YP....Thanks for the Journey!

We had a great time Sunday night saying goodbye to our Young Professional Group at Church. Debbie and I had the privilege and honor ministering to these great young adults for the past 5 years.

We enjoyed a cookout and devotional at Bill and Diana Carriger's house on the lake. It was a beautiful evening.

I know God will continue to bless this group as they have definitely impacted us on our journey..............

Craig Back to NYC

We had a great time with Craig this past week. He was able to see our new home in Columbus and look around the community. He spent time with his grandparents in Oklahoma and spent time with Brian and Allison in Garnett.

He was ready on Saturday to board the plane and leave the small town of Osage City and head back to the big city.

It sure is quiet at home! Craig have a great summer.

Thought for the Day

When confronted with a Goliath-size problem,
which way do you respond:

"He's too big to hit,"
OR, like David,
"He's too big to miss"?

Best Wishes

These three distinguished gentleman have been great to work with the past number of years. These are some of the best building principals you would ever want to have work with your kids and staff. I wish them the very best.

Craig Home

Craig arrived home on Saturday for a brief visit. He has a busy week planned seeing family and friends before he heads back to New York City on Friday evening. He will work in NYC all summer before beginning his junior year at FIT in August.

Last Day of School

Celebration Day at Osage City as we look back on the past 176 school days. Kids have a safe summer!

Quote for the Day

"A fault-finder is a person with a bad memory who never remembers the good,
or with a good memory who always remembers the bad."

The Last Week

The last week of school.

Kids favorite words....mom's worst nightmare!

I hope the last week is a positive and safe time for everyone. I have many last week type things that will be difficult as I transition to my new position. It will be a tough week saying goodbye to my 700 kids and 125 staff members that I care about and have enjoyed working with.

As one of my bus drivers stated last week..........we have sure enjoyed the ride!

Waymon Tisdale

On Friday, a little piece of my heart was broken when a former star basketball player from the late 70's passed away from cancer at such a young age. Waymon Tisdale grew up playing basketball in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He played for Tulsa Washington High School and was a Street and Smith High School all American. I played against Waymon on three occasions during the 1979-80 season. He was a freshman, but the starting center for his team and I was the starting forward from Broken Arrow. We had some great battles. I knew he would be a great player, but nothing like the scoring machine he became at the University of Oklahoma. I will never forget his smile and his positive outlook on life. He was not only a great basketball player but a great human being.


Former Oklahoma great Tisdale dies at 44
May 15, 2009

Wayman Tisdale, a three-time All-American at Oklahoma who played 12 seasons in the NBA, has died after a two-year battle with cancer. He was 44.
Tisdale died about 8 a.m. Friday at St. John Medical Center in Tulsa, hospital spokeswoman Joy McGill said.

After three years at Oklahoma, the 6-foot-9 Tulsa native spent 12 seasons in the NBA with the Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns.

He first learned he had cancerous cyst below his right knee after he broke his leg in a fall at his home in Los Angeles on Feb. 8, 2007. His leg was amputated last August, but he had made several public appearances since then, including on April 7 at an Oklahoma City Thunder game.
After his basketball career, Tisdale became an award-winning jazz musician, with several of his albums making the top 10 on the Billboard charts. Last month, Tisdale learned he had been chosen for induction into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame.

In 1983, Tisdale became the first freshman to make The Associated Press' first-team All-America list, an honor he received again in 1984 and 1985. He averaged 25.6 points and 10.1 rebounds per game during his three seasons with the Sooners, earning Big Eight Conference player of the year after each season.

He still holds Oklahoma's career scoring record with 2,661 points and career rebounding record with 1,048. Tisdale also owns the school's single-game scoring mark, a 61-point outing against Texas-San Antonio as a sophomore, along with career records in points per game, field goals and free-throw makes and attempts.

Tisdale also played on the U.S. team that won the gold medal in the 1984 Olympic Games.
He went on to average 15.3 points per game during his pro career with the Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns.

Tisdale's death was announced on the Oklahoma Senate floor Friday by Senate Majority Leader Todd Lamb, who led the Chamber in prayer.

"Whether you're a Cowboy or a Sooner, Oklahoma has lost a great ambassador," Lamb said. "He was a gifted musician, a gifted athlete and he just wore that well wherever he went."

Graduation Weekend

Graduation.
A time for change.

For many, an exciting time to look back on accomplishments and honors.
For some, missed opportunities.
For some, no graduation and no positive look towards the future.

Time’s about up. When I was a teacher, I would tell my senior history students that phrase many times during the last few weeks of school to remind them to get their semester projects turned in because time’s about up.

For the majority, students were well prepared and turned in everything looking forward to graduation day. But for a few, no hope, no aspirations, time was finally up.

Life is like that also. Time’s about up for all of us. I pray that we will use our time in a way to serve others and serve our God. Be in that relationship that you need to be in with your God, your spouse, your family, your business associates, your friends so you won't be disappointed on that special day.

Osage City USD 420 Selects New Superintendent

This past week the USD 420 Board of Education interviewed candidates for the Superintendent of Schools position. It's now official, the Board hired William Orth as the new Superintendent of Schools. Mr. Orth is currently superintendent at Altoona-Midway.

Storms Hit Southeast Kansas

On Friday morning a strong storm packed with 129 per hour winds did considerable damage to the Columbus area.

Several homes and businesses sustained considerable damage. Several school buildings received damage.

This is the article from the Joplin Globe:

No injuries reported in Cherokee County after storm
By Roger McKinney
rmckinney@joplinglobe.com

COLUMBUS, Kan. — A heap of debris was all that remained of a mobile home struck by high winds in Friday’s storm as it moved south of Columbus.

Richard Green, who lives nearby, owns the mobile home. He said the occupant wasn’t home when the storm struck.

“He went to work early, or he would’ve been in it,” Green said. He said he rode the storm out in Chetopa, where he was when it came through. He mentioned casually that he had previous experience with bad storms. Julie Green, his wife at the time, died in a 2003 tornado.

There were no storm-related injuries in Cherokee County, said Sheriff David Groves.

