Tonight our Sunday school class is one of the serving groups for the Oasis meal. Krl had the sign up sheet and put me down. I had asked her to sign me up for the Tuesday night prep time. Instead she signed me up for food preparation Wednesday afternoon at four. I learned this last evening at prep time. I arrived very early for prep time, in fact I was about to give up when others finally began to show up. We actually had a good group. There were ten of us, we loaded large serving trays with spaghetti sauce, spread meatballs on cookie sheets to defrost, prepared salad and amenities, and we sliced and repackaged garlic bread. We all laughed as Foy read the instructions for the pasta. One gallon of water per pound of pasta. We are cooking fifty pounds of pasta. Luckily we are using the large water bath boiler. This is really a fun activity, especially the serving.

I spoke of one of my favorite night time landmarks yesterday. I will mention one of my favorite day time landmarks today. I find an increasing attraction to old church buildings. Large, majestic, stately structures that are beautiful symbols of our ancestors faith. Many times when I travel to downtown Abilene, I will detour from Sayles on to South Sixth street and make a quick circle around The Church of the Heavenly Rest. The street actually yields to this structure. This is a gorgeous old building. I find myself drawn inside. I hope to drive to the Ericksdahl community sometime, as friends have told me of another old church in a rural setting.

Currently First Baptist in Abilene is doing a major facelift on their sanctuary. This project actually started about the end of the summer and hopes are to be back in it by Christmas 2005. Sources tell me this project is at a cost in excess of four million dollars. I wonder what the structure cost originally. I wonder if the current work will have the pride and quality of the original craftsmen. Inquiring minds want to know.

FATHER, I am thankful for all of those who have gone on before. I am thankful for the things they have passed from generation to generation, but I am mindful that these things are all temporary in YOUR master plan. Help us to appreciate the things of our heritage but help us to set our sights and goals on higher things. I continue to pray for Hag's blood disorder, for B.'s respiratory problems, for Lillie's cancer treatment, for Rene' and her cancer treatment, for Carol and her cancer treatment, for Michelle's seizures, for Aimee's aplastic anemia, for Jennifer as she begins her treatments for cancer, for Rusty and Kim's baby and the pre natal concerns the doctors had, and for the accident victims. FATHER I ask YOUR intervention for all of these. I ask for their healing and comfort. I pray for those hurting from loss. I ask for direction for TJ and ET. I pray for spiritual healing for R2D2 and those of us who stumble and fall. I pray for our spiritual family, for our leaders. LORD lift us up!