I don’t suspect I am alone in this: have you ever noticed how being away for a few days and out of the routine has a way of turning the mind to mush? That is sort of how I feel this morning. So rather than try to write something profound (?), I thought I would give you a handful of thoughts from the weekend away (see last post).
The wedding turned out absolutely beautiful. If there ever was a perfect setting and day for the wedding, this was it. I had never been to this place before but the A frame that served as the reception area was ideal and the old building they were married in was from the 1800s (modernized with AC which was a God-send). The only glitch was me with a few misstatements. 🙁
The groom surprised his bride earlier in the week and totally surprised his in-laws by making an announcement at the rehearsal dinner. Several weeks ago Joe walked out of the worship saying he wanted to talk to me about baptism (immersion). After sending him Scriptures to read, we talked over an hour on the phone. He surprised his in-laws by making this announcement at the dinner: “Over the years many people have had an influence on my life. Recently, other than Emily, the One who has had the most influence is Jesus Christ. Following this dinner I would like to invite you to my baptism.” I was pleased that a number of the wedding party went to the church building where they witnessed Emily baptizing her soon-to-be husband (although I did have to help since she had trouble bringing him back up). 😉 That whole scene was totally cool!
We got to spend time with our grandson. Need I say more? (Except I don’t remember my girls having that much energy). We bought him a plastic T-ball set and I had “fun” chasing the balls he hit. I am certainly not as young as I used to be. I do think we have a future Hall of Famer in the family. 🙂
Read the following from Proverbs 16:8-9: “Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice. The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.” The Message puts it this way: “Far better to be right and poor than to be wrong and rich. We plan the way we want to live, but only God makes us able to live it.” Gets to the heart of the matter don’t you think?
We attended church elsewhere Sunday morning. Why is it that when a pastor is visiting elsewhere his thoughts go back home? My mind drifted back whenever I would look at my watch and wonder what they were doing at that time. For all of you OVCF’ers who read this: I/we missed you guys!!
Finished Plan B by Pete Wilson and started on The Christian Atheist by Craig Groeschel. Learned a lot from Pete. Looking to learn some seriously-good stuff from Craig. I’m in the first chapter and I already have.
Finally, let me leave you with this thought from John MacArthur’s devotional book on Daily Readings from the Life of Christ. When speaking of Jesus being the Living Bread he makes this observation: “Like uneaten food, spiritual truth is useless if not internalized. (cf. Heb.4:2) Merely knowing truth without applying it is worse than not knowing it at all…”
It is good to be back home in my own bed. It is good to be back in the office (even though it may be slow going today). For those of you who blog, I will be back posting on yours (bet you can’t wait!). Thanks for coming back to mine.
welcome back, Bill 🙂 missed your posts 🙂
wow, that baptism after the wedding is amazing. i can only imagine the emotions that were present. wow.
Merely knowing truth without applying it is worse than not knowing it at all – so true… and a bit scary.
Zee: it is official! You are #1. Thanks for posting this morning. I think you get a head start since you are 7 hours ahead. 🙂 It was emotional for the bride and her parents especially. Thanks for coming by.
YAY! tee hee. obviously RSS feed works more accurately than the FeedBurner – usually i get the FeedBurner update in the afternoon (well, my afternoon)
Zee: Give that lady a brass ring! 🙂
mm? O_o what lady? (i am slow today)
Yep you. You are the first…and only so far.
oh 🙂 hehe. maybe others are also waiting for the FeedBurner.
Either that or it is only 8:00 my time and given the time zone thing many of them may not even be stirring. 🙂
“…Except I don’t remember my girls having that much energy…”
I don’t think I’ve sat down for 11 years now (going on 12). My parents say that the best part about being grandparents is that they can give the kids back to us when they’re done.
I’m glad you could enjoy your grandson.
I’m about halfway through Craig’s book. It has some good stuff in it. He has an awesome sermon series called “Practical Atheist” that’s very convicting. Being a Christian but living like God doesn’t exist.
Have a great day!
Welcome back Bill. The wedding sounds like it was great. What an awesome way to start a marriage! That really touched me.
Will have to check out The Christian Atheist. Sounds like a really cool book.
I have to take a small hiatus from buying anymore books- leaving for a missions trip in like 10 days and am scrambling to get all my finances together =)But am excited because I have a pretty long list to buy once I am able to again.
If logic serves me I have to assume “it is better to be rich and right than poor and wrong.”
Desert Jim: welcome to the world of having children. You are right about the go-go-go but this little guy never stops. 🙂 Sort of like “when I plays I play hard; when I sleeps I sleeps hard.” Braden is all that. YOU WILL SURVIVE! lol
Thanks Kim. Enjoying your site. Will you be posting while gone? maybe by the time you get back I will have finished Craig’s book and done a review. Keep us informed about the trip.
Jeff: Logic says that given our current worldview. I think Solomon had something different in mind. 🙂 Thanks for the comment.
Are you going to tell me what you thought Solomon had in mind? I think he was fairly wealthy himself.
I am going to try to post while gone… still up in the air as to whether they have gotten wifi up there yet. I am going to a Cherokee Reservation in North Carolina, and from what I hear technology is a little slow to reach that area. If not I’ll have a ton of stuff to post when I get back 🙂
Glad your’re back. I bet your grandson swings the bat like Jay Bruce 🙂
Talk about a rambling post! A lot of good stuff there.
I am enjoying “The Christian Atheist” right now as well. Tomorrow several of us will be posting about our take-aways from Chapter 3. Would love to have you join in the discussion.
I will be back later tonight, have to meet 2 friends for dinner but am loving what I have read so far…..
Jeff: I think what Solomon had in mind was that it is better to be poor but righteous and filled with integrity than to be wealthy and a crook and to live without Jesus. 🙂
Kim: Hope you are able to keep us updated. Our church had originally thought about doing the Cherokee rez in NC also. Went to OK two years ago. Will put you on my prayer list. Praying God will use you.
Michael: It was good to see him My son-in-law already has him brainwashed to root for the Reds. However, Jay Bruce struck out when I saw him. Hmmmm. 🙂
Dusty: yep rambling. Lots of it. i saw your “thing” about CA but since i wasn’t reading it I left it alone. Will see how/if I can catch up. Busy night tonight.
Pinky: Always good to hear from you. You are welcome any time.
I 100% agree it is better to be poor and righteous than rich and and a crook. I think too much is made of being poor. I think it is still better to be rich and righteous than poor and a crook. That was my point. It’s not about rich and poor it is about right and not right. I imagine it is very tough to be rich and right but I do think it happens.
jeff: at the risk of sounding like a heretic to this generation…I 100% agree with you. I am tired of hearing how we ought to all be poor. I am also tired of the health/wealth thing as well. Contentment should be our goal. I do think the point should be right and wrong not rich or poor. Thanks for hanging with me on this conversation.
My thanks to you. I agree with the health/wealth thing as well. It’s nice but not the point. I am just trying to sort it all out. A heretic to this generation doesn’t make you a bad person. Best to you.
I hope by now you’re back into a routine. Getting out of my beloved routine takes a toll on me so I get what you’re saying.
Enjoy your weekend~
Robin: back into the swing. Life forces that quicker than we want sometimes though. 🙂 Know what you mean about taking a toll though. Hope you have a fantastic weekend. Hugs.