REJOICE AND BE GLAD

B. C. Brannon, 91, of Borger, died Friday Oct. 15, 2010, in Amarillo.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Wed. Oct. 20, 2010, at the Church of Christ at Borger. Burial was in the “Garden of Love” at Westlawn Cemetery under the direction of Minton/Chatwell Funeral Directors of Borger.

B. C. was born April 30, 1919, in Dodd City, to Isaac and Lizzie Brannon. He was the minister at Jim Hall St. Church of Christ. He was a retired airplane assembly mechanic. He was a longtime Borger resident. He was preceded in death by his parents, sons Ronald Williams, Earnest Earl, and James Henry, first wife Vera, and second wife Shirley.

He married Jonell Wilson Nov. 26, 1994, in Plainview.

He is survived by his wife Jonell of Borger, sons, Bobby Ray Brannon and Robert Brannon, both of Portland, OR, and Robin Charles Brannon of Edmond, OK; 12 stepchildren, brother L. J. Brannon of Childress, sisters, Verdele Jackson of Gainesville, TX and Adele Bates of Bonham, TX, 11 grandchildren, 36 step grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.

To send condolences, sign the online guestbook at http://www.mintonchatwell.com/.

I have decided that October is my new least favorite month. Not only did we lose Dad, but we also found out today that we lost our baby. We are hurting, but we know that God is faithful and just - His ways are far higher than our ways, and His thoughts are far higher than our thoughts. His knows exactly what we need and what is best for us. He also knows how to comfort us in our time of greatest need.

Rejoice, Family, and be glad that Dad doesn't have to suffer anymore - ever again! - and that Baby never has to deal with this world, but gets to party with Dad, Mama, Ron, Ernie, Gram, and all the rest of those who have gone on before. Great is their reward!

Shalom

I KNOW A YALE GRAD

Just a quick word of congratulations to my buddy, Eric Barry, who just graduated from Yale with a Master's degree in vocal performance. Eric and I went to little ol' WTAMU together and I had the privilege of singing with him on more than one occaision. Eric's a great guy and I wish him all the success he could ever hope for!

Congrats, Buddy! I'm proud of you!

Peace, Love, and Dark Chocolate

UPDATE - 2.22.10

I know I said I wasn't going to post any more updates for a while, but this one is too good to pass up:

4:00 PM... Glory be to God for even more great news from the Bynum camp! DEBBIE IS GOING HOME TONIGHT!! She got herself up at 6:30 this morning, took a shower, and put her makeup on! Later, John got her walking the halls several times. One of the doctors stopped them in the hall and said that he wouldn’t have bet a nickel that she would be doing this great! Since John is a paramedic, the doctor said he is going to check out an IV pump and the meds she needs and send them home!!! They did make her promise not to go back to work this week and maybe next week. She will not need to go to the Rehab Center since she is doing so well and they can do any physical therapy she might need at home. Two of her doctors were off today but came in to tell her goodbye.

So, they are sending up a soft food tray and if she can get it all down without any trouble, they will be going home. John wanted me to pass along that he wants to have one big “Welcome Home” bash and invite everyone instead of several groups planning several different events…he doesn’t want to wear her out! Be looking for more info on that soon! John said Debbie would love to have visitors, but please call first to make sure she isn’t resting.

If that isn't an incredible example of the power of prayer, then I'm not bald!! PRAISE GOD!!!!!

Peace, Love, and Dark Chocolate

WHO DAT

Congratulations to the New Orleans Saints for winning Super Bowl XLIV!

Congratulations to Drew Brees for becoming the MVP in Super Bowl XLIV!

Congratulations to the city of New Orleans (and the "Who Dat Nation") for overcoming incredible odds and finding new strength!

Peace, Love, and Dark Chocolate

LEGENDARY LEGACIES

Today we commemorated two men who changed the world in their own ways.

One changed music, one changed ministry.

One changed bodies, one changed hearts.

One changed the way we treat people with disabilities, one changed the way we treat people with different skin color.

Both changed lives.

Teddy Pendergrass passed away last week. His life as a musician was remarkable, to say the least. But it was his life-altering accident that showed what he was truly made of. After his brakes failed in his car, Pendergrass hit two trees, leaving him paralyzed from the chest down. The injury caused him to start an organization designed to educate and encourage others who had spinal cord injuries. The Teddy Pendergrass Alliance still operates on all cylinders, just as does the memory of the R&B legend.

Theodore DeReese "Teddy" Pendergrass

March 26, 1950 - January 13, 2010

Of course, this country...this world would not be the same were it not for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. His dedication to justice, even in the face of adversity, was such that caused the greatest awakening in America concerning the way we treat one another. Because of Dr. King, my older brothers were among the first black students to integrate the schools in our hometown of Borger, Texas. Because of Dr. King, I am able to be married to the most beautiful woman I know without fear of persecution. Because of Dr. King, we see people more like Jesus sees people. Thank you, Dr. King.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

January 15, 1929 - April 4, 1968

What a great pair of lives to celebrate!

Peace, Love, and Dark Chocolate

My Resilient Heritage

Today is an important day in the Brannon family. On this day, October 5, 1941, my dad, B. C. Brannon preached his first sermon. He is the only person I know of who has been a preacher for 68 years and is still at it! Although his health is not as steady as it once was, he still manages to find the motivation to study every day and prepare two sermons for each Sunday. I was beginning to wonder if he would be able to preach any more after coming down with pneumonia around his 90th birthday back in April, but my doubts were proven wrong in August. I haven't gotten to hear him preach since early last year, but I know he still "brings it" every time.


