Au Revoir

Till we meet again

Goodbye good readers in blogger land! I will be heading out at 6 a.m. in the morning which is now less than six hours away. After a 12-hour drive I will arrive home to Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. Did I mention I'm Prince Charming? I will leave it to others to cover Saturday night's service as well as the Sunday services.

See you in Tampa in 2007!


More hall fellowship, which was as light as I ever remember seeing it at a GC.



Bro. Steve Willoughby preaching the Saturday evening service:



Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

Liz here...

So sorry Denelle, I live closer than you do.

I'm a-goin' to Beulah Land GC tonight, leaving in about 4 hours. We live a mere 2 hours from downtown Columbus.

Crisis o' the day
I don't know what to wear! Pink or black. Black or pink. Pink and black? Black with something because my favorite $4 heels are black, and my favorite purse. Which will be substituting tonight as our multimedia case, containing my cell phone, my husband's fancy schmancy Palm, my digital camera, and extry batteries.

Although ...
I do have a large-ish pink towel I could accessorize with. Seems to be all the rage these days.

Do I need to have a nametag to be a "Hall Minister?"


Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

Random GC--Ellie Neumann (ex-AIM er)

Friday Night Service

(WARNING: the following is personal opinion)
Um, I think I would have to put last nite's sermon in the "Lot of hype, not a lot of substance" category. The key verse that was used was Acts 1:3. . . "to whom he showed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs......" This verse was used to talk about not losing our passion for the gospel, which is a legitimate concept. However, this particular verse using the word "passion" refers simply to the death of Jesus. You know, His passion. (You might have seen the movie)

Anyway, moving on......the highlight of the service was undoubtedly the testimony of the deaf and mute home missions Kansas pastor. He felt called to a small city of 30,000 people. He questioned God how was he going to communicate the gospel to this hearing community. The Lord reminded him that his wife could be his voice. Though it was a two year hard journey, he now has a church of about 25 -60 people. This home missions pastor stood on the GC platform signing to his wife on the floor, who spoke, yea preached his words into the mike. Talk about passion! They were both on fire with the anointing of God! I have never seen anything like it, and it set the arena ablaze with excitement and praise. All 11,000 of us surged to our feet in an outpouring of worship to the greatness of our God.

The Booth Thing

I love to tour the booths at Conference. Okay, some of them are a little hokey. You know, homemade crafts and sad little decorations. All, however, are brightly colored and manned by the lovely servants of the kingdom. Though I spent several hours looking about, I still didn't see them all, as I was willingly waylaid by the faces of old friends and all the catching up that that entails. Some interesting booths were the Amish/Mennonite outreach, the men's and ladies prison ministries, some metro area focus booths, the French Quebec ministry, and don't forget the booth demonstrating the portable baptismal tank that fits in your trunk. (All AIM-ers drool over these)

This shallow blogger spent a proportionally long time at the evangelists wives booth, looking at all of the cool hair things and custom brooch feather froufrou accessories. Bought a couple of things, but could have really bought a lot. But you know how it is, this years feathers will soon be last years news.

Fashion sightings

OOOO, speaking of fashion, my hubby spotted last night's doozy. One twenty something guy was wearing a floor-length, electric blue suit coat. He was alone. Very alone. Don't try this trick at home.

Kudos go out to all the Moms here at GC who have their kids all decked out. I have seen some adorably dressed babies, toddlers, and younger children. I have stopped these moms and complimented them and their kids and have asked if I could have their various offspring, but so far no one has taken me up on it. I'm hoping I might make my offer at the perfect time when one of these weary moms is longing for a break. I think it is the perfect plan to add another bambino to my three at home in Atlanta.

Stayed up late last night in the food court at the Hyatt talking with super witty and insightful friends. We were interrupted about midnight thirty by some long-haired artistic student types wanting to film us for their cafe scene. We said no problem and then both of the males in our group began quoting lines from Shakespeare, Star Trek, and Lord of the Rings as they finally got their big break into the entertainment industry. They thought themselves very funny, and as it was very late and we were very tired, so did I.

Adios.

Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

General Thoughts About GC

It's late!

At 2:11 a.m. in the morning I'm kind of tired but we are working to keep all of our readers informed about GC in Columbus, OH. I know some of you would love to be here!

Display Area

With the display are not being right near the arena it makes for a light attendance after the evening service. However, when I was there this afternoon it was PACKED with people so there is a lot of traffic during certain times. I'll try to get some more pics of it but the lighting is real bad for cameras like mine.

