It is official.

We are now the Pastor of Life Tabernacle Church of Wichita Falls, Texas.  Thursday night, by a 96% vote, we were elected.   We are so excited and ready to get on-site!  It is still hard to believe.

This morning was bittersweet as we resigned New Life Church of Pflugerville and spent some time saying goodbyes.  We had to call everyone on Saturday and have them come for an important meeting at 9:45am.  At that time, I explained what events had transpired and then resigned.  Bro. Bernard followed me by telling the congregation how the process would work to bring in a new Pastor here.  There are several names already submitted!  A fax came in this morning to the mother church saying that they had heard about Pflugerville and were interested - someone in another state.  HOW DO THEY HEAR THIS STUFF?!  I had not even told the church yet!?

We had worship and I spoke about The Anchor that still holds - Jesus Christ!  I am not the anchor for their lives - He is.  The Lord will provide a leader that will lead them to the next level.  The spirit of revival was so strong in the service and the worship was solid.  Following my message, we joined together in our newly finished youth center!  We had kolaches, donuts and juice as we said our goodbyes with everyone.

What is so amazing to me is that the main members of the church had already been prepared for this in one way or another.  They shared with me these feelings and I am just so thankful for a God who cares for each of us.  Sis. Faye, the lady who has been here from the day we came, said that last week she had a dream where she was holding on to my arm saying, "You can't go, you just can't!"  She woke up realizing that maybe we would be leaving soon.  This gave her time to think and pray about it all.  They each said that they felt like it was the right thing although they are going to miss us.  We will miss them, too!  It has been "just us" building this new work for two years now.  It has been every breath and day of our lives.

Our house is up for sale and Karla's job has hired someone to replace her.  She will be training her this week.  Next weekend we will be in Wichita Falls!  The following week, June 16-20, is the South Texas Revival Conference (District Conference and Campmeeting) in San Antonio.  We will be there as music coordinators.  We cannot back out of that now.  

We will be in Wichita Falls each weekend and on some Wednesdays in June.  Then we will make the transition to being there all the time!  The mission calls and we will all respond.  We are ready.

Hula Chair

Ok. I got a huge laugh out of this one.  It is kind of like the things that were out in the 70's where you put a belt around your hips and it jiggled you to death!  Supposedly to lose weight... fat chance! LOL!  Anybody interested in buying one?

Change

Today I am preparing for change.

Nothing endures but change.

Heraclitus 

(540 BC - 480 BC)

Judging by the dates that this Ephesian man lived, I would say that his statement is true.  Change still endures.  Just when you think you have it all figured out, things change!  But, think about it, wouldn't life be boring without changes?  I am not one to live in a rut.  If life isn't changing things, I will figure out a way to make some changes!  

I dare YOU today - make a change.  Even a small one will bring you a sense of adventure: try a different road, eat something out of the ordinary, mow your yard in a different pattern!  There are enough negative changes that this world brings to you— you might as well make some changes of your own that are positive or at least fun!

I leave you with a more modern quote...

Change is inevitable - except from a vending machine. 

Robert C. Gallagher

Bragging again...

Chad was awarded the top award for his 7th grade class in Spanish.  His teacher called us yesterday to make sure we were going to be at the award ceremony this morning.  He said he has really enjoyed Chad being in his class.  Chad's choice to celebrate was Pluckers Wing Bar.  

Congratulations, Chad!

Another brag post...

Cameron was awarded the top award for his school in Web Design!  

It is our family custom to go celebrate their awards at the restaurant of their choice.  He chose to go to Macaroni Grill.  We had a great time just being family - laughing and enjoying each other's company.  Congratulations Cameron!

New classrooms

This Sunday, our children and youth will have their Sunday School classes in the new Youth Center! I have posted pictures here for you to see the one of the new classrooms. Thank you to the Life Tabernacle Sunday School Department, Wichita Falls, for the great decorations and literature that you donated to New Life!  You may recognize some of your handiwork and it has really helped get things going in a great way.

