Dear Family,

Thank God for the ministry of the Navy Seals! Romans 13:4 says of the proper role of the armed forces in our world, “If you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.” Upon the word of Osama’s death, one friend wrote, “Only one man’s death fixed everything and we already celebrated that last week.”

• Not too masculine to say, but I loved the royal wedding. My favorite picture of the whole affair was of this little flower girl who didn’t seem to be having that much fun! Besides the pomp, I liked the preaching. I thought the good bishop of London faithfully acquitted himself.

• Congratulations to Paul Carland who has been hired as the Broward County, Florida school board attorney. This is a big challenge—Broward County is the sixth largest school district in our country. Much to our shock and dismay, Jean Carland, our children’s ministry director has consented to move with her husband and daughters to Ft. Lauderdale! Jean has been a stellar leader of our children’s ministry, the driving force behind the creation of Camp Seven Rivers, a visionary catalyst on our church staff and a dear friend to so many of us.

• Martin Ban, our Bible Conference speaker last summer and his wife have written down their collected wisdom on parenting. Some of the best stuff on parenting I’ve read!

• This week in worship, we’ll continue our series on parenting…and why not, it’s Mother’s Day. We’ll have tea and cookies in the Florida Room for moms (and anyone who has ever had a mother!). Moms, when your kids ask you what you want for Mother’s Day, respond with, “Why not come to church with me!” Hope to see you and them this weekend!
Love,

Ray