Last Sunday, we worshipped with Calvary Baptist Church in Seymour Indiana. They were celebrating their church’s 50th anniversary, and it was a joyous occasion.

Will your church be ccelebrating an upcoming anniversary? Here are a couple of great ideas they did to make it special:

Pastor David Schrock and the planning team printed and framed a 4X6″ photograph of the church building, with text about 50th anniversary celebration (see photo above). An entire table held hundreds of the framed photos.  He announced that each family unit in attendance could pick one up as a momento of the occasion. What a lovely gift!

The Pastor had preached for several weeks on each segment of their church covenant. On anniversary day, they had a covenant renewal service. They printed a large copy of the covenant, and had a wide photo mat prepared. Each member of the church signed the mat before the covenant was beautifully framed for the church entryway.

Isn’t it exciting to celebrate God’s blessings of the past as we look forward to seeing what He has ahead for the future? Happy anniversary, Calvary Baptist.

Some of you know my family, but even if you don’t, you’ll get a kick out of my son, Justin’s, audition video for Amazing Race.  He’s teaching in Denmark right now for a few weeks, so pray for his safety. Click here to see it on YouTube.

Tylor and Katie’s wedding is a month from now, and we’re thrilled. Autumn’s beginning her first seminary class, and she and Yale have Vacation Bible School beginning tonight for their apartment ministry.

Isn’t it fun to watch your kids–even as they’re grownups! Parenthood never gets boring.
“So give your father and mother joy!May she who gave you birth be happy.” Proverbs 23:25

It’s Final Four weekend in Indianapolis! You can imagine what fun we’re having downtown. Justin’s coming in for Easter weekend, and we’re helping Autumn and Yale with Easter egg hunts for their apartment ministry tomorrow, and looking forward to great Easter celebration worship on Easter Sunday and Easter lunch and…

Final four. The photo is from a downtown Mayor’s Pep Rally for Butler University (an Indianapolis team who is in the final four!) I read a fabulous story in the Indianapolis Star this morning about Gordon Hayward, a Butler student and basketball team member.  Read it on this link: http://www.indystar.com/article/20100402/SPORTS0609/4020327/1004/SPORTS/Mom-s-gift-gives-Butler-s-Hayward-a-lift

It’s a wonderful Christian witness. In one part of the story, it mention’s the family’s pre-game ritual. Mom texts Gordon this message: “RWYPF” — remember who you play for.  For a Christian, that’s every day’s key theme. We must “remember who we play for.” Where you work, go to school, hang out, live, play — never forget that God has placed you there to shine for Him.

Remember who you play for.

Read the story.

P.S. Go Dawgs!

My husband had a big round-number birthday. We celebrated that day with our daughter and son-in-law, watching the Colts football game on television. The celebration at his office was a little more animated! 

We’d planned for all the staff to arrive at work with canes, walkers, etc. 

They decorated a birthday chair (wheelchair) for Steve, and he used it all day–even conducted staff meeting from it! 

The birthday cake had over 100 candles on it (don’t tell Steve), and after he spent several minutes trying to light them all, a “fireman” arrived to stop the safety hazard!

It was a fun day, and at the end of it, he’s one day older. 

Happy birthday, Steve.

Read these rocks.

I love seeing all the ways our churches find to remind people of God’s love. 

Here’s a little surprise I discovered alongside an out-of-the-way sidewalk at First Baptist Church in Griffith IN.

Someeone went to a lot of trouble to brick the word “FAITH” in that gravel,but what a nice surprise! 

Little things matter.

 Last Sunday, I  saw fire in church.

First Baptist in Vernon had a note-burning ceremony  to celebrate the early payoff of their mortgage on their beautiful family life center.  Pastor Don Moore and the church family planned a touching ceremony.

He summarized the many ways the church has been able to minister in the community by using that building. They have an archery ministry with fifth through twelfth graders and an elementary age basketball ministry.  God has brought many to know Him through those ministries. They have a large gathering of senior adults from the community who meet for fellowship, and the pastor shares a devotional from God’s Word. They have a wild game dinner next month, and the list goes on and on. The building is not only used to enhance fellowship within the church, but to show God’s love to the community.

  He thanked the church members for their sacrificial commitment to pay off the debt.

Then the Pastor asked the four members of the original building committee to join him for the note-burning.

 They had built a wooden frame to hold the mortgage paper (or maybe it was a copy of it.) As those four lit the paper, it burned in just seconds, but the applause went on for minutes.

God’s people celebrating His blessings. 

Paper afire. Hearts ablaze. Oh, it’s such a joy to see God’s church in action.

Congratulations, First Baptist Church of Vernon IN.

ROCKING INDIANA FOR CHRIST!

“Praise the Lord who is my rock!” Psalm 114:1a

Looking for a good retreat theme? I thought you might like this one:

“Rocking [your town's name] for Christ.” 

I’d planned a brief program for the spouses of our Baptist state convention’s executive board yesterday, and it was such fun. It could easily be expanded to plan a retreat for a church group. Here’s what we did. Take the topics, tweak them to your event, and you’ve got a memorable retreat.

Introducing “rock stars” – Just intro game preceeded by Scriptures about Jesus as our Rock + how we must shine for Him = rock stars

“Rock” music – Jesus is the Rock; Rock of Ages; Ain’t No Rock; Praise songs with the word “rock

• Prayer Rocking – Used the porch rocking chairs for meaningful prayer time

  

• Rock Hound Adventure – a photo scavenger hunt around the retreat center

Rocking Tea Time

• Prayer to the Rock of our Salvation
• Rock Solid Testimonies – each person used a different Scripture containing the word “rock” to illustrate how God has been the rock in their life.
• Rock Formation – a simple rock craft project and devotional

Challenge to “rock Indiana for Christ” – closing devotional.

Today I’ve been driving with my sister through New Mexico, then Arizona, then Mexico…just in awe of the mountains. Tonight I’m digging through dozens of Scriptures that mention mountains. Here’s a favorite:

The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my mountain where I seek refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation,  my stronghold.  Psalm 18:2

What a strong, magnificent, creative God we serve!

It seemed like they were everywhere!  There were hundreds of Indiana Baptists who attended the Southern Baptist Convention in Louisville. It was like a fun reunion! 

I found six full tables of Ministers Wives at the SBC ministers wives luncheons, plus lots of others at different tables.  It’s always such a celebration time, hearing all our missions reports and exciting challenges and Bible preaching and music, visiting with Christian friends, and missing out on sleep. We enjoyed the 150th anniversary for Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, a tour of Kentucky Baptists’ gorgeous new facility, and more banquets and meetings than I can remember.

I had the privilege of doing my book signing beside Mrs. Joyce (Adrian) Rogers. What a delightful woman of God.  She has a wonderful new book for widows.

  Next year’s SBC is in Orlando. See you there.    

You’re going to LOVE this story. It’s a follow-up on that last post about our daughter and son-in-law moving to Indianapolis. I’m just in awe of how God continues to put this all together. I pasted Autumn’s post on Facebook below. Enjoy!

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