ramblin'...with don davidson

Just jotting down scattered thoughts this morning. A little stream of consciousness.

GREAT NEWS! At our quarterly business meeting Sunday night it was reported that we actually exceeded our 2019 church budget goal! Just barely--but a surge in giving this December put us over the top. That, and we are also likely to exceed our goal for the Lottie Moon offering for International missions ($200,000). On target with our Preparing the Way giving, too. I am so thankful for the faithful stewardship of our people--a sign of real spiritual maturity!

...I enjoyed singing in the men's choir on Sunday. Not that I added much to the quality of the sound, but it sure was fun to be a part of the enthusiasm!

Our house is looking rather plain now that we have taken down and put away all of the Christmas decorations. We went rather minimalist this season, and I'm glad. It's not as stark a contrast as usual now that we are in January.... Between watching "Jeopardy," "America's Got Talent," and the presidential debates on TV, I am enjoying the latest book by Bret Baier, Three Days at the Brink. It's about FDR, Stalin, Churchill, and their D-Day decision in WW2....

J-Term has been going very well! During January we have shaken up our adult Bible Fellowship and offered topics of interest, open to all ages of adults. One of the great strengths of our church is that we are truly multi-generational--but the downside is that we tend to only know those who are in our basic age group. This month we have been mixing it up and the result is that people are meeting and making new friends. "I didn't know that you came to this church" is a comment being heard over and over again...We'll be back in our regular organization come February, but our hope is that lasting friendships will have been made and now will be nurtured. Also that fresh insights from across the ages will have challenged and inspired us.

...Audrey and I discovered a new restaurant on Saturday. Our neighbors took us to
L 'hermitage in Occoquan-- a delightful French place. We were thrilled when we walked in the door and were met by one of our all-time favorite waiters. Carlos worked at Le Bergerie in Old Town until it closed a few years back. We embraced and did some catching up as he went on to serve us, throughout the evening bringing special treats to our table....
 
EXCITED: The sanctuary's walls are up and bricked now, and we are on schedule for a dedication and first use of it sometime in early June! A longtime dream becoming a reality-- at last! And, with it, a fresh vision for our church's future.

...Gilbert Stuart's famous portrait of George Washington was left unfinished. The sculpture artist Gutzon Borglum never completed his Mount Rushmore tribute to four US Presidents either. But God always finishes what He starts! Our salvation, for example. Jesus cried out from the cross: "It is finished!" (John 19:30). We can add nothing to what He did for us there. And in the process of our life and our sanctification, too: "He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion" (Philippians 1:6). We can trust Him with everything we are, and everything we have.

...I'm having breakfast this morning with Ben Angle, our new Deacon chairman, and Kurt Schlieter, vice- chairman. We're talking about tomorrow night's Deacons meeting and their exciting plans for 2020! These two will be leading with energy and enthusiasm....I spent last Saturday morning with our new Executive Church Council--another excellent group of leaders!

Everybody's talking about Harry and Meghan and the controversy swirling within the Royal family. I'll start my sermon this Sunday with some of my thoughts. It's the third in my series, 20/20 Vision, and the topic is Having A Vision For Your Family...
Blessings to all!

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