A WEDDING IN MISSISSIPPI - Linda and I are going to Oxford, MS on August 8th for a few days.  I will be officiating at our nephew David's wedding to his fiance Erica.  David, Erica and I have been emailing back and forth concerning details of the ceremony.  I am, of course, complete "cool, calm, and collected" as the old deodorant commercial used to say.  But with the rigors of graduation from Ole Miss, and an impending wedding nerves are beginning to become a little raw.  That's understandable. The wedding day is so important and has so many memories that will be recalled years and years later.  Everyone, especially the bride wants it to go off without a hitch.

I ministered recently about "The Wedding Planner" and shared about the 5 wise and 5 foolish virgins of Matthew 25.  It is so exciting to know that Jesus the Bridegroom is returning for His Bride (us) and that it will be an awesome experience.  But you know, I'm not "nervous" about it.  I know that I love the Lord and He loves me and I know that my lamp is trimmed and have oil at the ready.  When Jesus returns for the Church it will be the greatest event to have happened in the history of mankind since His birth in Bethlehem and His death on the Cross. (Can't forget the Resurrection of course, but you know what I mean.).  Jesus will be the focal point of our worship for eternity and nothing else will matter but being in the fullness of His presence.  Wow!

FOUND SOME "OLD FRIENDS" - While we pastored River of Life A/G in Minot ND lots of folks went through there because of the fact that we had an Air Force Base in town and many of our people were with the military so we had a pretty regular turnover.  Anyway, we still hear from many of the ones that we knew there.  Linda recently made contact with a couple who are now Children's Pastor's in OK.  What a blessing to find them, serving the Lord and His people in such a way.  It does bless pastors to know that what they spoke in to someone's life or what they did for them has produced ministry fruit.

BENNY AND THE JETS -  Leah and the boys are still with us and we are really enjoying it.  Sure schedules are hectic and toys get stepped on but who cares?  It's worth it to have them here.  Benjamin is the 16 month old and is definitely in charge of all the rest of us.  He especially likes Linda because Grandma spoils him even worse than I do.  At least I will say no sometimes, but she is a pushover and he knows it.  Jordan and Sam are great.  The only thing with them is that they operate at one speed - hyperfast!  Running through the house and careening into furniture and bouncing off into each other is something we (Leah and I) are working on.

ALYSON AND LAURYN:  We really miss the girls.  We had them here for just one week and we miss them so much.  Its just not right to have grandchildren so far away.  We talk to them on the phone but its never the same.  Michael and Tara are doing well.  He's in China for about a week on business and Tara is getting her classroom ready.  She will be teaching kindergarten in a public school this year.

Richest blessings, gotta run....

Jerry