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Dear Friends,

I got my “Stage Two” water consumption guidelines a few days ago. Twice a week is now the lawn-watering limit. I don’t know what the fines are for breaking the rules, but I have heard they are pretty steep.  (I actually had to pay a “watering-at-the-wrong-time-of-day” fine a few years ago. I had to go to court and everything. It was my sprinkler controller’s fault. Honest. But I still had to pay $250!)

Something happened in my heart, and quite likely yours, when the notice to only water twice a week was received. If you are honest and human, you may have thought about how you could sneak more water onto your yard to prevent it from drought damage.  Perhaps you thought maybe you could deluge your lawn for the full four hours twice a week allotted for watering. Be honest and admit it. It crossed your mind, didn’t it? It is human…oh, so human…to look at a set of rules and believe that they might NOT apply to us in our unique situation.

This is a rule of humanity: The Law causes us to have Sin in our hearts, even if not in our actions.

Right? We are very creative when it comes to ways of getting around the law. We edge up our cruise control to four miles over the posted speed limit because we have heard that highway patrol never gives tickets to cars going “just over” the speed limit. We see a policeman in our rear view mirror, and the very sight of him makes us pay attention to our speed. We slow down. When he is gone, we breathe easier…and then speed up a bit.

What am I saying? The Law actually causes us to sin! There is a rebel streak within us (the nature of sin) that is activated in the presence of the Law. (Read Romans 7:7-9 for more on this.)

If you have children, you know that “laying down the law” actually causes disobedience in the heart, if not in actions. This cartoon illustrates the seductive power of the Law.

This is why Jesus came: to answer the demands of the Law–living under it and yet never rebelling in His heart or in His actions. That is why He was perfect. Both in His outward actions and in His inward thoughts, He never condemned Himself by sin.

His perfect live covers me for my imperfect life. Because He didn’t sin while under the Law, and I am with Him, I am just as blameless as He is! That is Good News! That is why I included this quote from R.L. Wheeler as I closed each message over this past weekend:

If I had the wisdom of Solomon, the patience of John, the meekness of Moses, the strength of Samson, the obedience of Abraham, the compassion of Joseph, the tears of Jeremiah, the poetic skill of David, the prophetic voice of Elijah, the courage of Daniel, the greatness of John the Baptist, the endurance and love of Paul, I would still need redemption through Christ’s blood, the forgiveness of my sin.  R. L. Wheeler

Cool Moments of Grace


Here are a few thoughts about our Fall Kick Off last weekend. In addition to nearly 1,800 in attendance, we had some really cool moments of grace that I will never forget:

a.    The names of all the children on our rolls were written in chalk and prayed for by our Children’s Ministry. That is dedication. That is pure passion.

b.    For the second week in a row, we had a great number of people come to the prayer room behind the chancel to be prayed for. People know that they can come there to receive prayer for themselves or to pray for someone else.

c.    We commissioned and sent Kym McDaniel into full time missionary work. She will serve the Gospel in Arequipa, Peru.

d.    I was blessed to be the preacher at all of our services with (generally) the same message: Stop, Look, and Listen. Several people asked me for more information about the article I read from. It was about the riots in London. You can read it here. As if to prove the point, one 19-year-old explained the reasons for the riots: “No one has done nothing for us…” Point made.

Here are some pictures from the weekend.

Finally, On Point, our men’s Bible study, was back in session this morning with a full house of 120 or so men. They are taking the “touchstone challenge”. That is, they are holding their own lives up against the truth of Christ’s words, and imagining what kind of mark it would leave. It’s very powerful study, and all men of the church are encouraged to join us. It starts at 6:30 sharp each Tuesday Morning. I know that’s early, but it allows our working guys to attend and still get to work on time. I look forward to teaching it next week.

In Christ,
David+

Dear Friends,

There is a story about Van Halen and brown M&M’s. They put into their concert agreement, amidst all the technical specifications about sound and staging, that they wanted a bowl of M&M’s. This bowl couldn’t contain any brown ones. Brown M&M’s would be grounds for termination and forfeiture of all monies.

Why? Because they found out the hard way that people skim contracts and don’t pay attention to detail. Eddie Van Halen figured that if he saw a “brownless” bowl of M&M’s he could be sure that the rest of the agreement had been read.

My point? Please read this whole blog entry. There is critical information for you contained here.

