Pallet heaven...

Another good day with lots of progress.

Started the day off by receiving a shipment of office furniture donations. We were happy to accept some office desks, chairs, bookcases and student desks. Some were placed in position and others were put in the unfinished parts of our ministry center. All in all...a great blessing! Thanks Lord for how you blessed us today.

Next, we loaded a trailer full of pallets that we gathered in the post-flood ministry center. We found a place that accepts them and even pays you a small amount for each one. Each pallet gets a rating: A, B or C. David, PJP and myself worked on this project the rest of the morning. We enjoyed a nice ride down to Butlerville and found a place I would call "pallet heaven!" This place built zillions of them. Would you believe that they cut a check to us for almost $200? Praise God...I bet you know where it's going! That's right, the Flood Fund! Thanks Lord!

On the way back I checked on the company that is doing a complete makeover on our Information Center. They're doing a bang-up job. It really is going to be an attractive and user-friendly piece for our Welcome Center back @ CFA. Can't wait to get it delivered and set up real soon.

Guess what? No carpet action today. No one showed up to work. They are getting further and further behind! The sound guys couldn't believe it either when they arrived...

What we did do was to move everything out of the foyer area to prepare for carpet installation in that zone tomorrow. That meant moving things back to where they came from, as well as juggling things into other areas. I'll be glad when everything is all settled and found a place to rest.

Drove to Hope to attend a visitation in the funeral home. Will be conducting a funeral there in the morning. Lord use me to bring comfort and hope to those who will attend!

Then I went to Indy to attend a training session for all those who work at Aramark events. Since I do this for my son's marching band fundraising events, I was signed up to participate. The Conseco Fieldhouse was the location...that's where the Pacers play.

Came home late tonight and am exhausted. The days appear to be getting longer...or is it just me?

Will post a few pics for you tonight.

Love to all.

Sis sends encouragement...

A pressing day with a host of ministry and building issues.

One of those days complete with ministry calls, command center work, follow up with contractors, funeral preparation and finally...our Bible Study tonight...on Tuesday! Looking back, God gave me the grace to deal with so many different ministry settings, plus the projects that need constant attention and trying to keep up with everything while working from a temporary office environment. Yes, these are crisis times in our flooded out church...but God is and will always remain faithful! Thanks Lord for your goodness today!

Carpet project continues to drag on...from day... to day... to day...and now we are getting into the weeks. I keep reminding myself that this too shall pass. Before you know it, everything will be finished and ready for a new day of level-up ministry. Gotta love the slow grind...

Greatly encouraged by the action of my sister living in Arizona. She sent me a sweet card along with a love check for our Flood Fund. Each of my family members have witnessed the heavy toll this crisis has placed upon my shoulders. I so appreciate all that they are doing to send their love and encouragement my way. I know that they are praying for me in this pivotal role of leadership ministry. Thanks Ruth for lifting my spirits! I appreciate what you and Dave have done in making the contribution to help us move forward in our rebuilding phase.

You are invited to join the growing group of churches and individuals who have responded thus far. One thing...we are still far from our goal! But another thing...we are much farther than where we were two months ago. The numbers are staggering...however, awesome signs of God's intervention and grace shine through.

Go to: www.columbusfirstassembly.org and find the online giving site. Thanks in advance for your part in the DEBT FREE miracle. With God all things are possible! You gotta believe.

I know I promised you more pics...but you'll have to wait a little longer. Thanks for your patience!

Love to all!

P.S. Don't forget 9.14.08! Write that date down.

#100

"Pastor's Blog" has reached the century mark in blog postings!

Tonight is a big night for several reasons:

1. This is my 100th posting of journal entries on my personal blog site. This is quite an undertaking ever since I starting blogging back in February, 2008. (Now I understand why others have felt the same...as well as producers of TV shows, etc....there is a lot of energy expended into each specific posting...plus pictures, etc.) Happy to reach this milestone...
   
2. I have the opportunity to feature a review on my blog for a new book coming out tomorrow (Aug.19th) entitled, "Wild Goose Chase." The author is Mark Batterson. Mark Batterson is the lead pastor of Washington, DC's National Community Church, widely recognized as one of America's most innovative churches. NCC meets in movie theaters at metro strops throughout the city, as well as in a church-owned coffee house near Union Station. More than seventy percent of NCC'ers are single twentysomethings who live or work on Capitol Hill. Mark is the author of the best-selling In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day and a widely read blogger (www.markbatterson.com). He lives on Capitol Hill with his wife, Lora, and their three children.
   