Dana Hilderbrand had walked with her youngest son Friday morning to the school-bus stop. When the storm’s intensity increased, they walked back to their mobile home, next to Faulkner Grain.

Once they were inside the mobile home, one of the large, metal grain bins blew loose, striking the glass door and entering their kitchen. The mobile home was moved about two inches off its foundation while she, her husband and her two children were home.

“It was just a weird storm,” Hilderbrand said. “We didn’t think it would be this bad.”
Hilderbrand joked that the only time Faulkner has as much traffic as it did Friday was during harvest.

Several businesses in downtown Columbus were damaged by the storm. Roof material and bricks were hanging from the top of a row of buildings on the north side of Maple Street, which is home to Columbus Tae Kwon Do and the offices of Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services.

Sherry Conner, Westco manager, had the help of several friends sweeping glass from the broken front window on the sidewalk on the south side of Maple street. Conner said the broken glass damaged some of the furniture, lamps and other accessories.

She said the business would be open today, if electricity was restored.

Just south of Westco, John White, owner of White’s Garage and Welding, was waiting for the insurance adjuster. The wind had peeled the metal roof off the building.

“I’ve got one car in there I need to get out,” he said.

Several other businesses had broken windows.

The press box at the Columbus High School football stadium had toppled onto the bleachers. Campers were damaged at H&K Camper Sales.

In Galena, a tree uprooted by the storm had landed on the front porch of a house along Seventh Street. Another tree also was uprooted nearby.

Sheriff David Groves said other damage to houses and buildings was reported in Scammon and Weir. He said Southeast Kansas Railroad had reported that the wind had blown a train off the tracks in the northern part of the county.

Crawford County
According to the Crawford County Sheriff’s Department, the communities of McCune and Cherokee sustained some of the worst damage in that county. In McCune, 63 buildings were damaged. A semi-truck sitting in a parking lot was blown over and the driver sustained minor injuries.

In Cherokee, 130 structures were damaged, including the roof of Southeast High School.
Another 20 structures in the county also were damaged.

The preliminary damage estimate for the county came to $1.1 million, according to the sheriff’s department.

Emergency shelters have been set up at the McCune Community Center, 410 E. 5th St., and the First Baptist Church in Cherokee, in the 200 block of Vine St. The Salvation Army also will provide lunch today at both shelters for community members and volunteers.

Happy Mothers Day

Dedicated to the greatest mom in all the world. I Love you!

Mom, I loved you yesterday, I love you tomorrow and everyday. You were there for me my first day of school, to hold my hand and give me courage to go.You listened to me when I needed to talk, you talked to me when I needed to listen. You let me grow and learn from my own mistakes.You never left my side when I was feeling down, I knew you would be there to pick me up.I wish there was a way I could repay all the things you have done for me, but there's nothing great enough to repay the greatest mother of all.

Happy Mother's Day!

Our New Home in Columbus

We officially signed the contract on our new home in Columbus this past week. It's a 4 bedroom/3 bath home with a huge family room and office area. It will be a great place for our family gatherings and having friends visit. It sits on the end of a dead end street with a 80 acre pasture to the south. We have about a half acre lot with several trees and flower beds. We hope to call it home around June 13.

We would appreciate your continued prayers as we try to sell our house in Osage City.

The Flint Hills

I will miss my monthly trips to Wichita and the beautiful changing scenery of the Flint Hills. I believe its one of the most scenic trips in America as you drive the Kansas Turnpike.

Osage City Superintendent Interviews

Today begins the superintendent interviews for Osage City. I'm excited for the school and community as they select a new educational leader. Be praying for our board to select the best possible candidate. The plan is to have someone in place by the weekend.

Reception

On Sunday we had a great time hosting a reception for Brian and Allison at the Central Church of Christ in Topeka. With the wedding being held in Texas we wanted to have a reception for them with all of our Kansas friends that couldn't make the long trip south during February.

We had a great turnout with friends from Kansas City, Ottawa, Conway Springs, Wellington, Osage City and of course our church family from Topeka. We saw friends that we haven't seen in years.

Allison and Brian enjoyed meeting people and hearing stories about the past.

Thank you to all who made the day so special.

A big thank you to Herb for taking all the pictures. It made the occasion very special.

8 Wonders of Kansas Cuisine

The Kansas Sampler Foundation in Inman has announced its 24 finalists for the 8 Wonders of Kansas Cuisine, and voting is now open.

Director Marci Penner said the finalists, which includes Homer’s Drive Inn in Leavenworth, were chosen because they collectively represent all that Kansas has been in the past and what it still is today.

“If someone dropped in to Kansas on a parachute and went to every one of these 24 restaurants, they would know our history and people pretty well by the time they waddled back home,” she said.

The 8 Wonders of Kansas Cuisine is the fourth out of eight rural culture element contests the Kansas Sampler Foundation will sponsor. Winners in architecture, art and commerce have already been chosen, with the Moon Marble Company of Bonner Springs earning a spot in the 8 Wonders of Kansas Commerce category. The next four contests will be those in the customs, geography, history and people categories. An overall 8 Wonders of Kansas contest was also held and winners were announced on Kansas Day of last year.

To be a finalist in the 8 Wonders of Kansas Cuisine, each restaurant had to originate in Kansas and it had to have been open for at least 10 years. Other criteria included that it couldn’t be a national franchise and that it had to be well known outside of its home base.

In alphabetical order, the 24 finalists are:
• Anchor Inn, Hutchinson
• Bobo’s Drive In, Topeka
• Brookville Hotel, Abilene
• Carolyn’s Essenhaus, Arlington
• Charlie’s Mexican Restaurant, Leoti
• Cozy Inn, Salina
• Crawford County Fried Chicken, located in four cities in Crawford County
• Crazy R’s, Goodland
• C.W. Porubsky’s, Topeka
• Free State Brewing Company, Lawrence
• Fritz’s Union Station, Kansas City
• Grand Central Hotel, Cottonwood Falls
• Guy and Mae’s Tavern, Williamsburg
• Hay’s House 1857 Restaurant and Tavern, Council Grove
• Hibachi Hut, Manhattan
• Homer’s Drive Inn, Leavenworth
• Josie’s Ristorante, Scammon
• NuWay, Wichita
• Olive Tree Bistro, Wichita
• Paolucci’s Restaurant, Atchison
• Pho Hoa, Garden City
• Prairie Nut Hut, Altoona
• Trapper’s Bar and Grill, Simpson
• WheatField’s Bakery, Lawrence

Voting, which will close at midnight June 15, can be done by paper ballot or via e-mail at 8wonders.org. Each person voting by e-mail may vote up to three times, but must vote for eight different places each time. For more information, visit kansassampler.org/8wonders.

