Four...Fore...Whatever...

Today's the day for our 1st Annual LICL Golf Tourney which has been organized by our church's Encouragement Team.  I get to play today with Mike Woods, his son, Brett and my son-in-law, Geoff. "Play" is a term used very loosely. I've been suffering from back problems since Monday afternoon.  I had a steroid injection on Thursday and I felt great for about 24 hours.  But the pain is still on going and I doubt that I can even swing a golf club.  Which could be the best thing for my team.  With me out of the way the three of them (very good golfers) can concentrate on low score and win the tournament.   I can just ride along on their coattails and not hurt myself.

Later this afternoon our Saturday service takes place at 5 pm with music by Kevin Svec's band. Sunday worship is set for 8 and 11 am and my little group will provide four songs including "Give Me Jesus," and Matt Maher's wonderful, "Abide With Me."  The title of my sermon is "God Is At Work."  Assuming I don't fall out of the golf cart and further hurt myself, I'd love to see you this weekend at Life in Christ!

Pastors have to take the good and the bad

A friend passed along the following to me and I think it's only fair that I pass it along to you. Enjoy (I hope)...

Good news: The Lutheran Women's Missionary League voted to send you a get-well card.  Bad news: The motion passed 31-30.

Good news: You finally found a choir director who takes the same approach to music as you do. Bad news: The choir quit.

Good news: Mrs. Smith is wild about your sermons. Bad news: Mrs Smith is wild about "Real Housewives of New York City...Orange County...Atlanta...New Jersey...."

Good news: The women's softball team finally won a game. Bad news: They clobbered the men's softball team.

Good news: The Elders voted to send you to the Holy Land. Bad news: They gave you a one-way ticket.

And finally...

Good news: Church attendance rose dramatically over the past three weeks. Bad news: You were on vacation.

Love this quote!

Has it ever occurred to you that nothing ever occurs to God?

Erwin Lutzer, as quoted in "REvitalize" page 100

We interrupt this blog...

Moving can be a hazardous business.  Especially when you have a bad back.  Especially when a bulging disc is acting up again.

Anyway, we're having the offices re-carpeted at church this week.  This is the last 1% that needs to be completed.  Then our building project is officially done.

While this is a necessary task, I've been dreading it.  This pretty well disrupts our usual routine. Projects that I hoped to complete this week aren't going to happen.  At this point we're hoping we can cover the basics - like have worship services completed for Saturday and Sunday.

Yesterday, we were putting the final touches on moving the offices so our carpet guys could get started.  I didn't feel like I'd done that much.  But while eating lunch I felt a pain that drove me to my knees.  I did lots of ice in the afternoon and my dear sweet wife applied lots of icy-hot in the evening. It was hard to sleep.  More ice and icy hot this morning seems to be loosening my back a bit and at least I can stand up now without more pain in my back and radiating down my right leg.

All of this reminds me again of just how much I need the Lord's mercy and help every day.  God is faithful.  He hears our prayers.  Thanks be to God for a little relief!

Yesterday...

Took communion to one of our couples recuperating following hospitalization.  They were so grateful to receive God's gifts.

Finished work on our new "Introducing: Life in Christ" class.

Conferred with Connie and Marge about some possible new changes in the office.

Worked with Joe and Jerry on a transition to a new head elder.

Did an hour of pre-marital counseling with Paul and Samatha.

Spent some time in our new prayer chapel.

Not bad, for a Friday.

It's another Friday Funny!

An elderly woman walked into the local country church. The friendly usher greeted her at the door and helped her up the flight of steps. "Where would you like to sit?" he asked politely.
      
      "The front row please." she answered.
      
      "You really don't want to do that", the usher said. "The pastor is really boring."
      
      "Do you happen to know who I am?" the woman inquired.
      
      "No." he said.
      
      "I'm the pastor's mother," she replied indignantly.
      
      "Do you know who I am?" he asked.
      
      "No." she said.
      
      "Good", he answered.

Our King was punished

In the movie, "The Last Emperor, the young child anointed as the last emperor of China lives a magical life of luxury with a thousand eunuch servants at his command. "What happens when you do wrong?" his brother asks. "When I do wrong, someone else is punished," the boy emperor replies. To demonstrate, he breaks a jar, and one of the servants is beaten. In Christian theology, Jesus reversed that ancient pattern: when the servants erred, the King was punished.  Grace is free only because the Giver Himself has borne the cost.

Philip Yancey, "What's So Amazing About Grace?" page 67