....before everyone has gone to bed. I let the time get away from me as I was catching up on missed radio programs and watching TV at the same time. Earlier this evening I had taken a quick snooze before leaving for Bible study and then when I got home, ate some dinner before settling in here. I got involved in an episode of "Everybody Loves Raymond" where Ray attends a pseudo girl scout meeting with his daughter and faces off with a VERY aggressive leader. She is downright militant about their cookie sales and how the little girls are to handle their customers, etc. I am so glad I never had to get involved with any of that stuff. When I was a little kid, we could sell greeting cards door-to-door to earn a Bible, but not part of a club, I think through school. And who doesn't want nice greeting cards??
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Speaking of which, I received a lovely greeting card with a handwritten message from Gretchen, thanking me for mailing her a color copy of the Flock Talk newsletter. In her envelope she also included the hand-copied biography of the new pastor at her sister's church in CA. He was a former Roman Catholic who worked for the Dept. of Defense as a translator, working in the Ukraine. There he met his wife, and the Holy Spirit worked on his unbelief, moving him to seek a church that taught 'by faith alone', finding that in the WELS. It is a very moving, though matter-of-fact report of his coming back to the Lord, graduating from college and entering the seminary. And now, he is serving the Lord in a parish in CA! I must return these pieces of paper so Gretchen can keep them in her papers. She is very good about that!
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This a.m. began with water aerobics with a decent number of participants---4 ladies and Randy. Next week Randy will get another male to help him out, as the tennis pro has reported he plans to take the classes after tennis camp is over. The government schools start back on the 16th of this month already so he ends camp a week before that. Ellen and I sat out by the pool long after the others had left, and enjoyed the sunshine, perhaps too much. Even I moved under the umbrella after awhile---whew! Eventually, however, I did need to come inside because I had not yet completed the condo newsletter (Ellen: "Is there news???") and wanted to get that out before the end of the day, before my nap! And I did!
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Our Bible study tonight was only three of us, already members, and the subject matter was the Ministry of the Keys. We rather breezed through it and did have some interesting discussion regarding excommunication and its uses, etc. Not terribly long ago, our congregation was faced with just such a situation and we talked about how it was handled from start to conclusion. It helps to have an actual case for reference and was a tiny bit glad that our young man who is taking the class in order to become a member was not there. He will have a bit of making up to do when he does return, though. Next week is a discussion of the role of men and women which will be interesting, too, and Mike is turning that class over to Pastor. We will not be giving him any trouble as two of the four of us are already well aware of the Biblical definition and spelling out of roles. Perhaps Pastor will send out an e-mail to the congregation inviting others for this important study ..... or, we could just have the four of us, as usual.
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A few moments ago I got an e-mail from my neighbor, Hugh, asking if I wanted to join them poolside tomorrow night for a Plan B event. The Club is closed for food and drink this week, until Friday, for cleaning and repairs, so no Happy Hour. Hence, Plan B is to meet poolside and order pizzas from Papa Johns, BYOB, and make our own Happy Hour. That would be absolutely marvelous, however, I have already accepted an offer from Penny to join her for dinner at her house tomorrow night where she is making dinner and strawberry margaritas for us. Hugh said they were asking Penny, too, so I will await word from her regarding any plan changes but as of right now, I am going to Penny's! It stinks having to make these decisions like this.....nah!
