My musings are certainly different today. For starters it is my birthday. As a result I am actually posting this in the afternoon. It has been a blessed birthday so far. I have had communication from all my kids and my Dad. I have received many nice comments from friends far and wide on facebook. Went to breakfast with my wife, she made me buy a new shirt (I required that it at least be on sale) and I bought a novel at the Goodwill store. Now on to the musings from yesterday.

-We had a great time of worship yesterday. Such a great spirit and the congregation was very engaged from beginning to end.

-There were several who came to the altar at the conclusion of the service. I have been working hard to re-establish the altar as a place of prayer, commitment and repentance. Not that it is a magic place, but I believe it can be a powerful place in a church.

-We had another outstanding time of sharing in our small group last night. We learned a lot about each other and from each other last night. I love the growth I am seeing as we study and share together.

-Illness knocked out a few of our regular attenders and as a result I was a last second sub for one of our Sunday School classes. I prefer a little more time to prepare something, but we all survived.

-Once again I was blessed and humbled as I was prayed over by a retired pastor before the worship service. I don’t ever want to forget that I am only where I am because I am standing on the shoulders of some great pastors who have gone before me.

-Our attendance was very good for Labor Day weekend. In fact we had a very good month of August in attendance.

-There were some glitches on the day, and I was scrambling to do a few things before everyone arrived on Sunday. Things that someone else was supposed to have done earlier in the week. But that comes with the territory at times.

-My wife and I were blessed as the church honored us with a card for our anniversary and for my birthday, both cards has some nice things inside as well.

-It was great to have my wife in worship yesterday. She had a missed a couple of weeks for a baby shower for our daughter and a weekend with some of her college friends. I know I preach better when she is present.
-The message was on wholeness. Part of the wholeness is for us as a church to LAF a lot. To offer Love, Acceptance and Forgiveness.

This is such an unusual Monday since I am taking it off as a holiday, because it is my birthday but because it is Labor Day. I look back on yesterday and am very encouraged and I love that feeling. Here’s hoping you are have a great Monday.

Dennis