• The Book: Celtic Christians had a name for the Holy Spirit–An Geadh-Glas, or ‘the Wild Goose.’ The name hints at mystery. Much like a wild goose, the Spirit of God cannot be tracked or tamed. An element of danger, an air of unpredictability surround Him. And while the name may sound a little sacrilegious, I cannot think of a better description of what it’s like to follow the Spirit through life. I think the Celtic Christians were on to something…
• Most of us will have no idea where we are going most of the time. And I know that is unsettling. But circumstantial uncertainty also goes by another name: Adventure.

—Introduction to Wild Goose Chase.

• Book Details:
  
• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Multnomah Books
• Release Date: August 19, 2008
• Purchase your copy online @ www.amazon.com or www.cbd.com
• I will be giving away a FREE COPY of this new book to one of the people who respond to this posting in the next 24 hours. All you have to do is submit your COMMENT at the end of this blog by clicking on the comment link which is highlighted at the bottom of this post. Leave your name and comment to be considered for this drawing! Hurry up..don't delay...come on, its a free book!
  

3. I've announced the date of our first and second services back at our regional worship center, Columbus First Assembly, on 10th & Iowa Streets. Since being completely flooded out back on June 7th, 2008, we have been worshiping at another church about three or four blocks away. We have made enough progress in our new facility wing to bring our congregation back home to 10th & Iowa Streets. The sanctuary will be ready for exuberant worshipers to fill the worship center. You must arrange your schedules to attend on this momentous Sunday!!!!!!!!

• First service back: Sunday, September 7th @ 10 am
• Second service back: Sunday, September 14th @ 10 am. This will be our "All Together Sunday" which is our back-to-school high attendance day. We invite you to make the drive to join us for this very significant worship service for our congregation. I've got several special things planned for this Sunday that you won't want to miss! (More details in future posts!)

Tomorrow I'll share more on the progress of our rebuild project plus a few pics too!

Busy day today. Just returned from working at the Indianapolis Indians game tonight. Trying to earn some money for my son's band fair share portion. It was a crazy busy night....lots and lots of people at my register.

Love to all!

Epic Proportions

Thank the Lord for a wonderful weekend and a great Worship Celebration today!

Yesterday I enjoyed spending time at home taking care of some projects, as well as spending time with my family. I was able to wash my van, play ping pong with Trenton (he's now beating me...what's up with that?...The student is finally beating the teacher!), went shopping for the kids shoes, and enjoyed a delicious home-cooked meal. Plus, I was able to spend some time in the "command center" and work on things there too! Great day.

Today I anticipated a great worship gathering with our church family (last week we were on vacation). I wasn't disappointed...God showed up big-time. The presence of God was strong...the church was fully enveloped in the glory of God...prayer requests were brought before the throne of God...expectancy was sure...the message God gave me was a powerful word to remind us of the awesome majesty and beyond all limits measure of our Great God.


EPIC. That was the word that God dropped into my spirit and stirred my heart with. What does EPIC mean? Here is what I discovered: Heroic, majestic, impressively great, and surpassing the ordinary!! This is the word that was designated for the great Michael Phelps in the recent 2008 Olympic medal quest in his swimming category. Last night he broke Mark Spitz' 36 year record of winning 7 gold medals in a single Olympic games. Michael won his 8th gold medal last evening. Impressive...yes. Heroic...yes. Surpassing the ordinary...yes. Majestic...NO! That alone belongs to our great and mighty God!

The Lord God is majestic. The Lord God far surpasses and exceeds the ordinary. The Lord God is far beyond impressively great. The Lord God is the ultimate HERO! That's my Lord. That's my King. That's my Savior. That's my God!!

