Holiday get-away

We returned late last night from a quick two day get-away.

It was a refreshing change of pace. It was some new scenery. It was time away from the normal grind and routine. It was recreational opportunity for my family. It was a great time! You know what...every family needs a good vacation!

For the last many years Tammy and I have enjoyed taking our kids down to Holiday World and Splashin' Safari in Santa Claus, Indiana (yes, you read that right!). It is a clean, family-centered theme park and water park a couple of hours from here in southwestern Indiana. We met a family from Colorado who was at our hotel and had never heard of our kid's best fun park, so I gave them my recommendation and brochure. You better believe they will check it out the next time they are in the area: http://www.holidayworld.com (I think I oughta get a commission off this free advertisement...what do you think?).

When you can get the whole family together and get away, you've accomplished something. Both of my boys had to rearrange their work schedules. Tammy and I had to rearrange our ministry schedules. There are always preparations you must do to get away...but it's sure worth every effort to do so. We really had a blast together!! Thanks Lord for the great times we shared as a family!

You won't believe what happened the first hour we were in the park. The boys and I went to one of the roller coaster rides and got in line. The ride was called the Voyage which was voted the #1 Wooden Roller Coaster ride on the planet...probably just a clever marketing ploy, but a great ride nonetheless. Anyway, we loaded into one of the coaster cars and ramped up for the first mountain of an incline. Their website says, "The Voyage is 1.2 miles long, placing it among the planet's top three longest and fastest wooden coasters." The Voyage also has three sections of extreme, 90-degree banking. A feast of "floater" air-time, The Voyage features three drops of over 100 feet, with the first drop's angle of descent a steep 66 degrees. The top speed of the three-train coaster is 67.4 miles per hour.

Ok, to my main point. My eldest son was enjoying the ride with his hands up in the air...so like a good father I did the very same thing. Hands up in the air...conquering the coaster monster. Feeling great...feeling strong. But on one of the crazy curves which snaps your body in two and wraps your spine around the jagged and twisted turns...my hands went right...my eyeglasses also went right and were quickly moved from off my ears and nose...and down into the deadly coaster graveyard territory!!!!!!!!

My glasses were gone...great, now what do I do?!@?!? Would you believe I was forced to go without my beloved specs for almost a day and a half because of my reckless and daring move on the first ride? Yeah, I know pretty foolish...but also funny at the same time. My kids and wife got a kick out of this crazy blunder...and were my eyes for the rest of the trip. (They wouldn't even dare let me climb into the driver's seat either...can you believe that?) The first thing I did when I got home was retrieve my spare set of specs... PTL...I CAN SEE AGAIN...and CLEARLY TOO!

Still haven't received the call that they've found my newest set of eyeglasses, but I'm still waiting! I must have went to the Public Relations booth a bunch of times while there...but every time, the same answer: "Sorry, we haven't found them yet!" I'm believing that they will and I'll find a surprise package from Santa Claus, IN one day and it won't be Christmas either...it will be my miracle day!

Today I learned that not much new carpeting at the church had been laid while we were away. In fact, I've been pretty upset with this flooring company for all the promises made and promises that haven't been kept. That's another whole story...but I'm not going there! Hope to have better news tomorrow...

Hope you missed my daily blogging...(let me know you enjoy the daily ramblings from the life of a pastor leading a church in crisis following the Flood of 2008! Leave me your comment below....it's real simple to do!).

From your refreshed blogger @ THE PASTOR'S BLOG!

Love to all!

Marching to the drum beat...

Columbus East Marching Band...

Devon and Morgan playing the sax...

Devon and his mom marching to the beat (parents invited to join in!)...Parents learned it wasn't so easy...

Today I was surprised by the tremendous musical growth with my son Devon and his marching band.

We were able to visit his school where he will be a freshman this year and get a sneak peak of the band. All parents were invited to hear and see what the band has been doing for the past two weeks. During pre-band camp and last week's grueling Band Camp, the entire marching band has made considerable progress and grown together as a band. We all were so proud of our son! He loves playing his sax and enjoys all the hard work that this commitment requires. It will be a long but profitable year for him. School starts next Thursday!

