Random Monday Morning Thoughts....
Last night I was sitting at the base of the Sleeping Bear Dune Climb listening to a wonderful bluegrass concert with some dear long-time friends and a mix of random thoughts about the end of a wonderful weekend. First, the rather unpleasant one. It dawned on my that under Michigan law anyone in the crowd could be carrying a loaded M1Garand rifle or any other firearm for that matter. If Sean Combs can do it in Shain Park, what's to stop it at Sleeping Bear? Julius DelPino, pastor of St. Luke's UMC in Rochester was chair of the jury that found the young man not guilty. All I can say is Combs might be innocent of breaking the law, but the law is just downright stupid! Why should anyone in a civilized society want to, need to or be allowed to carry a loaded rifle in a public park? It's about as stupid as the repeal of the motor cycle helmet law, but such are the times and the State in which we live.
Then to more pleasant thoughts, like performing a beautiful wedding for one of "our kids", Johnny Damm. Johnny is like a brother to my sons, part of a bunch of neat young men who have known each other from high school days in Flint. They have cris-crossed the country for Phish and Grateful Dead concerns, weddings and festivities. One of the real joys of parenthood is seeing your kids grow up and one of the joys of ministry is the chance to celebrate it with them. Three cheers for Johnny and Sharie in their new life together.
Then pleasant thoughts back home. I have already heard rave reviews for Taylor Mertins and Cora Glass's sermons and leadership in worship. What a joy to share in the formation of young men and women for Christian ministry. We are blessed by the presence of seminary and college interns and I pray their time with us will be a blessing to them. I've also heard from folks who really enjoyed Todd Hibbard's class on the Psalms last night. All I can say is "God provides". After Carl Price's retirement, we were praying about the future of our teaching ministry when Todd and Danielle showed up in a new members class--a gifted biblical scholar and warm-hearted Methodist teaching at University of Detroit Mercy. We are blessed by his presence. And today Lindsey Hall joins our staff. I hope you will be in worship to greet her on Sunday.
This Sunday we begin a three-part series on the Psalms. The Psalmist says, "The lines for me have fallen in pleasant places" and so it is for me. Pleasant places like Sleeping Bear and Shain Park (sans rifles, please) and pleasant events like family weddings. Wonderful people like long-time friends, young seminarians and new colleagues in ministry. Thanks be to God.
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