What's Love Got To Do With It?

OK, so it's not such a religious song, but I thought I'd use it as a teaser to something very important I want to share today. It's all about love! The love of a 16 year old going on 17 when he meets his soul mate.

There I was sitting in the high school Sunday School class when she entered. Looking pretty much like her picture here. She introduced herself and I knew I needed to get to know her before one of the other male species made their move.

I had to act quick - Thursday night our group was going bowling - could she possibly need a ride?
But what if other people needed a ride too? Too bad for them, I wanted to take her by myself. I arrived at her home, met her parents, went bowling and drove her home. I had to do some fast talking for her to give me another chance - so I made my best 16 year old dorky boy move - and she gave in. We dated regularly for the rest of our junior and senior year - attended both proms (I was the envy of all the guys I knew when I walked in with her on my arm).

Right after graduation we took a break, both needing to find ourselves. Then in the spring of 1971 we went out again and talked. She couldn't live her life without me she said (or some words to that effect :) ) Maybe it was more like "nothing better had come along yet so she'd hang in there with me".

March 25, 972 we said "I do" forever and she's been hanging in there with me through more thick than thin!

Job changes, premature births, ministry successes and failures, gray hair and 30 lbs. and we love each other more than in Sunday School.

She is the most unselfish woman I've ever met (most beautiful too - gets better with age). She was and is totally dedicated to her role as mom and now grandma. Cindy has shown me unconditional love during my unlovely times, has been my biggest fan - truly a balcony person. She inspires me to keep going when it looked like all was lost.

I don't think there are enough words to express what these last 36+ years have meant to me - but I hope God grants us another 36! I know she's still pretty shy - and may even cringe when she reads this - but honey "I love you not only for who you are but because of who I am when I'm with you!"

Happy Anniversary!

Will You Pray?

I received an email from a brother pastor of mine in the Akron area. he had just returned from the Philippines where he was teaching other pastors and training leaders. He was amazed at ho God moved in his trip. This is a small part of what he wrote:

"I learned an important truth that will remain with me always. And that is the simple, yet profound privilege of bringing one's needs and concerns before the Father."

It is indeed a privilege! He continues:

"My brothers and sisters there showed me that with expectant faith a child of God can just tell Him about their need and He will supply it. A woman asked the Lord to give them rice for her family's next meal and that very day He prompted me to slip some pesos into her hand – she wept with joy. A pastor places his hands on his children's heads and prays for them before they leave for school – they do well and are protected as he expected. A young teen asked God for a guitar so that he could play it for Him in worship and the next day a generous woman calls and says that she has money to buy a guitar for the church. A lonely pastor cries out to God for his ministry to bear more fruit and God gives him the means to relocate the church near the highway and it is growing each week. I was taken to a place called Touch of Glory Prayer Mountain and I prayed alone at length in a very small cell with only a stool and small stand. It was then that I had a sweet encounter with the Lord unlike ever before and found out how weak my prayer life had become.

We need the power and encouragement found at the throne of grace, but we have settled for much less and then wonder why God does not intervene in our small world. He is far bigger than we ever imagined and He is ready and willing to bless us over and over again!"

I'm ashamed of myself over the times I haven't prayed with such conviction!

Tonight, the steering committee of The Grove is meeting to pray for each of you by name and for those concerns you have made known. We encourage you to also be praying for us as we discern God's direction for the church as we pursue our mission to know, go, show and sow.

We look forward to seeing many of you tomorrow at the pancake breakfast and easter egg hunt and on Sunday at the Sunrise Service at 8:30am.

Pastor Jeff