Buffets

One of the worst movies ever has some great quotes. The buffet scene is a classic. Makes your stomach turn! Enjoy this scene. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7r2_STF8oo

Transition Update

It has been a while since we updated our friends on our transition and move to Columbus in June. We made a trip to Columbus this past Friday to look at the house that we are interested in buying. We placed our house with Century 21 on April 13.

We have been busy packing, doing small home improvement projects and taking care of end of the year school transition items.

Osage City has scheduled superintendent interview dates for May 6-8. It will be an exciting process for the community.

Continue to pray for our move and God leading the right person to Osage City to be their next educational leader.

A Great Sunday

On Sunday we enjoyed worshipping at the Emporia Ave Church in Wichita. This is a very special place where Debbie and I worshipped for 5 years when we lived in Wichita.

It was great seeing good friends like the Phelps, Parkeys, Duncans, Burketts.............The memories are priceless.

Have A Favorite Baseball Player?

He was my favorite baseball player of all time. Growing up I tried to pitch just like him. Dave McNally was was one of the best pitchers in all of baseball during the 60's and early 70's. He was on two World Championship Teams and was a very humble individual. Back when I collected baseball cards I had every card of his. Most were autographed by him.

Here is the information on one of the best pitchers not to make the Baseball Hall of Fame:

All-Star: 1969, 1970, 1972

The best left-handed pitcher in Orioles history.

McNally was born in Billings, Montana, on Halloween in 1942.

He signed with the Orioles in 1960, and made his major league debut on September 26, 1962, about a month before he turned 20 years old. It was a good one. McNally pitched one game, a late season start, and threw a two-hit shutout.

In 1963, McNally went 7-8 with a 4.58 ERA over 125 2/3 innings, and in '64, he was 9-11 with a 3.67 ERA in 159 1/3.

In 1965, at age 22, he started to get it together. McNally pitched 198 2/3 innings that season, going 11-6 with a 2.85 ERA (121 ERA+). The next year, he won 13 games with a 3.17 ERA, and won the clinching game of the 1966 World Series sweep of the Dodgers, outdueling Don Drysdale, who gave up a homer to Frank Robinson for the only score of the game. The Orioles threw 33 consecutive scoreless innings in that Series.

McNally battled injury in 1967, but came roaring out in 1968 with his best season, and one of the best seasons ever by an Oriole pitcher: 22-10, 1.95 ERA (150 ERA+), and 202 strikeouts. Again, like Mike Cuellar, that was the one and only time he would strike out 200 batters in a single season.

McNally regressed some the next three years, but he was still a fine pitcher, and won 20 games every season, including a career-high 24 in 1970. After the '71 season, McNally went 13-17 in 1972 and 17-17 in 1973, which was his second-best season by ERA+ (117) in a season where he pitched at least 200 innings. He was 16-10 with a 3.58 ERA in 1974, his final year with the Orioles.

He also hit a grand slam in game three of the 1970 World Series against Cincinnati, the only pitcher ever to hit a grand slam in a World Series game. He hit it off of Tony Cloninger, who once hit two grand slams in a game for the Braves.

McNally was traded by the Orioles to Montreal on December 4, 1974, which netted the Orioles one season of Mike Torrez and a decade of Ken Singleton. A great trade for Baltimore, as McNally pitched just 77 1/3 innings with a 5.24 ERA and retired at age 32. Interestingly, McNally and Andy Messersmith became baseball's first two legal free agents. Messersmith signed a big deal with the Braves, and McNally simply walked away from the game at age 32. Both had played the 1975 season without contracts.

Dave McNally passed away on December 1, 2002, at the age of 60, in his hometown of Billings, Montana.

FRANCHISE RANKINGS4th, ERA (3.18, min. 800 innings and being a starter)9th, adjusted ERA+ (107, same qualification)2nd, Wins (181)5th, W/L Pct. (.616)4th, Games Pitched (412)2nd, Innings Pitched (2652 2/3)3rd, Strikeouts (1476)3rd, Complete Games (120)2nd, Shutouts (33)

Columbine

Great article from USA Today on Columbine 10 years later.

http://usat.me/?34754154

Communion

When you take communion next, consider the following:

As you break the bread remember how religion broke Jesus.
If he would have chosen to remain whole we would have no one to save us.
He is the bread of life.
We are called to follow in his steps.
We each have him in our system because he was broken down into Spirit form.
His body was crushed like grapes.
In following him, we cannot be effective unless we yield to being treated as bread and grapes; picked apart and crushed.
Much of religion is for the followers of man-rules.
Christianity is for the followers of the Suffering Servant.
The standard for world evangelism is formulated through communion. Broken and squeezed of our own recognition, we are to be willingingly/voluntarily torn apart with the hope others will remember our God as they dismantle us through criticism, avoidance, and painful judgment.

Terry Rush

Passing the Torch

My Final Charge this past Sunday night to the Young Professional Group at Central as Kevin and Kristen Johnston become the new ministry leaders..........................

I remember just a few short years ago Jeff and Santhi visiting with Debbie and I about participating in a very special ministry. Jeff and Santhi were about ready to move to New York City and they were seeking a new teacher for the Young Professional Class. Debbie and I prayed about it. We were asking God to give us a special ministry at that time and he did.

That torch was passed almost 5 years ago.

