Mother’s Day

I found this news paper clipping amongst dad’s papers…. Word for word… here it is!
   “Jack Exum, minister of the Church of Christ, Largo, who rates tops as a preacher, tried his hand at a Mother’s Day poem this year and proved to be a punk poet even when his subject matter is good.”

   “To Mother On Mother’s Day ’50”
When and if we’re all together,
Once again at home,
Mother, father, sisters, brothers,
Just nine of us alone;

We’ll stop and think for a moment
Of just what God has lent
To us in the form of mother,
And just what she has meant.

To think of the days that are now gone by,
And bring them in dress review;
And turn back the pages of old Father time,
To a day in ’32.

Beulah was just then sixteen
And Marie was two years behind;
Mildred twelve and that was all,
Three better sisters you could not find.

Thomas was ten, Fred Junior was eight,
And Jim had just started to school;
And poor little me and mother stayed
At home the whole day through.

Let’s move the calendar up a year to 1933,
Kiss brother and sister off to school;
Wondering why it had to be.
Leaving you at home, all alone,
That you could not see;
Yet turning hand with mother would say,
“Just you and me”

Yet bring the date to ’36,
To that one great time in May
When we the children of her house,
Crowned her mother, “Queen for a Day”.

Silver and gold we had not much,
Nor presents to give away;
Yet she was our exclusive queen,
On this our Mother’s Day.

Yes, those were the good ol’ days gone by
Days that cannot be recalled,
Only in our remembrance,
And that’s the sad part of it all.

But now may you forever reign,
Upon this your only throne;
Service, love and helping others,
Our remembrance of you, dear mother.
Jack Exum

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Letter From Jack Exum To Union Avenue Church Of Christ

Going through dad’s old papers and pictures I came across this letter, printed in a bulletin for the union Avenue Church of Christ. He was in Ireland at the time he wrote, and he was busy for sure, but he loved the work!!!  It was 1967 I believe…

“Greetings to you all from the mission fields that are truly green (in Ireland) instead of white. I have never been busier. Each week I have from six to ten cottage film meetings and with this years itinerary, we are facing long hours. The school for evangelists and Bible teachers began this week with twenty five in attendance. Our regular services, plus two special classes at the nearby boy’s club keeps us moving.
   Our first annual all-Irish lectureship will come in April. Next month I will be in Scotland for a worskshop. Charles Hodge from Ft. Worth, will be with us in a campaign this summer, and out Bible camp, called, “Camp Shamrock” is open for two weeks in August.
   Our print shop is producing literally thousands of tracts and many times that in other literature and advertisements. A major drive to place one tract and a special invitation to enroll in Bible Correspondence courses in every house, is to begin soon. This is called “Operation Invasion”. Last week, counting classes and all, I was teaching more than 100 non-Christians. We are happy to report to you all that property is being bought, and plans for our building to be are coming along fine.”
   “Two were baptized this week, three converted last week, and two the week before, and one before that. In fact, week by week – even day by day- people are coming to Christ.
   We praise His wonderful name for this. We received the wonderful news that Union Avenue (Church of Christ) is counted on the ($) advertising program so needed. The missionary can count on Union Avenue. Never can we forget the overwhelming hospitality and generous way you received us. In my busy schedule, I consider Union Avenue as  ‘REST STOP’. Remember our love for you all, your beloved elders and ministers… and Annie G.”
   Why put this little note in the web site? Well to show just how important supporting congregations are and the results which can come when the relationship and communication between missionary and supporters are good. Hard work on the part of missionaries can never be over estimated. not all fields have the same results… but when Jesus is preached, people respond.

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The Man Who Would Not Quit

This article is part 7 of 7 in the series I Quit

   All hail to the boy who raised his eyes,
And saw the greatness of the skies,
   Who grabbed a fist of polluted air,
And began his walk up the stairs,
   Even with braces that did not fit,
He was the boy that would not quit!

   Like a shot of a gun, others passed by on a dead run,
They would say to the boy, as they passed him by,
   You’ll never make it to the skies,
But in his slow pace, he just walked on,
   He never stopped to rest or sit,
But with a smile on his face – in his heart a great song,
   He was the boy who would not quit,

   Graduation day came as he stood in the crowd,
Many were not there who had spoken so loud,
   Yet the tassel and gown were a perfect fit,
For that crippled boy, who never did quit.

   A simple poem, found in dad’s old papers… One that shares a simple thought… Needed by Christians far and wide… Winston Churchill was invited to speak for a prestigious university in England, and as he rose to speak, all were silent.  Slowly he approached the platform, and he looked at the young faces. He simply said, “NEVER! NEVER! NEVER QUIT!” With these words, he sat down. Speeches and sermons do not have to be ‘everlasting’ to have ‘eternal impact’.

   Christians get discouraged with life and circumstances. Yet it is the attitude you bring to life and meet life’s challenges, that is most important. “Brothers, it is clear to me that I have not come to that knowledge; but one thing I do, letting go those things which are past, and stretching out to the things which are before,
14  I go forward to the mark, even the reward of the high purpose of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14)(BBE).

Wherever you are in your Christian walk, whatever has happened… NEVER QUIT! Don’t worry about the judgment which comes from others… You just stand in the grace of God and move forward. One day there will be a ‘graduation’ and because Jesus is faithful… your reward in heaven is just waiting…

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