GETTING SETTLED

Just a quick update. I have some pics I want to show and some things to talk about but time does not allow this morning.

• God is good! He remains faithful even in the craziest of times.

• Thanks to all you Leotians for your help in the transition and for the wonderful sendoff a couple weeks ago. (A formal thank you is coming)

• Thanks to all of you from Mulvane who have so graciously welcomed us. It is deeply appreciated, more than you know.

• God is definitely at work. I've had some great conversations with some folks, churched and unchurched. We better fasten our seat belts.

• We finally have our utilities straightened out. Wow - what a hassle. But we're good to go.

• And yes, JESUS IS LORD!!

WE HAVE ARRIVED!

Well, it definitely has been a moving experience. Something I don't want to do in a long long long time. We arrived in Mulvane around 9:45 pm on Tuesday evening. Had to unload the aquarium at the church - yes, the fish all lived. The truck came Wednesday morning a little after 8. Finished by 1:00. Then the process of unpacking. Still looking for things. Couldn't find a black belt so I went to Dollar General and bought one - (had to help with a funeral on Thursday). Couldn't find coffee either- woe was me! But overall, the move went great and the movers did a fantastic job. Nothing damaged.

A special thanks to all you Leotians for helping with the boxing, packing, loading, and house preparation for the Howards. You are and always will be a blessing. You will never be forgotten. Please make the Howards feel as welcome as you did us.

For you folks in Mulvane, thanks for all the hard work for the painting, the new dividing wall, the food, the warm welcome and for seeing that any needs that we might have are being met. It is deeply appreciated. We are slowly getting thing unpacked but it will be awhile.

It is so great to be a part of the church, the body of Christ, that no matter where we are, we are a part of the family of God. Stay tuned. Hope to do a better job of updating. Blessings to you all!

TICK, TOCK!!

Time is ticking away. Only a few days left to do a months worth of work. Thanks to all of you who are praying for an extra measure of grace during these days. Believe me, it is needed. Have to go.. I'll keep you posted.

PASS THE ROGAINE!

Okay, I'm beginning to pull out my hair. The move is 2 weeks away, a garage sale just completed, we're in the thick of VBS, a wedding to officate this weekend, boxes to pack, the last "this", the last "that" etc. etc.. So needless to say, the blogging is minimal. How can you beat last week's anyway? The little princess!!

In the midst of it all the Lord is good, He sustains, He provides, He gives strength. So, knowing that, I keep on keepin on - "pressing on" as I said Sunday morning. So here's to a good couple of weeks in Jesus! (I covet your prayers.)

GRANDBABY #3

God has blessed us once again as we are the proud grandparents of our first little grandbaby girl named Adelyn Anne Just - daughter of Eric and Andrea and sister of Brayden.

Adelyn was born June 4 at 2:11 p.m. - 8# 6 oz., 21 inches long and is doing fine.

Thank God for kids!!

BABIES, BOXES, & BROKEN TEETH!

Okay, so this is a little wierd, but that's what moving will do to you. Yesterday was such a great day in worship as we celebrated Pentecost. The Spirit was truly present. But today is Monday and I could use a little Pentecost even as I write. All this leads me to the letter B. (Told you this blog is wierd).


First, and most important, is the fact that I am going to be a grandpa again come this Thursday. Grand "B" aby #3 is on the way - a girl! Eric and Andrea are scheduled to be mom and pop Thursday in Topeka barring Andrea going into labor before then. So keep them in you prayers if you would. Gramps and Grammy will be heading to the big city the end of the week.


Which leads me to the 2nd "B". Saturday I was eating breakfast and felt something strange in my mouth and I knew it wasn't bacon. Sure enough, half of one my back molars on top broke. That's what happens when you don't brush (kidding). Anyway, I am scheduled for a crown or a tooth to be pulled on Thursday in Salina on the way to Topeka. Is that crazy or what??


Now, for the 3rd "B". Boxes, boxes, boxes! Will it ever end? My office at church is a shambles and the basement of the house is close behind. We are trying to keep the upstairs somewhat respectable. The move is scheduled for Tuesday the 30th. We plan on taking a load to Mulvane a week or so before. We'll see.


