Okay, so I have had a few people from VCC asking about recent posts on my blog. They didn't leave comments, but they have lovingly questioned me, out of concern. Let me clear the air:
I believe that God called me to ministry at VCC. That call is as clear today as it was in May of 2000. Nothing has changed in that regard. Have I been less than happy with the way some things have gone lately? Yes. Am I over it? Pretty much. I still have my bad days just like anyone else, but I still believe that God called me to ministry at VCC.
There are lots of changes taking place these days, and change always brings with it, discomfort. I am praying that God helps me as I move out of my comfort zone, and that He will clearly show me what He wants, so that I can line up my will with His. I am looking forward to getting back into a teaching situation with pre-schoolers in December. I am looking forward to working out the children's and youth Christmas program. I am looking forward to taking the teens to FCYC in December, to Impact Weekend at Florida Christian College in February, to Middle School Believe Conference in March, and to gearing up for summer camp at Lake Aurora and CIY Summer Conference. I look forward to rolling on the floor with the pre-school children on Sunday mornings, and banging my head with teens at Christian Concerts.
So, I hope this helps folks understand that while I have had my stormy times, I am at peace with where I am, and why I am here. God is good.
Sunday, September 25, 2005
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
What a Weekend
What do you get when you combine a memorial service for a dear sister in Christ who has passed on, a state ministers' association luncheon at Florida Christian College, the Florida Christian Convention in Kissimmee, and having the college president preach at your church, with a chance to meet your oldest son's girlfriend's parents for the first time? Our weekend from Friday, Sept. 16 through Sunday Sept. 18th!
I led in some songs for the memorial service on Friday morning to honor Nancy Dodson, a dear sister in Christ who has gone to be with the Lord. I miss her a lot, but I am so glad she is at rest following a battle with Lukemia. Peggy and I had to leave the service a little bit early so we could get to Florida Christian College for the state minister's assocation meeting/luncheon. Ric Huxford, the minister of outreach at Swiss Cove Christian Church in Jacksonville, spoke and sang to the ministers and their wives. It was a great luncheon...very encouraging, and very needed. We saw Abi at the lunch, and she wanted to introduce us to her parents, but first we spent some time speaking with one of the newer professors at FCC, Dr. Les Hardin. Les was the youth minister at Gateway Church of Christ in St. Albans, WV, many moons ago, and we did a NYLC trip to Joplin together one year. It was so wild seeing him and realizing that Elliott's Greek Professor is a YM bud from years ago!
We then did have the opportunity to be formally introduced to Dave and Jan Pardue, and felt an immediate connection that goes beyond the fact that our children are dating one another. Dave is the preacher at the Christian Church In The Wildwood and we immeidately knew that we had great friends in Christ as we spoke with Dave and Jan. We had plans for lunch together on Saturday, but as we made dinner plans with Elliott (can you say "Welcome to Moe's?"), we wound up brining the Pardues into those plans. Abi could not go with us, because of duties she had with the Florida Christian Convention, but the meal was wonderful, and we won't even talk about the desert at Coldstone Creamery afterwards.
Finally, it was time for the convention to begin. The song service Friday night was the crowd favorite of the weekend, a stirring rendition of hymns, led by Eli Reyes and the Southside Christian Church praise team. FCC President Harold Armstrong gave a stirring message on the history of the Christian Church in the state of Florida. Friday night after the first session of the covnention, Peggy and I went over to Elliott's apartment, where we had a great visit with Elliott, Tyler and Andrew. Nice gift idea planted in my head, there, Andrew! We left the apartment close to midnight and headed to our motel room to crash for a couple of hours before the Saturday sessions of the convention got underway.
Saturday's morning schedule included a panel discussion on evangelism and outreach issues that was very good. We also got to see lots of folks from around the state we know and love, and then the morning worship session (my personal favorite) included contemporary songs and a message about where the church is today by Paul Williams. This was by far my favorite session of the convention (not that the others were bad). Then, it was the planned lunch with the Pardues and the Blounts...the six of us, heading to Sonny's for some bar-b-que. Another great visit, then the kids were off again quickly because of their commitments to the convention and to Mid-Lakes Christian Church (more on that in a minute). We headed back to the convention site, and hooked up with the Collins family from VCC, hanging out with them for the afternoon worship service. The song service was a little more post modern in flavor, not a crowd favorite, but I am glad it was done. Dave Ferguson's message on the emerging church was delivered via video as an emergency had come up precluding his ability to travel to Florida. As things ended shortly after 3 o'clock that afternoon, convention president Aaron Chambers had folks in the crowd place their hands on the ministers and spouses in the crowd and pray for them. Made me cry. Dirty dog!
