<u>Thursday, November 20, 2008:</u>  I received some terrible news in the form of an e-mail from my cousin.  His daughter, who was 26 weeks pregnant, lost her baby this past week.  As some of us can only imagine, while others of us know first hand, my cousin’s entire family is undergoing horrendous pain and grief.
. <u>Monday morning, November 24, 2008:</u> Today I spoke at Marcel Pierre-Jacques’ funeral; he was just 24 years old!  This Wednesday morning at 7:00 I am scheduled to speak to the entire department where Marcel worked at Temple Hospital.  Marcel’s boss told me this morning, “We need help coping with this shocking loss.”
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<u>Monday night, November 24, 2008: </u>Tomorrow is a momentous day for our Sikes’ family.  Our oldest son, Jordan, and his pregnant wife, Jacqueline, find out tomorrow if she is carrying a baby boy or girl!  Patti and I are excited either way; we are just praying for a healthy grandbaby.
. The loss of my cousins’ grandchild, saying goodbye to Marcel, and waiting for our son and daughter-in-law’s phone call, are life’s current ingredients in my brimming, emotional crucible. 
. The Holy Spirit continues to remind me that I am in dire need of being led and I must walk by faith… again! 
. Thank you, James Smith & Larry and Fran Point, for letting me see your faith up close during the hardest of times.  I love you for it. 
. GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME. It’s a GIRL!!!! 

Today I gave the eulogy of a 24 year-old man whom I had been studying the Bible with for about 6 months.  He had been born with a heart defect and had been in and out of the hospital all his life.  He was a pre-med student in Philadelphia and worked as a helping assistant in the surgery room at Temple Hospital.  His department boss at Temple spoke with me today at the funeral and said so many of his co-workers, peers, nurses and even doctors have been affected by his untimely death that she wondered if I would come and speak to her department this Wednesday at 7 am.  I said I would.  Here is what I wrote about it in our Sunday bulletin:

(A Tribute to Marcel Pierre-Jacques)
This past Wednesday afternoon as I was working on the front page of our Pitman bulletin, my phone rang.  Dottie, our secretary, shared that Marcel Pierre-Jacques had just passed away.  What a blow!  I couldn’t believe it and I couldn’t stop the tears that immediately began to flow.  My mind raced back just 24 hours earlier to my last conversation with Marcel on the phone at 2:41 pm. 

I had gone to Marcel’s apartment in Philadelphia on Tuesday morning (11:00 am) and dropped off a care package of food and drink.  He called me that afternoon to say “Thank you.”  He went on to explain that he hadn’t been feeling very well and was still in bed asleep when I came to the door and knocked.  Now he’s gone; a young life of just 24 years. 

Staggering.  I’m having a hard time even putting all of this into words, but I feel compelled to continue. 

I met Marcel last winter when he came to visit our congregation on a Sunday morning.  I found out that Marcel was the younger brother of our own Steve Pierre-Jacques.  I readily observed that Steve and Karelle and their children, Stephanie and Joseph, were indeed a family within a family to Marcel.  Marcel loved them dearly and spoke well of all of them.  Young “Joe-Joe” (Joseph) had a special attraction to Marcel and it was especially a pleasant sight to see Marcel holding him in his arms.  Their smiles and Joe-Joe’s bright eyes would light up any room! 

Marcel was a pre-med college student who lived and worked in Philadelphia (Temple Hospital), but worshipped with us many a Sunday morning during this past year.  If Marcel was feeling OK, his brother, Steve, would generally go and pick him up (usually on a Saturday evening) and bring him home with him for the night.  Marcel loved Karelle’s cooking and being with the children.  Sunday mornings would find them sitting together as a family near the back row of our auditorium during second service.

Over the past 6 months, Marcel and I had numerous Bible studies and discussions about the Lord.  He was open, spiritually questioning and desirous of knowing more and more. 
Generally I would pick Marcel up at his apartment in Philly on Tuesday mornings and take him to work at Temple Hospital.  We would eat and have a Bible study in the hospital cafeteria for over an hour and then Marcel would head to the scrub room to begin his assisting shift in surgery; I would return to Pitman. 

