Home Coming

I've been away from home these past few days, my home in Santa Barbara that is. I attended the annual meeting of the Pacific Coast Conference of British Studies meeting in Newport Beach. It was a good meeting, all in all. Best of all was the opportunity to be with good friends like Bill Gibson from England and make new friends like Bill Watson, Martin Grieg, and Albert Tevanyan. I enjoyed the opportunity to reengage my academic pursuits and to be reminded that when you're not actively involved in the field you can get a bit overwhelmed! But again, it was a great time.

But as for the homecoming, that had to do with my return to Harbor Christian Church in Newport Beach. I served as associate pastor there some 18 years ago. It was good to be back in a place that gave me an opportunity to test my wings. One member -- an elder then and an elder now -- recalled my youthful idealism. I think that idealism has been tempered over the years. The world looks different to a 28 or 29 year old than it does to someone closing in on his 50th birthday and has a teenage son! But the years do not diminish relationships forged in the service of our Lord, and so we came together again and celebrated God's steadfast love that endures forever (Psalm 107). So, blessings to all as I return to my family home!

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