one artery to his stomach and in two arteries to his kidneys. His doctors aren't sure that he could survive surgery to remedy the condition. They've adopted a "wait-and-see" approach. On Saturday, Sue Passmore suffered stomach pain and nausea. The Passmore's daughter's father-in-law, Tom Cincott, has an inoperable brain tumor. Tuesday he will have a one-time radiation treatment.

friends Cheryl Wheeler (breast cancer) and Georgia Goodrum (lung cancer).

Carolyn Stiles is doing well after foot surgery on Friday.

Cloie Sutton's niece, Kelly Marsh, 46, has kidney cancer.

Byron Rippy has Alzheimer's disease, and Helen says it is getting progressively worse. She appreciates your calls, cards, and prayers.

Polly Pittman requests our prayers that she can find employment.

Adult Ministries Leadership Night Aug. 25

Dillard Class will again lead the way in
Adult Ministries Leadership night Aug. 25
First meeting of our new class officers will again for training and planning will again be held as part of the Adult Ministries Leadership Night. The meal is free, but we need to sign a reservation sheet that will be in our class on Sunday. Food service will begin at 6:15 p.m. The "Renovation" theme — Restore, Renew, Revive — will be prominent in the opening program after the meal. Many of you remember the high inspirational moments we experienced during the presentation by Candy Smith, who will again be in charge. All class officers and team leaders and members will then retire to a section of our classroom, as we did last year, to do some important planning and praying for next year.

Prayer Updates Aug. 10, 2006

• Time-sensitive prayer request for our own! Early this morning, Thursday, Aug. 10, we woke to the horrendous news of a vicious terrorist plot to blow up multiple airplanes. The news was still sinking in when I got a call from Mary McFadden alerting me to the fact that John and Aggie Roark and Jack and Joette Liles were at that moment in flight from Germany to DFW, with arrival expected about 1:00 PM. Also, her granddaughter, Mary Sides, who has been on mission in Albania, is expected to fly home with other team members. This is a solemn reminder that every moment we live, it is by God's grace. We must be diligent in prayer for one another ... and for our troubled world.
• Doug Dillard's friend John "Bubba" Wood was scheduled to leave for Siberia Wednesday, Aug. 9, to equip a remote medical clinic on the Arctic Ocean in Siberia. A series of tests showed major blockage (three arteries at 95 percent, 85 percent, and 70 percent, plus three more ranging from 20 to 40 percent). He will have lab work this Friday, Aug. 11 and enter the hospital Monday for surgery expected to last up to six hours. If everything goes all right, he will require about six weeks to recover. He plans to reschedule his trip for Oct. 23. Wood is the point man making all the arrangements for a reunion of all those who were part of the Texas Youth Revival Movement that began at Baylor in 1945 and 1946. Doug is planning to be a part of that reunion from Oct. 18- 22 during Baylor's Homecoming week. A Heritage Room housing the history and memorabilia from those revivals will be dedicated as part of the festivities.
• John Thompson continues to improve from the cornea transplant. His eyesight is much improved.
• Peggy Thompson's sister, Aline, saw a specialist in Houston last Thursday. She has a hiatal hernia that has formed a pocket of acid that has affected her esophagus. The condition is serious, but can be corrected. She will have surgery August 21.
• Royce Britton is at home in hospice care. Betty, who was able to attend Sunday, July 30, said that except for Tuesday, when he had two sessions of chest pains. Morphine has been added to his medications to control his pain. The treat of the week was when members of our class took him for a ride. Royce and Betty appreciate your cards, calls and emails.
• Mary Ann Frederickson is experiencing discomfort from her chemotherapy treatments. Her malfunctioning air conditioner got a temporary fix, but she will need a new one before long. Her dog had successful cancer surgery. The Vet thought he was able to remove it all.
• Betty Clanton continues to do well after foot surgery. She hopes to be able to walk on her foot, not just her heel, after trips to her doctor this week. Betty attended the Ladies' Luncheon Wednesday, Aug. 9.
• Mary Sides, granddaughter of Ollie and Mary McFadden, is one a Christian mission to a children's home in Albania. Please pray for her ministry and her safety.
• George Nelson continues to improve. He continues therapy at home and plans no further surgery at this time.
• Bill Passmore has stopped taking oral chemo for a while to see if that will help his gastric problems. If it helps, he may consider changing the oral chemo. Their granddaughter Katy was to have kidney surgery Monday afternoon, Aug. 7. This might be the cause of her severe pain rather than the hip that was out of socket. She might not require hip surgery. Please pray that this might be the case. 
• Doris Sosebee's physical therapy has helped her knee. Continue to pray for Doris's daughter Marcey who shows some improvement over her postpartum depression.
• Cloie Sutton's brother was diagnosed with prostate cancer and will have surgery soon. Tests indicate it hasn't spread.
• Hal McCardell, continues physical therapy and is improving.
• Byron Rippy has Alzheimer's disease, and Helen says it is getting progressively worse. She appreciates your calls, cards, and prayers.
• Christina Pittman, daughter-in-law of Jack and Shirley Pittman, got the results of her MRI. The doctor told her that the tumor had shrunk another fifty percent. It is now only 12.5 to 14 percent of its original size. She says her spirits are buoyed every time her Prayer Pager goes off. (To let her know of your prayers, dial 1-800-245-0348, and after the tone, press 777#.)
• Polly Pittman requests our prayers that she can find employment.
• Andy Anderson, nephew of Mary McFadden, has acute myeloid leukemia. He just received another, stronger round of chemotherapy and is back home. At this time, they cannot proceed with a stem cell transplant until they find a match. Please continue to pray for Andy, his wife, and his medical team.
• Mary Sides, granddaughter of Ollie and Mary McFadden, will return home soon from mission service in an Albania children's home this summer. Pray that the seeds her team sowed while there will result in many coming to know Christ.
• Rylan Yowell, great nephew of Bob Wilgus, continues to improve. He and his mother are encouraged by your calls to his Prayer Pager. (To let him know of your prayers, dial 972-229-2042, and after the tone, press 777#.)
• Bob Fredrickson in VA Hospital in Bonham appreciates your cards:

Sam Rayburn
NHCU Wing C 3208A
1201 East Ninth St.
Bonham, TX 75418