IPHONE

If you're one of the few people who have watched the hype about iPhones going on sale today and wondered what all the fuss was about, you'll have no idea why I've been reading about them and figured it would be great to have one.

Of course I have neither the cash or the inclination to spend that much on a phone cum ipod cum computer cum back scratcher cum mobile coffee maker.

My friend John Laeger from Minnesota put the whole issue into perspective on his blog today -

I think anyone who spends $500.00 on a phone needs to have their head examined.

Now...if you have no consumer debt, you are tithing a full 10%, the church is financially solid, your wife has had her fill of weekends away with just the two of you, your kids are tired of going to Valleyfair or Mall of America, your teen doesn't want that CD player for their car or DVD player for their room (I know, how foolish of me to think of spending $500 on a teen just so they can have some electronic gadget in their room which would take them away from family time)...AND you have asked two or three close friends (who aren't afraid to be totally honest with you) if you should spend $500 on a phone and they say, "You bet. THAT is a great way to spend $500! Your life will be much better because of it!"

Then go ahead.

AGAIN?

Is it my age, or have the past three months flown by? (Hint: Choosing the latter is the polite way to go).

Seems like it was only a few weeks ago that we had out last Celebration Sunday, but here we are all ready to go again with our quarterly celebration of baptism and communion.

I love baptisms. They are an open testimony to lives that have been changed by the grace of God, of people who have come to faith in Jesus and received the gift of eternal life. They are the ongoing evidence of the fact we're not just talking about reaching the lost, but it is happening.

Every church in creation will tell you their goal is to see people come to Christ, but sadly very few position themselves for that to become a reality and in all too many churches they haven't seen a real conversion in living memory.

Truth is, if you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you always got. But if you create an environment where the unchurched are welcome and communicate the good news in a way they can understand, the gospel really does still work - very effectively.

So Sunday we'll hear testimonies of changed lives - that's something to celebrate!

FAST START

Yes, I did do it!

After allowing myself an easy day yesterday, I hit the gym with a vengeance this morning and did my 6 miles run in less than 50 minutes for the first time - 49 minutes 28 seconds.

That cut more than two minutes off Wednesday's time, so I think I'll remain content with it for a while!!!

THAT WAS SOME PARTY

Just got home from the celebration for the life of Sister Elaine. Kudos to her family, they sure know how to throw a party. It beat the heck out of the usual morbid funeral home event.

Don't get me wrong, there were a lot of tears, but there was laughter too and to my mind the whole evening formed a fitting tribute to an outstanding woman.

Of course Sister Elaine wasn't there - she's in heaven having a blast and probably still recovering from being blown away by the reception she got from Jesus. There wasn't even a coffin, as in dying she continued the pattern of giving that she exemplified in life, by donating every part of the body she no longer needed that could be of use to someone else.

There were a few words that have stuck in my mind from the tributes offered tonight -

NAIVE - That word was used in the most positive way possible, describing the fact that her faith was uncomplicated and she was undeterred by the apparent impossibility of any situation. She seldom saw danger either as she went into some high-risk situations. She dared, she ventured, she succeeded and her example reminds us that simple faith reaps dividends.

PIONEER - She certainly was that, taking on the plight of the poor and homeless on Long Island and giving it such a profile that even politicians courted her to see how they could help. Some of them were there tonight too - as was local TV.

PASSION - Her pastor, Dennis Evenson, spoke about the fact she was driven by a passion to take Jesus to those who really needed him. He talked about how the whole concept of ministering to the poor had been birthed in Sister Elaine's heart when she was a member of his congregation and how it consumed her.

So that's it - a naive pioneer with passion.

After spending some time listening to her, you either concluded she was nuts or you got pumped yourself. That was why I loved being with her, her faith was infectious - I want to be a naive pioneer with passion too!

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

The more observant of my readers may have worked out that this picture was taken in Sam's Club, but what was I up to???

Studying my shopping list in disbelief?
Preaching a sermon to an audience of one?
Having a modest wardrobe malfunction (look at the back of the shirt!)?
Looking over my notes for Sunday?

Sorry, it's none of the above!

