I ran across this article about plans to ease travel to Cuba: U.S. plans to ease travel to Cuba: lawmaker's aide
As someone who has traveled to Cuba twice with the Methodist church, I can tell you first hand that easing the restrictions would be a good thing. The red tape required to travel there under a religious visa is stifling. Our mission ("Methodists United in Prayer") would be well served by a relaxation of the current travel rules.
George
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Have your tried mind mapping? (Article from Inc. magazine)
Here is a good article for small business owners from Inc. magazine on mind mapping. I have found the concept to be very useful for project management; there are a lot of ways for entrepreneurs to put it to effective use.
I use software from Mindjet (MindManager) and can recommend it highly. For project management, ResultsManager is a great add-in.
George
I use software from Mindjet (MindManager) and can recommend it highly. For project management, ResultsManager is a great add-in.
George
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Editorial airing on our six radio stations and four online stations
Editorial
Annc: This is Viewpoint with Dennis Mockler, Vice President/General Manager of Monticello Media
Thomas Jefferson said “Leave no authority existing not responsible to the people.” One has to wonder how he’d view what White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs described as the “legislative process game” being considered to pass such crucial legislation without a vote.
Regardless of your position on healthcare reform - we believe the civility and integrity our system of governance was founded on needs to be restored. We strongly believe every member of Congress should cast an up or down vote on-the-record. Legislation that will impact 17% of our economy, but more importantly, each and every one of us deserves no less. Is it too much to ask that they do the honorable thing - allowing us to see how they represented us?
Mr. Jefferson also said, “Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.” If you agree we hope you’ll call Congressman Tom Perriello at 888-486-6487 and request that congress cast a yay or nay vote on healthcare.
Annc: This has been Viewpoint from Monticello Media.
Annc: This is Viewpoint with Dennis Mockler, Vice President/General Manager of Monticello Media
Thomas Jefferson said “Leave no authority existing not responsible to the people.” One has to wonder how he’d view what White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs described as the “legislative process game” being considered to pass such crucial legislation without a vote.
Regardless of your position on healthcare reform - we believe the civility and integrity our system of governance was founded on needs to be restored. We strongly believe every member of Congress should cast an up or down vote on-the-record. Legislation that will impact 17% of our economy, but more importantly, each and every one of us deserves no less. Is it too much to ask that they do the honorable thing - allowing us to see how they represented us?
Mr. Jefferson also said, “Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.” If you agree we hope you’ll call Congressman Tom Perriello at 888-486-6487 and request that congress cast a yay or nay vote on healthcare.
Annc: This has been Viewpoint from Monticello Media.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
"Methodists United in Prayer" Trip to Cuba for the District Conference
This post is devoted to reporting on our Cuba trip last week (2/4 – 2/11/10). Loree and I attended the Cuba Methodist Church District Conference in Havana, visited a number of churches in our District, and spent considerable time with our sister church, la Sierra. Though we were the only travelers from the North East District, we ran into several other Florida Methodists, in Cuba to attend other events.
Travel Logistics
We traveled on a TACA Airbus charter (arranged through ABC Charters). While I don’t recommend it, we took in over 300 pounds of baggage, paying the overage.
The flight was comfortable, arriving Havana in less than an hour. A representative from Havanatur delivered our visas (Praise God!) along with the visas for four other Methodist travelers on our flight (headed to the Pinar del Rio District).
Customs took some time, though we were eventually waved through with all our bags (except the two which got left in Miami – more on that later) and no fee. Once outside, we were met by District Superintendent Antonio and Pastor Damián from la Sierra with lots of hugs.
District Conference
From the airport, we took a van to D. S. Antonio’s church and home in Punta Brava. We enjoyed a fabulous dinner with Antonio and Gina (which started by candlelight . . . the power was out), followed by a lively service in their upstairs church. We had a translator for the entire Punta Brava visit. Lots of wonderful music filled the air, with plenty of abrazos and besos at the end.
