Break's Over...Back to Work!

Washing Grandma's car...a family tradition!

Tammy and Ashlyn with Neena!

Two huge commercial kitchen appliances!

Heavy dudes (the appliances that is!)...one about 480 lbs. and the other 400 lbs!

Bathroom partitions...

Got showers!

Temporary walls came down...

Stove has to go in the kitchen...

Since coming back from Spring Break I've been busy catching up on lots of things around CFA! (Why is it when you go away you've got to work twice as hard to make up the ground that you lost when you were gone....oh well, it's all good!)

Last blog entry I was in Missouri on Spring Break. We had a blast! Got to spend time with my mother and also my oldest son who is a sophomore at Evangel University. While on his campus we were able to stop by Dr. Spence's brand new office and and also the new board room. Wow...impressive! What a beautiful building to finalize the campus' long-term building plans. The last of the hospital barracks will soon be torn down. What an amazing journey this university has had over the last 20 years or so.

On Sunday we had a great day. I preached a strong message entitled, "The Stark Reality of Sin" in the morning service. God has been speaking to us about holiness, righteousness, purity and standing clean before a Holy God. You can listen to this message here by clicking on the sermon title above. Watch out...it just might hurt...but you need to hear this!

Then I chaired two committee meetings in the next couple of days. Trying to stay on target and stay on task with all the duties and responsibilities. I have great supporting team members who are running with the vision. BIG THINGS are just up the road. The CFA Vision for 2009 cheers us on: This is the Year to Rebound!! Praise God for His encouragement and motivation.

Today was mostly spent with assignments connected to the flood rebuilding project. Lots of items to take care of on Wednesday. Happy for what the Lord has helped me to accomplish. I hope to be able to give you the date soon for the return to utilizing our Regional Worship Center. Lord willing, you'll either hear about it in church on Sunday or in my next blog posting.

I've included some new updated pictures for you to get a glimpse of how things are shaping up around CFA. Would you believe I'm having problems again with our carpet company? The carpet that we received from the mill was defective so they are working to resolve it. Plus, the installers are giving me fits too! What is it with my carpet company? Are they all like this? Grrrrrhhhhhh!!

Continue to pray and believe with us that we will dedicate our Regional Worship Center on June 7th DEBT FREE!! We're still praying. We're still trusting our Great God. Miracles still come in all shapes and sizes. Just this week we received a check from friends in Colorado. Thank you Lord for promising to take care of this huge need! Yes, All things are possible with God!

Please enlist in this faithful army of concerned and compassionate Christians who are helping us reach the promise the Lord gave to us! You can contribute online at our church website or send it to our church office address: CFA, 2100 10th Street, Columbus, IN 47201. Thanks so much!

Gotta go...I'm getting hungry...been a long day!

Love to all!

Spring Break!

We finally got to take a little break this week and visit some family in Arkansas and Missouri. It's been a great trip thus far with beautiful Ozark scenery. Enjoying my time with the family!!

First stop on the Spring Break Journey was down in Conway, Arkansas. We were able to visit with Tammy's parents, two brothers and also her sister and nephew. Weather got up to around 82 degrees today. Amazing! You could see the trees budding and the start of some new green grass too. Wonder what it's doing back home...will my grass need to be cut? Kinda doubt it...

Next we drove up I-65 into Missouri and are staying with my mom here in Nixa. This part of the round trip journey is one of the toughest to conquer...twisting roads, hairpin turns, up long winding mountains and also down them too! Thankful no one got sick on this trek...though we haven't been so successful in the past!

We will hook up with our son Jordon in Springfield tomorrow at Evangel University. He enjoyed his Spring Break a couple of weeks ago...though working at the Hut most of his week off probably wouldn't earn the most fun award during break...except for the paycheck!!!!!!

Back at CFA carpet and cove base are being installed this week; plus plumbing fixtures, bathroom partitions, electrical work and other final construction details being completed as our Flood Rebuilding Project begins to wind down. Everyone is waiting to get back into our Regional Worship Center and begin using it for our weekly small groups and other vital ministries and outreaches.

This past Sunday we were blessed with the ministry of Dr. Robert Spence, President of Evangel University in Springfield, Missouri. He preached a powerful message out of the Book of Jeremiah on the prospect of HOPE. God has a glorious future for every one who will follow His plan and live according to His Word. You can listen to his message right here...

We continue to pray that our Mighty God would miraculously meet the financial need of our total FLOOD REBUILDING PROJECT. Our prayer is that God will supply the funds to dedicate this facility totally DEBT FREE! It's a big prayer...but we've got a BIG GOD! You can help us by donating at our church website. Thanks for doing your part in this amazing miracle!

Check back for an update early next week with some new pictures. Thanks for following along on this historic faith journey with our church, Columbus First Assembly. It's been an incredible RIDE!

Love to all....

From your Spring Break Pastor!

9 months and counting...

Ceiling panels installed...

Prepping for the ceiling acoustical spraying...

Lots of prep work before the spraying...

Mixing the spray and ceiling material...

...it was quite the mess...

Ceilings are done...

...kinda looks like a fluffy cottage cheese...

Finished!

Installing the doors...

Before...

After!

Before...

After!

Before...

After!

Hard to believe but it's been nine months and counting since the Flood of 2008. We can't and we won't forget the date: 6.07.08. But we will also forge some beautiful new memories with the planned Dedication of our completely restored regional worship center: 6.07.09. Just think...that's less than 3 months away!