This morning I was invited to address Medford Chamber of Commerce on the subject of Helping Those In Need in Medford. The meeting was being hosted by Sam's Club, who also provided an excellent breakfast - it started at 8.00.

I have been part of the Chamber for several years now and have got to know a lot of local business people, so this morning provided an excellent opportunity to share about needs that exist in the town and to encourage these good folks to continue to have an open ear to hear where they can reach out to those less fortunate than themselves.

I shared quite a few stories from our own Grace Care outreaches and spotted a few tears around the place as I talked about the way God has enabled us to get alongside people that are hurting.

I like Medford - and the Chamber of Commerce has some great folks in it.

PUSHING MYSELF

There's less than three months to go before this year's Cow Harbor Race and I'm starting to give some serious thought to how I can shave some minutes off my time for last year's 10K run.

I started this morning by simply pushing myself a bit harder. Running 6 miles in the gym (that's marginally less than 6.2 miles, which is what 10K represents in English), I managed to shave a good three minutes off my personal best there, coming in at 51 minutes and change.

I'll go a bit lighter tomorrow and then try to get into the 50 minutes realm on Friday.

I think sometimes we're just too nice to ourselves. It's amazing what we can accomplish if we just try that little bit harder!

SISTER ELAINE

Elaine Bohrer went home to be with Jesus just after 3.00am today, slightly more than a week after she collapsed into a coma in the E.R. at Good Samaritan Hospital with bleeding in the brain.

Sister Elaine, as she is universally known, was a remarkable woman. Founding the Lighthouse Mission in Patchogue by handing out a few sandwiches to the poor, she developed it into a thriving ministry that reaches out to thousands of people all over the Island every week.

I loved her enthusiasm, her faith and her passion for those that are hurting. I loved that she took on projects that were way too big for her and actually accomplished them, with God's help. She was a refreshing change from so many Christian leaders who seem to live their lives trying desperately to maintain the status quo. For Sister Elaine there were always new projects, fresh adventures, opportunities to see God do the miraculous.

She was a great encouragement and example.

Today heaven is richer and so are those of us who had the privilege of knowing Sister Elaine.

STILL TIRED

Barely slept this past two nights as the dog has been very unsettled. I'm barely functioning at the moment, so here's another email about yesterday -

So you have to tell the worship band that we ALL are diggin the tunes these days....oh and you're not so bad yourself.

SUNDAY REFLECTIONS

I'm tired, so instead of giving you my accumulated wisdom about today, here are two emails I have got following this morning.

I attended your church for the 1st time today. It was awesome.

And there is this one too -

About today, WOW!!!!!! Thanks for the inspiration.

That gives you a little insight!

MEMORY ALMOST FULL

Paul McCartney's latest solo album Memory Almost Full is probably pretty unmemorable in musical terms (I say probably because let's face it, I'm not a musician by any stretch of the imagination).

It sounds like something he and a couple of friends put together one night in his basement in Liverpool when they had nothing better to do and the Guinness had run out. But then I guess forty plus years after he and John Lennon hit the top of the charts with She Loves You, the maestro could be singing nursery rhymes off-key and he'd still sell a million.

Having said all that, I reckon there's a gem among all the mediocrity on this album. It's called The End Of The End. I don't know if Sir Paul has been contemplating his own mortality or what, but if attending my funeral is in your plans for the (distant) future, please be sure someone at some point plays this song.

Here's what it says -

At the end of the end
It's the start of a journey
To a much better place
And this wasn't bad
So a much better place
Would have to be special
No need to be sad

On the day that I die
I'd like jokes to be told
And stories of old to be rolled out like carpets
That children have played on
And laid on while listening to stories of old

At the end of the end
It's the start of a journey
To a much better place
And a much better place
Would have to be special
No reason to cry

On the day that I die
I'd like bells to be rung
And songs that were sung to be hung out like blankets
That lovers have played on
And laid on while listening to songs that were sung

At the end of the end
It's the start of a journey
To a much better place
And a much better place
Would have to be special
No reason to cry
No need to be sad
At the end of the end

GODIN AGAIN

Seth Godin's little book The Dip (complete with line drawings) was one of the books I read out in Montauk. I've bought most of what this guy has published because he is a great motivator and possesses some amazing insights.

