Archives for July 2007

I don’t usually pick up hitchhikers. Something I was told not to do when I was young…and reinforced by watching more than a few of those movies where picking up a hitchhiker leads to a less than happy ending.

Anyway, I was getting onto I-91 this afternoon, the sun was beating down and there he stood on the side of the on-ramp. Before I really thought about what I was doing I had pulled over and he was quickly making his way toward the car. As Eddie got in he looked to be in his late 50’s, early 60’s. Immediately I could tell there was an interesting story there…if only I could get to it.

“So, what has you walking today?” [Read more…]

While on vacation I got a chance to worship at one of my favorite churches, the First Baptist Church of Massena, NY. It is a small fellowship, the Sunday my family worshipped with them there were as many visitors (18 of us, all from out of town – I know that because we were all asked to stand and introduce ourselves) as “regular” attendees. I am not sure why God has used this place as an important place to participate in while I am on vacation. The sermons are okay, the worship is average, the people are friendly, it is really an average kind of place but for some reason it has a kind of spiritual draw for me.

This Sunday they were hearing from a candidate to come and serve as their pastor. It was a good sermon, reminded me that I need to work harder to be a better husband and father than I am. I am reading “a Generous Orthodoxy” by Brian McLaren and some of the style, delivery and content of the message helped me to put some things in perspective, gave me some issues to wrestle with over the next few weeks. I also took away one or two sermon themes while listening.

I like this church, the people there have a passion to serve God and for some reason God uses it as a kind of “centering” place for me. After service I went to speak to the worship leader and shared with him how special that church has been to me. I felt myself tearing up a little as I told him what it means to me to be able to come and worship with them every year or so.

May First Baptist Church of Massena know the riches of walking in obedience to the call of God upon their fellowship. May they possess the confidence and faith that God can and will do great and mighty things for the Kingdom through their lives. May Church in the Acres be a place where people, even those who are just passing through, can come and be encouraged and uplifted in their walk with the Lord.