Reverend Schneider lives out here on a pond in Niceville. It was the gorgeous setting for my morning devotions. Niceville is a beautiful place with water everywhere. Anyone that knows me well, knows I love water as a setting…especially waterfalls. I haven’t seen any waterfalls, but Niceville is right on the bay.

I also got a chance to read Nathan Hart’s sermon. I thought I’d share this excerpt:

I wish we could have kept some of the traditions of our religious ancestors of the Old Testament. They had a wonderful way of communicating God’s presence in community. I got to go to Israel a few years ago and learn about some of them. For example, at the beginning of the synagogue service, the people would be gathered. Women and men separated down the center, of course. Then, something amazing would happen. The Rabbi would enter through the back carrying the scrolls of the Torah in his hands. The People would erupt with gladness. Hw would literally dance down the center of the room with the scroll. The people would follow suit and dance and sing and shout with joy. Some of them close to the center would reach out as the scroll passed by to touch it and then touch their lips, that it might be as sweet as honey to them.