I'm Watching You Dad!

Celebrations!

Taking a road trip...

...St. Louis Arch...

...Crossing the Mississippi River...

...Missouri roads...

CFA's New Steeple

Dedication Day Worship Celebration

Greeting Mayor Fred Armstrong

Introducing my mom

Doug Clay making a point

Dedication Altar Time

Karl & Cindy Fleig, Tammy and I, Mom, Doug Clay

Fellowship Time over Lunch

Judy Hanson, great volunteer

Deyo and more workers

Marcia and a plate of sandwiches

My CFA Dedication Ball with CFA Member Signatures

Found a visible spot on my office booksheves!

It's been over two weeks since my last blog. In all reality, it's been a flurry of activity around here, both home and at church...plus I needed a little "blog" break too!

Two weeks ago my daughter Ashlyn and I took a road trip to Nixa, Missouri. We were headed for Grandma's house to pick her up for our Church Dedication Day. Our mini-van was turned into a little RV, according to Ashlyn, as we removed two of the captains seats which provided her her own space. She loved the room to lay down and watch videos and eat her munchies. Trip took about eight hours and before you knew it we were pulling in to Grandma's house; spent the night and then did it all over again the next day to return back to Columbus! Great time with my daughter and on the return trip with my mother. Those moments were priceless!

Sunday, June 7th was the much anticipated Dedication Day for CFA (Columbus First Assembly). It was exactly one year ago to the day that our church was completely flooded out by the Flood of 2008. The flood washed out a good portion of our city and wreaked tremendous havoc too. But in the last twelve months we have learned to trust God for each new day and for each provision needed in this long journey of faith in putting our church back together. June 7th was a day of celebration! It was a great day as we recognized the faithfulness of our Great God, as we honored all the companies and workers that labored on our facilities, and as we rejoiced in the completion of our fully rebuilt regional worship center. I was honored to have a classmate of mine at CBC, Doug Clay, serve as our Dedication Speaker. Doug presently serves our fellowship as the General Treasurer and sits on the Executive Leadership Team as well. His message was a great challenge to our church.

Sunday, June 14th launched the next big event here @ CFA: a Kid's & Family Explosion with the Jubilee Gang. It was an outreach that replaced our normal VBS annual outreach, since all our VBS supplies were washed away in the flood of last year. The three nights were enjoyed by children and parents too. The greatest thing that occurred this week was that 18 kids gave their hearts to Jesus Christ and were born agin. Nothing better than that!

Sunday, June 21st is Father's Day. Gonna be another great service with the people, and especially every father, here @ CFA.

The summer is here and my family has been going here and going there. Work, summer school, school band practices, youth camp and ministry activites are flying around. Each one is staying busy. Got to schedule a family get-away real soon. We look forward to our mini-vacation every year.

Remember the bird nest on my front porch? Well, each little one has grown up and flown out already with a quick flight lesson from their mother. We were amazed at the rapid growth of these little babies bodies that overtook their tiny nest and quickly were deployed out to who knows where...

Take care and be blessed.

Much love to all!

Dash to Dedication Day!

CFA one year later...

...we've experienced many transformations...

What little detail has been added?...

...here as well...

...and also here!

Remember our robin friend from last year?

She's back...and her family is growing too!

All systems are a "GO" for the flood rebuild DEDICATION this coming Sunday, June 7th!

It's going to be an awesome celebration and also a holy time of consecration. We are planning to dedicate this entire regional worship center for the glory of the Kingdom of God. One year ago our church was leveled by the floods that hit our area. One year later, on the exact flood anniversary date, we have scheduled our Dedication Sunday. What was meant to destroy us has instead rebounded toward a renovated, restored and renewed worship center!

Our church master theme is "2009: The Year to Rebound!" Yes, we're going up!

There are a ton of details in getting ready for the BIG DAY. Lots and lots of preparations are being handled by my dedication committee and also staff member team. Each one is working their check list off. Each one is excited about the BIG DAY. Each one is eager to see what God will do in this service.

Invitations have been mailed out. Calls are being made. Schedules are being set. Food has been ordered. Fellowship Hall will be ready. Our Guest Speaker Doug Clay will be traveling soon from Springfield, Missouri. Worship set and worship leaders are anxious to bring us into God's presence. Greeters and ushers will be at their posts. Children's workers will love on your kids. Guests will be coming from all over to witness this historic occasion with us!

Let me personally invite you to attend this momentous dedication. YOU ARE INVITED TO CFA ON SUNDAY, JUNE 7th @ 10 am! Our goal is to point our praise upward to the One who helped navigate us through the uncharted waters (literally!) from Flood Date all the way through to Dedication Sunday. Lord, you are more than wonderful to CFA! Thank you for everything. We love you and look forward to honoring you this coming Sunday!

This past Sunday I preached a message entitled, "The Day of Dedication." It set the stage for what we will experience this Sunday. One part that I am inviting everyone in our church to be involved in is the DEDICATION DAY OFFERING. David and Solomon gave their best for acts of worship at the temple of God's dedication. We can do no less! Plus, do not forget that we are believing God for a DEBT FREE MIRACLE the size of $200,000! Let's do our part to witness a miracle the initial size of 2 loaves and 5 fishes, but ended up with 12 baskets of leftovers! If you want to get in on this miracle blessing please visit the online giving site @ www.columbusfirstassembly.org.

One very special guest that I am thrilled to have in attendance at the dedication will be my mother. She has been a constant source of strength and encouragement during this trying and difficult year. Thanks Mom for all you prayers and words of blessing spoken to your son. I love you and am happy to have you share this big moment with us!

I can't wait until Sunday. Hope you will be able to be in attendance. If you can't, please leave your words of congratulations as "comments" left at the end of this blog post. It's real easy to do. Thanks for following along with us in this most amazing race of faith this past year!

Love to all!