Good Lord's Day, I received an e-mail on Tuesday from a reader--"Will you deal with "stewardship" on this Sunday after Easter like you always did when you were my pastor?". They then proceed to confess that the contents mean more to them now as a mother of a child old enough to be in college, than they did as a teenager. Somebody was listening! Time and life's experiences do, indeed, change our viewpoints. In short, the answer is, "YES". I will press the subject beyond 10%. That is where it should be. But, first-- GREAT IS THY FAITHFULESS, O GOD MY FATHER THERE IS NO SHADOW OF TURNING IN THEE. ALL I HAVE NEEDED THY HAND HATH PROVIDED. GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS, LORD UNTO ME. Chorus: GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS, GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS. MORNING BY MORNING, NEW MERCIES I SEE ALL I HAVE NEEDED THY HAND HATH PROVIDED. GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS, LORD UNTO ME. PARDON FOR SIN AND A PEACE THAT ENDURETH, THINE OWN DEAR PRESENCE TO CHEER AND TO GUIDE. STRENGTH FOR TODAY AND BRIGHT HOPE FOR TOMORROW, BLESSINGS ALL MINE, AND TEN THOUSAND BESIDE. SUMMER AND WINTER, SPRINGTIME AND HARVEST, SUN, MOON AND STARS IN THEIR COURSES ABOVE. JOIN WITH ALL NATURE IN MANIFOLD WITNESS TO THY GREAT FAITHFULNESS, MERCY AND LOVE. Psalm 34:1 reminds me that it is an act of my will to give praise to the Lord. "I WILL bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth." (KJV) SPRING HAS SPRUNG-In Austin. Phil has mowed the green grass and Jeanene is bringing in fresh flowers for the table. The dogs are sleeping in cooler places. I paid utility bills that reflected the brief reduction that comes between winter heat and summer AC. A few weeks ago, I spoke to you about a "March Madness" that allows the church to "Slump into Spring", Let's talk about that, today. Technically, the church year begins on Pentecost Sunday with a miraculous birth. The seven weeks ahead are to be filled with activity to make that possible. These are days of preparation and planting that will dramatically affect the harvest ahead. Many local churches build a special week during this time into the church calendar and budget. This week is to send the pastor and his wife away for R&R (reflect and refuel). They catch a new vision of the preaching and service needs of their place of service. I have often said that a church "needs a new pastor each year. Not seek a new man, but do things to renew the one that they have". The possibilities are many- Retreats and campgrounds are ready for the season ahead. What about a nice hotel, motel or bed and breakfast where somebody else does cleaning, laundry and cooking. Be a part of the miracle of growth. NO-Do not count this time as vacation time, it is "investment in the kingdom" time. Each committee in the local church should use these days wisely. Special times to focus our view upward and to the specifics of our task. Jesus had to remind the eleven to mind their own business and to do it well. See John 21:20-23. Special times of prayer as a committee are in order to "keep your powder dry" in this warfare . THANK YOU-For the notes of birth etc. You must realize that I can't use them all here. I did get a note that a reader is expecting in November. Why is that news? Medically, all births border on miraculous. To expect a baby for this couple was in the realm of "not a chance". Upon the physician's advice, they had qualified to become adoptive parents. Then, miraculously, November--patience, grandparents and great grandparents. WHILE WE ARE VISITING-Remember about a year ago when we prayed for the man with a huge brain tumor? I got a one year report. The surgeon is pleased with the MRI. Glory!! ALL WEEK LONG-May best describe how you received THOUGHTs last week. I set a record for mail returned. The only explanation seems to be that holiday traffic overloaded the circuits. I recognized the clearing centers for mail into eastern Europe and Alaska and Asia. All mailings through msn.com were also returned. It took me until Friday, but I hope I straightened it all. PLEASE PRAY-For a special friend and longtime associate of mine who now lives in Nebraska. Steve has recurring and very painful bouts with kidney stones. Thank you. INTOLERANT-You are right. Some thought that I was rather harsh in my paragraph on Muslims last week. Read Romans 11:28 and Philippians 3:18 and see if Paul was harsh in using the term "enemies" to describe religious zealots who refused grace by the cross. MIDDLE EAST-I watched Larry King interview Dan Rather in Israel this week. Perplexity was talking with confusion as these two titans at explaining world conditions met. A SERVICE LESSON-I will always cherish was taught me fifteen years ago. Jeanene and I were in Florence, Alabama attending a new type meeting for me. Faith Tabernacle still hosts this meeting each June where all pastors and wives are their guests. This large church (1,200) serves as your host in a fine motel and provides many meals. As guests, you are not expected to have a part in any offerings, except "love offerings" for the speakers. There are no "business" sessions or promotions. The $40,000 + budget is borne by the local church. There is a 10 AM and a 6PM service of worship and great preaching. Afternoons are open for you to do whatever you wish. There was a 4PM "Leadership Meeting" listed each day, but never discussed publicly. One afternoon about 5 we drove by the church. Several cars were parked near the building. Among them, I recognized the pastor's car. The others, I learned, were cars of staff members and church leaders. As we neared, there was the sound of hymns over the PA with voices in song all over the building. Inside, those sounds blended with running water and the whirr of vacuums. I saw the pastor at once. He and his wife were cleaning the glass and the doors of the foyer. Henry???? I suppose the question marks on my face were just that obvious. The odor of bleach and furniture polish filled the air. They were all cleaning the facility! "Brother Ron" Henry spoke to me in that marvelous north Alabama drawl. "We have learned that servants are often nearest to the miraculous". I left that day with 1. An assignment to go home and read John 2:9-especially the parenthesis,and 2. An invitation to the weekly service of "servant's training" at 11 AM on Sunday. His, Ron Krantz BY THE WAY-If I sound tired-I am. Getting up at 2 AM to set the clocks gets to me. This semi-annual madness is based on Ben Franklin's calculation of how many candles could be saved in Paris with one more hour of daylight. Do the rules and regulations readjust rebellious red roosters in Russia? Now that is mindless,senseless and pointless alliteration. Oh well, I am hopeless, nonetheless.