The entire band and their families were invited to a Hog Roast lunch. We enjoyed a great lunch with Mark and Pam, whose son Morgan is also in the band. Lots of good fellowship!

Dropped by the church to check on a few things. We have made extensive progress on the new wing but the two older buildings await a set of architectural plans. This is where we will be doing most of our upgrades, improvements and additions. It will be an exciting transformation!

Tomorrow will be the 9th worship service away from our church campus. God continues to amaze us in this journey of faith for Columbus First Assembly! He is good...all the time! If you live within driving distance we invite you attend our worship service @ 12:30 pm @ Memorial Baptist Church on 7th Street. This has become our satellite worship center for the time being.

Don't forget to help us rebuild and get back into our regional worship center. You can log onto our website, www.columbusfirstassembly.org, and click the online giving feature. Already many have done so. Plus, we have received many checks in the mail for our Flood Fund as well. You can send your donation for the Flood Fund to Columbus First Assembly, 2100 Tenth Street, Columbus, Indiana, 47201. Thanks in advance for helping us to rebuild DEBT FREE!

Much love to all.

HOPE continues reaching out...

Busy day...

Sandy praying and bringing HOPE...

Food Pantry always in need...

Glass guys at work...

Away with the old and in with the new...

My daughter looking in...

Rick at work on the tile...

Done...

Ladies restroom...

Done...

Baptistery bath tiled...

This was the 3rd time this week that our HOPE Outreach Center was open and serving people.

It was a busy ministry day touching hearts with HOPE and LOVE in Jesus name. Our faithful volunteers are to be commended for their joyful attitude in helping those who come into our ministry center. There were lots of people moving throughout our church campus today. It thrills my heart to know that we can still host this outreach even in the midst of a flood disaster! Thanks Lord for your direction and provision in all that you have orchestrated here at Columbus First Assembly!

The tile guys were back and finished 99% of the work done on all 5 bathrooms in the new wing. What remains is just individual tiles and all the cove base (which will be arriving late...what's new, right?).

The glass guys were here to install a new glass panel in our entry doors. The seal in the previous glass panel had been compromised in the Flood of 2008. One of the many damages in this historic disaster!

I was thrilled to find a little card envelope from my friends in Virginia. They wrote me a little note and then enclosed a hefty check for our Church Flood Fund. What an encouragement and what a blessing today! I love you Phil and Linda! Thanks for your big heart...and your arms of strong support. May God bless you abundantly in your ministry and in your family!!

My daughter was in the middle of all the action @ HOPE Outreach Center today. As I've said before, her heart is moved to serve others in ministry. She really loves coming to church with her daddy. Thanks Lord for what you are doing through this outreach ministry in my daughter's heart and life. Only you know what is in store for her future...but it looks bright from this vantage point!

Gonna be a great weekend!

Love to all!

Tile flooring...

Empty sanctuary awaiting carpet...

Quite the unusual look...

Balcony becoming a storage area...

More stuff goes on up...

Workers scrambling to clear my office for carpet...

Warm reception to the tile guys...

Floor prep begins...

Telelphone system installers...

Every bathroom in the new church wing has been prepped for VCT flooring. That means that every toilet has been removed from off its base and is no longer available for normal operation. We were ready to see the tile guys that arrived this morning!! In fact, they received quite the welcome from all of us who were there working today.

All three offices were emptied of its contents and placed out in the foyer area. This next step once again prepared us for carpeting which is to happen any day. When all the tile and carpet goes down in the new sanctuary wing we will begin to feel a bit of normalcy around our regional worship center. All of us can't wait until this part of the rebuild takes place! Thanks Lord for the past 8 1/2 weeks of progress that have moved us to this point!

We received Flood Fund checks from two churches recently: First Assembly of God in Olney, Illinois and Calvary Temple in Concord, California. Each of these churches are pastored by good friends of mine. Thanks Lord for the Christian camaraderie that you have given us in this faith journey! You have blessed me with wonderful encouragers and supporters in this process.

