:: the PAC blog ::

No two days are ever alike...

After the Ladies Bible Study this morning (which I enjoy sitting in), I took my wife out to on a lunch date..."Carmelo's" Italian Restaurant on Memorial Pkwy, one of our favorite places.  Then the afternoon was spent doing paperwork and planning for upcoming special events.  I was blessed by a couple of unexpected Pastor's Appreciation cards from some of our members.  The personal comments written in them lifted my spirit.

Our secretary's son, Lance Jonker, dropped in and I was able to visit with him for a few minutes.  He's a very "dapper gentleman" (must be that Brittish influence in his life!).  Lance is already a Senior at Katy HS (wow, they do grow up fast!), and planning to go to A&M ("aero-something engineering"...he's a smart kid!).  I told him there were a couple of good churches in Bryan/College Station, as well as a vibrant Chi Apha campus ministry.

In ministry, no two days are ever alike.  Thank goodness!

It's a Wonderful Life or Miracle on 34th St?

1.  It’s a Wonderful Life or Miracle on 34th St?

2.  Silent Night or Joy to the World?

3.  Gifts opened on Christmas Eve or Christmas day?

4.  Live or artificial?

5.  White lights or multi-colored?

6.  Hot apple cider or hot cocoa?

7.  Wrapping paper or gift bags?

8.  Nativity scene display?  Where?

9.  Most favorite Christmas CD?

10. Ever enjoyed a White Christmas?

The Irish tune with the little flute and violin...

The Evangel University Orchestra this AM was spectacular!  There's simply something special about "live" orchestra music.   Although their bus arrived 45 minutes late last night, the "home hosts" were all troopers and waited patiently for the students' arrival.   From what I understand, our folks really took care of their one-night guests!  Rick & Lynn Cummins kept 6 boys at their home!   Breakfast tacitos, coffee and a 1/2 gallon of milk in the morning!

I think my favorite selection was the opening song...the Irish tune featuring the little flute and violin.  Cool!  Also, the young man from Long Island, NY with the "faux" Texas accent was hilarious!  So refreshing to see young adults pursuing God's will for their lives.

Afterwards the church set up tables at the back of the sanctuary and a buffet table outside in the breezeway where the students served themselved fajitas from Las Rosas. 

It certainly was a special service this AM.

Some of the workers were tempted to stay...

This morning we attended a special FLAG Children Workers Appreciation Brunch held at the beautiful Pine Forest Country Club.   I guess we must've had around 50 people there.  These valued workers represent the many children ministries at our church, such as Royal Rangers, Missionettes, Kids Church, Little Church, Nursery, etc.  Our Children's Pastor, Debbie Kammerlohr, did a superb job planning this event.

Some of the workers were tempted to stay around afterwards to play a round of golf (Jay Murray!). Linda Olson and Gina Sullivan created beautiful Fall centerpieces for all the tables.  The food was excellent and generous.

One of the leading Children's Pastors in Texas, David Barnes, was our very special speaker.  He and his dear wife, Sandy, pastor over 800 children every weekend at Westover Hills A/G in San Antonio, an incredible and fast-growing church impacting their city with the Gospel.  The church just completed a 50,000 square foot facility that houses their expanding children's ministries department!  Wow!  Way to go!

David Barnes did an awesome job inspiring all of us to embrace this area of ministry as the priority that Jesus Himself stated it was.

Special prayer for family & unsaved loved ones

The weekly Ladies Bible Study that my wife ministers at is having a special 1-hour prayer meeting prior to this Tuesday morning's lesson.  They will be interceding for family members and unsaved loved ones.  If you would like someone included on the prayer "hit list", go ahead and email me their names.  I'll make certain it is forwarded to them.

OUCH and AMEN!

God is beginning to "clean house" in many churches and ministries throughout ththe USA.  A number of recent media reports seem to be verifying this.  The editor of Charisma Magazine, J. Lee Grady, writes an incredible regular editorial called "Fire in My Bones" that usually gets an "OUCH and AMEN!!" out of me.  I really believe that the Lord is using him as a poignant and modern-day prophetic voice to the Church.

Here is a link to his most recent "OUCH and AMEN!" editorial (PS: You may also want to review some of his prior articles in the "Archives"...in particular the one dated 8/30/07).  Let me know your thoughts.

CLICK HERE FOR "OUCH and AMEN!" ARTICLE

Mima's :-(

Just read in the Katy News that "Mima's" is temporarily closing for 2 months :-(    Evidently, Mima herself is going to have a medical procedure done, and will need to be recuperating for at least 6 weeks.  Let's pray for a speedy recovery and return to her great restaurant!

Ahhhh-CHOOOO!!!

Ahhhh-CHOOOO!!!  I never had allergies until moving to TX in 1991.  Since then, about twice a year I'm afflicted.  But it seems that there's something different about the air around Katy/West Houston that really aggravates my allergies.  Perhaps the humidity intensifies it all.  Don't know.

I've tried local honey...Claritin...etc....still Ahhh-CHOOO!!!   Lately I've sounded like an Amtrak Train!

The Perils of Yankee Fans in Texas!

When I lived in Dallas years ago, a couple of church friends invited me and Bob Caiazzo (missionary to Nicaragua that spoke at FLAG a few months ago & is returning for our Missions Convention in November) to a sold-out baseball game at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. 

Well, this was a special game between the Texas Rangers and the New York Yankees!   Our 2 hosts, along with everybody else in the stadium, were rooting and cheering for the Rangers--except for a couple of loud "outsiders" hollering for The Bronx Bombers...me and Bob Caiazzo (he's an Italian-American from Jersey).  If looks could kill, we would've been made "mince meat"!  Folks, every Bubba in that Stadium wanted to slap our heads!!

So glad that our names had already been written in the Book of Life :-)

He happens to be my wife's uncle...

This evening, Rev. Clyde Poldrack will be ministering at the church.  He is a "veteran" pastor as well as a former Presbyter ("pastor to other pastors") in the Austin Section. Two years ago or so, Clyde preached at FLAG and our folks loved his ministry.

A couple of interesting facts:  For several years Clyde served as pastor to Bro. & Sis. Whaley, two of our Primetimers.   He also happens to be my wife's uncle.

You'll be blessed by his delightful humor and passion for the Lord!