“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matt 5:16).

 I can’t help but spend time reflecting on the summer so far here at Logan Martin. We have already had lessons from three outstanding speakers in our summer series concerning “The Home Built By God”, we also have spent time preparing for the block party, where we gave out over one thousand bottles of water, and hundreds of pamphlets of information concerning the church here. We have already had those who have spent countless hours working to prepare lessons and rooms for our vacation bible school which just ended on Wednesday of this past week. Our vacation bible school appears to have been very well attended each and every night, with at least eighty present for every class.  The truth of the matter is, we aren’t even halfway there yet.

Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it. (Prov 22:6)  There is little question that our VBS is one of the biggest potential outreach opportunities we have …

All in all, the water cost roughly $125, of course, plus tax. To rent two booths at the block party cost $85. We had 1,000 bags printed with the name of the church, and website information at $0.25 per bag for a total of $250 a bag, with tax and shipping to come to $305 for the bags.  The total cost for the block party came to $505, which was money given here each Sunday, but the evangelistic outreach – priceless. Although, at the time of this writing, none of the bags, or water have been given out, we know from the past, that at the end of the night, the majority of both will be gone. We also know that there will be many people who will say “I had no idea that   ya’ll were down there”, and with any luck we will see some of those individuals in the future at services here. Our summer is off to a great start.

Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.  You are My friends “(John 15:13-14)

Friendships can be one of the most wonderful things in the world. I have heard it said more times than a few that if in our lifetime we have just one true friend, then we have accomplished so much. True friends are few and far between, and a true friendship is nothing to be taken lightly. Solomon records that a “friend loves at all times” (Prov 17:17). And while it may be entirely true, sometimes even our friendships have conditions attached to them. Think about the friends in your life, why are they your friends? Generally we are friends with others because they provide enjoyment, or they help or assist us when we need help, or because they are someone we know that we can rely on in times of trouble and laugh with in times of joy.

Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth,
Before the difficult days come,
And the years draw near when you say,
“I have no pleasure in them” (Eccl 12:1)

What fun it was one week ago today as about twenty four of us attended a time to roller skate at the Trussville Play Station. The soreness lasted for days, but it was an incredible time to be together with such an awesome group of kids. We are now less than a week away from our second annual youth retreat at Indian Creek Youth Camp. This is one of the most exciting events on the calendar for me as we anticipate every one of our 7-12^th grade kids to be there, and many of our younger ones as well. We hope that EACH parent has made plans to come spend this weekend with their kids.

For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.  (Rom 12:4-5)

 The preparations have been made for over a month now to have this day today, Many reminders have been given that today EACH member of the Logan Martin church of Christ should remember to be here, rather than anywhere else.  Is it true that we can worship God with any other faithful congregation of the Lords people on each Sunday, yes it is, but it is also true that as a body of Christians who identify ourselves with the Logan Martin church of Christ that we are together as often as possible.