Set a watch over my mouth

It happened again a few weeks ago when I raked leaves at home. I heard Nolin Chambers speaking inside my head: “You can blow those leaves around all day, but at some point, you’ve got to get them up.”

Nolin was a retired police officer who worked as building superintendent at First Baptist Church in Selma. I asked him one day why we couldn’t buy a leaf blower for the custodian and he shared his thoughts. The leaf blower is fine, he insisted, but not the end of the matter!

After all these years I still hear his comment whenever I power up the leaf blower. What is it about some comments that cement themselves inside our brains?

MICHAEL BROOKS Columnist

It was longer ago than Nolin’s comment when I was preaching one Sunday night. Remember Sunday night church? It’s rare these days, and perhaps one reason is that we preachers were somewhat braindead after a long day. Nevertheless, the congregation began to laugh during the sermon. I wasn’t aware of any humor I’d shared. I was so puzzled

BETHLEHEM EAST BAPTIST CHURCH

Bethlehem East Baptist Church will have all Sunday school classes beginning at 9:45 a.m. Sunday morning followed by regular service at 11 a.m. in the sanctuary. We will continue with Facebook Live Sunday School at 9:30 a.m. and Worship Service at 11 a.m.

CARRVILLE BAPTIST CHURCH that I stopped to ask what was funny.

Regular hours of service are Sundays- 9 a.m. Sunday School and 10 a.m. Morning Worship.

Wednesday nights at 6:30 p.m. the church offers Children’s Gospel Project, Youth Bible Study and Adult Prayer Meeting. Regular office hours are Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“You said ‘we all have feets of clay,’” Lewis said, speaking for the others.

I laughed along with everybody else, but insisted, “It’s true. We all do have feets of clay!”

I remember that incident when I yet insist we all have feet of clay. (By the way, this is a phrase borrowed from the Old Testament book of Daniel.)

I met Dr. John Howell several years ago at a conference. He was at the time a professor at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City. I told him I’d