Here Comes the Bride...

Not toward me, thankfully. Heh heh, just kidding.

Well, today was Chris and EA's wedding, and as I'd hoped, it was a spectacular occasion. Believe it or not, I actually found Concoxions Cornerstone with ease and got every single one of my turns right on the first attempt. Gah! That never happens! Usually I can count on at least one wrong turn just when it's right in front of me. Heh.

But anyway, yeah, I found the theater and quickly reunited with most of the old BCM gang. Lauren, Will, Elloa, Anna, John, Dawn, and most of the others were all there. Taylor, of course, was Best Man (and Taylor, buddy, as much as you may despise me for doing this...I'm going to have to call you out on your assessment of your title. You make a GREAT Best Man. Not Pretty-Good Man - BEST Man. You ask Chris; I'm sure he'll tell you that he was honored to have you standing at his side. So there :), and Andrew and Justin served as the Groomsmen. Kat was a Bridesmaid, and Shari, Chris and Taylor's sister, was the Maid of Honor. So yeah, it was a pleasant ceremony conducted in that cozy little theater. Chris and EA...the best way I feel I can describe their expressions was...relieved. Relieved to finally make it to this point. Relieved to finally stand before their friends and family and unite as one body, mind, and soul. Relieved that they both made it up the steps to the altar without stumbling on the tricky boards (well, almost). And mostly, relieved that their future as husband and wife rests in God's hands.

I really enjoyed the music during the prelude. Mike Blackwood, the pianist, played several of my favorite hymns, and Matthew, EA's brother, did a good job on Beethoven's "Ode to Joy." The best part, though, was hearing the duet of Lauren and Taylor on "Love Song for a Savior" by one of Taylor's favorite group of artists, Jars of Clay. Those two really have something special. I can just see it when they talk, when they sing, just what God is doing in their relationship. I wonder how long it'll be before it's their turn to take the altar at the theater...please excuse me while I get out of here before Taylor hunts me down for that...heh, you're just not getting a break in this post.

Rodney Norvell, our campus minister, read a selection from C.S. Lewis' "Mere Christianity" during the message. We both remarked at the end how tough it was trying to read his words; I mentioned that I wouldn't have made it past the first line without stumbling over an unfamiliar word (I think it was "petrol," short for petroleum). Chris' father, Bill Cox, who runs Concoxions Cornerstone, directed the ceremony, and he did a really fabulous job. I loved how he kept emphasizing the fact that when two people commit themselves to each other as Chris and EA did, they're making a covenant both with each other, with their respective families, and with God. Mr. Cox put it in awesome perspective by saying that this wasn't just a wedding occasion; this was also a chance to worship the Lord. I have always been amazed by the powerful love that exists between Chris and EA in the short time I have known them, and I know both are dedicated to following God's plan that has now brought them into this union, and will continue to be carried out through their lives together. They are both wonderful people, and I know they are going to bless and touch others in their new life by their example of the love of Jesus Christ in their hearts.

Song of the Day: Jars of Clay - "Love Song for a Savior" (Sorry, Taylor. I know you're sick of this one)

Verse of the Day: "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy; it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails..." - 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

(Chris has used this passage many times in BCM, showing how much Paul's words have touched and blessed his life. I was glad to see it used again during the message.)