Perhaps I should re-introduce myself since I haven't posted in a long while. I've read over posts, but haven't had a lot of time to respond. I apologize for that. I thought I'd catch you up on a few things.
Today we celebrated my parents' 55th wedding anniversary! We surprised them by all showing up at church (except the two older grandsons who decided sleeping in was more important than their grandparents). I had written the altar flower announcement earlier in the week and then had to keep telling my mother fiblets trying to keep her from calling the church. We asked a former pastor at the church and good friend of the family to have a blessing and prayer for them during the service. By the time it was finished all of us children were in tears. Afterwards, 13 of us went out for brunch where we presented them with their next surprise -- a trip to Rockport, TX, on the Gulf Coast to go birding and on a whooping crane excursion in February with the pastor who did the blessing and his wife. They were both overwhelmed and delighted. All in all, it was a wonderful way to celebrate their anniversary as the church is such an intregal part of their lives.
I wanted to share with you all some thoughts about the Thanksgiving sermon I heard on Tuesday night. (My church does a Tuesday evening service to give everyone a chance to get out of town on Wednesday and give the staff some time off.) Anyway, the associate pastor preached on what amounted to vs. 12 from 2 Corinthians 9. He began by pointing out that everywhere we look it seems Christianity is becoming more about consumerism -- people "shop" for this and that kind of church, take only bits and pieces, and sometimes only what "feels good" instead of being challenged in their faith. But Pastor Nathan pulled no punches Tuesday in pointing out that we seem to get stuck in the routine of God providing and giving us blessings, we thank Him for the blessing and ask what is next. We never move on to the third step which is that we SHOULD in turn provide blessings to others so that they too can thank the Lord for those blessings. Almost a "Pay it Forward" approach. Then God is not only receiving thanksgiving from us, but thanksgiving from an exponential number of people. He challenged us to make an effort in providing others with blessings. I've decided that I have to get off my back side and really do something about the college-age members of the congregation. We've given it lip service, but it's really time to get a real ministry set in motion for them. I'm planning on talking to the powers that be this week.
I've also been teaching a voice class for the past couple of weeks at the college I will be teaching full-time at while the instructor is having surgery. I'm really enjoying it, but it's keeping me hopping along with all the private lessons and sectionals. I'm having to practice their various accompaniments too.
My sister's family is going through some difficult times. My brother-in-law was fired two weeks ago and doesn't seem bothered about finding another job. The oldest nephew (26 year old) quit a job he started in March at a CitiBank call center and went back to a comic book store where he is making MUCH less money and has no benefits. He signed a lease with a roommate at a duplex, and has to honor it, but in the meantime, my sister has told him that he is not welcome at their house. Their family really needs to learn to communicate and the entire family, not just my sister, needs some lessons in Christianity 101 -- church attendance would be a good beginning, followed by living out the faith. All I'm doing is praying.
A good friend of mine and his wife (an older couple) moved to be closer to their daughter and family in July. Now Dale has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has even caused congestive heart failure (the doctor's drained 2 liters of fluid on Thursday). He and his wife Joan are in desperate need of prayers as they doctors are trying everything in the way of treatment.
Looking at the time, I guess I should close.
I'm still around even if I don't post much these days.
All of you continue in my daily prayers as I give thanks for all of you and your support and encouragement.
It is so good to hear from you again Nancy. We do see you have a full plate and trying to fill it some more! Looks like a Thanksgiving dinner everyday of the week! Just leave room for "Good Friday".
You wrote: "Almost a "Pay it Forward" approach. Then God is not only receiving thanksgiving from us, but thanksgiving from an exponential number of people." It's like the double the penny approach. If you double a penny, or in this case bless one person and each one blesses another and you all do that over and over again, within a short amount of time, you can reach millions. (Start with 1 on a calculator, and double it 30 times and you will reach over 5 million)
And what is so exciting about it is the growth WE have seen here since you joined us nearly a year ago!
I'm glad you were able to do that 55th celebration. We tried to do a 50th celebration for my parents a few years back (more like nearly 10). Couldn't get the parties involved (incl. my father) cooperating.
Hope your sister gets her family's act together.
Unfortunate about your friend with the prostate problem. So many men are reluctant to get it checked out. Needs to start way back at around age 50 for whites and 40 for blacks. Get that PSA and that finger test by the doctor. Am using a female doctor now. Her fingers are smaller. My PSA was found elevated and stayed that way and therefore warranted a bunch of other kinds of test. Am on Proscar now, and my PSA levels are finally to the low side of normal.