Joshua passed the torch of leadership to a new generation. Joshua’s final charge to that new generation is found in Joshua 23. Joshua knew that he would soon pass from the scene, and he was concerned for the new leaders that God would raise up to follow him. His words to them that day apply to each one of us today who desires to be the kind of servant God wants us to be. This passage is a reminder to us of what God cares about.

Joshua 23:1-19

1 After a long time had passed and the LORD had given Israel rest from all their enemies around them, Joshua, by then old and well advanced in years, 2 summoned all Israel—their elders, leaders, judges and officials—and said to them: "I am old and well advanced in years. 3 You yourselves have seen everything the LORD your God has done to all these nations for your sake; it was the LORD your God who fought for you. 4 Remember how I have allotted as an inheritance for your tribes all the land of the nations that remain—the nations I conquered—between the Jordan and the Great Sea in the west. 5 The LORD your God himself will drive them out of your way. He will push them out before you, and you will take possession of their land, as the LORD your God promised you.
6 "Be very strong; be careful to obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, without turning aside to the right or to the left. 7 Do not associate with these nations that remain among you; do not invoke the names of their gods or swear by them. You must not serve them or bow down to them. 8 But you are to hold fast to the LORD your God, as you have until now.
9 "The LORD has driven out before you great and powerful nations; to this day no one has been able to withstand you.
10 One of you routs a thousand, because the LORD your God fights for you, just as he promised. 11 So be very careful to love the LORD your God.

In these verses I want to focus on four principles:
· Give God all the credit
· Obey his Word completely
· Cleave to him only
· Love him more than anything else

The first principle is:

1. GIVE GOD ALL THE CREDIT
This principle is found in verse 3: “…You yourselves have seen everything the LORD your God has done to all these nations for your sake; it was the LORD your God who fought for you.”

The thing that impresses me throughout the book of Joshua is that Joshua was a man of tremendous humility. He was a leader who did not draw attention to himself. Joshua constantly centered the attention of the people on the CHARACTER of God, rather than his own personal CHARISMA. The important thing for Joshua was what God had done and what God could be trusted for, not what Joshua did. Joshua gave all his successes back to God as His accomplishments.

We need to learn this same lesson. It is often easy to begin our Christian lives giving God the credit. But as we grow older and as our accomplishments increase, our tendency is to forget the source of our strength, our abilities, and our achievements. But if we are putting God first we
will always reflect with humility that it is God who is responsible for all we are and have.

Let me mention something else that is very important: When you give all your successes back to God as His accomplishments—then you don’t have to be depressed and discouraged over the opinions and criticisms of other people. When you give all your successes back to God as His accomplishments through you, you are free from being demoralized by any superficial evaluation of failure in your life. Because you were not doing it to seek credit for yourself. You were doing it for the glory of God. Since it was all for Him and for His glory, the only judgement and opinion of your life that ultimately matters is the judgement and estimate and opinion of the Lord himself.

The SECOND PRINCIPLE is found in verse 6. “Be very strong; be careful to OBEY all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, without turning aside to the right or to the left.”
If you want to be successful in life…

2. OBEY GOD'S WORD COMPLETELY
In chapter 1 God commanded Joshua: “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful” (Joshua 1:8). This became most important in Joshua’s life. He committed himself to a life of obedience to the Law of God. Now he urges this same commitment on a new generation of leaders in verse 6: “Be very strong; be careful to obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, without turning aside to the right or to the left.”

What is it that most honors God and which God most delights to honor? Is God most honored by an eloquent profession of faith? No. Many have called Jesus “Lord, Lord” but have later fallen away and stopped serving him. Is God most honored by great natural abilities or talents? No. There are many who have had great abilities and talents but have wasted them on worthless goals. Is God most honored by an attractive appearance or a winsome personality? No. Saul stood head and shoulders above his countrymen. He seemed to have everything going for him. He was called by God, gifted by God, and anointed by God. But he failed miserably.

The true answer to the question “What most honors God and what does God most delight to honor is found in Samuel’s words to Saul after Saul had sinned: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams” (I Samuel 15:22). That’s the answer. The thing that most honors God and that God most delights to honor is OBEDIENCE.
If you want to be successful in life, immerse yourself in the Word of God, and live in uncompromising OBEDIENCE to it. Then you will experience God’s power and blessing on your life and ministry. There is no substitute for OBEDIENCE.

The THIRD key to spiritual success is found in verse 8…
3. CLEAVE TO THE LORD ONLY
“Do not associate with these nations that remain among you; do not invoke the names of their gods or swear by them. You must not serve them or bow down to them. But you are to CLEAVE to the LORD your God, as you have until now” (v. 7-8).

The term “CLEAVE” means to hang on tight, to stick like glue. The same word is used in Genesis 1 about the exclusive relationship between a husband and wife. Here we are called to trust God and not to trust any other resources but God.

Just as Israel had to constantly contend with the influence of the Canaanites and their gods, we also have many other philosophies of success in the world competing for our attention and trying to seduce us with false promises. There are many temptations, even when we're trying to do the Lord's work, not to rely on the Lord. There will be temptations to water down His word, to give up because of discouragement, or to pursue methods that are not pleasing to Him. But Joshua calls us to hold fast to the Lord. The promise is that as long as we are cleaving to the Lord in willing, practical obedience, God will honor what we do. This is true of an institution as well as an individual.

The FOURTH principle is found in verses 9-11: “The LORD has driven out before you great and powerful nations; to this day no one has been able to withstand you. One of you routs a thousand, because the LORD your God fights for you, just as he promised. So be very careful to love the LORD your God.”

The final principle of spiritual success found in these verses is:

4. LOVE GOD MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE

This is an intense call to self examination: Do I really love God more than anything? Do I love him more than my family, job and all my stuff?

One statement that I often remember someone telling me when I was young was to “Never love people more than you love the Lord.”

Jesus said to Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" (John 21:15-19.) Everything depends on that. As we grow more deeply in love with the Lord Jesus, everything else in our life will find its proper place. Relationships will work the way they're supposed to work. Loving him with all our hearts will result in spiritual success in the things that really matter from God's perspective.

