Hannah Ruth Graduates.
Hannah will have an “open house” on Friday night at Evangel Baptist in Taylor, Michigan to recognize the completion of her high school at the Stonebridge Academy. There are four Stonebridge Academy graduates so far and they are all doing well and making good in the world. We expect the same of Hannah. She is a sweet, social girl with a kind heart and a sincere love for Jesus. Did I mention that she is beautiful, too? We are grateful for her. She has never caused …

In about 1982 we met Bernice Grinnell. She was a member of our church. Her husband died. Shortly after that, she had a hip replacement surgery and had to stay in a rest home for a while. We visited her. I took Kyle along with me when I visited her. He was just a little tiny boy about two at the time.

Sunday night Kyle Kenneth watched his first Lake Michigan sunset. He doesn’t know this but it is deep in his genetic makeup to love an evening like this. Kyle (Dad, Kyle) said the day was sweet as a bag of Starbursts. That boy has a way with words, doesn’t he?
Today we drove to Angola and spent most of the day at a State Park just talking. We had a pizza picnic, drank some sodas and took more pictures of wee Kyle. The boys flew a kite. Holly and Heidi …

The birds are singing along Blakley Drain this morning. There is a cold snap in the air. The sun is climbing a clear sky. It is a beautiful Lord’s Day. The Day He has blessed, a day of spiritual refreshment and fellowship. We worship an infinitely superior incomparable Christ. He is my KING! I am about to worship Him in the “great congregation.” I hope some of you can join us today.

Bob called me a couple years ago and told me a story that reminded me of how powerful and important the church can be in the lives of people.
He had just returned from a men’s retreat in Michigan sponsored by his church. There was an outdoor bonfire and testimony time on Saturday night at the close of the retreat. During the bonfire a man stood and began to weep. He said; “I can’t believe I even came to this retreat.”
He was invited by a friend on Friday and …

Charlie recently visited Emporia, Kansas to spend time with Karilee… they have been sparkin’ for over four years now… I thought you might like to see a recent pic of the two. Chuk is a youth pastor in Sister Bay , Wisconsin up on the end of the Door Peninsula at First Baptist Church. It is one of the most quaint places in America. They call it the New England of the Midwest. Anyway, that’s the place where Chuk is doing his Kingdom work. He also works at the …

I like the solitude of distance running. When I run I have time to think about things without distraction or interruption. I have time to pray and think and meditate on Scripture. Often I listen to lively worship music on my iPod or birdsongs along the way.
A few years ago we were Kentucky to attend Lois’ grandmother’s funeral. I was training to run a marathon. The day after the funeral, early in the morning, it was foggy and cold in the mountains. I would …

Our four daughters sang on a television station in Kentucky last night. If you would like to watch the broadcast it as archived at www.wljc.com. Click on the Monday night May 12 link to watch the broadcast. Let me know what you think. The host speaks for about twelve minutes before she introduces the girls.
During the month of June they will return for their Kentucky Mountain Parkway Summer Tour. Their first stop will be at my Dad and Mom’s church in southern Ohio.

Before summer ends you might want to consider reading The Shaping of A Christian Home by Elizabeth Elliot. She writes beautifully of her family summer cottage in Franconia, Maine. She mentions, as I recall, that every family should have a place to get away together.
The summer of my fourteenth year Dad and Mom planned a wonderful family vacation that I will never forget. We loaded up our 1969 Chrysler and took a road trip. We tented through the Great Smoky Mountain National Park and …

I am Thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice,
And it told Thy love to me;
But I long to rise in the arms of faith,
And be closer drawn to Thee.

Draw me nearer, nearer blessèd Lord,
To the cross where Thou hast died.
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessèd Lord,
To Thy precious, bleeding side.

Consecrate me now to Thy service, Lord,
By the power of grace divine;
Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope,
And my will be lost in Thine.
O the pure delight of a single hour,
That before Thy throne I spend,
When I kneel …