Whoever pursues righteousness and love
    finds life, prosperity and honor. – Proverbs 21:21

As mentioned in an earlier post, I have a lot to share from the past weekend. So I thought this gallery of pictures would help.

We are at the front end of summer here, so the new growth on the trees still has some of the freshness of springtime about it. Those bright greens, a thousand shades, pop in the late afternoon sunshine and speak clearly of emerging life.

Then, also late afternoon, the view of our sanctuary at Howard Memorial. We walked over with our friend Chauncey to listen to him read through the eulogy he has prepared for his aunt’s memorial service this week. Her passing completes the witness of his parents’ generation and now – like me – he finds himself occupying the role of “family elder.” It is never a weight we would choose but there it is; and how will we lead?

Sunday afternoon Rebekah and I headed over to Rocky Mount for a ceremony honoring outstanding “older” adults in New Hope Presbytery. Our church recognized the lifelong faithfulness of Beth and Ben Brinson. We love what Beth did to her badge, scribbling out the “older” part of the designation.

Of course Beth is right. There is no qualifier when it comes to being a faithful follower of Jesus. We just do it because we have responded, because we are responding and because we will respond to God’s calling. But “thanks” to the honorees anyway, we do appreciate your positive example in so many ways.

The picture of Rebekah sharing her new artwork with our daughter Naomi via FaceTime also speaks volumes. The church hit exactly the right tone with the gift and Rebekah could not be happier.

Finally, the stormy skies over our church Saturday morning and then the welcome sight of our new home returning from a walk that same day in the evening.

The old song challenges us to count our blessings. I do, and then I try to take photographs of some of them so I can share with a world in need of some good news.

So peace, always and in every way – DEREK