Next week, with the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention going on in Indianapolis–one of our favorite cities for this sort of thing–I’ll be away from this blogging machine. I may or may not send something to son Marty so he can post here, but readers need a vacation from this constant barrage of our stuff. Enjoy it while you can.

On the way back south from the convention, I’ll be leading a deacons retreat for Five Points Baptist Church in Northport, Alabama (Tuscaloosa is its suburb) that Friday night and Saturday morning, then preaching for the two Sunday morning services. Not sure of the times of the service, but if you’re in the area, we’d love to have you present.

As you know, we do not do promote anything or sell stuff, or for that matter, send forwards to you. (You’re welcome.) However….

This is a good time to call to your attention some special friends with fascinating ministries you might want to check into.

1) Kathy Frady may be the most creative person on the planet. Check out her website at www.thecreativedramatist.com. She’s a local lady and, with Rebecca Hughes, leader of the women’s ministry of our association. What she does is don outlandish disguises–wigs, outfits, etc–and assume the role of various women you will meet at church (in your dreams/nightmares!) and a few who lived in earlier generations (Lottie Moon, Annie Armstrong, Georgia Barnette, these girls). She is so funny it’s not funny. How in the world she can be so off-the-wall crazy and so wonderfully-sweet-and-sane-and-spiritual at the same time is beyond me. She writes her own material and will knock your socks off.

Kathy’s husband John Frady is a staff-member at Celebration Church in Metairie and her biggest supporter. I figure it was either support her or kill her. (That was a funny, Mom.)

Many of our readers have seen Kathy on denominational programs and know what I’m talking about. This week I have sent out letters to some of the leading pastors/churches in Louisiana about Kathy, asking them to check out her website, and to consider inviting her to their church for special events, banquets, women’s day services, and the like.

2) My son Marty has a young friend with a unique website which invites your prayer requests and enlists the participation of readers in praying for needs posted there. Check out www.iwalkwithhim.com.

3) Two years ago, two ladies over in the Lafayette, Louisiana, area had this brain child. They would enlist Christian writers to submit short devotionals which they would repackage and email into cyberspace three times a week. Nelda and Barbara are now celebrating the second anniversary of their eThoughts ministry. Their “stable” of writers (some more stable than others) must number 15 or 20, and the number of readers who take their thrice-weekly offerings now approaches a thousand. Go to www.ethoughtsteam.com and leave your email address.

In case you’re wondering, I’m one of their writers. And so are some of our readers. Along the way, I have called Barbara’s attention to Becky Brown and Mary B. Smith and another or two.

Hey…

I was thinking about Five Points Baptist Church and what its name means. No doubt it has to do with the convergence of highways at that point, but we preachers automatically think of the five points of Calvinism (forever remembered as TULIP: Total depravity, Unlimited predestination, Limited atonement, Irresistible grace, and Perseverance of the saints).

Well, there’s a cartoon in there somewhere. The 5 points of Baptist life. Something like Total immersion…Unlimited announcements…Limited emotional displays…Irresistible church dinners…and Perseverance of something or another.

I’m working on it.

This morning in my Bible reading, I rediscovered Isaiah 45:15. “Truly, you are a God who hides Himself, O God of Israel, Savior!” What a fascinating thought. I have no idea what all that encompasses, but let’s try a few thoughts here….

1) He hides Himself within Godly people. Their works are actually His.

2) He hides Himself from foolish people who are spoiling for a fight. He will not be found by them.

3) He hides Himself and reveals Himself only to those of humble hearts and willing spirits.

4) It is no surprise that the Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gargarin, if I recall correctly, returned from space saying he did not find God up there. He couldn’t have found God if he’d been walking down the streets of Heaven. God gives Himself up only when it pleases Him.

Add your thoughts on this below. Is there any comfort in Isaiah 45:15? Any deep insights? Can you think of any illustrations of this in Scripture or everyday life today?