Memorial Baptist Church

It is good to be home. We had a great time in New York City on our last family vacation before Katey goes off to college in a few weeks. I loved watching the kids in the city; this was a first for Angie and Chris.  Katey had been a couple of times before. It's a big place and even bigger through small eyes. There was much to see and do in a short period of time. We did the Grayline Tour around Manhattan. Chris had bubble tea in Chinatown. There was shopping and cheese cake at Carnegie Deli. We saw the former site of the World Trade Center and took a tour of Liberty Island. The girls went to Hairspray and the guys went to a Mets game.  We went from morning until night each and every day. We didn't get back to Baytown until midnight Wednesday. 

Among the trip memories of New York, two very distinct thoughts remain in my mind.  The singing of the Star Spangled Banner, our national anthem at Shea Stadium (see picture above) is the first. It wasn't about the vocalist, but the attitude and patriotism of the spectators.  There was a moving presence of authentic patriotism and pride for our county. The people sang and applauded differently in Shea Stadium than at other sporting events I've been to recently. Maybe that's because 9/11 wasn't something that happened in someone else's backyard, it happened in theirs.  The skyline of their city is a constant reminder of the very real threat of radical Islamic terrorism that our country faces each and every day. These people knew people or knew people that knew people who died on September 11, 2001.

Our family attended the Brooklyn Tabernacle on Sunday afternoon to hear the choir in concert. As usual, you must arrive early to get a good seat. We sat near our regular spot - the second section back from the platform next to the sound booth. While waiting for the service to begin, I noticed a gentleman I've seen every time I'm been to the Tabernacle. I don’t know his name, but I know his actions. He has a mobility issue and walks with a limp.  Yet, before every service he walks around the worship center handing out peppermints.  Do you remember mom telling you not to take candy from strangers?  Well, you don't have to worry with this guy.  It's his ministry, walking around blessing people with a mint.  This may sound small, but it's big. Ministry comes in all shapes and sizes. Together we make up this thing called the church.  Each one has a role and function within the body to make a difference.

Like I said earlier, it's good to be home. I missed my church family and I’m looking forward to being with them on Sunday.