A Tribute to a Great Man...

A Tribute to a Great Man...Dr. Don Boyd.

I was saddened to learn that my high school principal, Dr. Don Boyd of Hammond Baptist High School, passed away. He has been battling serious cancer and finally succumbed Sunday evening around 11:30 pm, I believe. He has now graduated to Heaven and I know he is happy and free from pain! I know his family must be deeply hurting right now and I myself so DESPERATELY wish I could be in Indiana for his funeral.

He taught me SO much and played a HUGE role in helping me become the person I am today. He was a man of amazing wisdom and much compassion. He so dearly loved the kids he served, and no one could deny that he was a servant.

He always had a "funny" or practical joke up his sleeve. Mr. Boyd was a man with always a spark of mischief in his grin, who made it obvious that he just loved to be around "his kids." He had a "quick wit" which, of course, is a necessity to work with teenagers! He could always dish out a comeback as quick as an insult was thrown; and anyone who works with teenagers knows that insults are always in rapid fire!

Even when Mr. Boyd lost his eye to cancer years ago, it never dampened or changed his spirit. I never one time remember him using this as an excuse to be pitied. He often turned his trial into something funny. I remember MANY a time he would touch his glass eye (or take it out! SICK!) and say..."Remember kids, I've got my EYE on you!"

Senior Seminar class was always one of my FAVORITE hours of the day! Whether it was watching one of the completely boring videos on electricity, plumbing (or some other "commodity"), listening to one of his wisdom-packed lessons, or working as a class to lead him off on a "rabbit trail" so we didn't have to learn anything that day...I LOVED Mr. Boyd! His kind countenance told each young person he met in the hallways of Hammond Baptist High School that he cared for them even if he spoke not a word.

Mr. Boyd poured his heart out in many a chapel message and always spoke with great fervor. He warned us with passion to avoid the wiles of the Devil. He had such a desire for his young people to see how wonderful and rewarding the Christian life could be! He taught us the importance of learning how to make the right decisions and choices in every little area of life. I am more and more thankful each day that I had a team of godly people investing in my life and pointing me down the right path. What a happy thing it is to serve the Lord with my life! Thanks, Mr. Boyd, for playing a HUGE role in teaching me this truth.

The absence of his spirit will leave a large vacancy, and I am saddened that the next generation will not have the opportunity to know such a man. I thank God for another godly generation of leaders who are leading the young people of Hammond Baptist Schools! I also thank God for the years I was privileged to spend under his tutelage. There was NO question...Mr. Boyd knew God!! This was evidenced in every single aspect of his life.

Mr. Boyd, if you are looking over my shoulder reading this from up in Heaven, I want you to know that I hope to repay your investment in my life by investing my life in others. Working with teenagers is a wonderful opportunity. I hope to pass on to them some of the many many things that you taught me in the halls and classrooms of Hammond Baptist High School. I am grateful for your selflessness and the sacrificial giving of your time. I learned as much, perhaps even more, from watching your consistent Christian life, as I learned in the classroom.

Mrs. Boyd, I want to thank you for sharing your husband with us. I know he must have spent many long hours and dealt with many situations that may have taken him from family time. I want you to know that I will try my best to be sure my life repays the debt I owe to a great man who will be sorely missed...Dr. Don Boyd.

Sincerely,
Helen Callaghan

A Busy Day in God's House...

Sunday marked the end of our Fall Program '09. Everyone worked SO hard to bring visitors these past 7 weeks. We had 8 visitors in the teen department and, I believe, 19 adult visitors! WOW! It is GREAT to see the house of God packed out on a Sunday morning!

I don't have the exact figures, but I believe we had 8 saved and 5 baptized on Sunday morning as well! God is good! One of our faithful church ladies won the prize for the most adult visitors...a new laptop computer!

Our teens did such a great job inviting friends and family to church and befriending the new visiting teens as well.

We also had our quarterly missions meeting this past Saturday evening and had a good turnout of about 25 or 26 people. We signed Christmas cards to mail to our missionaries and took a group picture to send them along with their card and love offering.

