We have a young pastor in our Church named Nic. He and Doug, our senior pastor, take turns preaching at the 3 services we have each week.

Doug has been our pastor for about 10 years, but Nic has only been here about 3. He preaches really great sermons that make us think and use our brains in ways that we haven’t since we got out of school! And sometimes I have commented that he is just way over my head with some of his ideas.

Recently he came to our Bible Study class to share with us some of his vast knowledge about Islam and his wife, Alexi came another day to share with us her knowledge about Judaism. I found them to be very, very intelligent and also very, very nice.

In his sermon today Nic was talking about what a great and blessed life he has….a good job, a great wife and 2 beautiful little girls. And in the last month they discovered that the newest baby Alexi is carrying will be a boy. Also in the last month they discovered that this son of theirs, if he lives to be born, will be severely handicapped. Both his feet are clubbed and his arms have also been damaged. He will be mentally handicapped as well and will spend his life in a wheelchair.

I cannot imagine what they are going through. Most of us know that at some point, our children will become adults and leave home to make new lives for themselves out in the world. They now know that this child, if God allows him to live at all, will always be dependent on them for his most basic needs.

And yet, in his sermon, Nic talked strongly about the need to count the blessings in his life. Including this one. God doesn’t want us to suffer, but sometimes, when things like this happen, He will help us through and in then end we will be so much stronger, both in our selves and in our faith.

What a powerful message from a man with such a powerful faith in God.  Please keep Nic and Alexi in your prayers.

During my Bible study class this morning, one of the ladies wanted to know if she invited her neighbors to Church, did we think they would be welcome. They are a gay couple. Most of the women in the room said probably not. The pastor has made some anti-gay statements from the pulpit before. He doesn’t make a habit of it, but sometimes things are said. I would think that would make someone feel really unwanted and I don’t think that’s right.

It seems to me that most anti-gay comments stem from the idea that people are choosing to be gay. I have known people who chose to be bi-sexual, but the real gay people I’ve known didn’t choose to be gay any more than I chose to be heterosexual. So what are they supposed to do?

The Bible, as I read it, says pretty clearly that we aren’t to judge. That’s God’s job. It also says that homosexuality is wrong, but sin is sin and all sin is forgiven, right? So why is this such a hot issue? Maybe because it’s a constantly recurring sin as it is also a lifestyle, but again, it isn’t our job to make that judgement.

I don’t know the answer, except that I choose to let God do His job and I’ll continue to try to follow His commandment to love everyone….including people who may not have the same lifestyle as mine.

I want to warmly welcome my husband, Greg (MelFamy), to the world of xanga.

He has some very strong opinions about lots of things and is about the smartest man I know (even when I don’t agree with his opinions), so it could be fun to comment on some of his posts.

So, welcome Greg! Enjoy!