We are halfway home from general conference, covering the first 547 of our trip in about 8 hours. Good Times!
The Sunday School service was awesome today. Pastor Tom Foster’s preaching was spot on. The music was incredible and Becky was somewhat overwhelmed by sitting on the platform. I have crystal clear direction for some areas in my life which is one of the great things about going to general conference. You can largely unplug from the world and focus on God, your ministry, and your family. It was an awesome week.
By late tomorrow afternoon we’ll be home. That’s not a bad thing (we will have been gone for seven days). I may have some additional thoughts on conference later but for now I’m going to check out for the night.
Today was the best day by far here (they all have been pretty good). We slept in today and then went to the zoo. What a great zoo the city of Tampa has. Lots of interactive exhibits and a wonderful tropical setting. It also was the source of the line of the day. As we were riding the tram on the safari ride, we came to an abrupt stop. Apparently a black racer snake was in our path. Here’s the commentary from the guide:
“We’re going to pause while this black racer snake swallows the lizard he just ate. He’s going to probably head across the path here and make his way to the cheetah pen where they will likely eat him. It’s that whole circle of life thing”
It killed me.
On a more serious note, Becky and I went to the Home Missions service tonight to hear one of our favorite preachers, Mark Johnston from Wilmington, Delaware. He pastors the church he planted several years ago and they have seen phenomenal growth. His message was was “Are you going to be a hero or just another celebrity?”. I would highly recommend anyone in ministry pick up the CD of DVD (we bought both). I have never felt so convicted for doing so little in my life. It was an incredible message.
Tomorrow is the Sunday School service. Pastor Tom Foster of Dallas, Texas will be preaching. Since Charity is going to stay with the kids; Becky is going to sit with me on the platform tomorrow. That should be fun. After the service, we are on our way back home. It has been a very long day so on that note I’m going to call it a night.
Number 18 USF (the University of South Florida) knocked off number 5 West Virginia last night. Our hotel is in north Tampa in the area of USF. They are giddy around here.
As is has been nearly 9 hours since the vote, most folks have heard that Resolution 4, which would permit advertising on television, passed by a vote of 1065-984. With one exception, there seemed to be a good spirit of unity post-vote. There was ample discussion afterward amongst both sides but I sincerely hope at this point the issue is finish. I am tired of discussing it. Kudos to Pastor Anthony Mangun for his impassioned speech from the conference floor.
Interestingly enough, I sat with a sizable Texas delegation. My brother in law is from Texas and I sat with him, his friends and pastor, as well as some other Texans. What great folks to be around. They made a business meeting enjoyable (no small task).
I managed to get a little work in today visiting a client in Saint Petersburg and had some of the best seafood I ever had at a little place on Saint Pete Beach. Good Times. The Foreign Missions service is tonight but I am taking a pass as I just got back from Saint Petersburg. Tomorrow, we are taking the kids to the Lowery Park Zoo and will be going to the Home Missions service tomorrow night. Pastor Mark Johnston, who planted a church in Wilmington, Delaware, will be preaching and he’s one of my favorites. Have a great night.
…prior to this morning’s business session.
We have four resolutions to consider this morning, three of which are non issues and the one on television advertising. As I sit here this morning, let me offer a couple of thoughts.
I am for television advertising (with a caveat) but I certainly don’t think it is the silver bullet that will cause the masses to come to Christ. I consider it simply another tool to use. And I also agree with much wiser voices that say you should be using everything available to you (radio, newspaper, billboards, fliers, door knocking) before pronouncing that TV advertising is exactly what we need.
About that caveat- as you know (if you’ve read this blog at all), I at times level sharp criticisms toward my organization. I do this because I have a vested interest in it. So here’s my hedge- if this issue is going to fracture this body (not just a few folks who enjoy fighting but a serious fissure) I am certainly willing to put aside my feelings and opinions for the good of the body. It’s just not that important. My superintendent (and newly elected Executive Board member) weighs in similarly here.
