April 26, 2023

Dear Friends,   Instead of something deep, profound and meaningful, I decided you could use a laugh.  Maybe you’ll find one in here somewhere.  I had been teaching my three-year old daughter, Caitlin, the Lord’s Prayer. For several evenings at bedtime, she would repeat after me the lines from the prayer. Finally, she decided to go solo. I listened with pride as she carefully enunciated each word, right up to the end of the prayer: “Lead us not into temptation,” she prayed, “but deliver us some E-mail. Amen.” A mom, hoping to train her children to sit quietly in church, asked them as they were on the way to the service, “Why is it good for us to be quiet in church?”  Her five year old replied, “Because people are sleeping.” Along those same lines…   Six-year-old Angie and her four-year-old brother Joel were sitting together in church.  Joel was giggling and talking out loud. Finally, his sister shushed him and said “You’re not supposed to talk out loud in church.” “Why?” he asked. “Who’s going to stop me?”  Angie pointed to the back of the church and said, “See those men standing by the door? They’re the hushers.”   A mother was preparing pancakes for her sons. The boys began to argue over who would get the first pancake. The mother saw the opportunity for a moral lesson. “If Jesus were sitting here, He would say ‘Let my brother have the first pancake.”   The older brother turned to his younger brother and said, “Ryan, you be Jesus!” One more, and we’re done.   After the church service a little boy told the pastor, “When I grow up, I’m going to give you some money.” “Well, thank you,” the pastor replied, “but why?” “Because my daddy says you’re one of the poorest preachers we’ve ever had.” Anyone rolling your eyes?  Groaning?  Thinking “Dad jokes in the newsletter?”  Or a smile, maybe?  A chuckle?  I hope so.  It’s good to smile and laugh from time to time.       Guys, this coming Tuesday is our last First Tuesday of the spring.  And to mark the occasion, I’ve decided to try my hand at dishing up some Cincinnati Three Way Chili (Chili, spaghetti and cheddar cheese).  Like the kind they serve at Skyline Chili or Gold Star in Cincinnati.  The recipe I found online has 400 5-star reviews.  We’ll see.   Dinner at 6:15.  Our session starts at 7:00.  Hope to see you there.     Also in May, we’ll have our quarterly men’s breakfast.  It’s free.  But we need a head count.  Click here to let us know you’re planning to join us.              Mother’s Day is just two and a half weeks away.  And on that Sunday, we’ll be joining with moms and dads in dedicating their children to the Lord.      If you have a child you’d like to dedicate to the Lord, contact Cathy Crowell and let her know you’re interested.  cvcrowell.rcc@gmail.com     If you’re new to Redeemer and you’d like to know more about what it means to become a member of our church, we have a New Members Get Together planned just for you!      Contact Matt Gurney if you have any questions or if you’d like to take part in this event.  Mattgurney77@gmail.com.         Our students will be getting together next week for a school year end fiesta!     And heads up, students – summer starts in June with a whole week of fun.  Here’s the rundown:   Click here for more info or to register on line.   And now is the time for students to sign up for the Street Reach trip to Memphis at the end of June.  Contact Cole Perkins if you have questions or need more info.        John’s biography of Jesus includes an epilogue that tells the story of a fishing trip that went from fruitless to miraculous in an instant, a seaside breakfast and a series of questions that Jesus asks Peter.  We’ll dig in to John 21 this Sunday.       See you in church.   Soli Deo Gloria! Pastor Bob