God has been demonstrating awesome deeds in our midst that are of EPIC PROPORTIONS. I shared some of these stories with the congregation today. EPIC. Amazing. Awesome. Majestic. Miraculous. BEYOND ALL LIMITS!! God has been revealing his strong and mighty hand on our behalf as a church. God has been fighting for His people. God has been helping us in EPIC PROPORTIONS kind of ways. The beautiful thing is...HE'S NOT DONE YET! There will be more EPIC wonders to witness before the year of 2008 concludes. We will stand amazed and we will just sit in AWE of our Great God. Yes, God is so good...all the time.

This afternoon I prepared at the "command center" for my monthly leadership meeting tonight. (I can't wait to have my spacious office suite back...the inconveniences of a small cubicle without a computer are getting old!) We had the meeting in the home of one of my leaders again. This has been a great bonus...much more relaxing, more casual, and refreshing too. Thanks Betsy! We have been having some blessed business sessions, as well as spiritual meetings too. God is with us...we sense it clearly. God is directing us...we are following Him completely. God is providing for us...we are standing amazed! EPIC...that describes what my God is accomplishing in our midst.

My "Pastor's Blog" website just passed a BIG mile marker recently. The site meter just logged it's 4,000 visitor to my blog page (...since I starting blogging back in late February, 2008). That's pretty neat. People literally from all over the world have visited my page and read what God is doing right here in Columbus, Indiana. This modern day informational vehicle has provided the means for me to journal and chronicle the EPIC wonders that God is demonstrating on our behalf.

One sure thing...I'm ready to see more miracles, more majestic wonders, and more extraordinary measures that God will take to exceed our expectations in the rebuilding of our regional worship center (...since being completely flooded out back on 6-07-08).

I've got a special blog to prepare for tomorrow...don't miss it!

Much love to all.

Continued sanctuary progress...

It was another good day of progress in the sanctuary.

Both the carpet guys and the sound guys were hard at work today...moving ever closer to finalizing this part of the project. There is still more work yet to do but good progress was made today. Next week we've been promised that all carpet and cove base in the new wing will be completed! But remember...we're talking about the carpet company that made all the promises...the ones I've had trouble with. I'm not banking on their word just yet...they've still got a ways to go to bring this job up and out of the mud...

There are still two offices that need carpet (one of those being mine!), plus the entire foyer area. My entire ministry team is anxious to get back into our individual office settings. I have switched Pastor Joel's office with that of the library. This brings my associate pastor closer to the main office suite, plus it gives our library some room to grow. I love it when a great plan comes together! Thank you Lord for your direction with every decision that has been made! HOPE Outreach Center has been temporarily closed until the rebuild is done with that part of the building. Yesterday's outreach was a great way to clean out the fellowship hall/youth chapel. You can see the difference that was made with our volunteers yesterday. Special thanks to Jerry who came in today to help out wherever needed. He did a great job cleaning up!

This weekend marks the 10th Sunday for our congregation's journey out in the wilderness. It's been a daring adventure...but everyone's eager to get back home. When we finally do get back to 10th & Iowa streets we will have a renewed and restored regional worship center. Greater appreciation by everyone in our church will be demonstrated. God has blessed our church with a beautiful gathering and sending ministry facility. We gather to worship our great God and then we're trained & commissioned to serve others throughout the week! That's a great picture of His church.

I had the chance to check on one of our neighbors across the street before heading home tonight. This is one of the neighbors our church has had a lot of opportunity ministering to with drywall, mud, then paint, cabinets, carpet and the like. But more importantly, the love of God has been demonstrated time and time again to his life. He has genuinely felt God's love touch him...over and over again. Several missions teams have worked in his home. Bruce was ecstatic to show me his new home tonight. He's moved some furniture and beds in, hooked up the frig and stove and has half of his counter tops in. As Bruce loves to say, "I'm good to go...ready to rock 'n roll!" He gives me a genuine hug and thanks me on behalf of all the workers we have sent to him following the flood. Thanks Lord for the honor of blessing our neighbors in your holy name! Draw his heart closer and closer to you...and then one day...yes, we're believing for his salvation!

Bruce with thumbs up in his new kitchen...

Got a comfortable living room...

Plus a great bedroom!

Jerry helping out today in the fellowship hall!

Half the hall has been cleared & cleaned...PTL!

Great improvement!

Martha cleaning my dusty and dirty blinds!

Our sound design contractors - Clear Sound!

http://csd-av.com

Jim at work with a million wires...so it appeared!

