Eeeeeeeeek!

Just a quick note to let you know we're still here. The 2006 Hannaford Fall Conference is next weekend and we're wrapping up a lot of loose ends. Basically, I'm swamped. I pray that my "swamped-ness" somehow translates into lives impacted. Some quick notes:

• Got two grade progress reports for Andrik. They send them every two weeks in email - How cool is that??!! A in English, A+ in Computer Apps.
• Shooting a video for church. Bad timing with the Conference and all. I'm hoping it turns out well.
• I have two extra Orders of Worship to plan this week in addition to the regular Sunday service. I also have a program, name tags and a number of other misc projects for the conference.
• Andrea's been working hard trying to decorate Pastor Dick's office (painting, finding furniture, hunting in thrift stores).
• Kellin's been getting in trouble at school. It's only two weeks in!!! Oy!
• It got really cold, really fast. It was in the 80's one day and then dropped to the 40's. We just got our first snow this fall (in the mountians).
• Worship was especially energized for me this morning. I needed that. I pray that is was pleasing to Him.

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!

Author and pastor Rick Warren starts his book The Purpose-Driven Life with the words, "It's not about you." While those words are correct, the deep truth is ... it is all about Jesus.

While there are a million, a billion, or more things to occupy our thoughts, joys, excitement, complaints, and concerns - it all comes down to Jesus. He is our focus.

Democrats, Republicans, homosexuals, pro-life, pro-choice, tattoos, body piercings, hymns, tradional, contemporary, evolution, intelligent design, creation, baptism, dancing, potlucks, music, nice suits, shorts & flip-flops, doctrine, spirituality, Gen-X, Modernism, church decorations, windows, home school, public schools, MTV, movies, the internet ... JESUS!

What's your focus?

Another September Disaster

No, it's not 9/11. It's not Hurricane Katrina. It's "Western Day" at Hannaford Street Bible Church.

I guess that's a bit of an overstatement - it certainly will not be a disaster. Our annual Western Day tomorrow is part of our "Fall Kickoff" campaign this year. It was planned to be a big start to September. We notified all the local media and sent out 10,000 full-color postcards to Helena residents informing them of the free western breakfast, hayrides for the kids, and best of all, a live bluegrass band in both services!

Thursday afternoon the bluegrass band canceled (due to an emergency health issue in the band). So two days before Labor Day weekend we have been frantically calling and searching for a replacement group. The result? No go. :-(

Needless to say, we're pretty disappointed. We made the decision late yesterday that there is just no getting someone in here at such late notice, so I've had to come up with a plan for worship on Sunday. Did I mention that I'm off Fridays, that I cleared the stage for Sunday's band, that I'm pretty sick with a cold? We considered just playing a DVD of the bluegrass band through the whole service, but we thought that might be boring especially because you can't really see the projection screen in daytime anyway.

So finally, I've decided on a Good Ol' Down Home Sing-A-Long. I've picked out about 25 good ol' songs from our hymn book that our people can request on Sunday. I'm sure some with really appreciate and enjoy the day! Although some in second service may not know any of the songs listed. That's okay, though. Our relationship with Jesus is far more important that the tradition of singing a few 50-100 year-old songs.

Like I said, it may not be what we intended, but Western Day won't be a disaster.