A New Blogger

Well, I never imagined that I would be a blogger.  But today, September 26th, I'll enter a first and give it a crack.  Not exactly sure what my intentions are - but perhaps they include keeping loved ones and friends apprised of my comings and goings - but most certainly they include pointing anyone who reads these lines toward the one who has made such a difference in my life:  Jesus Christ. 

And I suppose the beginning of this blog is well timed, in that it marks the beginning of a new life in Heaven for my dear uncle Pastor Robert Lee Shotts, who reported for new duty this past Friday, September 24th.  Following is his obituary:

Robert Lee Shotts

After a sixteen-year illness, Rev. Robert Lee Shotts went home to meet the Lord on Friday, September 24, 2010.    He died at the Battle Creek Health System in Battle Creek, Michigan.

Born April 29, 1926, in Vina, Alabama, he was the son of Robert Paul Shotts and Lula Floy Thorn Shotts.   At age 8, his family moved to Detroit, MI, to find work following the Great Depression.

On September 2, 1948, he was married to Dorothy Jane Pettit in Detroit, Michigan.   Immediately following their marriage, they departed for Greenville, South Carolina, for him to attend Bob Jones University as a ministerial student.   During his time as a student at BJU, he was called to serve his country in the Korean Conflict.

On September 13, 1950, Robert Lee was ordained to the ministry by Temple Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan.  During his life, he was the pastor of churches in Statesville, GA; Bedford, IN; Crawfordsville, IN; Goldsboro, NC; Monroe, NC; Battle Creek, MI; and Holland, MI.   While living in Bedford, IN, he also taught high school at Williams High School; while living in Crawfordsville, IN, he taught at Linden High School. 

He spent seventeen years in Crawfordsville Indiana as pastor of the Fremont Street Baptist Church.   During this time, he started a Christian School as part of the church ministry.   His entire life was spent serving others in need.   The impact of his selfless life was felt by hundreds of people with whom he came in contact.

Robert Lee graduated from Detroit Cass Technical High School as an ROTC graduate.   He served in the United States Navy and Reserves for twelve years, ending his Navy career as a Lieutenant.   During his early years in the USN, he received a Bachelor or Naval Science degree from the University of Notre Dame.    In addition, he held a Masters in Education from Indiana University in Bloomington, IN., and two theology degrees from Bob Jones University.

He is survived by his wife, Dorothy, of sixty-two years; six daughters:  Judith Allen of Greenville, SC; Nita North and Lili Cheney, both of Dowling, MI; Robin Bishop and Misty Harley of Columbia, SC; Faith Shotts-Flikkema of Grand Rapids, MI;  one son, Jonathan Shotts of Hastings, MI; and one sister, Judith Stewart, currently of Battle Creek, MI.  He leaves 18 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren as well as one daughter-in-law and five sons-in-law.

One  daughter, Dr. Ouida Shotts of Concord, NC, predeceased him in February 1998;  and one grandson, Peter Scott Shotts, predeceased him in 1987.

The funeral service for Pastor Shotts will be arranged by Deaton Funeral Home of Red Bay, Alabama, and will be held at the Shottsville Community Church, in Shottsville, Alabama, on Wednesday, September 29, 2006 at 2:00 pm.  Burial in the adjacent Shottsville Cemetery will follow the service.    The family can be contacted at P.O. Box 61, Dowling, MI   49050.

Pastor Shotts (Uncle Bob) made an indelible impact on my life.  While preaching on one occasion at Fremont Street Baptist Church (probably the last time he did), I recall his encouraging people that they could always, always look to God for help in times of temptation. 

He quoted I Corinthians 10:13:  "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man:  but God is faithful; who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able, but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bare it."

He talked about the many things contained in just that one verse - about the fact that there's nothing new under the sun - that, at some point in the history of mankind, men and women have experienced the very same thing you have (and experienced victory with God's help!).  In fact, even Jesus himself experienced temptation and looked to God for help and did not yield to Satan's wooings. 

He talked about the fact that God is faithful - always.

He talked about the fact that God knows your breaking point.  He allows Satan (just as he did with Job) to shape you and and make you stronger and conform you to the image of his dear Son.  But he never, ever allows Satan to put more on you than you can handle. 

He talked about the fact that he also gives an escape route:  every time.  Look for it.  God gives it. 

Finally, at the end of the verse, it says "that ye MAY be able to bare it"... Implication:  "MAY" be able to bare it.  There is choice here.  There is a matter of will.  God will not force himself on you.  You will choose his way or yours. 

I don't know about you, but I have been in moments of temptation and seen God's hand at work where that route of escape was very clearly in front of me.  Thankfully, there have been times when I took God's escape route.  But regretably, there have been many that I didn't. 

Well, that's it for my first blog post.  I pray for you tonight that God might bless you and give you a good night's rest.