This afternoon we had our church’s annual Thanksgiving Fellowship Dinner. We held it at a family restaurant in Thurmont, MD. Some ladies in our church did a wonderful job of decorating, and we even had door prizes. I gave a short devotion from Luke 17:11 ff. we had an “open mike” for testimonies. Caleb (my 5 year old son) wanted to tell everyone that he was thankful for his family. We then watched a slide show and concluded with prayer.

This particular event is always special to me because as the afternoon wears on, at one point I can look over the crowd and see how God has blessed so many people in our church. I know most of their stories and I know how much of a blessing they have been to me.

Also, as we watched the video I was reminded of how many things our church had done over the past year. We, by most standards are a small church, but God has used us to make a huge impact for His kingdom.

God, thank you for my church. Happy Thanksgiving!

Daybreak is finishing our current sermon series “plastic people” this coming Sunday. We also have several weeks before we begin our Christmas series, so I wanted to do something a little different. The apostle Paul has always been one of my favorite men in the Bible, but recently I have been reminded by the fact that Paul’s letters were in large part a series of answers to various questions he received from the church.

Paul’s example got me to consider what it would be like to do something similar. The result is the upcoming preaching series entitled ‘Questions’. It will Begin November 18^th, 25^th, and perhaps even December 2^nd (depending on how many questions I get from you guys).

So send your questions to icthus1st@aol.com and put “questions for Drew” in the subject line. You can send as many questions as you would like, and you can ask about anything you would like. I will not reveal your name or web address in my response, so you can have a degree of anonymity in your questions. Also, please keep your questions fairly short and I will seek to read them in their entirety as you pose it.

Ok, so it’s happened. I sit down at the computer to write my blog and my mind is blank. Well not really blank, but there are some things that I would love to write on (venting), but it not a wise move to put that kind of stuff on the internet. There are also some things in the mix that I just can’t talk about. Either it would affect other people or simply is just private. This is one of those things about leadership that I never really understood until I was the leader.

As a pastor I am privy to a lot of “inside” information, but I do not have the freedom to do anything with that information. Even if I know something embarrassing or sinful about a person, they could blast me in public, but I can’t use this “ammunition” to blast back. I’m supposed to the spiritual leader and mature one – so I pray. So I take it, and deal with it, and it usually always passes over. So, I show them respect, love, and grace even when they do not (do unto others, etc…). God has always been faithful to take care of me, my wife, and my family and there is also a lot of truth in “you reap what you sow.”

But sometimes it just about kills me to not talk about exciting things God might be bringing our way (but I know that it’s not the right time, so I have to remain quiet) or to blast someone when they are trying to hurt me, my ministry, or family. Don’t worry this hasn’t happened that often. Usually the things I have to keep quiet on are things God seems to be orchestrating and it’s too soon to unveil the plan. Then when the time is right, I speak and tell others.

So the leadership principle of the day is “keep your mouth shut until God tells you to let the people know what’s going on.” I have also found that God usually is working in other people’s heart as well showing them a different part of the puzzle.

Tonight we cooked burgers on the grill. After all the kids had eaten Kimberly and I were cleaning up and I realized after looking at both of my boys plates that they had literally eaten as much as I had. Joshua and Caleb are my twin boys, and they were born premature. So they have always been a little smaller than most kids their age. As I am writing this, I am very full from dinner and can not imagine where someone their size manages to put the food.

I am also doing the math. If at five they are matching what I eat, will they at ten be eating double what I am eating? Oh, brother, I don’t think our pantry is big enough.

The Boswell family went to Lancaster, PA for the weekend for an annual ministerial get away. We stayed at the Willow Valley resort center and dined on some wonderful food (www.willowvalley.com). We prepped the kids for weeks on how to “act” at a real restaurant. Their closest experiences have been at fine dining establishments like McDonald’s and Famous Dave’s B-B-Q. Willow Valley has linen table clothes, full place settings, water goblets, etc.. and you can get as many Alaskan King Crab legs, cut beef, home made pastries, etc… as you can eat. One of my favorites of the food, were the omelets made to order as you wait (I got one with everything). The kids did great.

The conference center also has multiple indoor pools. My children loved a giant frog that you slide down its’ tongue. We swam for hours!

Just between you and me, one of my favorite things in life is to give my children gifts. I love the way their faces light up. I love how their minds begin to imagine. I love playing with them with the gifts. So I gave Joshua and Caleb a Transformer toy a piece, and I gave Hannah-Grace a ballerina Barbie.

To be honest, I just simply needed some time away. I thank God that He loves me and provides wonderful things like this weekend simply because he loves to bring joy to His children. One of things that I have learned about having kids, is that they have taught me about God’s relationship as a Father to His Children. I love my children, but how much greater is His love for me. I enjoy giving my children gifts, and He enjoys giving gifts to His children. He knew I needed to get away, to spend some intense time with my family, and so He provided this wonderful weekend.

Matthew 7:9-12 “Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? ¹⁰Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? ¹¹If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! ¹²So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”

So, I thank you Father for your special gift.