Troubled Teens
First of all, Sunday’s moment before the Lord was amazing. I think we all sensed that God was working with people. One of our young members, who is a probation officer, wrote me about a few of the troubled teens he invited to church. You will want to read this amazing true story:

Dear Father David,

There are a few teenagers that have recently been coming with me to a Bible study on Tuesday nights. These kids are not members of Christ Church or of any other church. These are some kids that I know who are addicted to drugs and alcohol. Some of them have even been locked up in the county jail. They have a lot of questions about Christ, but they are still struggling everyday with their addictions

Two of these young men called me this last Sunday morning and asked me if I could pick them up so that they could come to church with me. They also told me that they were bringing a girlfriend of theirs with them. I picked them up and on the way to the church they confessed to me how they had been up all night partying and drinking. They smelled like alcohol. I almost turned the car around to take one of them back home because I wasn’t sure that he would be able to make it through the service! He convinced me that he would be alright and that he really wanted to go. I was nervous about this.

This young man (who was in the worst condition of them all) was drifting in and out of sleep throughout the first few minutes of the sermon. However, about halfway through, I noticed that he was suddenly very much awake and paying attention. As the sermon continued you began to talk about addictions such as drugs, alcohol, pornography, etc… I could see that the Lord was opening his heart. All three of these kids were now hanging on every word that you were saying.

Next came the time for communion. I did not want these kids to partake of the cup of Christ in an “unworthy manner” as Paul spoke of in the Scriptures. After all, they had just been up all night partying and getting drunk. Up until just a few minutes ago, the one next to me could barely stay awake. I told him that when we go up that he should just cross his arms and not partake. He then stated to me that he had asked Christ into his life when he was younger, but that he had been living apart from God for the last several years. He told me that he understood that communion was the partaking of the body and blood of Christ and that he really wanted to do this.

I still did not want to let him or any of the others do it but then suddenly I remembered this verse, “Let the children come to Me and do not forbid them, for of such is the kingdom of God.” I reluctantly said okay. After taking communion, this teenage boy sat down next to me in the pew and began to cry uncontrollably in repentance. His friend who was sitting next to him began to weep also. After the service I spoke with all three of these kids and they stated that they all felt the love of Christ touching their hearts.

The Scripture says that “The Lord inhabits the praises of His people”. Every time I go to Christ Church I feel the presence of Christ because He is truly in our midst! He literally walks among us as we worship Him and is able to deliver even the greatest of sinners. How amazing is His love! I now realize that my job is to get people there and then get out of the way and let the Lord move. The Scripture also says that, “It is the goodness of God that leads a man to repentance”. I saw those words literally fulfilled in front of me today. The Lord Jesus is doing some amazing things in our church right now and I just wanted to share that story with you.

It is amazing to see God work. This week, please pray with me that God will take us to no less powerful places underneath His Word.

As we move into fall (can you believe it is almost fall??), please pay very close attention to the following efforts:

Middle School Minister
The search for a Middle School Minister is well underway. Thanks to Fr. Clint Kerley, the Parent Board, and a few “scouts” around the country, we have a promising candidate that we are interviewing. Please pray that we will be able to make an announcement shortly. In the meantime, we are moving forward with the program initiatives in place. It is a great season for our Youth Ministry and we hope every student and every parent takes full advantage of the many offerings and programs found here. Don’t let your teens miss out. These are critical years in their faith formation! Parents, look for an email update from Fr. Clint later this week.

Early Bird On Point
Over the years that I have been teaching On Point Bible Study on Tuesday Mornings, I have gradually seen a decrease in the the number of men who are able attend. The most commonly cited reason for this is the start time. On Point is therefore moving the start time to 6:30 a.m. on Tuesdays. beginning August 23.  The new time will allow more men to be part of a great Bible study, meet some other guys, and be on the road to work by 7:20 if needed. [By the way, if you've read this far and you're planning to be at On Point, I'd love to hear from you! Email the word "BROWNM&M" and your name now! Email]

About Our Radio Show
During Christ Church’s 25th anniversary year, we enjoyed the privilege of airing our sermons on WRR 101.1 FM radio on each Sunday morning. Feeling that the show has run its course, and desiring to focus on a new audience of potential first-time visitors, we have made the decision to end the show and redirect those funds. If you hear of anyone who is missing the show, please direct them to our website where they can view each week’s sermon video, or better yet, invite them to worship with us here each Sunday!

