It's snowing. We are probably having one of the mildest winters ever. Sometimes, we can be outside in tee-shirts, but today it's snowing.
Last weekend, we had an ASI rally in Denver. The ASI chapter president, Jesse Johnson, could not attend because he's had heart surgery. It fell to me to be the master of ceremony. Do you know how nervous that makes me? It's amazing. You'd think that since I preach all the time that I could wrap myself around the little task of introducing someone without too much stress. Not so. All went well anyway. The Lord is having to help me all the time.
This week we finished another lifestyle session. We had at least 15 people. Wonderful. Actually, we didn't have any guests for January. We took risk and offered the session at a drastically reduced rate, and people just came out of the woodwork. We probably lost a bundle. No matter, we think it better to serve someone than to sit around waiting for the next session. The group was special.
I think next month's intake will be normal.
As we are serving in the Lifestyle Center, we also are doing a one-month LIGHT course. Ten students and all day classes. It's a blast. The Lord is sending us really beautiful people, even from as far as Hungary. Imagine that!
While at the GYC meetings a couple of weeks ago, I was greatly inspired by the energy and creativity of the young people. It got my juices running. ASI needs that kind of leadership. (They got me.) Isn't that a corker. Never mind, I'm not the only one on the team. I believe there are great minds among us. So I am calling a meeting of all the past presidents asking them to come up with solutions to our most pressing needs.
1. We have little trouble signing up members, but retention is another story.
2. How do we make our members feel like they belong to an affectionate family?
3. What kind of project can we invest in that will involve the greater number of members?
I've also asked the past presidents to come up with a new idea each as far as a new project is concerned. It will be fun to see what they come up with . . . if anything. Oh, I hope they do.
Blessings to all,
The Preacher to His Tribe.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Monday, January 16, 2012
Down to Earth
I should have written before now, but I've been traveling (really) and I'm always having to struggle with my new computer. Yesterday, I had to call Angie to get help finding how to write a new post. Turns out my internet connection at home is too weak to accommodate what I needed. So, I am sitting in my office to do this and actually found my way through it easily.
Since last writing, Janet and I have been to GYC (Generation of Youth for Christ) in Houston, TX. It was great. Three of our granddaughters, I should say great-granddaughters, were there with two friends. They camped in our room. It was a riot of giggling and late nights and bathroom delays. The five girls, dressed in red, sang for the Friday night meeting. They sang wonderfully. I couldn't have been prouder.
The preaching was also very good. The young woman from Australia took the prize in my estimation. The others were very good as well. The content of all the sermons was great. I'm a little perplexed with the idea that a preacher needs to bounce all over the stage to make a point. To my "old soul" it seems like a waste of energy and overly theatrical. Perhaps I am too old fashion, but really, didn't the young Australian lady get through to our hearts without bouncing off the walls. I admit she has adopted the questioning Amen at the end of every sentence. Hey preachers, it's an unnecessary crutch. Amen?
The big news is that Brianna was asked to be one of the preachers next summer with Youth for Jesus in Dallas, TX. She will do an evangelistic effort. Can you imagine our little Bree doing that? Vanessa is also moving into a new position of responsibility with GYC. Just yesterday they were only little girls. Am I proud or what?
At Eden Valley:
It looked like we wouldn't have any lifestyle guests for the January session. (It's always like that in January.) On an impulse we decided to offer a special price to anyone who needed to come. Because we need to pay our staff regardless, we chose to do an old fashion natural remedies session without the blood draw and the supplements and the inter-venous vitamin "c" etc. Seventeen people came. Wonderful, needy people. It is better to minister to someone than to sit around waiting for better enrollment. We will lose money for sure, but hey, maybe, just maybe someone will be touched by God's Spirit. So we pray. My Lover is the interim Lifestyle Director. She seems happy to do it and as usual, she is very good at it.
We are also into a one-month Medical Missionary course. I don't know how many students we have, (I think ten), but they are a receptive bunch. It's busy fun.
New Brunswick:
Janet and I went for nine days to New Brunswick. I was asked to speak to my brother's pastors and Bible Workers. We were more than pleasantly surprised. These conference people were very down to earth, common Canadians. I half expected that they, being university educated and all, would be very analytical to the point of being critical. But no, they were genuinely appreciative and wonderfully humble. They were blown away by Janet's African presentation. One pastor is asking about his church supporting her project. I came away from there perfectly burdened for that conference and each person that I met.