Here's the quote that sticks with me from this particular work -

You have only two good choices: Quit or be exceptional. Average is for losers.

Average is certainly not in my game plan and quitting is not an option!

So I guess we'll focus on being exceptional - and that's the road our church is apparently taking!

BACK!

Okay, so we got home this evening from our abbreviated stay in sunny Montauk (sunny apart from yesterday that is, when it rained most of the day!).

I love it out there. It's close enough that it doesn't take for ever to get there, but it's so different to the rest of the Island that you could tell yourself you were in another state. Did a fair bit of reading, though I conceded before I left that there was no way I would even try to get through five books - made it through three though.

There's a great quote in Seth Godin's book that I'll check out and quote accurately tomorrow.

Came back to 90 emails and was savage in just deleting a number of them - none from anyone who reads my blog of course.

Dog is still not 100% - have a vet's appointment for her tomorrow.

A little tired - exercised hard while I was away and ate healthy too.

Hit the ground running here.

Looking forward to heading into Sunday. May get chance to include my favorite song from Les Mis in the teaching!!!

I LIED!

Okay, I know I said I wouldn't be blogging until Thursday (and so have no reason to think anyone will even read this!), but I guess I lied - and for two very good reasons -

1. Our poor dog is still not at all well, so we have not got out to Montauk yet. In her present condition it wouldn't be right to palm her off onto anyone, even family, so we're here in sunny Coram. Maybe tomorrow???

2. I am totally stoked about church this morning and need to express what I am feeling somewhere and to someone. So since you're here - it's you that gets it all ....

Where to start? The plan had been that we would come in from Montauk for service today, but everything was covered so though present, I wouldn't be doing anything. That's what happened and it was all so brilliant without me that I'm walking on air. What was so great? A load of different things ...

+ When I strolled in at 8.45 the place looked brilliant. The stage design in theater 13 has got to be the best yet.
+ I was given a free gift for Fathers' Day at the door.
+ Our Indonesia missions team shared about their recent trip. Man, am I proud of them?
+ Frank Summers did the teaching and was off the charts. I don't know what he was smoking today, but he was hilarious - I want some of that!
+ Met some good new folks.
+ All the men were given specially wrapped home baked cookies for Fathers' Day at the cafe.
+ The band were amazing. Did I say that last week?
+ Almost 30 people who are part of our Celebrate Recovery program arrived back straight from their retreat.
+ Someone I have been praying for over the last several months gave her life to Jesus at the retreat.
+ Our Miracles At The Movies segment today featured Bob McGee sharing what God has done for him since he first came to the theater. I remember that first Easter he was there and am thrilled to see what God has done for him and for his family too. He's a great guy!
+ In KIDMO Cassie told everyone how God had guided her in giving away the bike she won. Scroll down to Friday for that story.
+ Several folks told me they were leaving straight from church to visit members in hospital.
+ There was a tremendous atmosphere around the place today - it was fun, it was family and not only did we meet God, but he talked to us too.

We've had some great Sundays but for me this was one of the best - because it all went on without me. So many have grasped the vision and are running with it.

I love this stuff!

COLD TURKEY IN THE SUN

Looks like we'll be heading out east this afternoon - poor dog is still not herself, but she's in reasonable enough shape to leave with Charlotte & Mike.

We'll be back in for church tomorrow - looking forward to our Fathers' Day specials and the third part of our Keepin' It Real series.

Forecast looks great for Montauk, so here's the decision - I'm shaking as I write this - I'm going to leave my laptop at home! There, I said it. I knew I could.

In an emergency I can be contacted through the office, but the truth is we have a pastoral team who are more than capable of handling whatever arises during my brief absence.

So no emails, no forums, no blogs - and no blogging!

I'll be home Thursday.

Ya'll come back now!

THE LAST WORD

NEW YORK METS 2 NEW YORK YANKEES 0

I'll let the score do the talking!

More wisdom from Yogi Berra -

You wouldn't have won if we'd beaten you.

We made too many wrong mistakes.

There are some people who, if they don't already know, you can't tell 'em.

