Life Lessons

This week, I had a unique opportunity to play in a local golf tournament in support of Virginia Tech. The area Hokie club sponsors an annual event that is played at Williamsburg Country Club. There were more than 110 golfers participating.

Dave Bolt, a Hokie through and through, had invited me to play and along with Dave, Frank Holmes and Nathan Belcher rounded out our team. The style of play for the tournament is called "captain's choice" as each player hits their shot and the team captain picks the best shot and everyone then hits their next shot from that location. In essence, four people play but you always play from the best ball or best shot.

The key to success in a captain's choice event is that everyone has their moment. Frank and Nathan were the long ball hitters off the tee. Dave hit some critical iron shots and everyone made a putt or two. The fun of captain's choice is that everyone has their moment.

Being a disciple is lot like captain's choice. We all have our moments. If we play, there is a way for each of us to contribute. Sometimes it seems like all we get to do is show up. But then there is that moment when the Lord taps us on the shoulder and says "well done good and faithful servant." It may be a kind word, it may be a kind deed, it may be kind gift you have shared with another. If we are engaged in the journey, we all have ways to contribute. Stay faithful. Pray for the journey. We all have our moments.

If you are interested, our team won one of the flights in the golf tournament. We shot a twelve under par 60 round of golf. None of the four golfers on our team are what you call great players. All of our handicaps are double digit. And yet together, each one having their moment to contribute, we shot an amazing round of 60 (par is 72) as a team. Individually, even on a good day, we would post scores ranging from 80 to 100. But together, we were quite good.

The church is a community of faith. We each have our moments individually - but together -well, together we are the people of God. And all that we do, we do for God's glory. Thanks be to God.

As I have written in several venues recently, my mother's heart valve replacement surgery was a great success. I realize technology is a wonderful thing. It is still amazing to think that doctors can open our bodies, stop our hearts and repair the valves and arteries within it and us. The science of medicine is one of God's great gifts to us.

While pondering this amazing surgery, it strikes me that as great as it is - it is still a repair job. My mother's heart still bears the scars of a previous attack on the heart. It is still a muscle that reflects her 81 years of life.

God is not confined by our science of medicine. When speaking through the prophet Ezekiel, he says to the Israelites, "cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed against me, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit!"

God's promise to each of us as we turn from an old way of life is something new, something wonderful, something amazing - a new life, a new person, and a healthy and restored relationship with our creator. I trust you will not labor with an old heart and old way of life when God's offer to you and to me is something far better - a new heart and spirit.

First Impressions

I am sitting in the waiting room at Forsyth Memorial Medical Center in Winston Salem, N.C. My mother is a patient and undergoing several tests - endoscopy, TEE (transesophageal echocardiogram) , and cardiac catheterization - in preparation for surgery to replace her aortic heart valve. I must admit, I am very impressed with Forsyth Memorial. The facility is clean, bright, well taken care of and it utilizes the latest in technology. And on top of the all the tools they bring to make people better, the best part is that the staff is extremely friendly and genuinely want to assist you. As they phrase it - they desire excellence and if there is room to improve, they want to know.

My hospital experience is not unlike a church. People make first impressions based upon the quality of our facilities, our technology and most importantly, the genuine love and interest expressed by our church family. The Journey we have undertaken will address many of our facility needs with a fresh new look. Funds permitting, we will take a giant step in technology as we add media functions to the Hospitality Center. But always remember, our facilities and our technology will never take the place of the genuine interest and love each one of us shares with those who visit with us at Walnut Hills. All of us want to feel welcome when we go someplace new. Make a point of introducing yourself and extending a warm hand of hospitality to all our guests. It makes a difference in every circumstance - hospital or church.

Bobbing for Apples

Have you ever attempted to bob for apples. You know the game, apples are floating in water and you are trying to open your mouth wide enough to get a bite and the apple keeps sinking or bobbing away. It can be very frustrating unless you are using really small apples.

The renovation process is currently a bit frustrating. We hoped to have all the numbers for the Hospitality Center by the April 23 Business Meeting. We didn't make it. The General Contractor came through with a preliminary number but it does not include an accurate number for the kitchen or sound or the site work. We keep bobbing hoping to get the final numbers and apparently, our apples are large enough to be difficult. We have recently learned that we may still need another approval from the city - that being for our site plan. The earliest we could get that through the system is June 18. We keep bobbing hoping we have everything in place.

As soon as we have an accurate cost estimate, the Capital Improvements Steering Group will meet and assess the implications for the initial 'wish list'. The Finance and Stewardship Committees will meet to assess the implications for funding the desired projects. A Called Business Meeting will be scheduled for the sole purpose of discussing the recommendations of these two groups in order to make a decision that continues to move us forward.