Only a month ago, Marcel called me and wanted to have a Bible study over the phone.  We had missed our regular study time because he had been sick.  Later he called again and asked me to give him another chapter to read.  I gave him Isaiah 40 because I had just preached on that chapter and it had so much to say about God, His sovereignty, and His message of hope and comfort – especially to young men experiencing a hard time!

“His understanding is inscrutable.  He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power.  Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength, they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.”  Isaiah 40:28b-31

Almost three weeks ago, Marcel was struck with a sharp pain in his chest while working in the Temple Hospital surgery room.  He was immediately given a Cat Scan and transported to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (C.H.O.P.).  I visited him there where he underwent more tests, including an echocardiogram, another Cat Scan and a check-up on his pacemaker. 

I often commented to Marcel that 2008 was indeed a huge testing year for him.  He had been admitted to C.H.O.P. numerous times since this past February for a variety of reasons: high fever; breathing difficulties; blood clot; lung problems; heart problems; kidney problems; etc. 

Marcel had missed so much school this past spring that he was forced to drop all of his classes; he was fearful of having to do the same this semester, though Tuesday he assured me he was caught up. 
               
Marcel Pierre-Jacques worked his way into my heart quickly.  Almost every time we would meet he would ask me about Jessica and her chronic pain.  He and Jess had so much in common.  Plus, this past spring our oldest son, Jordan, flew in from Chicago for a quick two-day visit; a rare break in his Podiatry School program.  Patti and I took Jordan to C.H.O.P to meet Marcel.  We sang several songs together, read some Scripture and then Jordan prayed for him.  Marcel and Jordan connected right away. 

Some people would say Marcel left this world way too early.  He had so much to offer, so much to give, and yet, so much to learn and understand.  In his young life, Marcel was a seeker of truth, a believer in God, and was fast becoming a student of His Word.  Marcel had already made his deposit to go on our next mission trip to France in 2009.  He and Garth Hutchinson (our resident missionary from France) conversed in French several times.

Marcel was a hard worker, extremely conscientious, smart, reserved, honorable, fun-loving, great around little kids, and had plans to be a doctor someday and make a difference helping people.  I’ll never forget Marcel’s bravery as he faced each new day with resolved hope and courage.  Now what?

Isaiah 40 – concerning God’s eternal sovereignty and His unfathomable understanding, is where I lay down my questions and fears; Isaiah 53 is where I lift up my peace.  GOD IS GOOD. 

When he first came to live with our family, he was about 18 months old.  He was too young for one of the children’s home cottages, so my parents brought him home to our farm house. 
For many years we had an old couch in the den that had a hole in the back.  Almost like a magnet, our innovative little resident was drawn to that hole from the very start.  Daily he would reach his little hand into that couch cavity and pull out some stuffing, and then with his fist clinched tight, hold his prize throughout the day!  Somehow, someway, this daily allowance of stuffing rewarded our new toddler with some sense of security.
I don’t know how old my adopted brother was before he quit foraging into our old couch, but his story reminds me of where true security can be found.  (And it’s not in a fistful of stuffing!)
“And if you give yourself to the hungry, and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then your light will rise in darkness, and your gloom will become like midday.  And the LORD will continually guide you, and satisfy your desire in scorched places, and give strength to your bones; and you will be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.”  Isaiah 58:10-11
When one’s hand is open to the needy, God will guide, satisfy and strengthen!  Now that’s security, not stuffing!  God is indeed good all the time!

Patti and I were students at York College in York, Nebraska from 1970-1972 and teachers from 1995-2002.  During that time the Nebraska Cornhuskers won four NCAA Football Championships.  We lived in Bloomington, Indiana from 1976 – 1986 and watched our own IU Hoosiers win the 1981 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship.  In 1990 we moved to Texas as the Dallas Cowboys won Super Bowls XXVII & XXVIII.  We then moved back to Indiana in 2002 and witnessed the 2006-2007 Indianapolis Colts win Super Bowl XLI. 
. Last year we moved to South Jersey and cheered on our own Tank Daniels as his New York Giants won Super Bowl XLII.  And of course, every MLB fan knows that last night the Philadelphia Phillies won the coveted MLB World Series Championship!
Almost everywhere we’ve moved, somebody has either won a national or world championship in something!  Coincidence?  Yes!!!  Although I can try to make some association with any or all of the above, none of our family had anything to do with any of these championships.
. However, there is one association of a winner that has everything to do with me!  My Father is the one who created the world! (Isaiah 40); my Brother is the one who saved the world! (Acts 4:10-12); and my resident Holy Spirit is the one who empowers me from acting like the world! (Romans 8:9-14).  GO GOD!!!  God is good.  Steve

