TEENWEEK Report:

Just briefly:
As I said in a previous post, our numbers have been down some this year, but we have great group of kids, and an outstanding bunch of leaders: We have several new additions to our staff.

My grandson pronounced tonight's message as awesome. I can't argue.

I heard reports of several teens who trusted the Lord this evening. There were 12-15 who responded to the invitation in some way.

Tomorrow we finish up at Jackson River Sport Complex. The band from Sunday, One Day Closer, will be back. John will be speaking again.

Thanks for praying.
hm

It's TEENWEEK!

I begin with the words to an old song, "I made it through the rain."
Sunday we began TEENWEEK. We were supposed to have a combination of kayak/canoe-ing and outdoor activities. I can't remember ever looking a weather report where the chance of precipitation was "100%," but when I looked at the forecast on Sunday morning that was the case. For mid-day the forecasters regarded rain as a certainty.
Thanks to the good work of the folk over at Faith Baptist, we were able to move the operation inside.
Last night we had nearly 140 teens over at Jackson River Sport Complex. I'll post some photos as soon as I'm able, but for now picture this: The picnic shelter at JRSC full of kids and leaders listening to a message about Real Love--God's love.
Tonight we are at Faith Baptist for mud and water-balloon games.
Wednesday at Clifton Middle School.
Thursday at JRSC--One Day Closer will make a return appearance.

for more info. go to ahteenweek.com

Progress is really cool!

Here is Kathy where she spent almost a week at Good Samaritan Hospital in Lebanon PA. (Point of trivia: I understand that "Lebanon Bologna" refers to Lebanon PA, not the Near-Eastern country.) The staff at GSH were competent and very pleasant. I was able to spend the nights at Tanisha and Chad's house, about 15 minutes away. I think this was on Kathy's last day. She is surrounded by some of her favorite people--clockwise from upper right, Christopher, Madeline, Kendal and Carrington. We had just stopped in for a visit with Chad & Tanisha when we decided that Kathy needed to go to the ER. (Read previous posts for more info.)

I'm glad to say she is home now, improving.

We at CBC have been involved in a fairly major remodeling project. Our Worship-Center had not really had an upgrade since it was built, nearly 30 years ago. While I was away the CBC family made remarkable progress on this project. That might be significant.

The major part of the project involved removing the sheetrock ceiling and replacing it with a pine, tongue and groove ceiling. It is done, & it is lovely. Paiting is well underway, and carpet is going down this week.

Thanks to all who worked, and are working, so hard on this project.

Quick update on Kathy

Kathy was kind of worn down this morning. Better in early afternoon. Tired when I left this evening--up & down. Still has IV.
Thanks for the prayers.

Service--When It Is Needed:

(Report on Kathy at the end of this post)

If you have followed this blog for the last few days you know that I have spent a lot of time with people who help--nurses, aids, doctors, etc. I have very much appreciated the help that these folk have offered to Kathy & me. I think one reason I am so appreciative is I am very aware of the need that we have.

• Kathy is dealing with pain. They offer relief.
• We are dealing with issues that we don't all-together understand. They give us answers.
• We afe beset with issues that tend to drive one to worry and be in despair. These folk offer the soothing message that things will likely be fine.

I appreciate the compassion, competence and concern that is offered.

I find some great lessons for the church in all of this. Your comments are welcome.

Kathy is progressing slowly. She is still hurting. She has been drinking some juice today. She has been for a walk 2x already today. No news on when she gets out.

Two kinds of progress: one quick & the other slow:

Kathy is doing OK.
The folk here at Good Samaritan Hosp., in Lebanon PA, have been very good to us. I think Kathy is improving, though not yet to the point that she feels it. She is still nothing by mouth. She enjoys her few ice-chips. She is quite sore. Getting up to go to the restroom is quite a chore. She walked 2x today out in the hall.
She is still on antibiotic and painkiller in her IV.
No word on when she gets out, yet.

Thanks to all for the calls, emails, flowers, etc. She hasn't been up to talking on the phone, yet.

On the other progress:
I hear that the folk back home are making great progress on the Worship-Center remodel. I look forward to being there Sunday. Hope to see you.

My experience this last weekend, as well as the reports of Farrah Fawcet, Billy Mays, and Michael Jackson's deaths have reminded me how uncertain life is. Live for Jesus!

Things Change Quickly:

As I said in the last post, we very much enjoyed Bethany and Robert's wedding.
Our plan was to go from the wedding to Chad and Tanisha's home (our son & daughter-in-law), & spend the rest of the weekend with them.
We did arrive at the kid's house, but then our plans changed.
Kathy had not been feeling well all weekend. We decided that we should take her to the ER last night. About 4:30 this morning she had an appendectomy. She is at Good Samaritan Hospital in Lebanon (home of Lebanon Bologna), PA.
Her appendix was not ruptured, but was gangrenous--there was a good bit of infection. She will be in the hosp. for a couple of days.
Thanks for your prayers.

Romans 8:28

I'll keep you posted.

Howard