“The Screaming Mimes”?
As many of you know, when Josh Havens is not worshiping with us here at Christ Church, he is typically on the road with his band, The Afters. Here is a recent interview he did with the Billy Graham association about some events with Franklin Graham this month.

Holy Land Information Meeting
I hope you can make the Holy Land information meeting tomorrow night, 7 p.m. in Room. 200 of the Adult Education Building. This is an “information only” gathering—no commitments expected. I hope to answer all your questions about the upcoming trip.

Information Meeting August 17, 7 p.m.

I have led seven trips to the Holy Land since 1999. I can tell you without reservation that every trip is a blessing from God. The land is rich and wonderful; there is beauty and wonder nearly everywhere we go. The experience is life-changing for many people. We have had several people go back again because of the wealth of memories it produces. Please come and listen; I think it will heighten your interest in the trip. ‘See you tomorrow night.

In Christ,
David+

Dear Friends,

I want to say a few words about what happens when we pray for rain. We are suffering through the worst one-year drought on record. Water restrictions are being imposed on Texas. Rationing might be a future development. We are all seeing the effects of a dry, triple digit heat week after week after week.

A few months ago, Governor Rick Perry invited us all to pray for rain. He was excoriated in the press and laughed at by millions. To some, praying for weather smacks of an old primitive religion–a superstitious appeal to the unseen gods of nature. Still, some of us did pray for rain. We made our petition known to God in our public services and in our private devotions. So far, no rain. Does that mean that prayers for rain are pointless…because they have been fruitless? Does it mean that we need to pray more, harder, better, longer, or have more faith? Do we need to carry umbrellas with us just as a sign of our faith?

What happens when we pray for rain? I have a few thoughts.

Should we pray for rain?

First, we are acknowledging that we do not live in a closed universe where God has no input. Praying for rain is like praying for God’s intervention in the healing of a loved one or the protection of a member of our family in the military. We believe that prayer somehow reaches the mind of God and that somehow he “hears” it and, according to His will, responds.

People who read the Bible must conclude that our universe is anything but closed. God is active and alive, ruling and overruling in human affairs (Isaiah 45). He calls a prophet to preach (Jer 1:5); He parts a body of water (Exodus 14:21); He brings manna from the sky (Ps 78:24); He speaks to a young boy (1 Sam 3:4). The Bible assumes an open world governed by God–a world that can be broken into at any time and for any reason according to the will of God.

Second, we pray for rain because we know that God has control over the conditions of the atmosphere and can make it rain (Deut 28:12; Job 38:22-29; Ps 68:9; Ps 135:7). We know His control is absolute as He can send rain to one city while withholding it from another nearby (Amos 4:7). And why shouldn’t we believe this? If He can intervene in history, He can certainly move rain clouds into place. This is what we learn in the Gospels from the several “calming of the storm” stories in the Bible (Mat 8:26; Luke 8:24). Jesus is shown to be fully in charge of the weather, especially on the tumultuous Sea of Galilee. It impresses the disciples to the point that they exclaim, “Who then is this, that he commands even the winds and water, and they obey him?” (Luke 8:25)

Indeed, if we have an open universe, we had better have a God that can control the weather. Any god who could claim to be a god really should have enough power and authority to command the elements of nature. This is what is at stake in the story of Elijah and the Prophets of Baal: Which God could consume the sacrifice that was offered? (1 Kings 18:21-40). The fertility god Baal of the Canaanites was impotent, so to speak, against the God of Israel who caused fire to roar from heaven and consume the offering, the altar, and even the water around it!

The Bible is clear on both God’s ability to intervene as well as His power to do so.

But what then happens when we pray for rain? Simply put, we are appealing to a very powerful, very loving God who desires to intervene in our world and our lives. We are appealing to Him to reset the weather and bring rain. By faith, we believe that He can do it. By faith, we believe that He will do it (Heb 11:1). While most unbelievers will laugh at this practice, believers can and should be part of it. We know our God breaks into this world with all His power and He acts. We have seen His power in our lives to overcome sin, heal people, encourage and uphold the sick and suffering, and give us guidance in important matters. If He can do this for us (and He has) He can certainly do this for our state.

We also see throughout the Scripture that God’s people appeal to God for rain in all kinds of situations. We also see that God listens and responds (1 Sam 12:17; 1 Kings 8:35-36; James 5:17). God’s people are even told specifically to pray for rain through the prophet Zechariah (Zechariah 10:1).