Friday brought a tour of three churches in our District, San Antonio de los Baños, Tumbadero, and Mayorkín. The Conference kicked off Friday at 8pm with an inspiring service at Habana Central. Central is a large, downtown church with a very enthusiastic pastor, Guilermo León (who used to be pastor at la Sierra). Loree captured some good video on her Flip cam which we posted on the Facebook website (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=95353262755).
Saturday’s Conference activities were at Marianao, another beautiful Havana church pastored by Bishop Pereira. Again, the music was out of this world. Both the Bishop and D. S. Antonio preached (among others). Antonio gave a presentation on his District and I said a few words about “Methodists United in Prayer.” There were some 2,500 worshipers present (all of which were fed lunch!).
We met with all of the District pastors after lunch. We returned home late that evening after a productive and inspiring day.
Sunday brought yet another great service at Punta Brava (with heartfelt thanks to Isle of Faith for their support – also on video).
la Sierra
The rest of the trip was spent at our sister church (la Sierra).
Missing Baggage
Our two missing boxes showed up at the airport a few days into the trip. A hastily arranged trip to the airport quickly yielded the boxes, but Customs had some heartburn. Both were large boxes: one with a bicycle, lined with toys and diapers, and the other, a small (?!) P. A. system.
After unpacking both boxes for inspection, and after a great deal of discussion among themselves, the Customs officials eventually waved us and our boxes back outside. No fees/no confiscation. It was truly a God thing; had those boxes arrived with us and the rest of our baggage on time, they would never have been allowed into the country. I believe that Pastor Damián and his church members literally prayed them through Customs. There is no other explanation.
Return Home
The return to Miami on the eighth day was perfect. The flight was on time and we were waved through Customs without even showing them our Treasury License copy. We are back with a re-energized commitment to MUIP and to our sister churches in Havana.
And yes, we’d go back tomorrow.
Travel Logistics
We traveled on a TACA Airbus charter (arranged through ABC Charters). While I don’t recommend it, we took in over 300 pounds of baggage, paying the overage.
The flight was comfortable, arriving Havana in less than an hour. A representative from Havanatur delivered our visas (Praise God!) along with the visas for four other Methodist travelers on our flight (headed to the Pinar del Rio District).
Customs took some time, though we were eventually waved through with all our bags (except the two which got left in Miami – more on that later) and no fee. Once outside, we were met by District Superintendent Antonio and Pastor Damián from la Sierra with lots of hugs.
District Conference
From the airport, we took a van to D. S. Antonio’s church and home in Punta Brava. We enjoyed a fabulous dinner with Antonio and Gina (which started by candlelight . . . the power was out), followed by a lively service in their upstairs church. We had a translator for the entire Punta Brava visit. Lots of wonderful music filled the air, with plenty of abrazos and besos at the end.
Friday brought a tour of three churches in our District, San Antonio de los Baños, Tumbadero, and Mayorkín. The Conference kicked off Friday at 8pm with an inspiring service at Habana Central. Central is a large, downtown church with a very enthusiastic pastor, Guilermo León (who used to be pastor at la Sierra). Loree captured some good video on her Flip cam which we posted on the Facebook website (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=95353262755).
Saturday’s Conference activities were at Marianao, another beautiful Havana church pastored by Bishop Pereira. Again, the music was out of this world. Both the Bishop and D. S. Antonio preached (among others). Antonio gave a presentation on his District and I said a few words about “Methodists United in Prayer.” There were some 2,500 worshipers present (all of which were fed lunch!).
We met with all of the District pastors after lunch. We returned home late that evening after a productive and inspiring day.
Sunday brought yet another great service at Punta Brava (with heartfelt thanks to Isle of Faith for their support – also on video).
la Sierra
The rest of the trip was spent at our sister church (la Sierra).
Missing Baggage
Our two missing boxes showed up at the airport a few days into the trip. A hastily arranged trip to the airport quickly yielded the boxes, but Customs had some heartburn. Both were large boxes: one with a bicycle, lined with toys and diapers, and the other, a small (?!) P. A. system.
