Breeley has arrived!

On Thursday May 6th Sharron and I were taking care of Alyse as Stephanie and Josh were attending a special event at their church. I took a quick picture of them right before they left for the evening.

Sharron commented to me as they left that Stephanie would be going to the hospital before the end of the night. As we prepared to lay Alyse down to sleep Stephanie called and told us she was on the way to the hospital. Sharron and I were very excited as Josh and Stephanie headed to Presbyterian Hospital in Charlotte. The call in the night came and Sharron and I rejoiced!

Breeley May
Born May 7th, 2010 at 1:25 AM
8lbs 4 oz
20.5 Inches long

Sharron, Alyse, Danielle and I arrived later in the morning. It was a day of joy. As Sharron, Alyse and I headed home for the evening Alyse made a comment about how much fun she had.. I said "Alyse, was it a good day?" She replied, "It was a great day!" We agreed.

Stephanie is doing so well. Breeley did really well over night. As they weighed her early this morning she is 7 lbs. 11 oz.

We have great anticipation for Mother's Day 2010. I am so thankful for my wife Sharron - the mother of our children. This year we will celebrate with Danielle and her son Jordan - and Stephanie and her children Aylse and Breeley.

National Day of Prayer at NRN

Today - Thursday May 6, 2010 is the National Day of Prayer. Across the United States groups are meeting to join in prayer.

Tonight beginning at 7:00pm there will be a Concert of Prayer at NRN. This is the only church location in Raleigh NC noted on the National Day of Prayer website. As Sharron and I are in Charlotte with family responsibilities - I am thankful for Pastor Jordan Unfried for coordinating this event tonight at the church.

I believe there will be some people from our community at the service this evening. My desire is that NRN will be a known as a house of prayer this evening.

Moved by the posting on her blog

Today Sharron and I are in Charlotte with our daughter Stephanie and her family. We are waiting with great anticipation for the arrival of baby Breeley. It is such a time of refreshment as I hear the laughter from Alyse as we play.

We enjoyed a fun meal and Josh was at work to make the last preparations in Breeley's room. I anticipate that soon Stephanie will blog - but at this time I am on line with her computer in the family room. I took a few moments tonight to go to her blog - which I love to read. Stephanie is an excellent writer and so creative in her blog. Of course, I always love her pictures. When I went to her blog this evening I was moved by her posting. You may want to pause and go to her blog as see for yourself.

I was so moved by the words - and then the song - I could not help but comment on it and provide a version of the song with words as it will minister to your soul.

A Presidential Proclamation - A Day of Prayer

A PROCLAMATION

Throughout our history, whether in times of great joy and thanksgiving, or in times of great challenge and uncertainty, Americans have turned to prayer. In prayer, we have expressed gratitude and humility, sought guidance and forgiveness, and received inspiration and assistance, both in good times and in bad.

On this day, let us give thanks for the many blessings God has bestowed upon our Nation. Let us rejoice for the blessing of freedom both to believe and to live our beliefs, and for the many other freedoms and opportunities that bring us together as one Nation. Let us ask for wisdom, compassion, and discernment of justice as we address the great challenges of our time.

We are blessed to live in a Nation that counts freedom of conscience and free exercise of religion among its most fundamental principles, thereby ensuring that all people of goodwill may hold and practice their beliefs according to the dictates of their consciences. Prayer has been a sustaining way for many Americans of diverse faiths to express their most cherished beliefs, and thus we have long deemed it fitting and proper to publicly recognize the importance of prayer on this day across the Nation.

