I’m just in from a destination wedding in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, where we played on the beach, ate like there was no 2013, and celebrated a delightful family occasion.
Welcome to the family, Jennie!
Sunday morning, however, was a quiet time and while my daughter and husband played tennis, I went in search of church. My first thought was the Catholic Church directly across the street from our Hard Rock resort.
I’ve done pretty well over the years attending church in foreign lands by going to Mass. I usually can follow what is happening and enjoy hearing the singing and praise to God in known and unknown tongues.
On Sunday, the Catholic crowd overflowed the church into plastic chairs outside. A notice on the wall mentioned a non-denominational Christian service two resorts further south at Paradise Cove, convention center 2. I decided to go there and wandered through a warm morning framed by flowering plants to a security kiosk.
“I’d like to go to church?”
The man pointed behind the thatched booth to a large building where people were climbing three shallow steps to enter. “That’s the church right there. But say, why not come back afterwards and we’ll treat you to breakfast and information about our time shares?”
I laughed. “I need to get back for a wedding, but thanks for the invitation.”
We began with praise music, a show of nationalities and then heard a presentation by a local charity supported by Paradise Cove’s owners: Families at the Dump.
Unfortunately, I did not write down the name of the Canadian pastor (from Winnipeg), because he gave a fine sermon for the new year.
He assigned homework and the questions are good ones for all of us.
1. Who or what is the center of my life?
2. What is my character like at the present time?
3. What am I contributing to life and/or my church body?
4. What does my life communicate about God?
I returned to the Hard Rock resort full of swirling thoughts and ideas. My answers came pretty easy, but number three has sparked an idea.
I’m doing some recalibration for 2013. How about you?
Thoughts? Reactions? Lurker?