The phone guys were back and installing parts of our newly expanded phone system. When everything is said and done we will have three more phone base stations installed throughout our expansive facilities. This was always something I had wanted for quite some time...now we are going to accomplish this task! Thanks Lord for the many upgrades you are giving to our worship center!

Anticipating another big progress day tomorrow. We will have our HOPE Outreach Center OPEN again in the morning. Another shipment of donated supplies were brought in on Wednesday...both clothes and canned goods. We will be able to continue this until the rebuild progress moves into our fellowship hall area. Then another transition will have to occur...

Contact was made with our architect and he continues to work on preparing a new set of plans for the two older buildings on our ministry campus...patience, patience, patience! These areas will also be transformed into a much better use of ministry space with increased functionality than before the Flood of 2008!

If you would like to contribute something to help us with our holding on to the promise of rebuilding DEBT FREE you can access our online giving site @ www.columbusfirstassembly.org. Thanks in advance of your gift with loving support in this unbelievable faith journey!

Have a great evening!

Love to all.

P.S. Read the report from Northland Church's preview missions trip: http://blogs.northlandchurch.net/2008/08/06/team-returns-from-preview-of-the-flood-damage-in-columbus-indiana

Back on track...

Jeff finishing up all painting...

New volunteer Shelly cleaning up sanctuary...

Cleaned up sanctuary...

Rick to work on our Information Center makeover...

Huge mill work shop in NV...

General Contractor and architect hard at work...

My daughter pitching in...

My sons moving library shelves...

Pastor Joel and students atop lumber mountain...

Serene setting to close out a great day!

Today was a great day!

Lots of great progress on Wednesday. Our rebuild is back on track and moving again. First, there were some things to do in the "command center" upon arriving at the church. My daughter joined me as well. She just loves to be involved on HOPE Outreach Center work days. Remember, it won't be long before she and all her brothers are back in school for the fall semester!

We had our painter here finishing up last minute jobs in the whole new wing. He painted the mechanical room, two drywalled repair areas, and lots of window casing second coats. It looks really nice in all of these areas. Just wait for the new flooring and WOW...it's going to look sharp!

Then the youth joined Pastor Joel and myself in moving all of the "stuff" out of the sanctuary and foyer areas. Lots of items were located in these areas after the flood and during the rebuilding stage. We are finally at the flooring stage of the rebuild in the new sanctuary wing...finally! There were several large wood stacks in the sanctuary. This is what was salvaged off of the old pews damaged in the flood. So our youth and Pastor Joel worked hard in moving all of this wood to a storage area off of our ministry campus. It will be greatly used in future projects. Can you say "shelving" and "VBS props/sets" and "Royal Ranger campsite furniture" and "you name it...we'll need it!"

Huge thanks to Jennifer Steinbach and Jim Vester for painting behind the baptistery. This part had to be done by our church volunteers and Jennifer and Jim rose to the occasion. Thanks so much!!

HOPE Outreach Center volunteers were serving people faithfully again today. We are OPEN three days each week and today was one of those days. So proud of our church people for their compassion and love demonstrated in their outreach ministry! They love to serve others in Jesus name.

Next I had a meeting with our general contractor and architect in charge of designing our new toddler wing space and complete basement square footage area. This was a huge project in trying to bring our old buildings up to code and provide functional and useable space in previously unfunctional and unuseable areas. Louis, our creative architect, was up for such a task! He has come through with a well-thought out site plan for all of our church-wide ministry functions. Kudos to Louis...great job!

After showing it to my leaders there were only a few minor changes and then we should be good to go. We all can't wait to see what the finished product will be. One thing we know for sure...we will have a much more functional and creative regional worship center to see lives transformed by the power of Jesus Christ!! Thank you Lord for bringing so many positives out of this disaster that could have literally sunk our ministry ship. The additions and updates will be fantastic. You will have to come and tour our new regional ministry center when we are all done. Don't forget to drop everything and drive over to our Grand Re-Opening and Dedication Service when we finally are able to schedule it. It will be all for the glory of our Great God!!