GROUNDED

Two years ago I had to have emergency gall bladder surgery the day before we had been scheduled to leave for South Africa - the trip was cancelled of course.

Last year our son-in-law's father had a horrific sky-diving accident two days before we were due to fly to Scotland for a vacation. We postponed it.

Tonight we should have been in Montauk, but here I am in Coram as our dog had to have extensive surgery yesterday. We're not comfortable leaving her yet, so will wait and see how things look tomorrow.

Filling in the time by watching some baseball!!!!

THIS IS REALLY COOL

They did a drawing in KIDMO last Sunday for a brand new, bright green mountain bike. (I think it was a raffle really, though there was no money involved, but some Christians would flip at the use of the word, so we'll call it a drawing so as not to offend anyone's conscience!!!)

The 6th Grader who won it didn't really need it and it was a boy's bike anyway, so Cassie went home wondering what she should do with it and who she could give it too. Here's the story she emailed to Charlotte -

I found somebody to give the bike to!!

My neighbor has a little boy in kindergarten, and we gave the bike to him. His mom is single, and this is kind of funny. When we went to ask her if he would like it, she was talking to the people who own the house (she lives in an apartment in the basement) about getting him a bike. When we brought the bike over she was so happy! She said her son would flip out.

His birthday is on Saturday, his favorite color is green, and she didn't think she would be able to get him a bike for his birthday, that she would have to wait until after his birthday.

God provides, and I'm glad he picked me to help. =)

~Cassie

Way to go Cassie! We're all tremendously proud of you!

THIS IS NOT FUNNY

Here's an email we got in the office this morning -

I'd like this prayer request to be sent to the entire church on behalf of our Pastor Roger and his family. They are in serious need of prayer at this time, they are currently shaking in their shoes with the utter anticipation of their Mets losing to the Greatest Team on God's Green Earth, The New York Yankees!!

I would like you to stand in agreement for God's peace to be upon Roger and his entire family as God brings them through this disappointing time in their lives called "The Subway Series" God spoke to me as I was in prayer today and said, "Let's Go Yankees!"

Some things are too sacred for humor!!!

Anyway to quote the great Yogi Berra -

It ain't over till it's over.

And -

Slump? I ain't in no slump. I just ain't hitting.

Furthermore -

I didn't really say everything I said.

LIMITED EDITION

Here are the designs for what will quickly become the most sought after items of the summer of 07, our Church At The Movies T-shirts proclaiming - THESE ARE MY CHURCH CLOTHES.

We'll be giving away just 100 of these outstanding conversation starters on Celebration Sunday, July 1st and just like at Shea Stadium on Sun Visor Day, they'll go to the first people through the gates that morning.

The first one hundred worshipers get their choice of one of these limited edition collectibles that will enable them to spend the next three months explaining that it's people who matter to us, not what they're wearing!

THE END

Tomorrow afternoon Gill and I will be making our annual visit to one of our favorite places, Montauk on the easternmost tip of Long Island - The End.

We'll be there for a few days - though of course it's near enough to home for us to be able to get back for church on Sunday - on what I like to call my annual study break, which sounds far more holy than spending some time at the beach.

Through the kindness of some good friends, we have a great place to stay and nothing whatever to do (what is there to do in Montauk anyway???) except sit on the sands and read, which has created today's dilemna of working out what books to take with me and which to leave on my "books to be read shelf".

Here's what made the final cut -

THE INNOCENT MAN by John Grisham
I really need to finish this as I started it on the flight to India in February! I think I've forgotten the story so far!

THE BRAND GAP by Marty Neumeier
This is a marketing book, touted as Not just another book on brand. This is the only book you'll need to read in business, engineering or design school.

ORBITING THE GIANT HAIRBALL by Gordon MacKenzie
Subtitled A Corporate Fool's Guide To Surviving With Grace, this is a book about awakening and fostering creative genius.
I love this quote - If you go to your grave without painting your masterpiece, it will not get painted. No one else can paint it. Only you.

THE DIP by Seth Godin
I've read most of his stuff and this new book gets good reviews. It's short so that helps - A little book that teaches you when to quit and when to stick.