With our National election less than 10 days away, I have some questions for you:
1. Do you have some concerns about our next elected president?
2. Do you have some concerns about our nation’s moral, economic, and spiritual state?  How about foreign relations?
3. Do you have some concerns about your own weariness and tiredness while living in today’s fast-paced and TMI (too much information) culture?

There are a great number of things I do not know.  There are many wonders I have not yet seen.  There are many sounds, songs and lessons I have not heard.  But this one thing I know…

(Please allow me to let someone else finish this thought.)  Several days ago I asked Isaiah the prophet if he would guest-write part of the front page of our bulletin and this blog and he said “YES!”  Note:  pay special attention to how he begins and ends his eleven-verse article.  MAY GOD’S WORDS THROUGH ISAIAH COMFORT YOU!

“Do you not know?  Have you not heard?  Has it not been declared to you from the beginning?”

“Though youths grow weary and tired,
And vigorous young men stumble badly, yet those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.”       
          Isaiah 40:21-31

In the midst of today’s climate and my above stated concerns, I couldn’t help but take Isaiah’s words of declaration and wisdom personally:
1. Steve, do you not know?  The only God, who is Creator and sovereign of all – is in control!  HE IS ALL POWERFUL!
2. Steve, do you not know?  Your God is The Ruler of all the nations!  It is God who judges all the earth! HE IS ALL KNOWING; ALL PRESENT!
3. Steve, do you not know? Has it not been declared to you from the beginning?  It is God who gives you your strength; it is God who gives you your power!  Stop!  Look!  Listen!  PRA(Y)ISE!  Fly/Run/Walk!
GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME!  Steve

The year was 1961.  I had just moved to a new school and had zero friends.  Even worse, my fourth grade class had already started and I was behind.

On my first day in school I remember feeling lonely, nervous, and very uncomfortable.  To top it off, my fourth grade teacher, Miss Gillentine, asked several of us to go up to the chalk board and work a long addition problem. To my surprise I finished first.  (I’d learned a faster way of doing long addition at my previous school.)

The following day Miss Gillentine announced we were going to have a long addition contest on the board.  I won.  The next day she held the contest again.  I won again.  In fact, Miss Gillentine had us do long addition races for the rest of the year!  Each race, my confidence grew and I took that confidence with me everywhere I went.

Yes.  She knew.  Miss Gillentine, a Christian teacher and a wise woman, saw a need and filled it.  She saw a scared and lonely fourth grade boy.  She found something he was good at and provided the opportunity for his success.  Miss Gillentine is one of the souls I want to personally thank when I get to heaven!

Our church family has some teachers like Miss Gillentine!  I’ve seen them work.  Today, thank a teacher!  IT WILL ALL ADD UP IN THE END!  God is good! 

Steve

Her love language is gifts!  Her love language is gifts!  If you knew her at all – you would know she gets so excited when any gift-giving occasion comes around.  I’ve met people who get excited when they are about to receive a gift, but I’ve never met anyone like her whose excitement excels when she is on the giving end of giving!

This past Thursday was National Boss’s Day.  I discovered last year, that our staff celebrates each other’s birthday, Christmas, Secretary’s Day, Boss’s Day, and really any other day we can find to celebrate and encourage one another!

When I came into the office building on Boss’s Day, she was beaming, smiling from ear to ear!  I definitely don’t consider myself her boss, but by her desk were two gift-wrapped boxes with cards attached – one for Dan and one for me.  She couldn’t wait till we could all get together in Dan’s office and begin the celebration.  We all had work to do before our pre-lunch party, but I knew the wait would be the hardest on her; she just couldn’t wait to give!

Dottie Grillo reminds me of someone else who just loves to give and can’t wait until we open His gift:  “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)  God’s love language is gifts and Jesus is His best!  God is good! 