Peggy and I had planned to go to Mid-Lakes Christian Church because Elliott is now leading the contemporary worship service there on Saturday nights. Since we were only 50 miles away, it made sense for us to head up to see Elliott in action. Abi wanted to go, and we offered to take her up with us, since we would come right back by the college on our way home. Abi's parents then decided they would go, as did Abi's brother, sister-in-law, neice and nephew, so we had a big crew of Elliott supporters heading to the church Saturday evening. Now, the Pardues have been family friends with the preacher at the Mid-Lakes Christian Church and his family for many years, so it was like a family homecoming. Good times for sure. Elliott's breaking of a guitar string during worship wouldn't have been all that funny except that the guitar wasn't Elliott's. He had to borrow one since he had left his guitar locked in a music practice room at the college. Oh how funny!
The most disappointing aspect of the weekend? Our attempted trip to Taco John's. I say the attempted trip because the placed was closed by 9 o'clock on a SATURDAY NIGHT! Major disappointment as I was looking forward to some famous green sauce on some burrito. Had to settle for a hamburger joint instead. Enjoyed the extra visit with Elliott and Abi, but the lack of Taco John's was a true bummer. Then, we dropped Elliott back off, headed for Kissimmee with Abi, dropped her at the college, and headed for Vero Beach, arriving home at 12:30am!
After what was not nearly enough sleep, it was time to get things ready for the two Sunday morning worship services, and the Bible Class I teach. Harold Armstrong preached, and it was wonderful. Both services went very well. Emily drove home from church, a first for her. Much more excitement is involved in that story, but it is a family story only. Sorry. After what was much too short of a nap, it was time to get ready for youth groups, which was very well attended, then Emily and I ended the weekend with the viewing of the 1931 movie, "Dracula" with Bela Lugosi. Props to Lil Bro Ed for the Netflix hookup making this movie viewing possible!
I had sweet dreams as I headed for la-la land that night.
Wow, this is a long post. Hope it thrills you to read it. It was a great weekend, and this sorry attempt to describe it doesn't come close to doing it justice.
I led in some songs for the memorial service on Friday morning to honor Nancy Dodson, a dear sister in Christ who has gone to be with the Lord. I miss her a lot, but I am so glad she is at rest following a battle with Lukemia. Peggy and I had to leave the service a little bit early so we could get to Florida Christian College for the state minister's assocation meeting/luncheon. Ric Huxford, the minister of outreach at Swiss Cove Christian Church in Jacksonville, spoke and sang to the ministers and their wives. It was a great luncheon...very encouraging, and very needed. We saw Abi at the lunch, and she wanted to introduce us to her parents, but first we spent some time speaking with one of the newer professors at FCC, Dr. Les Hardin. Les was the youth minister at Gateway Church of Christ in St. Albans, WV, many moons ago, and we did a NYLC trip to Joplin together one year. It was so wild seeing him and realizing that Elliott's Greek Professor is a YM bud from years ago!
We then did have the opportunity to be formally introduced to Dave and Jan Pardue, and felt an immediate connection that goes beyond the fact that our children are dating one another. Dave is the preacher at the Christian Church In The Wildwood and we immeidately knew that we had great friends in Christ as we spoke with Dave and Jan. We had plans for lunch together on Saturday, but as we made dinner plans with Elliott (can you say "Welcome to Moe's?"), we wound up brining the Pardues into those plans. Abi could not go with us, because of duties she had with the Florida Christian Convention, but the meal was wonderful, and we won't even talk about the desert at Coldstone Creamery afterwards.
Finally, it was time for the convention to begin. The song service Friday night was the crowd favorite of the weekend, a stirring rendition of hymns, led by Eli Reyes and the Southside Christian Church praise team. FCC President Harold Armstrong gave a stirring message on the history of the Christian Church in the state of Florida. Friday night after the first session of the covnention, Peggy and I went over to Elliott's apartment, where we had a great visit with Elliott, Tyler and Andrew. Nice gift idea planted in my head, there, Andrew! We left the apartment close to midnight and headed to our motel room to crash for a couple of hours before the Saturday sessions of the convention got underway.