After unpacking both boxes for inspection, and after a great deal of discussion among themselves, the Customs officials eventually waved us and our boxes back outside. No fees/no confiscation. It was truly a God thing; had those boxes arrived with us and the rest of our baggage on time, they would never have been allowed into the country. I believe that Pastor Damián and his church members literally prayed them through Customs. There is no other explanation.
Return Home
The return to Miami on the eighth day was perfect. The flight was on time and we were waved through Customs without even showing them our Treasury License copy. We are back with a re-energized commitment to MUIP and to our sister churches in Havana.
And yes, we’d go back tomorrow.
George
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
See you in a week!
Loree and I are leaving today for a week long visit to Cuba. This is our second trip. We are traveling (legally!) on behalf of Methodists United in Prayer, a relationship between the Florida and Cuba Methodist Churches.
As we will not have access to the web, cell phones, or email, these pages will be silent for a week. We'll chat again after we return on February 11.
George
As we will not have access to the web, cell phones, or email, these pages will be silent for a week. We'll chat again after we return on February 11.
George
Monday, January 25, 2010
Why we go to Cuba
- Treasury license for the church? CHECK
- Passports? CHECK
- Cuba visas? CHECK
- Currency in Euros? CHECK
- Insurance? CHECK
- Charter flights booked? CHECK
- Letters to Customs from our pastor? CHECK
- Emergency contact info circulated? CHECK
- Cuba transportation and accommodations confirmed? CHECK
Preparing to travel to Cuba is a lot of work. We're going for a week on February 4 representing Florida Methodists with our brothers and sisters in the Cuba Methodist Church at their District Conference in Havana. Hopefully, we will get to spend some time with our friends, Pastor Damián and his wife Samira, at our sister church la Sierra. All of this is associated with "Methodists United in Prayer," celebrating Christian love between Cuba and Florida Methodist churches.
This is our second trip. The first was two years ago. A dozen of us flew to Havana. We split up once we arrived, each going to our sister churches in and around Havana. There were a lot of unknowns: would we be allowed to bring in the 200+ pounds of medicine, clothes, and items for our sister church? Would we be able to communicate with our limited Spanish? Would our visas be at the Havana airport as required? Who would pick us up? What would we do for eight days? And on and on.
A very long story made short, we were received in Cuba with tremendous love. Pastor Damián met us at the airport and arranged our transportation for the 75 km trip to la Sierra in a '56 Ford. Thus began a week that would change our lives and cement friendships which will endure a lifetime.
For our upcoming trip, we have a much better idea what to expect. We have a sense of returning home. There are still questions of travel logistics, but we know one way or another, by God's grace, we'll get by.
We go to Cuba to help other people, strangers a couple of years ago, friends today. We got to share our faith with other Christians. We go because it is the right thing to do. In many small ways, we touch others' lives. And in many big ways, they touch ours.
George
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Washington, are you listening?
The Dems lost a seat they'd held for what, fifty or sixty years? And Clinton, widow Kennedy, and Obama all capaigned for the Democrat candidate? And the winner came from nowhere in a beat up pickup?
Washington, are you listening? Ignore the message at your peril. Virginia, New Jersey, now Massachusetts. November is just around the corner. News flash: the problem wasn't your candidate.
George
Washington, are you listening? Ignore the message at your peril. Virginia, New Jersey, now Massachusetts. November is just around the corner. News flash: the problem wasn't your candidate.
George
Monday, January 11, 2010
Road Trip
Shannon turned 17 on Saturday (in Connecticut). Her birthday present was sitting in my garage in Florida. The need to get the car from south to north happened to coincide with a couple of business meetings en route. So Tuesday afternoon I turned right onto I-95, set the cruise control, and the odyssey began.
