Reflections

I'm playing catch up today--its been a busy couple days. 

• Jaley came back from camp Saturday--really great to see her again after 7 days away.  She was bug-bitten and ready to go back again next year.
• Saturday Gil and I ended up playing "emergency coordinator" for a group of people traveling with her mom.  (The van coming to pick them up at O'hare had broken down on the Tri-state by the Stevenson so the group was stuck out at the airport.)  We helped them navigate a repair facility for the van and did some shuttling around.  Side benefit--a brief visit from Gil's parents.
• Sunday, 7am, I made the call to move our "church in the street" service indoors.  It had just rained and rain was predicted for the rest of the morning.  We ended up with beautiful weather from 7am to 2pm--of course.  Bummed that I made the call to move inside but glad that we ended up having a great worship gathering anyway. 
• Sunday afternoon New Life Lakeview softball team coughed up a game to DOC.  Ahead 10-4 going into the bottom of the last inning and we gave away 7 runs and at least that many outs.  I was a main culprit--dropped a routine fly ball.  I hate losing.  Argh.  Honestly, though, I'd rather me be the one responsible for a loss than someone else be responsible for a loss.  At least I think that's what I'm supposed to want;-).
• Several people responded to an invitation to surrender to Jesus this Sunday.  I've learned that invitations are best when Spirit-led (shocking).  That's why I don't give them every Sunday.  There are some worship gatherings where I am convinced that God is saying, "invite" and others where there is no unction to invite.  I prefer to go with the unction than to simply invite every time.
• Monday our pastoral team had a great team-building day on the lakefront.  I got sunburned (what's new), we ate great cookout food thanks to John Palmieri and we had great connect time playing the manly sports of whiffle ball and ultimate Frisbee.  Being a part of a team that works, plays and prays together is a privilege I will never take for granted.
• Last night we had a combined membership class for Lakeview and Lincoln Park. I love hearing people's stories--my favorite part of membership class.  Jesus knits together a strange and wonderful group of people when He builds His church.
• Looking forward to some R&R the next few days.  Our family really needs some "getaway together" time.  I've been out too many nights and I can sense the wear and tear of it all.