Graduates Service

Last night we honored our 2007 High School Graduate, Phylicia McClain.

Following our 'Life Tabernacle' tradition, we presented her with a new Bible. I spoke to the youth about keeping the ultimate goal in focus as you climb the mountain called Life. She spoke for a few moments and then the church gathered around her forming a cocoon of prayer. I had her father, who is a minister, say a special prayer over her. It was a touching moment.

We had a reception following and everyone had a great time celebrating this milestone in Phylicia's life.

(l-r) Taqueria, Sis. McClain, Phylicia, Bro. McClain and Phillip

The McClain's were so appreciative and could not believe that our church would take time to do this. I believe that the family of God should celebrate and share special moments together! We knocked on this Apostolic family's door at our very first outreach Saturday. They were looking for a church to attend. Within a couple months, the whole family joined us and are a tremendous blessing! Taqueria and Sis. McClain teach our children's Sunday School class, Taqueria and Phylicia sing in the praise group, Bro. McClain helps in leading service, and Phillip does our media projection during services. We love them so much and appreciate their willingness to help, as well as their respectful support.

I'm just lookin'....

The Portabello Estate

I came across a house I thought some of you might be looking for! It is in Newport Beach, California. You owe it to yourself to go look at this! This would be a great starter home. It is right at 30,000 square feet and is selling for $75 million.

A study in sensuous curves, the home unfolds as a nautilus shell, with an immense, sun-washed grotto at its center, surrounded by beautiful "chambers" including eight opulent bedroom suites and living areas that open seamlessly to the incomparable seafront. Noteable highlights of this landmark property are too numerous to capture in text, and include: 2-story grotto with a pool, 2 spas, swim-up bar, tunnel slide, poolside lounge room and barbeque area; entertainment level with bowling alley, Art Deco theater, automotive museum, cafe, full exercise facility. Approximately 2,000 square foot 2-bedroom master suite, expansive living areas, immense oceanfront lawn/terraces.

There is an Oprah video tour that is pretty cool. I personally think it too far from Pflugerville, so I will have to pass on this one. I'll just wait 'til we get on the other side— "Wait 'til you see, wait 'til you see, my brand new home...."

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LINDA!!

WOW!! Let's see now... I'm 40, so that makes you.... Well, we'll just keep that between family! LOL

I hope you have a wonderful, awesome, fantabulous birthday! You are a great sister and friend. I couldn't ask for any better. As you said in your mother's day post, we have had MANY times of laughter. I've included a picture to prove that point.

My wish for you today is that your day is filled with this kind of laughter - of course, you might need me and Ronda for that!! Love you lots!!

A Happy Mother's Day

We were privileged to have my mom, Joann Holley, and her chauffeur in service this morning. She is a great lady of God and it is our distinct honor to call her "Mom!" She has been faithful like clock-work for the many years she has served the Lord. She is always giving to one of us - whether it is a hug, a compliment, or for Chad and Cameron, it is tickling their back! They came down on Friday and we spent a couple days with them. Our church always loves for them to be in service with us!

Another great Mom in our life is my sweet wife, Karla. She is such a blessing to everything that she is a part of. She is definitely full of life and laughter. At our wedding, Nathan Hurst, prayed that our home would be full of laughter and it has definitely come true. Not only is Karla a great wife and mother, she is also a friend to each one of us.

Our church surprised us and honored her today with roses and a sweet card. As Sis. McClain presented the gift, she thanked Karla for being approachable and loving each one of the ladies, as well as training our young people in Sunday School class. It was so nice.

We had some special readings about mothers and then had a drawing for a beautiful plant and book called "A Woman After God's Own Heart." Sis. Betty Sharp was the winner! She is such a wonderful lady. They have been such a treat to have around. They are prayer warriors and solid Christians. Her husband had a stroke about 2 years ago and she gets him ready for church, helps him into the car, loads the wheelchair - and they are faithful. We are trying to help them in any way that we can, but she hates to accept the help. She forgot her tithe and offering last weekend and called on Monday to let me know that she was SO sorry. They were concerned that I would think they were laying off! They love the work of God.

The young ladies handed out roses to all the mothers as a special token of our love. I can't picture them all here, but here are two of the elder mothers.

It was truly a Happy Mother's Day.

Academic Excellence

We received an invitation to attend an award ceremony last night at Hendrickson High School. The students were nominated for academic excellence by a member of the faculty. Cameron had no idea what the award was because they keep them a surprise for the students. His award actually turned out to be in Social Studies. We are proud to call him our son! Not only is he doing very well in school with a 4.9 GPA, he is giving his talent to the Lord and being used in many ways. Congratulations, Cameron! And now to teach him to drive.....Lord, help us all.

Weekend in Review

Friday night was our first church youth trip! We used a van from the Bernard's church and went out on the town. A new area has opened in Austin called the Domain with upscale stores that looks like a downtown with apartments above the stores. It is really cool! We went and toured the stores and then ate at California Pizza Kitchen. We had a brand new young person with us and had a great time.

I got my first chance to visit an Apple store. It was really cool. Here is Chad and Phillip checking out the iPods.

We were blessed to have Pastor and Sis. Mark Green with us today. We have planned to have them come from the moment we moved here. They were our Sunday School Secretary when we were Director in Texas. They were in on all the deciding to make the move last June since Crusader Camp was happening at the same time. He has been a great encourager and we have enjoyed being with them so much. We definitely miss working with them on a regular basis. Since we moved last August, he was appointed as Sunday School Director and then left that position when he was elected as a Presbyter on the Texas District Board! They came in last night and we visited until really late and then he ministered in our service today. It was really good. The Lord did a tremendous work of encouragement and touched a visitor in a mighty way. We had 36 in service again! It was great.

