The Joy of Human Love

Good morning, Loved Ones,

Today is the one year anniversary of our Gimme Cinco discipline. Over 3700 expressions of gratitude have been shared among us in 52 weeks. We started out with 25 friends on our list and now have 74. Today we welcome eight new thankful people. Bienvenidos a Christy, Chrysanne, Jeanine, Jeanette, Deanna, K.R., Vicki and Ron. All are friends from communities across Kansas.

As you prepare to celebrate with family and friends this week consider this 'familiar' verse:

For the joy of human love,
Brother, sister, parent, child,
Friends on earth, and friends above,
For all gentle thoughts and mild,
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our grateful hymn of praise.

Today I give thanks for . . .

. . . this community of gratitude and hope, for the shared thankfulness that has lifted me up week after week for the last year, for the stories we have shared of grace and challenge.

. . . my old buddy, Bob, who has reached out and created an opportunity for us have some fun together and reconnect.

. . . the Public Square community of friends who together are bringing new life to small towns and communities.

. . . the youth of Grandview Park Church and their leader, Randy, who continue to amaze and inspire, for their special thanksgiving dinner and gathering last night that brought together a wide variety of friends.

. . . Sam who returns today at 1:45 pm, for Luke who is out of school and has more time to battle me on FIFA 2010.

. . . Los Tiburones U17 soccer team -- a group of young men who help keep me young.

. . . an unexpected call this morning from a friend testifying to the power of prayer, community and the joy of human love.

OK, so I overshot the goal by two. Gimme Cinco or Gimme Siete or Gimme Doce. Just give me some "gentle thoughts and mild." Let's share our gratitude.

Gimme Cinco and hit reply to all!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Pastor Rick
http://gimmecinco.blogspot.com/