Welcome 2009!

We had a grand time with the saints at Shorewood saying goodbye to ’08 and welcoming in ’09, even though we began with a bit of confusion. We were going to begin at 7:30 by watching the movie/documentary, Expelled. But when folks began to arrive most thought we were going to eat first—so we quickly rearranged the schedule. Wonderful not to be tied to “schedules!”

After a delicious pot-luck dinner (everyone brings a covered dish or two—Nick had his famous Bulgarian cabbage, which is all I need!) most of the adults watched the move. There was also a fierce Table Tennis tournament going on, as well as a teen/adult floor hockey contest. There were a dozen or so 4 to 9 year olds (mostly girls, and wow could they squeal!!!) who played hid-and-seek after watching a kid’s movie. One 10-year-old boy who was visiting with one of our families declared, “This church rocks!” I guess he was enjoying the excitement. But I agree.

Anyway, after all the expended energy we had a “Wheel of Wisdom” game. It is formatted like Wheel of Fortune (with our very own Vana), but uses Bible themes for the puzzles. Frankly, I knew one team was in deep trouble when Cynthia and Sal wound up on the same side. They have a “take no prisoners” mindset when it comes to competition. Their team won—big.

The “Wheel” game began a bit before 11:00 p.m. We had posted a note on the web site that we would have a service at 11, so when I checked there were a number of hook ups on line. There is no telling what they thought was going on as they watched the spirited competition to solve the Scripture puzzles. They hung in there, though, and Bob told me that they stuck it out for the song service and message.

I will try to share a few thoughts about Expelled in the future, but I was struck by how it impacted Nick Terziski. Nick escaped from communist Bulgaria in 1970. He was captured and imprisoned twice before successfully making his way to the freedom he yearned for. The politically correct tactics of “scientific-academic-correctness” against even examining the “other side” of the evolution debate struck a nerve with him, mirroring exactly the tactics of the communism from which he had flee. Nick’s joy in finding freedom in America and then real freedom in Christ and then the grand freedom of the message of grace makes a powerful testimony.

We finished the year out by looking at II Cor. 1:12, where Paul opens his heart in a touching statement about what the believer’s life is about. Such genuine, authentic living is what the grace life produces.

It was a wonderful evening—a fitting conclusion to the old; a promising beginning to the new; a truly touching “family time” with the saints.

Maranatha!