We never know the effect we have on others and who's watching us.  Recently Marni Bekkedal, a member of our congregation, told me a story about something that happened at their house.

It was bedtime for their two little kids.  Lukas is 5 and Kara is 2.  Marni sat down with them to say their bedtime prayers. Lukas rattled through the usual list of people that they pray for and said "Amen."  Then suddenly, Kara started saying, "Pa par rah!  Pa par rah!"  But Marni couldn't figure out what "pa par rah" meant.  She went through a whole list of things with Kara that were obviously not it.  Then finally Marni said, "Do you mean Pastor Russ?  Do you want to pray for Pastor Russ?"  Kara shook her head yes and said, "Pa par rah!"

Wow!  How cool it is to know that there's a 2-year-old out there who's thinking about me and praying for me!  We often have no idea how much we mean to other people and how much we effect those around us.  I didn't realize that Kara even knew my name, let alone prayed for me!  That's what's so great about being part of a church... the relationships that we have with each other.  Through the church we have friendship, support, prayers, encouragement, and fellowship.  The church is the people!

This is what we need to keep in mind as we spend the next months talking and coming up with a recommendation for the future of our building.  No matter what we decide to do... whether we build, add on, or renovate... remember, the church is the PEOPLE and that's not going to change, no matter what we do for a building.  We'll still have the same smiling faces around us.  We'll still drink coffee with our buddies.  We'll still be praying for each other.  We'll still be there to encourage and support each other.  And I'm very happy about that!  You all mean so much more to me than a building!  I love our beautiful, old church.  But you know what I love more than that?  Knowing that Kara is praying for me!

Peace,

Pa par Rah