Friday Flashbacks

I'm here...back from the Worship God 2008 conference in Gaithersburg, MD. Last time we went, in 2006, we ran into a friend and his wife from all the way back to our college days. This time, I recognized a girl from high school who graduated 4 years ahead of me. She had played "the Artful Dodger" in the muscial "Oliver" and I had been one of the orphans. There she was...looking exactly the same as ever. I found her alone after a seminar and just introduced myself...telling her how glad I was to see she was a fellow Christian. Neat how God lets us see His children are all around us.

Well, I don't know what to say to sum up the conference.... but it was timely. God used it in ways I didn't really expect. For instance, the lady whose home we stayed in was an amazing woman of God. And in the days we stayed with her, I learned alot about hospitality. She wasn't trying to impress us with her skills, she was hoping to be a blessing to us spiritually. And she was. I got to see firsthand how much more it means when a hostess puts people above things.

I also was challenged to be more strategic in releasing my husband to write music for the church. Nobody preached on this, nor did I hear it in a seminar, but I realized how much releasing the wives of these men must do in order for them to write worship music that builds up and blesses the church. I know firsthand how difficult it is to write Biblically informed, singable, and plain old good music for the church today. And I can't imagine how many hours, days, weeks, and months went into all the songs that made it onto the latest "Psalms" CD put out by Sovereign Grace Music. Our own Doug Plank has two great songs on this new release, and I don't doubt for a second that his wife Brenda has surrendered this man time and again for him to contribute his skill so significantly. You are both an example to us!

Well, I need to attend to other things on this lovely afternoon. Blessings!