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Safe Harbor United Methodist Church

“To Defeat Boxcar Bailey”

The thing about THIS high school football story is, it’s true.

I was a 105-pound seventh grader suiting up for my first seventh-grade football game, against my school’s biggest rival school. Our little pitiful group of players was warming up on their football field when their team came out of the locker room. They had a lot more players than we did, and they all looked pretty big. But none were as big as number 00.

According to the game program, he was listed as Boxcar Bailey. A legitimate 6-foot-6-inches and 260 pounds as a seventh grader! We later found out that Bailey suffered from a thyroid condition which took his life at an early age. And just my luck, Boxcar lined up across from me. I was playing center. Bailey was nose tackle. It was not pretty.

After our first series of downs, the Coach pulled me aside. “Potter,” he said, “I want you to fire off the line and grab him around the leg. Hold on for dear life and just try to slow him down.”

“But Coach,” I said, “isn’t that a penalty? Isn’t that holding?”

The Coach responded, “Trust me. You just grab hold of him and hang on. No referee in this world is going to flag you for holding a guy that big!”

Coach was right. I never was called for holding, as Bailey ran around the field, trying desperately to shake me off of his leg. I was like a tick with a helmet.

It strikes me that we’re all lined up against a huge, scary opponent. One we can’t defeat on our own. But when God throws in and gives us courage and strength, we can wrestle and hold and scrap until the blessing is forthcoming.

By the way, Bailey kept growing bigger each season we faced him. Until he passed away.

Satan, on the other hand, is not going anywhere. Might as well learn what it takes to defeat him. See you at practice, I mean worship.

In Joy,
Tom

News

Bible Drive! Our United Methodist Youth are in need of Bibles for their youth rooms. If you have any extra Bibles lying around that you would like to donate, we would put them to good use. Your support is always appreciated.

New Sunday Night Series! A new five-week series entitled "Scriptural Answers To Our Questions About God" begins this Sunday, August 29th. The first topic will be "The End Of The World Is Only The Beginning".

Sunday School Helper Needed! Our Pre-School Sunday School class has grown and teacher, Peggy McMahon, could really use some help. Please prayerfully consider helping and let Karen Upton know as soon as possible.

Will you be a Backpack Buddy? Safe Harbor UMC is partnering with other area churches, groups, and businesses to provide local children with food for the weekends. Safe Harbor has committed to providing pop-tarts and canned pasta (with meat). Just place your items in the box in the foyer. For more information contact Lindsey Huff.

Here's a NEW way to count your blessings! If you receive a blessing, respond by dropping a quarter in the offering plate. Through this practice, we'll start recognizing more and more blessings in our life. Quarters will go toward the Playground Fund. We have deposited $5,928.75! So far, that's 23,279 Blessings!

If you like small groups, don't miss the next Pacer's Prayer Group on Tuesday, August 31st, at 9:00 a.m. Everyone is invited to join in this time of praying for others. Immediately following prayer group, we have a Small Group Bible Study.

We offer a meal each Wednesday evening at 6:00 p.m. for those living the busy life and don't have time to cook before Bible Study! These delicious meals are prepared by our very own Patsy Rouse, Chef Extraordinaire. We invite you to join us September 1st for our next Supper Service. Don't forget, keep it going by placing your donation in the basket provided at the meal.

Financial Peace University! Orientation begins at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 1st. Classes will be each Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. beginning September 8th. Both the orientation and the classes will be held in Room #113. All interested need to see Tom Potter, Christopher Lovely, or Jerica Bounds.

The WINGS Circle will have their monthly meeting on Thursday, September 2nd, at 10:00 a.m. in the Gym.

The Prayers And Squares Quilting Group will meet again on Saturday, September 4th, at 10:00 a.m. in the Gym.

Let There Be Light! A special offering will be received on Sunday, September 5th, to improve the lighting in the Sanctuary. We are installing six chandeliers that match the one in the foyer, adding stage lighting, and upping the wattage in the existing lights. Mark your donation "Lighting" and drop it in the offering plate.

The next United Methodist Men's Breakfast Meeting is scheduled for Sunday, September 5th, at 7:30 a.m. in the Gym.

Making Of The Roux, Creole, and Chicken Gumbo. Volunteers are needed Thursday, September 16th, and Friday, September 17th. We will be cooking roux, dicing vegetables, making creole sauce, boiling and deboning chicken, and making our chicken gumbo. If you can help, be at the church at 8:00 a.m.

Church Work Day! We need to get our facility in tip top shape for the 3rd Annual Open House and Vision Sunday. We will have a Church Work Day on Saturday, September 18th, beginning at 9:00 a.m. Please sign up in the foyer!

The Ladies' Annual Canton Trip is scheduled for Wednesday, October 13th, and Thursday, October 14th. We will depart from the church at 8:00 a.m. sharp on Wednesday and shop our way to Jackson. Thursday morning we will rise early and drive to Canton where we shop 'til we drop! The cost for the room, van gas, and van parking is $50.00. See Nancy Schaefer by September 12th if you intend to go.