Today I have a real collection of random thoughts.  I hope you hang in there.

Worship today was different in a good way.  Because of time issues, we had to change up the service as we went.  Sometimes we just plan too much in the service.  We didn’t lose anything significant in the process and it probably made the service stronger in the end.  We started the service with a reading from Psalm 139.  A former school teacher read it and it was fantastic.  There were several tears in the congregation as we began to sing.  Before prayer we had a responsive reading on the sanctity of life.  The service went well.  It was apparent that the message touched people’s hearts.  It’s especially interesting to watch the reactions of the teens.

When we returned this evening, we began a study on the book of James.  I’m looking forward to it.

Much Warmer

Today we got out of the deep freeze.  A very interesting phenomina happened yesterday.  We woke up at 0 degrees.  What was interesting was that many places where we have friends up north were warmer than Martinsville, including Hayward, WI.  By last evening everything had returned to normal and we were one of the warmest.  It was mostly cloudy day and I believe they are talking about snow showers tomorrow.

Eagles Lose

The possiblities ended today for a dual Philadelphia championship.  I’m sad that the Eagles lost.  However, that also means that I begin to root for the team from the other side of the state, the Pittsburgh Steelers.  I’m hoping they win – they’re hanging on at the moment.

It’s coming too close to home

This past Wednesday, Pam and I had to go shopping for some supplies for church and home.  We went over to our local mall and found two stores having going out of business sales; a third one was already closed and this morning I got an email announcing another store will be closing.  That makes four stores that have closed or will be closing this month.  Over the last four years, two other chain stores have closed in our mall.  That makes a total of six.  That’s a significant portion of the major chain stores in our mall.  It is sad and it reminds us to pray for those who are losing jobs on a daily basis.

This morning our Sunday School lesson focused on Micah.  I love the key verse:

8 No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good,
and this is what he requires of you:
to do what is right, to love mercy,
and to walk humbly with your God.

I think about those are finding themselves on hard times.  What will our response be to them?  What will the church’s response be to them?  We need to do what is right — to love mercy — and to walk humbly with our God.   Blessings….