THE GREATEST THING TO HAPPEN TO ME SINCE JESUS

On this very busy Tuesday, we are a bit tired here in Indy. We closed out District Assembly yesterday. Another year is in the record books and we are now looking ahead during the church year 2009-1010 with anticipation. We look forward to all that God has in store for our churches and our individual ministries. The number one agenda item so many are talking about is the proposed merger of The Indianapolis District and the South West Indiana District. We will vote on the merger at next year’s Assembly.

As important as that merger is, I want to take a moment and remind us all of a couple of other very important mergers. Important merger number ONE is the day we gave our hearts to Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. None of us will ever forget the day we met Jesus at the altar of salvation. What a joyous occasion that was, and what a blessing it continues to be for all of us. We rejoice in the day we made Jesus a part of our lives.

The second important merger that I’m sure we all hold dearly is the one that husbands and wives celebrate every year. It was a merger that happened at the marriage altar. Do you remember the excitement of that special day guys? I know that you certainly remember the joy and beauty of that wonderful day as well ladies.

Friends, today, August 4th is the day that the greatest thing to happen to me since Jesus took place. It was the day Gwendolyn Marie Clark said “I DO” to Darryl John Bogatay. Believe it or not, that was Thirty-Seven Years ago today. Yes, young engaged and married couples I said 37 years ago. We began life together with the "Cool" Sum of $25.00 cash in my pocket! Friends, I am absolutely honored and blessed to tell you that Gwen is the joy of my life. She is my best friend. She is the awesome mother of our three wonderful kids and the blessed grandmother of our four beautiful grand children. She is God’s greatest gift to me since He gave me His son, Jesus. I love her more today than I did when I fell in love with her at first sight. There she was quietly reading at dusk, seated on the third step under the light of the Eternal Flame at Mount Vernon Nazarene University on September 6, 1970!

Guys, why not on this Tuesday, pause for a moment and thank the Lord for the wonderful help-mate He has given to you. Ladies, stop and offer a word of praise to God for the wonderful man who is the other half of your heart. I promise you that it will help you to remember how blessed you really are. Even though the struggles and challenges of life come to every married couple, the blessed truth is that we go through those times together. Even in the hardest of times God honors our love for each other as He honors our love for Him.

Thank you for letting me share from my heart today. Yes, the merger between the Indianapolis and the South West Indiana Districts is an important merger to consider. But, the merger of our lives with Christ must always be number one. And my prayer is that you will say about your spouse what I have always said about mine. She is; THE GREATEST THING TO HAPPEN TO ME SINCE JESUS!

Have a Blessed Tuesday and rest of the week.
Pastor Darryl