Let the Church Be the Church

I saw this blog post on my facebook and wanted to share it with you. Makes you think about how far churches have come in their desire to reach the "hip" generation. Several of the comments for this post are quite informative also. http://rachelheldevans.com/blessed-are-the-uncool

Let's Sing and Pray

My granddaughter, Toots, spent the night last night. In fact, she spent the day also. When we were ready to go to sleep, (okay, I was past ready, and she was still bouncing off the bed) she told me how many songs we were going to sing and how many prayers we would say. After we had finished, I asked her who taught her to give such wonderful prayers. She said that we had done that. Don't take credit for it though. She always talks as if she is speaking directly to God, as we all should, and talks about what is important in that day. Someday I hope to be able to record what she says. Her prayers and sincerity would put most elders from our churches to shame. Thank you, God, for this wonderful girl who teaches us so much!

Hot Time at Church Camp

Hubby and I went to a church camp held locally to help serve dinner last night. The facility is new and not fully developed, so not everything is completely functional nor "done". There is no air-conditioning in the mess hall. And was it ever hot last evening. The sweat was pouring down my face and down my back. If I had the luxury of standing in front of a fan, it helped a little, but you can't work and stand in front of a fan too. The kids were having so much fun! Sweaty, in wet bathing suits, mud-smeared, barefoot, hair plastered back, sunburned, and smiling! People cared enough about them to provide this opportunity to attend camp. Many lasting impressions have been made this week. Many lives have been touched and changed. Thank you, God, for bring forth adults who have the call to serve You by serving the children.

Where Is That Rainbow?

I have heard skeptics say that the world could never be flooded like the Bible says happened in Noah's days. Well, after the heavy rains we've experienced this past week, especially on Saturday, some of those skeptics could become believers. Can you imagine what would happen here in this state with just 7 days in a row of the rain we just had? Hey, do you know where I can buy some gopher wood?

Sign Language of a Different Kind

I wore my sign language shirt to VBS yesterday, the one with the universal symbol for I Love You. Many of the children commented about it and asked what it meant. One little boy, Mitchell, was particularly interested in what it meant. After I explained it, he held up his middle finger and asked if I knew what that meant. (I really think he thought he was using sign language, well, I guess it is.) All I could think to say was that it wasn't very nice to do, so he did it again with the biggest smile on his face. Fortunately for me he was ready to leave for his next class or I might have said something that wasn't in tune with our lessons about the Fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, faithfulness, goodness, kindness, gentleness, and self-control. Looking back on the whole thing, I can anticipate my granddaughter doing something similar in the future. Oh, boy.

Preach It, Brother

Our church is celebrating a significant anniversary by holding a three-day "rally" this weekend. Last night, my brother was the song leader and featured soloist. He had held that position some years back. It was so exciting and nostalgic to be in that service with him. You see, he is now a minister at another local church and we do not worship together in the same building. We sang many of my old favorite hymns as well as those of the large audience. You see, many churches have left the old hymns for the new praise choruses, but not all people are happy about that. One of the former ministers was also on hand to deliver the sermon. He has always been a dynamic speaker, and we were blessed last night with more of his best. As we all were smiling, taking in the feel-good feelings of walking down memory lane, we were brought back to reality with the message of his sermon--look to the past, remember the past, learn from the past, look to the past and do better now, and stay in the future! Step out in faith. I have been reluctant to change, but have made the switch to the newer style of worship. But I'm sure many were sitting in shock during the message, thinking that Pastor Glenn would support their desire to worship as of old. Never would they have expected to hear such a sermon from their beloved former minister. I can guarantee that many of the audience were suspicious, thinking that our current minister somehow gave that topic of a need-to-change to Pastor Glenn to deliver to the captive audience. But knowing Pastor Glenn like we all do, he is a man who would not be "forced" to deliver a message he did not believe in himself. So, as we continue the rally with another former minister tonight, it will be interesting to hear his sermon and how he relates it to the past and his challenge for the future. Stay tuned.

Easter

Words and titles from favorite hymns say it all. I Believe in a Hill Called Mount Calvary Alas! and Did My Savior Bleed Wounded for Me Were You There? Jesus Paid It All Blessed Redeemer Up from the grave He arose He Lives Christ the Lord is risen today! Alleluia! Because He Lives I Can Face Tomorrow