Wednesday, May 30, 2012

I am sorry!  I have not kept my end of the bargain.  It has been hard enough to schedule the prayer days, but even more so to sit and write these updates.  I am so sorry!  I made a commitment to you and I broke it.  I do so appreciate your prayers.  Ironically, the time I need them most is when I haven't been giving you prayer requests.  I have to trust the Lord leads you with groanings beyond words in your efforts on our behalf.

It has been a very full Spring...

  • Keziah participated in her first musical- Flat Stanley, and did a great job.
  • She also served as assistant Conductor for her school orchestra, while also participating in Violin.
  • Nathan also participated in the Orchestra playing Cello.  
  • Pray that their love of music doesnt become performance driven, but that it becomes a way for them to express worship.
  • Nathan is in Cubscouts - Webelos 1, and they asked me to teach them through the requirements for their faith emblem.  Over 6 meetings, I get to lead families and sons to discover some foundational truths of Scripture.  Pray for these families.
  • I have been teaching from Genesis to Revelation, scrunching God's Never Ending Story down into 9 months of messages.  Whew.  We finish in 2 weeks.  It has been so rewarding. 
  • I am finishing a 2 year coaching network with Church Resource Ministries that has been 1 full day once a month.   I will be gone this Friday as well.  We finish in August.
  • We launched our 3 year vision plan in March.  It has been very exciting to reinvigorate our people on a focused vision for the future.
  • We had a friend visiting from Romania.  We hope to take the Tru Curriculum to Romania.
  • We started meeting with other churches in Orange for prayer every 3rd Wednesday.  So good.
  • My car broke down during a retreat with the elders.
I did get my monthly Summit/Prayer this month (last Thursday), though it took a lot of wrangling with my calendar to do so.  Please pray I can keep that commitment.   Also, please pray for...
  • Kid to finish well at school (June 15).  They are both straight A's, and mostly A+'s.  We are grateful for their hard work.  
  • Our vacation from June 22 to July 6.  We will be along the Mississippi coast and Nathan doesn't like Alligators.
  • Keziah heads off on her first mission trip without us.  She will join the Beacon Youth on a Navajo Nation project from July 8-13.
  • Nathan will be heading to Camp Pondo with our Children's Team from July 9-12.
  • Carolyn has conferences related to work this summer.
  • I am trying to get my head around the messages sequence for 2012-2013.  I hope to publish that calendar for our teams by September.
  • Family members who need prayer: Ric's Grandpa John, Carolyn's Mother Bonnie and Brother Gary.
  • My regular meetings with the Men that keep me sharp have been cancelled lately.  I am not fond of that.
  • Pray for my Men's Discipleship group.  I have 5 great guys that meet twice a month.
  • Pray for the Elder choosing process at the Beacon.  We have 4 men and their wives in the process right now.
  • Pray for our current Elders as we are trying to make sure we lay a solid foundation for the future.
  • Pray for our Elders as they interview new member prospects.
My next prayer day is supposed to be June 14.  Thanks again for your prayers.  Is there anyway we can pray for you?