So Central Young Professional Group let me leave you today with the same charge that Joshua gave to the new generation of leaders in Israel. If you want to be successful in life, it is laid out in this passage: Give God all the credit—give all your successes back to God as His accomplishments; submit yourself to His Word; stick to Him like glue in willing, practical obedience; and love him with everything you’ve got. As you do this you will find that God will do wonderful things in and through your life.

Debbie and I pass this on to you as Joshua did for those that he loved.

On My Top 10 List to Play at Number 8

As every golfer Pebble Beach is a must. Since 1919, the exquisite beauty and unique challenge of Pebble Beach Golf Links has thrilled golfers and spectators alike. Pebble Beach is ranked #1 by Golf Digest.

On My Top 10 List to Play at Number 9

Sand Hills Golf Club built in 1995 in Mullen, Nebraska is about 100 miles from civilization, but one of the top 50 golf courses in the United States. Built by PGA Golfer Ben Crenshaw its a private course where the members fly to North Platte and drive the 2 hour trip northward to one of the most remote parts of the mid-west.

On My Top 10 to Play List at Number 10

Wolf Creek Golf Club in Mesquite, Nevada. A beauitful course. On my top 10 list to play someday. Many say it looks like the lunar surface of the moon.

Wedding Pictures

A family picture at the wedding. The only one missing is Chris.


Our new daughter.

Still

Easter morning in our YP Class we discussed something that we have lost that is very important that we need. The aspect of quietness. Quietness in our personal life as well as in our corporate worship time.

The following words are to a song called Still that I really enjoy. After looking at the words go to the youtube site below to see the video and hear the song.

Slow down today and enjoy listening to God!

Still

Hide me now
Under your wings
Cover me
Within your mighty hand
When the oceans rise and thunders roar
I will soar with you above the storm
Father you are king over the flood
I will be still and know you are God

Find rest my soul
In Christ alone
Know his power
In quietness and trust-
When the oceans rise and thunders roar
I will soar with you above the storm
Father you are king over the flood
I will be still and know you are God

Reuben Morgan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2aM4HUbzlo

Easter Sunday

Sunday's Coming, Rejoice in the Miracle of Easter!

It's Friday. Jesus is arrested in the garden where he was praying.But Sunday's coming.

It's Friday. The disciples are hiding and Peter's denying that he knows the Lord.But Sunday's coming.

It's Friday. Jesus is standing before the high priest of Israel, silent as a lamb before the slaughter. But Sunday's coming.

It's Friday. Jesus is beaten, mocked, and spit upon. But Sunday's coming. It's Friday.

Those Roman soldiers are flogging our Lord with a leather scourge that has bits of bonesand glass and metal, tearing at his flesh. But Sunday's coming.

It's Friday. The Son of man stands firm as they press the crown of thorns down into his brow. But Sunday's coming.

It's Friday. See Him walking to Calvary, the blood dripping from His body. See the cross crashing down on His back as He stumbles beneath the load.I t's Friday; but Sunday's coming!

It's Friday. See those Roman soldiers driving the nails into the feet and hands of my Lord. Hear my Jesus cry, "Father, forgive them."It's Friday. But Sunday's coming.

It's Friday. Jesus is hanging on the cross, bloody and dying. But Sunday's coming.

It's Friday. The sky grows dark, the earth begins to tremble, and He who knew no sin became sin for us. Holy God who will not abide with sin pours out His wrath on that perfect sacrificial lamb who cries out, "My God. My God. Why hast thou forsaken me?" What a horrible cry. But Sunday's coming.

It's Friday. At the moment of Jesus' death, the veil of the Temple that separates sinful man from Holy God was torn from the top to the bottom because Sunday's coming.

It's Friday. Jesus is hanging on the cross, heaven is weeping and hell is partying. But that's because it's Friday, and they don't know it but Sunday's coming.

And, on that horrible day 2000+ years ago, Jesus the Christ, the Lord of Glory, the only begotten Son of God, the only perfect man, died on the cross of Calvary. Satan thought he had won the victory. Surely he had destroyed the Son of God. Finally he had disproved the prophecy God had uttered in the garden and the one who was to crush his head had been destroyed. But that was Friday.

Now it's Sunday. And just about dawn on that first day of the week, there was a great earthquake. But that wasn't the only thing that was shaking because now it's Sunday. And the angel of the Lord is coming down out of heaven and rolling the stone away from the door of the tomb.

Yes, it's Sunday,and the angel of the Lord is sitting on that stone and the guards posted at the tomb to keep the body from disappearing were shaking in their boots because it's Sunday, and the lamb that was silent before the slaughter is now the resurrected lion from the tribe of Judah, for "He is not here," the angel says.He is risen indeed!

It's Sunday, and the crucified/resurrected Christ has defeated death, hell, sin and the grave.

It's Sunday. And now everything has changed. It's the age of grace, God's grace poured out on all who would look to that crucified lamb of Calvary. Grace freely given to all who would believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross of Calvary, was buried and rose again.

All because it's Sunday

Good Friday

And They Crucified Him

Mark 15:22-25 -- They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull). Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. And they crucified him . . . It was the third hour when they crucified him.

1Cor. 15:1-3 -- Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures

Quote for the Day

The essence of genius is to know what to overlook.

William James

Columbus Update

We made a quick trip to Columbus on Saturday with Brian and Allison. My mom and dad met us as well. We looked at a couple of additional houses in our search for our new home.

Please continue to pray for our transition, sell of our house and the transition that Osage City is now under going. I know my current staff is anxious and nervous about the search process for a new district superintendent.

Central Moves Forward

The Central Elders asked me to introduce a special series of messages yesterday morning. The Elders will be challenging the congregation with a series of lessons this month on certain areas that they would like to see Central improve on as they move into the 101st year as a Church.

I appreciate these 5 men and the vision and love they have for Central Family.

I was asked to challenge the congregation in our worship and in the study of God's Word.

