For those of you who may not know, the man in the yellow hat is Curious George’s best friend. I want you to know a little bit about a man in a yellow hat who is one of the Center’s best friends.

He has regularly volunteered with The Craddock Center for about three years. Without him, our furniture outreach program would not be possible, for he is the one who drives to people’s homes to pick up sofas, chairs, appliances – you name it – and puts them in our storage facility until someone has a need for them. Once, he went to an elderly man’s home (which he quips was a man older than he) to pick up a donated sofa; the two of them struggled to get it down the stairs, destroyed the landscaping, and just barely managed to get the sofa onto the truck. He maintains an inventory of these donated goods, and when we receive a call for help, he meets those in need at the storage facility so they may receive their items. Occasionally, he delivers furniture to peoples’ homes, if they need special assistance.

Also for the past three years, the man in the yellow hat weekly reads Curious George stories to the Pre-K and Head Start children in Fannin County. Sometimes he even wears his yellow suit, complete with a yellow hat. The children he serves shower him with love. “You get attached to them”, he says. “It’s hard to explain.”
Service has been central to his life. He spent 35 years as a civil service employee for the City of Atlanta, and 25 years in the active Army/Reserves. True to his nature, when I asked him if I could spotlight his volunteer efforts, he agreed, but said at least three or four times that he didn’t want it to seem like he was bragging. Says he, “I don’t want to be in the limelight.” He also reminded me that in the Curious George stories, the man in the yellow hat doesn’t have a name…

He is witty, and grounded in faith, a true servant of God. When asked why he volunteers, he replied that he wants to be useful; feeling useful is an incentive for him to get out of bed in the morning. While retiring to a rocking chair on the front porch may sound good to some folks, it’s not good for him. “I’d rather wear out than rust out,” he says. He once heard a preacher say that in life you need three things: something to do, someone to love, and something to hope for. He agrees. He says, “when you leave this life, people won’t remember how much money you had, but rather what you did, and how you loved. Your name and your character are what you have.”

When asked what folks might be surprised to learn about him, he said, “I’m just ordinary Joe”. I challenge that comment, for he isn’t ordinary, but rather extraordinary, Joe Wells, the man in the yellow hat, and we are grateful for his humble and faithful service. - TRS
 

BOB DOTY  MEMORIAL LIBRARY

Many of you knew Bob Doty, the kind gentleman who served on our Board of Directors for several years. Among his many good works, he taped our preaching workshops, and assisted with the development of the Story Express. Bob passed away in January, 2007, and will be missed.

Bob also volunteered with the Gilmer County Head Start program. To honor Bob and his contributions, Gilmer County Head Start and The Craddock Center will partner to establish the Bob Doty Memorial Library, to be housed at the Gilmer Head Start Center. Through this, preschoolers will learn how to utilize a library, checking out books with their own library cards. If you would like to donate to help cover expenses of putting up the shelves, stocking them with books, and other administrative costs such as library cards for the children, you may do so by making out a check to The Craddock Center. Be sure to earmark it “Bob Doty Memorial Library” – if you just write “books”, we will think the funds are for the books we distribute via the Story Express. Thank you. - TRS


EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SEARCH

I promised to keep you informed as to the status of our search. We have received many, many resumes, from many well-qualified individuals. After much deliberation, we are moving into the interview phase. More to follow… - TRS

A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE PULPIT

Of University Church of Loma Linda University in southern California. The University as well as the Church are part of that fellowship of believers called Seventh Day Adventists. The welcome, the hospitality, the evidences of God’s grace, the worship: all that one associates with a healthy church was there in abundance. I was invited to preach and I happily accepted. The occasion was their usual Sabbath service.

On the way to the pulpit, I was asked to stop briefly in a small room off the chancel. There a woman introduced herself and explained that she prepared the preachers for television. The service was to be televised, as was their custom, and she was the makeup artist. I was suddenly not at home. I tried to be light: Will this involve surgery? How could you possibly improve on this? Please, don’t cause them to think Robert Redford is preaching today! She dulled the shine on my head, hid a blotch or two, and said, Go get’em, George! I said, George? My name is Fred. She said, Sorry; I was thinking George Clooney. She was gracious and pleasant, but the light banter hardly concealed my being ill at ease.

Why was I ill at ease? Once I was in the pulpit I was completely unaware of cosmetic or camera. All that was gone as I was now present to the worshipers and to the Gospel. But I have thought of it several times since; in fact, I am talking to you about it because it is again on my mind.

Do you have any idea why I was ill at ease in the makeup room? What do you think? - FBC


EXPRESS NEWS

Since our last Milk & Honey, the Story Express has been on 5 visits in the community, going to the Gilmer Community Food Pantry, West Fannin Elementary, Blue Ridge Elementary, Health and Safety EXPO 2007,and Horseshoe Bend Park, and distributing 150 books. We’ve had a couple of folks ask to be added to the list of volunteers, and the list of high school volunteers from Fannin County High School’s Thespian Club continues to grow. We still have room for you – come and join in the fun. TRS


THE GREEN, GREEN GRASS

Grows taller and taller with the arrival of spring. Much to the pleasure of the grass, our lawnmower has trimmed its final blade. Do you have a working lawnmower with whom you’d like to part ways? If so, please consider us – we’ll gladly accept such a donation. In return, we can serve as your alibi to watch baseball or go fishing instead of working in the yard. Thank you. -TRS

APPALACHIAN WEEKEND ‘07: COTTAGE INDUSTRIES

Plans are in the works for an exciting Appalachian Weekend! We don’t have firm enough details to share with you, but I wanted to give you a brief peek under the curtain…

This year, we plan to feature Cottage Industries. This includes quilting, canning, pottery, and much, much more. Several businesses we know today began as small crafts in Appalachia. Bush Brothers started as a small cannery in Tennessee. The carpet industry in Dalton, Georgia began as hand tufting of bedspreads. We want to feature their success, as well as celebrate the quilter, or turner, or potter continuing a trade that has been passed down through the family for generations. Stay tuned for more information! - TRS
 

I’VE NEVER DISCUSSED IT BEFORE

But I will at the Fall Preaching Workshop, to he held Oct. 1 this year. As you may or may not know, continental breakfast is at 9:00 a.m. (free), sessions are 9:30-12:00 noon, deli-lunch (free), and farewell. Tammy tells me 70 are already registered. There is no charge. This will be our first meeting in the new space, fellowship hall of the new Cherry Log Christian Church, 1.5 miles south of the present church. The new building is very visible from Hwy. 515 but is entered from Cherry Log Street.

Now, back to the subject. The topic for the Workshop is “Same Time Next Year”. Under that topic we will discuss preaching the same sermon year after year, but not in the sense of traveling from church to church with the same sermon. Neither do I mean to encourage laziness; that is, preaching the same sermon every week, perhaps thinly disguised with different stories or altered introductions.

No, what I have in mind is the preparation of a sermon to be delivered to the same congregation at the same time every year. You might call it a Signature Sermon, always the same, no disguises, a sermon which, in the course of time, is identified with that church, that occasion, that preacher.

Why would anyone do this? What are the benefits, and to whom? Sounds like it could have a death knell in it. Or maybe it could gather momentum, building anticipation, and filling the house.

As I said, this will be a new conversation for me. Through the years, I have urged preaching students to come to the pulpit with a word that is fresh and appropriate to time, place, and listeners. And now this, I’m not totally sure why, but I look forward to talking about it with those who come.- FBC