The highlight for us, of course, was the time we spent with John and Janice. We had such a good time. They were so hospitable. I'm sure we cost them an arm and a leg. Hope we can do as well when it's our turn. We also learned to play with a WII (wee). It's amazing what technology is producing today. We couldn't have laughed more (mostly at my poor performance) using these toys.
We did learn about Chiaque. Chiaque is the name for the Acadian language. That is something similar to what we call our Northern Ontario french--jual. Jual is slang for cheval. Chiaque is the funniest language I've ever heard. Even the Acadians are embarrassed by it--to a point. We found New Brunswick to be quaint. Moncton, is mostly French. The people seem to be super friendly and it was like visiting another country altogether--somewhere exotic, but filled with down to earth French Canadians. On top of that, we ate enough to come home well rounded, but as usual, I gained nothing. I don't know if my wife gained anything, but she and Leasa started into a fast today. (Probably no connection.)
Ok, that's it. We have an ASI rally this weekend in Denver and I'm suppose to play a part. I need to get ready for that and an ASI board meeting in February. Got to go. See ya.
Since last writing, Janet and I have been to GYC (Generation of Youth for Christ) in Houston, TX. It was great. Three of our granddaughters, I should say great-granddaughters, were there with two friends. They camped in our room. It was a riot of giggling and late nights and bathroom delays. The five girls, dressed in red, sang for the Friday night meeting. They sang wonderfully. I couldn't have been prouder.
The preaching was also very good. The young woman from Australia took the prize in my estimation. The others were very good as well. The content of all the sermons was great. I'm a little perplexed with the idea that a preacher needs to bounce all over the stage to make a point. To my "old soul" it seems like a waste of energy and overly theatrical. Perhaps I am too old fashion, but really, didn't the young Australian lady get through to our hearts without bouncing off the walls. I admit she has adopted the questioning Amen at the end of every sentence. Hey preachers, it's an unnecessary crutch. Amen?
The big news is that Brianna was asked to be one of the preachers next summer with Youth for Jesus in Dallas, TX. She will do an evangelistic effort. Can you imagine our little Bree doing that? Vanessa is also moving into a new position of responsibility with GYC. Just yesterday they were only little girls. Am I proud or what?
At Eden Valley:
It looked like we wouldn't have any lifestyle guests for the January session. (It's always like that in January.) On an impulse we decided to offer a special price to anyone who needed to come. Because we need to pay our staff regardless, we chose to do an old fashion natural remedies session without the blood draw and the supplements and the inter-venous vitamin "c" etc. Seventeen people came. Wonderful, needy people. It is better to minister to someone than to sit around waiting for better enrollment. We will lose money for sure, but hey, maybe, just maybe someone will be touched by God's Spirit. So we pray. My Lover is the interim Lifestyle Director. She seems happy to do it and as usual, she is very good at it.
We are also into a one-month Medical Missionary course. I don't know how many students we have, (I think ten), but they are a receptive bunch. It's busy fun.
New Brunswick:
Janet and I went for nine days to New Brunswick. I was asked to speak to my brother's pastors and Bible Workers. We were more than pleasantly surprised. These conference people were very down to earth, common Canadians. I half expected that they, being university educated and all, would be very analytical to the point of being critical. But no, they were genuinely appreciative and wonderfully humble. They were blown away by Janet's African presentation. One pastor is asking about his church supporting her project. I came away from there perfectly burdened for that conference and each person that I met.
The highlight for us, of course, was the time we spent with John and Janice. We had such a good time. They were so hospitable. I'm sure we cost them an arm and a leg. Hope we can do as well when it's our turn. We also learned to play with a WII (wee). It's amazing what technology is producing today. We couldn't have laughed more (mostly at my poor performance) using these toys.
Adventist Camp in Pugwash, NB, on the Atlantic
Ok, that's it. We have an ASI rally this weekend in Denver and I'm suppose to play a part. I need to get ready for that and an ASI board meeting in February. Got to go. See ya.
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