I overnighted south of Richmond, got up early Wednesday morning, and headed to Charlottesville (where we operate six fabulous radio stations). I had a productive day at the office. Late afternoon, it was onto I-64 headed west and enjoying a great sunset from the Blue Ridge Mountains. I stopped at a roadside park for an hour to complete a conference call. The goal was to get to Morgantown, WV where I had lunch plans the next day. Not sure about the weather, I decided (in consultation with Loree) to take the interstates and not cut through the shortcut over the mountains.
In spite of the good decision to stay on the major highways, the final leg of that night's journey turned into an E-ticket ride.
Heading west, about Cumberland, MD, as the hills became even taller, the first snowflakes appeared. West of Cumberland, the snow picked up and it was very dark and desolate.
By the WV/MD line, I was big time in the mountains and in the middle of blowing, freezing fog. Now freezing fog is a real treat, and a totally new experience for this Floridian. No matter how hard your defroster blows, the fog hits your front windshield and turns to ice. Suddenly. Worse, I had Florida windshield washer fluid which apparently has no anti-freeze characteristics.
So as my windshield froze up to where I could no longer see to drive, I pulled off into a rest area. So here's the picture. It is now midnight. I'm on top of a mountain. 19 degrees. Blowing, freezing fog. Roads becoming treacherous. And I'm only thirty miles or so from the safety and warmth of my motel room.
Prepared to spend the night (and maybe the week) in the rest area shelter, I got some local knowledge of the roads and weather from the attendant. Neither sounded promising.
After an hour and a half of pondering my plight, it appeared that the freezing fog had let up (though the road had gotten worse). I crept down the hill at 20 miles per hour and eventually got to my motel.
I enjoyed seeing Morgantown (my first visit). It is home to the University of West Virginia and there is a lot going on there.
Thursday night, I arrived Greenwich, CT uneventfully. Hopped Metro North into the City Friday morning, had a nice lunch at Michael's on West 55th, caught the train back to Greenwich for a late afternoon meeting, then headed to Ridgefield to celebrate Shannon's birthday.
I think she was truly excited to get her first car. We had a great visit, including catching up with her cousins, Tom and James, and her friend Sarah. Finding the hotel after the party proved to be a challenge, but Loree vectored me in via phone.
6:30am flight out of Westchester headed south. I am writing this on the first leg (HPN-CLT). It is amazing how much snow is on the ground. It is pure white outside.
Road trip over. Mission accomplished. Over 1,500 miles up (and over a thousand air miles back). Could use a little R & R.
George
I overnighted south of Richmond, got up early Wednesday morning, and headed to Charlottesville (where we operate six fabulous radio stations). I had a productive day at the office. Late afternoon, it was onto I-64 headed west and enjoying a great sunset from the Blue Ridge Mountains. I stopped at a roadside park for an hour to complete a conference call. The goal was to get to Morgantown, WV where I had lunch plans the next day. Not sure about the weather, I decided (in consultation with Loree) to take the interstates and not cut through the shortcut over the mountains.
In spite of the good decision to stay on the major highways, the final leg of that night's journey turned into an E-ticket ride.
Heading west, about Cumberland, MD, as the hills became even taller, the first snowflakes appeared. West of Cumberland, the snow picked up and it was very dark and desolate.
By the WV/MD line, I was big time in the mountains and in the middle of blowing, freezing fog. Now freezing fog is a real treat, and a totally new experience for this Floridian. No matter how hard your defroster blows, the fog hits your front windshield and turns to ice. Suddenly. Worse, I had Florida windshield washer fluid which apparently has no anti-freeze characteristics.
So as my windshield froze up to where I could no longer see to drive, I pulled off into a rest area. So here's the picture. It is now midnight. I'm on top of a mountain. 19 degrees. Blowing, freezing fog. Roads becoming treacherous. And I'm only thirty miles or so from the safety and warmth of my motel room.
Prepared to spend the night (and maybe the week) in the rest area shelter, I got some local knowledge of the roads and weather from the attendant. Neither sounded promising.
After an hour and a half of pondering my plight, it appeared that the freezing fog had let up (though the road had gotten worse). I crept down the hill at 20 miles per hour and eventually got to my motel.