Bryan hooking up the sound wires in the mechanical room!

Carpet glue going down...

...lots and lots of glue...

Seams going in...

Platform being prepped for carpet...

Prep all done!

We continue to trust in our awesome God to provide the funds to complete this total flood makeover for our regional worship center facilities. God is moving...God is meeting the needs...God is working out his master plan.

If you would like to take part in God's DEBT FREE miracle, let me invite you to make a donation on our website, www.columbusfirstassembly.org, or send in your gift to CFA, 2100 10th Street, Columbus, Indiana 47201. Thanks for your heart of love and compassion! We appreciate you so very much!

May you have a blessed weekend!

Love to all.

CFA Hosts Gleaners Food Ministry!

This was the first lady in line...ready with her park chair!

Parking lot was full!

Outreach volunteers...

Clothes ministry was greatly used before truck arrived!

Part of our amazing HOPE Outreach ministry crew!

Gleaners truck arrived one hour late!

Quick distribution set up!

We all got soaked...yes, I was working between taking all the pics...trust me!

We even had a good rain thrown in too!

Everyone with their registration number went through the line!

Smooth process!

View from the main portico entrance!

My new little friend, Emalee!

Some more new little friends, Damon & Haylee

Thrilled to get this little one to smile for me!

We hosted a large food outreach ministry in our church parking lot today!

This event was scheduled before the Flood of 2008 to use our parking lot, mobilize our church volunteers to serve and also bless a host of people in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Then came the flood that froze us quietly in our tracks...just but for a moment...then the Lord initiated the HOPE Outreach Center during post-flood ministry activity. When the time came for us to host this event...we were ready...and battle tested as well. We have been in the trenches for the past several months serving people who have been affected by the flood. God has used our church and our people in an unbelievable "beyond all limits" kind of way. We were happy to roll up our sleeves and go at it once again! Thanks Lord for another opportunity to minister to the suffering with the love, HOPE and compassion of Christ!

This was the day that school started here in Bartholomew County. (We had hoped to utilize our young people here at this outreach, but the date was rescheduled for today which canceled the hopes of allowing our students to serve.) After taking my two boys to school I arrived early at CFA headquarters. What did I see? Already a line of people had assembled to get first dibs at this free food! It was amazing...like something you would see at a store grand opening where prizes would be given away. This was a full two hours before we were scheduled to begin letting people go through the line.

Our ministry volunteers began arriving and getting things set up: tables assembled, chairs brought out, registration line formed, clothes ministry moved outside, water and bleach relocated out of the fellowship hall to the parking lot, plus a host of other items that we had been using at our HOPE Outreach Center as well. It was a great opportunity to clean out our supply of goods in the center and prepare our building for the restoration and remodeling project phase. Thanks Lord for the timing of your master plan...you had it all worked out way before this event was ever scheduled!

We had the privilege to mingle among the people in the line and get acquainted with many of them (many were already familiar with us through the HOPE Center). I met a lot of great people and loved on the kids and babies in the line too! We passed out bottles of water, info about our church, later we even passed out large black trash bags which were used as emergency rain gear (yes, we did get rained on for a season too!).

I'm thankful to the twenty or so CFA volunteers who assisted us with this outreach. They worked hard. They were wonderful. They ministered effectively to this massive group of people who gathered from all over our community onto our church campus. We are blessed indeed!

After the outreach there was work to clean up, put up and reorganize our fellowship hall ministry facility. With this awesome group of volunteers we were able to accomplish so much in a matter of hours! Many hands make light work!

On top of this huge outreach undertaking, many workers were still working inside on our sanctuary remodeling and reconstruction project. I will post some pictures tomorrow of the latest progress...but today it's all about the ministry outreach!

Happy to see our church being used by God in such a wonderful way. We have become an active beacon of HOPE on the corner of 10th and Iowa Streets. ( I even ministered to a lady late in the day who had run out of gas and rolled right into our parking lot...talk about the way God is orchestrating this amazing Master Plan...they are literally being drawn into our church!) People are coming from all over the city plus around the country to witness the amazing miracles that God is doing right here @ CFA. Awesome!

