bobgsmith

The Big Dipper

I've had a lot of nick nnames over my life, some I didn't mind and others I hated.  Perhaps my favorite was given to me by Paul Smoot many years ago.  As I was walking down the aisle on Sunday morning to prepare for a baptism, I heard a voice from a pew saying, "There goes the Big Dipper!" 

I was thrilled to be able to baptize Manny Cabeza last Sunday.  Manny is a GREAT guy and I lead the Community Group that meets at his home.  He is an attorney and has a keen mind.  We meet every week to discuss the gospel of Matthew.

He is a big guy, I'm guessing 6"4" and he was a handful but we got the job done.  What a joy it is to teach someone so receptive.  Manny also plays the guitar in our worship band. 

The Big Dipper

TEVYE with a southern drawl!

 On Tuesday evening Linda and I drove to Boy ton Beach to meet with a Messianic Jewish congregation.  The Rabbi there has agreed to mentor us in the Jewish customs and holy days.  As you can see from the picture he sure looks like what a rabbi should look like.  But when he opened his mouth and this southern drawl came out -well I just had to laugh. 

It was a wonderful evening, we celebrated  Yizkor, a day of remembrance for those who have died. We are going to try and do some type of Hanukkah celebration in our condo and invite our new Jewish friends.  As Paul said, "I become all things to all men in order to win some."

Shalom!

SuperFAN!

  One of the highlights of being in Indy was getting to attend a Colts game in the new Lucas Oil Stadium.  It was fun to be able to sit outside with the sun over your head.

I attended the Missionary Lunch at TPCC and joined Linda at halftime.  But she didn't have trouble making new friends!

 

Back Home Again!

Linda and I were able to go back to Indiana for a quick trip.  One of the most enjoyable parts of the trip was seeing the leaves begin to change color.   It was breath taking! Enjoy!

 

WORK DAY!

It's exciting to be in our own space and have a permanent place to meet and worship!  We signed the paper on a Thursday, worshiped there on Sunday, Monday developed a leak in the air-conditioner and walked into a soppy mess as a couple ceiling tiles fell to the floor.  The joys of ownership!  Everyone pitched in and we should have the problem fixed this week. 

Today, we had a "work day."  The great part about it was that we worked side-by-side with the folks from the Hispanic CMA (Christian Missionary Alliance) that also use the building.  We were putting their secretary's office and supplies in an office and our supplies in some of the cabinets.  We  put some stuff that we don't use everyday, chairs and Hurricane shutters in the trailer.

Lots of work but what better way to get to know these brothers & sisters.

BOB

HE Made IT!

Here is our dear friends, Charlie Grandy, Julie, and Oma standing on South Beach Friday around noon.  Charlie has just completed a 2,100 mile bike ride from Quebec to South Beach in twenty days. 

Charlie is from Traders Point Christian Church in Indy and he did this to raise funds and help the children attending the Traders Point Christian Academy.  They joined him in the ride by exercising 20 minutes for 20 days.  Then on his last day they did a bikathon to raise money for the school.

To know Charlie is to love him.  His is committed to Christ and a wonderful role model as a husband, father, and Christian in the work place.  The two ladies are senior citizens who served as his support team and drove a van behind him.  Charlie was joined on the trip at times by Matt East, Charlie's wife, kids, and brother and sister.

They spent the night with us and then rushed off  Saturday morning to drive home - hoping to make it to church on Sunday. 

Charlie is truly and inspiration!

God Bless you "Skinny Legs",

Bible Study at the Village!

Shortly after moving to Century Village, Linda and I began to attend a Bible Study held on Friday nights in the clubhouse.  This week we learned that you are not allowed to have any religious meetings in the clubhouse.  BUT you can study history and any historical books that you want.  Thus a Bible study.

Last Friday afternoon, Pearl, the leader of the BS called and asked if I would teach.  I was surprised to be asked and quickly agreed.  Here is a picture of my getting ready to teach and Bill leading us in song.

Bill and his friend, Ann, attended our first service in our new building.  Last Sunday, we had six of us from Century Village attend the Pursuit service.   

We hope that many of the attendees at the Bible study will help us start the campus at the Village.  Hopefully, this week I will approach the Reformed Jewish Synagogue about meeting there for our worship.  Please keep this meeting in your prayers.  Not sure what God is doing BUT know that He's up to something.

bob

New Church!

If you read the other Pursuit Team members' blogs then you have seen this picture.  I loaded it on just to make sure that you have seen it. It's our first worship service in the new building.

It's only been eight months since we launched our first campus!  Now we have about 100 folks who come on a regular basis with an average of 75 each week.  Most of these folks weren't going anywhere before attending the Pursuit.

And now we have our own space!  Another really God-thing is that we share the building with a Latino Christian Missionary Alliance Church.  We have met with them to discuss the use of the building and they are a wonderful group of brothers and sisters.  The have Sunday afternoon services and we share the musical instruments and sound equipment.  They also share the rent!  Yeah, God!

bob

PURSUIT PEEPS!

We've all heard the sermon about the church not being a building but the people.  Here are a few of the Pursuit peeps!                                                                                                                                  

This is Erin Diaz, our Community Groups leader.  Today she is wearing her other hat (and beautiful it is) as Children's leader.  She is from Central Christian in Carmel, IN and is a blessing to our team.

This is Abby!  Here parents moved here from North Carolina and I love the way they talk.  They came the second they were in town and are regulars now.  Isn't she cute!    She is manning the 'Children's check-in' for us.  Her dad, Rob, is studying to be a chef.

   

  These lovely ladies are setting up our Welcome Center.  Joharris is from Puerto Rico and is working hard on her English.  She also is teaching Linda and I Spanish.  Adriana is Alex Diaz, our worship leader's, sister.  She is a dentist from Venezuela and is studying to be a dentist in the States.  They are both wonderful young ladies!

But we still have room for you!!!

bob

NEW CHURCH HOME!

First I apologize for not doing a better job of keeping this updated.   There has been a lot happening so here goes...

This is our new church!  If it looks like a warehouse - that's because it is.  But for the last eight years it has served as a Presbyterian church.  They had dwindled down to about 20 and have now joined a larger Presbyterian church.  So we are meeting here 24/7 for about half the price we were paying at the ballroom.  In addition, the Presbyterian brothers left us all the furnishings that we wanted.  God is VERY good!

I agreed that it doesn't look like much from the outside but they had done a lot of work to the inside.   It will seat around 100 and last week we had 85.  During the last several weeks our folks have invited some of their friends and I think they are going to stick around.   In addition to the worship center, we have 3 rooms for our children's area.  Much bigger than we've had previously.  I think we need a little more equipment for the band - don't you. 

One of our single guys was at Borders and a young lady asked him if he knew anything about the book she was holding.  It was the 40 DOP book.  He told her our church was just starting to study that and invited her to a community group.  She and her boyfriend attended the Community group and then came to worship Sunday.

bob