Far Too Long

It has been far to long since I wrote in my blog. It is one of those “Todos” that I just can’t seem “to do” (pun intended).

As I sit here today and reflect on this past Easter Sunday celebration, I am awed by our Creator. I believe in God’s providence and by his providence there were over 200 people who showed up to worship the God of the universe.

Of those “over 200 people” at least 12 of them wrestled with their doubt enough to overcome and take that step of moving from simple mental assent of the gospel, to actual faith.

It did not make the headlines or show up on the Today show with Matt Lauer and Meredith Viera. In fact, it did not even make the Jacksonville evening news.  However, somewhere, in a place we can only wonder about, the angels were singing and dancing and God was smiling. Names were written in the Lambs book of Life and Hells gates trembled as a dozen more were added to the vast army against it.

Not a bad day I’d say and not a bad way to culminate a day celebrating the risen Christ. So I say, “Praise God from whom all blessings flow…HE’S ALIVE.”  Peace. pw

Live From Mombacho Nicaragua #1

Wow!!!!!  What a whirlwind the past five days have  been.  We left at 2:oo am Friday morning for Orlando International Airport then boarded a plane for Panama City, Panama.  We had about an hour and a half layover there and then boarded another plane for Managua, Nicaragua.  We then loaded onto a steamy Nicaragua school bus and traveled a little over an hour to Granada, Nicaragua, stopping long enough at the mall to eat authentic Nicaraguan food (McDonalds). 

We arrived at our 5 star hotel “Hotel Casa Del Alto” late in the afternoon.  It is quite beautiful (by Nicaragua standards), it has air conditioning, indoor plumbing and indoor running water (except tonight…right after we arrived at the hotel after a long day in the field… and a monsoon… and a 1 and a half mile walk in the rain down a dirt road…oops…I mean stream).  Only two people have been electrocuted by the shower head mounted heater (outlawwed in the US) so far. 

Well, that’s all I can get in tonight.  Must get to sleep and call it a day. Asta levista!  PW

Where Is God?

Recently, I have been reading a book by Phillip Yancey entitled “Disappointment With God”.  In it Yancey wrestles with ”three questions no one ever asks”:  ”Is God unfair?”  ”Is God hidden?” ”Is God silent?”.  As we watch and listen to the unfolding tragedy in Haiti, one is challenged to wrestle with those very questions and perhaps many more.  For instance: “Where is God in all of this?”  “Does He really care?”  “Why does He let things like this happen?”. 

Pat answers just aren’t sufficient at times like this, nor should they be.  The magnitude of human suffering demands more than pat answers from us.  In his wrestlings with such questions, Yancey takes time to pause and attempt the impossible, to see and understand tragedy from God’s perspective:  “What does God see?”, “What does God feel?”, “What is He thinking?”. 

Two quotes from this book provoke me and comfort me:  ”God insists on healing the world from the bottom up, instead of the top down” and “When tragedy strikes, we live in the shadow, unaware of what is transpiring in the unseen world…once again God will let his reputation ride on the response of unpredictable human beings.”

Gives you something to think about doesn’t it? PW

What Year Is It Anway?

What year is it any way? Is it 2000 Ten or Twenty Ten? I am so confused. But then, it doesn’t take a lot to confuse me.

I do know one thing, “Two Aught One Aught” has some great things in store for us. The recession is over, 43 million Americans are going to get healthcare without paying a dime, umpteen millions of unemployed Americans are…well…actually I don’t know.

However, I do know this, God is still on the throne and He is still in control. He is not intimidated or frazzled by any of this other stuff. Some guy named David wrote these words a few thousand years ago “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”

So…no matter what challenges you see when you look ahead, remember that God is still on the throne.  He loves you more than you can understand and will never leave you nor forsake you.   Stand back and be amazed as He works all around you to accomplish His will and His purposes. Peace, pw

Back From Blog Sabbatical

WOW!!! It’s hard to believe that I haven’t blogged since  July.  (Sorry MW)  Where has the time gone?  It sure seems to fly by when you are having fun doesn’t it?  

The good news is that the dust has settled, the dozers have disappeared and the two heads in my last blog no longer have boxes over them.  We have ENTERED THE BUILDING!  In fact, we arrived in the building on September 14th to find 104 people there waiting to worship God.  We had a fantastic time of worship and celebration as we thanked God for our new home.  Words cannot express our gratitude nor the sense of relief that comes from being in our own space.  God is so good!

It is now time for us to look to the future.  We have been uniquely positioned to offer hope, healing and compassion to our community.  Every day the news reminds us of how frail economies, jobs, and even our lives are in this world.  In the midst of the bad news we have great news.  There is hope because of Christ!  He has OVERCOME THE WORLD!!  May God grant us wisdom and discernment as we endeavor to serve him in the days, months and years ahead.  PW

Ministry Center Update #15

Come One Come All

2 Heads Are Better …

Something has changed!  In fact, many things have changed since I last updated my blog.  Going on vacation, coming home for a couple of days then leaving for a week of youth conference has put me behind on some things.  It’s great to be back and see things headed for the home stretch.

