One of the new fads (and expenses) for weddings is to send out “Save the Date” notifications.  This is not an official invitation; those will come a little later and cost a lot more.  These are normally just small postcard sized notifications, sometimes bearing a photographic image of the engaged couple.  Some are even placed on refrigerator magnets.  Not a bad idea since that is where much of our “don’t forget” stuff winds up.  Anyway, there is a point to this rambling.  I want you to consider this nook article as your “Save the Date” notification as well as your invitation all rolled into one.  Here’s the info you need: VBS Praisefest “The Beat Goes On” June 7-11, 2010  9am – noon We are excited and maybe even a little apprehensive about this summer’s school because we are doing this one totally “from scratch”.  For years now we have had what I call “semi-homemade” VBS.  By that I mean we would pick out some published material and then work on it to “spice it up”.  However, this year nothing out there really struck us as something we wanted to do.  This was especially true for Kathy who has been directing this event for years.  We did find some material focused on worship.  Although it was not written in such a way that would really help us, it did get us to thinking.  So here we are on the brink of doing our very own and extremely original VBS Praisefest 2010.  Our motto will be “Praise awaits you in Zion, O Lord.”  Psalm 65:1.  Praise awaits you at Desoto Hills. We hope to instill a desire to worship the Lord in spirit and in truth among our children.  It promises to be a fun-filled week.  The magnitude of the task before us and the impact it could have on those attending is staggering.  Please clear your calendars to help us if at all possible.  We need everyone to start praying now for VBS! A sign up sheet is already on the board in the grand hall by the north entrance. We are anticipating a great week and a full house. Thanks for your help,

P.S.  Kathy and are with her family this weekend.  It is Homecoming at their church, Remus Baptist, and the pastor asked me to come and preach.  It is the first Homecoming without her dad.  It will be good to be with that church that has meant so much to us throughout the years.  See ya back here on Wednesday.

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Although I confess that I do enjoy cold weather, this year the icy fingers of winter held on so long and tightly that even I was ready to say goodbye to those cold gray skies.  Is it just me, or does it seem like everything is a little greener this spring? Aren’t the birds a little chirpier and doesn’t that sky look particularly blue?  The fact is whether the winter is mild or harsh, spring is always a welcome sight.  As usual, we have been in our yard watching the season blossom and adding some new plants to the orchestration.  It is indeed a symphony.  We’ve been concerned that due to this winter’s frigid temperatures, some of our more sensitive plants might not have survived.  One plant in particular that we have been worried about is a papyrus that typically flourishes in our water garden.   Mr. McCarty gave it to us a long time ago.  Now that name might not mean much to you unless you’re a lover of pottery. If you are, you’ve probably heard of it or maybe even own some McCarty Pottery.  Years ago Kathy and I went to his studio in Marigold, MS.  We were looking around and to our bewilderment, he offered to give us a tour of his gardens.  The reason for this is another story – and a good one, I might add.  But the fact is, the man got up from his wheel and took us on a personal tour.  Now you must understand this is no small time operation.  These are big time potters who get big time prices for their work.  The place was packed that day, but we ended up spending a few minutes with the man himself.  He gave us a rather exotic piece of his papyrus and that’s why we were so concerned that it wasn’t coming back this year.  Everyday we would check it, but all we saw were the remnants of last year’s dead foliage.  We had about given up.  We left town for a few days and to our delight, we returned to find a new green shoot on what otherwise looked like a dead plant.  You may have recently experienced “a cold hard winter” that has nothing to do with the weather.  It may have blown across your life due to relationship difficulties, finances that have come up short, or maybe even a health issue that has changed everything.   Like our “McCarty papyrus”, you may think all hope is gone.  However, let that green shoot stand as a reminder not to give up.  The Lord is still on the throne and He excels in taking what seems hopeless and restoring hope. Going green,

In all the hustle and bustle of Easter you may not have noticed, but we debuted a new bulletin cover last Sunday.  I don’t think I have ever commented on one, much less taken the time to write about it.  However, this particular cover is especially intriguing.  I suppose it’s the color that grabs you first, but if you take a closer look you will discover that the image on the front is  “a level”.   To be more precise it is the picture of a “bubble level”. sometimes referred to as “a spirit level”.  These instruments are designed to judge whether or not a surface is level or plumbed.  They gauge accuracy, which is essential in building.  A wrong measurement at a strategic place can put the whole project out of line.  It stands as a reminder that if you are looking for balance in your life, you will really never be able to find it apart from the Lord and His Word.  At DeSoto Hills we strive to help you put the “level” up to your life on a daily basis.  Getting your relationship right with Lord will truly affect everything else you do.  One danger we all face in this area is our tendency in both  building and in life to just to “eye it”.  We may get the measurements close, but never quite plumb.  The Lord has certainly given us the tools we need for getting it right.  If we don’t, we are indeed without excuse.  Let’s keep: …Building on the right foundation (evangelism) …Building with the right materials (discipleship) …Building for the right reason (worship) I Corinthians 3:10 For such a time as this,

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