Take Two

Gabri running from the spray

Originally uploaded by ryaninmtv

Deuteronomy 6:4-7
4 “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one!
5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
6 “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.
7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.
NKJV

My pastor spoke at our Bible Study last night on “Why we do what we do”. Specifically, he spoke of the feasts that Israel had to attend every year and noted that there were times when we needed a spiritual refreshing. With our camp meeting coming up in a week and a half, it was a timely message. Since we have an awesome line up (Wayne Francis, Eli Hernandez, Jeff Arnold), my arm really doesn’t require a lot of twisting.

It also made me think about why I continue to serve in Sunday School. The pay is lousy (especially for the amount of time involved in the summer), the parents make you want to go nuts, and at times it seems like you are speaking to an audience of one (yourself). However, look at all of the kids in this picture (including my beautiful baby up front). We had the chance, over a week, to impact 225 lives. I have no idea what their life at home is like but, for a week, I can influence them, love them, and bring them hopefully into a closer relationship with Jesus Christ. There isn’t enough money to pay for that.

On Friday of camp, I was presented with a shirt that a large number of the campers had signed in black. There were also 38 signatures in red. These were the campers who had received the Holy Spirit during the week for the first time. Our bishop, Brother Jordan, asked what it would take to buy the shirt. I informed him it wasn’t for sale at any price.

I just got to unpacking some of my stuff from camp (I know, it’s been a week but I’ve been busy) and I unpacked that shirt. I am reminded again of why we do what we do. In my day job, we charge an extraordinary amount of money for me to address the problems of our clients. But in ministry, we don’t always get that payoff. That’s why I’m glad I have that shirt. It reminds me that money could never buy what we are able to share.

Well, I finally did get a flight to New York and, as luck would have it, Charity is coming along.  It’s only a weekend but I’m really looking forward to the trip.  We are staying at the W Hotel which is very nice.  My boss, who is the best, said to take Charity out and expense it.  You have to like that.  I told Charity to pick any restaurant in the city and we would have dinner there next Saturday.  As our 19th anniversary is July 29th, this works out well.  Good times!

I am trying to book a trip to New York City to meet with clients of mine and finish up a (now) seven-month long project.  I am finding however, that it is nigh unto impossible to get to New York from Columbus.  I click on the available flights to find out there are no seats available (or, in the case of Continental, only “premium” seats are available. Note to Continental, the “A” seat in a regional jet is not premium in anyone’s book).  It’s crazy.  And American, for $15/bag please don’t offer me CMH-MIA-LGA.  Going through South Florida is really not the most direct route.

If it were not for $4+/gallon gas, I would just drive and be done with it.  Nuts.