Best Friends

You know, this subject of friends is really large. While writing the last blog about "friends" I was thinking of the friendship that Frances and I have enjoyed for over 50 years now. Yes, Frances is my best friend because she sticks up for me even though she knows more about me than any other human being alive today. I also thought of Mom and our "friendship" which has existed for almost 70 years. She's one of my "best" friends. I hope that all of my family members are "best" friends. My siblings; my children; my grandchildren are "best" friends. Over the years I have made many ministry friends. Some minister friends kids are close to me and a couple of their kids call me "Gramps". I'm thinking of Jack Morris, a fellow missionary. Gordon Bloodworth, another missionary friend who has gone through many experiences on the field with me. I think of Paul Fritts, a pastor in Tennessee who has been a friend for 45+ years. And if I continue to name names I will run out of time and this blog will become boring to some.

Today, I am thinking of a minister friend who has been especially close to me and who understands my heart. Even though he does not always agree with my point of view he is willing to listen to me and continue to be my friend. Edward L. Williams, "Eddie", is a person I have known since 1955. He was teaching in college when I came to Lee Academy (High School for those who wonder what academy means.) Later he became pastor of the 6th Avenue Church of God in Lenoir City, Tennessee while I was pastoring the Northside church in the same town. In the early '70's, when I was having a spiritual crisis and didn't feel like I had a friend in the world -- it came time to go to a state meeting. As I entered the meeting place some ministers I knew actually walked in another direction, (it seemed to me it was deliberate) so as to avoid having to speak to me. I'm aware that when one is feeling down it is easy to get offended. But I remember Eddie walking over to me and saying, "Fred, where are you going to sit? I want to sit with you." He may never fully understand the impact that his gesture of friendship had on me. During that time we got to know each other better. Our friendship grew. In 1985 we traveled to Guyana, S. America together to minister to the churches in that country for two weeks. We started hunting and fishing together. He went on to serve the chuch as president of Northwest Bible College in Minot, ND, served as President of our European Bible Seminary in Rudersburg, Germany, came home and Pastored distinguished churches and served on various boards and committees in the organization. One of his children recently said to me, "You know Fred, you are the closest friend that Dad has in the ministry!" What a compliment. Today he is retired but still the closest friend I have in the ministry.

Friends like this are not easy to find. So folks, hats off to Eddie Williams and to all Best Friends!

Friends

A few days ago I had the privilege of meeting with our friend Corky Alexander. He is one of the truly authentic Bishops in our church who is also a talented musician, song-writer, and teacher with natural inclinations and holy giftings to minister to people's needs. We had a great lunch together at the Cracker Barrell. Thanks Corky, for all that you do for God and the Kingdom of God.

Friends are so important in our lives. I have a verse from the Bible posted in my office here at GQ from Proverbs 27:10 which is about this subject of friends. It reads in part, "Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not...". That's really a tall order for my father had many many friends. Also I have been blessed with lots of friends. Some are friends that I don't see for months at a time or even send an e-mail to. But when we see each other it's as if no time has passed and we talk and carry on just as if we had never been apart. There are others who are only temporary friends. We may meet several times for weeks or months - then we move apart and make other friends. Then there are those who are friends, close and personal friends, that disappoint us in a time of crisis and who shun us because of the nature of the crisis. There are old friends, new friends, professional friends, and a few choice friends that, no matter what, they are there for us. These are good friends that stick with us through thick and through thin. Those are of eternal value. The Bible talks about a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. That means that my natural flesh and blood brothers (Wil and Lowell) can also be my friends. In fact it is very natural for us humans to bond with and be friends to our siblings. I think that when the Bible speaks of a "friend that sticketh closer than a brother" we cannot really appreciate this truth if we don't know what it means to have a brother who is a friend. Read about the friendship of David and Saul's son Jonathan. In 1st Samuel chapter 20 King Saul recognized that his son had a strong bond of friendship with David. He was not pleased with that friendship but Jonathan loved David anyway and protected his life from the wrath of his father. What a wonderful thing it is to have friends. In John's Gospel, Jesus called his disciples his friends and almost in the same breath told them all of his inner heart. There is more here than meets the eye. Maybe this calls for further reflection.

Hmmm. I didn't mean to sermonize here when I started out. Oh well...may someone who reads be blessed today knowing that Jesus is always your friend and will be for eternity.