Tomorrow is another day. Our HOPE Outreach Center will be temporarily closed because we are moving ever closer to rebuilding in that area, plus we are simply OUT OF STOCK!

Thanks for taking this "ride of a lifetime" with us. This adventure is never dull or boring. Each day is filled with excitement and wonder.

Love to all.

Crazy day...

Massive rolls of carpet...

Layout and measuring...

Sound floor boxes...

Church office carpet...

Men's bathroom stools and stalls...

Ladies bathroom stools and stalls...

Duke Energy finally repaired the downed lightpost...PTL!

Cleaned out courtyard...

Looks amazing...

My landscaping volunteers today...

Yes, it was one of those crazy, unusual and stress-filled days!

The day seemed to start out pretty well after securing my coffee and newspaper from McDonald's (how about that for a change of pace!). Got to the "command center" and found Jerry already in the building. He is one of my HOPE Outreach Center volunteers and was an hour early today. Then Ron & Sandy came to get ready for their shift as well. Workers were in position to serve and minister in the name of Jesus, bringing HOPE and love to each one.

We also had several ladies who completely cleaned up and trimmed out our Courtyard Garden area. This area was way overgrown. It was a mess before and also after the Flood of 2008! My cleaning bunny (Trudy) plus Marcia and Rhonda did a FANTASTIC JOB on our courtyard. I was awed at how much work these ladies accomplished today. If they are reading my blog I've got some other areas on our property that needs your expertise and special touch!! Your pastor thanks you big time!

The two carpet guys were busily working on our huge sanctuary floor area all day. This job required more than four hands and that is all the flooring company provided us with. Remember, I'm not at all happy with this company...they've got a lot of ground to make up with me because I am one unsatisfied and one unhappy customer!! Multiple calls to this company in Indy went unanswered...finally, someone tried to apologize much later, but by this time they had gone too far!

The sound guys were working on the platform black connector boxes. They had to cut into the floor decking platform and get their work started before the carpet guys cover that whole area with beautiful carpet.

The general contractor had their estimator drop a set of new architectural plans by for me today. I went over them with him and reviewed our needs and desires for the reworked areas in the two older buildings. Looks like several more weeks before all the plans are completely done, approved and submitted. Remember - Patience...patience...patience!!!!!!!!

Work was done with my Business Manager this morning regarding the Flood Fund contribution monies, monthly financial reports, correction on our flood accounts at the bank and general "command center" duties!

Then I got the call...the one that told me I was late for my duties up at the Indians game in Indy. I was scheduled to work the concession booth for my son's band fair share, but I thought it was later in the day...a mix up in communication. I hightailed it out of there with my daughter...raced home...dropped her off...changed and dressed in my required uniform...and sped (well "quickly drove off" for my wife!) up to the ballpark in Indy. I quickly got the "starting cash" for my individual register...and was ready to go before the game ever started. It was a busy shift for me...then I rushed back home. Went to the bank. Went to the church. Went to Wal Mart and then collapsed at home.

What a day....A CRAZY WEDNESDAY!

One more thing...a GOOD THING. We received many gifts in the church mail today for our Flood Fund. We had several churches represented in these gifts, as well as many individuals and one missionary that we support too (awesome). Deep appreciation and thanksgiving goes out to the following for giving this pastor and his church a shot in the arm today...literally!

• Bethel Christian Life Center in West Lafayette, Indiana.
• Church on the Rock A/G in Versailles, Indiana.
• Northview A/G from our sister church here in Columbus.
• Bethel A/G in Elkhart, Indiana.
• Our missionary serving in Jamaica.
  
• A minister from Indianapolis.
• Christ Light Ministries in Elberfeld, Indiana.

Thanks so much to these friends for responding to our dire circumstances and helping to bring us back as a fellowship to 10th and Iowa Streets (our regional worship center home base!).

If you could following the example of those listed and send us a contribution (CFA, 2100 10th St., Columbus, IN 47201) or make your gift online @ www.columbusfirstassembly.org, we would be ever so grateful for your partnership in this DEBT FREE miracle. We are still believing that God will move us back in our facilities DEBT FREE! Keep praying...keep reading my daily blog journal...keep giving to make this vision a true reality! With God...(and with God's people doing their part as He speaks to them!)...all things are possible!!!

Much love to you and yours!