Lunch with Kent Curry

I won the 90 & 9 contest for lunch with their famous editor, so at around 3 p.m. we took off to the Market Place. Just kidding about the contest, btw...

Anyway, in the course of a couple of hours we managed to solve all the problems of the UPCI. The solutions will be printed in upcoming issues of 90 & 9. I must have been scintillating conversation as Kent was yawning over and over while I talked.

Why am I still up so late?

That's a good question but in part it is because I don't have to get up early tomorrow... whoops, I mean today! My roommate, the District Youth President of the NH-VT District is sawing logs in his bed. He has to get up to attend the ABI alumni breakfast. I'll stir long enough to tell him to put the "Privacy Please" sign in the door. I'll bet, if I were a betting man, that I could go down to the lobby of the hotel right now and still find lobby fellowship going on. There are young people, who may become married couples in the future, making goo-goo eyes at each other. But since I'm out of my suit and dressed.... well, it's none of your business how I'm dressed, I'll refrain from going out of my hotel room.

Future Plans

Tomorrow I meet a friend of mine for lunch, and another friend of mine for dinner. I'll probably get some more blogging in but I may not be as prolific as I have been. Speaking of prolific, I'll be leaving early Sunday morning to make the 12-hour drive home to see Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, better known as my wife Susan, and children Helene, David, Stephen, Amy, Matthew, Noah, and Raina. Yes, they are in order of their ages. I'm Prince Charming btw...


Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

More Pics - SJC

Bro. Jerry Dillon preaching:


Arena crowd:

Something I have never seen until this year: a line of tables, with individual monitors, for people to sit at inside the arena:

Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

Moo... I need Some of That! - SJC

What was that blog title again?

Yes, you did read correctly. "Moo... I need some of that" referred to the steer that escaped the slaughter. If you want to know more you'll just have to order the DVD of Jerry Dillon's message on Friday night titled: The Passion That Brings Pentecost.

And passion he had

This was the first time I have ever heard Jerry Dillon preach and I thought he was high energy from the start but found out he was just warming up. He kicked it into overdrive as the message progressed.

Quotable quotes from Bro. Dillon's message

Speaking of weird things in this world:

"India is home to the International Museum of Toilets. The world's going to pot and it needs to be flushed."

"Who can be interested in embracing a faith who doesn't move the one who has it."

Regarding the church at Ephesus that had left its first love: "It doesn't say lost but left. If you left something you know where to find it."

"I don't believe in regular service; it makes my engine knock. I need premium!"

"They that won't make the trip to the land of passion end up in the land of no meaning."

And many others could be given, but you'll just have to listen for yourself since this was all I copied down.

Did I say passion?

Bro. Dillion preached passionately about having a passion for God and was greatly used of God to minister to the GC. Have you ever seen someone "holy roll" while they preach? If not, get the DVD.

What about the Home Missions deaf pastor who got a dose of passion?

Guess you'll just have to get the DVD! For the record, I don't work for Media Missions...


Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

Where is Green Towel Girl? - kdc

Your crack investigative team of bloggers spent an entire day searching in vain for Pentecost's First Superhero - Green Towel Girl.

We even went so far as to stay in the Convention Center food court until 1:45 a.m. Saturday in hopes of discovering a clue, a trace, a peripheral wisp, but all remained elusive.

Our conclusion, fearful as it sounds, is that an arch nemesis has captured her and is holding her in some fierce deathtrap in the bowels of Columbus. Her only hope for survival may be Bucky, her loyal, but towelless sidekick.

Green Towel Girl, wherever you are in this time of need, our prayers are with you.

And Bucky - Good Luck!

Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

Most Interesting Skirt Award

Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to Comment!

Late Night Food Court - kdc

No one ever went broke offering late night food to Pentecostals.

The Food Court had no seats available within a 50 mile radius.

Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

Hall Fellowship - Friday Night - SJC

Pics

More hall fellowship. Remember this is all happening while service is going on; there are plenty of other people in the arena. The rather lengthy offering may have caused an increase in hall attendance but it's usually pretty active anyway. Yes, in a couple of those pics people are waiting in line to buy food. Starbucks was also doing a brisk business.

Starting with NH-VT's own District Sunday School Director, John Davis, with his wife and daughter! They are the only ones I know in this series of pictures.










Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

Lobbyists - SJC

Lobby Ministry

The lobbyists are going strong at 12:30 a.m. and consist mainly of young people. I just got in myself after hanging out with some older folks. However since I can sleep in on Saturday I will try to get some posts up in the next 45 minutes or so. I’d like to have some lobby pics for you, but I feel kind of funny walking around and snapping them. It’s easier in the arena where there are tons of people. Then I can kind of blend in…

Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

Goodnight all!!

General Conference: What is up with the hair? No, I'm serious!! What is up with the hair? I'm all for updated hairdos, I try to keep mine in style, but serious, saw a girl that all my kids could say was "wasn't she in that movie? you know, the grinch who stole Christmas?" And they weren't being mean, they were just being honest. They were right!! The 2 1/2 hour donation time... well... there's GOT to be a better way to raise money. I was considering giving it all myself to make the madness stop. Praise and worship was awesome as was the choir, but when service ends up going so long, well... I think there were more people in the hallway with me than in the arena. And all were saying the same thing, "I can't believe they tabled the TV vote." Nonetheless, nothing beats conference for checking out outfits (a lot of interesting outfits, great bronze colors for the fall, high high heels (loves it) and men's suits also looking great for the fall, two button is back, European cut, men's hair resembling women's hair). The best part of conference is as always, seeing amazing friends. Shout out to the Bucklands of Marietta, Reese and those big eyes, my favorite Hero ;), a Rose by any other name, the Mattews, etc., etc., there's too many to name, but it was grrrrrrrrrrrreat to see you all!! Most tragic to have missed: Kent & Nita Curry, and we were on a roll this year!! And now I say goodnight and head to bed, because I'm more than sleepy, and I have 40 equally sleepy choir members to make sure they make it safely home!

Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

An update--SarahK

Looks like resolutions, etc. are covered. I've been unable to make the little laptop work (despite the free internet in the room), but alas, a computer is found! Today my youth group was able to participate in the youth service in which Bro. McLaughlin preached an amazing revival message, and the GYD encouraged each of us to imagine what we can do with God's help! The Sheaves for Christ offerings were referenced, and kudos to the Pentecostals of Alexandria, my word, they gave like $82,000 in Sheaves for Christ offerings. After church we headed over to the Easton Center. What a beautiful indoor-outdoor mall! I think the kids could have spent ages there! Now the girls are all rushing about curling hair and getting ready! I think they think we're at youth conference. I've yet to run into Kent Curry as the booths are not nearby. That is the one thing about the Columbus conference area that I would love to change. Other than that, the arena and set up, as well as the beautiful city, are quite conducive to this type of conference.


Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

Comments for Resolution 6

Resolution 6 Comments

Please leave your comments in this blog entry for Resolution 6, and remember to respectfully communicate you views whatever side of the issue you're on. Also read the previous blog entry before weighing in with your comments.

Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

Resolution 6 - SJC

Resolution 6

I know many of our readers are interested in the outcome of Resolution 6, so here's some information. Some of my fellow bloggers may have some additional information to share. I'm assuming that most of you are aware of what Resolution 6 is about so I will not cover that in this blog entry.

Resolution 6 brought out a high number of voting ministers for the Friday session. Right from the start this resolution was handled professionally, with courtesy, and with prayer, by the Chair, Rev. Kenneth Haney, General Superintendent of the UPCI.

Motion

Bro. Ron Mullings, District Superintendent of the Western District was the first to speak. He offered a motion that would refer Resolution 6 to a committee so that a study could be made on how this resolution would affect our fellowship as a whole.

Amendment

Bro. Kevin Prince, from Texas, offered an amendment to the motion that would stipulate the committee be made up of equal representation from both sides of the issue. In addition, individual ministers would be polled during the year with some direct questions relating to the resolution to get an idea of where people stood, with the results being communicated in the Forward, the ministerial magazine of the UPCI. The amendment carried.

Secret Ballot

After several people spoke either for or against the motion, Bro. Haney then instructed the ushers to pass out ballots so a secret ballot could be taken on the motion, with the passed amendment. The ballots were collected and counted by the Tabulating Committee. The result was 992 for the motion and 978 against. The motion carried and Resolution 6 was sent to committee with the instructions to have a full report given at the 2007 GC in Tampa. Bro. Haney then had people stand and pray.

Here's where it gets interesting...

After all the resolutions had been heard, a motion was made to bring Resolution 6 back to the floor for reconsideration. The reason that was stated by the person bringing the motion was that an adequate assessment on how Resolution 6 might affect the UPCI would not be possible without having some test markets in which some ministers could try TV advertising.