So, "B" praying for us if you would be so kind. Time is getting short. Bless you all!

P.R.

(p.s. - go to Todd's blog and vote for his ugly backyard. Click on yard D when it directs you to vote - thanks)

MONDAY MEANDERINGS!!

First of all, I want to thank all who prayed for me on Friday when I preached at the Memorial service at Annual Conference in Salina. I truly felt your prayers - no doubt about it. Thank you! As far as the rest of Annual Conference, all went well. Debate was civil. Worship was good. The ordination service was wonderful. The KfUMR banquet was a blessing. And the fellowship throughout the week was great. However, I did come home exhausted! Now, a few thoughts:

• One month until we move. Our house is beginning to be a mess. Boxes all over the place. It looks like the 29th of June is the move date. (Maybe the 30th)

• Kyle leaves for Dallas on Friday for the summer. Keep him in your prayers - traveling mercies, as well as a great summer of learning and growing in the Lord.

• Anticipating the birth of a granddaughter within a few weeks. Pray for Andrea (and Eric and Brayden). Can't wait!

• If you are having trouble with the church's website it may be because of the browser update. Those who have updated to Explorer 8 are not able to open the links for some reason. We're checking on it.

• Check Todd's blog (toddjust.blogspot.com) and vote for him to get a new landscaped backyard. He's leading the vote. Help him win it.

• Does anyone read this blog?

• NBA playoffs? Again, does anyone care??

• Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus everyone. Have a great week!!

THE "ANNUAL" ANNUAL CONFERENCE

I leave in the morning for Salina where I will be attending the Kansas West Annual Conference in which I am a member. It will be a busy week as I attend a Board of Ordained Ministry Meeting at 1:30 tomorrow until?? The evening will be the clergy session which will get us started for the conference. Wednesday morning I will have to drive to Wichita to pick up Kim Reisman, our speaker for the Kansans for United Methodist Renewal banquet. I am in charge of the banquet which will be at Grand Ave UMC around 5:30 pm. Should be fun.

Thursday will be busy as we begin debating the various ammendments to the Church's constitution being proposed by General Conference. Pray that all will be civil and that God's will be done. There will also be great plenaries with Bishop Schnase speaking several times. I am looking forward to that. In the evening will be the ordination service which is a great milestone for those who have been working through the process.

Friday morning at 11:00 am I will be preaching for the Memorial Service at the conference. If any of you are in the area, I invite you to come. The rest of the day will consist of the setting of the appointments by the Bishop followed by whatever business we need to do to finish the work of our time together.

Please keep me in your prayers. It is a busy week. Pray that God will be pleased with us as we gather to "conference" together.

THANK GOD FOR KIDS!

Had a great weekend in Salina with Owen turning the big #1. All our kids were there including Brayden, our other grandson. What a wonderfult time. We are blessed, blessed indeed!

Owen and Brayden having fun together.

Gramps and Grammy with the little man.

Firing up the Kawasaki

Ah yes, Gramps and Owen cheezing it up.

Ashram - "away from work".

Just returned from Estes Park Colorado where I spoke at the Colorado Ashram. "Ashram" is a word that in India means "away from work". It is a time to spend in worship, prayer, teaching, fellowship and centering on Jesus as Lord. I spoke 4 times between Friday night and Sunday morning and had a great time - speaking on the Great Sermon (Sermon on the Mount), the Great Commandment, and the Great Commission with a healing service in between. We met at a lodge on the outskirts of Estes Park - wow what scenery! It was beautiful. I even was interrupted by a couple of elk walking behind the lodge while I was preaching. Unbelievable! God blessed us all. Thanks to Dorothy Davis from Oklahoma for contacting me to speak.

You might notice the elk in the background. It was a cow and its coat was shedding so it looks pretty shabby. There were a lot more in the area but I didn't have my camera at the time I saw them.

This is the lodge where we met. It had a wonderful meeting room, a kitchen, and sleeping quarters. Great place to meet.

Yeah, that's me preaching on the great commandment to love God and love others.

Mary Lou and I at the entrance to the Glacier Lodge. It was pretty cold at the time. It even snowed on Saturday night.

Read Psalm 8. That's what went through my mind.