I enjoyed seeing Morgantown (my first visit). It is home to the University of West Virginia and there is a lot going on there.
Thursday night, I arrived Greenwich, CT uneventfully. Hopped Metro North into the City Friday morning, had a nice lunch at Michael's on West 55th, caught the train back to Greenwich for a late afternoon meeting, then headed to Ridgefield to celebrate Shannon's birthday.
I think she was truly excited to get her first car. We had a great visit, including catching up with her cousins, Tom and James, and her friend Sarah. Finding the hotel after the party proved to be a challenge, but Loree vectored me in via phone.
6:30am flight out of Westchester headed south. I am writing this on the first leg (HPN-CLT). It is amazing how much snow is on the ground. It is pure white outside.
Road trip over. Mission accomplished. Over 1,500 miles up (and over a thousand air miles back). Could use a little R & R.
George
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Elon University: 2009 in Pictures
Megan is a junior at Elon University in North Carolina. It is a fabulous school. She just returned a few weeks ago from a semester in Florence, Italy.
The Daily Beast has named Elon one of the decade's hottest colleges. The list of 15 colleges and universities ranks schools that make up a "whole new class of first-choice schools" that have "transformed the collegiate landscape" during the past 10 years.
Here is Elon's 2009 in pictures: Click Here
George
The Daily Beast has named Elon one of the decade's hottest colleges. The list of 15 colleges and universities ranks schools that make up a "whole new class of first-choice schools" that have "transformed the collegiate landscape" during the past 10 years.
Here is Elon's 2009 in pictures: Click Here
George
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Handbook 2010
This came to me this week in an email from family friends Leon and Nancy Wallace in Mineral Wells, TX (thanks!). I'm not sure who authored it, but I like it.
HANDBOOK 2010
Health:
1. Drink plenty of water.
2.. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants...
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy.
5. Make time to pray.
6. Play more games.
7. Read more books than you did in 2009.
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
9. Sleep for 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minute walk daily. And while you walk, smile.
Personality:
11. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12 Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13. Don't over do. Keep your limits. (Note: this is contrary to my position of, "If it is worth doing, it is worth over-doing!")
14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake.
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
Society:
25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything.
28. Spend time w/ people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
Life:
32. Do the right thing!
33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
34. God heals everything.
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change..
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up..
37. The best is yet to come.
38. When you awake alive in the morning, be thankful for it.
39. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.
Last but not the least:
40. Please Forward this to everyone you care about, I just did.
George
HANDBOOK 2010
Health:
1. Drink plenty of water.
2.. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants...
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy.
5. Make time to pray.
6. Play more games.
7. Read more books than you did in 2009.
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
9. Sleep for 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minute walk daily. And while you walk, smile.
Personality:
11. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12 Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13. Don't over do. Keep your limits. (Note: this is contrary to my position of, "If it is worth doing, it is worth over-doing!")
14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake.
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
Society:
25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything.
28. Spend time w/ people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
Life:
32. Do the right thing!
33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
34. God heals everything.
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change..
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up..
37. The best is yet to come.
38. When you awake alive in the morning, be thankful for it.
39. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.
Last but not the least:
40. Please Forward this to everyone you care about, I just did.
George
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Check out Dori Schaffield's video about PVUMC
PVUMC member Dori Schaffield produced a great video of the story of Ponte Vedra United Methodist Church's journey from an office building to a school cafeteria to our new building on Roscoe Road. Check it out here:
Dori's video
George
Dori's video
George
Monday, January 4, 2010
WSJ: A Cheat Sheet for Keeping Resolutions
Here is a great piece from the Wall Street Journal on keeping your New Year resolutions.
Click Here for the article.
George
- Take one step at a time
- Get a little help from your friends
- Change your environment
- Announce your intentions
- Figure out your attachment to bad habits
- Expect setbacks
Click Here for the article.
George
What is it about dolphins?
