This week I went with Camilla for a checkup on her pregnancy. She is 33 weeks along, and baby Theodore is starting to get really big! He is already about 5 and a half pounds! I got to feel him move for the first time. He was having a case of the hiccups, which is normal, and Camilla put my hand on his head. It was an amazing reminder that there is an adorable little human inside my wife’s body.
And we’re going to meet him soon. Our due date is just over a month away. A month! We’re going to have to account for 4 boys in the house now instead of 3. Matthew is going to be a big brother- will he be a good big brother (I think so) but to what degree will he be resentful that he is no longer the baby in the family? What are we going to do with our rooms? We need to baby proof the house again. I’m gearing up for not getting any sleep again for a few months- and for all the late-night feedings, cuddles, and diaper changes. I’m also not prepared for how cute this little guy is going to be. It is such an exciting privilege to be a father, and I have that opportunity once again.
When was the last time reality really hit home for you? Perhaps a graduation, change in employment, moving, a marriage, or retirement? We countdown the days to these events and after they happen, our lives are forever transformed. There are also the opposites- when bad things hit home- death of a loved one, abuse, divorce, sickness, losing a job, or some other stress inducing event. Life can be a real roller coaster as different realities set in.
I had an amazing reality hit home with me last month as I visited Israel. This is where most of the events from the Bible happened that I have been studying all my life. The Promised Land. This is the place that Jesus walked. Where he was baptized. Where Christ was crucified, buried, and rose again. I thought I’d be all emotional over it, but I was overcome with excitement that I couldn’t contain. I got to see the Bible come to life like never before- not even in my years of seminary.
My hope this weekend is to take you there with me. I know that’s impossible, but I’ve prepared a few videos that I took while I was there that I will show you this weekend. We’ll look at three sites that we talked about last year that will help review our journey from Act 1-8: The chapel of ascension, the upper room, and the location where Stephen was martyred. As we review each of these sites, I hope that Acts 1:8 will take on increasing meaning and relevance for our lives today. The following week we’ll pick up where we left off last year by looking at Saul’s conversion in Acts 9.
I invite you to join with us this weekend as we explore the beginning of the Church from Acts 1-8. Our socially distanced service is Saturday afternoon at 3:30, and our Sunday morning service is at 10:15, where you can join us online if you can’t make it in person. We also have excellent Sunday School classes at 9 for all ages.
Have a great weekend and I look forward to pursuing Christ, Community, and the Great Commission Together with you soon!
-Pastor Nathan Rice