Saturday's morning schedule included a panel discussion on evangelism and outreach issues that was very good. We also got to see lots of folks from around the state we know and love, and then the morning worship session (my personal favorite) included contemporary songs and a message about where the church is today by Paul Williams. This was by far my favorite session of the convention (not that the others were bad). Then, it was the planned lunch with the Pardues and the Blounts...the six of us, heading to Sonny's for some bar-b-que. Another great visit, then the kids were off again quickly because of their commitments to the convention and to Mid-Lakes Christian Church (more on that in a minute). We headed back to the convention site, and hooked up with the Collins family from VCC, hanging out with them for the afternoon worship service. The song service was a little more post modern in flavor, not a crowd favorite, but I am glad it was done. Dave Ferguson's message on the emerging church was delivered via video as an emergency had come up precluding his ability to travel to Florida. As things ended shortly after 3 o'clock that afternoon, convention president Aaron Chambers had folks in the crowd place their hands on the ministers and spouses in the crowd and pray for them. Made me cry. Dirty dog!
Peggy and I had planned to go to Mid-Lakes Christian Church because Elliott is now leading the contemporary worship service there on Saturday nights. Since we were only 50 miles away, it made sense for us to head up to see Elliott in action. Abi wanted to go, and we offered to take her up with us, since we would come right back by the college on our way home. Abi's parents then decided they would go, as did Abi's brother, sister-in-law, neice and nephew, so we had a big crew of Elliott supporters heading to the church Saturday evening. Now, the Pardues have been family friends with the preacher at the Mid-Lakes Christian Church and his family for many years, so it was like a family homecoming. Good times for sure. Elliott's breaking of a guitar string during worship wouldn't have been all that funny except that the guitar wasn't Elliott's. He had to borrow one since he had left his guitar locked in a music practice room at the college. Oh how funny!
The most disappointing aspect of the weekend? Our attempted trip to Taco John's. I say the attempted trip because the placed was closed by 9 o'clock on a SATURDAY NIGHT! Major disappointment as I was looking forward to some famous green sauce on some burrito. Had to settle for a hamburger joint instead. Enjoyed the extra visit with Elliott and Abi, but the lack of Taco John's was a true bummer. Then, we dropped Elliott back off, headed for Kissimmee with Abi, dropped her at the college, and headed for Vero Beach, arriving home at 12:30am!
After what was not nearly enough sleep, it was time to get things ready for the two Sunday morning worship services, and the Bible Class I teach. Harold Armstrong preached, and it was wonderful. Both services went very well. Emily drove home from church, a first for her. Much more excitement is involved in that story, but it is a family story only. Sorry. After what was much too short of a nap, it was time to get ready for youth groups, which was very well attended, then Emily and I ended the weekend with the viewing of the 1931 movie, "Dracula" with Bela Lugosi. Props to Lil Bro Ed for the Netflix hookup making this movie viewing possible!
I had sweet dreams as I headed for la-la land that night.
Wow, this is a long post. Hope it thrills you to read it. It was a great weekend, and this sorry attempt to describe it doesn't come close to doing it justice.
Thursday, September 15, 2005
Hold Me Jesus
My second favorite songwritier of all time, Rich Mullins, (Elliott Blount is my favorite, okay?) wrote:
"Hold me Jesus, cause I'm shaking like a leaf
You have been King of my glory, won't You be my Prince of Peace?"
Even with the latest Switchfoot and Audio Adrenaline CD's having just come out, and all the time I have spent listening to them to do reviews for a newsletter to which I contribute, this old Rich Mullins tune is stuck in my head today. It is so comforting.
There has been a pretty big whirlwind blowing around in my life these days, thus the relative few updates on this blog. What it all boils down to (doesn't it always) is: submit to God's Will. God has planted me in this place at this time, for HIS purpose. I was in the whining mode, trying to get God to make things fall into place the way I thought they should. I am such a doofus. I should have realized that a lack of response to a written proposal means that the "powers at be" aren't interested. I should have realized that the taking away of one of my personal favorite ministry areas so I could "concentrate" on other ministry areas was a way of showing me where things were going for me here. I finally wised up when I realized that my back is not being covered by those in the position to do so if I am to deal with the "adults" in our congregation on a regular basis. Should've known.
"Hold me Jesus, cause I'm shaking like a leaf
You have been King of my glory, won't You be my Prince of Peace?"
"Hold me Jesus, cause I'm shaking like a leaf
You have been King of my glory, won't You be my Prince of Peace?"
Even with the latest Switchfoot and Audio Adrenaline CD's having just come out, and all the time I have spent listening to them to do reviews for a newsletter to which I contribute, this old Rich Mullins tune is stuck in my head today. It is so comforting.
