Serve by Design

“I wish everyone could attend a church like ours!” That's what I said  to Monique on our way to the car after this year’s Christmas Eve services.  Once again, we had been blessed in worship! This time it was the early contemporary service that was one of three special services Springfield First offered at 2, 4, and 7 on the afternoon and evening before Christmas.  Laniakea Illustration: Mark Garlick Milky Way (red dot) sciencephoto.com This contemporary service was full of heartfelt praise, lively singing of seasonal favorites, and a message of hope that had us reflecting on how a loving God sent His Son into this world! The energy in the sanctuary was contagious! Worshippers were drawn into a closer fellowship with the Father and His people. It was spiritually uplifting to conclude worship by breaking the darkness as hundreds of us held our lighted candles and softly sang, “Silent Night!”   I was left nearly speechless and kept thinking to myself as we walked out ...

It was almost bedtime when our son, Marc, casually appeared at our doorway that Wednesday evening, August 8, 2018 at nine o'clock. We were on summer vacation and visiting with his family in Georgetown, Texas. He said, "Dad, I want you and mom to come outside for a minute." I was more than a little curious. Soon it became apparent that Monique and I were joining others on planet earth who were stargazing and viewing the heavens at a  truly timely occasion when a unique phenomenon was occurring in the Milky Way. On this special night, we were able to clearly view four of the six planets that were visible to the naked eye for those observing in the southern states. It was, in many ways, a miracle of the perfect convergence of planetary alignment and clear night skies that synced with our earnest attention and the use of an app on Marc's smart phone that served as our "telescope." Venus was so clear it was almost blinding in its radiance. Mars was sharp...