Carpet Job Complete!

The amazing dream team carpet crew!!

The last piece of the flood rebuild puzzle has been filled in. It was rather late in coming...but the job is done nonetheless.

If you've been a follower of my blog you know the troubles I have endured with our carpet company. From the beginning and all the way through to the end I have had nothing but difficulties, delays and disappointments. Well, this past week the carpet guys were here and finished the job!

Something to note...it took a team from Columbus, Ohio to get in here and do what had to be done. We had defective carpet that was delivered to our church (months ago) and then it was installed. There were bubble-like areas all over the place where the glue never adhered to the carpet. So a large portion of the carpet had to be demoed out and removed. Some areas were already glued down...but they got r done...what a messy job!

This hard-working crew that worked about three 12-hour days finished up the last piece of our rebuild project. How do I spell r-e-l-i-e-f?? Carpet---DONE! With this last carpet project completed I can now rest a little easier with the tasks on the check list completed and behind me!! Thank you Jesus!!

Now I'm looking forward to traveling with my wife to Orlando, Florida and embarking on a 7-day cruise. I hope to sit back and unwind a little after 13 long months of renovation and restoration on our church facilities after the Flood of 2008. The cruise is something that we've wanted to do for a long time but always put it off. Well, tomorrow morning we fly out of Indianapolis and head down to Orlando, then on to Port Canaveral. Following this relaxing getaway, we will be participating in our national church's biennial business schedule called the General Council.

Next time I post a new blog you should be hearing and seeing a little bit more of our trip to Florida.

Love to all.

Give Me Your Eyes

Take me out to the ballgame...NOT!

Oh, what a day! It was July 4th up at Victory Field in Indianapolis.

The event was sold out. It was supposed to be the busiest day of the Indians baseball schedule. Volunteers were positioned at every station in the ballpark. My group, representing Columbus East Band Boosters, was lined up to work in the Rowdies South pavilion.

We started out in the rain...a good steady rain...as we made our way up Interstate 65. We arrived at the ballpark...in the rain. We set up...with rain still falling. We saw the gates opened up...in the rain. Fans arrived with all the gear...amazing. Families came...with babies and toddlers and children of all ages. They waited...and waited...and waited...and waited!

There was hopes that the rain would stop and the game could be played...albeit with a delayed start time. That didn't happen. Little by little the fans left...with their umbrella's and jackets (it got pretty cold!)...and coolers...and kids!

Then they shut our booth down. I think it was around 7:30 or 8 pm. We cleaned up...counted our money...and discovered an error. We were short $50. Later, we learned they gave us $50 less than what they thought they gave us at the start.

Guess what we sold all day in the rain?? A grand, spanking total of $76!!! It should have been at least $5,000 or maybe even closer to $8,000. WOW...what a day. Could have been at home with the wife and family...but duty called.

Lesson learned: Into every life and scheduled activity the potential for rain exists. Make the best of every opportunity and keep a good attitude. You never know who is watching!

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!

District Council Trip

Fort Wayne First Assembly

Driving into the parking lot

3 Crosses, fountain and pond!

Flags of the nations

Covered walkway

Beautiful landscaping

Coffee Cafe

Ugly Mug coffee

Worship service

2,000 seat auditorium

Dr. Wood preaching

Ordination Service

Took a trip to Fort Wayne last week for our District Council meetings.

District Council is our annual ministers meeting set aside for business, services, a missions banquet and ordination. This year our speaker was Dr. George O. Wood, General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God. His pulpit ministry was powerfully anointed for all that attended.

The host church, Fort Wayne First Assembly of God, was an amazing facility. It was an expansive facility that had space for children, daycare, youth, coffee cafe, bookstore, gym, offices and a large spacious sanctuary. The church was right off a major street and also had three large crosses with a water fountain as well. The brief story on acquiring this new facility was given in one of the services. We were told that Fort Wayne First Assembly was able to purchase this entire complex for only $3 million dollars. The neat part to this miracle was that the building was worth $20 million dollars. Now that's what God will do when you place missions as a high priority in your church. Fort Wayne First Assembly is one of the leading missions giving churches in our district!

There were 19 ministry candidates on Ordination Night. What a sight to behold as the laying on of hands was extended to all of these ministers receiving ordination credentials. It was a much larger group than we've had in years past. It was greatly encouraging to witness this addition to our ministry ranks!

I attended the Missions Banquet which featured almost 25 of our World and US missionaries. Our church was recognized for our support of missions giving both in World Missions giving, as well as giving to Speed-the-Light too. Had the wonderful chance to connect with many of our precious missionaries and visit with them. Indiana has a great group of awesome missionaries!

Good to be back home. Missed my lovely wife who had to work at her job, plus all my growing children. Each one is growing up so fast.

Dedication Day on our Church Rebuild is coming soon: JUNE 7TH! Let me invite you to come and join us if you live anywhere within 3 or 4 hours of Columbus, Indiana. You won't forget this very special day!

We are still believing for a DEBT FREE MIRACLE. The need is great, but we have a GREAT BIG GOD. Don't forget you can donate on our church website: www.columbusfirstassembly.org

Much love to all!

Mother's Day Weekend

Last weekend was packed and awesome!

It started out with our Mother & Daughter Banquet on Friday night. A large group of ladies and girls came out for this special night. In fact, they had Mike and I serving from behind the food tables. Later, we were helping to clean up and put things away in our new kitchen. All the ladies were encouraged by this ministry event.

Then on Saturday morning a group of men met for our Men's Breakfast. It was another great time of fellowship and ministry among the men of our church. Good food and a great devotional!

After the breakfast we divided and conquered the list of work items prepared for our Spring Work Day. A group started with the mulch to be spread outside the church building and in our landscaping beds. Plus the digging of a natural edge separated the mulch from all the green grass. Another group emptied out our storage container that stored a ton of storage after construction began on our flood rebuilding project. Another group removed the stumps from old bushes out on the edge of our property. Others worked on individual projects inside the church. It was a successful and needed work day! Thanks to everyone who pitched in that day.

On Monday the SAM's storage container was finally picked up...after about 7 or 8 months of use. It feels great to have that container and our trailer removed now from off of 10th Street! We can now see the church.

Mother's Day is always special. Family members join in attendance to honor their mom. We had several special gifts to give away. The featured speaker for this service was my lovely wife Tammy. She always does a fantastic job but the Lord really used her in a great way to minister this year. I've had so many people tell me this message really touched their heart. They were impacted by the theme. They were blessed by the challenge from God's Word. Thanks babe for your willingness to speak for me! God used you in a definite way.

Most of the work on our rebuild is now complete...but still not the carpet. We still do not have this part of the project finished; however, we wait for the word that this will be a go real soon. We have only a little over 3 weeks to go before Dedication Day. The pressure is on...

Gonna enjoy my day off today. Everyone needs a little relaxation and rest.

Let me hear from you...post a little note below.

Love to all!