Still Without the Right Internet

Well, I'm still without my computer and the pictures, but I just wanted to update you anyway. I am in Sharpsburg, GA with Dave Ketelsen and Debbie tonight. They have a church family very much like ours in Napa and they have some really wonderful things going on that I will tell much more about later and especially in the book. Earlier today I met with Lee Whitman at the Opelika, AL church and they also have some wonderful programs going on in a beautiful new church setting. Tomorrow I'll head to Auburn, GA to meet with Gary Rustad. That's only about 80 miles, but then it's off to Madison, TN to be with Lynn Schlisner and Lona at the Madison Campus Church. We've been friends for many years. That will be another 290 miles and traveling in the afternoon heat has not been much fun. Who's crazy idea was this anyway? I'm sorry to not have pics for you right now, but I promise they will all come. I know for sure I'll have good access at our son's house in VA so I may just be catching up on a whole week by this weekend. So far the journey and visits have been all that I could have hoped for. I have seen much and learned much and I hope to effectively share it all. Have a blessed day and keep checking back.

SOMEWHAT CONNECTED AGAIN

OK,the reports of my demise are greatly exaggerated. Actually I have not had access to wifi for the past two days and I thought I had it tonight, but alas I have had to settle for using the local pastor's computer. I did want to get something up just so you would know I'm still alive and didn't end up under some 18 wheeler! Tonight (Sunday) I am in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. I started today in DeKalb, TX and rode through part of Arkansas,Lousiana,Mississippi, and into Alabama. That was 510 miles and it was 97 degrees. Be thankful you can't smell over the computer! I will catch you up with stories and pictures as soon as I can log on with my Mac. I have had some wonderful experiences and met some great people. Sabbath I attended the "Cowboy Church" in Joshua, TX. It was fantastic! I promise to share it all when I have access and a bit more time. Thanks for you patience. At the end of week two I have covered 4,340 miles. Should be less next week. The weather has been pretty good. Hot is better than wet! (Although I was pretty wet when I arrived today!)

Map of Week Two

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DAY ELEVEN

It was nice to finally get off of an Interstate for awhile today. I started out going east on I-20 and then headed south on Hwy 6 clear into Waco. I was surprised by the size and beauty of this town, which is home to Baylor University.  There are lots of trees and a large beautiful lake and the church is nicely located right along the highway coming into town.  I liked the designated "Visitor" parking spaces close to the entrance. The church makes a very attractive appearance and that's a great first step.  I don't get to talk to the head elder until I meet him in his office tomorrow morning. Then I'll head over to Irving, which is a suburb of Dallas. On Sabbath morning I will be attending a "Cowboy Church" with Tony and Mary who visited the Napa Church about a month ago for a couple of weeks.

Today I arrived in Waco early enough to get a room and do some much needed laundry.  I even ironed three shirts, but don't tell Ingrid! I made a lot of phone calls to appointments I'll have over the next few days and worked on getting my routes clearly outlined. I'm going to bed early tonight as it is tiring riding in this heat.  On Sunday I'll have a ride of just over 500 miles and the temps are in the upper 90's.  You can bet I'll be starting out early that day.

I am not positive about internet options in the homes I'll be in over the next few days. If by chance you don't see a new blog, don't worry.  I'll be back!

DAY TEN

Let me begin today's report with the visits. The scenery was nothing to talk about anyway. Leaving Roswell and it's aliens behind I made my way 75 miles down to Carlsbad, another well known site famous for it's caverns. Other than that the city struggles and Erwin de Graaff reports that one of their biggest challenges is the fact that the town has a large turnover and therefore, so does the church. Many of the professionals have left and it can be challenging to infuse confidence and vision and motivation into the members who are left. Both of the churches I visited today have steel buildings that are actually very nice inside. They do run a lot of health programs in addition to evangelism, but it is very hard to get the community people to make any commitments, even to attend the health efforts. This is Erwin's first pastorate as he had been teaching up to three years ago, but he loves the pastoral work. He also has the Roswell Spanish, Saragosa Bi-lingual, and Van Horn Spanish. To make the challenge complete, he doesn't speak Spanish! Great guy, nice facility, needs an infusion of the Holy Spirit to keep the people on track to see what God can and wants to do through them. I loved the little stone sign by the corner of the church!

Now I rode anothe 325 miles to Abilene. On the way, just before I-20 I went through Pecos, TX. I actually turned around and went back to take a picture of this sign. Obviously the sign is broken and I fear the commandment they remind us of may be as well. Notice that it is sponsored by three Baptist Churches. Just a fun side note!

It was hot, no make that very hot riding in the afternoon heat to Abilene. I was so glad to get into a motel and get a shower and have air conditioning. I had not been able to make contact with Dave McLaughlin and now I found that I had a wrong email address. I did see, however, that they have prayer meeting on Wednesday nights so I went and I did find him and a few others gathered. Another very nice facility that is only six years old, but still has left them with a major debt. There was some differing opinions over the building project and they too are struggling with the mortgage. I had a chance to speak to the members tonight and I gave them a two minute version of "Holding the Ropes" and encouraged them to get into the community any way they can and then love the people in. Pr. Dave did tell me that the church is very warm and receptive to those who come and there does seem to be light at the end of the tunnel.