Report on My Brother

Lowell came through his surgery fine! I took him to the hospital and was there when the doctor came out with a very up-beat report. The operation and recovery sessions all went well and he was able to go home last night. I spoke with Janis this morning and he has been up and had breakfast and is doing good.

2007 Is History - 2008 is Here

There is an old saying that I've heard that says, "Whatever you do on New Year's Day is what you will do the rest of the year." Therefore, I always try to do something I enjoy, like being outside in the forest, being with good friends, having a good meal, singing "Southern Gospel", and relaxing. Eighteen friends and I did just that on January 1, 2008. God is Good!

It's hard to believe, isn't it? So much has happened over the past few weeks and I never did really like reading history - that is - until I have grown older. Now, of late, it seems more and more important to me. Could that be because I'm almost a part of it? Most likely.

On Christmas Eve morning Frances' Mother closed her eyes here and opened them in that eternal realm where Jesus is. What a grand way for this grand lady of 97 years to cross over the divide from humanity to the supernatural. I was highly privileged to have been asked by the family to have a part in the funeral which took place on Wednesday night after Christmas and then had the privilege of reading a poem written by Tabitha Jaycox (One of Sister Hildreth's grand-daughter's) at her burial on Thursday morning. Now each Christmas will be special because it will bring back a flood of pleasant memories of this dear saint of God whom we all love so much. Quite frankly, I was concerned much about Frances' health during this time but want to thank those of you who prayed for the family - for Frances seems stronger to me now than she did in the immediate weeks before her Mom's death.

On Saturday before Christmas we had Mom over to our house to celebrate the Fred Brannen Christmas along with all three daughter's and their spouses and all of their children and spouses and their children and their spouses - for a total of 30! Yes, we have great grand-children even tho we are so very very young!!! We had a grand time of celebration with gifts for everyone. It was great to hear Mom repeat "Little Annie and Willie's Prayer". I've never heard her do it more eloquently and with such dramatic emphasis that it held even the little ones spellbound to the very end. Then watching the little ones take gifts outside and enjoy playing and laughing together "put the icing on the cake" as some of us old-timers say.

Now I'm back in the office again and working feverishly to stay informed about the horrible atrocities being committed against each other by tribal factions in Kenya. This is post-election violence. I'm sure all of you are hearing some reports through the normal news. I've been in phone contact with our regional superintendent (Jurgen Rudolph) our overseer of Kenya (Moses Njoroge) our Bible School director (Gordon Bloodworth) our missionary from Kentucky (Aaron Doan) ad our orphanage director in Kibera, Kenya (Jim Womble) and his assistant (Francis Wamweya). All are continuing to ask for prayer - but today all are safe and no Church of God member has been hurt physically that we know of. Two members have had their homes burned. About two hours ago the Internet News (allafrica.com/Kenya) had reported that the opposition leader had called off a march he had planned for tomorrow. At our School in Eldoret we have been providing for 100 + refugees. In a church about 30 miles away we have 1200 to 1500 who sought protection there. So - as you can see - my days are busy now. Just pray with us for God to bring revival and other good out of this. He is able.

HAPPY 2008 TO ALL

The Real Christmas Tree

As I was growing up the Christmas Tree was always a very special thing in the Brannen household. Very early in life (when I was in 3rd or 4th grade of school) I remember hearing of people who questioned whether we should have a Christmas tree at Church. Later I learned that some questioned whether we Christians should have a Christmas tree at all, even in our homes, because it "had reference to pagan religions". After I became an adult and was Pastor of a Church I realized that we Americans were putting too much emphasis on the tree when our choir sung an ode to the Christmas tree called "Oh Christmas Tree". Read the lyrics of that song and perhaps you will understand how much it sounds like someone is worshiping a tree.

But to me as a child, the Christmas Tree somehow captured the essence of Christmas. It was attractive. The house was filled with the aroma of crushed pine needles mixed with popcorn which had been used to make decorations for the tree. First we popped the corn. Then, with needle and thread, the individual popped kernels were sewn together in about three to six foot lengths of popcorn, then hung in scalloped fashion around the tree. Lights would also be hung round the tree. Handmade ornaments, purchased ornaments, or ornaments Mom had received as gifts were hung there. Then, "angel hair" was placed on the tree as a type of covering. Well, I'm not sure of the order that these things were placed on the tree, but at the top of the tree there would be a lighted angel or a Star to crown the tree. These trees were usually at least six feet tall and were freshly cut from the field by our Daddy (usually after December 1st - at least that fresh). Of course it did not take long for them to dry out, especially when they stood close to the warm morning heater that usually heated our modest home. In addition there were popcorn balls made by rolling popped corn in blackstrap molasses. What wonderful treats they were. Peanut butter pin-wheels, divinity fudge, fruit-cake, and other goodies filled our tummies at this time of year. All of this was filled with joy. Even now it brings gushings of thanksgiving for the wonderful heritage we have.

