God loves a cheerful giver

Wow, this morning brought me a moment that I just want to hold dear to my heart for a long time and I am glad I have the opportunity to blog about it. That way, I can reflect upon this day and how I felt.

Typically, mornings are crazy times for me. I get up now and go to the gym at 6:15 (I've lost 35 lbs here in the last two months!) I get home at 7:30 and jump in the shower. Get out of the shower and get the three kids ready for school. Jen's getting ready to work or has left already. It is normally crazy!

This morning was no different. After the kids were fed, I ran downstairs to iron my clothes for the day. While I was ironing my shirt, Alayna walked in and said, "Daddy, I have a quarter here and I am going to put it in my Minnie Mouse bank. I am saving my money to help you and mommy buy the new van." (We are in search of a new van.) My first thought was, "Alayna, you're so sweet. You don't have to do that." I gave her a kiss and said to her, "Alayna, you are so thoughtful." She just smiled and went upstairs and put the quarter in the bank. I got up stairs and she said, "Daddy I have 30 monies (30 cents) in the bank for you!" I could have cried tears of joy and gratitude. Here is our seven year old, striving to help us out the best way she knows how. I thought about how much this means to her; giving unselfishly to this "van fund." I was not going to accept it, but the more I am thinking about it, Alayna wants to give because she loves us. I am going to accept the "30 monies" she has collected and use it for the "van fund." I know Alayna loves to use quarters to buy cross necklaces out of the quarter machine at Giant Eagle. But this quarter is special. She is giving her gift in love. I need to accept this love offering. She gave it fully in love.

Pastor Allan and I have witnessed recently some in the church who desire to share their gifts with the church. When I say "gifts" here, I mean their talents and spiritual gifts. Some of these people have been told by others, "Oh, don't worry, I'll take care of it. You don't have to help now." This has turned away the "cheerful givers." Those who say this don't mean any thing wrong, they are so used to helping, that others are sometimes overlooked when it comes to service. Allan and I are trying to expand the number of the church's "cheerful givers" and include all of those who want to give in love. Just as I almost said to Alayna, "Don't worry Alayna, Daddy doesn't need your money," may we, as the church, be open to accepting the "cheerful giver" as they share their love of Jesus with us and the community of faith.

Thanks Alayna for teaching me a great lesson today. Yes, I will use the "30 monies" of yours with gladness and appreciation! Love, Daddy.

8th Avenue Ministries

I had the opportunity to go to Homestead yesterday afternoon with my family and members of Baldwin Community's Mission Team. We visited 8th Avenue Ministries, a new church start in the heart of Homestead. The new ministry is being led by Keith Kaufold. I told my children going into Homestead that this church is not like the church they are used to attending. I told them this would be like a coffeehouse, a gathering place to eat and talk to others. When my children walked in, they were pleasantly surprised to see spaghetti and meatballs and on top of that, chocolate chip cookies! During our dinner, I sat across a 5th grader who told me every detail about her life! It was great to listen to this girl's life and how she loves Jesus.

Following dinner, we set up the room into a worship center. It was an awesome opportunity to be fed physically and spiritually. The music was moving, the preaching touching and the fellowship of believers engaging. I left this worship filled with a sense of renewal and joy. I ask that you keep Keith and this new ministry on 8th Avenue in your daily prayers. I thank God for Keith and the vision God has laid upon his heart.

Camping Weekend

Yes, it is almost here! Camping season 2008! I am extremely pumped to dean a camp this year (Mommy, Daddy & Me.) http://www.jumonville.org/ My two girls will get to go to my camp and Aaron will be able to go to an adventure camp the same week at Jumonville.

This weekend at Baldwin Community, we are celebrating camping ministries. Friday evening will be a "campout" at church, where our Parenting class and Date Night families will set up tents in Asbury Hall and have smores, camp songs, movies and just enjoy the night with each other. This weekend, we will get to have testimony from parents and kids regarding their camping experiences from last year and we will have an opportunity to give towards Baldwin Community's Camp Aid Program. Last year, in our first year of this special offering, we were able to cover 67% of our camper's costs to go to camp!

