Standing On the Corner in Winslow, Arizona

I did just that yesterday. I was in Winslow to speak to the church there last night. It is a small group, only about a dozen there last night, but wonderful and friendly people. I enjoyed my visit and appreciated the opportunity to speak about Manuelito. And, of course, I listened to the Eagles "Take It Easy" as I drove through town. Sadly, though, no sighting of "a girl in a flatbed Ford slowing down to take a look at me." (The photos are from Winslow: the first of the "Standing On a Corner in Winslow, Arizona" gift shop; and the second of the Winslow church building, a beautiful old building.)

Yesterday was another double-header for me. In the morning, I was blessed with the opportunity of speaking to the Camelback church in Phoenix/Scottsdale. Another lovely congregation. They are a family that is full of life with a lot going on. Their building was full and the worship was quite uplifting. And, what a beautiful part of Phoenix. If you have not been to Scottsdale, when you do, you will be impressed.

I've mentioned before the great blessing of my job . . . visiting so many different congregations and experiencing the great contrasts that exist (in terms of size, demographics, and style) but noting the common faith that is shared by all. Just as there is a great diverseness in God's grand creation (and in the past 2 weeks I've been from mountains to desert to the sandy beaches of the Pacific), there is a rich diverseness in his church. My travels in the past couple of weeks have brought me to small churches on the Navajo Reservation, groups that hold their meetings in mobile homes, to assemblies of over 5,000 Christians at Pepperdine University, meeting in the posh landscape of Malibu, California, to churches in upscale Phoenix, to a small, rural church in Winslow. In all these places, men and women are joined together in service to Jesus Christ, sharing that great bond of brotherhood that makes us one in Christ. Praise God for his goodness.