The Goal of the Habits: Living as Sons and Daughters of God

So, we are in the start of summer and just thinking about worship this weekend makes my heart happy. It is not always like this. Even though I am the Senior Minister, I don’t look forward to worship all the time. I was interviewing a young eight year old theologian for church membership recently and when I asked him why Jesus had to come and die he said, without missing a beat, “We just keep on sinning.” So true. Often I bring a cold heart into worship pleading with God to re-narrate my heart and life so I not only know, but feel, the pleasure and delight of God for me. I always know this in my head, but it is my heart that needs adjusting.Anyway, what a weekend of worship this Sunday - a celebration of many things that are true, good, and beautiful. If you haven’t read our recent communications (which many don’t) we finished VBS this week. It was glorious, not just good - glorious. Aside from the cool design, great skits, off the chart fun, and amazing songs - the thing that makes VBS at St. Patrick so great was articulated to me by my daughter Bethan. We were in the back holding her two youngest children watching the skits and songs, and Bethan pointed out her two boys, who are five and seven, and said this, “Look at Eero and Elijah, see the boys that are playing with them, and delighting in them? I taught them at VBS a few years ago.” Multigenerational faithfulness, you get that glory only when you are committed to a "long obedience in the same place.” So this Sunday after worship we will see what happened this week at VBS at St. Patrick.Also, we will be baptizing three of our children. Who can’t celebrate when we see God’s special regard for our children (and grandchildren) coming to pass in vows and water? I get to baptize my granddaughter this Sunday which is especially special to me, but also a time for us all to ponder God’s great promises of grace to our children. We can’t ever hear that enough. We are also baptizing a couple of young guys and we will do it outside in a cattle trough! After you take communion you will process outside and there we will conclude our service of worship with two baptisms outside. This ought to be wild and joyous!If that is not enough, Brian and Erica Henson will be visiting and speaking breifly about what God is doing at our church plant, St. Patrick in Austin. If there is any time left from all this oath taking, covenant making, praise giving, and joyful and inexpressible worship, I will be winding up the Habits of Grace this week and next. Hope to see you Sunday!Blessings,JimOh, if you have a truck, please park in the grass on the east side of the parking lot. Let folks with cars have the parking lot!