A Month in the Life

I also wanted to comment on the Home Missions service offering. Normally I skip the offering because they have gotten so long. For the record, I am not anti-giving but the offerings were pretty drawn-out and some could take up to an hour or more.

I suspect there was starting to be a backlash, and when I received a letter in the mail saying the HM offering was only going to take 25 minutes I was kind of skeptical they could even do it. A friend (who will remain unidentified) also wanted to check it out to see if they could actually do it. I know this all sounds really carnal, but I was in good company.

So when they started to take the offering, a 25-minute countdown appeared on the screen and with a mixture of recorded and live presentation, mixed with some really good humor, they really did take the offering in just 25 minutes. It was well worth being there for, even if my motives were not all that spiritual.

They even have a website called http://www.25minuteoffering.com/ for those who want to give online. I wish they’d load the video presentation on there. It would make a You Tube hit — especially the guy in the white shirt who looked capable of some pretty dry humor. Kudos to the HM Division for their innovative way of collecting an offering and keeping it short.

For those of you who are wondering about my carnality, spiritual motives, and giving habits… well, I’m going to take some of Mark Johnston’s advice and just let you wonder.

I’m not even going to try and explain Bro. Mark Johnston’s message except to say this put the final nail into the coffin of celebrity status among apostolicism, which had been dying for the last several years anyway.

It was one of those “you had to be there” messages. The next best thing would be to pick up the DVD. I’m not sure he even closed; he simply got done and people flooded to the front to pray. There was no music for the first 10-15 minutes, which in itself is remarkable.

So that’s it… Maybe someone else can explain it better than I can.

Twas the morning of Saturday,
And all through the house
Not a Pentecostal was stirring,
Not even a mouse

The products were laid
on the tables with care
in hopes that some Pentecostals
would soon be there.

Yep, we're late night believers, there's no doubt about it. This morning, on the walk to the Convention Center, I literally saw only 3 Pentecostals while I covered 6 blocks. You needn't ask how many I saw last night on the way home.

Participation at the displays this year is markedly higher, largely because both days of the minister's meetings were downstairs, and 3 major hotels are a block away or less, with the Forum about 3 blocks away, but the space between them is flat. Human nature being what it is, flat = short, so people are making the walk.

Now the big question today - will people be sticking around in Tampa or be heading to Disney World? Enquiring minds want to know...


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

Labels: GC

This is the first time I've been able to get to my computer! Since I'm on home turf (we live in Clearwater which is only 30 minutes away) I assumed I'd have a bit more leisure but it has been anything but that and now Marty and I wish we would have sprung for the hotel....oh well, my bed feels pretty good to me after a long day of practice, practice and more practice.

It all started on Wednesday when we had to be the "entertainment" for the Ladies Banquet at the Marriott. Then on Thursday for Ladies day we did the "name" song for the procession of banners. When I first got on the platform I was completely overwhelmed. The video feed monitors, the boom camera, bright lights and the echo of your voice coming back to you is CRAZY! Though I had memorized the words to my song, in rehearsal they left me completely and I had to lift Jay Rodenbush's music (Jay do you need it back?) and folded it nice and tiny so I could see the words to feed to the group. Yeah, I got a nice teasing from all my friends for that one! And the one thing I just can't get used to is the roaving camera guy. Somewhere there is footage of me with my eyes closed in worship and then a surprised look on my face when I realized the camera was RIGHT IN MY FACE! AAAAAHHHH! Can I just say that by the time the last song came there was a bit of hilarity that was overtaking as we were all starving (most of us had been there since 7:30 or so) and shaking from the cold. The platform was FREEZING because we are on the ground and since it is a Hockey stadium the ice is still frozen BELOW the flooring. We were all a wee bit tired, cold, and since I live and Florida and know how to dress for the weather (but apparently not a hockey game) I had a cotton dress on. I should have had boots on! Couple all that with the sheer magnitude of the event and you've got ladies with a slight case of the giggles. There is also footage somewhere of me having a palm branch fight with my niece Kalyx. My sister-in-law Christy Ballestero was handed a HUGE branch that looked like half a tree and we were laughing so hard watching her struggle with the giant palm tree branch to wave in adoration.

What did y'all think about the Foriegn Missions service? Tune in and watch it on the internet if it is archived yet. It was probably not only the best Foreign Missions service I've ever been to, but the best conference service I've ever been to. Gone are the mournful services that lament the sacrifice of the Foreign Missionary. This service made it a celebration with the cannons that blew confetti, the lively music, the circling golf carts, spotlights, and fanfare. These people are heroes and though they sacrifice so greatly I couldn't help but notice the joy in the missionary children's face when they announced that their way was paid to go back on the field. It was incredible!