Here were my thoughts:

The month of April will be an exciting time for the Central Church. Not only will Central be celebrating its 100th Anniversary on the weekend of April 26, but our five Elders will be challenging us as a congregation with a series of special messages beginning this morning.
The Central Eldership has been in prayer over the past few months discussing the future, looking back at the past, and developing goals that they wish to see Central accomplish as we seek what Christ wants us to accomplish for Him in 2009 and beyond.

Central has achieved its past success because of two very important ingredients;
1. Prayer
2. Purpose

The spirit of involvement seems to be virtue in the history of this congregation, along with the characteristics of love, faith and biblical truth.

Emerson once said that "People only see what they are prepared to see."
This morning may God prepare us to see what He wants us to see as we begin to look at the future of the Central Church.

Proverbs says, "Without a vision the people perish." The Apostle Paul was unable to proceed in his ministry until he had a vision of a man from Macedonia calling him.

Peter had a vision that "God shows no partiality” and it changed his life. In this world in which we live today, the most vital churches are those that can clearly articulate how God is calling them into the future.

This is actually a very simple concept that only becomes complicated when the vision Jesus gave is blocked by human philosophies and traditions. Most people do not realize that Jesus has given us the vision for the church in clear, concise, and in an easy to understand format. Look at Jesus’ vision for the church in Matthew 28:18-20:

18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

The Vision of the Church:

1. Jesus is the authority of the church.
2. Go into the world to make disciples.
3. Baptize them according to scripture.
4. Teach all to observe and obey everything that has been commanded.
5. The Lord is with us and guiding His true church every step of the way.

The primary reason the church exists is the same reason we as individuals exist – to bring glory and honor to God. That purpose is fulfilled through four basic functions:

Evangelism – reaching the world around us with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Discipleship – teaching individual believers to become less self-centered and more like Christ – to become imitators of Christ.
Fellowship – building relationships within the local church body and creating unity and love for each other with the goal in mind to fulfill Jesus’ great commission to make disciples of all people, teaching them to observe all things God has commanded.
Worship / Praise – acknowledging God for who He is and what He has done. We worship through song, communion, obedience and proclamation of His word.

After much discussion and prayer the Central Eldership have developed six areas of focus for 2009, that they will be sharing with us over the next few weeks, as we move forward into our 101st year as a congregation.

One of those areas that the elders have asked me to share with you briefly this morning is an increased Focus on God’s Word and Worship.

The increased Focus on God’s Word and Worship is very important as we begin to examine what we can do to as individuals and as a body as we develop and grow as a Christian and as a Church.

Worship should be a central part of the Church.

1. It’s a means of directing our attention to God and Christ.

2. It’s a means of increasing our devotion and dedication to our creator.

3. It’s a means of expressing our praise and thanksgiving.

4. It’s also a means of confronting our sinfulness with holiness from A Savior who died.

God’s Word is the source to help us accomplish the purpose of worship.

God’s Word should not only be a part of our personal daily study, but be a part of worship itself.

As we look ahead to the future what can we do to enhance our worship and allow God’s Word to be our number one source for all of our life’s answers.

Three things we need to remember as a congregation:

1. Our Worship to God needs to be heartfelt Praise

Psalm 57: 9-11

Our corporate worship should be a time we look forward to each Sunday. A time to lift up our hearts to the Creator of the universe. We need to put our entire being in to our worship time.

2. Our Worship must be God centered and Bible Based

2 Timothy 4:1-5

What does God’s Word say about worship. Plenty. He gives us directions on how he wants us to worship him.

3. Our Worship needs to be about Him and not about Us

Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;bring an offering and come before him!Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness;
—1 Chronicles 16:29
Oh come, let us worship and bow down;let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!
—Psalm 95:6
But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
—John 4:23-24
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
—Romans 12:1

It’s not about our likes and dislikes it’s about giving Him what He deserves. The very best worship as possible.

As we are challenged by the elders during the next few weeks we need to remember that many good things have been accomplished in the past and much work has been done; but we cannot rest on what has been done or be content with the accomplishments that have occurred.
Paul reminds us in Philippians 3:13-14

Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

In other words, the best is yet to come.

We worship and serve the same God today who:

· Parted the Red Sea and dried the ground for 2,000,000 to walk across.
· Completely covered Mt. Sinai with His glory and caused the mountains to shake.
· Caused the mighty walls of Jericho to crumble to the ground.
· Controlled famines, droughts, or years of plenty.
· Conquered hundreds of thousands of enemy soldiers by using only 300 Israelite volunteers.
· Sent fire from heaven to consume a sacrifice, the stone altar, and all the water in the trench.
· Miraculously caused a virgin girl to give birth to His Son.
· Empowered men to heal sick people and raise the dead.
· Raised Jesus Christ from the grave in victory over sin.
· Caused prison chains to fall from Paul’s wrist.
· Inspired a book that in unparalleled in the history of all literature.
· Created a church that has lasted 2000 years through persecutions and trials.

That same God is the God of the Central Church of Christ. The same God that we worship and read about in His Word. This same God can work his power in ways that words cannot begin to express.

But we must believe and expect that He will do so. We must step out in faith knowing God will shower Central with His continued blessings.

Remember the best days of the Central Church of Christ are yet to be lived as each one of us joins together in worship and in service to the glory of God.

Go Lady Sooners!

The University of Oklahoma Lady Sooners play Louisville today in the NCAA Basketball Final 4 from St. Louis. Go Lady Sooners!

Time Moves On

The older I get, the more I think about the past and those that have influenced me in my professional career and personal life. On Wednesday, I led a leadership seminar in Topeka on the Effective Superintendent and Board Relations. I spoke to about 30 principals who have the desire to some day become district administrators.

I remember as a building principal 20 years ago sitting through a seminar on the same topic. I thought I would never have to deal with the variety of subjects that were being presented on that day. Now I'm the old guy trying to encourage and pass a on few secrets that I have learned sometimes the hard way about working with a board of education, faculty, staff and community.

I have really been blessed over the years that I have had great boards. Not just good boards but great ones. Boards made up of individuals that have kept kids as the first priority.

I appreciate those lessons 20 years ago from my mentors about dealing with a board on a daily basis. It has helped me understand their viewpoints and hopefully have allowed me to become a better educational leader.

