Block Party thank you's and Father's Day encouragement to Dads

To everyone who attended our Block Party last Friday night: Thank you for coming, and I hope you enjoyed the event! We were delighted to welcome you. The Lord blessed us with terrific weather, a great turn-out, an outstanding group of servant volunteers and lots of donated cakes. If you left without getting a cake, I’m sorry, but hope you were able to make up for it with some Sno-Cones or cotton candy.

To the New Jerusalem Singers: Thank you for doing an awesome job! You all played some great old gospel songs, were flexible with the schedule and conveyed a joyful, Christ-like spirit in your music. Thanks for letting me sing along on the last one, too! When you make it to Nashville, don’t forget us little people.

To Bob Swaar: Thank you for bringing your train ride over to Petersburg! You were a hit! It looked like every ride was packed. The kids (and adults) loved it, and it seemed to me that you were having the time of your life, as well.

To those who filled out a prayer card: We are praying for you. Sometimes life gets messy, and maybe it’s not turned out at all like you hoped it would. Let me remind you that God is able to help you in your time of need. He is able strengthen you in your weakness, comfort you in sorrow and surprise you with peace and joy in the midst of life’s hardships. Keep calling upon His name, and we’ll be on our knees with you.

To the First Baptist Church: Thank you for investing your time and resources to make this a wonderful community outreach event! Yes, it was a lot of work, but I hope you saw the some of the fruit of your labor in the precious faces and bright smiles of the children and their families. Our mission continues to mean glorifying God by shining the light of Christ Jesus into our neighbor and throughout the nations. The fields are still white unto harvest, the laborers are few and the gospel is still the power of salvation to everyone who believes. Let’s keep going in the power of the Holy Spirit!

To those who may be looking for a church home: I hope you’ll join us in the journey. We’re not a perfect church. We’re made up of people who have walked the same path you’re on right now. We’ve got baggage, too. But we know that in Jesus we have been washed clean from our sins, are being made holy in the image of Christ and are looking forward to better things (heavenly things) yet to come. We’ve found that God is our Refuge and Strength, an ever-present help in trouble (Ps. 46:1). We know that He is our Good Shepherd, the One who is Faithful and True, whose love is unfailing with mercies unending and grace overflowing though we’re undeserving.

We’ve not “arrived” spiritually, but we’re growing and learning to trust and obey our Savior more and more each day. We’d love for you to experience what it means to have a saving relationship with Jesus, what it means to be a part of the family of God, and what it means to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Why not come and join us this coming Sunday at 9:30 for Sunday School, 10:40 for worship? I think you’ll be glad you did.

And finally, to all the Dads doing your best to raise your children right: Thanks for being there for your sons and daughters. You have an incredible responsibility, yet an awesome privilege. I know because when I look at my own two boys I am reminded of what a blessing this is, but also what an overwhelming task lies before me. There’s only so much time we have to shape and guide and train them in the way they should go, and I don’t know about you, but I want to honor the Lord in the way I raise my boys. Let’s set them a godly example by our own lives, men, and be intentional about investing in them, praying always for them, and instilling the truth of God’s Word and the way of righteousness into their hearts. It’s not always easy, but by God’s grace we can do this.