It’s hard to describe what a fine day we enjoyed at Eastern Shore yesterday. We had over 100 present in Sunday School with 150 for worship. Several of our own members were out but your guests certainly made up for it.

In addition we more than doubled our budgeted giving yesterday in a sure sign of support for our new plans. Eastern Shore is rather unique in that our giving stays up even when economic times turn downward. I know the elders appreciate your dependability  and unselfish giving.

Next on the calendar is Monday Night For the Master! We’ll meet on the 8th at 5:45 PM. Until then, we’ll be meeting for our regular worship and Bible Study classes.

Our Ice Cream Social and Newcomer fellowship was a great success last night. Several new families have begun to work at Eastern Shore during the past year and we believe more are soon to identify. Thanks to all who made such a great selection of ice cream and desserts. It’s back to Weightwatchers this morning!

Eastern Shore continues to grow because of the people that are dedicated to working here. Our elders are sound men who do not bend to convenience in order to build our ranks. As someone recently said of Eastern Shore, “the gospel is preached, the elders truely care, the church is sound and the people are great!”

You know that the elders announced that preliminary plans were underway to add to our building. We saw last night that the fellowship hall is just too small. I’m Sunday, “Every Member Present Day” will be packed and overflowing.

Thanks Eastern Shore for being such a great body of believers!

All eyes are on the extreme southern Gulf of Mexico and the Carribean as Tropical Storm Fay makes her way ever closer to the U.S. Mainland. For those of us in the coastal regions such a watch is important so that we can be prepared for landfall.

Storms often bring out the best and the worst in all of us. Sometimes, we band together to help one another board up windows and repair damage after a storm. Who can forget the outpouring of help to Katrina victims within hours of that storm? But bad weather also brings the con men and shysters,  the frauds and price-gougers who seek to take advantage of discomforting hours and days.

Storms are also very much a part of the Bible. Remember that it was God who brought the first severe weather in the form of a flood (Genesis 6 – 9) as punishment for man’s evil ways and thoughts. It was also God who promised never again to destroy the world by water and placed the rainbow in the clouds as a reminder of that promise (Genesis 9:12-17).

It was God who sent a storm to convince Jonah of his error when he refused to obey God’s command to preach in Nineveh (Jonah 1:4) and it was also God who stilled the storm once Jonah had been cast overboard and into the sea (Jonah 1:15).

In the life of our Lord, Jesus we find storms being important. I think mainly of his words from the bow of a boat “Peace. Be still” (Mark 4:35-41).

We may or may not face an angry hurricane this week – I do not know. But surely you will face storms in life. Know that the same God who brought Noah to safety and whose Son stilled the Gallilean waters will also still the storms of your life. Trust him. He will not fail you!

There is an insightful article in the Mobile Register this morning concerning school truancy. A Mobile Family Court Judge rounded up dozens of parents of children who were severely truant in the public schools. Many pleaded guilty, some will fight the charges and some didn’t even bother to show up.

To me, the most interesting part of the article are two key observations.

1. A significant number of parents who pleded guilty to contributing to the delinquency of a minor (the truency charge) also tested positive for illegal drugs!
2. A significant number of parents who pleded guilty were single moms or moms trying to raise their children with no male influence, assistance or leadership! The Fathers were AWOL!
   

Now, what are we to make of this? Simply this: Parents are leading their children somewhere. It may be a good place or it may be bad but parents are teaching their children everyday. We ought not be surprised to see children with school problems coming from homes with parents who are absent either physically or because they are too drugged out to care.

Read the article and let us know what you think.