All of these pastors that I have visited over the past couple of days have massive districts with three or four churches spread far apart. This is hard work! Please pray that they can cast the vision for the members who must be the ones to carry on the work.

Today was just a hard, hot ride with the highlight being a road runner barely making it across before I got him. The good news was that the speed limit on I-20 for most of the way was 80! Tomorrow I'm off to Waco. Should be some interesting stories there. Good night and God bless!

ROSWELL

I Just had to get this set of pics up today before I head out for Carlsbad and Abilene. I lose another hour today, plus I am just scooting ahead of a series of thunderstorms and I'm in a little corridor of weather that is very hot, but seems to be dry. Anyway, last night I went over to the Roswell Church. I was surprised at the size of this town. Population is about 50,000 and it is one spread out town! The Roswell Church is located on the south end of town. You can see the pic of the church building and then another building on the  back of the parking lot. I assumed this was for classrooms or storage. What a surprise I was in for. I met with a group of church leaders. Their pastor, Ken Davis, lives two hours away and has a three church district spreading over 200 miles. One fun idea they have going on in the sanctuary is a series of 66 posters depicting the 66 books of the Bible. They encourage Bible reading and as you finish reading a book you can sign your name to the poster. Many may not want to place these all over the inside of the sanctuary, but the concept is great! We talked about outreach and evangelism in which they are very active. However, the highlight came when they asked if I would like to see their prayer ministry. Of course I did and they took me to the little building out back. You can see the beautiful and creative experience that awaits. This ministry is open to all of the community. A participant begins with an orientation as to what they will experience. A church leader first prays with them and then asks that they remove their shoes as they prepare to move into Holy Ground. The first station provides a basin and asks that they wash their hands and a reading explains the cleansing power of God. Next they kneel to pray over their needs and write them on a piece of paper and then attach the note to a brick with some putty and take it with them. At the third station they write a particular focus of their burden in a tray of sand, pray over it and then smooth the sand. Next they pray at a table with a large chain depicting the binding effect of sin and it's burdens. The next station depicts the chain broken and they take a piece of broken chain with them as a reminder of God's power. They next can place a marker on an area locally, statewide, nationwide, or world wide depicting a prayer need and finally they have a chance to journal. They report that most people spend about an hour and almost nobody comes out with dry eyes. The last picture shows Tom Jordon, Alyssa, Debbie, and Daniel Ramirez who gave me this wonderful experience. They make this prayer ministry available to the community 24/7!  This is one great idea!!!

DAY NINE

I started out very early today for two reasons. Number one reason was the expected temps, which did not disappoint! Number two was the fact that I would be losing an hour. That was delayed since AZ does not observe DST, but now I moved into New Mexico which does and I will lose another hour tomorrow as I move into Texas.  

The first pic shows just some of the typical scenery.  This was actually marked as a scenic lookout. Well.....I must say that there were periodic spaces of quite interesting rock formations, but much of the ride was just going down the highway.  The next picture is of Lorraine Peek, secretary at the Heights Church in Albuquerque.  The pastor, Hector Quinones, had back surgery on June 5 and I was not able to see him, but as we all know, the secretary is the one who knows what's happening! As you can see from the next two pics the Heights Church is beautiful and they are in the midst of a huge remodeling program to the tune of about $3 million! Lorraine reports that they are a very conservative church, but a very loving one and they are having good growth. They use their youth well to visit in a variety of children's homes and hospital children's units. Again, 3ABN is a good source of interests for them.  It is interesting that both contemporary and conservative churches are gaining interests from 3ABN. The key seems to be what you do with the interests once they come on the radar screen. Pr. Quinones is described as energetic, charismatic, a good preacher and good at building relationships. He is perceived as "real" as he comes from a Catholic background and has struggled with challenges in his youth. Once the remodel is done and the landscaping is in this is going to be a gorgeous church facility with a new gym!

Next I moved down that long straight highway you see. Several times I went more than 10 miles without any hint of a turn and the temps grew warm, reaching over 100 in Roswell. I was just starting to rejoice at the prospect of an air conditioned room in good time when I came upon this accident about 50 miles north of Roswell. You can see the helicopter behind the fire truck. In the last pic you can see the car. He had passed me several miles back. I was doing between 75 & 80 (speed limit is 70) and he went by me doing at least 110. I don't know what happened or what condition he was in, but it didn't look good. We sat there for over an hour in the heat. I'm not complaining. I'm a lot better off than he is.

I will meet with the elder from the Roswell Church tonight and put pictures of that up on tomorrow's blog. I'm trying not to feel alienated here!!! (Sorry, couldn't pass that one up!)

Just hit the 3,000 mile mark. I'll see if I can update the map!