Does the Church Stop After 11:45 a.m. on Sunday?

We are experiencing some great things in our Sunday morning time at Fellowship. The teaching is incredible, the worship is usually great...but there are some MAJOR holes. Community for one. We are lacking that. And, after a year and a half of being there it makes me wonder...can you exist on a Sunday morning experience? I would say the answer is NO. And I've always thought that...but it's hit home with me even more lately. But, isn't it interesting that about 90% of the time and resources seem to go toward that Sunday morning experience in most places? In a way it's funny for me to be saying this considering my former role as a worship minister and the kind of resources we offer (a lot of which have to do with Sunday morning stuff-although we all agree that community and personal spiritual growth are what makes any group of believers healthy). I love the church. I don't think the institution we have now is what "the church" really is though.

I thought the comments above were interesting last week. We do spend so much time and effort on Sunday morning that maybe we forget about the other six days during the week. Does the church stop after 11:45 a.m. on Sunday morning?

A Great Cook

My daughter-in-law can cook! Allison fixed Debbie and I a great meal on Wednesday night as I was coming back from Columbus.

They also had their new living room furniture delivered. The place really looks great.

Update: A Busy Week

My week has been a busy one. On Tuesday, I interviewed new teachers at Pittsburg State University. I really enjoy interviewing new teachers that have just graduated and are ready to work with the children of Kansas. It really "pumps me up" talking to these young people. They are so excited to get their first classroom and begin their teaching career.

It was also nice to see many friends and colleagues at PSU. I enjoyed visiting with a couple of my former professors who I had at Emporia State University about 17 years ago as I was working on my district certification. They have encouraged me and have been there for me all these years as I have worked as a district superintendent. Many welcomed me to the SE Kansas Family!

I really enjoyed my trip to Columbus on Wednesday. I was able to visit with several teachers, staff and administrators. USD 493 is a great district. They have dedicated teachers and staff who go out of their way to help make the district run very effectively. I saw excited and energetic kids in classrooms learning many different academic subjects. I can't wait for new year to begin.

The house hunting in Columbus is going well. We have seen many places and hope to make our way back the first part of April to continue the process.

Another reason I was gone on Wednesday was this was the day that Osage City was using to begin the focus group sessions with the community and staff on what they would like to see in the new superintendent. I have told my board that this is a very exciting time for the Osage City community as you discuss what you would like to see in your new educational leader. I want to be completely out of the way as the district develops the profile and direction as they work with the Kansas Association of School Boards in this important endeavor.

We would appreciate prayers in our transition and on selling our house in Osage City. It's exciting but also a stressful time.

I was pleasantly surprised when I got back to my office on Thursday and had a card from the Columbus Church of Christ signed by all the members. They wanted to let Debbie and I know that they are praying for us and wanted to wish us the very best in our move. They are a great group of Christians.

Craig Wins Election

Congratulations to Craig on winning his Vice President Election at FIT. Have fun balancing the budget!

Happy Birthday Craig

Craig,

Happy 20th Birthday. I hope you have a great day in New York City. Good luck in your Student Government Elections today.

Love,

Dad

The Best BBQ Beef

I had the opportunity last week during Spring Break to eat the best beef sandwich in the world....at Arthur Bryant's. Great bbq.

Happy Birthday Dad

A big Happy Birthday to my dad.

Columbus Schools

Central School

District Office

Scammon School

Park School

Thought for the Day

"When enthusiasm is inspired by reason; controlled by caution; sound in theory; practical in application; reflects confidence; spreads good cheer; raises morale; inspires associates; arouses loyalty; and laughs at adversity, it is beyond price."

Columbus Church of Christ

Debbie and I had a great time on Sunday worshipping with the members of the Columbus Church of Christ. They were very encouraging to us.

Columbus

Columbus


The Cherokee County Courthouse in Columbus.


Yes Craig, there is a McDonald's!

One of the most important business establishments in Columbus the Daylight Donut Shop.

More pics to come.....................

Spring Break

We plan on visiting Columbus this weekend and attend Church. We are excited about being able to worship in the community that we will live and work in. We have not had that opportunity for 22 years. We will also look at housing possibilities and we might just have to check out the Columbus Country Club if it's warm.

Craig's Big News

In all the wedding arrangements and my new job announcement, I forgot to tell our friends about Craig's big news. Craig was accepted into the Bachelor's program at FIT in New York City as well as he received a job promotion at Ug-Australia. He will be an assistant manager at the New York City Upper West Side store that just opened He is excited. He will stay in New York City this summer and work, and yes.....he wants to find his own apartment instead of living in the on campus apartments.

Thought for the Day

The charm of fishing is that it is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope. ~John Buchan

A Tough Letter to Write

March 8, 2009

Members of the Central Church of Christ Family:

It is with sadness and a very heavy heart that I resign as an Elder of the Central Church of Christ effective today.

I have accepted a new position, beginning July 1, as the Superintendent of Schools in Columbus, Kansas, just outside of Joplin, Missouri.

This is a professional move, as well as a family move, that will allow us to be about 90 minutes from our parents in Broken Arrow.

I have enjoyed serving the Central Family the past five years as an Elder and serving with Rex, Gary, Bill, Roger and Jerry. They are men who are truly committed to you and to Christ and His teachings.

My family has appreciated the support and prayers on our behalf and will continue to pray for you and the leadership here at Central.

God has blessed Central greatly throughout the years, and I know He even has greater blessings for the future.

Debbie and I are looking forward to our future and our new ministry in the community of Columbus and with the members of the Columbus Church of Christ. But we leave a family here that we care about very deeply and will miss very much.

May God continue to bless the Central Church as you reach out to a lost world in need of a Savior.

In Christian Love,

David and Debbie Carriger

For My KU Friends

John Brown holding the NCAA Championship trophy..............Nice Touch!

Wedding Pictures

The Church was beautiful.

A very traditional ceremony with many family stories

The Happy Couple!

Hey............How about the cake?

