This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. Hope every one had a wonderful weekend, and is ready to take on another week. I had a pretty great weekend. Friday night was Octoberfest as you heard. I didn't get to eat any food because by the time I got there all 450 servings were gone. The soccer team we played against brought a ton of fans because they heard we were having free food and beer. However, I guess it's a great witness opportunity to serve them too. I did get plenty of the free beer, so I was less upset about that. It was a blast just listening to the live band (Polka Band), and drinking free beer with friends, professors, and staff all together.
Saturday morning I got up and worked brunch. Then my friend Aaron suggested we should use the beautiful day to go down town and be tourist for the day. I haven't had much chance to go explore all the cool things of St. Louis, so I was super excited to go exploring with him. A couple more guys agreed to go with us after their college football game was over. However, they didn't want to go do the arch, so we settled and agreed on Schlafly's beer tour. However, when we got there all the tours were full. So we went to Ted Drewes. Ted Drewes is a famous soft serve ice cream place in St. Louis. It was absolutely delicious, and we still had fun even though that was the most touristy thing we got accomplished. We did however discover that three out of the four of us play pinochle. We taught the fourth guy quick and played a couple games. I haven't played pinochle for a long time so it was so much fun to be playing again. They did have slightly different rules then I grew up with; however, I adapted quickly and it was exciting.
This morning I woke up and went to church as usual. It was LWML Sunday, so one of the ladies read the messages instead of me. Then after church I went to the nursery and spent the after church time with the little ones. It was fun, but they were unusually restless according to the regular teacher. I think the big 260 pound guy trying to sit in the miniature chair probably had a lot to do with it. Then we ate lunch with Pastor as always, which I can never complain about.
When I got back was when the real fun of my day started. My friend Matt, who is one of our dorm counselors (we call them our dorm moms) and my other friend Chris and I all went to the driving range. We had a blast all realizing how long it had been since we had swung clubs and watching the rust come out in full clouds. Then Matt told us about his usual routine after the driving range. He tells himself that as long as he hit a few good shots at the range, he is allowed to stop at Krispy Kreme on the way home. We all agreed we had all had at least a few good shots worthy of a reward. In actuality, I think my best hit was when I was trying to prove I can still successfully Happy Gilmore the ball. (If you don't get this, it is from an Adam Sandler movie where he runs up to hit the ball). I hit it probably 260 yards or a little further and straight as an arrow. However, we all went to Krispy Kreme and got a doughnut and coffee. Then I came back and started on homework for the week.
My thought for the day comes from enjoying a delicious doughnut after a fun hour at the driving range. I think we all knew in our head that whether we did awesome or horrible, either way we were going to Krispy Kreme for our reward. We told ourselves we had some good shots just to feel better about enjoying the delicious desserts, even though we mostly likely didn't earn it. We tried our best, fell short, but went and enjoyed a whipped cream filled, chocolate glazed pastry anyways. This is the same as our faith in life. We go out and try our best to live our faith every day; however, every day we fall short by a long shot. We deserve no reward for our efforts or results. But the good Lord still gives us the best reward we could ever ask for. YES, even better than that delicious doughnut. He gives us the promise and hope of eternal salvation; not because of our efforts or attempt to live right, but because His one and only Son paid the price for all of our short comings on the cross and by the empty tomb. Just as every slice, chunk, whiff, or worm burner seemed to be taking us farther from earning our reward, our every effort to live like Christ is never enough to earn His mercy and love. It is simply a gift from Him that He gives to us out of His love for us. So Krispy Kreme is probably a ritual we will continue to enjoy after each occasional trip to the driving range, just as we can know that we are continually blessed by our Good Lord simply because He loves us, His children. All Praise be to Him!
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you so much for the beautiful weather this weekend, and all the joy You brought to us. We know that as sinful beings, we most certainly deserve nothing from You. However, because You loved us so much, You sent Your one and only Son to save us from our sins. We can live in the hope and comfort that You have forgiven us, and You have paid for our sins through the death and resurrection of Your Son. We ask that You be with us this week. Guide us to make wise decisions, stay strong in our faith, and live lives pleasing to Your eyes. In the name of Your holy and precious Son, we pray. Amen.
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