We live on the IntraCoastal Waterway in an area of Ponte Vedra known as Palm Valley. I spend a lot of time on the porch; it is a very peaceful venue with lots of boat traffic to keep it interesting. Occasionally, we are treated to dolphins swimming by, usually in pairs. Often we hear them before we can actually see them (breathing out a puff of air and spray). Willee, our dog, can hear them coming a long time before we can. He doesn't share my fondness for the creatures.
Every time a dolphin swims by, it brings a smile to my face. Is it me, or do dolphins look like they're always smiling? There is just something special about the experience.
A dolphin siting seems to set the stage for a great day.
George
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Benjamin Franklin quote
"Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man."
Benjamin Franklin
Politician, inventor and author
Benjamin Franklin
Politician, inventor and author
Mercedes doubles up in Formula One; Michael returns
Formula One is a huge sport world wide. I believe that it will grow here, particularly with a U.S. team in the works. It is great fun to watch.
Click Here for a Wall Street Journal article on Mercedes' increased involvement and the return of Michael Schumacher to the sport.
George
Click Here for a Wall Street Journal article on Mercedes' increased involvement and the return of Michael Schumacher to the sport.
George
Janet Napolitano Gotta Go
The system worked (Sunday). The system didn't work (Monday). They're like the Keystone Cops. Only problem is, they're playing with our lives.
The bad guys are not criminals. They are armed combatants. They intend to kill us.
From Twitter (@martindave):
No one yet fired in the underwear bomber mess. POTUS should punish the bad actors, imposing, at least, some kind of double-secret probation.
Dave Martin
The bad guys are not criminals. They are armed combatants. They intend to kill us.
From Twitter (@martindave):
No one yet fired in the underwear bomber mess. POTUS should punish the bad actors, imposing, at least, some kind of double-secret probation.
Dave Martin
Saturday, January 2, 2010
A church finds me
I moved from Atlanta to Ponte Vedra in 1987, and belonged to an Atlanta Methodist church at the time. With the best of intentions of finding a new church home, I got busy with my new job and life in general and never seemed to find time to identify a new church. Time marched on; still no church attendance. Fifteen years passed in the blink of an eye.
One day, I noticed the Methodist church logo on a sign visible from my bank's parking lot. The seed was planted. After a few weeks of "I really should check it out" thoughts, I showed up one Sunday morning in the office building, sharing space with a dentist's office, for services at Ponte Vedra United Methodist Church.
The congregation greeted me warmly; the pastor, Jeff Bennett was warm and engaging. I could relate to him. Jeff is several years younger than me. His path to the ministry occurred after a successful career as an engineer. He heard the call, enrolled in Emory University's seminary, and became a Methodist pastor. PVUMC became his church when it was formed as a south campus for Beaches United Methodist Church.
After attending regularly for some months, I joined the church. Loree began attending with me and joined a few months later. Both of us found what we needed (but previously hadn't realized that it was missing). We met a number of wonderful people.
We started becoming more active in the church's activities. I joined a small group (we're big on small groups in our church). Loree became one of the original volunteers for Hart Felt Ministries. The church began a multi-year campaign to find land to construct a building. Once the land was identified (and ultimately purchased), we moved into a grade school cafeteria for Sunday services to save money (the office building rent was expensive). Every Sunday, volunteers would set up a church in the morning only to tear it down again in the afternoon. That went on a couple of years.
Finally, the new church was completed (see picture above) and we moved in just in time for Christmas. I am happy to report that we have already had a big jump in attendance as members of our community stop by to check us out.
In the meantime, we have become very involved with the Methodist Florida Conference's Cuba mission. The Methodist Church in Cuba coordinates with the Florida churches so that every Methodist church in Cuba has a sister church in Florida. Our involvement started when we visited our sister church, La Sierra, near Havana in December 2007. It was a life changing event for both Loree and me. We were embraced by the people of the church, and became life long friends with its pastor and his wife. We are committed to helping them in any way we can. We have since become North East District Co-Coordinators for the mission.