Over 5 weeks ago I knocked on his door and he invited me in.  I sat on a not too firm chair in his living room as he offered me some figs and goat cheese and some kind of hot fruit drink.  We initially shared background information and then I found myself caught up in his unending wisdom, grateful that I had brought my notebook along.  Somewhere near the beginning of our conversation I remember him clearing his throat and saying, “Steve, when you are in the very worst of trials, try the following: (Now, I’ve been in some trials that were real doozies, so it would be an understatement to say this guy had all my attention and then some.)
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• “Grab all of the faith you can muster and pray for wisdom from above.”  (At this point I interrupted him and asked what good wisdom would do if I was in so much pain?  Shouldn’t I be praying for strength to just hang on?!)  He smiled and handed me another fig.  Good move – that shut me up.
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• He went on to explain, “You’re not getting it.  Wisdom from above is first pure – pure in thought and purpose.  You may not understand all that is happening to you, Steve, (especially when you’re in the middle of a tidal wave experience), but for sure you want your mind to be pure so that you won’t stoop to blaming, back-stabbing, complaining, gossiping, and judging those around you.  You especially want to be pure in how you are experiencing your suffering in order for God to redeem it for good.”  (I remember thinking, “Now that’s a lot to chew on” as I reached for another fig.)
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• “Wisdom from above is also peaceable – peaceable to others, yes, but to you as well.  Can you imagine having this kind of peace in the midst of a trial or better yet, being a vessel of peace to others when your own world has turned upside down?!” 
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• “Wisdom from above is gentle and reasonable and merciful and unwavering!  It is genuine.  You will need all of these qualities to deal with whatever trial(s) you experience.  Extending mercy to others when you in fact need mercy from them is not crazy (as some count craziness) – it is God!  It is Spirit!  And it is certainly evangelistic!”  (It may also be the process of heaping coals of fire upon the head of the enemy if I’m reading Romans 12:20 correctly.  Whew!  This is good!)

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• “Many people look at trials as a pain… an interruption to what real life is to be.  Yes.  Trials are painful, but in truth they provide the necessary arena for God to forge His character more deeply and completely into His children.” (I began to understand that in the middle of a trial, this guy wasn’t just handing me a new set of coping skills, he was revealing an entirely new perspective and paradigm of thought!  I felt some measure of joy coming over me, but at the time, had no handle on what that was about.)
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Leaving his house that first day I knew I’d be back.  I was being fed much more than figs.  Now 5 weeks later I sit here contemplating all that I’ve learned.  I’m not the same person; I don’t see my world the same.  Trials are still a headache (initially) but at least my prayers have changed: “God, through Jesus, with all the faith I can muster, would you please give me Your wisdom, Your character, Your purity, Your peace, Your gentleness and reason, Your mercy, Your steadfastness, Your genuine Spirit!  Use whatever is happening to me and to my family, to forge me, O God, more into Your likeness for Your glory.  Shalom.”
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Thank you, James, for the study!  Thank you for the five chapters, five weeks, and five sermons.  When I first came into your living room and said, “Give me five” – without a doubt, you certainly did!
. James 1:2-6a, 3:17-18, 5:13 “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.  And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.  But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.  But let him ask in faith without any doubting…But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.  And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace…Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praises.”  NASV
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God is good all the time and all the time God is good! 

When our children were the ages of 4, 6, 8, and 10, I asked them one evening over supper what they wanted to be when they grew up.  When it came time for our youngest daughter to answer, she said she wanted to be a widow.  She went on to add, “But I don’t want to get married – I just want to be a widow.”  At the time I was the pulpit minister of a congregation that had over 65 widows.  What a positive impact they had made on my daughter to want to be like them!

Our family regularly visited one widow, Margaret, in particular, that lived across the street from us.  It was easy to see Jesus in Margaret; she was so faithful, giving, loving, serving, and kind.  I’m sure Margaret was uplifted by our visits, but I always came away even more encouraged to live a more godly life than before!  Maybe visiting godly widows is one way God helps us keep unstained by the world!  “Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.”  James 1:27

God is good all the time!