It brings to mind the verse in Psalms, I believe..."I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord!" I LOVE church! What a privilege to be a Christian!

Thanks, God!!

I just had to pause and thank God for a wonderful Christian home! What a privilege!!

We had such a wonderful happy family night. A warm yummy pot of homemade soup at the kitchen table...the sounds of a "Daddy and Darren" basketball game while I cleaned the kitchen...a few rousing games of "Hungry Hippo"...a few good "oldie" cartoons, 1937 Mickey Mouse and another old Chip and Dale...tucking my sweet Darren man into bed...enjoying a fire in the fireplace and a hot cup of tea with my Babe...The hardest working husband around heading off to work to provide for our family...and now the last bit of our nice fire with the end of an old faithful Hallmark movie and another bit of hot tea!

Ahhhh, why wouldn't ANYONE want to invite God into their homes?! We are so privileged to follow the sweet and happy will of God! What a wonderful, wonderful place to be! During every moment of our lives, good or bad, home with Christ as the center is a sweet haven!

Isn't it Great to Serve God?!

We had a great and busy weekend!


Saturday we had a Pizza and Game night at the church for the teens. We played some crazy games which they always love, and had pizza which they always love too (Some other snacks And homemade brownies of course!) We played human foosball, A survivor game and more. Lots of fun!

Here is a video clip of human foosball...



On Sunday morning, we honored our wonderful Pastor's wife as a surprise. Just thanking her around Thanksgiving time for all she has done. There was a church-wide reception following the service with delicious Filipino food. One of my FAVORITES since moving here! I never tasted it before I moved to CA! I could eat a whole PAN FULL of sweet sticky rice! Here is Pastor and Mrs. Callaghan with her special cake...(and one of our little men from the church decided to pop in the picture!)



Here is the "Lessons for Ladies" Plan I taught to my teen girls this Sunday morning. I teach a "Little Life Lesson" each Sunday...(The words that are in all caps are the ones that they fill in on their worksheets.)

A Faithful Woman…

I Corinthians 4:2 “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”

• If we want God to entrust us with his blessings as stewards, we must first be found FAITHFUL.

• God doesn’t name certain areas; He wants us to be faithful in ALL areas.

• God will never be able to fully use your HUSBAND someday if you as a wife are not FAITHFUL to the things of God.

• The greatest ABILITY is dependability.

• Don’t ever date a young man if he is not faithful in his SPIRITUAL life and in his WORK; no matter how great he seems.

• Your future husband and children will not care how many TALENTS you have, they will care if you are faithful to your FAMILY.

• PRACTICE being faithful now in each area of your life.
(School, church, homework, household chores, family time, etc.)

• When you marry, never even JOKE about being an unfaithful WIFE.

• Being faithful doesn’t just HAPPEN when you become an adult. You must start NOW if you want to be a faithful lady!

Great Weekend!

We had a great and busy weekend!

Saturday we had a Pizza and Game night at the church for the teens. We played some crazy games which they always love, and had pizza which they always love too (And homemade brownies of course!) We played human foosball, A survivor game and more. Lots of fun!

On Sunday we honored our wonderful Pastor's wife as a surprise. Just thanking her around Thanksgiving time for all she has done. There was a church-wide reception following the service with delicious Filipino food. One of my FAVORITES since moving here! I never tasted it before I moved to CA! I could eat a whole PAN FULL of sweet sticky rice! Here is Pastor and Mrs. Callaghan with her beautiful cake...(and one of our little men from the church decided to pop in the picture!)



Here is the "Lessons for Ladies" Plan I taught to my teen girls this Sunday morning. I teach a "Little Life Lesson" each Sunday...(The words that are in all caps are the ones that they fill in on their worksheets.)

A Faithful Woman…
I Corinthians 4:2 “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”

• If we want God to entrust us with his blessings as stewards, we must first
be found FAITHFUL.

• God doesn’t name certain areas; He wants us to be faithful in ALL areas.

• God will never be able to fully use your HUSBAND someday
if you as a wife are not FAITHFUL to the things of God.

