What’s ahead

Today was the conclusion of nightly Vacation Bible School. Sunday is the closing program. It’s going to be a great day! Lori Waggoner and her team have worked incredibly hard to make this a successful event. THANKS GUYS!

Regrets

I’ve been reading a book by John Ortberg* titled, “When The Game Is Over It All Goes Back In The Box”. The book has challenged and inspired me to a new focus of living with eternity in view.

One of the chapters is called Prevent Regret. Here is some of what Ortberg writes,

“Sometime ago I read an article with a title that has stuck with me: ‘Do Your Commitments Match Your Convictions?’ We all hold convictions about what matters most in our lives, about what we hold most dear. But when we take stock of our day-to-day actions, there is often a gap between what we value and the way we spend our time, money, or energy. So regret prevention means taking an honest look at what commitments are shaping our lives.”

Ortberg then lists four categories of regret that are most common when people get to the end of their lives. They are

• I would have love more deeply

• I would have laughed more often

• I would have given more generously

• I would have lived more boldly

So, what are you committed to? Are your commitments such that you’ll get to the end of your life (whenever that might be) and look back with regret? I hope not!

*Ortberg, J. (2007). When the game is over it all goes back in the box. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan. (pp. 100-102)

VBS

Already it’s been a great week of Vacation Bible School. There have been a fantastic number of kids involved and I’ve met new families, I think, every evening. And, the kids are having a blast!

One of them, a boy named Jimmy, has been here from the beginning, and he assured me he wouldn’t miss a night. I first met Jimmy through basketball. I was his coach. It’s exciting to see him involved in VBS. I wonder what great thing God has in store for Jimmy’s future? Could he be a pastor, a missionary, a Christian doctor, or businessman? Well, this week we’re making a good beginning. We’re heading him in that direction; planting seeds that will one day be a harvest.

Great job VBS team, keep it up!

Block Party Pics

OK. I promised you pictures of our Block Party last weekend, so here they are (click any of the photos at left). Everything about the day was a success. We met several hundred people from our immediate community we had not known before; a bunch of whom came to church on Sunday.

I expected it to be great, but it exceeded those expectations. God is amazing.

You can bet, this is going to be an annual event!

A great weekend!

Wow! It has been an exciting last couple of days. On Saturday we met at 8am and began the work of setup for the Block Party (a first ever). By 10:30 everything was ready for 11am opening. There were five “bouncin’ bins” , two ponies for rides, and a 20′ x 20′ tent for food and drink. There were hotdogs, cotton candy, popcorn and cold soda’s. We had carnival games like ring toss, ect and a four-hole miniature golf course. There was face painting and nail painting, and canopies everywhere for shade from the hot (but welcomed) sunshine.

We had done the work of promotion up front. The preparation was complete and we had prayed for God’s blessing on the event, so we simply trusted Him to give success. And He did.

Our guests began coming almost right at eleven. In the first hour and a half nearly 200 of our neighbors had registered and were participating. A constant flow of newcomers registered throughout the day and by the end of the event more than 400 from our community game through the gate. Add to that the 100 or so from our church who served and worked, and it was a great day! (I’ve got some pics I’ll put up tomorrow).

Sunday was another fabulous day! A bunch of our Saturday guest attended Sunday (we had eight new families), and there was a lot of energy and a great atmosphere in the service. God gave us His blessing on the entire weekend, a fitting start to VBS week!

More great things are in store over the next five days. Let’s continue to anticipate the fulfillment of our mission…

Organizational Meeting

With the Block Party just around the corner (Saturday at 11am), I’ve planned an organizational meeting for Thursday at 7pm to cover last minute details that may have been overlooked. All of you have served brilliantly and I am confident God is going to bless this event. However, we want our presentation Saturday to be superb and must plan every detail with that in mind!

One more thing. If you can’t make the meeting Thursday, setup begins at 8am Saturday. Thanks for your continuing help to make this a fun and successful day!

Transportation

My Father’s Day gift from Julia and the kids was a bike. It’s a nice one. Very big, and actually suitable for this 6′4″ frame.

Today I rode it to the church for work, and then around town as I had a few errands to run. I probably won’t show up to the hospital on it any time soon, but only because I don’t prefer riding in suit pants.

Hey, it’s good exercise, I enjoy it, and it saves on $4 a gallon gas!

Annie

My day started wonderfully! I got to sit on the back patio, in the warm sun, with a cup of coffee and this little girl on my lap! I just held her, and told her how pretty she is, and simply cherished the time we had together.

Father’s Day was yesterday, but I sure am grateful to be a dad!

Men’s Golf Outing

It was a really fun day.

