August 28, 2026, 3:00 PM
Hello again and I am praying you have had a wonderful week as the month of August winds down!
America lost one of its National Treasures this week with the death of Dolly Parton this past Tuesday, August 25, 2026.
Dolly was always a beloved person in southern/Appalachian culture. It's been amazing to watch how, over the years, she became so much bigger of a personality. She wasn't just national, Dolly was known worldwide! I believe what separated Dolly from others was not her physical beauty or musical/writing/artistic talents, but her character as a person of great love, generosity, and integrity.
Dolly Parton excelled in the area of generosity, known for extensive charitable work, involving children’s literacy, disaster relief, and health care.
Founded in 1995, Dolly’s Imagination Library mails children a free, age-appropriate book every month from birth until age five. It grew from her home county in Tennessee (Sevier County) to programs that have distributed over one hunderd million books across the world!
Dolly grew up in poverty in the mountains of Eastern Tennessee. She never forgot where she came from and gave a lot BACK to her Smoky Mountain home community. That can be best seen through the theme park "Dollywood," and the "Dollywood Foundation," which provide jobs and funding for the residents of this area of Appalachia.
Finally, even as Dolly's fame rose to great heights, she always displayed great humility, never taking herself too seriously.
She famously likes to joke, “It takes a lot of money to look this cheap," referring to her glamorous, exaggerated look with big hair, flashy clothes, and lots of makeup! Dolly also once said, “I’m not offended by all the dumb-blonde jokes because I know I’m not dumb. And I also know that I’m not blonde.” One of the signs of true humility is being able to laugh at yourself!
All humans are created in their "father's image" and it's our Creator's desire that we reflect it! God wants all of His children to take on more and more of His (Godly) characteristics.
It's this type of character that David encouraged his son Solomon to embrace. Listen to David in 1 Chronicles 28:9: "And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever."
Jesus also gave us a good idea of what a Godly person of character looks like in the Gospel of Matthew, Chapters 5-7. In fact, this coming Sunday (08.30.26), I will continue our "Head for the Hills" sermon series and wrap up our look at Jesus' “Sermon on the Mount.”
The Temple which David passed on to his son Solomon to build was a place for the presence of God to dwell. Today, however, God can live inside of each one who believes. The body of the believer will become a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
This is very important in becoming more and more like Jesus. Genuine transformation does NOT occur by our OWN strength and might, but by God, through His Holy Spirit living inside us!
Help us, Lord, to be transformed, through Your Holy Spirit, looking more and more like You!
I pray we will see you at FCC this coming Sunday. If not, then, Lord willing, we'll see you again soon. May God bless!
Your friend,
Greg Herriford
