Best Week of the Year

Well, here it is. The week before the Momentum conference--the largest annual FGBC event each year and everyone has a million things to do in the CE National office. Big picture things, little details...all of them important. I'm glad we have a staff that is not too busy to pray. That was a fun staff meeting this week--praying very specifically for God to work in this huge conference and ministry.

But while we have bunches of details--from displays, to We Care Dayton, to OB debriefing to getting OBers home, to speaking preparations--this is the best week of the year. It is a fabulous week to watch Operation Barnabas teens display that they "get it". There has been a long orientation, four weeks plus of ministry and now is the time when the adult leaders get to sit back and watch the teens do it--just about all on their own. If we adults have done our jobs well, then the adult leaders' (they are not chaperons) biggest responsibility is getting the bus and the luggage trucks where they need to be and getting out of the way and letting the teens serve and minister to people.

Of course, there are the nay-sayers. I guess I have become accustomed to the negative, unhappy people of this world having belittling comments talking about the exceptions to the rule I have just mentioned. First off, what a lousy way to live. Secondly, in my next blog I'll share a story of an OB gal who didn't maybe show she "got it" when she was on her OB tour--but her life is showing that she certainly got it and she continues to live that way...

But before I write my next blog, I'm just going to sit back and enjoy this "best week of the year" While I pack boxes and prepare for the busiest week of the year.

PS- I have been asked how we are doing with fuel budget for OB. I don't have exact figures yet--and won't until after the tours are over July 30. I do know that with some of the gifts that have been given it is going to be close! Appreciate the prayers and the gifts!

Givers and Takers

Simply enough, I believe that there are two kinds of people in the world: (If this were a joke, it would be that there are three kinds of people in the world--those who can count and those who can't... but I digress...;-)) The two kinds of people are givers and takers.

As I think back over the last few weeks of Operation Barnabas and the Mo West conference that CE National put on, I see people who give and invest of themselves and their resources for the benefit of others.

Ed Lewis probably leads the way as he thinks of himself last. He probably should think of himself first once in a while as he agrees to help just about anybody who needs it.

Tim and Janine Lansing make OB orientation a delight at Norwalk GBC. And they help get our family of four into Disneyland by their contacts and then meet us for dinner--and pay for it--the stinkers.

Nina and Stella--cooked for 110 people for over a week--during their vacation.

My grandmother Eve--hears that the OB fuel fund is hurting this summer as $4.99 a gallon for diesel has impacted the budget. She wasn't asked to give a financial gift. But she heard about the need and prayed what amount she should give. And then she did what the Spirit of God told her to do and wrote a check to help meet the need.

One particular church heard about this same need. I won't embarrass Western Reserve Grace Brethren Church in Ohio by telling you who it was--but they gave a generous financial gift to help too.

Our OB and OBI leaders are incredible. I wish more people would get to know these servants who are not chaperones. We don't need those as our OB teens are solid young men and women. But they do need good adult LEADERS and this set is unbelievable. They are GIVERS and could never be thanked enough by parents, teens, and churches.

Amy Kendrick is one of those OB leaders again this summer. Doing another great job. Her car is not being used when she is on tour--so she is allowing our family and CE National to use her car in So Cal at no cost while she is away.

Givers. Takers.

I have a statement I use all of the time: "The mark of a mature believer in Christ is that they have a thankful spirit." It is because it is about Jesus first, others second and then themselves last. I guess that is just another way of giving.