Why was this interesting?

It is not uncommon by the end of the business meeting on Friday to be missing a lot of ministers who have already left. It was noticeably less full in the arena than it had been earlier. The possibility of Resolution 6 being revived with fewer ministers than had been in there earlier raised the possibility that the outcome could change. Since ministers who leave do so voluntarily, the issue cannot be raised that there are less people than when the original vote occurred. While there was debate going on about the current motion, cell phones must have been in great use because a noticeable group of people began to come back into the arena. After several had spoken either for or against the current motion, the question was called for. The Chair, Bro. Haney, asked for a standing vote and the motion was handily defeated. I'm not sure of the exact percentages, but a lot more stood up to defeat the current motion than to pass it.

Tampa 2007?

Whether another resolution dealing with TV advertising comes to the GC in 2007 remains to be seen; however the ministerial body of the UPCI will have a report by then on how TV advertising would affect the UPCI one way or another.

Rev. Kenneth Haney

Throughout this whole resolution, Bro. Haney conducted the business, and himself, admirably and with a Christ-like spirit, and there was a strong show of support from the ministers who were gathered as to how Resolution 6, and the rest of the business in general, was handled.

Comments

Since this resolution has generated a lot of passion on either side of the issue I am going to post a "Resolution 6 Comment Blog" for those of you who would like to weigh in. You're welcome to state your opinion one way or the other, but please do so respectfully and engage the issues rather than use sarcasm or some other negative way of communicating. Thank you, in advance, for helping to keep this "Live GC 2006" blog a fun place to visit. As always, you're welcome to write a letter to the editor at 90 & 9 if you would like more space to state your views. Or, you can write an article and submit it for consideration for publishing!


Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

Intro-Ellie Neumann the "ex AIM-er"

I posted last night, I mean, earlier this morning. However, I didn't introduce myself properly. My name is Eleanore Anne Neumann-- my friends call me Ellie. I used to be Ellie Turner in Bible School and Quizzing, but I married the ever humorous Bob Neumann some fifteen years ago and now I'm simply Ellie Neumann. Umm, I am the full-time mom of three incredible kids, part-time interior decorator, some-time contributor for 90&9, and did I mention an ex-AIMer from the former Soviet country of Latvia.

Being female and a very visual person (see decorator thing), I am sure I will be regaling you with more fashion stuff than most guys, at least, would ever want to know. I have been labeled blogger #4, but maybe I should just be called "the shallow blogger".

I wish you could be here with us. I look forward to a day of old friends, new duds, and worshipping with Gods favorite people. (-:

Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

Carnal vs. Spiritual - EN

The thing that always strikes me at these big church gatherings is the simultaneous and warring presence of the carnal nature and the spiritual nature. I mean, hear I am, at the General Conference of the United Pentecostal Church--a most noble collection of the servants of God, where our collective praise and prayer ushers in such a powerful move of the Holy Spirit. Yet, even whilst we pray, we scan the arena for familiar faces, evaluate the outfit of the sister walking by, take note of the more powerful among us, and think about our own physical comforts (or discomforts). (Maybe I will muse more about this later)

Tonight we arrived late to the evening service, as we had spent more time on the road than anticipated. Luckily, some friends had saved us seats though we had to parade almost to the smack dab front to get to them. Bro. Haney had already started preaching and as he talked about the call of God on our lives, I felt that sweet anointing work in my heart. As he ended, the praise worshipers sang that old hymn, "I surrenderAll" and then, "Take me back, take me back, oh Lord". As a just returned AIMer, I got to sit in the Missionary section among the great people of God. If anybody had surrendered all, it was these folks. But all around me, they were praying with fervor. I guess they have learned the secret that surrendering is a continual process, not a one time thing.

By the way, I went to http://www.hotwire.com and got a great room with sitting area at Amerisuites for 50 bucks a night. I mean the room has strong paint fumes and not that great lighting, but it's a pretty nice room for $50.00.

Brief fashion update: I haven't seen anything bizarre yet. One guy was wearing a pink sweater vest under his suit jacket-I guess it looked okay. A lot of girls are still braving the really high heels despite the huge amount of walking you have to do. (Okay, I admit to it, but only tonight....they were just that perfect pair. I hid my ballet flats in my commodious purse and slipped them on for the long walk back to the car at the end of the festivities.)