We will keep bobbing to make this happen. Your patience and involvement in the process is vital. Thank you for making the Journey.

April News for the Journey

The wheels of progress are often slow. Please do not think the renovation to the Fellowship Hall has ground to a halt. Things are happening, even if the pace is a bit more like a turtle. The decisions at this time are important and crucial. Here are some things for you to consider:

1. We continue to work with our architect, Jim Byerly, who is with HuffMorris and Assoc. in Richmond.
2. We have selected the general contractor for the project - OKJ Construction Company. We worked with OKJ as the general contractor for work on Children's Building and our roof and we have had a good experience and working relationship with them.
3. With these two components in place, we have asked OKJ and Huff Morris to develop a preliminary construction estimate for the cost of the Hospitality Center with everything we have desired which includes:

• the end wall removed and building enlarged
• a new commercial kitchen
• two new handicap accessible bathrooms
• three classrooms with sound-rated movable walls
• media capability (microphones, speakers, mixer, video, lights, etc)
• moisture resistant carpet squares for the floor
• drop ceiling with variable lighting options (fluorescent & incandescent)
• sheetrock w. 2 inches of insulation on walls
• enlarged hallway w. double doors as main entrance
• bricked in walkway for additional storage

As you can imagine, the cost of this work impacts the Hospitality Center and future items on our renovation list. Our goal is to have the construction estimate by the April 23 Business Meeting. Even if we have the estimate, we may need to schedule a Called Business Meeting to discuss the issues and cost of the Hospitality Center in early May so that the Steering Group can handle all aspects of the renovation desires and the funding of that work.

The renovation Journey continues, even if the pace has seemingly slowed down. God is at work in our midst. Pray for the journey.

A Mama John Update

Dear friends and family,

This week has been full of joy. Last Sunday's worship set the tone – the worship service was real – singing, dancing, praying and waving palm branches . A deep sense of the powerful, almighty God came over me. I remember that when I came there were only 3 people – besides the pastor – yet on Sunday, the church was quite full. The pastor preached from Matthew in Sunday School and church emphasizing " My house shall be called a house of prayer." With the picture I have attached, I would like to introduce to you my pastor, Pedro, and his wife, Helena. They both only speak Portuguese but our spirits commune.The real highlight of Sunday's service was the 25 children. Nina and Angelina (my interpreter) teach the children. They led the children in singing "Hosanna, hosanna" while waving their palm branches and walking through the church (we live in coconut country so there were plenty of branches to be found). One little fellow, about 1 1/2 years old held onto Nina's hand while walking and waving his branch. It was just precious.

Our worship service at the waiting center of the hospital is growing both in spirit and in number. Also, two mornings a week I go to the maternity ward – 6 rooms with 6 women in each room. The rooms stay full. I find myself praying and blessing these little infants and their mothers. I have learned how to say "May I pray for you" and "God bless you" in Portuguese and otherwise I pray in English. The smiles are beautiful as they thank me, saying "Obrigada".

God is so good. I do miss all of you and hope you are well. You have a special place in my heart. I always write my family and friends with love.

Mary "Mama John"

The World is Flat

The recent visit by Ukranian pastor, Igor Bandura, reminded me of the book The World is Flat by Thomas Friendman. Friedman’s examination of the influences shaping business and competition in a technology-fueled global environment is a call to action for governments, businesses and individuals who must stay ahead of these trends in order to remain competitive.
In a narrative punctuated by case studies, interviews and sometimes surprising statistics, Friedman’s message is clear: be prepared, because this phenomenon waits for no one.

The Journey we have embraced is a reflection of this very phenomenon. There are trends and influences that are significantly impacting the church's ministry. Some of these are technology fueled by our younger generations. Some of these are shaped by a desire to assist those who feel overwhelmed and left behind. The church has a role in both directions.

Igor Bandura modeled some wonderful principles for us to consider:

• If you are willing to say YES to God, God will show you the next step. For Grace Baptist Church in Odessa, it was the discovery of children living in an abandoned car.
• If you are faithful in taking the step, God will give you additional clarity. Igor reminded us how the children's ministry led to the camp on the Black Sea, the farm to feed them, and the transition house for when they turn 18. One ministry led to the next ministry opportunity.
• Keep taking the steps of faith for it is God who is working. Igor's humility in sharing all the beauty of these ministries was amazing and yet, so insightful. This was not Grace Baptist Church's success, this was the work of God.

We can learn from our brothers and sisters in the Ukraine. That is what makes the world flat. We are not their saviour, we are partners together in ministry. God has great things in store for us and all of it will be for God's glory. Thanks be to God!