Yes, you say, but there has been no rain. What good are prayers if they are not effective? My response is to ask you to think of it another way. Just because God can doesn’t mean He will. He is not our magic pet-god that does our bidding. It is not voodoo. When we pray for rain, we are showing our dependence upon God for the basic necessities of our common life. We know He hears, but how He chooses to respond is His choice because He is God.

There are reasons why He may not give rain. It may not be the right time, as Scripture often speaks of a season for rain (Deut 28:12; Jer 5:24; Zech 10:1). It may be God sending a message, as He sometimes used a lack of rain as a form of judgment (Deut 11:17; 1 Sam 12:17). It may be God seeking to turn the hearts of His people back to Himself (2 Chron 6:26-27) or to teach His people persistence in praying and not giving up (Luke 18:1-8.) It may simply be that too many are just not asking and so God is not responding (James 4:3) or that we ask with the wrong motives (James 4:3). It may also be that it is just not God’s will, and our prayer is not going to change that. Even Jesus prayed for the cup to pass, but it was not the Father’s will (Matt 26:39). Perhaps He is trying to teach us a lesson about stewardship of the land, or trust, or dependence, or remaining faithful even when He does not respond like we might want Him to respond.

We do not know the reasons, but we do know the God who is in control. We know His love, and we know our calling to trust and not give up, to continue to seek His face and pray for our land.

Our new house. It feels good to clean out and downsize!

Here are a few things you should know this week:

New Address
As you know, Fran and I have moved to a home about two miles away from the church campus. Since we receive our personal mail there, I thought you’d like to know the address. (I am not asking for more mail or more Christmas cards! This is just a way of sending out a personal change of address form.) Our new address is 7709 Constitution Dr., Plano, TX  75025.

Incredible Ministries This Fall
In case you missed church for the past two weeks, here is the Fall Ministry Calendar that we have been distributing. While it is hard to think about a Fall Kick-Off when we are still facing triple digits, it is coming nevertheless.  I am so proud of our staff to be able to offer these incredible ministries. Be sure to thank them. Since the start of our “Renew for Our Future” campaign, we have been sure to doubly emphasize the children and youth ministries of our church. And there are great study opportunities for all adults as well. Take a look!

New Baby
Finally, congratulations to Fr. Clint and Kim Kerley on the birth of their third son, Edison Robert Kerley. Both mom and dad are doing well, as are all three boys. It makes perfect sense that Fr. Clint is now head of our Children’s and Family Ministries!

In Christ,
David+

Dear Friends,

It is so good to be back. I felt that the Holy Spirit gave me such joy in being with you at 9:15 and 11 a.m. this past Sunday. The subject of the message, “You Need Not Go Away”, stuck with me all week. Listen/watch the message here to get the full idea.

There was one other thing I wanted to stress to our parents:  YOUR CHILDREN NEED TO HEAR AND KNOW THIS MESSAGE FROM JESUS. They need to hear that Jesus will NOT send them away. It won’t matter if they are raised in a newly Christian home or a home of long-standing faith; every young person is going to come to a point in life when they feel utterly alone.

At that moment, where would you want them to turn? People are not built for being alone. They will turn to someone…or to something. Parents, let’s partner together so that when those moments happen…and they surely will…your kids will know that Jesus is there for them. I can promise you that we are doing everything we can to prepare to teach and reach your kids with the powerful love of Jesus Christ. But they need to be here. They need to attend. And unless they have can drive themselves here, YOU NEED TO BRING THEM.

I got back from the moving/study break and was so impressed to see our student ministries gearing up for the fall. What a great year we are going to have. It all begins on August 22. Please don’t neglect this critical role in the life of your children.

Renewing the Church
I’m in Pittsburgh for a few days this week. I serve as a member of the Archbishop’s Cabinet for the ACNA. I am honored to help this new expression of Anglicanism take shape and root in the U.S. and Canada. (I recently heard that we have three new missions in Cuba!) God is doing some wonderful things here as He is renewing His church. It is an honor to witness this.

Now here are a few more things you need to know…

Holy Land Trip
Last year, Fran and I had to cancel the planned Holy Land pilgrimage because of unrest in the Middle East. But now we are planning again, and we are so excited to be hosting another tour. The next trip will leave on January 30, 2012. We are using a different tour company who is giving us a great price. Same incredible ten days…with an extension to Athens and Corinth. I’d love for you to join us. Check it out here.