Tomorrow, I plan to do the booths. I'll keep you posted.



Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

Hall Fellowship - SJC

Otherwise known as "Hall Ministry."

As anyone who has been to a GC can attest to, there is a thriving hall ministry of fellowship all through the night services in the arena.







Bro. Haney had a great message Thursday night which I will talk more about on Friday… Wait a minute, this is Friday! Your dedicated blogger, who was already tired to begin with, and who stayed up late to bring you fresh content, (martyr complex) has to get up at 7:30 a.m. and it is past 12:30 so I’m signing off for the night. I know some of you are playing the world’s smallest violin for me… It was Albert Einstein who claimed he needed 10 hours of sleep per day, and if it was good enough for Einstein it’s good enough for me.


Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

Lunch Anyone?

Columbus has the coolest downtown market that features ethnic food (Indian, Greek, Pan-Asian, Italian), bakeries, delis, card shops, a produce section and who knows what else. Plus, it's only a block from the convention center. Delicious, affordable food. Tres cool!

Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

A Little Advertising - SJC

Vermont - The 14th state added to the Union

Have I mentioned I'm from Vermont? If I haven't, Stu certainly has. He and his family made the trek up a few years ago just in time for some real maple syrup hot off the evaporator. He sounded a little skeptical of the Green Towel Girl sighting (as many of you may have felt) yet Kent was able to capture her on film. Stay tuned for further developments. Now that you know I'm a credible source and I really wasn't hallucinating from lack of sleep....



Anyway, only five churches in the whole state of Vermont. Anyone feel the call? New Hampshire, right next door only has five churches too. This pic is from the Home Missions Display area.


Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

Do you know this person? - SJC

Rumors

Rumor has it that the esteemed editor of 90 & 9 can be found working at a couple of different locations in the display area. Since most of you have never seen me I could be a figment of Kent's imagination. He does look younger than me although I believe he is older than I am by a little bit. If you're going to relate to the younger generation you should probably look a little bit like them. Me? Well I'll leave it to your imagination as to who I relate to.





Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

General Conference Thurs PM

The Convention Center displays are approximately 2.5 blocks from Nationwide Arena. After service, if you're hungry, you're not likely to make that trek for books and CDs and missionary surprises after the evening service. So most people didn't. Basically the booth area was lightly visited from about 7:30 p.m. forward. Makes for an easy, if slow, workload.

However, it was a joy to find good friends for long talks, be it Pastor Steve with Wife and kids in tow (Poor wife had never met me, so believed every little story I made up about him. It was great.); fellow blogger #4 with funny husband in tow; the other Pastor Steve & fellow blogger, and all those people (God bless them!), who remember me (I am wearing a name badge) & strike up a conversation while I'm scrolling through my memory banks to remember them. (A common enough experience for all of us.)

About the only oddity was seeing the Convention Center food court overflowing with people; I man, there wasn't an empty seat in the entire court! Naturally I forgot to take a picture (Doh!).

Now to spotty sleep!



Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

Pics - SJC

Kent takes better pictures than I do

Well it hasn't been a good day for pics as I am not a real photographer, and for some reason the auto-mode on my camera doesn't like the lighting in the display area. I must have deleted over half of what I took. But here are some of the remaining ones... For our Foreign Missions lovers in the audience - and we know you're there - check these out:












Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

Green Towel Girl Sighting! - kdc

Last night, Stephen Cousino was the first to report on Pentecost's first superhero - Green Towel Girl.

Then today, while I was on my way to lunch, I, too, saw her! However, by the time I got my camera out, she was already racing to prevent a crime with her sidekick Bucky.

Sadly, I only got these 2 long range shots.

So rest easy pilgrims, the rumors are true - we now have someone physically fighting the good fight for all us.

Green Towel Girl, wherever you are, our prayers are with you.

Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

Breaking News

New Sunday School Secretary

As some of you who are familiar with the inner workings of the UPCI know, this year was an election year for the various secretaries of departments as well as the General Secretary position of the UPCI.

Normally there is not a lot of change. Jerry Jones was easily reelected on the nominating ballot. What made this year slightly more interesting was that Gary Randol, the current General Sunday School Secretary, had resigned to pastor a church. This put the position wide open.

After two ballots Robbie Knox was elected to serve as the General Sunday School Secretary of the UPCI.

We wish him well in his new endeavor.

Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

SarahK Signing In

Hello all!! Right now I'm (I refers to Sarah Holland--that's me--you may remember me from past conferences such as youth congress 2005 or the very first Month in My Life blogger. I work at 90&9, teach high school for a living, go to grad school, and work as my youth department secretary, and am going to miss my boyfriend horribly the next few days... but anyway) dealing with the frustrations of taking a group of young people to a conference. Our youth choir is singing for the youth day youth service tomorrow afternoon, and we're leaving here on a large bus at 4 pm. My youth pastor is calling to let me know that with rooms that I reserved there's a problem, well, with one of them (the name that it is under) even though I called and confirmed everything last week. Young people are freaking out about their room group, and I am wondering why I don't start "having grad class" on conference days. I bet my mind will be completely different at this time tomorrow. But as of today............ The good thing is that I love conferences--seeing friends of old, hearing everyone's strong feelings about Resolution 6, long very fun bus rides, etc. I can't wait for the bus to pull out and all to be calm and on the road! I'll keep you posted!

Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

UPCI General Conference 2006 - kdc

We’re group blogging from Columbus, Ohio this week, a strange cohort more excited about slight internet notice than accumulated sleep. (We’ve done this before from Columbus and Richmond, VA). This group will feature all experienced bloggers from angles as diverse as a booth worker, a WEC staffer, a pastor, two posting for the 24 hours (or less) they’ll be here, & an ex-AIMer.

But What About Me?
I arrived Tuesday (Sept 26th) morning for roughly 8 hours of meetings (awww!) with Word Aflame Publications, spotty sleep (SOB!), and an entire day of display setup today for PPH (Oh! The agony!)
Now I listen to Jonny Lang typing into the abyss of the Crowne Plaza's spastic wireless service (my laptop just informed me I’m now stealing the Hyatt’s wireless service. Hmmm. They made us pay last year and we stayed in their rooms!).

News?
That said, about the only noteworthy events worth mentioning (besides running into fellow-blogger SJC and my wonderful wife arriving w/in the hour), is:

* One source said tonight’s singspiration was the best ever.

* Another source called out of the arena to say they’d better end it quick because people were leaving in droves.

* Those people who didn’t escape early were met with a torrential downpour as their reward for staying until the end.

* Columbus is a good city for UPCI-type meetings, just as it was last year for North American Youth Congress. (You knew NAYC was going to be in Charlotte, NC next year, yes?) The only problem is the booths are several blocks (again) from the arena.

* One source says that if Resolution 6 passes (allowing UPCI church to advertise on TV), every church in the Western (California) district will exit the organization, except for 12. This is the kind of Conference tidbit that circulates wildly from all sides when a controversial resolution is under consideration. Who knows how pastors will react, but that seems an extreme move to me. We’ll see though. Rez 6 will be under consideration as early as tomorrow (maybe).

And that’s it for me!

I still have to see if I can post these immortal words (Awww!) before getting some spotty sleep (SOB!) and working a hard day at the PPH display tomorrow (Oh! the inhumanity!).

Questions, comments, concerns? Please Comment!

Lobby Fellowship - SJC

True "live blogging"

Folks, this is true "live blogging" as I am sitting on the second floor lounge area looking into the lobby of the Hyatt Regency. It is currently 10:18 p.m. and people are wandering back from the music service in the arena. As this particular service is not really my thing you'll have to rely on the other bloggers for an update. Most of my music exposure comes from our local church services and once in awhile in my car when I put in a CD. I did attend a Michael Card concert earlier this year and really enjoyed it.

Lobby crowd

But anyway, back to live blogging. As those of you who have attended GC know, the lobby of the HQ's hotel fills up with people after service fellowshipping with one another. This is going on as I type. Quite a few people have walked by me heading to the restaurant only to be disappointed when they find it is closed. Now you would think that the hotel, with a major conference on their hands, would look at the opportunity to make some extra money. And if I know A/P's they would rise to the occasion. I mean lots of people have walked by me looking for this restaurant to be open.

Where oh where is the food?

There are some A/P's taking refuge in the bar lounge. Maybe there is some food available there. For the record, none are sitting at the bar. There are a few young people starting to collect, and by 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. there should be a larger collection. Local pizza deliveries should do a brisk business.

We older folks will have retired by then...

Just spoke to a preacher wandering by and apparently there are appetizer-type foods available through the bar. He is ordering and taking his food somewhere else to escape the music. Only one table of young people left in the lounge.