The last seven days since my last post has seen measurable progress on our rebuild:

• The walkway from the new 10th Street entrance door has been poured and formed.
• The ramp off the new toddler wing east entrance door has been poured and formed.
• The old walkway to the old entrance by the mailbox has been broken up and removed.
• The basement floors have been finished with colored chips and a top clear coat.
• Just about all of the doors have been installed...however, we are still waiting on the door handle assembly packs to arrive!
• Plus, the basement ceiling in the commons area was recently sprayed with a unique acoustical insulation blend...this provides us with more open space between floor and ceiling and lends a warmth to the overall ministry space.
• The electricians continue to install bathroom lights, fans, switches, kitchen outlets, and a host of other electrical details.
• The painters are in and out with their continuous touch up work.
• The HVAC guys were in finishing up the ductwork and vents in the drop ceilings.
  
• Finally, we received an overhead ceiling inspection which allowed the drop ceiling guys to finish up the installation of all ceiling acoustical tiles.

As you can see, there was a lot of action on our flood rebuild this past week. But there is still a LOT OF WORK to go before we are finally finished. We continue to press on and push forward in order to reclaim our entire ministry space once again!

Last Thursday night my wife and I attended our Area Minister's Meeting in Greenwood. Great chance to visit with friends and fellowship together. It was a good breakaway.

On Sunday I preached a message entitled, "Standing Before a Holy God!" It was another one in a series the Lord is having me preach concerning holiness and purity. It is a message the Lord is speaking to His Church today. I also heard this reiterated at my minister's meeting. Lord, I pray that your message is welcomed, received and accepted with open hearts. Continue your work in me! Cleanse our hearts and purify our lives.

We started Chapter Two in the Study of John in our mid-week service. Great beginning to the miracle ministry of Jesus...with lots of good discussion on how his first miracle came to be. Remember, Jesus turning the water into wine. This specifically was used to reveal His glory to the disciples and those that were watching.

Tomorrow I'm hoping to take a full day off...but you never know when I'll be called back to the church to help answer a question or provide direction in a matter.

Looking forward to having Dr. Robert H. Spence from Evangel University as my special guest this coming Sunday, March 15th. It is such an honor to have this distinguished leader ministering God's Word to us. If you are in the area, we would love to have you join us for this special service!

Our current project is securing funds for the chairs, tables, and classroom supplies needed in our church basement. We won't be able to reclaim our ministry space without them. If you could help with a gift, please send it to CFA or make an online donation here - click on the "Giving" button. Thanks so much!

Until next time, be encouraged in the great things that God is doing right now...in your heart, in your home and in your church! Look up...your redemption draweth nigh!

God bless you!

March Madness

Bath on the left...classroom on the right.

Tile on kitchen floor

Tile in ladies restroom

Dave working on the men's flooring

Visiting with our workers during their break time

Doors arrived...

Devon my son job shadowed me on this day

Basement commons floor before painting...

Basement commons floor after painting!

Preparing for a concrete pad and ramp

Concrete workers setting up for the new walkway

New 10th Street entrance and walkway

Tammy with our friends the Borntregers!

March madness...March weather...March movement!

Yup, we've reached that month that begins the wild and crazy ride in the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. They call it MARCH MADNESS! Sixty-four college teams are invited to battle for the elite championship trophy. Each year I enter basketball bracketology and try to pick out the winner before the games begin. Would you believe I miss the champion each time? Not sure who I'll pick this year, but I'll have fun working the brackets anyway...I'll keep you posted!

Since our church theme for 2009 is THE YEAR TO REBOUND you can be assured I'll make a spiritual application with it time and time again. Gonna be a great tournament...gonna be a great year!

March weather. Love the changing of seasons between winter and spring. By the time warmer weather arrives everyone is ready for winter to end and spring to begin. Today was such a day that gave us a taste of spring time weather! Ready for the lawn mowers to start...eager for the smell of freshly cut grass. Ahhhh....SPRING!

March movement and continued progress on our church rebuild. Good to see the advances that each day and each week brings to our overall flood reconstruction project. I'll post some pictures for you to see the things that were worked on this past week.

Great weekend of services @ CFA. The message on Sunday morning was "Get Out the Shovel!" God continues to work on the inside of us. He is serious about making us holy as He is holy. Many of our people have commented about the recent series of messages and what God is doing through them. Let's remain pliable in the potter's hand! Pray: "Here I am Lord...SHAPE ME, MOLD ME AND MAKE ME INTO WHAT YOU WANT ME TO BE!"

This past Sunday we were thrilled to have some friends with us in the morning worship service. The Borntreger's were members of the church we pastored in St. Elmo, Illinois. Great people...hard workers...and faithful supporters. Their son Kevin serves in the U.S. Army and is presently stationed in Afghanistan. Thanks for your visit Mark & Brenda, Kevin, Adam and Taran! We love you all.

Keep our church in your prayers as we shoot for the finish line in completing the flood rebuild project. Aiming to be done by Easter Sunday! Also looking forward to Dedication Sunday on June 7th! Hope you can be with us.

Visit our church website to help with the overwhelming expenses associated with this rebuild. We are believing for God to provide the funds to rebuild DEBT FREE! Look for the "giving" button:

www.columbusfirstassembly.org

Going up for another rebound. Are you ready to take the outlet pass? Let's GO!

Love to hear from you...leave us a comment below. Thanks so much!

Love to all.