• The greatest ABILITY is dependability.

• Don’t ever date a young man if he is not faithful in his SPIRITUAL life and
in his WORK; no matter how great he seems.

• Your future husband and children will not care how many TALENTS you have, they will care if you are faithful to your FAMILY.

• PRACTICE being faithful now in each area of your life.
(School, church, homework, household chores, family time, etc.)

• When you marry, never even JOKE about being an unfaithful WIFE.

• Being faithful doesn’t just HAPPEN when you become an adult.
You must start NOW if you want to be a faithful lady!

Hmmmm...convicting...

Interesting thought from I Samuel 17:28-29
"And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle. And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?"

This statement (above in red) seemed to jump out at me during my devotions this morning. David's eldest brother was sure he knew the thoughts and intents of David's heart when, in truth, he couldn't have been more wrong! He also spoke out on his suspicions against David's motives.

This seems to be a reminder from God that it is not our job to judge the thoughts or motives of others. If we are given a position of leadership over any group of people, we must be VERY careful to avoid correcting others over what "WE think" they meant to do. We must learn to listen, of course with God's wisdom and discernment. If we fail to use God's mind in situations of judgement we could permanently damage or wound the spirit, and possibly the future potential, of a young person. Being falsely accused or judged for your motives can badly wound the spirit and mar the attitude of a young person (or anyone for that matter!). Oh, how we need God's wisdom every moment of the day!

Thank you, God, for this convicting reminder you sent my way!

WOW!!

I have an AMAZINGLY great report to post about our Sunday!

One of our teen girls has been praying for, I think, about 2 years for her mom to come to church and to be saved. She and her cousins convinced her mom to come with some family yesterday to church for the first time! We were SO excited. During our invitation time I slipped to the back of the auditorium where she was sitting and asked her if I could show her some verses from the Bible to help her in her life. She agreed and sat down with me right there in the back. I was able to open the Word of God and show her the only way to Heaven. She listened, bowed her head, and sweetly asked the Lord to take her to Heaven.

I was moved to tears as we prayed thinking that God would use ME to do such an amazing work in someone's life! WOW! If anyone ever says that serving the Lord is boring, they must not really be serving the Lord! The Lord's work is the greatest work in the world!

Thank you, God, for working through ME!

We also had a great number of teens there on Sunday morning, about 26, I think!

Great afternoon with the teens!

Had a great day out Teen Soul-winning today. 17 teens in attendance and 7 people saved! Very good in view of the fact that we have very little time now that daylight savings is over. It is practically dark as soon as we start! We only had about half an hour out soul-winning. I was going to take some more pictures, but I forgot I had my camera till the last group of kids was getting off the bus! Anyways, here are a couple of our kids; we have such a GREAT group...

A few of our guys...Totally PUMPED, can't you tell?!...

2 of our young ladies ready to go win souls! However, they went with Dan and I. I regret to say that we picked the GRUMPY Street! A bunch of people who thought they didn't need God! Oh well, can't say we didn't try today!

Great Group of Teens!

We had a good Sunday in our teen department. Sunday school attendance has been up. We had 23 teens there Sunday morning and one visitor! That is a GREAT number for our small church. We have had a teen visitor in Sunday school every week of the program! One of them has come back for every Sunday morning and Sunday evening service since the first week! God is good. We also saw 2 saved and one baptized in the morning service.

Sunday night I had the privilege of playing the piano for one of our teen young men to sing a solo. He did such a GREAT job and it is so rewarding to see your young people choose to live their lives for God. I tell my teen girls often that I don't want to MAKE them become good Christians. I want them to have their own desire and make the choice. God wants our willing love and service.

My "Lessons for Ladies" this Sunday was on "Conformed Christian or Transformed Christian." I encouraged my girls to not only learn to "look and act" like a Christian on the outside, but to transform their hearts. When our hearts are transformed we will have no problem making the changes on the outside. I have such teachable young ladies! This is, I believe, one of THE most important character traits a Christian can possess! I LOVE what I have the privilege of doing every Sunday!