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Singing Groceries

Reilly is learning many Bible verses and many Scripture songs to go with them. This morning when I took him to school, I heard him humming the tune of “I Will Sing of the Mercies of the Lord Forever.” Just reading that line will put the tune in your head for hours to come. Get your ipod out — or you will be singing forever. So, I decided to sing with him and I added the words. Immediately, I was corrected by my young Bible & music hound who said, “No Dad, it’s not like that — I will sing of the groceries of the Lord forever.” So, we sang the song about Heaven’s groceries. I don’t know — does this count as a real Veggie Tales song or not?

He really wasn’t too far off. We find this verse in Psalm 89:1. The word mercies can be rendered as loving-kindnesses or steadfast love. And, is not our food that comes day by day and week by week an example of steadfast love? SO, sing of the groceries of the Lord and be glad for five-year-olds who catch the Hebrew worldview!

Low Gear; High Rev

Just a little update to let you know we’re still out here. It has been an overwhelming month. Some of our strongest leaders have had to move back to the States. As strong leadership moves out and the ministry has grown more complex, this creates a vacuum effect and much of the work-load has fallen to our shoulders. This happens every-so-often, but this time has probably been the most gruelling occasion. Sadly, very few have stepped-up (or are even ready to) to help in crucial areas. In these times, the pastor and his wife stand in the gap and bear the load as “part of the work” — but even fewer people can comprehend the toll this extracts from the leadership. The cost is high but unpayable by the fainthearted.

One of our most seering burdens is the care of one of our dear sisters. Victoria is a mother of three and a wife to a husband fighting for the Army in Iraq. Victoria has been receiving mixed test results of whether she has the first stages of bone cancer. Some think she does; others think she doesn’t. She needs to get some other opinions. I don’t blame the docs, because things like this are tough calls - especially if its initial stages. Their bedside manner could use some seasoning though. In any case, the Source of help and healing is Who we’re going to. He’s the Great Doctor. And this is a test; an exam of spiritual health for a local Bride. This trial is a malignant case of intercession.

Brighter has been a special young man named Jeremy who I’ve had a number of opportunities to work with. Jeremy’s a fine airman, a good future husband, and an all-around nice guy. Jeremy has heard the Good News for the first time this last week. We’ve spent a number of hours together and I’m praying that I might be able to report good news myself about a new brother bound for Heaven in the coming days.

So many more notes to share but a little fun one is that we finally received our first order of chairs for our new worship center. This order contained seventy comfortable, stylish chairs manufactured just down the road from us in the Italian chair capital of the world - Manzano. We’re still saving up for fifty more. Each chair runs $89 which includes exchange rate, taxes (20%), and shipping. So, if you’re reading this and you’d like to help out — we’ll put you down for the rest and send you an honorary trophy . No really, we have no shame in letting others help out.

Back in a few days.

@ Frosty 5:30

At dark and frosty 5:30 a.m., we (Rob, Sandy, & Reilly) walked hand-in-hand to the train station for Reilly’s big adventure o’-the-month — passport renewal. Three hours and forty-five minutes later, we boarded a subway train to take us to the US consulate in Milan. We’ve been there many times and we have the trip down to an art-form. We know exactly what train tickets, sub tickets, stops, photos, forms, envelopes, stamps, and procedures to follow. We even have our favorite restaurant picked out in Milan too.

One wonderful lunch later and we were back down the tracks by 1 p.m. The day passed without a glitch. We had an over-excited five year old who spent almost 8 hours on the train with us today. His first remarks in all sincerity when stepping off the train back in our town were, “Ok, I don’t think I want to ride the train for a little while.” Our first remarks were, “Thank you for coming with us today Reilly and making the trip exceptionally longer than it felt the last time.” He said, “Sure, you’re welcome.”