Volume 3 Issue 22

• Last week’s newsletter fell victim to a drive through Death Valley National Park. A few weeks back we received an offer from Toyota to buy back our 2003 Prius, and I think the reason we got 90% of what we paid for it almost two years ago was because it didn’t have quite 15,000 miles on it yet. Naturally it seems necessary to put more miles on the 2005 we drove away with (and you probably already figured out that Mary will be monitoring my mail much more closely in the future). The entire area has received record rainfall this year, and the desert was in bloom in a magnificent way that I won’t be surprised if we never see again in our lifetime. We’ve averaged almost 50 miles per gallon on the first two tanks of gas, and we have zero emissions whenever we’re stopped for traffic—which in this town is most of the time. The newsletter is coming out today partly because the other thing Mary said is not going to happen is a drive somewhere every week.
  
• Progress always comes at a price. Rachel (GiC webmaster) and Steve (Rachel’s fiancé) installed a more user-friendly ‘comments’ link at the end of each sermon and newsletter. As a consequence, however, any comments entered prior to the installation were lost. Fortunately, due to my hording nature (see, Mary, even bad character traits sometimes have a benefit) I saved a number of the entries made the old way and believe that I will be able to reenter them to their original locations. You need to understand, however, that this is the thinking of someone who is, at best, semi-literate in the ways of cyber-technology. Incidentally, you have already been introduced to two of the contributors: Rachel (our oldest daughter) and Steve (the younger). Steve (the elder) is the younger’s father whose acquaintance via the impending nuptials is emerging into a valued friendship even though we have yet to meet in person. Finally, many of you already recognize Earl as my father, and I am so deeply grateful for the wisdom and insight of over a half-century in ministry that he is will to share with this cyber-ministry through his comments.
  
• As always, you are invited to join in the virtual conversation that is taking place at this website. Whether it is ‘signing’ the guestbook or logging a comment, your participation makes this site all the richer for future visitors. My sincere thanks for every time that our ‘regulars’ extend the invitation to someone they know to visit GiC. Your suggestions regarding format and content may be directed to Rachel or myself and will serve to make this the most meaningful ministry possible. As Easter approaches GiC will observe its third anniversary and is looking forward to enhancing the theological quest for many years to come.
  
• Until next time…….Shalom!