A Word About Roof Dog Run
I’d like to ask for your support of the Roof Dog Run this year, even if you are not a runner. This annual event at Christ Church has become an integral part of our mission and ministry to Peru. For the

Last year's Roof Dog Run was a great success. With your help, it can grow bigger this year!

first three years, the proceeds from the Run went toward the day-to-day support of the kids in our orphanage in Peru. But for the past two years, the proceeds went specifically to build a brand new dormitory for the kids. Right now, that dorm is almost finished and the kids are about to move in! It is a dream come true for these children and lots of adults who love them. The blessing of your support has and will make a huge difference in these kids’ lives by providing shelter and opportunities that they never would have had without you. So, when you see the ads for Roof Dog Run in the weeks to come, please consider how you might participate. Even if you don’t run, you can walk, you can volunteer, or you can do the “sleep-in” option…which really just means to stay home in bed and make a generous donation. Any way you want to help will be appreciated. The 6th Annual Roof Dog Run is Sat, Sept 10. Learn more, volunteer, and register here.

Under Budget
Finally, speaking of your donations, here is a financial update for you. Traditionally, in the summertime, our attendance falls off a little because of vacations, and our giving to the operating fund tends to follow. Such is the case this year, except that the operating fund if particularly sluggish because some givers seem to have diverted their giving to ”Renew for Our Future”. Right now, the operating fund is more than $400,000 under budget.

Don’t get me wrong…all giving is appreciated and most surely pleases God. It’s wonderful that your giving to “Renew” has already eliminated over half our debt! However, as you make your giving decisions, I hope you will also remember that the operating fund needs to stay healthy throughout the year. It depends on your steady giving so that we can take care of basic necessities such as changing the parking lot lights, which was done this week. Here is a photo of Nozar, a member of our operations team, in a rented lift. Parking lots lights may seem like a small detail, but it is no small undertaking to rent a lift for a few days and pay someone to go up in it and change bulbs. (Thanks, guys, for braving this extreme heat!)

Changing the light bulbs in the Archgate parking lot.

Fresh paint for Archgate Center

And here is another photo of a crew painting around Archgate Center. (By the way, they are also painting/updating the Youth Café and you’re going to love the new look!)

The point is that a large campus like ours costs money to maintain. Many in our church family have opted to automate their giving so that it stays steady even when they are traveling. To read about all the giving options available to you, go here. Thanks so much for your support.

God bless you. ‘See you Sunday.
David+

Dear Friends,

I am very excited to see you all this weekend at Christ Church. I have had the vacation and study break I have needed. Fran and I are still in boxes and we have a long way to go before we are finally “relocated”, but it is time to be back.

As I have studied over these past few weeks, I keep finding the amazing Gospel of Grace popping up everywhere. It is certainly there in the text of the Gospels, but it also speaks to everyone who hears it. Remember, the Gospel of Grace tells us that God is on a mission to search and rescue us. That is, to find, rescue and redeem us to a new life with Him. Here is an example:

A few days ago I had the telephone/internet company come to install new equipment at our new address. A fellow named Pete showed up with his white van filled with the lines and cables and drills he needed. I was in the garage trying to prepare for the onslaught of boxes that was to come, so we got to talking.

Pete:  “So what do you do for a living?”
Me:    “I’m the pastor of a church in Plano.”
Pete:    “I’m through with God…I have been for years!”
Me:      “I’ve met some other people who feel that way, too. What’s your story?”

Pete told me about a wife who took up with a boyfriend, an ugly divorce, a broken heart, and seven years of bitterness that followed.

Me:    “I don’t know, Pete. My thought is that you may need God a lot more than that anger you are still holding on to. God knows what you’ve been through.  Jesus was betrayed…and at the end of it all, it was all redeemed!”
Pete:    “Maybe so…but I don’t know what God would say if He saw me coming back into His church.”
Me:    “I think He’d say, “Welcome home!”

Pete thought about it for a few more minutes and then said: “Do you have any pretty women at that church?”
Me:    “We sure do…but you’re going have to come on Sunday if you want to meet any of them. They can tell you their own story, too.”

I told him about the service times, the location, and the type of service I thought he’d like. This is an example of God’s love knocking on the door of a person’s heart. I hope Pete opens the door.

Now, here are a few things you need to know this week:

575 and Counting

I continue to hear reports of incredible generosity at Christ Church. As a church family, you contributed 575 backpacks through the Kids in Need summer project for local children, and they are still coming in! Also, our outreach staff and volunteers tell me that the lunch outings at Boyd Elementary in Allen we an incredible blessing…both to the servers and the 60 or so recipients. At least three people called my office over the past week to say thanks to Christ Church for this ministry. In turn, I thank you for taking seriously Jesus’ command to serve your neighbors. Here is a photo from the Boyd project:

Local kids lining up for lunch and fellowship last week.

