Evelyn and I are as excited as we can be to launch our second year at Antioch.  We give thanks to God for the joy of serving among the people here.  July will begin with a very special and unusual worship experience.  On July 5th we will gather under the big oak tree for a praise and worship service.  We’ll sing the old songs and a new one or two led by Ryan Hulsey and his guitar.  Hopefully some other talented folk will come and help out as well.  Following worship we will enjoy hotdogs and burgers right off the grill.  This will be a great family day for us, but it will not be complete without you and your family.  I hope you will bring a lawn chair, a favorite picnic dish and join us for the day.

I am also looking forward to Camp Meeting July 20 – 25 at the campground.  Rick Goodspeed from The Springs UMC will be preaching each evening and Scott Hearn from Grayson UMC will be leading the morning services.  I promise you will hear some great sermons and some of the best gospels singing you’ve ever heard.

Can you see why I am excited about starting the first month of my second year at Antioch?  We’ll begin with a family picnic and end with Camp Meeting.  I want to encourage you to be aware of the great cost of the freedoms we share in this great country as you celebrate the 4th and the birthday of this nation.  We are free to gripe and grumble or to praise those who lead our government and to do so in a public forum.  We come and go as we please restricted only by our abilities and resources.  Most of all we have the joy of worshipping in whatever fashion we choose.  The freedom we enjoy is neither free nor cheap. Freedom has come at a great price and the maintenance of that freedom continues to be at the expense of many young lives.  Perhaps it is the great cost of freedom that prompted Saint Paul to write: “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.” (Gal.5:13).

May we always and in every place enjoy our freedom by serving each other in love.