So that’s where I’m at. Pray for the conference that we’ll come through this okay. I’ll have my regularly scheduled update this evening.
Gordon Gekko
Originally uploaded by ryaninmtv
I’m back and ready to blog on day two of General Conference. As this is my fifth General Conference, I wisely waited over an hour to show up to the business session so that I could get there as voting began. Nope. Still too early. Oh, well. No major surprises in the election. Shay Mann is the new Youth President. Daryle Williams will be the new Secretary. There did seem to be a wonderful spirit of unity in the voting today. Let’s see if it holds out tomorrow.
While I was doing my thing, Charity and the kids went to the Florida Aquarium down by the harbor. I joined them after the business session. It is a very cool place with great exhibits and lots of things you don’t normally see (for instance, a sea dragon exhibit).
The highlight of my day however was lunch at Bennigan’s by the harbor. The lunch was not great but who should I see there but Pastor Wendell Elms, the husband of Sister Linda Elms who is one of my favorite bloggers. Brother Elms was in deep discussion (or so it seemed) with his brother so I declined to introduce myself. And he looks every bit as put together in person as he does in his pictures.
About the lizard- these things are everywhere. The do not like being around humans so they aren’t intrusive but they are everywhere. Michael rejoices.
More updates tomorrow.
I am waiting on my USB cable from my sister to post pictures. Please be patient.
Today, I spent approximately eight hours in a meeting of the General Sunday School Board. Good Times! Actually, I enjoy this meeting; not so much for the meeting itself but to see the many friends I have who also serve as Sunday School Directors in their various districts. For my friends Sister Elms and Sister Hurst, you have elected wonderful folks in the persons of Brother Crosswhite and Brother Sargent in your respective districts. These guys are first class and will make an excellent addition to our board. Brother Sargent is the former Youth Secretary for the Western District and preach a great message at General Conference in Salt Lake City in 2004. If you can get ahold of this sermon, please do so. You won’t be disappointed. Another plus of our General Conference meeting is that we get to hear from some of the best preachers in the UPCI which today included Jack Cunningham, Mark Foster, and Danny Russo. They were both inspirational and informative. I also got to see my friend Brother Tom Foster who is one of the warmest (and funniest) people I have ever met. He never fails to have a good word for me when I see him and I appreciate his friendship. I also got to have a great lunch today with three of my fellow directors (Michigan, Georgia, and Texico) as well as my friends Bruce and Jami Borlik and their family.
The songfest is tonight and I am taking a pass as I am worn out. There is the election of officers tomorrow which should be interesting (Youth President is up for grabs) and I am also going to peruse the exhibits. Finally, it is still really hot and humid here but my counterpart from the Florida District assures me that it’s much better than it was a few weeks ago. I will no longer make fun of southerners who lock up in the Ohio winter.
More updates tomorrow- hopefully with pictures.
We’re here! Got here around 10:30 PM after spending a few hours in Savannah, Georgia. I’ll have more tomorrow but it’s late and I have a full day of board meetings tomorrow. Until then…
We are in Charlotte, North Carolina tonight on our way to Tampa for General Conference. I got to the hotel around 8:30 PM and had an email from an attorney I’m working with asking for some revisions that took about three hours (which is why I’m blogging after midnight). We grabbed a quick bite to eat and I finished the cost projections. So much for vacation.
Two observations- first, it is warm and sticky in the south. If you live here, you’re used to it. I’m from Ohio. It’s supposed to be fall. Second, there are 127 Starbucks on the island of Manhattan. I saw three on I-77 the length of West Virginia from Parkersburg to Beckley. I find this curious.
Tomorrow, we hope to have lunch at Paula Deen’s restaurant in Savannah, Georgia. I’ll have a full report on that once we get to Tampa. Have a good night.
I preached in Mount Vernon this morning. I was extraordinarily nervous but I think it went okay. As with most sermons, I largely preached to myself. You’ll have that.
Now, I’m ready to head to Tampa tomorrow. I can’t wait. Hope to see some of my blog friends there.