For those of you who know some of the history of the Churches of Christ, especially black churches, you know the name Marshall Keeble. Dad was baptized by Marshall Keeble back in 1939 and began studying to be a preacher at Keeble's seminary in Fort Smith, AR.


B. C. Brannon is my hero. He has been considered a great evangelist, a pioneer in the black Churches of Christ, and (most importantly) my dad. I am so proud of my dad and the legacy he is leaving for me. Someone who is determined to keep telling the Good News of Jesus until he is physically and/or mentally unable to do so will always have my utmost respect and admiration.

Even though there are only about seven people who attend services there on a regular basis, I will always have a certain fondness for the Jim Hall Street Church of Christ. It was the church where I grew up. It was where I made the decision to follow Jesus. It was where I was baptized. More importantly, it was where I saw my daddy at work week in and week out, teaching people about the God he knows and loves.


I hope to see Dad's name on this marquis for many more years. I pray he reaches at least 70 years in the pulpit. I would love to be in full time ministry at least half of the time he has been in it. Dad taught me what it means to never give up. I hope to live out that lesson!

Peace, Love, and Chocolate

What A Loser!

This is Sean.
He's a big loser.
He has lost over 115 pounds and he's still losing.

Because he is a real man, he lost his position on the Biggest Loser ranch.
Because he is a real man, he is about to be a father for the third time.
Because he is a real man, he is traveling around the country promoting healthy living.

He's one of my favorite people on the planet!

Pray for Sean and his family.
If you know him, show him some love.
If you don't know him, get to know him.

We love you, Sean!

20 Things I Learned From Mama

It was 20 years ago today
God took my Mama away
To the "land of endless day"
That sacred land for which we pray

So let me introduce to you
A list I've made from all these years
How my Mama taught me to be a man!

(bonus points if you can name that tune)

20. Always respect authority.
19. Be on time.
18. Keep learning.
17. Don't put off today for tomorrow.
16. When you go to pick a switch, make sure you pick the right one!
15. Smile.
14. You don't always have to fit in to be cool.
13. You have no business dating until you can take the girl somewhere and pay for it.
12. Be still when I'm combing your hair (yes, I actually had hair once). It'll hurt less.
11. You're never too old or too big to get a whoopin'!
10. Just because your friends do it doesn't mean you do it.
9. If you say you're going to do something, do it to the best of your ability.
8. When you are asked to help, don't complain. Just do it.
7. Treat people better than you want to be treated.
6. A hard head makes a soft behind!
5. Always be honest.
4. Jesus wept and God is love. Memorize scripture.
3. Cancer may destroy your body, but it can't harm your soul.
2. Children obey your parents in the Lord for this is right. (Eph. 6:1)
1. I will always love you and be proud of you, no matter what happens to me.



Shirley Mae Brannon
January 12, 1944 - September 17, 1989

See you soon, Mama! I love you!

Celebration! 100 Posts And Counting...

Well, I finally made it to my 100th post on this blog spot! I've been racking my brain over the last several days trying to decide what I would write on this post (Really, what do people typically do to celebrate a milestone like this?). Actually, I had been thinking about waiting until my birthday to post it, but I decided that would simply take too much time between posts. Instead, I decided to write about some of my favorite people in the world, my family.

A few weeks ago, I was fortunate enough to take Steph and Gabby to Texas for the first time to meet my parents. While we were there we were able to have a little reception at the University Church building (where I was a member for eleven years before moving to Nashville) in honor of Stephanie's and my marriage, my dad's 90th birthday and my graduation (finally) from WTAMU!


I would have, and should have, written about this right after it happened if I had had better pictures, but I haven't gotten them yet. I hope to get them soon. Until then, I'll have to use what I have, which isn't very good at all (I'll exchange them once I get the good ones in).


B.C. Brannon - one of the greatest men I've ever had the priviledge of knowing. It's a trip to think that anyone would still have the desire to do work at the age of 90. My dad has told me on more than one occaision that he wants to preach until he can't preach anymore. By then, it'll be time for him to be with Jesus. He hasn't preached as a 90-year-old yet, thanks to pneumonia, but if the Lord so wills him to see October 5, and to preach again, he will have been preaching for 68 years! Most of my friends' parents aren't even 67 years old and my dad has been preaching that long. That's dedication! That's passion! That's honor! That's God inhabiting every fiber of his being! That's why he's my hero!

JoNell Brannon - After my mother died in 1989, I thought I would never have a mother again. Five years later, I was proven wrong. Dad showed up at WT one fall day of my freshman year and told me he was headed to see my "new mom." JoNell has been nothing short of a blessing to me since she married Dad. So much so that I call her Mom. I must mention, though, that I was encouraged by a very wise man to call her Mom instead of JoNell because in certain African cultures (from which I come) there is no step-mother, aunt, grandmother. There is only mother. Therefore, JoNell is my mother and I'm proud of that!


Stephanie Brannon - If you had asked me early last year if I thought I would be married with a child by this time, I most likely would have laughed until I couldn't stand up straight anymore! God seems to change people's plans from time to time before they even know their plans have been changed. Steph has been an answer to a prayer I'd been praying for quite a long time. I'm grateful to be married to such a beautiful, wonderful woman of God!

Gabrielle Nelson - It seems like just yesterday that we had a 10-year-old little girl who was excited about starting 6th grade in a few months. That's because it was just yesterday. Gabby turned 11 today and we treated her to a nice homemade breakfast, balloons, and presents. Isn't she adorable at 7:15 in the morning?



So, as you might have guessed by now, I am madly in love with my family and I'm so glad God put them in my life and me in theirs. What can I say? I'm blessed!

Peace, Love, and Chocolate