Linda is practicing her keyboard skills as she prepares to lead worship at the Village Church. 
I must admit I enjoy hearing "His Eye is on the Sparrow","Amazing Grace", and "At Calvary," come floating in from the music/guestroom.
But then she got to talking Alex, our Worship Director, and now we have two keyboards. I'm sure that one does something the other doesn't or maybe every musician needs two or needs them different colors.
Well, I love the music and the musician.
bob
The Villlage is like most places I've visited or lived. Community takes place around the dining room table.
This is the last meeting of Linda's summer Ladies Bible Study. So, they decided to have a meal. What sweet fellowship, as these ladies who were mostly strangers 8 weeks ago now have bonded into a community. We called several of them during the hurricane scares to check on the.
Several of them plan to continue on studying the Bible as Linda leads a group in the 40 Days of Purpose study that our church is doing.
God is working!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OK, I admit it! I've got a monkey on my back and I can't get it off. Did any of you find yourselves staying up too late to watch Olympic sports that you didn't even know existed? What is that game they play on the soccer field but carry the ball? Are you now, like me, experts in all the Olympic events - too much arch in the back (.02 deduction), knees apart (.03 deduction), way too much splash (where was their concentration?) Are you confident, as am I, that the judges aren't as qualified as we viewers to judge these events? How old were those Chinese gymnasts anyway? 
If they were all qualified, then I just turned 35!
All I can say is that I have totally enjoyed the GAMES! What a great opportunity to see the sites of China. It is a rapidly changing nation that has become a major global player to be reckoned with.
The Olympics have been a relief from the normal venues offered up on the television.
The sad thing is that it's almost over! Now what will I do at 2 a.m. if there is no badminton to cheer for?
In honor of the Olympics, I've developed a few new events at my house. First, there is Power Surfing - the ability to watch the Olympics on three channels at one time. I wanted to set a new world record by using the picture-on-picture feature on my TV but I was technologically challenged. Then there is the "10 meter dash" - to the fridge and the "15 meter dash" to the bathroom. The final event was my best: Power-Napping - a new Olympic record (I did mention staying up until 2 a.m. didn't I?)
Well, I've really enjoyed the games and the all the human interest stories associated with them, but what really satisfies is knowing that in the eternal competition for souls in China, despite the governments best efforts, God's team is winning. Go GOD!
I remember several years ago when the Smoots had just moved to Florida. A hurricane came through just a couple of weeks after they moved in, followed by a 2nd, and then a third. Linda and I were going to fly down to see them and decided not to go since a hurricane was coming in.
Sunday night, Paul called to see if we were ready. Of course, we were. 
Below you can see all the STUFF we bought to be prepared. Bottled water, a five gallon container, batteries, a lantern that gives light when you crank it, battery operated fan (Linda's idea) plus milk, bread, and can goods. Also filled-up with gas, got cash, and our medications. Oh, yeah, an umbrella.
I was ready! Actually, I sorta wanted to live through one so I'd have a story to tell... "there I was fearlessly standing alone on the beach with the eye of the storm heading straight at me, the rain seeking to pound the very life out of me, the sand rubbed my skin raw, yet I laughed out loud and spit in the face of danger." Well, we had lots of rain and wind, never lost power, watched the Olympics, and ate all the food. Matt even made us come to staff meeting.
As Mr. Shakespeare said, "Much to do about nothing." BUT it gave us a great reason to call our neighbors and some of the people we have met to see if they needed anything. All were surprised and appreciative.
We did spent time praying for those who were touched Fay and her destructive force. Thanks for thinking about us.
bob
A few days ago I blogged about how much I love people. Last Tuesday afternoon, a lady in our building hosted a "Building Party." Linda and I had been thinking of doing the same thing but thought we'd wait until it got a little cooler.
I know it's a little hard to see but Linda is in the foreground with the white hat. What a group! I was the only man until another guy showed up in time for refreshments. While we only had about 12 people from a potential of 75, it was a first attempt to bring our building closer and start working on developing our relationships and build community in our building. We met a mixture of Jewish and Hispanic neighbors, most of whom we'd never met (or even seen) before. One lady commented that her husband past away and no one had even noticed. How sad!!!! Well, we can fix that - it will just take time and more parties.
