Happy Saturday.

After the events of the day, Gaylene has called it a day and has asked me to take over for the night.

Updates first. David Russell has come through both of his surgeries well, though he is in a bit of pain from the second at this time. Please include him (and Carme) in your prayers for healing if you haven’t already done so.

Danny has been cleared of any heart issues at the present time and has been diagnosed with a really bad food poisoning episode. PTL.

It has been almost a year since Casey died. Since that time, some major changes have taken place in our lives and in our home, and today it was time to once again celebrate Casey’s life with us and his life with his Father. Joining us were 40 family and friends. We sang, we prayed, we shared communion, we drank lots of hot chocolate and coffee, cake and ice cream, and we thanked God for giving us 24 years with Casey among us. Tears were shed, but it wasn’t a sad occasion. Some close friends and family members were not able to join us physically, but were with us spiritually. It was a lot of work preparing the house for 40 guests, not to mention the food, but all seemed to enjoy the time together.

Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. -Romans 10:13 (NIV)

Last week, I was witness to what the love of Christ could do in a really dark place. I spent 3 days in a prison working with a team who worked with 42 inmates who may or may not have had a relationship with God before we got there, but who knew much more about our Lord and God and his Son, Jesus when we left on Sunday. These brothers in white (inmates) knew, for the most part, the words of the Bible, but most of the men I spoke with did not know of the love spoken of in the scriptures. They did not understand what could bring so many free-world men for three days away from their families, away from their work to spend time with inmates they didn’t even know. We shared what we knew with them about God’s agape love.

The Holy Spirit was with us from the beginning of the weekend. Those men who shared their lives in talks with the brothers in white could only have shared what they did through the power of the Holy Spirit. I was overwhelmed many times as I joined with some 90 voices in the gym singing praises to our Lord. Many of us who went to the prison to bring blessings to the brothers in white ended up being blessed by the the brothers. Those also blessed were the many of volunteers who baked cookies for the weekend ( we went through about 1,800 dozen cookies!), donated money in the form of meal tickets and what we call “green agape” to help fund the weekend, and those who made placemats, posters and letters to the inmates. God truly made his presence known inside that prison.

We go back into the prison every month to encourage those new Christians in their own walk of faith. Our task is not to get anyone out, we are just trying to help them see that the Lord is there with them and to help them understand their relationship with our Living God.

Take joy in your journey. Love you all so very much, Bruce, Gaylene, Geni and Travis.

Gcapplenotes@aol.com

I am not moved by what I see. I am not moved by what I feel. I am moved only by what I believe and I believe God.