Oh What a Day

Today will be one of my favorite days of the year. I will be able to attend two of my favorite events.

In an few hours I will be leaving home for Kensington Church where I will attend the Leadership Summit.This is an annual can't miss event for me hosted by the Willow Creek Association. For the next three days I will listen to people like Marcus Buckingham, President Jimmy Carter, John Ortberg, Colin Powell, and Bill Hybels talk about leadership. This is the 12th year for the event. I attended the first one and since have been able to attend at least six others.

Then tonight I will celebrate the beginning of football season with all the other maniacs at Ford Field. One has to be a little bit football crazy to attend the first preseason game. The starters will play only a handful of plays, then the game will be turned over to a bunch of players you've never heard of. But, the Lions are playing my beloved Bengals. I just can't miss it.

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Stats

Readership of the church web page and this blog are growing! Here are the stats for the last week.

www.dodgeparkchurch.org

	Mon	Tues	Wed	Thur	Fri	Sat	Sun	Total	Avg
Pageloads	0	5	2	5	6	13	1	32	5
Unique Visitors	0	2	2	5	2	6	1	18	3
First Time Visitors	0	2	2	3	0	4	1	12	2
Returning Visitors	0	0	0	2	2	2	0	6	1

http://dodgeparkcog.blogspot.com/

	Mon	Tues	Wed	Thur	Fri	Sat	Sun	Total	Avg
Pageloads	0	11	6	1	0	1	0	19	3
Unique Visitors	0	1	6	1	0	1	0	9	1
First Time Visitors	0	1	6	1	0	1	0	9	1
Returning Visitors	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

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Idol Fans

Many in my family are American Idol fans. Below is an example of Idol British style. What a powerful singer!



This guy has talent. Yet, he works at a place called Car Phone Warehouse. Makes me think of the church. Our pews are lined with people filled with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. These little lumps of coal are meant to be released to help others become fully formed in Christ. In the process, the little lump of coal is transformed into a diamond.

Diamonds sparkle. They have great value.

You are a precious child of God filled with His dreams. You have gifts to be used in His church. You have value. You can sparkle for Him. And in the process others are healed, saved, filled with the power and glory of God.

Go ahead. Sparkle.

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A Friend in Heaven

Rev. Oscar Berzins was an incredible person. I met him when I became pastor at Dodge Park Church. He had served the church well as its interim pastor between Pastor Lubek and me. Folks at Dodge Park Church knew him for many years as he pastored several of our sister German congregations in the US and Canada.

Oscar passed away today. He had been ill for several months with an inoperable brain tumor. His last days were uncomfortable. Our prayers are certainly with his wife, family, and church family today. Oscar and Helga live in St. Joe and are a valuable part of the Washington Ave. Church of God.

Oscar always had a smile. His positive attitude radiated to those around him. He loved people. I often looked to him as a person that I would want to be like. He was joyful, loving, humble, and kind. His love for Christ was ever present. Being around him encouraged me.

While we grieve, he is enjoying the reward of a lifetime of service to Christ and His church. I remember today that we grieve with hope, not hopelessness.

This Bible says in Psalm 116:15 (GWT) that

Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his faithful ones.

A precious man is now enjoying heaven ... No more tears ... No more pain.

Glory be to God.

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Day Trip to Canada

Rolf and Agnes Siegle told us about a great day trip to Canada. So, we went last Friday with my mother and our daughter. We had a lot of fun at Point Pelee National Park of Canada.

I would encourage you to go. Take along some good walking shoes, bikes, a picnic basket, your swim gear if you want to jump into Lake Erie, and anything else you like to take with you on an outdoors adventure. Oh, yes. You might want some bug spray for the flies.

Be sure to take the shuttle to the point. You then have a short walk to the southern-most point of Canada.

On the way back we stopped in Windsor at one of Angie Kilp's favorite restaurants. Don't miss the May Wah Inn if you like good Chinese. After dinner we walked along the riverfront and enjoyed the view of downtown Detroit. We had a great time and I am sure we will do it again.

The pictures were taken on the boardwalk as we walked through the marsh.