Are you ready for a spectacular Fourth of July? I hope you’ll have a chance to enjoy a hotdog, watch some fireworks and thank God for the freedoms you enjoy. Did you know there are many more reasons to celebrate this month? For instance, July is also home to National Zoo Day, National Air Conditioning Appreciation Day, National Motorcycle Day and many more!

Of course, July is also honored on the Hallmark channel by their Christmas in July promotion. This celebration is marked by rerunning Hallmark Christmas movies. Why not? I mean there are only 175 days until Christmas, right? I recently heard a comedian say that she had banned her husband from watching Hallmark movies with her. Why, you ask? Well, evidently he had started to ask stupid questions… like… “We’ve seen this one before, haven’t we?”

Sometimes I find it hard to stop and remember that there are plenty of reasons to celebrate. As a church family, though, I’ve been overwhelmed recently with reasons to say thanks to God and to celebrate!  1) We had the chance to commission our friend Dave Coleman for missionary service.  2) I just had a phone conversation with a mom who said, “My kids attended VBS and they really want to come to Wild and Wacky Wednesdays, how do I register?” (It was truly a Holy Spirit moment because I knew how to do it!) 3) Great stories about life change and just plain fun for kids and students at summer camp! 4) Nine baptisms in two weeks! 5) Record setting attendance in June! (Our average exceeded every month’s attendance in 2023 except for Christmas and Easter) Will you take some time and give thanks to God for the good things He is doing in and through Wallula?!

Don’t stop! Today is a great day to invite someone to worship with you at Wallula! This Sunday we begin a brand new preaching series called “Paul and Barnabas.” We will take a look at some amazing stories from Paul’s first missionary journey. This Sunday we’ll learn how our little lives are a part of God’s BIG mission to change the world! I can’t wait to share with you and your friends Acts 13:1-12.

See you Sunday!

Lance

But the word of God increased and multiplied.

- Acts 12:24