Giving Thanks – A Week of Thanksgiving (Tuesday).

As I normally do on Tuesday mornings, I got to The Oasis early to get some work done before heading to the church office. I walked in and was absolutely shocked at what I saw—the Thursday morning Bible study was there on Tuesday morning! Every Thursday morning there are a group of guys who meet at The Oasis for Bible study. )They do not attend Evergreen Presbyterian Church.) I have gotten to know their pastor over the past two years (he hangs out The Oasis). His Thursday morning Bible study is filled with some great guys! They knew that Thursday was Thanksgiving so they moved their Bible study to Tuesday (just for this week) so that they wouldn’t miss their Bible study. Praise God!

Another Bible study that I am thankful for is led by a regular reader of this blog. Glenn is a very good friend and sings with our Saturday night worship team (his wife is the head of our deacon ministry that I have written about). For many years Glenn led a high school and college guys Bible study on Wednesday nights (not starting until around 8:30 or 9:00). He is now leading a smaller group of guys in a more intense Bible study. The guys who attend are just out of college. They are working their way through the entire Bible. This week they are to read 20 chapters in Isaiah—and, seek to understand it! Way to go guys! Praise God!

I am thankful for Glenn (the same guy listed above) for “trying” to keep me as technologically up to date as possible. Saturday night after church he was telling us about an exciting project he has been following for the past few years—One Laptop Per Child. The project was started by some folks at MIT. The project is trying to develop a $100 laptop computer that is suitable for use in very remote areas. They want to make the laptops available for kids all across the world. They are running a promotion right now—get two laptops for $400 (one for you and one for a child in the developing world or just give both computers to children in the developing world). Brenda and I are planning to participate. For more information click here… and here... and here... and here.

I am thankful for the men and women of this country who are willing to serve in the armed forces. The holidays are particularly difficult when loved ones are deployed at sites around the world. Our church is fairly near to two bases: one Army and one Air Force. We continually have people from the extended church family that are deployed. One C17 pilot just returned from being deployed (he and his wife attend our Saturday night worship service). The son of another couple from our church just flew in on Sunday evening from Kuwait for two weeks of leave. We should all be very thankful for the men and women of this country who are willing to sacrifice so much so that there can be freedom in this world.

I am thankful for my family. Brenda has put up with me for almost 25 years. Our 25^th anniversary is next month. Brenda found some great prices on flights to New York so we are headed to there for our anniversary. She truly is the “brains” of the outfit. She truly is my better half. Our daughter Alyssa is home from the mission field—checking out her options. Her love for Christ is profound. It is quite likely that she will be on the mission field in Africa before the end of next year. She is looking at an extended time of service with a mission agency that is working in the Muslim parts of North Africa. It is joy to have her home while she sees where the Lord is leading her. Our son Forrest is still in college. His plan is to get a PhD in an insane field (like biochemistry) so that he can be a researcher trying to find curses for diseases. He has a love for life and is a joy to be around. Additionally, he just got hired by Best Buy!! I am truly thankful for my family.

What are you thankful for?