I was glad our mass choir and music went as well as it did. I wasn't sure how the different robes would look but I was pleased at the end result. Everyone said the sound was pretty good too. Denee' Richardson put Tye Tribbet to rest with her solo on "I Want it All Back". I think after that job she did she got it all back and then some!!! My husband Marty "The Encourager" said "You did a great job Babe, but I noticed the camera pan over your face and you messed up the words to Melanie's song." *Sigh* It's not my feet that are killin' me this year, it's the WORDS!!!!

Yo! Tampa is hot and I am happy! After persistent searching, I have finally found the free wi-fi in this town! Run the highlight reel:

I personally forgot they were voting anything about TV so outraged was I about the resolution that declared that military chaplains (who must be ordained to enter the chaplaincy) would be dropped to a General license and would need to re-apply for ordination (which is supposed to be for life) upon retirement or leaving the military. I had issues with this on many levels (ethically: you're defrauding the US gov't by telling them these are ordained ministers when they wouldn't be; rationally: military chaplains are the only ordained ministers in the UPCI for which seminary is required; personally: my pops was the first UPCI military chap and endured the constant scrutiny of those who do not understand the pastoral work of a military chaplain). Anyway, I was anxious to see how this resolution would be handled (the reaction on this would actually be worthy of a split in my opinion).

So here's how it went down: Bro. Glass declared this to be the slap in the face that it was and said the author of the resolution as well as all the members of the committee who allowed it to come to the floor should offer a personal apology to each of the chaplains. The resolution was soundly defeated by a 2000-2 vote and there was much cheering. Huzzah!! I was very pleased.

My other role has been working the UGST booth. As part of this responsibility I have been "ushering" the mini-classes our intrepid faculty have endured to teach in the vicinity of the concession stand. As Cindy Miller said, "It's difficult to pour out your heart when someone's looking back at you stuffing his/her face with a hot dog!" Anyway, the reaction to these has been predominantly positive and they really have gone well. Ironically, it's preachers who have been the most rude (as well as one devil lady). Is it possible that you wouldn't walk right in front of where someone's speaking and start making a lot of noise and or attempting to distract others who are clearly engaged? Sis. Tenney had them eating out of her hand (but the concession stand wasn't open when she started). Anyway, I'd like to go into more detail but a return to the booth beckons! In any case, I know how to find the free wi-fi now!!

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

Well I wanted to upload some pictures tonight but Blogger is being difficult so you’ll have to wait. I have a bunch to post.

So instead I’ll talk about Bro. Jerry Dean’s message which was well worth listening to; excellent comes to mind. He talked about the crushing weight of eternity and all the baggage we carry around in this life. The way he used “baggage” as a metaphor was in the material things we gather through life. He also included himself in this equation. The blessing and the curse of apostolic prosperity is we can accumulate “things” but we’re going to get some baggage with them. He mentioned how people become entangled in debt to accumulate things and he’s noticed this trend among a lot of apostolics. The baggage translates into the cares of this life.

He talked about the Bible being a book about redemption and how it didn’t cost anything for God to create the stars and the universe, but redemption cost Him something. We need to be more concerned about souls than about the things we accumulate and entangle us in this life.

Bro. Dean also talked about space and zero gravity. He said he’d like to know what zero gravity in the heart felt like. In other words, he said he wants to know what it feels like not to feel the pull of the world in his heart.

He made it clear he was not against people being blessed with prosperity but that it could also be a two-edged sword in that we can easily become distracted from the mission of redemption.

There is a lot more I could say, but click on the link to listen to it or order a DVD from Media Missions.

I thought I’d clarify a little bit on the earlier post. The amendment brought by Bro. Mark Jordan would have effectively eliminated most of the ambiguity about just what constitutes an advertisement. Since this amendment failed the ambiguity still exists. Is advertising a 30-second slot in-between shows, or is it a 30-minute broadcast of a church service “advertising” someone’s church, or is it something between these two extremes? Lacking a firm definition of “advertising” is going to allow some subjectivity. The resolution did not specifically allow for ministry on TV (televised services) but neither did it define what an advertisement consists of.

No one walked out of the meeting (from my vantage point) and overall there was a good spirit of unity in the sense that ministers will live with the decision either way and still continue to be a part of the UPCI. The fact that the vote was pretty close says it could have swung either way disappointing one side or the other. I believe the spread at the Salt Lake City conference was around 300 votes when the resolution on TV advertising was defeated in 2005.

