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.