Don't forget that WE INTEND TO DEDICATE THIS REGIONAL WORSHIP CENTER DEBT FREE because God is in charge of this master plan and He is leading us in this total faith venture! Go God!! You can help with your donation: www.columbusfirstassembly.org
(click the online giving feature option!). Thanks in advance for helping us to reach our faith goal!

Then it was a short road trip with my wife and daughter to North Vernon to pick out a new design color scheme for our outdated Information Center. Our center is going to get a beautiful MAKEOVER! You will see some pics of this huge facility that is also doing much (if not all) of the Columbus Regional Hospital's reception centers, doctor's & nurse's counters, etc. Again, an opportunity to improve a nice welcome piece in our foyer area and bring it up to the modern era. You will be pleased...trust me!

Tammy and I were scheduled for a road trip to a church up north, but this trip was canceled due to some unforeseen circumstances. It gave us an opportunity as a family to go to a friend's lake home and enjoy some time together. I also had the chance to go water skiing...it's been ages since I went with my family on our family vacations growing up. Great family night tonight! Thanks Lord for this wonderful and unexpected surprise...it was so relaxing and enjoyable!!

Looking forward to tomorrow. Many more progress updates will be shared with you. Hope you enjoy getting to visualize the progress made on our rebuilding phase. God is with us and we witness His activity each and every single day. God is such an awesome God. Make sure you get to know Him better each day. HE LOVES YOU DEEPLY! Remember, He is not far from you. He's right there by your side.

Love to all!

Mid-week service @ satellite location

New Life Community Church, Ashland, Ohio (hero of the day)

Tuesday began with our Bartholomew County Long Term Recovery Committee meeting @ North Christian Church. Each one is adjusting to the meetings and becoming comfortable with this long term marathon distance run vs. the long term sprint race. Decisions were required to assist the steering committee in the overall organizational set-up and leadership structure.

Then I met with the driver of a truck transport service at CFA. He was meeting me to pick up our Information Center that will be getting a nice makeover in North Vernon. This is the large wooden reception-like structure that stood in our church foyer. It has an outdated look and will not mesh with our new foyer updated design scheme. So we shipped it out to the mill shop to be worked on for the next couple of weeks. I couldn't believe how heavy those pieces were once we got it all apart...it took three of us just to lift it up to the truck...could have used one or two more!!

Back to the command center for a brief staff meeting. I have to keep my staff apprised of daily schedules that are connected with the rebuild, as well as HOPE Outreach Center, plus calendar events, and...and....you know, lots of things.

Another great Flood Fund support check arrived from the church I used to pastor in Ashland, Ohio. New Life Community Church (http://www.ashlandnewlife.org) is now pastored by Pastor Brenton Page and they rallied behind us to lift our sails in this marathon faith journey. Thanks so much Pastor Page and NLCC! You all are such an awesome group of people. I love you all!

We had our mid-week services tonight at our satellite location. Great times of worship, fellowship, prayer and the Word of God. We were in Luke chapter 5 for our bible study. It's hard to believe that summer is almost over. School for our community begins a week from Thursday so everyone is scrambling to get some vacation time in before the school year begins.

Tomorrow will be a busy day on all fronts. Should have lots to report tomorrow night.

God is good...all the time!

Thanks for supporting me and our church as we recover and rebuild following THE FLOOD OF 2008!

If you can help us with any sized gift to help us get back into our church facilites on 10th & Iowa we would be most grateful. We are believing God to rebuild DEBT FREE! Go to our church website @ www.columbusfirstassembly.org and click the online giving button.

Love, hope and FAITH to all!

Quiet Monday

Gretchen, Susan, Susan
Pastor Turner and Timothy
in front of church providing housing for work teams!

Shower house for all our work teams!

The day started out with taking D to band camp and the other two kids went with me to the church. T and A enjoy helping out at the HOPE Outreach Center...really happy for their enthusiasm for ministry!

