The psalmist wrote, “Into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, LORD, my faithful God.” (Psalm 31:5)

ADVENTURE! Throughout this Great New Adventure, Rebekah and I are both enjoying a profound affirmation of God’s faithfulness. There really is a sense of “Into our hands we commit our spirits,” and the sense of total dependence on grace is at once both unnerving and reassuring.

I drove to North Carolina Monday; I worked on the new house that evening, all day Tuesday, and Wednesday morning; then flew I back to Tampa in the afternoon. All in all it was a rushed, full, exhausting, and highly successful trip.

I flew AirTran Airways and, as they seem to be one of the only carriers to offer a non-stop to Tampa, I joined their frequent flyer program. Hopefully, with my mum and dad still living in Sarasota, AirTran will make it worth my while to use their route on a regular basis.

I got enough done at our new address so that, when Rebekah and I arrive together in a couple of weeks, she’ll be able to see more possibility than overwhelm when we walk through the door.

WELCOME! Most importantly, I felt supported and welcomed by our new church. As many as fourteen different people came over to help in various ways during my short stay.

John was a constant presence, helping move furniture, open boxes, clean, and much more. Rick, Nick, Hank, and Wayne brought a pick-up truck and moved around 50 boxes of books and files to Rebekah’s new office at the church. Armin and Steve moved a few more boxes to the church, and also took a truck-load of cardboard to recycling. Marv and Emily moved furniture. Carolyn welcomed. Charlie and Joan brought a pie. Betty and Neal hosted me in their home, made sandwiches, cleaned cabinets, and cut shelf-paper.

I didn’t get to the Wake Forest Presbyterian Church building; but instead the church came to me!

NEW & MORE NEW! North Carolina is going to be a whole new culture for us. Other than Atlanta for the last two years of Rebekah’s seminary experience, we’ve lived our entire life together in the Sunshine State! I first moved here when I enrolled at Stetson University in 1976.

However, we are being welcomed with open arms into a faith community that is full with people like Rick, Nick, Hank, Wayne, Armin, Steve, Marv, Emily, Carolyn, Charlie, Joan, Betty, and Neal; plus Ali, Paul, and Linda, the remaining three members of the search team I have already met; and then all the other good folk Rebekah has had the opportunity to meet during her visits…

Fact is, God has been preparing the way; it is always so; and our responsibility is, simply, to walk in it.

But now you will again see the Lord, your teacher, and he will guide you. Whether you turn to the right or to the left, you will hear a voice saying, “This is the road! Now follow it.”  (Isaiah 30)

In the rooted confidence of a Follower of the Living Way of Jesus – DEREK