Best day ever!

This past Sunday we baptized six people in the river running through downtown Clinton. Everyone walked the few blocks from the Church to stand on the bridge and participate in the celebration. It was so neat to hear stories about how people who were passing by stopped to ask questions and find out what was going on. Everyone was so receptive of us being there and even the fishermen that we displaced were smiling and celebrating with us. Even greater than that is the people who were making their public declaration that Jesus is their leader and guide and they wanted everyone to know they were following Him the rest of their lives. What a great day!!

lost things

My wife, the kids and I just got back from a wonderful vacation at the OBX with my family. Well it was wonderful except for one day in particular. I was playing football in the ocean and went to catch the ball and felt my wedding ring pop off my finger. I immediately started to look down into two feet of churning ocean water to find that precious piece of metal. My family helped me look for a long time and we were hoping and praying that it would wash up on shore--but to no avail. My Sister in law Sheri made the great recommendation to go tell my wife, who was making lunch at our house a couple blocks away, so she could react in private. I didn't know how she was going to react, so i was expecting the worst--at least the couch for a few nights. Fortunately she had the right perspective. She said at least it wasn't our child!! Crazy enough just the day before Ethan got out of our site for a few minutes which had us frazzled to say the least.

We joked the rest of the week about that ring washing up on shore in front of our feet, but eventually we gave up looking and Im now sitting in NJ. If it were my son who was missing...i would not be here. I would be in Corolla, NC searching for my son.

These instances remind me of what is most important in life.
They remind me of Jesus mission on earth.
They remind me of my mission in life.
They remind me of our church's mission.

GOW

Do you remember at the beginning of the year when I gave everyone a can of Coke with the label reading Give Live Love? I used those single words to help us begin to define what we were all about-- a way for us all to row in the same direction. (some of you will remember the boat analogy that we have been using) In the ensuing months i realized how much i disliked those words. Maybe i couldn't get away from them being ripped off from Coke. You probably haven't heard anyone use them since. SO we are taking those same ideas but using new words to describe the concepts. Are you ready for them??? Don't be too shocked by their profundity.
GOD
OTHERS
WORLD
I know, I know, you had to catch your breath...
Really though, these are the three connections we want everyone (kids, teenagers, and adults young and old) to be linked to.

Connected to God through worship
Connected to Others through small groups
Connected to the World through serving

So there you have it. Some new words to help us all move in the same direction.
By the way, i mentioned that you would get a prize if you had that can of coke in your home and i found it sometime. So, if you are the first to bring that can to me, there will still be a prize for you.

Thats it for now, but you'll hear more soon.


grace & peace