Hello Everyone!

If you haven’t heard, we are back from Israel. And, have been a little over a week now.

In one word this was a “good” trip to Israel. I say it was “good” because I am comparing it to the Greece 2004 trip. I didn’t realize how “unique” that trip was until this one (and I don’t mean “unique” in a good sense, I’m just trying to keep a positive focus here). Still, whatever God desires in all things, we are thankful to Him for His goodness, and it is good to be home!

We have heard good reports that the services at Bell Gardens were especially blessed because of the leadership of Virgil Kleinsausser, Dave and Carolyn Stewart, and Byron Siemsen. While those who were present have expressed their gratefulness personally, we also want to publicly offer our appreciation and thankfulness for their ministry and service in our absence.

Nothing lasts forever. All that special leadership, blessed worship, and terrific preaching came to an end last Sunday. Now it is back to beans and cornbread (and these days, that sounds mighty good).

The better part of last week was consumed mostly with catching up. I had a goal to do it all in a week. But, I didn’t make it and will need at least part of the next to finish (I sure hope the IRS understands…).

I know you might be curious and you certainly deserve a full report about the Israel trip. Let us catch our breath! I hope to begin sharing a few thoughts here in the weeks to come. Down the road we hope to show photos (here in Bell Gardens, and maybe even via the internet). We’ll do our best to give you sufficient notice (in case you want to make plans to be out of town that day).

As you might have read in the bulletin, I nearly lost all of the content from the church’s website this week. In the midst of all the “mess,” I received an email from a man looking for his uncle with whom he had lost contact a few years ago. Dr. McKee was the pastor at Bell Gardens Christian Church more than 20 years ago. With one phone call and a Google search on the internet, Dr. McKee was found. At 86 he is still preaching, and at a church in (of all places) Manteca, CA (where my sister and family live).

Call it bizarre if you want, or add it to the long exclamations of “what a small world,” that diversion was enough to motivate me to keep searching for a solution to the mess I had made of the website. I am happy to report that other than a few minor annoyances, it is back on line (most of it anyway). But don’t expect me to add “internet skills” or “lost relatives found” to my resume!

The heart of man plans his way,
    but the LORD establishes his steps. (Proverbs 16:9)

Thank you for praying for us. Did I mention that it is good to be home?