We skied Lake Tahoe this week. It began when Bro. Danny was here in January. Following the evening service Debbie and I took him to dinner and we began taking about snow skiing. He invited me to join him in Lake Tahoe and asked if I would like to go. Debbie said, “Of course he wants to go!” She is such a good wife!

Josh and I joined Bro. Danny and a friend of his named John Jordan in Dallas as we flew to Reno, NV. From Reno we drove an hour south to Lake Tahoe. We had a wonderful time hanging out together and the skiing wasn’t bad either! I was anxious to spend some down time with Bro. Danny, just to get to know him better as we are looking forward to working together very soon. I was not disappointed. Bro. Danny is soft spoken and generous with a huge heart for God and people.

We skied Heavenly and Kirkwood over the weekend. Both mountain resorts are on the south side of Lake Tahoe. We saw a lot of new snow and incredible scenery. Heavenly is an interesting resort. The Nevada and California state line runs through the middle of the mountain. One moment you are skiing in Nevada and the next you are in California. The most amazing thing about Heavenly is the view of Lake Tahoe from the top of the California side of the mountain. It could be one of the most beautiful places I have ever been.

Standing at 10,000 feet with peaks and valleys covered with snow all around you and this huge deep blue lake below is an awesome worship experience in itself. It caused me to stop, be still a moment and know that He is God. It reminded me of Isaiah 40:12 that talks about how big and incomparable God is, that He measured the water of the earth in the hollow of His hand and weighted the mountains in scales. He created all that I observed as far as I could see. What an indescribable God He is!! Isaiah 40:18 asked the question, “To whom then will you liken God? Or what likeness will you compare with Him?

I also wondered if He had snow skiing in mind when He created the mountains. Did He do that just for me? Well…us, all those who enjoy the snow and speeding down the mountainside on skis. I think so.

Josh is sitting across the aisle from me as we are flying home. The sun is sitting on the western horizon. God is showing off again. What a creative artisan He is. The sun set from 37,000 feet is spectacular! A brilliant blue sky above a band of bright orange and yellow that sits just on top of the horizon. The colors are reflecting off of a few occasional clouds below. Everywhere I look I see Hs handiwork. What an awesome God He is!

Going home is always good, the best part of any trip. A trip like this, for me, is met with anticipation and excitement but never am I as excited as when I head home after being away from Deb and the family for a few days. We saw and enjoyed incredible scenery and enjoyed God’s handiwork but nothing compares to the beauty of the family God has blessed me with. They are the most absolute beautiful thing to me.

To say I/we were surprised is an understatement! Debbie, the kids and I had talked about it being 10 years since coming to Lavaca around the house but I hadn't given it one thought Sunday morning. It was business as usual. As I finished the offertory prayer, I noticed that Dawayne did not begin playing the offertory music like he normally does, but then I heard a CD begin to play and I thought they were playing the Promise Kids Preschool enrollment promotion video again. As I walked off stage the screen caught my eye and it took a moment to "dawn" on me what was going on.

It was very thoughtful and such an encouragement to the Hurt family! Thank you for the 10 year memory walk, for the cards and hugs, for the e-mails, for the reception Sunday night and for the trip to New York City. We have wished to go for years and now are looking at our calendar to make plans for the trip. We are humbled at all your expressions of love!

It is still hard to believe 10 years have come and gone so quickly. We have looked at pictures of the family when we moved to Lavaca. Our kids were just kids! The girls have lived here longer than they have lived anywhere. It is a joy to call First Baptist Lavaca home.

As I think back over the 10 years of ministry I smile at the memories of some wonderful experiences. It has been our blessing to be there when many of your children were born. It has been a joy to watch your children grow up. I have had the privilege of officiating many of their weddings! We have been honored to pray and stand with many of you through life's difficult times of sickness and death.

As we reminisce about the past it allows us to see what God has done and it encourages us about the future. I am so grateful to have been a part of so many wonderful things. I don't think we are finished or that God is done with us at First Baptist Lavaca. The future is bright and is filled with new opportunities to reach more people for Jesus and to meet needs in people's lives. It will be exciting to what unfolds in our church. I and the Hurts will once again be honored to be a part of what God does and where He leads us!

I hope you had a wonderful Valentine's Day expressing your love to your spouse or that special person in your life. It was a fun day but it made it a bit more difficult being on Wednesday when we were involved in the mid-week services and rehearsals of the church. But isn't the church the epitome of love. After all Christ died for the church (you and me, not the building) because of love. God's plan that sent Jesus to die for us was done because of love. The greatest commandments are for love; (1) to love the Lord with all your heart and (2) to love one another as we love ourselves.

Paul told the Corinthians in I Corinthians 13 you can do all sorts of wonderful things but without love you are nothing. He told them love is patient and kind. Love does not envy or boast nor is it proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. He finishes by saying 3 remain; faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

The world will know us by our love. Many grow up around us never experiencing the love of a parent, friend or spouse. They many times reject the love of Christ because they never experience it from the church. Many times the example and testimony of the church is one of selfishness and fighting with self-seeking agendas. We must love as God loves! John said in I John 4, Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. God is love. Love as God loves.

I still call them kids but they are anything but that. I am speaking of our college and career young adults. We have some of the best (I will call them kids for lack of a better word) kids anywhere around. Debbie and I have the privilege to meet with them each week for Sunday School and we are constantly amazed at what we see God doing in their lives. They are not perfect by any means but we see God maturing, stretching and growing them almost week by week right before our very eyes. It is very exciting to be a part of this process and experience with them.

I know they deal with a lot of stuff as they transition through what I call the "gray season", when they are neither youth anymore but not quite considered adults yet either. There are a lot of influences and voices that could very easily lead them to "do their own thing" rather than stay focused on the Lord in their lives. We have seen struggles but we have also seen God bring them through personal inner battles.

At some point in every persons life they have to come face to face with their own convictions and direction concerning their Christian walk. They have lived under mom and dad's convictions and direction for all their early formative years and it is during this "gray season" that they either walk away or commit to the things of God.

Last week was Super Bowl Sunday night. We invited the kids over following the evening service for a fellowship and to watch the game. They could have been anywhere with anybody at any number of places to watch the game together. Rather than hang out with other friends and watch the game from the beginning 35 or so of them chose to attend the evening service and watch the second half with us at our house. 35 college kids in worship on Super Bowl Sunday night. Awesome!

They are a great bunch with a bright future in front of them. It is going to be amazing to watch what God does with their lives as He continues to grow, stretch and mature them.