Serving Pope Elementary

Yesterday Fielder Church spread out to serve

the city of Arlington.

We didn't "inhale" the gospel as usual in our comfy 

air-conditioned buildings.

Instead, our many small groups "exhaled" the gospel

 to 23 schools in very practical ways.

I heard my choir mate/friend Brenda Caruthers

say that her group was going to Pope Elementary.

Now a year ago, I had not even heard of Pope,

but it is close to my heart now!  Why?

Because that's where I mentor my precious

ten-year-old boy as part of Kids Hope USA.

So I asked Brenda if I might tag along with them--

and so did our fellow second soprano, Julie Harris!

What I want to tell you about is what was waiting

for us in the hall at Pope.
Those we were serving served us!

There was the most beautiful table of food--

lots of food!

There was fruit, there were sausage rolls, doughnuts,

Danishes, more fruit, and...hot dogs!

I thought that the leaders of our small groups had

brought this, but they did not.

The food was provided by the teachers and staff

of Pope and set up by

David LeMond, Sue Wilhide, and Deana Peterman!

They had put so much effort into welcoming us!
And, I didn't take a picture. 
Does anybody in the sound of my voice have a picture?

In addition to failing in the picture taking department,

 I wasn't that much physical help.

But wow!  Others certainly were.

The principal's office was repainted.

Safety zones were repainted.

The bike rack was painted and looked so much better!

Bags and bags of leaves and trash were filled.

Mulch was spread.

My group did clean out a room, boxing 

and marking extra books.

I know the atrium was cleaned and

many more things about which I am unaware.

I gotta tell you about something else I observed

while at Pope Sunday morning.

THIS....

Deana Peterman and Tracy Gordon McKee were

making their hall look so exciting for the

very un-exciting Staar testing which started today.

Is this not fabulous looking?

(Tracy's parents, Don and Joy Gordon, are 

"bus buddies" of mine on many Sunday mornings!)

I know so many teachers go above and beyond

for our children, but I had never witnessed anything

quite like this.

Deana and Tracy were there when we got there,

and they were still there when we left.

(Oh--and I mustn't forget the third member of

their team: precious Maddie McKee!)


There was so much gratitude expressed for
the service of Fielder folks this Sunday morning.
But, even if it sounds corny...
We were the ones who were most blessed.

We do this twice a year.
If you don't have a church home,
please come join with us in inhaling 
AND EXHALING
Jesus.
You will experience life change.

 

A Cautionary Tale

I had an experience yesterday.

It was unusual--and painful.

You do not want to have this experience.

This seems very random and, as I said, unusual,

but here goes.

My refrigerator has a red light that comes on when

the water filter is in need of changing.

It had been on for a few days weeks when I

finally got around to getting a new one.

It is "so easy to change--just snap out snap in."

Here's what the filter looks like:

and

 Here's what it looks like installed.

Well, I punched that button bottom right and

removed the old one.

Then I pushed the new one in and had a bit

of trouble getting it to click in place.

I just wasn't sure it was secure,

soooo...I pressed the button bottom right again, and...

That thing shot out of there like a bullet and 

hit me squarely in the nose!

Oh, for a hidden camera.

It must have been one of the funniest sights ever.

Of course, I WAS NOT LAUGHING.

I was pretty sure my nose was broken and

 I knew I would have two black eyes.

I thought the crazy filter must weigh 5 pounds,

(that's how it felt)

but it only weighs 1-1/2!

(I weighed it on my diet scale.)

I am so disappointed.

There are no visible signs of my great injury.

Therefore, I guess I cannot sue.

I will just warn you that changing this filter

is not for the faint of heart.

(Or faint of nose.)