First Day at Portage FMC!

While this picture looks like the typical rectangular auditorium - it isn't. It's actually kind of square and a nice stage - a beautiful place.
I can't wait until it's filled with people. A building is nice - but one filled with image bearers of God is more than amazing! Tomorrow morning! BooYah!
Tomorrow I officially begin my ministry in Portage. I'll be preaching on the concept of story. Specifically: Stories worth telling. Here's the point: Your story is worth telling, because it reveals the grace of God.
Hey - you have a story - but it's really not about you. It's about God - and that just takes a little bit of looking. So look for God at work in your life - he's there!
I'm thankful he has been in my life - first wooing me towards him, and then filling and using me.
Thanks God!

The House We're Aiming At...

House?

Hey - we sold our home!

Yay to God! We accepted an offer, (Thanks Dan - you put the "Dan" back into "Danberry!") on a Thursday and closed two weeks and one day later! Wow!

And then, we went house-hunting in Portage. While we've been doing internet searches like crazy, this was our first day to actually go inside these homes.

Clarence - YOU ROCK! - took us through 11 of our favorite homes last Monday.

We came back on Wednesday to tour this one again.

I ran to see Greg at Bank of America and got my pre-approval for the loan and we made an offer on this house Wednesday evening.

So now, we're waiting.

Pray with us, won't you? We think this will be a fantastic ministry home and a wonderful place for our kids. Plus, Mary and I like it alot!

Portage!

Well, it's nearly time to hit the road!
This Sunday, Mary and the kids and I wrap up three wonderful years of ministry to the community surrounding Ottawa Lake, Michigan.
CrossRoads Community Church has been a blast!

Quick reflection says that I provided CrossRoads with some things they needed, and while here, I learned a whole lot too!

So, we're packing boxes and hitting the road for the awesome community in Kalamazoo County, Michigan. Specifically, our assignment is the Portage Free Methodist Church. We're very excited about the future. While our hearts break over leaving our friends at CrossRoads - we're excited about what God has in store!

So, here's Mary outside my new office building! Soon, these will be my new digs!

Married to My Hero

Mary.
She battled cancer with confidence and grace.
She prayed and believed.
And she won!
And the Relay for Life people found out and invited her to speak in the opening ceremonies at the Relay in Bedford last weekend.
Awesome!
Great words, Mary. And you surprised me with nice words about me - thanks! Yet another reason to love you!
God is good!

Three Thousand and Counting

Way to go CrossRoads! Our team (Going, Going, Gone!) raised over 3 grand for cancer research. Together, we are helping the hurting by doing our part in eradicating this horrible disease. Eventually, cancer will be GONE!
You raised money, and over 70 of you walked for our team!
There is something amazing that happens when we work together!
Thanks and yay CrossRoads and yay God!

Going, Going, GONE!

Well, coming soon - we'll be walking the track at Bedford Community Stadium. Why? To raise money for cancer research with the American Cancer Society. Our team name is "Going, Going, Gone!" - and reminds us that if we work together, cancer one day will be "Gone!"

This is part of our "Go Factor". Leaving the comfortable confines of our church, we serve the poor and hurting. While cancer victims may not necessarily be poor, they are definitely hurting. And we care. Whenever someone hurts, we care. We care about things like cancer - because we know that God cares too!

This is just another opportunity to let people know that we love them!

So, check out the "Go Factor" booth at Crossroads, or go directly to our website and sign up to help.

The event will be held on May 17-18. You can walk whenever you'd like - just sign up first - that way we can have someone walking at all times.

Our team mascot is a baseball. Every "walker" will get a chance to sign the baseball. We hope that one day, like a well hit ball that's high and inside, Cancer will be "going, going, gone!"

Just click on this link: http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RelayForLifeGreatLakesDivision/1689780718?pg=team&fr_id=4289&team_id=272714