 

As you can see by the pictures the Ministry Center is nearing completion.  The front entrance is done except for landscaping and painting the overhead tusses.  The main power to the building has been turned on which means we now have electricity and AIR CONDITIONING!  The toilets have been installed and (yes lady’s) the mirrors in the RR;’s.  In fact, the RR’s are complete except for the light above the mirrors and a final coat of paint.

 

There are some substantial things happening this week.  The paving will commence on Wednesday and should be completed by Friday and the final coat of paint is being applied in the CR’s, RR’s, Halls and Kitchen.  Lights for the Worship Center are also supposed to be installed this week.

Excitement is building as we prepare the minstry for arrival at our new Ministry Center.  Stay Tuned! PW

Ministry Center Update #14

We’re Back!!!  Vacation is great, but so is coming back to a ministry center that is nearing completion.  August 1 will be here before we know it and we will be ministering out of a facility that is ours…and the banks.  )

I was unable to get a post done before I left last week, but here are the latest pictures taken just an hour ago.  The far left image is the west, outside wall of the building.  It is finished !!!  The stucco is completed and it looks great.  The picture to the left of center was taken in the men’s RR and shows the grid work for the ceiling tile that will be going in two weeks from now.  The picture just to the right of center was taken in the toddler room and shows the handywork of all three Doug Wilsons (Grandad, Dad and Son), Jerry Horseman, Dee Dee Atcheson and the girls.  They have been paintng rooms that last two nights and it also looks GREAT!!!  The picture on the far right shows the frames after they have been painted.   I took pictures of the main sanctuary painting that is taking place but they did not turn out very well.

A big thanks to all who helped with the painting.  Things continue to move along on schedule.  Stay tuned for next weeks update.  Peace, PW

Ministry Center Update #13

Do you see what I see?  Are those front doors?  Yes they are!  It is true, the front doors have been installed on Faith Community Church as well as the windows in the rest of the building.  It seems that the further we go in this process the faster things are moving.

The picture in the upper left corner shows them setting up scaffolding on the exterior of the building.  The scaffolding is in preparation for masons who will be putting the lathe and stucco on the exterior of the building.

The pictures on the right show the roller compacting the sand for the parking area.  The next step is to mix lime rock with the sand and create a 2 inch base.  On top of this 2 inch base they will put an additional 6 inches of lime-rock only.  It is on top of this the the asphalt will be placed.

The sheet-rock is  being finished this week and next and will likely be primed for painting late next week.  The Construction Supervisor has asked that we be ready to put one coat of paint on the walls the week of June 15.  If you would be available to do so, please let me know right away.  I will be on vacation beginning a week from today and will not be available until the following Friday.  Peace, PW

Ministry Center Update #12

This sure is an exciting process!  It is interesting to watch the building transform right before my eyes.  The picture on the left is taken from inside the nursery looking out into the worship area.  This opening will contain two windows.  The inside window will be completely clear, however, the pane on the outside will be one way glass, offering nursing mothers inside the nursery some privacy.

The second picture introduces you to “The Big Wall” located at the back of the worship space.  It is 70 feet wide and 26 feet high at it’s peak.  The far left door way is for the kitchen/office area.  The door immediately to the right is to a hallway that takes you to the RR’s at the back and a classroom.  To the right of that dooway you see the window into the nursery and to the right of that is the door to the hallway that leads back to the nursery, a two classrooms and the kids worship area.

We received official word from the builder this week regarding the estimated time of completion.  As of right now they are on schedule to complete the building on August 21.  It will likely be September before we take occupancy but this is still substantially earlier than anyone anticipated.  We have much to do to get ready to do ministry there.  WE ARE ALL NEEDED to make this transition smooth and to be ready to minister.  Until next week.  Peace, PW

Ministry Center Update #11

There are so many things going on I couldn’t communicate it in four pictures so I posted five of them.

The far left picture shows them installing “Densglas” on the north exterior wall.  This is a fiberglass product over which the stucco finish will be placed.  As you can see the north wall is almost done as is the east wall.

Another significant step was made this week.  They started installing doors and their respective hardware this week.  Soon the building will be secured.

The center picture is a view from inside the worship area looking toward the class rooms.  Note the ductwork which has been installed above the nursery this week.  These ducts will provide the heating and air for the worship area.

The picture just to the right of center was taken in the large Classroom in the back.  It shows you how extensive the duct-work for the heating and air conditioning system is.

The picture on the far right shows the plumbing for the sinks that will be located in the Ladies RR and the sink that will be located in the Kitchen.

As you can see things are progressing rapidly.  We are ahead of the schedule put forth at the beginning of the project.  Until next week…Peace. PW