From the Home Place

April 13, 2026

Starting at 44 degrees, headed for 65 with 24 mph wind gusting to 47 mph. For now, Friday looks like 30 degrees for a high with 1/2″ of snow! Moisture!

I love Sundays! That’s the day that we get to go to church and be involved in the lives of others, how much fun is that! Yesterday, I was blessed to get harassed by some folks, encouraged by some folks and to get to pray with other folks. I was exceedingly blessed to watch the baptism of several people making their public statement as Christ-followers!

I taught Sunday School, preached a sermon, sang some great music, prayed and totally enjoyed a day of giving more than I received. You see loved ones, that’s what Sunday is supposed to be. I think that our loving Heavenly Father desires us to follow His leading and to be generous givers. Giving of our time, our resources, our talents and giving of our spiritual gifts for the “building up” of the body, the local church.

I have experienced too many years of watching consumers attend church for what they get. Sure, we all go there to receive, but how often do we go to church looking for an opportunity to give? Yesterday I was blessed to get to hold the door for a person who was encouraged by a smile and a friendly voice. I was blessed to get to lead a Sunday School class where the “students” do most of the teaching. I was blessed to get to see people connect with their Heavenly Father while we studied the final verses of Ephesians 2 during our sermon time. I was blessed to get to see the large smile upon my dear wife’s face as she left church, having enjoyed a morning of being a blessing to others.

It semes to me that when we go to church to give instead of just receive, it is a much more enjoyable experience. Most of us love the old hymn “I Surrender All.” Yet, how often do we actually live it? Isn’t to “surrender” fulfilled when we give? It doesn’t matter what you have, be willing to give it for the blessing of someone else and watch your joy meter jump upward!

Now wait right there, the one thing that few care for you to give is your opinion. That’s right, few of us care about your opinion about politics. Try speaking words of joy. As the old saying goes, a nice smile is the one thing you can give that will be returned to you. Remember Jesus said that He came to give us His joy, how are we doing at passing that same joy along to others?

May I suggest we go to church next Sunday to actually “surrender all to Jesus.” That includes surrendering both attitude and action. When it comes to church, go to give and just watch what you receive back “pressed down and multiplied.”

Realizing that giving is real living, with you, Neal