I am just getting a chance to sit down and write these musings because I traveled out of state for a conference. As for the musings …

-Driving 6 hours immediately after finishing a Sunday morning is not a relaxing exercise. Being able to see my Dad on Father’s Day made the drive worth it. I don’t remember the last time I was with my Dad on Father’s Day. We were also with a lot of other family, some of whom we hadn’t seen in 4 years. It was great to see everyone and catch up.

-We had another great Sunday. God really is doing some great things in Canton. This is a fun season of ministry.

-Our Father’s Day breakfast was tremendous. The food was great, they had real sausage gravy and biscuits, ‘nuff said.

-I loved hearing the sound of laughter, conversations and real fellowship taking place during the breakfast.

-We had great attendance. I love that people continue to invite and expect that we will have new people each week. I especially loved that instead of taking Dad somewhere else to celebrate so many of our families brought Dad to church for a real Father’s Day celebration.

-I took a moment in the service to honor two of our former pastors. I am blessed to have two retired ministers, who used to pastor this church, attending regularly. They are some of my biggest supporters, encouragers and prayer warriors. One of them prayers over me every Sunday before I go to preach and the other calls, or stops by periodically to encourage me and pray with me. So I took a couple of minutes out of my sermon to bring them up front, thank them and honor them.

-The message was on examples. For many people this is a point of pain in some relationships because they have either had no example or bad examples in their lives. We looked at healing from that pain and what to look for in examples that we can follow. There was also a challenge to become an example that others can follow.

-On Saturday there was a big birthday celebration for a sweet lady in our church who just turned 90! How cool is that? This week we have been invited to a birthday party for a girl who just turned 3, how is that for contrast?

-Our giving continues to do well. I am so encouraged by the faithfulness and vision that our people are exercising. Only good things can follow this type of commitment.

-I am really looking forward to having a little extra time to read, pray and maybe do a little writing this week. I will also be able to see my Dad a couple of more times before we head back home. Thanks to our church for allowing us to get away for this event and for covering things while we are gone.

Here’s hoping that you are finding things to encourage you and that you are finding people to encourage.

Dennis