June 3 – “This is the day …”

We had a pretty good crowd for the Russ Murphy concert at church yesterday.  I counted 63, but there could have been a few more.  Russ did a great job with a mixture of comedy and folk songs and country and even a bit of rock and roll flair here and there.  He said it was good for him and his wife to be back in Galveston.  They have lots of good memories of the many times they brought college students down here from their church in Lubbock where he was the college pastor.  In fact several of his former “kids” showed up on Sunday to support him, and they all went over to Shrimp and Stuff after church.  Once they discovered its location, Joe’s Crab Shack lost out and the groups would go there instead for their last meal together in Galveston during the mission trips.  After the concert we encouraged Russ with some words and then gathered around him and prayed for his health and family and ministry.

It was also good to see a group of our own college students back for at least part of the summer.  And of the ones who were here, one just returned from a mission trip to Uganda.  Another leaves for Uganda next week for a mission trip.  And a third young lady, who went with us to camp last year, leaves sometime in July for a mission trip to Kenya.  All I can say is, watch out, Africa.  Seaside is coming. 

The other big event that happened yesterday?  Chris came to church.  Well, it was big for me, anyway.  It has been many, many weeks since she has been, and I for one have sure missed having her around.  She has been regularly listening to the computer telecast of Josh’s church in San Antonio, so she hasn’t been neglecting her spiritual life by any means, but there is just something about being there in person that can’t be experienced on a computer screen, even if it is your son speaking on occasion.  Some friends volunteered to stay with Mom so Chris could have the “morning off” so to speak.  It meant they had to miss the concert, so we really do appreciate their sacrifice. 

Sunday.  Pretty good day.

Psalms 118:24 says, “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

Father, thank you for another great day.  Not just because it was Sunday, but because it was … well … yours.  Amen.