10 year anniversary at Open Door

July 3, 2016 First Sunday as Pastor 

June 27 2026 10th anniversary as Pastor

What a difference ten years make... We were blessed to be able to celebrate our son Joshua's tenth anniversary as Pastor of Open Door Baptist Church in Greensburg, PA.  The church did a great job pulling off this "surprise" celebration.  My wife and I along with Brandon & Rachel and family were able to be there. Brielle, their oldest child, was able to drive up from the Wilds Christian Camp in NC and Janelle's parents drove over from Hanover, PA. 

The Mighty Moo Festival Opening Ceremony, Cowpens SC

 

Memories of my Dad on Father's Day 2026

Gene and Martha 

Memories of the man I called Dad - He served our country in World War II from 1944-1946  -  After the war, he married and had a family, and served the Lord as a layman (SS teacher) at Central Baptist Church in Cowpens, then chosen to be pastor of Gospel Baptist Church in the early 1960's,  and in 1965 he was led by God to form Cowpens Calvary Baptist Church.  He even served a year or two on the Cowpens Elementary PTA.  He loved God and his family and the USA.  So proud to be called "Little Gene" , his son, by so many of his peers in Cowpens.  Favorite memory would be going shopping a couple times a year all the way to Spartanburg. He would wear a suit and tie, and many businesses would give him a 10% discount because he was a preacher!   

Dad(left) sang in a quartet, Mom played piano

Our Family Photo 1959

Dad founded Calvary Baptist in a small building on Main Street Cowpens SC 

M


 

with our favorite dog, Browno

He knew how to fix his  back aches LOL

Dad with Mom singing duets at church  

Cameron Boozer from Duke, NBA next stop - SI Video

 

Family Photo Sunday

 Congrats Natalie:  new college graduate, new job with benefits, new car !  Great way to start your career.  God has blessed you mightily!  

Cindy and I are so proud to be your grandparents. 

"Tears are like the rain.." Charles Dickens

 

June is bustin' all over at our home in GA

 We have really enjoyed the spring flowers this year, in April and May , and now  the day lilies are blooming in June!  The canna lilies and asian lilies and four o'clock's are just now emerging for the summer blooming season.  

Family Photo Sunday

Nothing quite like random photos of your grandkids when they pop up on social media. (photo credit to Brielle)

 

this happens when your wife is on vacation...

Special times:  When your wife is on vacation and loves to try out new recipes. These were very good and we ate the last of them (out of the freezer today)  By the way, the recipe book was bought for us by Brandon , when he went to visit Nova Scotia in Sept 2003.

 

Celebrating our 49th wedding anniversary on June 4th

 O HAPPY DAY !   June 4 1977 , Cindy and I were married in the Philips Chapel at Highland Park Baptist Church in Chattanooga, TN . Pictured with Carole Granderson (Junior Bridesmaid) and  Tony Mitchell (Junior Groomsman)   Dr J R Faulkner officiated our ceremony.  49 years and counting!  

Welcome to ELKHORN - INSP TV SERIES

 

If you are a history buff, you will enjoy this INSP series about Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt.  Other than the typical "western" violence and lawlessness, ELKHORN  is one series most of the family will enjoy.  The first season only is available to watch on AMAZON PRIME , but you can watch Season 1 and Season 2 for free on TUBI (with ads).  The series takes place just after both his first wife and his mother die on the same day, and he decides go out west, and to the Badlands in North Dakota  to  "find himself". 

He decides to buy a ranch and try his hand at raising cattle in the 1880's.  Roosevelt was  24 in 1883 when he first visited the Badlands, and established his ranch (Elkhorn Ranch) when he was 26 in 1884.  You will find yourself on Google reading up on the history of this President of the United States,  and the Theodore Roosevelt National Park in western North Dakota; and how this experience led him to establish and protect 230 million acres as national parks.  

Theodore Roosevelt served as President of the United States from September 14, 1901, to March 4, 1909. He assumed office following the assassination of President William McKinley and went on to win a full term in the 1904 presidential election.