We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing.
2 Thessalonians 1:2-4

Nine months ago, or so, my wife (Josie) and I were led to hosting and leading a small group in our church. It was during the 40 Days of Community campaign and we weren't alone, as there were literally hundreds of small groups during that time. Taking on this role was definitely a risky thing for us, but it has turned out to be one of the best ventures we've ever undertaken!

Even though "40 Days" has long been over, our group still remains intact! We did the Sermon series together, then took a break and still met every week in a social setting. We worked at the Oakbrook Nursing Home just prior to Christmas, helping with the decorations there, as well as some other maintenance items. And, over the past few months, the same group has been doing "Becoming One," seeking to achieve true marital intimacy. We've added two more couples to the mix during this class, so now we number 14! And between classes, we all meet at various restaurants, and other events, as a unit. 

Affectionately, we have named our group, "Group Ate." Originally, this was a pun, in that there were eight of us to start, but since every week entailed a veritable feast, "Group Ate" became the moniker. Hey, we even have our very own hand sign!

We love our group, all of whom are now our friends. Josie and I are truly thrilled to host and lead our class for these (now) 14 wonderful folks. God has blessed us in so many ways, and we thank Him for encouraging us to be group leaders. It's wonderful to see how He moves/is moving in all of our lives, and we praise His name...continually!

Josie and I are considering leading another class on marriage in the next go-round, and I look forward to meeting the folks He'll put in our path! Do I hear an "amen?"

Amen!

 .

Ecclesiastes 5:19-21

19 Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work—this is a gift of God. 20 He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart.

My next book will be entitled, "Living In A Perfect World." Yes, my "next" book. The first was never published or anything; I  have yet to even finish it! My main genre of writing is experiential. This one, "Living in a Perfect World," might be a keeper, though.

Stay tuned for more...

Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land.
Song of Solomon 2:11-13

While many people consider landscaping and gardening a chore, it is another of my passions. God ignites things in me and provides. Josie and I have landscaped ever since we married 13 years ago. What began as a creative display of flower boxes and vines on our apartment balcony, this hobby has blossomed into fully landscaping our Levittown, Pa. home, our Pimlico Plantation home, and now our Woodlands at Westcott home.

We've always done "theme" beds and use a variety of mostly perennials. Our plants usually do well, due to regular upkeep, lots of added topsoil, and our secret formula additive. That's right. We've figured out a mixture of minerals and fertilizers that almost guarantees the biggest and most beautiful plants and flowers. Want to know what it is? Curious, huh? Sorry, not here. But just ask me and see if I'll divulge our secret formula. Hey, everything has its price, right?  ;-)

With our current (and hopefully last!) house, this is the first time we've landscaped the entire foundation ourselves. Thanks to Centex Builders, there was almost all of it to do! We began last July and have nearly completed this project as of June 13th. There's only one small section left to do.

I love God's creations and gardening is a way of putting nature back in its place. But, I think the one thing I love most about landscaping is the fact that Josie and I do it together. We have very little in common when it comes to interests and passions - that's a whole other blog! - but this God-given passion has been a constant thread, weaving through the years of our marriage.

Thank you, God!

. 

And God said, "Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky."
Genesis 1:19-21

Birding is the longest-lived passion in my life. I started when I was somewhere around 10 years old, and have never once turned away from it.

What is "birding," you ask? Well, some mistakenly call it birdwatching. It's so much more than just watching birds! It's' knowing what they're called, where they're found, what they look like, what their songs and calls are, how they fly, what time of the year one can see them, what their mating rituals and other idiosyncracies are, and so on. If you ever want to know more about the subject, just ask me sometime when you have an hour or two available to listen. Just kidding. :O)

Seriously, the passion for birding has taken me all over this country and God has blessed me by putting me in a position to see some very rare and unusual species, like the Crane Hawk that I, and others, saw in its first-ever appearance in North America. This occurred at the Santa Ana Wildlife Refuge near Brownsville, Texas, circa 1989.

Or the Hawk-Owl in upstate Pennsylvania: only the second time ever spotted in that state! Or the Acorn and Lewis' Woodpeckers in central California, or the Red-Cockaded Woodpeckers and Painted Buntings right here in the Charleston area. Or the Snowy Owl at Bombay Hook, Delaware, or the Snow Buntings at Liberty State Park in New Jersey, or the Great Gray Owl in Yosemite National Park in California, or the Green-Tailed Towhee in Bodi, Nevada, or the Swallow-Tailed Kites around Fort Myers, Florida, and so on, and so on. The list goes on and on.

If there were a more-interested population of birding enthusiasts, I would consider leading a small group for it. I've prayed about it, so it's in God's hands...and His will be done. 

More to come...