Sel_ish Ambition
G_ssip
Disco_d
Ra_e
Immoral_ty
En_y
Rev_nge
Drunke_ness
Li_s
Abu_e
Jealou_y

“For He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”  Colossians 3:13-14
God is good all the time and all the time God is good!

Copper was my horse.  He was a beautiful appaloosa, brown with white markings.  He loved to run and strut and “show his stuff” and I loved to be on his back when he did it!  But Copper had a problem: he didn’t like to slow down or turn when I wanted him to – especially when headed for home!  Many a time as a teenager, when riding Copper back to the barn at full gallop, he would attempt to brush me off at the telephone pole by our house.  Perilous?  Well, “sortof” but I didn’t think about it back then because I had a plan.
As Copper would angle for the telephone pole at top speed, I would pull my right foot out of the saddle stirrup and swing my leg out of the way.  The stirrup would hit the pole as we went flying past and then I’d swing my leg back over, put my boot in the stirrup and finish our ride to the barn.  Over the years of riding Copper, the above was repeated again and again.  It became a game.  I was the rider and supposedly the one in control of the horse, but when we headed for the barn – we both knew who was in control!  My bridle and bit had little effect on Copper at this time; I was just along for the ride.  Telephone pole – here we come!
Copper became an expert in “taking the bit” (controlling the bit instead of the bit controlling him)!  Plus, it didn’t help matters any that I allowed Copper to play the “telephone pole” game with me repeatedly.  Ultimately, Copper developed into the horse nobody wanted to ride at full throttle.  Well, almost nobody!
Come to think about it, my Dad didn’t have trouble riding Copper!  Dad was 220 pounds of hardened sinew and muscle and years of experience as a rider of horses.  All kinds of horses!  When Dad got in the saddle, he stayed in the saddle; when Dad wanted a horse to obey, he obeyed.  Copper knew his master – his only master, and it wasn’t me!  Dad wasn’t about to play that telephone pole game with Copper, and Copper knew it!  The same bridle and bit that didn’t work for me, worked for Dad.  Hmmmm.
When I read the book of James, I sometimes imagine the author in his youth who quite possibly loved to ride horses (or donkeys) around Nazareth!  Look out, Jesus!  Years later, James writes about horses and bits.  Listen:

“Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they may obey us, we direct their entire body as well…For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed, and has been tamed by the human race.  But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison.”  (James 3:3, 7-8)
Did you hear that!  (Read all of James 3!)  After telling us all the horrific effects of the tongue, James says that NO ONE can tame it!  It won’t stop when we want it to stop!  It won’t turn when we want it to turn!  Telephone pole – here we come!  Right?  Wrong!
Remember how James begins his book?

“But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.  But let him ask in faith without any doubting…”  (James 1:5-6)
ames says that if we want wisdom – we should ask for it in faith (nothing doubting) and our Father will give it to us.  Later, James brings the topic of wisdom back up again – right in the middle of his two long discourses on the negative effects of the tongue (chapters 3 & 4)!  James describes this wisdom from above as:

“…first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.”  (James 3:18)
Now let me ask you, who is the wisest person you have ever met?  Not the smartest but the WISEST!  All of the truly wise women and men I have ever known have all been sons and daughters of God!  And, although not perfect, they have all been pure in their thinking, peacemakers in their actions, gentle in their demeanor, full of mercy and good fruits, and completely genuine without hypocrisy!  OK, Steve, so what’s your point?
James just says WE can’t tame the tongue!  But James strongly implies there is One who can!  We desperately need our wise Heavenly Father in the saddle controlling the reins on our tongues!  Now that’s wisdom from above!  It’s been years since I’ve ridden a horse of any kind.  However, when I “take the bit” in my own mouth and say what I want to say instead of what the Holy Spirit wants me to say… I’m reminded of Copper. <u>Telephone poles aren’t meant to be brushed by – they’re meant to keep communication lines open!</u>  Are yours?