Live blogging and Sis. Jean Urshan

Yes, we’re talking live blogging here — get the action as it happens! It is now 10:35 p.m. and your faithful blogger is starting to fade.

Sis. Jean Urshan just came by. I honor and respect this elder stateswoman of the UPCI.

More disappointed folks finding the restaurant closed… If you sit in the lobby long enough a “who’s who” in the UPCI will eventually walk by you. In case you’re wondering, I’m not on that list.

The lobby crowd is thinning a little, but still active at 10:41 p.m.

Just got word that the restaurant is going to be open through midnight the rest of the week. They won’t be sorry…

Short posts? Not from this preacher-writer want-to-be...

This was supposed to be a short post. I sent an e-mail to Kent telling him this one would be a little one but hey, when have you ever believed a preacher who said he would be short?

I’ve seen a lot of, well let’s just say, unique fashion statements at GC by both genders, but this is one I have never seen before; a young teen girl using a large green towel as a cape for her outfit. If I only had my camera with me… but since I don’t you’ll just have to imagine it.

At 11:23 p.m. this live blogger is signing off.

Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

GC Live Blogging - Intro - SJC

It's meeeeee again!!!

Hello Everyone!

Yes, I have been invited back for another year by the famous editor of 90 & 9. This was even after I sent him a writing sample to verify my grammar and spelling skills. Kent has graciously allowed us to decide how to introduce ourselves this year. For those of you who remember last year we had a form introduction to fill out. So here goes:

"Hi, my name is Steve Cousino and I live in Vermont. I was kidnapped by space aliens when I was seven years old and sent me back to earth endued with all the wisdom of the universe. Of course no one understands me, so that's why I have been diagnosed as a schizophrenic. Anyway, I am here this week to help those of you who couldn't go to GC to be able to experience it vicariously."

My real introduction

Whoops... Let me try that again. My name really is Steve Cousino, and I wasn't kidnapped by space aliens when I was younger although some people may wonder about that. I am comfortably mature and married to a wonderful woman who has put up with me for 18 years. We have seven children so I tell people we are Pentecostal Mennonites. I pastor a church in Jericho, Vermont, where I have attended for almost 24 years and have been the pastor for slightly over seven of those years.

This is the seventh GC I have attended and this one looks like it's going to be pretty good. For those of you who remember my remarkable photography from last year I have once again brought my camera. I had a slight moment of panic as I wondered if I had the USB cable to connect and download my photos to my computer. I have an IBM T42 ThinkPad for a traveling computer and it does not have a media card reader. Any way I have located the USB cable so stay tuned for more remarkable photos. One problem is people wonder what in the world you are doing when you're snapping pictures of the Hyatt Regency lobby.

Who said GC was cheap?

I am staying at the Hyatt Regency which is one of the headquarters’ hotels and is $134.00 per night. That's in addition to $12.00/ night parking fee and $9.99/ night internet connection access. I'm not sure what the daily tax is, but I'm relatively sure it's in the double digits by the time all is said and done; good thing I'm splitting the room cost with our district youth president!

Let's be a martyr

Nothing is too great a sacrifice to bring you live GC conference blogging from the seat of the action. Actually, I would have been here anyway if I wasn't blogging, but it sounds more martyr-like if I phrase it like this. I prefer to be at the HQ's hotel since it is close to everything and I don't have to drive.

If you haven't already figured this out I am a lengthy poster, so if they suddenly get shorter I'm either extremely tired or the famous editor of 90 & 9 has kindly told me to shorten it up.

Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

Death and ...

Some inexpensive and useful education going on here.

My husband urged me to sign up for the H&R Block tax course, and this is my third week. Two 2-3 hour classes a week, homework, new school supplies and everything. It's great fun for a nerd-o like myself. I love the pencil pushing, the pressure, the quizzes.

Did I mention the new school supplies?

And how come there is always one guy in class who wants to sit next to me to try and cheat?

Quite a bit of humor in taxes.

Can you imagine going around at parties and instead of saying "How's the family?" asking "So, how are your little tax credits doing these days? A sixteen year old, huh? (slapping "Larry" on the back) Last year for that tax deduction. Better have another one to recoup the loss."

Try telling your kids you're going to withhold social security taxes from their allowance and deduct their lemonade stand costs as a business expense.

Bwahahahaaa ... ahahahaaa ... ahem.
Okay.
You didn't get it.
Just don't come knocking on my door next April 14th.

Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!