FROM THE EDITOR

Summer Reading And Reflection

The smell of my neighbor’s barbecue fills the air. I’m drinking water on ice with cucumber, ginger and lime. My dog is barking inside my house. He wants to be with me outside. The straw hat on my head shields my eyes from the summer sun and I consider the July issue of Connections. Consider these things with me as you open its pages on your back deck, front porch, in your den or on a vacation home sunroom.

As I think back to our display at Cream of Wheaton, I’m thankful for the opportunity to touch base with people not in our church, as well as supportive church people who came by. Thinking of people who live nearby and don’t know Christ makes me grateful for the many layers of richness and life beyond myself that being a part of College Church gives.

Thomas Gaenzle and I have become friends in the past two years. He recently mentioned to me that a midweek boys club at a church was an element in his coming to faith, so I asked if he might share his story. His thinking is always fresh and challenging expressions of God at work. Each of us has a story. Consider yours afresh this summer.

The potter’s wheel can be hypnotic for me to watch, and so it was fun to read Keith Bodger’s story of faith and the potter and clay. The choices he made to try to control the process of creation stand as a lesson and testimony to me.

Richard Moomjian’s perspective on laughter is refreshing. Godly laughter may sometimes seem like an oxymoron, but he actually made our bodies to laugh, so consider afresh when we laugh and what we laugh about.

In her story, Lois Krogh not only gives us the basics of quilting but also lessons for life.

Look at the faces and learn a little about our new members. Pray for them and consider that we will be worshiping alongside these people. In the future we may well be serving alongside them, entering into worship with them, studying God’s Word and who knows what else. Praise God for these people.

One other thing I love about summer is the excuse the summer gives us to read books. I enjoy the book group and the chance to read and talk together. I also love asking people what they’re reading and how they like it. Check out the books that made various summer reading lists.

Happy summer reading to all. Happy summer. I’ve got to go back inside and pay attention to my dog before he loses his barking voice.