HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD

Saturday was a day of celebration as my dad turned 91. Born in 1914, a veteran of World War II, serving in North Africa and Italy. 91 years of life! Few of us will reach this age. My dad has always been faithful...as a follower of Christ, as a husband, as a father, as an employee, as a churchman, and as a friend. He still loves to hang with the grandkids and great grandkids, in fact they bring smiles to his face like nothing else.

Happy Birthday Dad...and thanks for being a great dad!

CONSISTENCY

"It isn't hard to be good from time to time. What's tough is being good every day."
Willie Mays (baseball all of famer)

Mays is so right! It's easy to be a good husband/father/grandfather/neighbor/worker some of the time...but it's tough being good every day. Sometimes that very fact can create a feeling of inadequacy or frustration in each of us...as we seem to "miss the mark." Consistency does not come without a cost. Nothing of any value does. Are you willing to pay the price? If you're committed (another good 'C' word) to being consistent in your life, and you embrace it, think it, and practice it, you will move closer to goal each day.

Willie put the ball in play 3 times out of every 10 at bats over his career, and he made it into the baseball hall of ! There's hope...

HOLY SPIRIT RAIN DOWN...

On Thursday the staff met at the southwest pond to spend some time in focused prayer about the upcoming baptism taking place this weekend. More than 50 students and adults are taking a step of obedience in their journey with God and being baptized.

As I walked around the pond during a prayer walk on Thursday morning, along with 3 others, it started to rain. It was a light, but steady rain (the first light, steady rain of the summer...isn't that interesting). I had this sense that the rain was evidence that God was pouring out His Spirit on this very place, preparing it for Sunday - cleansing it, annointing it, purifying it and making it holy - so that His glory will be shown during Sunday's baptism service. It was an awesome to literally experience the baptism of the Holy Spirit- as we walked through a fresh and cleansing rain, while praying for an event that will give Him so much pleasure.

It will be a great Sunday!

WHAT IF...

This is the first of a series of questions to think about. Read it, internalize it, ponder it, and comment on it.

Here goes: If you were to die tomorrow, what would you want people to remember as your most important accomplishment?

Huh?
DOM

VISION

Helen Keller was once asked, "Is there anything worse than being blind?"
"Yes," she replied, "the most pathetic person in the whole world is someone who has sight but no vision."

In the world I live in, vision is talked about frequently. So what is it? I believe vision is seeing clearly and vividly, the preferred future. Where does it come from? It comes from within - our gut - our heart. It can arise from, and be shaped by our experiences. A vision can be extremely compelling to move myself and often others, toward this preferred future. One person's vision, cast in a persuasive way and with passion will invoke many to, not only follow, but give their lives to completely! Without vision, according to the bible, we perish. Without it, you're worse than blind! The greatest visionary was Jesus Christ.

Compelled by His vision,
DOM

BACK IN THE POCKET

After spending the better part of two weeks on a study and planning break, followed by a bonafide vacation, I am back in the pocket. I'm still not exactly sure how good the end of it all feels - but all good things must come to some type of end. Otherwise there would be no sunsets!

We had a great time hanging with some of our kids and all of our grandkids, in the sun and water. However, I sure missed, Lisa and Eric. I even played a little best-ball scramble golf with Deurty and Bif... not alot of best balls, and a whole bunch of scrambling, if you know what I mean. It's a blessing to be able to do vacations with your family and extended family. The memories are priceless!

Back to it...
DOM