One of my Best Days...

Sunday, July 13, 2008: one of my best days. Not a perfect day (some people weren't able to share the day with us, so it wasn't quite as good as it might have been--but I don't want to go negative here).

Kelly and I are celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary. We (Kelly, actually) had carefully planned a four-day event for us, but circumstances changed and we had to postpone the first two days of our extended weekend.

On Saturday Kelly and I drove to Norwich, NY to help celebrate the 50th wedding anniversary of some friends: Marv and Lucy Maxson. The Maxons' daughters Dawn and Sharlene are good friends of Kelly from high school. It was great to see them all. Marv and Lucy loaned us their pop-up camper for a week 25 years ago so that we could have a honeymoon--we camped at Southwick Beach State Park for a week.

Also at the party were Kelly's three brothers and their wives and most of their children. Every chance to get together with family is precious, and this was especially good.

From there, we drove to Afton and had dinner with my sister Debbie, her husband John, and their daughter Katy. Then we went on to Maple Shade, NJ--arriving at 1:00 a.m. at our hotel.

Sunday morning I got up early and was able to "talk" for 3 hours with our son Ryan via AOL Instant Messenger. Ryan is in Iraq with the 812th MP Company, and chances to communicate are few and usually brief. This time, however, we got to talk for a long time!

We then dressed and made our way to Immanuel Baptist Church in Maple Shade to worship with our friends from Philadelphia Biblical University (formerly Philadelphia College of Bible). Vince McDonald was a classmate and we shared many experiences together while in college, including the PCB Chorale and Chorale tour, three years on the PCB soccer team, and an unforgettable summer touring together on the PCB Sports Camping Team (or whatever it was called).

The morning worship service was exciting--the music was energetic and uplifting. The environment of Immanuel Baptist Church is friendly and enthusiastic--Vince McDonald is a perfect fit for this congregation! He and his brothers Dan and Tom all were at PCB while I was there, and they are all a part of the worship team there. We had a GREAT time in worship. I love my own church and would choose to be home every Sunday, but if I can't be at First Baptist Church in Newburgh, Immanuel Baptist Church in Maple Shade would be my next choice! Kelly and I were warmly welcomed and made to feel as though we were part of the family there.

After church Vince and Greta took Kelly and I to lunch, where Jim Beerley, his wife Mary and their 3 children joined us. It was great to see Jim again, as well as meeting his family for the first time. The Beerleys are missionaries in Monaco, where the ministry of the Gospel is needed. Remember the words of Jesus--"It is harder for a rich man to enter heaven than for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle!" There are many wealthy people in Monte Carlo--it is famous for being a playground for the very rich. Who needs God when you've got piles of money! Well, money can make you comfortable, but never truly satisfied or happy. The Beerleys have it good, some people may think. In fact, the Beerleys have been assigned some of the hardest work of all in the kingdom of God.

In the evening, Jim Beerley showed a video report of their ministry in Monaco. Also featured in the evening was a "reunion concert" of the renowned "Beerley Boys" (though Jim reported that the concert was actually "The McDonald Men, with a Guest Appearance by The Beerley Boy). We also did a couple of things that we used to do at summer camps the summer we toured with the PCB Sports Team. Dave Knox, our Team Leader, was there and we had a good time together doing the crazy skit we used to do. Dave's wife/our friend Karyn (Lunde) Knox was there and played the piano. I was insulted by a midget named Chester, but it was all in good fun. I shot some amatuer video of the event with my brand-new digital camcorder, and if I can figure out how to do it, I hope to post some video from the event on YouTube.

The concert was also an informal reunion of PBU/PCB alumni (the 25th anniversary of the Class of 1983). We got to see several friends from PCB/PBU that we haven't seen since graduation, or even before. Matt McAlack spoke about PBU's Youth Ministries department, and Todd Mangum talked about Biblical Seminary in Hatfield.

After the evening service we stayed and enjoyed pizza and Italian Ice from Rita's--a treat we used to enjoy during Kelly's first pregancy. Wow--the memories! We lingered long in the Fellowship Hall. I didn't want to leave! I really hope it doesn't take me another 25 years to reconnect with these amazing friends again.

After this long day, Kelly and I returned to the hotel, where we collapsed into bed, completely exhausted, but spiritually recharged. It was one of my best days.