We started this morning around 8:30 at Golden Corral. A bunch of great guys enjoyed a breakfast buffet together before hitting the linx for a round of golf.

Tee times were at Purple Sage around 10:30am and we had 22 golfers in all. It was a gorgeous day (why couldn’t we have had this weather on our vacation last week?). The sun was bright. There was not a single cloud in the bright, blue sky. There was just a slight breeze, enough to keep it from getting too hot. It was nice. A couple of the guys forgot sun block and ended up looking like lobsters

At the end we put everyone’s name in a hat and gave away some really nice prizes. Rich Oswald’s team won. He had his dad (Larry), Chris Thompson, and Your’s Truly as his teammates. We were five under for the round. Not bad, although it should have been much better. But hey, they say a bad day golfing is better than a good day…

Actually, there was nothing bad about this day at all, it was perfect.

Thanks guys for a great time, and for participating. We’ll have to do it again soon. (How’s next weekend looking for you?)

Runnin’

I’ve hit the ground running since returning from family vacation. A lot is happening the next couple of weeks and we’re going to be ready! Here are the highlights:

June 21–Block Party. Everyone needs to be there for this event. It’s going to be a blast. Also, please be praying for God’s blessing. We need it desparately.

June 22–Dr. and Mrs. James Keaton will be in town for a couple of baby dedications. One has his name, (Keaton) the other has his looks (Isaiah)! In the pm service, David Akaji, a missionary will be with us to share.

June 23-27 is VBS week. Invite all the kids you know. It’s going to be so much fun I almost wish I was a kid again.

June 29–VBS closing program in the morning. The evening service will feature a mixed trio from God’s Bible School and College in Cincinnati, Ohio.

July 1-6 is Camp in McCall. A week of spiritual refreshment and renewal.

Get ready, get set…Let’s GO!

We’re Back

I intended to write more over the last week as my family and I enjoyed vacation together. But either it was internet access, or late nights or just having too much fun, I’ve been out of the blogging mode. But we’re back, and you’ll be hearing much more from me over the next few days. I’ve got a lot to tell you, and I have great anticipation for out future together!

By the way, be praying about our Block Party coming up in a just over a week. We need God’s blessing in a big way!

We’ve Arrived

We got out of town around 10 am and enjoyed an uneventful 5 hour drive to Eden, UT where we located our condo with no trouble, unloaded and started having fun. It’s now nearly 11pm and I’m tired. Things have begun to calm down here and the bed is calling. Tomorrow is a new day, I think the Zoo will be our destination (depending on the weather). Hope all is well where you’re at.

By the way, the Red Wings won the Stanley Cup, yea! Now, if the Celtics can just knock off the Laker’s. I don’t particularly like the Celtics, but I can’t stand the Laker’s!

And, go Big Brown! Can you tell I’m on vacation?

Good night!

a Holiday

We’re headed out in the morning for a few days of vacation. The kids are excited and Julia and I are very much looking forward to the time away, to relax and refocus.

We’ve rented a condo in Eden, Utah–just outside of Ogden–and we’re planning to go to Lagoon one day, the Salt Lake City Zoo another day, maybe some horseback riding, (a round of golf if I’m lucky), and otherwise just hang out together. Please pray it will be warm enough we won’t have to wear sweatshirts all week

I’m going to do my best to forget about work, unwind and enjoy my wife and kids! We’ll see ya’ll when we get back!

Oh, and I’ll show you some pictures when I get them from time to time. I plan to continue blogging.

Home Groups

It was another great HOME Groups night. We enjoyed the company of 21 people, a good mix of all ages. We ate Taco Salad and shared in great conversation and fellowship. It was a fun evening.

Toward the end of the night Lee Simmons picked up my guitar and started playing. Julia joined him on the piano and we stood/sat in a circle and sang “Lord, I lift your name on high”, “Amazing Grace”, “You are my all in all”,  “I sing praises” and whatever else came to mind. We even pulled out some real old ones. It’s the message in these songs that unites us, and thankfully God has brought us together (people that not long ago didn’t even know each other) to worship Him and show others how great HE is.

I’m looking forward to next time! Now, how was your group?

Goodnight

Isaiah and I were laying on the bed watching ESPN. I think he was getting a little bored with Sports Center ’cause he started getting fussy. I dealt with it for a few minutes, rubbing he back and belly, trying to calm him down.

When he reached the breaking point I put my arm over top of him and started singing in his ear–a little song I made up, to the tune of a familiar kids song. He calmed down immediately. I’m not sure if he liked my singing, or was simply trying to fake it so I’d shut up, but within minutes he was asleep.

This putting the kids to sleep thing is usually Julia’s department, perhaps I should try it more often…