The tree also was the place to put presents once they had been wrapped. Our presents were under the tree for about three weeks before Christmas. Our curiosity would be driven to it's highest level as we tried to figure out what "Ole Santa" had brought for us. We would pick up the box and test it's weight...try to smell the contents through the red and green wrappings... shake the box...just anything to try and figure out what we were getting from under the tree for Christmas. We would start begging Mom and Dad to open the presents early for we could hardly live with the excitement of this wonderful Christmas tree.

Now imagine - the year that Mom decided it was too much trouble to put up a Christmas tree because we were now living in town and the price had gone astronomically to $3 each. Then, with all the lights and trimmings to buy to put on the tree, it was just too expensive. She bought a little fake tree about a foot an a half tall with gum balls on it, brought it in and put it on a table and announced that this was going to be our tree this year. I was sooooo disappointed. I remember that I was working part-time by now for the fantastic sum of .35cents per hour and decided that I would buy a REAL tree, so went to Shwegman's Grocery and picked it out myself, paid for it and brought it home. Mom decided that if it meant that much to me she would then decorate the tree. (If any of my siblings remember this story differently, maybe you can enlighten us.)

Now -- to the real thought about the tree. The real Christmas Tree is the Cross of Jesus. It was not attractive, although the light of Heaven's Glory shone down on history at that tree. On that tree was blood and gore. The stench of crushed human flesh filled the air. Around the tree were soldiers with instruments of cruel torture in their hands as they hurled insults towards the man on that tree.

Perhaps a few feet back from that crowd of cruel jeerers was a trembling group of family and close friends of the man on the tree. The people in this group cried - especially his mother. Jesus died. But oh what a tree. This was a REAL CHRISTMAS TREE! The gift of God's son hung there until salvation's plan was finished and the gift was purchased that brought salvation to you and me. Thank you, God, for the gift of the REAL Christmas Tree.

Holidays

We have an advantage on the Christmas holidays. A lotta years ago we started having our Brannen Christmas at Thanksgiving because my parents and Frances' parents lived about 600 miles apart - and we could not afford the gas money to make two trips to visit them with no time to recoup the travel expense in between. I think it was my Mom's idea (maybe because she was always wanting to open Christmas presents early?) Or maybe it was Daddy who wanted to open presents early. :) Anyhow — we have the Brannen Christmas at Thanksgiving - then go to the Hildreth's at Christmas until now. Works nicely for us. So our Christmas tree was put together early and holly is hanging already.

Thursday, we had our normal food fling at my sister Bonita's house. More food and drink and merry-making than the law allows. I am SO BLESSED to have been with all my siblings (Wilmon, Lowell, Bonita, and Donice and their spouses). Of our Fred Brannen's family, only Tabitha, the preacher in our group, is experiencing the same thing that we used to experience in earlier years, the need to be in two different places at the same time. And Mom was there. Alive and well, and still able to preach. She recently traveled more than a thousand miles to preach. My two sisters both live here in Cleveland. One brother lives here. The other brother lives in Texas but has bought near here (about 20 miles away) in anticipation of his retirement. Aren't I blessed?

Friday, I took my good friend Ed Williams and his son and three grandsons, plus one of the grandson's friends up to my cabin in the mountains. We built a campfire and ate and played music and sung and had a great time roasting marshmallows for the finale. It was deer hunting season so Ed and I took rifles. Young people left about 2:00p so Ed and I hunted some - then took the long way home through Tellico Plains. I started to feel nauseous and head-achy, so decided to let Ed drive. By the time I got home I was losing my lunch. I was S-I-C-K! This morning I am feeling a little better but not much. After losing all that food and going through all that pain I had a good thought - "ahhhhh" said I, "The good thing is I've probably lost weight!" But guess what? I still weigh the thing that I did before Thanksgiving.

Go figure!

You've Gotta Hear This

Jerry Lee Lewis from YouTube!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vdzp8yX3kM

This is the way I remember him. There are other videos of him in more recent years which you also may enjoy. I once had a long play record album of him singing 10 or 12 religious songs but alas it is no longer to be found. Enjoy!