We are on the way home going 75 down I95 after 2 weeks of vacation. If you are able, I would encourage you to take two weeks of vacation. If you are like me , it takes the first week to unwind. And then on the second week it actually feels like you are on vacation.
Honestly I was tired physically, and looking forward to some time off. But now on the way home I am refreshed and looking forward to getting back to work. I recently heard a formula that I found to be true on my time off.
It is change of pace plus change of place equals change of perspective. Times of rest help us get a new perspective.
Thanks to all of our wonderful volunteers who made it possible for us to get away. We love you.
Here's a link to a recent Washington Post article on the ">Whitlow family pastors. My father made a call to the Post and suggested they do an article. I'm thankful for the coverage it brings to our church. May the word spread and God's church grow.
No matter where I am, when I’m with my family, toting 5 little girls all under 10, some wise crack usually says, “Five girls! What were you thinking? Five weddings? Dude, I feel sorry for you!” Recently I heard this on the tram taking us into Disney. I was hot. The lady who said it had a smirk on her face. I thought for a moment about shoving her off, but I knew my kids would see.
Not really knowing what to say I asked her about her family and tried to stay positive. I shared this with my wife later and she suggested that since we hear this so much it would be wise to think of a good reply so I don’t get caught like a deer in headlights.
So, here’s what I came up with, though I’m still working on the final draft. “Five girls is a lot, but I see 5 incredible women who will have 5 amazing husbands, with strong families. My! What a legacy I’ll have! Makes me want to have one more!”
Psalm 127:3-5 – 3Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD,
the fruit of the womb a reward.
4Like arrows in the hand of a warrior
are the children[258] of one’s youth.
5Blessed is the man
who fills his quiver with them!
He shall not be put to shame
when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.
So, it’s Monday am and I can’t sleep. It’s dark thirty. I get this itch to throw a hook in the water, only I’m no fisherman. I have a tangle box not a tackle box. I can hook a night crawler and a bobber sometimes.
Down at the dock, with my line in the water, I’m thinking I’ll at least have some time with Jesus. The water was like glass and there was a slight mist hovering. I was hugging a grande.
This is what I caught about 30 minutes later, and with an old worm and bobber! Makes me think that really the best things in life are the things that are old, tried, tested and true.
God’s Word is ancient, but ever relevant and never changing. In a culture that’s chasing the latest fades, we can always stand on God’s Word. It may seem out dated to many but it always does the trick.
Isaiah 8:19-20 says, “And when they say to you, “Inquire of the mediums and the necromancers who chirp and mutter,” should not a people inquire of their God? Should they inquire of the dead on behalf of the living? To the teaching and to the testimony..”
Last night I had the chance to do something that hardly ever comes my way. During my lifetime a chance like this might come 5 to 10 times if I’m lucky. My brother Charlie called and said he had 3 tickets to last night’s Monday Night Football game – Redskins vs. Eagles. He had tickets for us and our younger brother Josh.
We left at 4:30 and got to the stadium 2 hours early. We enjoyed a hamburger and fries from Johnny Rockets. We watched the pre-game warm up. It was a beautiful night for football.
You would think three preachers there at the game at the same time would have been enough to pull them to victory. It was not to be. It got so painful to watch, we decided to leave before the end of the third quarter.
Still, it was a blast. It was a rare opportunity to be with my brothers. I hope another opportunity like this comes again soon.