Let us remember in our thoughts and prayers those suffering from natural disasters in Haiti, Chile, and elsewhere, and the people from those countries and from around the world who have worked tirelessly and selflessly to render aid. Let us pray for the families of the West Virginia miners, and the people of Poland who so recently and unexpectedly lost many of their beloved leaders. Let us pray for the safety and success of those who have left home to serve in our Armed Forces, putting their lives at risk in order to make the world a safer place. As we remember them, let us not forget their families and the substantial sacrifices that they make every day. Let us remember the unsung heroes who struggle to build their communities, raise their families, and help their neighbors, for they are the wellspring of our greatness. Finally, let us remember in our thoughts and prayers those people everywhere who join us in the aspiration for a world that is just, peaceful, free, and respectful of the dignity of every human being.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 6, 2010, as a National Day of Prayer. I call upon the citizens of our Nation to pray, or otherwise give thanks, in accordance with their own faiths and consciences, for our many freedoms and blessings, and I invite all people of faith to join me in asking for God’s continued guidance, grace, and protection as we meet the challenges before us.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirtieth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand ten, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth.

BARACK OBAMA

In conjunction with the National Day of Prayer - a CONCERT OF PRAYER - will take place in the worship center of NRN this coming Thursday May 6th beginning at 7:00pm.

My duck is dead - a classic

A woman brought a very limp duck to the veterinarian’s office. As she lay her pet on the table, the vet pulled out his stethoscope and listened to the bird’s chest. After a moment or two, the vet shook his head sadly and said, “I’m so sorry, your pet duck Cuddles has passed away.”


The distressed owner wailed, “Are you sure?”


“Yes, I am sure. The duck is dead,” he replied.


“How can you be so sure,” she protested. “I mean, you haven’t done any testing on him or anything. He might just be in a coma or something.”


The vet rolled his eyes, turned around and left the room, and returned a few moments later with a black Labrador Retriever.

As the duck’s owner looked on in amazement, the dog stood on his hind legs, put his front paws on the examination table and sniffed the duck from top to bottom. He then looked at the vet with sad eyes and shook his head.


The vet patted the lab and led it out of the exam room. He returned a few moments later with a cat.


The cat jumped up on the table and also sniffed delicately at the bird from head to foot. The cat sat back on its haunches, shook its head, meowed softly and strolled out of the room.


The vet looked at the woman and said, “I’m sorry, but as I said, this is most definitely, 100% certifiably, a dead duck.”

Then the vet turned to his computer terminal, hit a few keys and produced a bill, which he handed to the woman. The duck’s owner, still in shock, took the bill. She screamed, “$150.00!” “$150 just to tell me my duck is dead!”

The vet shrugged. “I’m sorry. If you’d taken my word for it, the bill would have been $20, but with the Lab Report and the Cat Scan, it’s now $150.00.”

A New Chapter of Ministry at NRN

Today at NRN was an awesome worship experience as we opened our arms and our heart to welcome our daughter congregation of the International Evangelical Church of the Nazarene (IECON).



Over 300 people gathered for the multi-cultural event. A new chapter of ministry has taken place at NRN. I believe this was truly a historical day for our church.

Preparing for a new chapter of ministry at NRN

On Sunday May 2, 2010 we begin a new chapter of ministry at NRN as we initiate our new partnership with the International Evangelical Church of the Nazarene (IECON). The multi-cultural worship experience will begin at 10:30am this Sunday!

Here is a snapshot of their history as a church: On September 15, 2003 under the leadership of Pastor Andre’ Bouassa, this French African congregation officially became a member of the Church of the Nazarene. Since 2005, Pastor Caleb Buna has served as the senior pastor. The vision of this church is to “build a strong and mature body of believers where everyone will find a place to worship and serve the Lord Jesus Christ in spirit and truth through knowledge, understanding and
fellowship with others”.

We call this a new chapter of ministry as we not only open our facilities for use by IECON, but we open our arms and our hearts to welcome this group of people into our family here at NRN!

Though we shall strive to maintain our own identity as churches, we will be in cooperative ministries. On Sunday, May 9th we will welcome the children and students from IECON into our ministries. A worship service for IECON will take place in the community room beginning at 10:30am on each Sunday beginning May 9th.

We anticipate a season of transition, but believe God is opening a door of opportunity for both our churches to begin a new chapter of ministry. These are exciting days to be part of the growing ministries of NRN and IECON!

A carry-in meal will be enjoyed by all following our worship experience on Sunday. I am very excited as we prepare to sense the presence of the Lord in this multi-cultural service!