august; ups and downs

Have you ever noticed that different times remind you of different things? The month of August is one of those times. August has great significance in my life for many reasons. Here are just a few.

August 15, 1989. I turned 15½ and my dad took me to the Skiatook tag office and I got my driver’s permit. This meant freedom on the road ...... (as long as I had a licensed driver of 18 years or older with me). Great day!

August 28, 1990. This was the MOST IMPORTANT day of my life. This was the day I accepted Christ into my life to be my Lord and Savior. Sitting in a baseball stadium in Bartlesville, OK, at a Jay Strack Crusade I realized that I had never placed my faith in Christ. I gave my life to Christ that night and I praise Him for His wonderful salvation.

August 10, 1997. It was on this day that I became the Minister of Youth at Calvary Baptist Church in Tulsa, OK. I was 23 years old and elated to be serving the Lord in this wonderful church. It was in this church that I met my wonderful wife Shelly. We were married in this church on September 18, 1999 (almost 10 years of marriage). Our first two children were born while we served at Calvary, and I fell in love with overseas missions at Calvary, leading teams into Eastern Europe and twice into Peru. God blessed me allowing me to serve there for almost 8 years.

August 29, 2007. This was a day that at first glance is not a blessing. I was asked to step down from a ministry position and find employment somewhere else. It was a devastating blow, but one I can look back on and praise God for what He has done. My family was hurt but God has healed us and made us stronger for it. I praise God for what He allowed to happen on August 29, 2007, now over two years ago.


Our lives are filled with ups and downs. Anyone who knows anything will testify to this. But how you respond to the downs is what builds your character. Yes, great things happened to me and my family in August, but quite possibly the most difficult situation I have ever had to face happened in August as well. But because of what happened God is being glorified because no matter what problem or obstacle I face, God is there and will always give the strength we need to praise Him. Always remember John 16:33 which reads, “I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You WILL have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”

In Christ,
Scott

august

FREE PICTURE

oldies

I can remember the summer after my 4th grade year and our RA class (Royal Ambassadors for those of you unfamiliar with Southern Baptist stuff) went to the All-State football game at Tulsa. It was the same night Mary Lou Retton won the gold medal at the LA Olympics for the vault. They announced it over the loud speakers.

As time went on and I went to college, I had come home for a visit and my mom yelled at me to clean out my closet. Of course being the good son I did what she said and I did it with a smile. As I was going through my things I came across the program for that game. You can see the cover here.

I began to look through the pages and remember that night back in 1984. But something struck me when I turned to the page for Henryetta. There was a picture of a Senior in High School named Troy Aikman. WOW. I had no idea what I had in my closet all these years.

I am not a big Cowboys fan. As a matter of fact I don’t like them at all. Call me un-American if you like. Whatever! But as I think about that book I wonder how many times we forget about the treasure we have in the Bible. We place it on a shelf and pull it out once a week for church.

That 1984 program is probably not worth anything unless there is some big Aikman fan out there willing to buy it (opening bids begin at $1,000). But never forget the power of the word of God. Over the years people have tried to destroy it but God’s Word will always be here to lead us and guide us.

Scott

Acts 4:13

VBS!!!

Cook Out

time

I have found time to blog today so here goes......................................................

Man, I am having a hard time trying to find something to say. Here we go....

My dad, the infamous Ron Watkins (and no I don't mean "in" famous as in the Amigos) put together a Hominy High School Alumni VS. Varsity tennis match yesterday. I played doubles with Bryant Brown, a 1997 HHS graduate. I am a 1992 grad so we are a bit older than the 18 year olds we played. We had a great time. Bryant and I won 6-2, 6-2 and actually did pretty good in the process.

We had some BAD shots but also some really good ones. My shoulder is giving me problems but that comes with age. My ankle that I sprained last year about this time is still a bit tender but I am getting used to it. All in all it was a good day for the old boy.

But the older I get the more I realize I can't do as much as I would like. My joints are stiff and my legs just don't have the same zeal they used to have. I wonder how many of us are like this spiritually? When we first get saved we could, as the old saying goes, "Attack hell with a water pistol." Then we start to slow down and there is not that excitement anymore. What do we have to do to get that excitement back? I think we have to do like the Alumni did yesterday. Get back out there and do it again.

I want to encourage you, regardless where you are in your spiritual journey, to get out there. You might be a bit tired and wore out but so many times the best remedy is getting out there and doing what you love best and that is living for and loving Jesus and telling others about Him. When we do this we will find that our energy level for Him and our passion for His will grows and gives us strength. Plus when you get back in it for Christ you don't feel near as sore as you do when you take a 10 year break from tennis. Ugh!

Scott
Acts 4:13