Back to the Holy Land

Fran and I are excited to be leading another trip to the Holy Land. Next year’s trip will be from January 30 – February 8, 2012. We are going with a new touring company that is able to make the trip work for us at a very reasonable price. The conditions appear good in that part of the world, so if you have ever wanted to go, now is the time. It will be the trip of a lifetime. (There is a possible extension to Athens and Corinth at the end of this tour.) Plan now to attend one of two information meetings: either August 17 or September 1, at 7 p.m. in Room 200 of the Adult Education Building. No registration is necessary for the meetings. For more information contact Cathy Carey in my office.

So, I will see you all this weekend. Until then, many thanks to you and to God for your commitment and support of Christ Church.

David+

Dear Friends,
As many of you know, Fran and I are moving houses this week. Our downsizing is going well. It is very refreshing to clean out the closets and drawers and to lighten the load, and we have a strong sense that God’s hand has been on our decision.

Does He Care?

This past weekend, Fr. Jason delivered a message entitled “Does He Care?” In case you missed it, you may view the sermon video here. As a follow-up to the sermon, which covered the very weighty topic of God’s care for us, Fr. Jason offers this addendum:

There are times when we may feel as though God is not doing all He should be doing, times when it seems like He is absent, times when we may ask the question, “Does He care?” My prayer is that through the study of the heart of Jesus in John 11, that question was answered definitively. My hope is that each person who heard the message left understanding that God is far from distant. God entered right into the middle of all the hurt and pain and confusion of this world. God lived it. God felt it. We as Christians know that God truly understands our pain and has chosen in all His power and goodness and love to walk with us through every grief and trial, through every hurt and loss. We have a God who knows what it means to experience this world because He has been there in the person of Jesus. The answer to the question, “Does He care?” is a resounding, unequivocal, unstoppable yes!Following the message on Sunday, many people asked about the prayer that was quoted to end the sermon. That prayer is called, “Not the God We Would Have Chosen,” and comes from the book: Awed To Heaven, Rooted in Earth: Prayers of Walter Brueggemann. It is a collection of prayers written by Brueggemann after 41 years of teaching and praying in the classroom.

What’s happening in the Old Testament?
Also, last Sunday’s worship bulletin featured an article by Fr. Jason. If that article was helpful to you in trying to put together the story of the Old Testament, you may want to read this article, a longer version by Fr. Jason that offers a few more details to help unwrap what is happening in the Old Testament.

Here are some other things you need to know this week:

Helping Kids in Need

The Christ Church family has always been extremely generous, and this summer is no exception. About 525 tags, each representing a school-age child, were taken from the wall in Fellowship Hall, and all the backpacks and school supplies are due this coming Sunday, July 24. Backpacks and supplies will be sorted and boxed up on the following day, Monday, July 25, from 2 – 4 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. Volunteers are still needed to help with sorting. If you can help, contact Marsha Kostus in our outreach ministry. Also, here is Marsha’s update on the other part of the Kids in Need project:

Monday was our first day to serve lunch at Boyd Elementary School in Allen. Our volunteer crew of 14 served a lunch at the covered pavilion to 55 kids and moms who live in the apartments surrounding Boyd. As lunchtime wore on and families ate, we learned names and began to get to know them. As we brought out the bubbles and sidewalk chalk and crafts, we all began to feel as if we were making new friends. By the time we left, the calls of “See you tomorrow” were met with big smiles and waves. Everyone who volunteered felt like our time at Boyd was a real blessing. It was a very special day. It went far better than I imagined, and I don’t think my words really capture what the Holy Spirit did there.

Happy Campers
Our middle schoolers are away at Jonathan Creek Camp on the shores of Kentucky Lake. They have joined other students from around the country to worship, play, and learn more about how God’s grace has washed each of us through Jesus Christ. Their theme verse for the week is 1 Corinthians 6:11. I am told this is especially appropriate because they are spending as much free time as possible in the water, whether catapulting off The Blob or just swimming. Thank you for your prayers for our students and leaders. We look forward to hearing more from them when they return.

Middle School Youth Group at camp in Kentucky this week

Take care in this heat!

In Christ,
David+