Well layed plans change
All it takes is one phone call to change your plans. My plan was to spend some nice quiet time in my office studying for the next Sunday’s sermon. Everything was going as planned, until the phone rang. The news that the caller shared with me made me drop everything at once. My priorities completely changed. I dropped everything I was doing because, at that moment, studying nor anything else was important. Nothing really mattered except for the unplanned mission that I was getting ready to embark upon.
The news the caller shared with me was that two of my horses were out, and at the moment they were taking a tour down Ark. Hwy. 72. Why did my plans change? Because horses don’t do so well on busy highways. They are much better off in the pasture.
I grabbed a feed bucket and a halter, jumped in my truck and found them smack dab in the middle of the highway running like the devil was chasing them. With the help of some other people, we managed to catch them and put them back in their safe pasture, and all was well.
Those horses had no idea of the danger they were in and what would have eventually happened if they would have continued running down the busy highway.
People can be the same way. The grass on the other side of the fence looks greener. We can be deceived that there is more freedom over there. All that is over there is danger, heartache and heartbreak. It’s what the Bible calls the dominion of darkness. God loves us so much that he has made rescuing us his number one priority. Why? Because we don’t do so well out there. Real freedom and life is found in his pasture.
Colossians 1:13 — 14 “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
••• Editor’s note: Tim Wallace is pastor of Cross Brand Church. To contact him, e-mail tim@crossbrand.org. For more of Tim’s articles, go to www.tallinthesaddle.wordpress.org
Recollections 40 Years Ago Thursday, April 27, 1972 Pea Ridge Graphic
One of the biggest fires to occur in Pea Ridge in many years destroyed the main storage shed of the Pea Ridge Lumber and Hardware, and heavily damaged large portions of the main building. A local fireman, Tim Wood, suffered second degree burns to one hand while fighting the fire.
The Pea Ridge Cafe was purchased by Mr. and Mrs. J.S. Anderson.
The Rev. and Mrs. Richard Mason, with the help of the young people at the Garfield Baptist Church, started a youth center in Garfield. The church rented the old post office for the center.
The City of Little Flock and the Benton County Water District No. 1, signed a franchise agreement, thus taking the final step necessary to provide water to the residents of Little Flock.
Mrs. L.C. Barnett, Jr. was elected president of the Pea Ridge PTA. Also elected were Mrs. Jim Whisenhunt, vice-president; Mrs. Evan Mccool, secretary; and Mrs. J.W. Jordan, treasurer.
30 Years Ago Wednesday, April 28, 1982 Pea Ridge Country Times
Representatives of three groups in Avoca met to discuss mutual concerns and evidenced a spirit of cooperation and understanding. Town Council, Avoca Volunteer Fire Department and Avoca E.H. Club members held a joint meeting to discuss the financing of operating costs and review the agreement signed by all three at the time it was determined to jointly use the community building.
The board of directors of the Volunteer Ambulance Service of Northeast Benton County announced that membership was up to 138 members.
New officers of the Wood-hall Post No. 8109, Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary, Pea Ridge were: Eula Mae Walker, secretary/treasurer; Hazel Walker, president; Dot Williams, chaplain; Maxine Richardson, guard; Lola Mae Beaver, conductress; and Beulah Parker, patriotic instructor.
L.E. Hardy of Pea Ridge was presented with a plaque of appreciation for his service as a member of the board of directors of the Bank of Pea Ridge.
Four Pea Ridge students were selected to attend Boys’ State and Girls’ State. They were: Kevin Bray, Roger Davis, Tammy Heim and Samantha Hurd.
20 Years Ago Thursday, April 30, 1992 The TIMES of Northeast Benton County
Beta Alpha was named ESA’S Outstanding Chapter of Arkansas. Shelby Knapp was also named Arkansas’ Outstanding Woman of ESA.
Seven Pea Ridge High School students participated in either Girls State or Boys State. Participating were Russell Bray, Erick Harp, Rusty Sorrell, Christy Graham, Sharon Goates, Leyla Maloney and Belinda Robins.
Wal-mart Distribution Center 6008 in Bentonville donated $1,500 to the Pea Ridge School District to assist the school’s computer program classes.
10 Years Ago Wednesday, May 1, 2002 The TIMES of Northeast Benton County
Avoca’s new 2,840 square-foot Town Hall and the new five-acre city park officially opened to the public.
Matt Easterling of Pea Ridge was presented the 2002 Physical Education Award at Williams Baptist College.
Martha Ruth Hall presented Camelia Reed of Lost Bridge with a quilt she won in a drawing held by the Mt. Vernon Presbyterian women.
The Pea Ridge Pentecostal Holiness church voted and changed the name of the church to The Church of Today.