Keep praying for these events as they will be foundational in our starting a church in this community.
Bob
While I've never been a big fan of former President Bill Clinton, I could relate to a statement he made in a recent press conference. There are certainly, "things I wish that I'd never said."
Thankfully, most of us aren't placed under the same kind of microscope as former presidents. If we were, would we come out any better?
Many time my efforts to be funny end up being futile attempts at humor at a high cost of hurting someone's feelings. Then their are the times that I have said pretty thoughtless things to those I love. Not engaging my brain before my mouth. Linda gets the brunt of this, I'm afraid. Thankfully, she has a forgiving heart.
"With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be." James 3: 9&10
I guess I'll even cut Bill some slack.
I don't know why God made me the way I am. (I'm sure some of my close friends have asked Him that same question.) But I have always been a people person. I observe them, I'm curious about them, and I love to be with them.
When I became a Christian, I still loved people BUT in a different way. I know this sounds sorta religious but I began to try and see people as God saw them. Not for what they could do for me, but as God's kids with the potential to love and be loved. (II Cor 5:16, "From now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view...Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature, the old has gone, the new has come.")
So as I pray for His kids around the world, I have several pictures that remind me to see people as God does. I pull these pictures out as I pray for the world. First is a picture of a young guy with spiked pink hair, tattoos, and piercing's, kneeling at a church pew praying. (I can't find the picture since our move but I have it in my mind's eye.) It remains me that first impressions aren't always right.
Secondly, I use this picture of several Chinese kids to remind me how much of the world doesn't know about God yet. I'm praying that the upcoming Olympics will provide a platform for the many Christians who visit China to make a difference. Linda and I visited China with Christian Missionary Fellowship and found the people very gracious and often willing to hear about God. These kids were giggling over the big, white guy, acting silly and taking their picture. I wonder if they know the Father?
In 2005, I visited Nairobi, Kenya and the Kibera Slum which houses over 3,000,000 people. I took this picture of this lil' boy sitting in the shade. His big eyes staring up at me with little hope in them. He has AIDS -he broke my heart. The picture reminds me how blessed I am and that I need to share those blessings.
People are God's highest creation. GOTTA LOVE'EM! Why not take some time and pray for them today!
Concerned for the Lost,
bob
When Matt asked me to come on staff at The Pursuit, one of my first considerations was my mother. She lived in a nursing home in Cincinnati, Ohio. I tried to visit her and take care of her affairs the best I could. I asked if she would be willing to move and she quickly replied, "No." Several days later she called and said would move and after some thought would take her first plane ride at age 85.
She now lives in Brooksville, Florida five hours north of us BUT near my younger sister, and Mom's sister and brother. She LOVES it! She loves going outside, the flowers and watching the golfers at a course adjacent to the nursing home.
Last Saturday evening she suffered a mild heart attack. I'm happy to report that she came home from the hospital with little damage. She is almost back to her old self.
We love her and are praise the Lord that is was a mild heart attack. She is a pretty tough old gal and the best mom ever.
One of the most crucial parts of our ministry is to reproduce ourselves in every aspect. The Pursuit Church will reproduce this fall and we will start our 2nd campus at Century Village. Each one of the staff is investing their lives in people who will fill leadership positions in our churches.
Last weekend we had a Leadership Training Retreat. Erin Diaz and myself shared some leadership principles with those who hope to lead Community Groups this fall. Here is Matt, the lead Pastor, and Manny Cabeza trying to escape being tied up. After lots of frustration, I told them how to get loose. It's so easy when you follow the instructions.
Manny is the guy I'm disciplining. He is a real estate attorney, from Spain by the way of Cuba, plays guitar in the band, and really loves the Lord. He and his family have been a blessing to our church. I have lunch with him each week and we are enjoying getting to know one another and studying through the gospel of Matthew.
Bob
