David Richardson

Yep, I survived the 80’s.  Actually, I enjoyed that decade!

Earlier this week, I was reflecting on that period of time with some friends.  Here are some things that came to mind:

I was a teenager during most of the 80’s.  Born in 1970.  So I remember it well.

Ronald Reagan was the President during most of that decade.  Now, I didn’t know anything about politics.  But I remember looking at him as a grandfatherly kind of guy that seemed trustworthy.  My gut instinct was to respect him as our leader.

I got turned on to rock ‘n roll in the 80’s.  The first concert I ever attended was in 1984.  It was by Huey Lewis And The News.  What a fun night we had in Columbia, South Carolina.  I also remember enjoying the music of Bryan Adams, The Outfield, and U2.  The first time I heard the song, “Where The Streets Have No Name”, I was blown away.  Actually, I still am moved by that song every time I hear it!

Oh, and let me say this.  I fully realize that Michael Jackson was a bit of a freak.  Very, very strange.  But, with that being said, I was mesmerized by his album “Thriller” when it came out.  I played it constantly on my record player.  It was unlike anything I had ever heard before.  After I grew up, and learned more about him, I had a harder time listening to it.  But he certainly was quite an entertainer in his prime

As for fashion, I did own some pinstripe jeans, but I never, ever got into parachute pants.  I did own a Swatch watch, which was the “in” thing for a while.

As for tv, I remember hurrying home from Friday night high school football games so I could watch “Miami Vice.”  Looking back, I think I was more excited about the cool music, fast cars, and sleek boats than I was about anything else on that show.  At the time, I also thought Don Johnson’s character was cool with the car and with the alligator living on the deck of his boat.

Some big movies came out during the 80’s.  The “Back To The Future” series was huge, and so was the “Indiana Jones” series.  I loved both of those.  “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” was a big hit, and I reckon most of us saw it at least a dozen times.  “The Breakfast Club” was not one of my favorites, but that film really captured the thoughts of young people at that point in time.

I do remember one movie that scared me almost to death.  One night at a party in high school, a big group of us watched “A Nightmare On Elm Street”.  It was the first real horror movie I ever watched.  I did not sleep good for a couple of nights after that.  The thought of Freedy Krueger coming into my bedroom at 2:00 in the morning really creeped me out!!

Also, during the 80’s, I went to Italy, with a bunch of kids from the Latin Club at school.  My grandmama came with us too.  I remember she and I took a gondola ride in Venice one day, which was incredibly cool.  Also, on this trip, I shook hands with the Pople at the Vatican.  Some nuns were not too happy with me for sneaking up to the front of the line to shake his hand.  My guess is they were just jealous that some America Baptist kid got to do what they had wanted to do for years.

I did play sports during the 80’s.  Football was my main sport.  Left guard was my position.  Actually, I was pretty good on the offensive line.  Certainly not the best player, but I could hold my own.  As for basketball, I loved the game, but I never really got good enough to play it much on an organized level.

Believe it or not, I had fun with our school’s drama club.  I played a role in our junior class play entitled “Our Town.”  I even won an award for Best Supporting Actor.  Isn’t it strange that I remember that?!  During my senior year, I stuck with acting, and really enjoyed it.  I liked doing comedy and making people laugh.  It just seemed to come easily for me.  Never in a million years did I think I would like that sort of thing, but I did.  Fond memories of that!

I suppose the main thing I remember about the 80’s is that God worked in me.  He stretched me spiritually, and He called me into full-time vocational ministry.  I preached my first sermon during that decade too!

I’m not quite sure why I blogged about this today.  Just reflecting on my growing up years, I suppose.  I do have good memories of that period of time.

But I never did figure out how on earth to solve that doggone Rubik’s Cube!

$70,150.  That’s how much the First Baptist Sebring family gave this weekend to our “Drop The Debt” Campaign.

Folks, that is big.  Really BIG!!

Thank you to everyone who was able to give anything to this.

Now, you may be wondering where do we go from here?

Well, if we keep making our regular monthly payments through December of this year, and if we can raise an additional $50,000 by December of this year, First Baptist will be DEBT FREE at the end of this year.

How cool is that?!  We could be DEBT FREE in 2010 instead of waiting until 2012.

Think about how good that would be.  When we get debt free, we will have an extra $8,000 per month to use for doing God’s work.  We will be free to invest in evangelism, discipleship, missions, and ministry.  What a thrill it is to think about that!

Some folks have already told me that they will be in a better position to give more in a couple of months.  I totally understand that.  That’s just the way life goes sometimes.

Here are some things folks can consider in totally dropping our church debt this year.

[1] Give to our “$5 A Week Club” or increase it to “$10 A Week”.

[2] Roll up, cash in, and donate that loose change that has been laying around the car or the house.  Quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies do add up pretty quickly.

[3] If you are blessed to receive a nice tax refund this year, maybe part of it could go towards dropping the church debt.

Anyone who knows me will tell you quickly that I’m not a guy that talks a lot about money.  I don’t want to be THAT kind of pastor.  But, I do really believe with all of my heart that First Baptist Sebring will be able to do great things with her financial freedom.

Just do this:  talk about it as a family, and pray about it.  Ask God what He would have you do to help our church experience financial freedom.  Then, just do whatever God tells you.

If He tells you to do something big, then do it.  If He tells you to do something small, then do it.  If He tells you to hold on to your money and focus on your own family right now, then do it.  Just follow His leadership.

Above all else, may we continue to be a church that knows Christ, and makes Christ known to the world!

Yesterday, First Baptist Sebring took up a special offering for dropping the church’s debt.

Everyone is dying to know how much was taken in…and so am I.

We will know tomorrow morning the exact figure. As soon as I am told what it is, I will post it here.

I can tell you that I have heard an approximate figure, and it was good. Really good!

Just give our people a little more time to get their figures exactly right.

Check back here tomorrow for the official word.

Until then, peace.