Yesterday I ate lunch with Matt Fortunato and Rachel Cooper.
We spent over an hour planning our upcoming Collingswood – Pitman Young Adults’ LIFE Group. During our conversation, Matt reminded us of the meaning of the Greek word hospitality:philoxenos (a “lover of strangers” 1 Peter 4:9) or “a love of strangers” Romans 12:13).
Job was a lover of strangers! “The alien has not lodged outside, for
I have opened my doors to the traveler.” (Job 31:32)

This past week’s online Christian Chronicle shared a “lover of strangers” story concerning twenty-five New Orleans’ evacuees fleeing from hurricane Gustav. When they fled New Orleans three years ago and
were housed by our brethren in West Monroe, Louisiana, they were
strangers. Last week they were welcomed back as family!
Some “hurricanes” that take place in our lives are not physical, and guests are not all “strangers.” I thank God for you as a church family
for your ongoing hospitality. Right now, the Coopers have opened up
their home to five guests! Go, God! Hurricane Hospitality is among
us! God is good all the time!

In 1958 the Everly Brothers recorded a song called “Dream.”  The song begins with the words – “Drea-ea-ea-ea-eam, dream, dream, dream…”  Last Sunday Night was the finale of our six summer dream sessions.  Great stuff! The following synopsis is what I heard:
*Body over building: “Our church body (family) is so much more important than a new church building.  We are so gifted, so diversified and yet so unified.  Let’s grow via each member using his/her giftedness for the Lord (Romans 12); in our diversification, let’s keep pursuing unity (Ephesians 4); and let’s keep serving God and one another, no matter where we move or what we build.”
*Faith over feeling:  “Faith is what God wants.  We all have feelings concerning what we would like to do, but let’s keep walking by faith and see where God leads.”
*Love over all:  “To many, the Pitman church is known for her love for God and one another (John 13:34-35).  Let’s keep love a priority and grow even more in this area.”
*Outreach/Inreach:  I was particularly intrigued and encouraged by Charles Peterson’s 19 word dream statement: “My vision for the Pitman Church of Christ is that our desire for outreach matches our desire for inreach.”  Talk about a church without walls!
NOW WHAT?  Remember… when God gives a dream, He expects action – NOT as the song says, “I’m dreaming my life away!” CHH: Dream, Decide, Dare, Do It!  GIG!

D.B. is a father of two, a Special Education teacher, a counseling graduate student, and a minister of the Gospel of Christ.  He teaches, he preaches, he leads songs, he goes to hospitals and nursing homes, and he makes house calls – lots of house calls!  D.B. has a heart for ministry; he simply loves God and loves people. 

D.B. is genuine.  He is what most of us would call the “real deal.”  There is no pretense about him.  In a word, D.B. is SINCERE – which helps to explain why many people find him easy to talk to, easy to listen to and easy to follow.

“An often repeated folk etymology proposes that sincere is derived from the Latin sine = without, cera = wax.  According to one popular explanation, dishonest sculptors in Rome or Greece would cover flaws in their work with wax to deceive the viewer; therefore, a sculpture “without wax” would mean honesty in its perfection.”  (Hartford Courant) 
There is some controversy whether the above study of word origins is actually true or not.  I can’t say.  But what I can say is this: D. B. is definitely honest; and without a doubt, D.B. is “without wax.”
For the past few years, Derrick Busch has been hired to shore up our church staff needs during the summers.  Derrick has done an outstanding job again this year, and as a staff, we look forward to more “without wax” summers ahead!  God is good all the time and all the time God is good!

By definition, the word “Vespers” means “an evening church service.”  On August 2, a group of thirty or so of us came to the building and participated in a very insightful vespers.  I was inspired!  We sang, we read from God’s word, we prayed, and we discussed ways that we could become more and more a church without walls – a people for God’s own possession affecting a world in desperate need of Jesus!  Our youth intern for the summer, Rachel Thies, developed this particular vespers around five stations of reflection, vision, service, encouragement, and mission.  All of the above took place on a Saturday night.  The previous night, quite a few of our young adults had come to our house for a party and a devotional and ended up staying till 11:30 pm.  They talked mostly about how they could make a difference for Jesus in our community and with our youth group.  The night before, three of our young adults had taken flowers to one of our hospital’s emergency centers, and then drove up to a fast-food restaurant and gave flowers to all the workers! 3 nights of serving; 3 nights of praising; 3 nights of being Jesus – all because of 1 Sunday morning 2000 years ago!  GIGATT!