Family

Last week our daughter Dorcas had a birthday and after a pizza dinner at the 'Ranch' in town with Rob and his parents, we spent a moment at home so that she could open a gift. As you see in the picture you always have help opening up gifts with Micah and Emma Ruth. It is always a happy occasion when family gets together. Kay and I are looking forward to seeing our son Philip and family this thanksgiving in Wexford, Pennsylvania. We should have more pictures to show.

There is also that larger family which is eternal. Grandpa is thankful for the many prayers and emails that have come from that family in these past two weeks; from the RPCNA family and from the Hanover RP family. Two surgeries in three weeks have put me in a healing mode. It has also reminded me of others that need our prayers. There is 'Doc' and Lana here in the Washington (Iowa) Church; Julie at Morning Sun whose faith has sustained her and her family over these years; for Heather Morton in Illinois; and Robert Copeland of California who is in a coma, and his family. There are many others who need our prayers. I thank our Lord for so many brothers and sisters in Christ. And the reason behind these prayers is the truth that we belong to one another. There is no greater family than that which has been established by a loving Father through the sacrifice of the Son by the continued comfort of the Holy Spirit. This is reality. We may know one more than another, but that does not diminish the fact that we belong to one another. The Church of our Savior and King is made up of those who pray in fellowship and in faithful obedience to Him and His Word. Therefore, "take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints" [Ephesians 6:17-18].

Grandpa