Tuesday, June 24, 2003

June 24, 2003

Only 5 more days till Groundbreaking Sunday! VBS got off to a great start yesterday … It was good to see Rich and Carol Bonham, missionaries in Germany serving with Greater Europe Mission in church on Sunday. They are also helping out at VBS this week. The cover story for Time Magazine pictures a hand holding a glowi…

Monday, June 23, 2003

June 23, 2003

Only 6 more days till Groundbreaking Sunday! I am writing this update from a motel in Joliet, Illinois, about 35 miles south of Chicago. This is Day 1 of a four-day writing retreat. I’m here working on a book project for Moody Publishers. To be more precise, they have asked me to turn the “Prayers of Paul” series into a small boo…

The “First Fruits” Offering

June 22, 2003

THE “FIRST FRUITS” OFFERING by Ray Pritchard In the book of Leviticus, the children of Israel were instructed to bring a special offering to the Lord at the start of each harvest season. For instance, at the beginning of the wheat harvest, two loaves made from the first bit of ripened wheat were offered to the Lor…

Sermon Series: Ponder This - 2003

Saturday, June 21, 2003

June 21, 2003

Only 8 more days till Groundbreaking Sunday! Another beautiful day for bike riding. Went 36 miles in a new direction this AM. Chicago Ave west to 25th, past North Ave, over the bridge into Franklin Park, west on Grand into Elmhurst, north on York Road until I passed O’Hare Airport. Rode all the way to Elk Grove Village, ped…

Friday, June 20, 2003

June 20, 2003

I wish I could spend more time in Toronto. It’s a beautiful city—very clean, modern, lots of friendly people. Had a hard time getting there. My 5:30 PM flight out of O’Hare was canceled. Got a seat on the 7:57 PM flight, delayed, delayed again (bad weather), finally took off at 9:30 PM. Arrived Toronto just after midnight. The per…

Wednesday, June 18, 2003

June 18, 2003

Only 11 more days till Groundbreaking Sunday! Late this afternoon I fly to Toronto for a TV interview in connection with The God You Can Trust. I’ll be on “100 Huntley Street", the most widely-viewed Christian program in Canada. God willing, I’ll be back home tomorrow afternoon.…

Tuesday, June 17, 2003

June 17, 2003

Only 12 more days till Groundbreaking Sunday! Big News: After months of trying, suddenly the door is open once again to reprint An Anchor for the Soul for free distribution in prisons across America. Through a series of providential events, we were able to make a connection with Good News Jail and Prison Ministry in Richmond, Virginia. They provid…

Monday, June 16, 2003

June 16, 2003

Only 13 more days until Groundbreaking Sunday! Here’s the Reader’s Digest version of that day: one service … 10:30 AM, under a big tent in the west parking lot… All money given that day goes to the building fund … Our goal: 100% participation … Service includes outdoor baptism, music by VBS choir…

Sunday, June 15, 2003

June 15, 2003

Only 14 days until Groundbreaking Sunday! Happy Father’s Day to Dads everywhere. Read this moving Father’s Day column by Paul Greenberg. Our three boys are scattered today—Josh is visiting my brother Alan in Tupelo, Mississippi, and Mark is serving a youth ministry internship at a Baptist church in Dallas, Oregon. Onl…

Saturday, June 14, 2003

June 14, 2003

As Mr. Rogers liked to say, it’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood. Mid-70s, blue sky, moderate humidity, not much wind. Basically a great day for golf (the U.S. Open is in town this week) or for bike riding. Two years ago I set a personal record by riding over 2300 miles. Last year my goal was 3000 and I rode a little over 3300 miles. In J…