Switched the routine for my morning coffee rush. Went to McDonald's and picked up some java to jump start my personal engine...good stuff that Mickey D's coffee! Don't forget the newspaper too...it has become part of my early morning activity. So much stuff to read about on the great FLOOD OF '08.Schedule today was pretty tight...
- Met one local contractor @ 9 am
- Met with the pastor of our temporary location @ 10:30 am (looking ahead to work out an arrangement for mid-week small group ministry)
- Stopped by the 7th Street Church of God to talk with the pastor (their church was flooded too; however, everyone was gone, so I left my business card in the door...hope he will call me...we need each other!)
- Met with a couple for ministry preparation and prayer support between appt's
- Was interrupted by the unannounced visit of an electrician that was answering my call to do some crucial electrical work before power can be restored to our air conditioners in the main sanctuary...had to get him to work (don't want to mismanage God's miracle provision and blessing!)
- Met another contractor who is from Indy @ 1 pm.
- Visited briefly with the project manager on a cost review of restoration work already performed...ouch, the bill is zooming up heavenward...wonder what God is going to do with this one...but, this is His responsibility, not mine! He is the Architect, Manager and Provider, I'm only a simple servant...
- Went to another appointment @ 2:30 pm...
- Came back to "command central" and checked on the progress of our basement clean-up...wow, those guys are booking it down there...literally an amazing transformation since they started just two days ago on Monday.
- Did some office work and tried to veg out in the air conditioned "command center"...it felt good to lean back in my office chair!
- Opened up some mail and was greatly encouraged by the three checks for our "Flood Fund" that I just began this past Sunday to deal with our own personal church disaster
- Noticed that my lovely wife had visited at my temporary personal desk and cubicle area to decorate it, clean it, arrange it, place some personal items and pictures there, plus position some great snacks and goodies in the drawer for when I'm on the go...which hasn't stopped since the flood hit on 6-07-08!
Tonight was Wednesday night. Normally, we have family activities and ministry positioned throughout our regional worship center. But not tonight. I had to cancel them due to no available and safe space to meet here @ CFA. In the near future we'll have them at our temporary location, but not right now...too much is happening. I was happy to see that my youth pastor, Pastor Joel, had arranged a youth gathering tonight at our flood damaged church outside to worship, pray and work. Not a bad agenda PJP! I even hung around to assist with the pick-up of sticks, limbs, trash, shoes, cups, etc. on our church grounds. It was fun to be side by side with the young people of our church. They not only picked up on our property, washed the parking lot, but they also went over to a neighbor's house to pick up a pile of branches too. We've got a great group of kids...so proud of their efforts tonight. Very encouraging and inspiring to me.
While on the trash pick-up crew, a neighbor informed us that the shed that had floated down to our line of bushes and anchored away, was not going to be picked up and retrieved by another of the area neighbors. Looks like a good job for the Royal Rangers...any one of our rangers reading this?? Remember I announced this past Sunday that we need to have our own LIFE small group meetings on our own...this sounds like a great idea for one!
This neighbor had members from her church helping to renovate and repair her home too. Time and time again the story goes of church members banding together to help one another out. I even saw the pastor inside the door and yelled out a hearty hello to him. Such camaraderie that this flood has given to our community...amazing!
Several of our people continue to come out and inspect the progress, encourage us in our efforts, bring their tithes to the "command center office", and work around in a variety of roles.
Rand Havens has accepted an important point man position in our church foyer. He'd like to see it as our Receiving Manager...but I had to have him see it from the ministry aspect of this new post...serving and touching wounded hearts with the love of Jesus! You know what...HE IS DOING AN AWESOME JOB! The first day on the job he was speaking spanish to a couple of ladies in desperate need of clothes, water and food. You know what I would have done...I would have said, "No Espanol!" (not even sure if I spelled that right, but you get the gist!). God continues to put our people into valuable roles of ministry right in the heart of this disaster zone. We are definitely taking back what the devil has stolen from us...take that devil...God trumps you and dumps you in the pit...you clearly have no authority over us. We serve the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords!!! Yahhhooo...God is for us, not against us!
- Bumped into David Holman at McDonald's picking up his coffee...great brother...good to have you back in the fellowship Dave. Glad you had a great vacation!
- David Tays was out in the parking lot power washing the dirt off of it.
- Sandy Horton was back in "command central" answering the phones after Kristy left from her shift.
- Pastor Joel was trying to cover a host of vacant holes for me...he even picked up a Subway foot-long sandwich that I ate during one of my appointments with contractors. What an armor bearer you are becoming my dear friend and associate!
- Terri Hurd stopped by to present me with a new "Flood of 08" Columbus T-Shirt that has been designed and created for disaster relief efforts...thanks Terri for thinking of your Pastor. You made my day!
- I'm sure others from our fellowship dropped by as well, but those were some of the ones I touched base with....if you've not been over to lend a hand, what are you waiting for...get in on this action?
God loves you so very much and so do I!
Until next day...
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