My family just got back from vacation today. We spent two weeks in Fl. and the picture is our traditional beach family picture. Kimberly wants to have it enlarged and put above our fire place. So if you have checked in lately and have found no new updates — sorry. We had a great time and I am ready to get back to work.

Today was our last day of going to sites and official “mission” activity. We went to two senior centers where we played cards, sung some songs (I’ll fly away, Amazing Grace, and some silly songs), put puzzles together, and just hung out.

At our last site we met with about fifty seniors. The workers there were Christian ladies who when we began to sing, would sing louder than we did. They clapped and danced with the residents. There was true joy before the Lord as we enjoyed a few hours together.

As we sung Amazing Grace one woman who could barely speak began to stand, lift her hands, smile, and sing (she remembered all the words). As we went through the song she began to weep and one of the workers hugged her and they stood embraced and worshiped the Lord together. The Lord’s Spirit was there and I am glad that the Lord allowed me to be there among them.

Tonight at our group devotion time we had one salvation among our group and we prayed for each other. I believe that God brought me just to experience this time of prayer. I was able to tell some of the youth how special they are to me, and was blessed by their prayers for me and my family.

I am looking forward to getting back and preaching on Sunday.

At M-Fuge I don’t have e-mail (but I do have internet access, so Cathy, Phil, and Matt here’s the sermon outline for Sunday. Everyone else sorry for the “insider” stuff on my blog — but it’s my only way to get them the outline — God bless.

When Those We Love Fall
Ezra 9

I. Responding To a Turned Life (vv. 1-4)
• 2 Samuel 10:4-5

II. Responding To the Fallen Life (vv. 5-15)
A. Get Up and Kneel Down (v. 5)

B. Own It (vv. 6-7 )

C. Show What’s At Stake (vv. 8-9)

D. Recognize the Sin (vv. 10-14a )

E. Cry Out For God’s Mercy (vv. 14b-15)

Scripture Memory: same
Scripture Reading: Matthew 6:5-15 (congregation to read vv. 9-13)

This is Margaret. She is Ninety Two and is mentally sharp. I did not have enough time to spend with her as I would have liked. In the background you will see a man named Donald. He and I talked in his room for well over thirty-minutes. He told me all about his life and it was very interesting. The two teenage girls in the foreground are from our “track group” and have wonderful voices. We are singing and ministering is nursing homes today. Tonight our church group will go to our “free time” outing. We are planning to spend our time at the mall. it is a break that we all need.

Please pray for Margaret and Donald and all those in nursing homes who need Jesus’ love and to know someone cares for them, and that they are not forgotten.

I won’t bother you with how busy the day was, but I would like to pass on a story of a guy I met today. As part of our ministry in the city of Philadelphia, my group went to a nursing home. We visited with the residents , sang some songs, and did a puppet show.

One of the men that I had the privilege of meeting today was John. John has no legs, not even a waste really. He is elderly and lives in facility. He is the type of person who makes the best of where he is. The phrase “bloom where you are planted” completely applies to John. He rides around on a motorized scooter, and had the idea of taking the plants that many would throw away (plants they would get on Easter, Christmas, Mother’s Day, etc…) and decided (own his own) to plant a garden in the back of the facility. It is amazing! As I talked with him he pointed out hundreds of various flowers, plants, and shrubs, and could tell me the “scientific” name for all of them. The director of the facility eventually ordered him some four foot by four foot raised boxes to plant these various plants on the patio.

He encouraged and inspired me. Please pray for John today and all the other residents out there who need to know someone loves them.