The youth will have their class in another children's Sunday School classroom this week and should be able to move into their space next weekend - after I get the floor painted this week!  These classes will free up the nursery and foyer in our Sanctuary suite.  The guests who come late will not have to look into the eyes of all the young people when they walk in and the Sunday School teacher will not have to hurry and change the room around to make it a nursery!!  Progress.  It is a great thing!

My How Time FLIES!!

Today on my way home from work I was hit square in the face with a case of reality (we won't call it sadness - LOL).  We have 5 days of school left.  This year marks the end of 10th grade for Cameron and 7th grade for Chad.

Here's where the reality comes in - Cameron will be a JUNIOR next year and Chad will be in 8th grade!!  When I say it seems like yesterday that Cameron was going to Kindergarten at West Foundation it is not an overstatement.  Realistically we could have a child move out of our home in TWO years!!!  And both of them could be gone in FIVE!!  I use the word "could" because I am strongly encouraging them both to live at home while going to college - but we'll see.

Lest anyone take any of these comments wrong, let me set the record straight.  I have completely and thoroughly enjoyed every part of their lives.  My Mother taught me well to enjoy each phase of life that comes your way.  

Our boys have been a joy - even through sleepless nights, sick times, teenage attitudes - all of it.  They have been an example to many on how to follow the will of God with your parents - even when it didn't seem like the "fun" thing to do.  They have both made the best out of situations when I might would have seen it otherwise.  They have been such a blessing to me and to our church through their musical abilities.

Sometimes I catch myself thinking of the regrets - we didn't do this or that while they were young, I wish we could have done...  But I have to remind myself that we have made MANY memories as a family - Branson, Disneyworld (Florida), Disneyland (California), San Diego Zoo, San Antonio, SeaDoo's, countless Youth Camps & Camp Meetings - the list could go on and on.  

If Cameron and Chad didn't have any of these memories, one thing I KNOW they can hold on to is the memory of laughter.  Not a day goes by that we don't break out in a fit of laughter.  This generally happens at the dinner table, but sometimes it's in church, driving down the street or just sitting around the house and something funny will come up.  The boys and I enjoy debating sports and Gene enjoys interjecting totally off-the-wall statements during these debates.  These comments often bring laughter.  Gene also enjoys making crazy faces while we are eating.  These faces always bring on the laughter.  These are times that can never be taken away from us as a family.  Chad can make all of us laugh at his crazy antics and can make Cameron laugh more than anyone.  This is another lasting memory.

I don't exactly know why my mind drifted to these thoughts today - maybe I'm getting old.  LOL!!  I just know that we have to enjoy every minute.  Take time to enjoy your life and your family today - especially if you have little ones - because tomorrow they will be walking across the stage in a cap & gown.  

What are they saying?

I always enjoy reading the marquees on church signs.  I came across a few examples.  They can be a source of inspiration for those who pass by daily with sayings like this (although they need to get the lights fixed!)...

Or they could tell about what to expect when you attend there...

They can also say something in the wrong way  :-)  ...

Road Trip...

to church!

It always seems that Chad falls asleep in the car within minutes.  We had only been in the car for about 5 minutes on our way to church tonight in this picture and he was already out!  There were many times when he was a baby that we would just put him in his car seat and take a drive to get him to go to sleep.  His driving days are not too far away, so it makes me wonder if he will be able to stay awake if the trip takes more than 3 or 4 minutes?!  If you were able to take a trip this holiday weekend... stay awake and have a great Memorial Day!

This way to New Life...

Each Saturday we put out signs around our church to direct people to our location. Today, as I inserted them into the ground, I began to think about those who will see them and not even consider attending. If they only knew what kind of new life they would really find! I believe that there are many who would love to change, but have been so turned off by religion that they do not even consider that God could be the real answer for them.

If people really knew what God had for them, they would be filling our churches to overflowing tomorrow! Some of them would not even want to wait until the scheduled service time! How do we reach them with this good news? One hungry soul at a time. Unless they are hungry, they will not even consider it.

We must always have the "new life signs" out in our lives - just in case. The searching soul will then have direction to get to Jesus at the time of their need. You never know when someone is looking and just maybe they WILL consider it...