• I'm enjoying the travelogue posted by my buddy Geoff, who is in Europe with the choir from Menlo Park Pres. Geoff and I met 29 years ago on a music tour with "Song of Praise", a ministry of Artists in Christian Testimony.
Geoff is the shy one on the right; Gordon is the amused one on the left; Lauren is the embarrassed one in front; and Susan is the quiet one in the middle, in this re-creation of "The Sound of Music". I can't wait for the DVD!
• Scot McKnight has a wonderful essay today on the theology soundbyte "Love the sinner, Hate the sin". He offers a much more satisfying alternative. It's something after which he titled both his book and his blog: The Jesus Creed - Love God and love your neighbor as yourself.
• I led worship yesterday and we had a great time recreating the Newsboys' song "Wherever we Go". I was playing that reggae-influenced offbeat strat guitar - albeit on a keyboard. The theme - the Christian life is a life of letting joy and celebration go on display, and the blessings God pours into the life that follows Him. Sort of an updated Isaiah 55. Trees of the field clapping their hands isn't that different from squirrels smiling and waving, I guess. we had fun and the congregation were very delighted with the result - people had great joy at the end of the service as we concluded with Paul Baloche's "All the Earth will Sing Your Praises". (Paul wrote a great second verse that isn't on this linked recording, but we always do it):
No one, no name can rise above You Lord,
One hope, one light that shines forevermore,
Your kingdom in heaven and on earth,
Your children stand to sing of Your great worth.
We also taught our congregation, for the seond week, a new (to us) Chris Tomlin song called "How can I keep from singing?" It's the lead song right now on his website. We enjoyed hearing His song "Indescribable" on the evening news last week - when it was used to wake up the crew of the space station. Pretty amazing to hear that declaration of faith in the creator who placed the starts in the sky and knows them by name, when you're a little closer to them, I should think.
• Today is workday #1 for ElenaClaire and the rest of the kids and adults at the Valdosta workcamp. I bet she's hot and sweaty right about now, but probably just got off the worksite.
• Yesterday we had the fun of reconnecting via email with her Kindergarten teacher, Lynn Willis. He and his wife were delightful people. The exchange of emails made me miss their friendship.
• Finally, spent a couple hours last night picking fresh blueberries with Alicia, Miles, Tamara and Zach. Sweet and delicious - the fruit, and company and the activity
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