Bro. Haney did a fantastic job of moderating the meeting, and regardless of where one stands on this issue I think it can be said that is was handled fairly, diplomatically, and with a great concern that we remain unified whatever way the resolution went.

It has been reported that Resolution IV has passed. This resolution allows TV advertising and services may be televised.

Though an amendment to just allow advertising was shot down earlier.

Totals were:
1065 For
984 Against

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

I really should be doing some home work but my motivation level at 11:40 p.m. is not that high. So instead I’ll procrastinate (which I’m really good at) and give you some general impressions of GC so far. I still haven’t taken any pics but I’ll try and get some Friday afternoon. The fashions look about the same to me, but hey, what do I know? I’m one of the least fashion conscious people you’ll ever meet. I had a suit on today and I asked a fashion-conscious friend what he thought and his reply is, “It works for you.” I told him it was a diplomatic way of saying I looked kind of frumpy. Oh well, what do you expect from a guy who gets his suits at J.C. Penny on sale?

The display area looks good and was pretty crowded this afternoon; being right above the minister’s business meeting helped too. Our dear editor of 90 & 9 informed me it was so busy he didn’t even get to take a break today!

There are four elevators at the Embassy Suites where I am staying and you can grow old and die waiting for them during the busy times. I would take the stairs, but being on the 15th floor makes it more daunting than being on the fourth floor.

Bro. Haney preached a wonderful message which I would encourage everyone to view. If you’re expecting deep theological insight you’ll be disappointed. I’m sure Bro. Haney is capable of that but a GC message from the General Superintendent is going to be about who we are as apostolics. I’m not sure he ever gave his message a title but he preached on “Getting Beside Yourself.” In other words, just get a little bit (or a whole lot) crazy for Jesus. I know I have said to our church when people come in I want them to have one of two reactions: “These people are nuts!” or, “This is the greatest thing I have ever found in my life.” I have learned you’ll never please everyone and you can go crazy trying. Anyway, it’s a worthwhile message for anyone to hear and it will help you to reaffirm why you are an apostolic.

I spoke with an employee of the arena and he said there were between 8-9 thousand people in there tonight. He said the arena will hold 19,000 people. I asked him what he thought of all of this. He said they were some of the nicest people he has ever met and he was very impressed. He made an interesting comment after one man walked by us without a suit jacket on. He mentioned this was the first man he had seen without a suit jacket, and he had actually been noticing all the men wearing them.

Well since this post has gone on long enough (I’m famous for those long posts), I’ll sign-off for now.

It's Daryle Williams, Youth President of Florida. He's very bright, loves God, and is worth getting to know if you haven't met him. (I have a feeling he's about to become very popular.)

Blogger is playing tricks on us & we can't post a picture. Check out a family picture w/his wife Lynita and kids!

Labels: GC

While downtown Tampa has a serious dearth of eating establishments that stay open past 5 p.m. (it's basically a 6 block walk from the Convention Ctr to stumble into ... Quizno's! or almost a mile from the Forum to a cluster of restaurants spearheaded by Hooters).

If Only I Had a Camera!
As we left the delicious Thai restaurant & returned to our hotels, there stood one of those Hooters waitresses smiling, holding the door open, & in the chairs just outside the doors (as if awaiting a table) were 3 old Pentecostal Jamaican women, completely modest & in no mood to be told those chairs were for future customers.

For the record, all those restaurants seemed packed, but not Hooters.

Speaking of Packed . . .
We have many more people here than last year. The convenience of 3 hotels being (basically) between the St. Pete Forum and the Tampa Convention Center (which are just 2-3 short flat blocks apart) created a huge influx of visitors in the display area. It was also a big help that the ministerial meeting was on the ground floor, directly below the booths.

Of course there's much speculation about the TV vote & I gather, from much of the chatter at my end of the world, that something (advertising) will pass tomorrow. Many believe Bro. Haney will mention something in his address tonight.

PMA
Due to display set-up fatigue, I wasn't able to attend the Pentecostal Music Association's (PMA), but heard it was greatly improved over previous years. Plus, I heard specifically that the winners from the North American Youth Congress contest did well.

LINKS
Want to watch streamed services - go here!

Want to see pictures from specific services - go here!

Labels: GC

Due to the vacancy of the Secretary position created by Shay Mann, below are the results for the first round of voting for General Youth Secretary:

Here are the results for the first round of voting:

Joel Urshan - 640
Darryl Williams - 165
Greg Bowman - 55

Once the voting results were announced, Joel Urshan withdrew his name and ballots were passed out for the second round of voting.

