Dear Family,

• Thus says the Lord: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls” (Jeremiah 6:16).

• We have two more weeks in our Old Paths sermon series. Every time we read this passage, my soul is drawn to the phrase, “find rest for your souls.” I crave this gospel rest in my fears, frustrations, and my over desire to control life. Summer is upon us and many of us down shift in lower gear in some areas of our lives. What will you do this summer to enter into gospel rest? What boundaries will you set? What books will you read? The passage says we are to seek the old paths. How will you seek it? “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths…and find rest for your souls.”

• It is almost like a broken record. Every staff meeting on every other Wednesday for the last 15 years…Ray starts the meeting with the same question. “How do you see God at work in your life or in the life of the church?” What is it with this guy? Can he not find a new question? Seriously, I hope he never stops. I hope he keeps pressing us with the same question. How do YOU see God at work in your life? It is great question to ask ourselves as we all transition into summer. How has God worked in your life? What is he showing you about yourself? We will find rest for our souls by remembering God’s work for us and among us.

• Last night we interviewed 24 folks who completed the Pastor’s class. It was wonderful to hear their stories of God’s redeeming love. We look forward to welcoming them into our family at the end of May.

• Men’s Breakfast series is June 2, 9, 16, 23. Join us, men. Feed your belly and your soul.

• Summer Conference is always a time of family, refreshment and feasting on God’s word together. Here are the details.

• Here are the books for “Family” Ray recommend last weekend. Give Them Grace: Dazzling Your Kids with the Love of Jesus by Elyse M. Fitzpatrick, Jessica Thompson; Big Truths for Little Kids: Teaching Your Children to Live for God by Susan Hunt, Richie Hunt and Nancy Munger; Long Story Short: Ten-Minute Devotions to Draw Your Family to God by Marty Machowski; Devotions for a Sacred Marriage: A Year of Weekly Devotions for Couples by Gary Thomas.

• Jean Larroux was last year’s Summer Conference speaker. I just read a one-page article he recently wrote. Here is how it starts: It was Friday night. The ACT standardized test was the next morning. The look of angst on my daughter’s face was palpable. When I asked her if anything was wrong she gave the definitive answer indicating total meltdown—she said she was “fine.” I knew we were in trouble. I looked at her across the kitchen and said, “Ann, when you don’t know an answer on the test you need to look straight at that question and tell it— ‘you are not a crack baby!’” She looked at me the same way you are looking at this page right now. I said again, “Tell question #32 in the math section— ‘you are not a crack baby!’” Puzzled, she said, “Huh?” Please read on, it is so good!

• Earlier in the morning on Mother’s Day, Peggy Cardinali passed way. Services will be held this Friday at 11am at Seven Rivers. When the Jones family first moved to Citrus County many years ago, we were welcomed and shown hospitality by our new neighbors, the Cardinali’s. When Peggy was first diagnosed with cancer, she told me she wanted so much to love Jesus well and to experience his rest even in suffering. I remember leaving the hospital that day feeling encouraged, like I had experienced rest through her longings. Peggy had done it again. She made me feel welcomed and pointed me to the loving, restful hospitality of Jesus.

• Each weekend we rest from our labors but we also are to enter into His rest through the welcome and hospitality of Jesus himself. See you this weekend along the Old Path of “Hospitality” as Ray brings us the message.

Adam