Theodidacti

You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. And my people shall never again be put to shame. You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God and there is none else. And my people shall never again be put to shame. —Joel 2:26-27 (ESV)

Susan is in the kitchen making pies and we are looking forward to the children being here later to celebrate this day with us. Let’s see; what will we be eating? Susan is fixing two pumpkin pies and a cherry pie and a cranberry crunch salad that she loves. Of course we’re having turkey and dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, corn, carrots, Crescent Rolls, and of course, my favorite: escalloped oysters.

This year we’re watching a trilogy of Christopher Guest films in between our feasting: “Best in Show,” “Waiting for Guffman,” and perhaps “This is Spinal Tap.”

Yesterday, 50 folks from the church and police department and their families came out in the cold hard-blowing rain to our third annual Thanksgiving Feast. Thanks for making the effort and making it a special luncheon. I loved being with you all.

This Sunday, we will eat again with our families and church family when we have our annual Family Day at Graham Friends with a Thanksgiving leftovers potluck afterwards. I’m fixing a turkey and vegetable pie and I hope you can be there to enjoy it and all of the other good food families will be bringing. I can’t think of a better way to get rid of all of those leftovers so quickly!

Yesterday, I asked everyone what they were thankful for and got many of the typical answers and a few surprising ones too. I’d like to share mine with you now. Here’s a few of the things I’ve been thankful for in the past year:

• 29 years with Susan
• two daughters who know the Lord
• our new dining room suite that has caused Susan and me to have consistent devotions together (ask us how)
• the freedom to worship God and to do so with so many new and old Friends
• the Graham Police Department and their commitment to our city and each other
• the new families coming to Graham Friends
• that Graham Friends has stuck with me these seven years (yes, we’re in our seventh year here!)
• a trip to Massachusetts with Steve
• all of the children in church these days
• that Scott “loves [his] Christ and [his] church”
• some inexpensive New Testaments and that God still uses his word to heal lives
• a softball championship and bowling with family and friends
• the good health and spirit to enjoy these and many other blessings

I know you have a lot to be thankful for too and hope you’ll share those thoughts today with the Lord, your family, and me. In the meantime, I’ve got to go catch a turkey and get it in the roaster!