Tonight I taught at our Remnant Bible study (the sr, high to 20 somethings). We discussed three inadequate sources of authority (tradition, experience, and intellect). After about thirty minutes of going through various Scriptures we closed with prayer. The church and tradition dominated much of our conversation. As we were standing to go and pray (the boys go the basement of the home where we meet and the girls stay in the living room), Eric suggested that that we mix it up, (i.e. the girls go the basement, and the boys stay in the living room). His idea was met with instant disagreement, “the boys always go downstairs, and the girls always stay upstairs.” I had to chuckle, even the young find security in doing things the same way every week.

It is a constant struggle for church leaders to initiate change for the right reasons at a pace that causes tension but not division. A church leader must always be gently pushing the congregation away from tradition which leads to dead religion, while steering clear of foolish and non-biblical new ways of doing church. It is a dangerous razors edge.

This Saturday Joshua and Caleb’s Cub Scout Tigers den went to the Brunswick Volunteer Ambulance and Rescue. It was an hour of “get down,” “don’t push that button,” and “Caleb please don’t put your leg in the jaws of life” (no kidding). It was a first grade boys Disney. There were sirens, lights, heavy mechanical machines, trucks, apparatus, and on and on it went. The building smelled of gasoline and medical supplies. It was like holding back raw energy. I was really afraid to turn my back in fear that the boys would take off with one of the trucks (you know they keep the keys in the ignition).

The volunteers on duty were great and very patient. It was encouraging to know that we have people like them keeping watch.

Thank you Brunswick Volunteer Ambulance and Rescue, and all those who keep watch for the rest of us.

Last Saturday the boy’s Sunday School class, and the elem. department at Daybreak served their community by going to a local nursing home. There was an activities director that was leading the residents in the making of a scented door hanger for their rooms. So our guys jumped in there and helped out. We discovered during the craft time that there was a lady there who was over 106 years old.

Once Joshua and Caleb knew how to help, they were very attentive and caring toward the ladies they were helping. They struggled a little because the room was cramped and they had to lean over their wheel chairs that were crammed against each other. All in all, it was a great experience for them to learn who to help and serve other people and I pray it was a blessing to the residents.

Caleb has not lost a single tooth. His teeth are holding tight and not wanting to leave his mouth. If you have eve smelt his breath it would make you wonder why. Kimberly and I have laughed about this and Caleb is completely ticked off that Joshua has lost five and therefore has five dollars cold cash. So as Caleb was complaining the other day about his teeth not coming out he made us look to see if any of the teeth were loose. So when we looked we discovered that there was a tooth that had grown in behind his baby teeth.

Kimberly made an appointment with the dentist and we took him in. I took him there in the morning with the intention that she would pull the baby tooth. But she said it was not uncommon and that it will eventually come out on it’s on and the pressure from the tongue will move the “Jaws” tooth back into it’s proper location.

Couldn’t the dentist have just told us that over the phone? It’s all about the co-pay.