We laughed a lot this weekend - and sometimes you just really need to lighten up and laugh!
We enjoyed a time of fellowship at the Salt Grass steakhouse.

P.S. Cameron is doing good. His lip is still a little swollen and he has FOUR stitches instead of the measly TWO which I reported earlier. He talks a little funny and smiles crooked! Chad's head is doing OK also!

What's HOT for Spring!!

I received the following writing from a friend and wanted to pass it along to all the beautiful ladies who read this blog. We have the promise of an eternal future with the King of kings - I want the "fashion" I wear to be a reflection of HIS glory!

"WHAT IS HOT FOR SPRING"

Many of us look around as a new season rolls in to see what the new trends will be. Color, styles, accessories, are just a few things we study to see how we measure up and what we need to add to our wardrobe to be considered in style. Okay, even fashionably challenged people like me take a little look here and there to get a taste of what the new look for the season will be. But as I look at the clothes in my closet, I think what is the point? These clothes that were in style are now out and they end up in a trash bag headed for the curb, so that means the next set of in style clothes will be out in a few months and I will be left to give yet another load of unwanted items to my trusty trash man. This cycle has got to stop. Jesus said give NO THOUGHT. There is a new season quickly approaching and I want to study the trends. That season is the coming of the Lord. We may not know the day, but we can know the season and I want to be ready. I want to know what to wear so I will be in style for an eternal fashion show. Maybe I should clothe myself in humility or adorn my lips with kindness. Perhaps I should invest in eternal things that will not wear out or go out of style. Could it be that I need to have my feet shod with the gospel of peace and a helmet of salvation instead of a new Easter ensemble? Its harder than it sounds. Our flesh is always in a state of desiring that we easily confuse with a dire need. So as this new Spring season approaches I want to simplify my life. I want to look for the trends that are in style for my meeting with the King of Kings.

The Lip vs. The Head

THE LIP

At 4:30pm this afternoon, Cameron came into the house from playing basketball and showed us that his lip was no match for Chad's head!

THE HEAD

Chad's head came up under the chin and caused Cameron's teeth to cut a gaping hole in his lip. Karla was weak and unable to move (unusual - I am usually the one) and I got him some ice and then determined that I needed to take him to the emergency room. He was hurting pretty bad and the cut was pretty deep, at least more than what we could bandage at home. This is WEDNESDAY— you know —CHURCH! At 6:18pm, after waiting all I could, I asked if they could get this finished by 7pm as I was a pastor and we had church to get to. The doctor came in and said, "Yeah, I hear that excuse all the time! " I looked at him with a question on my face and he started laughing. He said, "Nah, I'm just kidding. We'll get him out of here soon." We left at 7pm with 2 measly stitches, but necessary ones. We were 20 minutes from home....so I made it right at 7:30pm after changing from jeans! Cameron is doing good. He finally ate some soup through a straw. They said he should be able to get them out in about 5 days.

On the bright side, at this Austin hospital I met two workers who live in Pflugerville and one of them knew exactly where our church used to meet - that little-bitty place! Goes to show you that you never know who is noticing you.

Church turned out good even though my brain was little out of sync and a huge storm blew in during my lesson. And so goes life...one day at a time.

Holy Roller

Sis. Faye, one of our founding saints and still a new convert, told me that she got the highest compliment this past week when her grown son looked at her and said, "You're just a Holy Roller!" God is dealing with him and working through her. She said her mom used to say, "Yeah, I'm a Holy Roller and I'm gonna roll right on in to Heaven!" Here Sis. Faye is, just now coming to God in her elder years, but the relationship her mother had with God is still impacting her life...and she is now making a difference in her son's life...the Holy Rollers just keep on rollin'!

New Sign and Catch-up

Our new location calls for a different sign. The sign we had was too tall and would not fit in the area where the sign was to go. So we have been making do with our old banner stretched over a set of windows until we could get a new one.


Here's what our new one looks like. It came in today and when the rain stops, we will get it installed. I will post a picture for you. Our logo was also not the shape to fit, so we rearranged it to get our name as big as possible! Again, it is a temporary banner. Our other one was only used for 8 months, so until we get to a more permanent location, we will will stick with the lower cost option. We are also putting our service times and several logos on the windows in vinyl lettering.

We have been to Wichita Falls and back since Sunday night after the choir sang at the Bernard's. We had to wait until then to leave since it was their 15th Anniversary services and the choir was a part of the celebration. It was not a good occasion to go home, but the homegoing service for Sis. Shahan was beautiful. She was a beautiful lady and deserved the best. It was good to see everybody, even if it was just for a few minutes. We arrived back home this morning at around 1:30am and hit the ground running this morning.

My wife is now working a part-time job. She does data entry for the accounting department of Keller Williams Realty here in Austin. The Market Center she works at serves 400 realtors. She is only working from 9am-1pm, so it allows her to be at home when the boys leave for school and be here when they get home. The boys need many things at the age they are and this will help with some of them. Cameron is taking driver's ed and you know all the things that come with that... Insurance!!!!

We had 32 in service Sunday and we now have no one attending from the Bernard's church. We were blessed to have a family of 5 visiting this weekend with us AND not so blessed to have several people out! I will never understand.... whewwwwwwww.... just let it go. I have to be in church. I have never been able to miss. It is just something that is necessary! Can I get an amen? We had 32 GREAT, faithful people in service and the Spirit was moving so strong. We are blessed.