Ecuador Auction 2006

God is good! All the time!

All the time! God is good!

Lisa's front yard.

We just got home from the 2006 First City Church Ecuador Mission Team auction. This was the third year Lisa has opened her home and property to host the auction. God kept the rain away (which seemed imminent) and the auction went off without a hitch. 170+ items were on the auction block and when all was said and done the auction at first count has raised over $25,000.00 for the mission team and the Hacienda of Hope. Praise God!

1301 East Gasden Street

This Sunday mornings worship service was pretty special for the FCC family. We were able to meet in our building on E. Gasden St. We left that building in July of 2005 to allow repair and renovation work to be accomplished following to repair the damage inflicted by hurricane Ivan in Sep 2004. The initial plan was to be out 3-4 months but that plan was impacted by hurricane Katrina & Rita as well as the inability to find enough skilled labor to do the work in a more timely manner. Tonight our Youth Group is meeting for the first time in there renovated portion of the building. Quite a difference.

3rd Floor Youth Area 2005

3rd Floor Youth Area 2004 (post Ivan)

Next week is our auction to support the Ecuador Mission trip back to the Hacienda of Hope. Amanda & Ashley are both going again this year. I am so grateful that they will have another opportunity to leave the US and see the reality of life outside our borders.

Graduation Day Fast Approaching

GULF BREEZE HIGH SCHOOL

CLASS of 2006

Amanda received her "Cap & Gown" photo last week. Her high school experience is definitely drawing rapidly to a close. Awards night (25 April), senior banquet (7 May) and graduation day (17 May) will fill the next few weeks. Next stop Florida State University!

A Day of Rest (Sabbath)

One can only speculate on the thoughts, actions and emotions that the diciples of Jesus must have been experiencing that Sabbath after the crucifixion. Desperation, anger, fear, disappointment, confusion, guilt, etc. We just do not know but we are told through the gospels that Joesph of Arimathea, a disciple, had secured Jesus' body from Pilate for burial before sunset and that Mary Magdalene & Mary mother of James & Joses are near the tomb. We also learn that guards were placed at the tomb and that Sabbath was observed.

Good Friday

" No one has greater love than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13

Thursday - In an upper room Jesus prepared himself and his disciples for his death. Jesus gave the Passover meal a new meaning. The loaf of bread and cup of wine representing His body and His blood. Prayer time in Gethsemane. Betrayal and then arrest.

Friday - Following His betrayal, arrest, desertion by His disciples, false trials, denial, condemnation, beatings and mockery Jesus carried His cross to the Place of the Skull where He was crucified with two other prisoners. His body taken and placed in a grave.

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"What then is time? If no one asks me, I know what it is. If I wish to explain it to him who asks, I do not know." St Augustine

And now for something totally useless- 010203040506

A unique point in our reckoning of time will occur very early tomorrow morning.
(01:02:03 04/05/06)

1st hour of the day
2nd minute of the hour
3rd second of the minute
4th month of the year
5th day of the month
6th year of the century

I love the above quote attributed to St Augustine. There are so many things that are so clear in my mind but are so hard express to man with words.