Allison Lancaster
Today has been a very special day. Kimberly and Allison drove to Knoxville this morning to join us at Farragut. Fathers and their children were involved in leading the services with a Father's Day theme. I was very moved by Kimberly's rendition of "How Deep The Father's Love For Us."
Since this is my blog, I suppose it's okay to tell you how proud I am of our children. Allison is about to travel to Australia with Lipscomb students on a mission trip to Perth. She'll be going to the city of my very first Australian mission trip - incidentally, with the son of evangelist, Marvin Phillips, whom I accompanied years ago. Marvin's son, Mark will be on this trip and Marvin's other son, Alan, was instrumental in helping us with our recent visit to Australia and New Zealand. After her Australian trip, she'll be preparing for a semester of study in Vienna this Fall.
Melissa called me today from her vacation in Florida. Melissa is excelling in her work with recording and developing singing groups, including vocalists at Friendship Christian. She also has an amazing and creative contemporary sound with her group, Lancaster Transit.
Kimberly continues to stay busy with her photography business, taking pictures of everyone from bluegrass legend, Earl Scruggs to Gospel great, Bill Gaither. You may already know that she sings with Durant and stays busy consulting her Dad in photographic techniques.
It was great to hear from our son, Anthony after his very first appearance last night, singing with Acappella. By the way, here's one of those "What's up with that?" stories: When Anthony was a boy scout, we entered the fathers and sons clay pigeon shooting contest. I currently display in my office the first place trophy from that contest. Apparently, a couple of the scout leaders had been trading the first place trophy back and forth from year to year. At the awards ceremony, one of the leaders who was announcing the winners (who had not been able to attend the shooting contest and had not heard the results), read my name for the first place prize. He was obviously stunned (and shocked that a singing-worship leader had won) and immediately said, "What's up with that???" I continue to laugh about that moment. (I guess all those target-shooting outings with my Dad paid off.)
So. . . Anthony has only been preparing for nine days to sing with Acappella, and what was his very first gig? He and Acappella were flown to Dallas, Texas to perform for the Christian Music Hall Of Fame, appearing with a host of well-known, famous artists. His first concert is the "Hall Of Fame!" What's up with that?
That made me smile.Of course I can't think of Father's Day without a flood of memories of my Dad. The greatest memories I have of my Dad are of his heart for serving and helping others. He epitomized the golden rule. He always looked for ways to help people however he could and truly left a legacy that we cherish.
It's also a tremendous blessing to have a father-in-law who lives life to the fullest. After Charles found out this week that he has pancreatic cancer, he chose to celebrate life by going for one of Trowbridges' famous banana splits.
Charles Moody at Trowbridges - Florence, Alabama
Thank God for all the Fathers who give us a glimpse of and point us to the ultimate, heavenly Father.