It wasn't long before one of our members arrived with a trunk load of food donations for our bare food pantry shelves. Last Friday we were down to the MRE packages...and that's about it! It was mentioned in church yesterday and God provides once again...through one of His willing vessels. Each carton, bag or box of non-perishable food items donated to the HOPE Outreach Center is deeply appreciated and put to use in ministry quickly touching lives.

The outreach was OPEN from 9 to 4 pm today and supplied many supplies for hurting citizens in our flooded community. God continues to provide for us as we give out to others in His name!

Three people from Northland, A Church Distributed in Longwood, Florida (http://www.northlandchurch.net) arrived to prepare for their soon-to-be missions trip here in Columbus, Indiana. They were eager to tour our church, review our situation, learn about housing arrangements, visit a few homes and schedule a date for their trip. They will join us for the Long Term Recovery team meeting in the morning and leave later in the afternoon. It was a joy to get acquainted with Gretchen, Susan and Timothy. They will indeed be a blessing to our community!

Would you believe it was totally quiet on the rebuilding front? Not one single worker was working anywhere on our building. It was one of those quiet days. Subcontractors were working on other projects. Our architect continues to finalize his complete set of plans for our general contractor. Hope the plans are coming along nicely. We are so eager to get home to our regional worship center...

Made a bunch of phone calls throughout the day. Checking on rebuilding work. Organizing other projects associated with the rebuild. Talked to many pastors today and learned that several are in the process of making a contribution to our Flood Fund. Each gift, no matter what size, is so desperately needed to help us recover from the Flood of 2008! Made some last minute emails, then checked on several people in our church before heading home after 6 pm tonight.

Let me invite you to consider making a donation to our Flood Fund. I truly believe that God is preparing an awesome miracle of allowing us to rebuild DEBT FREE. Every day we get closer to that goal. You can go to our website and make an online donation: www.columbusfirstassembly.org. Thanks so much for your love and generosity!

Keep looking up...let God exceed your greatest expectations. He is still in the business of performing modern-day miracles. Let the muscles of your faith be exercised towards His divine promises.

Love to all.

Exceeding Expectations

The message that came forth today was "Exceeding Expectations." This theme continues to resonate with my spirit since we began the year with Beyond All Limits! God so desperately wants to move us way beyond our expectations and even imaginations. Trouble is that we settle our sights below what God is ABLE to do and wants to do. We need to see God exceed our expectations. We need to demonstrate the key ingredient of FAITH in what He will do on behalf of those who please Him with active obedience!

In these two months since we experienced the FLOOD OF '08 all of us have had to have our faith stretched and our hope deepened. We have never been this way before and we are totally dependent upon our Mighty God to lead, guide and direct us in this wilderness journey. So far, it's been a wild ride! There are daring twists and turns...there are dangerous hills and mountains...there are delightful loops and turnarounds...but in every step there is a BUT GOD! God is with us and we are witnessing the reality of EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS. Totally awesome!!

We had a great service at our satellite location today. It was number 8 in a different setting, different service time and different dynamics. God has been so faithful to our congregation. In the service I noted today the gifts that have been given from all over the country for our Flood Fund. There was one from the State of Washington. There was one from the State of Missouri. There was one from the State of Arkansas. There were several from the State of Indiana. God is leading us to stretch our faith muscles to witness the rebuilding of our regional worship center totally DEBT FREE! That is really EXCEEDING ALL EXPECTATIONS in the natural and only possible in the supernatural. But God...

Looking forward to another exciting week of watching God EXCEED MY PERSONAL EXPECTATIONS. My God is able. My God is "more than enough." My God is the only ONE who can accomplish such a feat. Go God Go!!

Let me direct you to an amazing passage in Ephesians 3:16-21. It was the text for my message today. It will lift you up in soaring with the eagles and flying to places you've never flown to before. My friend, you were destined to MORE than what you are experiencing right now...so much more. Let God EXCEED YOUR EXPECTATIONS! Note the words: "exceedingly abundantly above all that you can ask or even think." Wow...now that will get your spiritual juices flowing swiftly and your heart pumping passionately.

Have a blessed week!

