One Small Step for Jim, One Giant Leap for Ordination

With great excitement and relief I am glad to share that I passed the written and oral examination for licensure in the South Coast Presbytery here in southern California. It was actually an encouraging process. The canidates' committe was warm and friendly. I had heard horror stories of committees eating up and spitting out canidates, but I am convinced they were all for me. The questions they asked were thoughtful and approriate. The next step is to preach my sermon on Romans 5, "Rejoicing in Suffering" and to have a brief examination on the floor of Presbytery this Saturday. It is by no means a lay up, but the committe is not going to put you on the floor unless you are prepared.

I am so thanful, that in God's providence, my inlaws were visiting for eight days. They filled in the gaps with the kids while I disappeared for hours into my study cave. GLORY!

Please pray for our first two vision parties here in OB this weekend. Our first one is Saturday evening and our second is Sunday afternoon. I am so ready to start focusing my attention on planting this congregation.

Thank you again for all your prayers for my studies and examination. It could not have gone any better.