Let's see if we can do even more this year! Camping brochures will be throughout the church as well as passed out during the Children's time at the Asbury Alternative and at 11 a.m. Sanctuary worship.

Officiating a Wedding

I have never been asked to perform a beach wedding before. Last week, Jennifer, the kids, my parents and in-laws accompanied one of my dearest friends, Brian Carr and his now wife, Karen to the beautiful island of St. Thomas for the beach wedding at Magen's Bay.

On the island we had the opportunity to join together for one of the most memorable days of my life.

Brian is a dear friend, dating back to the days of middle school in Belle Vernon. Brian and I worked, played baseball and hung out on the weekends together. I was honored to have been asked by Brian and Karen to officiate this wedding.

One of the greatest joys is knowing that these two individuals, Brian and Karen have a saving relationship in Jesus Christ. This couple has put Christ first and foremost in their relationship. As a friend and as the pastor officiating this wedding, to know they love the Lord with all their heart, with all their mind and with all their strength brings me great joy.

As a family, we were able to share some of our greatest memories. Weeks prior to going, Aaron, our son experienced some great difficulty breathing, thinking and told by the pediatrician, asthma (It turned out not!). We were questioning if this would be a good trip. It turned out that the warm tropical air did him the greatest good! He came back with a tan, sandy blond hair and no cough or breathing trouble. Praise God for the time away!

Here's Aaron "living it up" on the beach. No signs of sickness there!

Thank God for the time away. A time to celebrate, refresh and gain our health back!

I "Misremembered" my Brother Roger

Ok... I have had the distinct pleasure (ha!ha!) of being told by a few from church that I look like the baseball player who "misremembered" taking some "things" at the hearings, Roger Clemens.

Ok, I admit. I take "things." I do take vitamins.

What NOT To Do On A Snow Day

What am I to do when all the education world shuts down around me for a snow storm? I guess I change my day off! Jennifer is working 12 1/2 hours and I was the one to stay home. Today was the great snow of 08. Yes, we got walloped with a huge 4 inch snow storm. (Remember the days of three feet snows?) This four incher shut everything down pretty much today.

We couldn't go sledding today. (There are not many places in Whitehall that have sledding areas, as well as the kids growing out of their sledding gear.) Snowzone www.snozone.net (1/2 mile from us) opens tomorrow Besides Aaron, our son, had a orthodontics consult with Dr. Sepic www.smilesbysepic.com Dr. Sepic's office called this morning and asked if we could move up the appointment. We did. We arrived at our appointment, left a short while later and went to the movie theater.

Our goal was to watch Hannah Montana, Best of Both Worlds movie. We pulled up to Southland 9. We had the only vehicle in the lot, besides the one employee vehicle. The kids were jumping, excited to watch Hannah Montana in the movie!

We got to the clerk and she looked up and said in a monotone voice, "The movie costs $18 per person." I said, "Did you say this movie is $18 per person?" She said, "Yes." I looked at the kids and said, "Kids, daddy didn't realize this movie was going to cost us close to $100 to watch. This movie is too much money for us to pay." So we all turned around and left. On the way out, I said, "I'm sorry kids, Daddy didn't realize this was going to cost us as much as it costs to go to a Pirate game!" Aaron, the 9 year old, great thinker he is, said, "Daddy, it's ok. You made the right choice."

How can a working family like us afford to take my little children to see someone they think so much of and say, "Sorry, we can't afford this movie." $18 per person, including my four year old? It's unconscionable! It's unfair that the public has to pay $18 for a movie, not to mention $1000's of dollars for a little child to see Hannah Montana in concert.

So this is NOT what to do on a snowy day... see a Hannah Montana movie. Tonight we made popcorn, put our PJ's on and watched a rental... for $1.07.

She passed!

Good News!

My dear wife Jennifer passed her National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN)! She took this exam for the first time on Tuesday. Today she found out that she passed! I am so proud of Jennifer. What a relief. She studied hours over the last couple of months for this exam. It paid off! We thank God for the wisdom she was given. It's now official, she is a RN!