GROWING AN ENGAGED CHURCH by Albert Winseman
I was loaned this book by an attorney I have been getting to know. It's subtitled How To Stop Doing Church and Start Being The Church Again. Sounds my kind of stuff!

So that's it - sun tan lotion, sandals, beach chair and books. But remember, this is work and not vacation!!!

GOD BLESS THE USA

Sixteen years ago today - June 13th 1991 - our family entered the INS office in Terminal 4 at JFK, to be processed as immigrants straight off the plane from the U.K. Of course all the paperwork had been done in advance of the journey. We had been screened and approved for green cards (which were actually pink!) at the U.S. Consulate in London some weeks before, but as we sat waiting in the secure office at Kennedy Airport, the documentation was checked and our fingerprints were taken.

Our American adventure then began!

No matter how much time I had spent over here as a visitor, it still took a while to adjust to living in a different country. It wasn't just that Americans drive on the wrong side of the road, play strange sports and speak the Queen's English in a way that must send Her Majesty's blood pressure soaring. There were a lot of factors that stretched us as we adjusted.

+ The pastor who had invited me to replace him apparently changed his mind - sixteen years later he is still there. So after 21 years as a senior pastor, I was slotted into an Associate Pastor's role.

+ After spending the summer with us, both of our children returned to Scotland to go to college, putting over 3,000 miles between us.

+ My father-in-law got sick and died a few months after we arrived here.

+ Arriving here in the heat and humidity of summer, we endured a climate we had never known before.

As time passed by we settled, got to know folks, bought a house, became citizens, saw our children marry, had grandchildren, planted a church, saw it thrive and have been thoroughly enjoying our new life in the USA.

This is a great country and it's a privilege to be a part of it.

DEFINING THE WIN

We had a really good weekend with Douglas and Fiona McIntyre - apart from the fact that Gill's back started giving her serious problems, and still is.

I first met Doug in 1985 when I was putting together a planning group to bring German evangelist Reinhard Bonnke to our area, the north east of Scotland. I had never met him before, but had heard plenty about this 25 year old pastor who had established one of the largest charismatic churches in the country. In the end he did most of the work for Bonnke's visit, his church paid the lion's share of the bill and through it all or maybe in spite of it, we became friends.

Doug's a real focused kind of guy whose journey has taken him into the corporate world at some of the highest levels as well as all over the world as a preacher/teacher.

He has been an ideal guy for us to draw from in order to equip our ministry leaders for the future and our time with him on Saturday was certainly worthwhile. He did a great job of preaching on Sunday too!

One thing I have heard Doug comment on several times is that if most churches were businesses, they'd have closed years ago. He talks about the fact that companies are judged on results, but most churches don't know what they're trying to accomplish in the first place and so have no way to measure success.

He's dead right. Churches tend to be social clubs that exist for their own members and pay lip service only to having the slightest interest in seeing people come to faith in Jesus.

That's why it's important to define what constitutes a win, to know what we are endeavoring to accomplish. And if it's anything other than seeing lost people come to find the gift of eternal life, it's time to go back to the drawing board!

BTW

I have been accused on occasions of having a fixation with numbers, but numbers are people and people count!

That's why it was good to hear that yesterday was our best crowd ever for the second Sunday in June. Attendance usually goes south sometime around Memorial Day weekend and kicks back in again mid-September.

I'm glad to see we're shaping up for a summer of bucking that trend.

SPREADING THE WORD

There is no question that one of the smartest things we have done in our brief history was to adopt KIDMO as our major kids' program last September.

I had no idea that this radical material even existed, but eager to discover something to take our children's ministry to the next level, I posted a question on an internet forum asking what was working for guys around the country. It seemed then that the universal response was KIDMO, duh!

Long Island is certainly not the Bible-belt. I have never heard it accused of being on the cutting edge of things Christian, so it is hardly surprising that the packaged antics of one Johnny Rogers were an unknown quantity in these parts.

We have double the number of children in church that we had this time last year (around 100 yesterday and that on a summer Sunday!) and there's no question that kids love coming.

I do think KIDMO should start paying us commission, as three other churches in this area have adopted the program on our recommendation. Yesterday we had folks from yet another church visit just to check what Charlotte had going on in Theater 2 for Grades 1 thro 6.

