New York

I just returned from Middletown, NY and Leslie, MI. What a wonderful time of ministry and sightseeing. Needless to say, it was a jam packed week. Let me share a 'nutshell' break down of it all. This first picture was taken as I was standing at the corner of Wall Street and Broad Street looking toward the Trinity Church. I will post my musings about Leslie, MI in my next installment. Stay tuned.

NEW YORK

I first went to Middletown, New York where Mike Switzer is pastor. Mike is doing a great job in this little town about 65 miles NW of New York city. Since 9/11 this little town has began to grow as more and more people are moving away from the city to smaller towns and commuting into the city. There is even a train that goes from Middletown right into the heart of New York for their convenience.

At Cornerstone Baptist I presented the Heritage Builders program - a program designed to help parents be intentional about passing a solid spiritual, emotional and social heritage to their children. I am passionate about this program as it carries with it not only simple, practical and doable principles, but it is an powerful reminder that our children need to see God in our lives - God with skin on - if you will. It was a successful meeting with several families attending who expressed to me gratitude for giving them 'tools' that will assist them in the all important task of raising their children to "love the Lord their God with all their heart, mind and strength." As parents - we have the enormass task of moving our children from baby dedication (actually parent dedication) to the great commission.

Present during these meetings was a couple by the name of Chris and 'D' (I could tell you her full name, but then I would have to kill you). ;-) Chris and D played host and hostess to me for three wonderful days, taking me into Manhattan, to West Point Military Academy and hiking in the Poconos. I could not have paid for a more memorable time. I feel as though I have met two people who not only love the Lord and their family, but who will be lifetime friends.

Let me first say this about Mike Switzer and his family - what a wonderful example of a mom and dad who have done a great job of raising their children in the nurture and admonision of the Lord. I was able to meet three of their four grown children and was impressed with all three. It is obvious that they have deep love and respect for their parents as well as Mike and Barb display a genuine parent heart of love and respect back to their children.

Seath and Sean are twin boys that are talented and eager to be used of God. Seath is married to Pam, a beautiful lady with the most radiant smile I have ever seen. I say this respect, but Seath, you definately married up. ;-) Seath helps his father in the ministry of the church with music and youth. I was moved when I heard that he had turned down an offer of over $60,000.00 a year to stay and work a full-time job, outside the church and continue to work for free with his father simply because - "This is where God as called me." That's is class and character, not to mention willingness to follow wherever God leads.

Sean is still living at home, working full-time and heading up the music at his dad's church. Sean has a cymbal fetish. This young man is an awesome drummer, but I have never seen a drum trap with as many cymbals as this man has ... 10 (including two high hats - If you don't know what this is, look it up). I had the joy of having him back me up during the week as I played the keyboard. It was so refreshing to just listen, as I played, to someone make the drums (and cymbals) sing. Sean is single - and very available. :-) Although I will say he made me nervous when he said "Sean Penn was good looking." I may need to spend some time counselling his boy if I make a return trip. (I'm just having fun with you Sean.)

Then there was Kara. Kara is due to wed in just a few months. Anyone who has planned a wedding can full understand where she is right now. She is a beautiful, lovely lady that will no doubt be, not only an equally lovely bride, but a wonderful wife and mother one day. I know this from watching her mother and father.

On Monday we went into Manhattan where I got a firsthand look at Ground Zero - the place where the World Trade Center building once stood. Chris pointed out an office building that was literally right across the street from World Trade. His words, "I used to have an office right up there. We never got any sunlight because of the buildings." The picture to the left shows where the buildings once stood. It is an ominous reminder to all New Yorkes (as well as people all over the world) that life is fragile and not to be taken for granted.

Needless to say, this was a sobering trip for me - to actually see with my own eyes the two enormous holes in the ground where once stood two building that claimed the lives of nearly 3,000 souls as they came crashing down. We went into two churches; Trinity Church and Saint Paul's Church, both of which played a key role in refuge and rest for the countless emergency workers during those dark days. As well they served as a make-shift medical unit for the wounded.

This picture nearly brought me to tears as watched people searching for names of people they knew who died that day. These names were listed on overhead boards for all to see as they view this site. This particular picture is a reminder (to me) that Christ died for the sins of the world and that love has no bounds. This is two beams as they were found among the mangled, twisted metal wreckage during the clean-up of the twin towers. It has been place here for all that would see, as a reminder of what took place that day. I could not help but think of another day, some 2,000 years ago when my Lord was suspended between heaven and earth, where He willingly gave is very life, not only for the 3,000+ individuals that died that day, but for the billions who have died prior and since, including those who purposefully created the destruction that brought about this memorial. I am so glad that God's love knows no bounds and that it is free to ALL who will turn to Him and accept the ultimate sacrifice of love and grace.

On a lighter note, I enjoyed walking the streets of New York, driving past the UN (which was in session - meaning that we could not get within 2-city blocks at best) and enjoying some uniquely New York City cuisine. I was surprised at the New York Stock Exchange, expecting it to be much larger than what it appeared to be. Although I did not go inside, from the outside it was far different than I expeceted. But I did find the "Bull" and got my picture of it. :-) Oddly, it was not even on the same street as the Stock Exchange but a couple of blocks away. Oh well, they had to find a place for it somewhere.

This experience convinced me that if I ever go back, I don't think I would be against 'taking on the city' in my own vehicle. It was not a bad as I invisioned to to be. In fact, I think the challenge would be quite fun.

West Pont Military Academy

On Tuesday we went to West Point Military Academy. The batteries in my camera died just after getting there so I don't have a lot of pics to share. The above picture is a panaramic view of one of the main structures at this academy. The Caddets were preparing to enter the Mess Hall for lunch. It was quite a site to see.

The importance of this academy, aside from the fact the many of our nations great military leaders have trained here inlcuding Robert E. Lee, Ulysses S. Grant, Stonewall Jackson and Douglas MacArthur and the like, it is also the first engineering school founded in the United States.

Midway through the War of Independence, on April 30, 1778, the American Revolutionaries succeeded in stringing a massive floating chain across the Hudson River at West Point, N.Y. Quickly dubbed "General Washington's Watch Chain" by the Continental soldiers, the unusual obstruction denied use of this strategic waterway to the British for the remainder of the war. The chain's 800 wrought iron links, supported by a connecting forty huge log rafts, were hastily forges at nearby Sterling Furnace in the Ramapo Mountains. Each two-foot-long link weighed about 125 pounds. The chain was so effective in blocking the Hudson River that it was never directly challenged by the British ships.

On Wednesday, Chris and I took a short trip into Pensylvania to the Poconos Mountains. We went to a place called "The Niagra Falls of the Poconos." Was a beautiful setting. We hiked for several hours through the trails and got to see some of God's handiwork. I have included one picture here (and a couple of more at the end) as this is getting long, but suffice it to say, if given the chance, I will do this again. What a beautiful setting and a wonderful day enjoying friendship and nature at its best.