Don't forget to view all the new pictures in the photo gallery posted up on our church website @ www.columbusfirstassembly.org.

Love to all!

Photo gallery

You will want to view the many photo's that have been uploaded onto our church website. There are pictures of the flood waters, inside church shots, first gathering pictures, HOPE Outreach photo's, and also some cleaning and restoration shots. Check them out...

http://www.columbusfirstassembly.org/PHOTOGALLERY/tabid/6370/Default.aspx

Tomorrow will be our 8th Sunday away from our home church facilities. God has provided for us in the midst of this extended faith journey. But everyone is eager to get home...we miss our home base regional worship center!

Please consider making a donation for our Flood Fund. We have a goal of reaching $350,000 to be completely DEBT FREE. Every week there are more and more people, churches and friends of this ministry that are sowing good seed into CFA. You can make your donation at...
www.columbusfirstassembly.org and click on the online giving button. Thanks so much!

Have a great evening and a great service tomorrow. If you are in the area, do come and join us @ Memorial Baptist Church starting @ 12:30 pm. We would love to have you join us!

Don't stop praying for us...we know God is answering!!

"Beyond All Limits" blessings to you and yours!

Number 21

New color scheme for the church office...

New paint for my abandoned office...

Painting all the trim work...

...more trim work...

Malorie was our "command center" volunteer today...

Sanding in the electrical room...

Almost done...

Done!

Almost there...

Caulking 'er in...

Lots of caulk on this complete basement window project...

Work team from Frankfort, IN

That's the number of years my wife and I have been married today.

Twenty-one years ago today on a sweltering day in Conway, Arkansas I married the love of my life...Tammy! We enjoyed some time together this evening as we went out to Red Lobster (the place of our first date), shopped a little and then grabbed a frozen custard for dessert. Babe, I love you...thanks for standing by my side these 21 years! You're the best!!

Today @ church we had a good day. More ministry through the HOPE Outreach Center. More people that we have had opportunity to touch with the love of Jesus. More people we can shower with the HOPE of the gospel message! Simply amazing what we've been able to do following the Flood of '08...

There was more progress on the rebuilding front too. More painting on the new sanctuary wing...they are almost done, but still have some minor things to wrap up this project. I've captured a few pics of the new colors.

The windows in the basement are completely installed. The window guys finished their job today. You can see the amazing difference these 'new' ones make as compared to the 'old' ones. Should make a huge difference in the efficiency department too!

We had a team arrive today to work. Pastor Shan Sheridan from the New Hope Church in Frankfort and a group from his church toured our facilities, then they were off with Monty & Susan to their work assignment helping a homeowner with their flooded out home. We continue to schedule work teams from out of town. If you are interested in bringing a group from your church, please call us @ (812) 376-7833. It will be a life-transforming experience you will never forget!!

The phones were busy for me today. Made a lot of calls to pastors sharing our story and experience. I trust the Lord will use these contacts to further the kingdom here in Columbus. Lord, touch the hearts of many friends around the country that you intend to use in supporting our church through this historic journey of faith!

A special thanks to Malorie who volunteered in the "command center" today. She was a special blessing for the tasks that needed attention today. Also, appreciation goes out to Jerry who bought us lunch and drinks today. God bless you Jerry! We once again look to our worship experience this coming Sunday. It will mark the 8th Sunday away from our home on 10th & Iowa Streets. May the will of the Lord be done in all this wandering out in the wilderness! We should grow through this journey of faith and not just fly through it. There is definitely a lesson to be learned there for all of these painful experiences from the flood!

Once again, I feel like God wants us to believe that we will rebuild totally DEBT FREE. So we are believing and trusting in the promises of His Word. Plus, I've been challenging people everywhere to participate in the tremendous blessing of sowing into this church ministry, and bring us back home to 10th and Iowa.

You can donate online: www.columbusfirstassembly.org Thanks in advance for your gift! Already many have joined us in this faith walk. I received several just in the last couple of days. With each one doing something, the vision that God gave me will be realized!

How about leaving me a little encouraging "comment." I'd appreciate it greatly...

Love to all!