Politics and Suspense at General Conference!
Now, here is the kicker, they have determined who the next General Youth Secretary is; however, they are not going to announce it until tonight's service.

Oh well, we tried!

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

The New General Youth Division President
And the winner is......Shay Mann

The Next Step
Because of Shay moving up as General Youth President, that will leave the General Secretary Position open. They will now be voting on this position and as soon as can, we will publish the results!

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

Well, while ya'll are at conference having fun I'm still at home having to go to school. I would much rather be at conference but this is college life I suppose. I've come to find that when you're in college you have to learn to sacrifice a lot and learn disipline, two things that are not my strong suit.
You have to sacrifice time, friends, sleep...three things that I love and that are not easy to give up. Discipline, oh Lord help me and let's leave it at that. I guess that when you learn sacrifice and discipline now though, when you get out of college it will help you not just with a career but life in general.
This is my last day to blog, I know that I wasn't very consistent with this and for that I am sorry.
To the ones at conference...try not to have too much fun.
To every one else...try to find some fun!!!
~God Bless~

Reliable rumor has it that a basic Starbucks coffee costs a dollar more at the Marriott than it does at the Embassy Suites.

Does anyone besides me actually drink basic coffee from Starbucks? Most people get something like a double skinny mocha venti latte with extra whipped cream (since it's a skinny) or some kind of double caramel white chocolate (skinny of course) frappachino. As you who like to pay over $3 for one of these creations can tell, I really don’t k now what I’m talking about. I usually get a tall coffee, no room for cream. On rough days I might get a medium, whatever that translates to in Starbuckese.

I’ll get my basic coffee at the Embassy where it’s a dollar cheaper.

Well I'm back for another year by popular demand. Ok, so Kent couldn't find too many other people to do it. Yeah, that's more like it!

Anyway, I left Vermont with two of my daughters at 7 a.m. this morning and arrived in Atlanta around 9:30 a.m. It's interesting to see apostolics converging in an airport and we had several on our flight. After about four gate changes we finally got into the air around 12:15 p.m. and arrived in Tampa safe and sound.


We are staying in the Embassy Suites which is right next door to the plush Marriott. I usually go for the HQ hotel but couldn't get the room I wanted last January so I had to settle for the Embassy. It's actually pretty nice and it connects directly to the convention center where the displays are which is a big positive (it also has running water and the security is pretty good). I have the A/C cranked since I'm from Vermont and not used to Tampa heat.

After subsisting on airline crackers, wafers, and peanuts (and raiding my daughters' french fries in the airport, I finally got something decent to eat. One of the drawbacks is the eateries (except for those associated with the hotels) are a good 3/4 mile away. But then, this works to my advantage since I need the exercise. You can take a trolley for around $2 ($4 for a day pass) but that's for the faint of heart!

I'm not sure how often I'll be posting since I have two online classes to keep up with while I'm here (and possibly a third one — I don't dare look). That's in addition to the usual conference activities.

For those of you who are familiar with my famous photography I have a camera with me and I'll snap some shots later tomorrow. I usually feel funny taking pictures of people I don't know since I wonder, if they wonder, if I'm some kind of apostolic weirdo.

This is my daughters' first GC experience. I had to wait until one got old enough to be left on her own while I attend meetings. I outfitted her with a Trac phone and 400 minutes. She is currently at the Wednesday music thingy (which I never go to — sorry for those of you who wanted a report; you'll have to depend on someone else for that) while her younger sister has been riding the elevators, hanging out in the lobby, and finally got bored and is now taking a bath.

See you tomorrow!

Yes, I am the wife left at home - Kent's wife that is and I have the utmost important job of ..... drumroll ..... letting readers know the results of tomorrow's voting. So tomorrow, while he is enjoying sandy beaches, skyrise hotels, and hobnobbing with Pentecost's elite, I will be home cleaning out the garage and waiting for "the call."




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

Labels: GC

Meetings, meetings, and more meetings were the order of the day. I haven't heard of any earth-shattering revelations (which is the usual), but if I do, will report accordingly.

It's warm (80s F) and humid, though today was better than yesterday.

Oh, and there's a reason the Marriott is the primary Headquarters Hotel. Extremely plush.

Finally, if you were unaware, Collideoscope has been sharing special GC events over the past week. Scan their posts for the unusual and unexpected.

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

Labels: GC, General Conferene Tampa