In the Park

Janelle, Olivia, and I walked to McDonald's for lunch and then went to the grocery store and the park. The weather is just beautiful and we all enjoyed the playtime.

"Life music"

We are praising the Lord for the church in Dowagiac, Michigan picking us up for support this week. Every church makes a difference. Thanks for your prayers!

I have been reading, Mood Tides: Divine Purpose in the Rhythms of Life by Ronald Horton. He walks the reader through some possible purposes for God allowing both the ups and downs of life.

He says, "I have associated what I have called the rhythms of life with the flow of music. Music of the highest order has like life its regularities - its patterns and themes. It also has surprises, its departures from pattern, for it plays on expectations, sometimes appearing to frustrate them before resolving them. Even within the pattern itself can be contrasting elements that seem to jar. Some of the most gorgeous music ever composed, Bach's for example, incorporates dissonance as well as passages in minor mode.

It is no less true in the divine harmonics of a dedicated life that pain may intrude unexpectedly or return at feared intervals in a disturbing way. Dark overtones may dominate at times and seem to shadow the whole until all is resolved and the Composer's work is done. The somber strands are part of the divine masterwork. It would be lesser without them. The descent from elation to depression is never a welcome one, to be sure, but both meet artfully in the richest music of life."

Quick trip to Denver

Janelle and Olivia flew to Denver with us to see my dad last week. Dan came from Virginia and met us in Denver. We had a blessing to talk with family and pray with Dad.

I had some time to plant flowers a couple of days ago and enjoy having the color outside. We are getting rain today and tonight.

Pray for my dad. Please pray for the church in Michigan and the church in Maryland to pick us up for support soon. Thanks!

The Lord is our "stronghold in times of trouble." Psalm 9:9