Sunday, August 05, 2007

Commissioning Service for Michael and Joe Joe

Michael and Joe Joe are gifts to our body. It was good to see their parents and family for the service and it reminded me of the hot afternoon that they were married at Tatesbrook a few years ago.

On that day, both of the air conditioner units in the sanctuary were out and the wedding was balmy. We had fans set up before and after the wedding to help move cooler air in from other parts of the building. As we commissioned them to head to Tanzania, they will soon be experienced longer periods of more uncomfortable conditions than they did on their wedding day.

I can't begin to think how much our family will miss Michael and Joe Joe. Even though they are much younger than Jackie and I, their contributions to the marriage group that we attended together were filled with wisdom beyond their years and always creative and full of love.

Michael has taught Adam everything that Adam knows about drumming in three years of lessons. Michael predicted that being a drummer would get Adam in trouble and he was right. Michael's love of music has inspired more than Adam within our family.

As I read "Lead Like Jesus", I knew that Michael, Joe Joe, Matt and Kim would all identify with the calling that compels us to serve as He did. As we studied this book together, it was Joe Joe that contributed the depth.

The commissioning service did not disappoint us. It was tremendously worshipful and creative. I loved the comparison of Michael and Joe Joe to Abraham and Sarah in Genesis 12 by all the speakers at the service.

As they depart from Haran, we are happy about the message they will carry and the packaging and delivery that has caused us to love them so.

Haran replies, "Good Bye Michael and Joe Joe!"

You can follow the ministry of Michael and Joe Joe on their blog: GoodbyeHaran

No comments: