Saturday Night in Sedona

I am in Sedona, Arizona tonight with Penny, my lovely wife.  We just returned from an evening wedding for a long-time friend.  The scenery was spectacular—it overlooked the Sedona Valley from high above near the Sedona Airport.  It truly was an amazing scene.  The ceremony was unique and the homily was classic HB—a mixture of personal vignettes on the couple being married and subtle humor all his own—and of course a spiritual core.

The reception is still continuing, but being the homebodies that we are we returned to the Super 8 to rest.  We had the opportunity to reconnect with a few new and old friends.  We had a part in the reception.  We laughed at the comments and stories shared between tables.  We are happy for the new couple and wish them many years of happiness.

This morning I had the privilege of preaching for the second week in a row at AWC.  This week I preached out of Psalm 103.  My sermon title was, “We Haven’t Got a Prayer.”  Ironically it was call to make prayer a more central part of our lives and our church—something that is lacking in our ranks.  I will take it to heart and will try to find ways to increase the time I personally spend in prayer.

The morning was obviously tempered by the news of the untimely death of AM, the young man from the Beacon Light SDA Church and also a student at TAA.  There was a particular TAA student present at AWC that was in a very somber mood as a result of the shooting.  The sermon was apropos for him and any other person struggling with finding a reason to praise and be thankful to God in the worst of times.

Penny and I are beginning to engage in the discussion that was inevitable—our future in Arizona.  I cannot bear the thought of being here without her again, and she is not quite sure she is ready to retire from teaching in California.  It really is nice to have her with me every day—even if some moments are spent just being together.

We’re spending the night in Sedona.  Perhaps tomorrow we will spend some time visiting places here before we return to the valley.  Good night!  (229.1)