We're getting to the stage where we ought to have a designated Visitors' Gallery in KIDMO for the guests who come from elsewhere to see what it's all about.

We're happy to help them and to spread the word!

QUALITY PEOPLE

Had a great time with our ministry leaders today. They are a brilliant group!

One of the major focuses we have for this year is to encourage and equip these outstanding people. Our Volunteer Coordinator, Debbie Ingino, did some of the teaching as did our good friend Douglas McIntyre from Indianapolis.

We had some very fruitful discussion during part of Debbie's sessions, proving that all of us are smarter than any one of us.

When Doug asked us what we like most about the church, I was very happy to hear words like real, Christ-focused, family being used again and again.

I can identify with the pet dislikes that were aired too - sticky floors, early start (for those involved in getting things ready that is), lack of our own meeting space.

There is no question that this church is not a one man operation. We have some significant levels of leadership in place - a four person pastoral team and a twenty four person ministry leadership team. We don't have committees for the sake of committees and we certainly don't have any boards. What we do have is people who give themselves to doing the job and those who sweat get the right to speak!!!

STRUCTURED

A few years ago we had a good family leave the church because they were "looking for something more structured" and I could see what they meant. At that time we were renting a high school auditorium for Sunday services and got thrown out every time school was on recess or had a concert or whatever over the weekend. The result was you waited each week to hear where service would be the following Sunday - we did a lot of moving around in those days.

Interestingly after a year or two of structure, that family returned to us and have become a functioning part of Church At The Movies.

I can see why folks with a certain makeup or mindset would struggle in our church. Take our current predicament.

In weeks rather than months - we don't know when - the theater we have been renting on Sundays for almost four years is set to close.

Not only are we unaware of when this will take place, but we also have no idea of where we will be going when this happens. Sure we're talking to local theaters and are involved in detailed discussions with one, but we still don't have any firm contract yet.

So in theory I could get a call any day now saying Patchogue UA is closing at the end of June - and we have nowhere to go!

If you're the kind of person who takes the same seven days for vacation every year and goes to the same location, this is definitely going to freak you out. If you have this year's Christmas presents bought, wrapped and stored in the basement, not knowing where you'll be worshiping in a few weeks time would probably be enough to have you commited to an institution for your own safety and that of others.

Planting churches is definitely not for the faint of heart and the truth is, it's honestly not for everyone. But it isn't all to do with how we're wired. Let me explain how I'm dealing with this -

1. I recognize that this is God's church. He is the one who is building it, guiding it and has the masterplan for it. This church was his idea and he has not just been with us, but has blessed us and increased us through every turn in the road.

2. We've been here before. When we were unceremoniously thrown out of the high school because of a change in leasing policy, we moved to the Holiday Inn in Ronkonkoma and they told us we could use their facilities for eight weeks, but not long-term. At that point, having tried every other option, we had nowhere to go once our time in the hotel was up. I remember driving the streets at night, just looking to see if there was a suitable building around that I didn't know about. Then out of the blue the theater opened up to us and was our best location thus far.

3. I love the excitement of things being uncertain, unpredicatable and challenging. I live for this stuff, so it doesn't freak me out at all.

4. I know the use of one of the theaters we're looking at is just about guaranteed, so the truth is if we want it, it's virtually in the bag so this isn't the giant leap of faith it might appear to be.

But if you like everything cut and dried, I can understand you having a bad case of the shakes.

Structured we're not - changing and changeable we are and always want to be.

BAD THINGS - GOOD PEOPLE

Ron Mazza is one of the most energetic and effective members of our hospital ministry team (Barnabas Network) that you could ever find. Part of that is perhaps due to the fact that he was told ten years ago that he only had months to live himself and that he has been more aquainted with hospitals and doctors than most folks would ever want to be.

When I was sick a couple of years ago, he took a whole afternoon and spent it with me, encouraging me and picking me up. That's what Ron does. So when I heard yesterday that he is in hospital with a likely recurrence of cancer symptoms, I went to see if I could return the favor. Sadly he was so heavily sedated that I'm not convinced he knew what way was up, however I spent an hour or so there with him and plan to go back this evening.

