Friends

Yesterday had a great time with the kids in the morning. Their friend Michael Frontera came over and we all headed up for the Herr's Potato Chip factory tour. It was fun. The kids kept calling Chipper, Cheddar. Quite entertaining. Then we all headed back home to picnic, but it was too chilly so we picniced at home.

For the afternoon I went and watched Scott and Tyler play tennis. They didn't face each other though. Bummer. They both played well and I was joined by Kevin, Tony, Mike, Julie and Jordan. Quite the showing! That's so great to see people investing in people!!!

Jim and Sue Dougherty came over for dinner and we had a great time together. They are some great friends!

Friends

Yesterday had a great time with the kids in the morning. Their friend Michael Frontera came over and we all headed up for the Herr's Potato Chip factory tour. It was fun. The kids kept calling Chipper, Cheddar. Quite entertaining. Then we all headed back home to picnic, but it was too chilly so we picniced at home.

For the afternoon I went and watched Scott and Tyler play tennis. They didn't face each other though. Bummer. They both played well and I was joined by Kevin, Tony, Mike, Julie and Jordan. Quite the showing! That's so great to see people investing in people!!!

Jim and Sue Dougherty came over for dinner and we had a great time together. They are some great friends!

Building together

Yesterday had a great time with the kids in the morning. Their friend Michael Frontera came over and we all headed up for the Herr's Potato Chip factory tour. It was fun. The kids kept calling Chipper, Cheddar. Quite entertaining. Then we all headed back home to picnic, but it was too chilly so we picniced at home.

For the afternoon I went and watched Scott and Tyler play tennis. They didn't face each other though. Bummer. They both played well and I was joined by Kevin, Tony, Mike, Julie and Jordan. Quite the showing! That's so great to see people investing in people!!!

Jim and Sue Dougherty came over for dinner and we had a great time together. They are some great friends!

Preparations...

A beautiful day yesterday! Sun shining, me in shorts, and actually some time out of the office and meetings!

I had lunch with my friend Jordan Corbin at Madonna House. The food was good the service... not so good.

Our good friends Kevin and Joy Snow (and Katelynn and Kristen) came over! Kevin is in town because of the Youth Convention on Saturday at our church and so we combined it to have some time together laughing, playing, talking and eating! It's good to have friends!

Later we met up with some of the people from his church and Freddy to do sound check and set-up for Saturday. Kevin Berry comes and helps out with setup which I am very thankful for!

Bad blogging. I have been less than faithful, but I've been on the road.
A couple key things happening that you'll no doubt be hearing follow up on in the next few days and weeks. Dave Curtiss came out to visit. He's a great friend and mentor and he and I talked LOTS about ministry, life and next steps for both of us (mostly me though). He also shared with the youth workers here and with some youth pastors on our district. He's great. He communicates his heart so well. We're already seeing changes and a difference in the peoples were with!

Also we went and visited Doug and Shelly Pagitt and their family in Minnesota. Carol and I (and Isaiah) had a great time and were so impressed and overwhelmed with Doug and Shelley and Matt Henry's hospitality. They were just great. The visit went well too. Just being around them teaches us much. More to come on all that.

Today Kevin and Joy Snow are coming to visit and set up for the convention at our church this weekend. They are great friends and we are much looking forward to it.

Sunday went well....

It has probably taken me the two days up till now to recover fully. I've heard a lot of encouraging things about the teaching/preaching. Best of all a friend who has been doubting a lot has been spurned on to ask more and more questions.

We're preparing for our good friend Dave to come and visit all the way from California. He's so california too. It's quite funny. We'll spend some time together with him kicking my butt on how to do ministry right (he's one of my ministry mentors) and then I'll turn him loose on our youth workers. Then he'll get to go play for a few days with his daughter in Philly. Then right before he jets out of town into the sunset (quite literally I suppose), I'll give him a whack at our district youth pastors. It's called maximizing your time. Actually it's his time. At any rate we're really looking forward to it.

Some of our college kids are home on spring break and many will wind up at my house tonight laughing and talking and catching up. This is all good, but it also begs the question, what are we going to do for these kids this summer? It's true my mind and its questions continue to torment me, allowing little rest and less peace.

A bit of a rough week...

It's been a tough few days. My uncle had a heart attack, today is to have 5 bypasses and they found a tumor in his ear (to be operated on later). One of the kids in my youth group, (a senior leader), just found out he has a malignant tumor on his thyroid and will be having surgery soon to remove both... and it's his birthday. Major bummer.

I guess what makes it all so hard at times is entering into the situation (in this case the sorrow) with them. It certainly makes me realize what a loving Father we have in God and what a Savior we have in Christ. Thanks God for entering into all of my life and sharing it with me, for helping me through the tough times, for laughing with me in the joyous times, and for giving me a touch of your love to share with others.

May we never take for granted your presence or your love!

Initial Posting

Well I am now officially entering the world of the blog. Kinda scary for those of you who actually might read this no doubt.

Today I'm preparing for tonights group stuff, pulling together curriculum for Lent for small groups and beginning to gather thougths for Sunday sermon. As I do all this I am continually brought back to the images from "the Passion of Christ" and my thoughts of "how can you possibly try to put words to this story?"

It's foolishness I know...