Dear Friends in Christ,

    I received an interesting notice from the county tax collector's office this past week notifying me that my homemade wood and fiberglass boat, all nine feet and seven inches of it, had been appraised for county taxes in the amount of $3,125! Now that's really remarkable. The materials cost about $350 and then lots of sweat and hard work, but my grandson Cody and I have had lots of fun times on that little craft over the last two years---caught some nice fish, seen some beautiful scenery, watched some gorgeous sunrises, and observed deer, ospreys, and blue herons back in those little coves around the lake. So, one way of looking at the assessment is that it's really low, given the amount of enjoyment Cody and I have had using it since we gave it birth two summers ago! It's enhanced our relationship, and what price tag could ever be attached to something like that?

     You see, the most valuable thing in the world is relationships. Even in the church we recognize that people who join a church because they have a relationship with someone in the congregation, and yearn for a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ, tend to stay longer than those who don't know anyone in the congregation. And the most recent statistics tell us that people who develop friendships with four or five other people in the church also tend to remain a vital part of the church's life and ministry much longer than those who don't establish those friendships. Undergirding that truth is the statement that Jesus made, "By this all will know that you are my disciples, by the love you have one for another."

     In the August issue of the newsletter you'll find an article about "Bring a Friend Sunday" on August 30th. It's going to be a great day celebrating life and relationships at Rehobeth, and I hope you'll be intentional about inviting a friend, relative, associate, or neighbor to be your guest on that day for worship and fellowship. What a wonderful opportunity it will be for making new friends as well! In the meantime, I think I'll take a picture or two of the boat and take it up to Hickory and have a pleasant chat with the folks in the county tax office. Maybe I'll make a new friend there....

Yours in the Love of Christ and the Church,

Bob

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