Random Sunday Thoughts

• I loved today!
• FPC live online this morning - we have a few "bugs" to work out - we have to speed it up and we have to get better lighting - we will - it's going to be great!
• Thank you Brian Sabin - you made it possible.
• Someone from Saudia Arabia checked us out this morning at FPC! How cool it that?
• The band did excellent today!
• So did Bill and Britney.
• We had an exciting Discover Forest Park this afternoon.
• 11 people partnered with us in membership.
• I made two new friends today - that's always fun.
• I'm really excited about the future.
• Michele Adlon and Kate Klein are so faithful and do such an amazing job with our classes.
• I don't know what Michele calls most of her dishes that she cooks - but they are all really, really good. In fact, I only teach the classes so that I can try all her food.
• The series, Confessions of An Imperfect Parent, is going to be challenging.
• Our Ecuador Outreach Team represented FPC tonight in Edenton - the service went really well - God is doing amazing things through this team.
• Ecuador 2010 will be the best yet - wait and see!
• Pray for one another.
• Love one another.
• Serve one another.
• I am blessed to have Evan, Ashlyn and Camryn as my children and to do life with Lana by my side - trust me, it doesn't get much better.
• God is sending new people to FPC to partner with us in order to reach people not only here but around the world - I cannot see tomorrow - but if it is anything like today, I'm ready for sunrise!!
• I'm loving Reggie's book, Think Orange. Anyone who leads children and/or students must read it.
• This past week I found several new blogs that I'm beginning to read.
• I'm tired, really tired.
• I can't believe September is here - weren't we just in June?
• I'm calling it a night . . . for I'm starting to ramble.
• I love you.
• I really do.

I'm Dreaming of Oranges

I reading through Reggie Joiner's newest book, Think Orange: Imagine The Impact When Church and Family Collide. Reggie shares the following . . .

"Orange Babies is a group that has dedicated itself to protecting the future of children in an unusual way. Originating in Holland, the group's members are committed to rescuing children in Africa from falling victim to AIDS. A dose of the drug nevirapine during the last month or pregnancy can help prevent an HIV-positive pregnant mother from transferring the disease to her child. Here's the amazing thing: One pill gives the unborn child a 50 percent chance of being born without the deadly virus. The cost of the pill is a whopping six dollars. So Orange Babies has developed a simple plan to fight AIDS: Give the pills to as many mothers as possible so as many kids as possible can have a better chance to live."

He continues . . .

"Imagine you are a doctor who holds in his hands a drug that would stack the odds in a child's favor. Would you use it? Absolutely! Likewise, we as leaders are called to save lives and to give every kid the best chance possible. Although parents don't have a pill they can give their kids to help them have a better chance spiritually and morally, you can implement a strategy that will improve their odds."

As a parent and a pastor, I'm asking, "What strategy are we using that will greatly improve the odds of our kids becoming spiritually and morally healthy?" That really is the most important question, isn't it? Whether our kids are successful in sports or made the honor roll is important, but compared to spiritual and moral health, sports and grades are left in the dust, right?

Let's be honest with ourselves and with our kids, do we have a strategy for our children's spiritual and moral health? Or, are we just hopeful that our kids will turn out all right in the end?

Do you have one? If so, I'd love to know - mine always needs improving!

I have a lot of thinking to do . . .