We Have The First Images Of Our New Baby

We have the first images of our new baby! The artist renderings for our new facilities on Apopka Vineland Road have arrived! Gestation time will be 50 weeks! A due date has been set at May 2, 2009.

This has been and will be a costly "pregnancy" for our church family but the Lord is providing the resources to pay all of the costs of the adventure. The final bill, including purchasing new property (30 acres), remodeling a 3,000 square foot house into office space, and building a 20,000 square foot building, will be around $6,200,000!! And you thought your babies were expensive!

The good news is that we are within a few thousand dollars of being able to pay cash for the "baby". The sale of our Hiawassee property, interest on our banked funds, and our local building fund should, by the due date, be able to pay the bill in full!!!!!

I trust you'll check in from time to time to see how the "baby" is coming along.

Fried Chicken, Curry Chicken, Jerk Chicken

Sunday was our first "annual" Sunday School Picnic! What an afternoon! We gathered on our new property after church and stayed most of the day.

I remember Sunday School Picnics growing up as great times of the church family getting to gather to share food, fun, and fellowship. The three-legged sack races, the balloon toss, horse shoes, and so much more made them great experiences. They are fond memories.

This one, here at Metro West International, was not all that different. We played softball, touch football, volleyball, and horse shoes. We had an abundance of great food and a good time of "Hymn Singing" before we went home. The difference between this great event and the ones I remember as a kid was the variety of foods.

In days gone by it was hot dogs, hamburgers, fried chicken, potato salad, baked beans, chips, and lots of great deserts! This time it was all of the above along with special dishes from South America and the Islands! Simply put, it was indeed an "International" Sunday School picnic!

I couldn't help but think (and thank) about the beautiful fellowship that the Lord has allowed me to be a part of here late in my ministry. It must be a little like what Heaven will be like and as I listened to all the different accents sing "It is well with my soul" I found it hard to believe that "the best is yet to come". Yet I know it is! When we join together on that Heavenly property, share in a banquet for the ages, and sing praises to our God and Savior, it will be beyond compare. I know that the "best is yet to come" but I sure am enjoying the blessings He allows me here!

On District Meetings

In our denomination it happens once a year. Pastors and delegates from a certain geographical area get together to reflect on the year past and to dream about the year to come. It is called District Assembly. I remember a time when I was excited at the approach of a District Assembly with all of its' reports, elections, special speakers, and reunions. They lasted three or four days, every pastor gave an oral report and it was a wonderful time of shared fellowship for the "church".

Now "Assembly" lasts a day and a half. There are no oral pastor's reports and there is hardly time to say hello to anyone. I suppose that in our busy world it is a better way to go, more convenient, more programmed but I miss the the slower pace and the chance to spend more than a moment with friends and fellow clergy.

Our Assembly last week was as slick and ordered as any I have ever attended. The speakers were excellent, the music was awesome, and the time was well spent. But, for me, it lacked. I must be getting old as I find myself thinking about the old days and the memories come flooding back.

I guess there's no question I'm getting old as two friends, who shared many of those early Assemblies with me in Eastern Michigan, RETIRED!!!!! Dr. Eugene Frame and Rev. Ernie Lewis RETIRED!!!!! I turn 60 in just a few more weeks so I know that the rocking chair can't be to far away. Not to far away for me or my friends who started in ministry when I did (back in the days of Yore) Fred, Gene, Brian, Mike, if you're reading this, just know that even for us old preachers "the best is yet to come".