7.5 days

I can hardly believe it. In one week I'll be a married man! This week promises to be a life-changing one as I enter the newness of married life. I've received so much advice along the way, most of it good. But there have been a few warnings like: "Shawn, Shawn! Get ready, get ready! You're going to have so many major adjustments. You have so many surprises that await you. You're going to have a tough time." While I appreciate the help, Becki and I are not naive. We both know the struggle of adjustment as we have watched our friends (often helplessly) struggle through early days of marriage. We are confident that God will finish what He's begun in us and with the help and prayers of wonderful friends and mentors, we believe we can have a wonderful marriage. Do pray for us, however, as we need God's grace at this pivotal time in our life. We have been so overwhelmed by the gracious generosity of our friends and church family. God has been good.

The God of the Comma

Yesterday was a great day. Over the weekend services, there were several who were saved and worship was fantastic. Pastor Scott was revved up which was surprising considering that he had just spent two and half days in the studio recording his new project. (I'll let you know the release date when I hear something!)

I said goodbye to one of my friends on Friday. The service was meaningful and it was an honor to preach his "graduation sermon." Here is his picture with his lovely wife Dixie when they were ordained in the Foursquare Church Intl. Sam Orrick started a church in '66 and was the pastor there for 30+ years. He and Dixie came to us recently and I was so blessed by his life. He had these pithy quotes that he would give me almost everytime we visited. One of my favorites was a mini-sermon he gave me on (Isa 59:19 NKJV) "...When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard against him." Sam said to me, "Quote this verse: "When the enemy..." So I quoted it and he said, "No. You forgot the comma! 'When the enemy comes in like a flood (comma!) the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard!" He went on to explain to me how there is a "comma" in our difficult times where we often wait for God's intervention. I loved that thought. He will be missed. I only wish I could have known him longer. We all long for those seasoned believers to be in our lives, don't we?