There has been a pretty big whirlwind blowing around in my life these days, thus the relative few updates on this blog. What it all boils down to (doesn't it always) is: submit to God's Will. God has planted me in this place at this time, for HIS purpose. I was in the whining mode, trying to get God to make things fall into place the way I thought they should. I am such a doofus. I should have realized that a lack of response to a written proposal means that the "powers at be" aren't interested. I should have realized that the taking away of one of my personal favorite ministry areas so I could "concentrate" on other ministry areas was a way of showing me where things were going for me here. I finally wised up when I realized that my back is not being covered by those in the position to do so if I am to deal with the "adults" in our congregation on a regular basis. Should've known.
"Hold me Jesus, cause I'm shaking like a leaf
You have been King of my glory, won't You be my Prince of Peace?"
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
I Passed!
Well, I didn't hear from the doc yesterday, and got in much trouble with my Bride for not having checked in on my stress test. Guess I was too stressed to remember.
Anyway, I got a call this morning after I ran back by the house. I had been at the hospital for Ruby Shaffer's surgery (which went wonderfully well), and a visit with Elaine Waldschmidt at Atlantic Rehab. So, the call from Dr. Fischman's office confirmed that I do indeed have a heart. There has been some doubt lately. Not only that, but my heart is apparently normal. "No heart problems," was the word. If they only knew...
Anyway, I got a call this morning after I ran back by the house. I had been at the hospital for Ruby Shaffer's surgery (which went wonderfully well), and a visit with Elaine Waldschmidt at Atlantic Rehab. So, the call from Dr. Fischman's office confirmed that I do indeed have a heart. There has been some doubt lately. Not only that, but my heart is apparently normal. "No heart problems," was the word. If they only knew...
Friday, September 09, 2005
Stress Tested
Well, now I am just awaiting the results...did I pass, Doc, did I pass? I'll have to wait until Monday to know for sure. I took the resting part of my stress test yesterday, and took a nap while resting (Sleep being my favorite spiritual discipline). This morning, after getting sandpapered down - yess, the actually use some type of sandpaper on you before hooking the sensor patches to your chest, sides and stomach, can you say "tender"? -poked in the hand for the IV, then I got to hit the treadmill until my heart rate got to 150 beats per minute, then they injected me with the radioactive juice, and had me walk for at least one more minute to get the juice to my heart. I breathed like I was excercising, but it really was not a big deal. Then, I got to eat my snack (peanutbutter and crackers), drink some water, and wait until it was time for me to let the big ole heart imaging camera map my heart. I had that part yesterday, too, so they can compare the resting shots with the "stressed" shots. All in all, I was out in about two hours. It will hurt more to pull the tape off my hand - can you say "hairs"? - than even getting the needle put in or going through the treadmill excercise.
Emily has had a migraine trying to get to her this morning, so I will check on her, get ready for work, and go at it.
Did I pass, doc, did I pass?
Emily has had a migraine trying to get to her this morning, so I will check on her, get ready for work, and go at it.
Did I pass, doc, did I pass?
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
Emily Drives
Lesson number five: parking spaces & backing up in the rain. Several A plus parking grades.
Friday, September 02, 2005
Driving Miss Emily
In the midst of many national, regional and personal crises, yesterday was a wonderful break from the ordinary. You see, my Chick-A-Boo got her drivers' permit yesterday, and we went for her first driving lesson. She was petrified at first, more than a little intimidated by driving that "big ole van." She warmed up to it quite nicely though, and our hour's worth of her first driving experience was truly wonderful. It was so cool to watch her glow with excitement as she got the hang of the twisting, turning course through the church parking lot. I am so proud of her!
As much as I know it thrilled her, it thrilled me even more. I look forward to many more driving lessons with Emily, starting with another one today, if I get my act together and get everything done early enough this afternoon for us to have the lesson. Guess that means this post has come to an end.
Oh wait, one more bit of FANTASTIC NEWS: Ian received a postcard of encouragement from his English teacher with grades of a 96 and 100 on two recent tests/essays! YAY Ian!!!! Thursday was the best day I've had in many weeks!
As much as I know it thrilled her, it thrilled me even more. I look forward to many more driving lessons with Emily, starting with another one today, if I get my act together and get everything done early enough this afternoon for us to have the lesson. Guess that means this post has come to an end.
Oh wait, one more bit of FANTASTIC NEWS: Ian received a postcard of encouragement from his English teacher with grades of a 96 and 100 on two recent tests/essays! YAY Ian!!!! Thursday was the best day I've had in many weeks!
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