If you're unconnected to a local church and feel that there is something missing in your life, don't ignore it. Stop into an inviting church one Sunday morning soon. And if you're in the Ponte Vedra area, please check us out (76 South Roscoe Blvd).
One day, I noticed the Methodist church logo on a sign visible from my bank's parking lot. The seed was planted. After a few weeks of "I really should check it out" thoughts, I showed up one Sunday morning in the office building, sharing space with a dentist's office, for services at Ponte Vedra United Methodist Church.
The congregation greeted me warmly; the pastor, Jeff Bennett was warm and engaging. I could relate to him. Jeff is several years younger than me. His path to the ministry occurred after a successful career as an engineer. He heard the call, enrolled in Emory University's seminary, and became a Methodist pastor. PVUMC became his church when it was formed as a south campus for Beaches United Methodist Church.
After attending regularly for some months, I joined the church. Loree began attending with me and joined a few months later. Both of us found what we needed (but previously hadn't realized that it was missing). We met a number of wonderful people.
We started becoming more active in the church's activities. I joined a small group (we're big on small groups in our church). Loree became one of the original volunteers for Hart Felt Ministries. The church began a multi-year campaign to find land to construct a building. Once the land was identified (and ultimately purchased), we moved into a grade school cafeteria for Sunday services to save money (the office building rent was expensive). Every Sunday, volunteers would set up a church in the morning only to tear it down again in the afternoon. That went on a couple of years.
Finally, the new church was completed (see picture above) and we moved in just in time for Christmas. I am happy to report that we have already had a big jump in attendance as members of our community stop by to check us out.
In the meantime, we have become very involved with the Methodist Florida Conference's Cuba mission. The Methodist Church in Cuba coordinates with the Florida churches so that every Methodist church in Cuba has a sister church in Florida. Our involvement started when we visited our sister church, La Sierra, near Havana in December 2007. It was a life changing event for both Loree and me. We were embraced by the people of the church, and became life long friends with its pastor and his wife. We are committed to helping them in any way we can. We have since become North East District Co-Coordinators for the mission.
If you're unconnected to a local church and feel that there is something missing in your life, don't ignore it. Stop into an inviting church one Sunday morning soon. And if you're in the Ponte Vedra area, please check us out (76 South Roscoe Blvd).
George
Friday, January 1, 2010
Here we go!
So what do you write as your first post in a new blog? I've decided on the subject of "expectations," specifically mine for "A Bright Dawn Ahead."
First, a word about the title. It is a phrase used in 1994 by Ronald Reagan when he announced his Alzheimer's affliction to the world:
"I now begin the journey that will lead me into the sunset of my life. I know that for America there will always be a bright dawn ahead."
"A Bright Dawn Ahead" captures my outlook for our future. However, there is work to be done. In particular, our country is careening in a direction which could prove disastrous. President Obama is charismatic and a fabulous orator. But we elected a Rock Star when we should have chosen a leader. Where is Ronald Reagan when we really need him? Where is John Galt?
In these pages, I want to discuss:
What the teacher's union has done to public schools
- How the bailouts and deficit spending could crush our future
- What liberalism has done to just about everything
- How the ideas in "Atlas Shrugged" can save the country
- How the word of Jesus Christ can save our souls
- How we can assist the Methodist Church in Cuba
- Using Mind Mapping to foster creative solutions
- Using social media for social good
- Thoughts from great thinkers
- Music (creating it, listening to it, discovering new talent)
- Art
- Enjoying wine
- Bonsai
- Learning languages
- Family
- Sending Senator Bill Nelson packing (his vote on health care was the last straw)
- Tea parties and the Conservative movement
- Formula One racing
How's that for a hodge podge of topics? Unlike my other (business oriented) blogs, I want this one to foster conversations and ideas on a wide variety of interesting topics. That is my only expectation. I invite you to sign up and participate regularly. Opposing views are encouraged, but please keep it civil.
Let's chat!
George
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
Posts
