Good evening on this late Friday, July 27th. Tonight as I write my blog I'm watching the final segment of the opening ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics coming from London. I'm one who is a huge fan of both the summer and winter Olympic games and eagerly anticipate their arrival every four years.

Watching some of the finest athletes from all over the world compete to be the best in their events is a thrilling experience, especially when the competition is so keen that as little a one-hundredth of a second can separate the metal winners. Most of the competitors begin preparing years in advance and spend the majority of their time and energy training for their competitions. They give it their all as they strive to win. It takes desire, determination and discipline to go for the gold.

The coming of the Olympics always reminds me of what the Apostle Paul wrote about the early games of his time as he used them to illustrate what is required to live a successful Christian life. He wrote in 1 Corinthians 9:24, "Know you not that they who run a race run all, but one receives the prize? So run, that you may obtain." He adds in Philippians 3:14, "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." That same desire, determination and discipline that is required to succeed in the athletic world is also required in the spiritual. Being spiritual doesn't happen by accident any more than an athlete winning the Olympic gold metal.

One of the great books written in our generation for believers is "The Spirit of the Disciplines: Understanding How God Changes Lives" by Dallas Willard. In that book Dr. Willard carefully details the disciplines Christ practiced continually in His life and emphasizes that if we are to be Christ-like, we must follow His example. Next week I'll write about the disciplines Christ regularly practiced and apply them to our lives.

Sunday's sermon is another in our series of messages on prophecy. Please plan to hear it.
Mel Brown

Good morning on this Saturday, July 21st. I returned home yesterday afternoon after spending a week in Colorado. All of the family was together on the trip including my kids and grandkids as we enjoyed quality time and fun activities together. We all enjoyed the sightseeing, visiting some of the magnificent parks, fly fishing, white water rafting and the beautiful scenery of the snow-capped mountains and crystal-clear streams. Several years ago I took members of my family to visit the sights where I grew up. This trip we did the same for all the members of our family to see where Barb grew up including the houses where her family lived, the church building where her father pastored, the places where she worked, the schools she attended, and other significant places from her childhood and adolescent years, so family members would have a visual legacy of her earlier life. Everyone had a good time and it was great to all be together again having fun and enjoying each other's company.
When my daughter Lori graduated from high school, I remember thinking that this would probably be the last time our whole family would be vacationing together because various family member's college and work schedules would make it difficult for all of us to vacation together, but 24 years and six grandchildren later, we are still vacationing together and looking forward to our next outing as a family.
Many of you have asked me if the recent fires in Colorado caused us any problem on our trip. I'm happy to report that it was no problem whatsoever. The air was clear, all of the roads were open, and the sights where we visited were fully-functioning. By the time we arrived in Colorado, the temperatures had cooled and we had received some much-needed rain to settle things down. All-in-all we were not hindered in any way during the trip.
Thank you for your prayers and concern. We are doubly blessed.
Tomorrow's sermon is another in our series on prophecy. I hope you'll be there.
Mel Brown

Good morning on this Saturday, July 7th. I hope that you enjoyed a stellar holiday on the 4th of July this year. Our house was packed with 14 of us who enjoyed a cook out, games, swimming and fireworks later in the evening. I had the opportunity to spend lots of quality time with my children and grandchildren. As I was playing with my grandson, Kai, I thought back three years ago when my daughter, Cheryl, walked down the concourse at O'Hare Airport in Chicago and I met him for the first time as my newly adopted grandson.  When we later gathered at my daughter's home I tried to engage Kai but found him only willing to kick, bite, and scratch anyone who tried to touch him. Three years and lots of tender loving care later, he is now a normal loving boy who enjoys lots of contact with family members. The transformation has been amazing.

As I was reflecting on the changes in his attitudes and behaviors, I was reminded of a conversation I had with Dr. Ross Campbell, noted child expert, who spoke at Edgewood years ago. He mentioned that every troubled child who visited his clinic in Tennessee told him that his/her parents didn't really love them. He mentioned that when he met with the parents he repeatedly concluded that the child/teen's perception was not true about their parents, but their troubled child FELT like they were unloved. This situation in so many families led him to write his best-selling book, "How To Really Love Your Child." In the book he details four ways parents should use to make their kids KNOW and FEEL how much they are loved. The four ways are:
(1) Spending quality time with your child.
(2) Giving priority focused attention to your child by actively listening with eye contact and appropriate responses.
(3) Showing love through verbal affirmation and physical touch.
(4) Using appropriate discipline including demonstration of sound anger management techniques with your child.

Beyond a shadow of a doubt, these principles and practices produce tremendous results. Kai and many other children are living proof of how well they work. Every parent and grandparent should dedicate themselves to really loving their child in such a way that they BELIEVE it, FEEL it and KNOW it. The Bible reminds "God is love and he who dwells in love dwells in God and God in him" (1 John 4:16b).

Tomorrow's sermon is about the two comings of Christ in prophecy. I'll look forward to seeing you there.
Mel Brown