IT NEVER FAILS. There I am driving the 50 MPH speed limit on Highway 17, cresting the summit and I spy Mr. CHP sitting along the side of the road. Immediately I lightly depress my brakes, check the speedometer, and breath a sigh of relief…yes I am still doing the speed limit. Why is that whenever I see one of California’s finest, I immediately feel guilty? It must be something to do with my driving past.
I am sure that I am not the only driver on our roads that has this reaction. And truthfully, it does have some positive outcomes. First, it causes me to check my speed and slow down if necessary, and second, it leads me to prayer, “Dear God, please don’t let me get a ticket!” Or as a friend of my once prayed (while a passenger in my car), “Lord, You made blind eyes to see, how about this time making seeing eyes blind.” Actually, that prayer worked…at least that time! Anyway…
All this talk about driving and praying makes me think that since we are so good at driving and talking, and since we’re not supposed to talk on our cell phones while driving (praise the Lord for that law!), maybe we could pray for those men and women in tan rather than praying about them. We could start a new regimen. We could pray the C. H. P. prayer: Christ Help Please! Whenever we see an officer we could pray that the Lord would keep them safe, that He would help them do their job, and maybe (especially if we’re doing the speed limit) we could lift a prayer of thanks for those who seek to “keep the peace” in our world. Both far and wide.
So, let’s not only slow down, let’s pray up!

GROWING UP, SUNDAYS WERE SPECIAL. They meant Saturday night baths, and shoes shined. It meant tight collars and clip-on ties. It meant an interminable time of sitting quietly in the sanctuary and a raucous hour of fun with my friends during Sunday school. But most of it often meant going out for “brunch” at the Copper Penny.
I am sure that we went to this local restaurant at other times, but ah, the glorious Sunday brunch. Waffles, or my favorite, Pigs-in-a-blanket, yes, Sunday was a special time of eating-out. A time with mom and dad, and even my brother would show up for those times. Back in the day, Sundays were special, hey, even the newspaper comics came in color!
Sure, the Sunday “funnies” are still in color, (but what kid can understand them anymore? ) and we can still go out for “brunch.” But, sadly it’s often to the same places we frequent other times during the week (Ouch! I’m getting convicted! ) Sundays have changed. In many ways they are like any other day.
But, we can change that!
Maybe it is time to once again strive to make that day, a Special Day. Maybe we can start to get ourselves ready with anticipation for the Day. It may mean setting aside time the evening before to slow down and prepare our hearts (or shine our shoes). It may mean planning for some special things on that Day; a special meal at a special place. It may mean opening our hearts and homes to family and friends; a time to reinvest in our special relationships. And, of course, it will always mean taking time to be refreshed and renewed in the relationship that truly makes this Special Day, special.
How will you make today a Special Day?

REST IN PEACE. Why is it that we wait until a person is dead and buried to engrave that epithet over their resting place? I suppose it comes from the understanding that all that can interrupt peace has now been removed from a person’s life. It is now, in death, that one can truly be at peace.
This is not the life which the Lord, Jesus Christ, desires for us. He desires for us to live in a life of peace that was not just “there and then,” but “here and now.” The peace that the world brings is a peace that is at best transient and situational, and at worst never truly possible. But the peace that Jesus promises, and provides, is unlike that of the world. It is a peace that is always available and not determined by our circumstances. It is, as the Apostle Paul writes, a peace that surpasses comprehension. (Philippians 4:7)
The Hebrew word, shalom, best describes this peace which our Lord offers to us. It is more than just the absence of trouble, it is a well-being of our soul in the very midst of turmoil and trouble, and for this reason is transcends the world’s ability to understand it. Like Sabbath, this peace is a gift which the Lord graciously grants to us out of His abundant goodness. And, like Sabbath, it has at its basis, trust in the living God.
As we learn to trust God, we learn to embrace the greatness of His gifts to us. As long as we continue to endeavor in our own wisdom and strength we will miss the deep and abiding peace that comes from the Lord and we will be stuck with the weak peace of the world.
Trust in the Lord, and know peace.

WELL, OK, IT’S NOT AS SPECTACULAR as the signing of the Declaration of Independence, but we can say we were “far-away witnesses” to the re-visioning of what the Evangelical Free Church of America says it believes. And it should make us feel good that the 18 sermons on the Proposed Statement of Faith, were not wasted. 
The following is the email announcement I received from HQ. I share it here because we need to remind ourselves that we are part of something bigger than just the Felton Bible Church. It is also good to note that people can disagree and still move forward united for the furtherance of God’s glory and kingdom. Here’s the report:

HISTORIC CONFERENCE APPROVES
PROPOSED REVISION OF THE EFCA STATEMENT OF FAITH
President Bill Hamel began this historic discussion by asking two questions: would the Conference affirm a new Statement of Faith strengthening our commitment to evangelical, historic faith? And would we debate and vote with godly character? The answer to both questions was “yes.”
On June 26, 2008, delegates of the 124th EFCA National Leadership Conference approved the Proposed Revision of the Statement of Faith – 86% of delegates voted for the Proposed Revision.
Throughout the debate and decision, God’s presence was evident as delegates kept in step with the Spirit (Gal. 5:25), manifested the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23), and left an aroma of Christ (2 Cor. 2:14-16).
The conference concluded with President Hamel leading the attendees in a strong and passionate confession of the new EFCA Statement of Faith. Here is a link to the Statement of Faith: http://www.efca.org/about/doctrine/
To God be the glory, great things He has done . . . and continues to do in the EFCA!

And may to God be the glory in all we do, by His Spirit’s leading and power, here at Felton Bible Church.