The proud Mom being escorted out by Craig

Brian and Debbie


The Beautiful Bride

The Smell Around Us

This came from Mike Cope's blog..............Powerful insight.

Love these insightful words from Eugene Peterson:

“Every society finds ways to shut its eyes, put fingers in its ears, and by the extravagant use of deodorants and garbage trucks to get rid of the smell of decay, uncleanness, stench, and squalor. We put our sick in hospitals, our elderly in nursing homes, our poor in slums, and our garbage in landfills. We are never entirely successful in keeping them out of sight and smell and sound, but we do our best.”

One of the things Jesus taught us was how to see. We can’t close our eyes; we must be able to see those around us.

Cataracts form so easily. They cloud our eyes; they made us near-sighted; they can even blind us. Christian formation involves a removal of those cataracts so that we can focus on God’s world.

Keep your eyes open today.

Vision

At Central We Practice Our ABC’s Daily
Accepting Christ
Building Relationships
Committed to Serving

Emerson once said that "People only see what they are prepared to see."
May God prepare us to see what He wants us to see.

Proverbs says, "Without a vision the people perish." The Apostle Paul was unable to proceed in his ministry until he had a vision of a man from Macedonia calling him. Peter had a vision that "God shows no partiality” and it changed his life. In this post-modern world, the most vital churches are those that can clearly articulate how God is calling them into the future.

Most organizations, companies and businesses develop mission or purpose statements to give direction for their employees. Those organizational leaders wish to instill in their employees the reasons and purpose of the company. This is what we believe in, and this is what we wish to accomplish.

How about the Church? This is actually a very simple concept that only becomes complicated when the vision Jesus gave is blocked by human philosophies and convoluted formulas. Most people do not realize that Jesus has given us the vision for the church in clear, concise, and in an easy to understand format. Look at Jesus’ vision for the church in Matthew 28:18-20:

18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

So there is a true vision for the church and there is nothing wrong with applying methods that can relate to the current time in which we live. We can use music, programs, methods and many tools and resources. As long as our sights can remain on the target of fulfilling the God-given vision of fulfilling ALL of the great commission, we are effectively serving the Lord in our ministries.

Anything that can be brought into the line of sight while we remain focused on the command given to the church by Jesus without drifting from our goal of hitting the target is most likely beneficial to the church. Jesus is the one who gave the church the vision and He alone is our Shepherd. If the elders and congregation are following Him, we will fulfill our ministry.

In the very near future the Central Eldership will challenge the congregation in six ways as we continue to serve Him and our community in 2009. It is our prayer to take and live the Great Commission each and every day.

Osage City Fire

When we pulled into Osage City last night the downtown was on fire. Fire trucks and emergency vehicles everywhere. We went by my district office to see if there was any damage. Just a little smoke but everything was fine. We are a storage facility for many on Market Street this morning that had to protect items from the fire.

Firefighters from neighboring areas help battle downtown fire
By Phil Anderson
The Capital-Journal
Published Monday, March 02, 2009

OSAGE CITY — Vickie Buenger and her family were watching the Kansas-Missouri basketball game on television Sunday afternoon when they heard sirens from a fire truck go past their home, then stop about a block to the west.
"We're nosy," Buenger said, "so we looked outside to see what was going on."

Buenger said some smoke was visible from the 500 block of Market Street in Osage City's historic business district. The smoke appeared to be coming from behind a turn-of-the-century building that housed Mink Photography, 531 Market St., and the Ramblin Rose gift store, 529 Market St.

Buenger said the fire seemed small at first but quickly escalated, engulfing the two-story red-brick building in flames.

The blaze, which began about 2 p.m., was the biggest Buenger can recall in Osage City. Longtime residents said the biggest fire in town before Sunday is believed to have occurred nearly 100 years ago.

Osage County Fire District 2 was first on the scene. Mutual aid calls were answered by fire departments from Lyndon, Scranton, Melvern, Burlingame, Carbondale, Mission Township and the Metropolitan Topeka Airport Authority, the latter two of which brought aerial trucks that sprayed water down onto the fire from platforms that extended high into the air.

Osage County Fire District 2 Chief Dan Romine said the blaze started in the rear, or south side, of the building, then moved to its upper floor. The fire spread in part, he said, because of the way the building was constructed.

"There were multiple ceilings and voids, and we weren't able to contain the fire," Romine said. "We were able to save the buildings on both sides of it. They have a little smoke and water damage, but we were able to save them."

The business to the east is Osage Hardware, 533 Market St., and on the west is the Osage County Herald-Chronicle newspaper, 527 Market St.

As additional fire trucks rolled into town Sunday afternoon, dozens of Osage City residents gathered on nearby blocks in temperatures of about 20 degrees.

Jason Croucher, 25, a member of the city council in Osage City, was among those who came to the scene.

He estimated about 50 people, including himself, helped move merchandise out of several businesses along the south side of the 500 block of Market Street, where the fire occurred. The items were placed on the sidewalk on the north side of the street.

Croucher said many items from the Ramblin Rose store were brought out of the building before the fire spread. He also said the computer server and archived newspapers were taken out of the Osage County Herald-Chronicle as a precaution.

Additional items were taken out of two drugstores, a furniture store and a Radio Shack on the south side of the 500 block of Market Street.

"I'm so, so proud of the people of Osage City," Croucher said of the town of around 3,000 residents, located about 35 miles southwest of Topeka. "People really pitched in. I'm awfully proud of them."

Fire crews were on the scene late into the night Sunday, battling hot spots and flame flare-ups in an effort to contain the blaze to the building of origin.

Authorities said an apartment was located above the Ramblin Rose store, and all items inside it were destroyed. No injuries had been reported in connection with the fire by 9 p.m. Sunday.
However, responders were called about 8 p.m. to a car-pedestrian accident that was reported at 5th and Market Street, just west of the fire scene. Authorities said late Sunday they had no reports of serious injuries in connection with the accident.

Investigators with the Kansas State Fire Marshal's Office are to be at the scene early today to begin sifting through the debris in an attempt to determine the cause of the blaze, which by Sunday night was undetermined. An estimated dollar loss wasn't immediately available.