He's a good man - an outstanding man.

Today I chatted on the phone with Josh Bonventre who has been having chemo for the past four or five months and was on his way back from Sloane Kettering where they had been harvesting his own bone marrow to give him a transplant next week. He's been through a heck of a lot and has somehow managed nonetheless to stay at the helm of the excellent church he is leading in East Patchogue.

It has been a tough road for him, for the family and for the church. He's bracing himself for what he knows will be a very demanding few weeks ahead of him, but thankfully the prognosis is encouraging.

He's a good man - an outstanding man.

Word from India today is that Pastor Agnel remains comfortable following the surgery to remove a massive tumor and one of his kidneys. He managed to travel back down to Goa for a few days to encourage the congregations he leads there and has now returned to Mumbai for more treatment.

He coughs constantly because his lungs are so badly affected and while there is a real doubt that the chemo he is starting can help him, with God all things are possible. Agnel loves God and loves people.

He's a good man - an outstanding man.

Which all goes to prove that bad things do happen to good people. But since God is the one who has planned the journey, thankfully he specializes in turning around what seems bad so that it works out for our good.

Please say a prayer for my friends as you finish reading this.

THIS MORNING IN PIX

Top - That would be me, teaching the first message in our summer series, Keepin' It Real. This morning we took a look at Acts 1 and some of the foundational things that enabled the soon-to-be-born church to turn the world upside down. We talked about being excited about Jesus, enabled by the Holy Spirit and having an eye on eternity. Cliff notes version - We have to keep the main thing the main thing.

Next - Our band really rocked this morning. They were outstanding. We had a guest bass player who told me it's easy to play bass when you have an outstanding drummer - and that we do. Great job with the sticks, Steve!

Next - The Big Screen Cafe is as popular a spot as ever with wise worshipers who don't want to see me in the flesh!

Next - Tracy had Lil'K up and running early - I think she has more fun than the kids.

And finally - Three of our impressive Kidmo team (Angela, Jean and Robin), who were there way before anyone should be out of bed on a Sunday morning, got things organized and then sat cheerfully awaiting the kids who would sign in with them.

CHURCH CLOTHES

I've got a great new t-shirt for church tomorrow. I've had it for a couple of weeks now, but I needed to keep it for the start of our new series. You'll see why tomorrow.

Today I'm wearing another one I bought at the same time. It reads-

Ride The Pony - Ford Mustang

Got them on sale at Kohl's of course.

Talking of Mustangs, I'll be taking a ride out east this afternoon to the vineyard my buddy Chris Kelly manages. A couple I've never met before are celebrating their 50th Wedding Anniversary and were looking for a pastor to help them renew their vows in the vineyard's Tasting House. Lesaya was going to do it, but had a clash in her schedule - like she's flying home from California today. So I'm up instead.

Have car will travel.

So no tasting for me!!!

GEARING UP

I've never met John Laeger, though I've chatted with him on the phone, we email one another from time to time and we interact on an internet forum, but though we haven't sat down to dinner together yet, I know he's one sharp guy.

That's why I keep up with his blog - http://www.johnlaeger.typepad.com John was talking some good sense about summer over there today. Of course I don 't know what they know about summer in Minnesota, but as long as they think a mild thaw is beach weather, who am I to try to tell them otherwise?

Sounds like John's church is doing the same as ours - picking up the pace for the next couple of months instead of scaling down and going into vacation mode.

Our new series that starts Sunday will give us scope for some good teaching - and some good fun too.

+ Watch for the Great Coke Giveaway on Sunday June 10th.

+ Talking of freebies, there'll be t-shirts on our Celebration Sunday, July 1st.

+ That's also the date of our Worship On The Water concert at Shore Front Park in Patchogue with Lynn Swart and our great worship band.

+ We've got a day out at Splish Splash for everybody on Thursday July 26th.

+ Next Saturday, June 9th there's another training day for our ministry leaders as we shape up for fall - our good friend Doug McIntyre will be teaching and staying over to speak on Sunday.

This will be our last summer in Patchogue UA and we expect it to count for eternity in the lives of a lot of people.

There will be those who are coming and going for vacations, but overall it's full speed ahead!