May 20, 2020

It ended up being a bit of a busy day for me today.  It was so windy when I got up I opted for the treadmill rather than a walk outside. Mom and I made corn muffins to have with our lunch – we took a little walk and socially distanced in talks with a few of our neighbors.  It’s nice to get out, even though we felt like we might just blow back down the street.  After dropping mom back at Kathy’s I took a small deposit over to the bank, then came home and cleaned part of the house.  Finished that in time to put out some patriotic decorations:  red/white/blue lights to line the balcony, some window stickees, indoor lights as well.   

I listened to Mike at my home church (Hempfield).  We are still reading through Acts, and the message was the church being the church.  There were no rules or guidelines – just live out their faith and the teachings they had learned from Jesus, as well as the power they received from the Holy Spirit.  Mike pointed out four things (found in Acts):  1) the church was devoted to the teachings they knew (and they taught them forward), devoted to fellowship together, devoted to communion, and devoted to prayer.  Those are things that we are/should be devoted to as well.  2) they were filled with awe as to who God was and what the apostles could accomplish with the power they received. 3) they were together every day and had everything in common – practiced benevolence. 4) The Lord added to their numbers daily (therefore, they were sharing the gospel and people were believing!)  All of these things are the core of what our life of service as a church family should be. I’m thankful to belong to a body of believers who DO believe and practice these things!   

On this day in 1927, Charles Lindbergh took off from New York for Paris aboard the Spirit of St. Louis – first non-stop trans-Atlantic flight.  Ironically, in 1932, Amelia Earharttook off on the journey across the Atlantic to become the first woman to fly solo non-stop.  In 2015 David Letterman hosted the “Late Show’ for the last time after 33 years.  Christopher Columbus died in 1506 at age 54; Marquis de Lafayette died at age 76  in 1834.  Jimmy Stewart was born in Indiana Pennsylvania (right down the road, sort of!) in 1908, and Cher was born in 1946.  And today Byron Gurnee, the pastor at Keepville Bible Church (where my parents are members – John is the oldest congregant!) celebrates a birthday today, as well.  Happy birthday, Byron, and many more.  Thanks for all you do, every day!   

Take some time give thanks for the people in your church family.  What a blessing to be part of God’s family!