One of my favorite times at home is when Rebekah and I are both preparing for Sunday. There’s a sense of peace and purpose that seems to enfold us; it’s as if all our mutual energy and creativity is focused exactly where God wants it to be.

Saturday afternoon we moved out on to the deck with a cup of tea, not so much to break from our work as to let it settle for a moment.

Rebekah asked me a question about my definition of the word “providence,” and – consequently – we talked about the interactive quality that characterizes both our theologies. We both believe that God’s perfect will anticipates our obedient response, and that the place where those two elements meet (God’s plan and our positive participation) is a place loaded with power and potential.

PREACH IT! The sermon Rebekah was preparing focused on “The exhibition of the Kingdom to the world,” (the 6th of The Great Ends of the Church), while my Sunday-school lesson was about how “passion” impacts not only faith, but its application and practice every day.

Of course – no surprise here! – there was a lot of overlap between the two, even though her message and my class had been planned separately and according to unrelated timetables.

My class is one I co-teach with my new friend, Marvin. It’s called “The Daily Walk,” and has a lot of commonality in purpose with the Everyday Christianity class I taught with the estimable Charles Willard in Brandon. There were 36 in my group Sunday morning, most of them a little younger than me.

FAITH, LIVING AND INTERACTIVE! I guess what I’m writing about today is how cool it is that Rebekah and I get to have these conversations. We don’t talk about church stuff because of her job; no, we talk about faith because following Jesus is the primary focus of both of our lives, and of our life together. God works on us as well as through us.

Fact is, neither one of us would have very much to share with other people if we weren’t engaged in an ongoing faith walk that challenges us, transforms us, encourages us, perplexes us, and inspires us all at the same time.

I may begin my personal faith journey every day via my early morning Upper Room devotional; but later – at breakfast – Rebekah and I launch the mutual element of that Daily Walk via a devotional time together.

CELEBRATION: When we get to church on a Sunday morning, we’re simply there to celebrate what’s already going on every day.

• We share in songs of praise with others who are also walking with God;
• We join together as believers committed to being a vital community of living faith;
• We sing, we pray, and then Rebekah shares from her heart.

I love Sunday mornings! But I also love the part that gets us there, the moment by moment experience of light and life, day by day, as a family.

Peace, love, blessings, promise, and the celebration of praise! – DEREK